Updated April 17th with identiy of the victim.

By Miriam Raftery

April 16, 2018 (Ramona) – Sheriff’s deputies responding to a 911 call reporting gunshots and screams Sunday night shortly after 8:30 p.m. found a mortally wounded man on the ground in front of a home at 15921 Wood Rock Lane in Ramona, according to Lieutenant Michael Blevins. 

The victim has been identified as 21-year old Ivan Nivinskus.  The county Medical Examiner has ruled the death has been ruled a homicide, caused by multiple gunshot wounds.

By Mike Allen

 View full-size map B adopted by Council here.

 April 14, 2018 (Santee) -- Santee’s ongoing process of shifting from voting for their representatives by all city voters to a system of district elections took another step to reality last week when the council adopted a map made by Mayor John Minto and held the first reading instituting the change.

 Minto offered a map he drew that divides the city into four areas and with a close balance of some 13,000 people in each district. His motion also called for a change in the cycle of elections that results in two council seats being elected every four years starting in 2020. The mayor’s position will remain at large, or selected by all city voters.

 His motion, which was seconded by Councilman Ronn Hall, passed 3-2 with Council members Brian Jones and Rob McNelis opposed. The second reading and adoption of the law and the map is scheduled for April 25.

Update April 20: The Design Review Committee hearing slated for April 23 has been postponed. 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Jeff Phair, right, shares information with area resident Anthony McIvor, left, at site of planned La Mesa Summit Estates.

April 12, 2018 (La Mesa) – On a hilltop above the Serramar development in La Mesa’s Eastridge area, local builder Jeff Phair hopes to build La Mesa Summit Estates.  The proposal calls for 30 new homes—each with multi-generational suites complete with separate entrances, stacked washer/dryers, and media centers.  They’re designed for families that want space for parents, grandparents or grown children---and the concept came out of extensive meetings with neighbors.

 “All developers don’t wear black hats,” an article in The Phair Company’s newsletter is titled. The company has a policy of “cooperative community based planning” that calls for meeting with neighbors and incorporating their input into designs, where possible, before ever approaching city staff of elected officials.

Source: CHP

April 11, 2018 (Ramona) – A Ramona man died after losing control of his vehicle and striking a boulder, then rolling over.

He was driving a 1981 Chevrolet El Camino on Dye Road east of State Route 67 when he failed to negotiate a curve in the roadway, leading to the tragedy.

By Miriam Raftery

April 11, 2018 (Descanso) — The Descanso Fire Safe Council invites you to a program on fire operations in the wildland urban interface.  Come learn what firefighters learn to protect your home and your community.

This special program will be held on April 21^st from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Descanso Library, 9545 River Drive in Descanso.  Registration is required.

Source:  City of La Mesa

April 11, 2018 (La Mesa) - Applications are now being accepted for volunteer positions on the City’s boards and commissions. The deadline for submission of applications is 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 29, 2018, in the City Clerk’s office at La Mesa City Hall, 8130 Allison Avenue. Applications may be obtained at City Hall or from the City of La Mesa website, www.cityoflamesa.us.

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Story and photos by Liz Alper

April 10, 2018 (El Cajon) - ECM Sports couldn’t forget about prep baseball; it’s our reporter’s favorite spring sport to cover and in our first baseball game of 2018, we headed to El Cajon Valley. The Braves sport a decent .500 (4-4) record coming into league play in today’s game against West Hills.  The Pack, on the other hand, need to get things going heading into league as they’re 4-9 to start the season.  Sophomore Joseph Thrailkill took the mound for the Wolf Pack against senior Jesus Favela for the Braves.

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

April 7, 2018 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon City Council members temporarily set aside their differences and got down to work Tuesday in what some say was one of their most productive sessions in recent months.

East County News Service

By Miriam Raftery

April 7, 2018 (Alpine) – You’re invited to savor fine wines from over 40 wineries and taste specialty foods from local restaurants at Vintage Alpine, a wine experience in the country.  The event takes place on Sunday, May 6 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Summers Past Farms (15602 Olde Highway 80 in Flinn Springs)—all to benefit the children of Sna Diego County.

By Miriam Raftery

April 6, 2018 (La Mesa) – Last week, La Mesa’s City Council approved the city’s first medical marijuana dispensary, New Origins, set to open in the La Mesa Medical Plaza on Center Street near El Cajon Boulevard.  But now the chief executive officer of Family Wellness Center in the same complex, is asking the city to rescind the permit.

Source: U-Haul

April 6, 2018 (Spring Valley) -- U-Haul Company of California announces that Kenwood Liquor in Spring Valley has signed on as a U-Haul® neighborhood dealer to serve the Spring Valley community. Kenwood Liquor at 9612 Dale Ave. Suite 1 will offer U-Haul trucks, trailers, towing equipment, moving supplies and in-store pick-up for boxes.

By Miriam Raftery

April 5, 2018 (Lakeside) — This morning, deputies from the Lakeside Sheriff’s substation and Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Detail executed a search warrant as part of a narcotics investigation at 11715 Morena Avenue in Lakeside.  They found a butane honey oil lab used to make concentrated cannabis products, as well as five guns, suspected methamphetamine and cocaine, drug paraphernalia and cash.

East County News Service

April 4, 2018 (Santee) -- The Santee Chamber of Commerce invites you to join over 30,000 visitors at the 10th Annual Santee Street Fair and Craft Beer Festival on Saturday, May 26^th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Riverview Parkway and Town Center Parkway in Santee.  This event features live music and entertainment, more than 300 food and craft vendor booths, carnival rides, and breweries from all around San Diego County.

Today is last day to submit a map for final consideration at next Council meetings

By Mike Allen

 April 4, 2018 (Santee) -- Like it or not, and all five council members absolutely do not, Santee is adopting a system of district elections in advance of this November.

 Starting in late January, the council has been holding public hearings and soliciting comments about how boundary lines dividing the city into four quadrants should be drawn.