By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

February 1, 2018 (El Cajon) – The County Medical Examiner has identified El Cajon resident Ronald Ray Hegwood, 53, as the victim killed January 24^th in a motorcycle crash in Point Loma.

According to San Diego Police, Hegwood lost control of the motorcycle he was driving while traveling east on West Point Loma Blvd. He crossed into the westbound lane and collided with another vehicle, then also struck a parked vehicle.

By Paul Kruze

February 1, 2018 (Casa de Oro) – The San Diego County Board of voted in principal to approve a blueprint laid out for the eventual revitalizing of the Campo Road area of Casa de Oro at last Thursday’s meeting.

But don’t expect changes to occur overnight.

By Maridian Broadus

Photo, left:  Honoree Alan Cabrera, Jane Elliott, Rev. Shane Harris, Honoree BAPC State President Dr. William Blair

January 31, 2018 (Lemon Grove) — “Where are we 50 years later?” That is the question posed by Reverend Shane Harris, president of the National Action Network in San Diego, and by keynote speaker, educator and anti-racism activist Jane Elliott at the Martin Luther King Jr. 88^th birthday celebration held on Friday, January 19^th at Lemon Grove Community Church. NAN is a social justice organization that advocates on behalf of minorities and the disenfranchised. The celebration paid homage to Dr. King and honored local civil rights activists.

By Miriam Raftery

January 30, 2018 (El Cajon) --- The driver of a green Ford pickup truck that crashed into a business at 1417 North Cuyamaca Street in El Cajon yesterday afternoon was taken to a hospital, where he later died of severe injuries.  The identity of the victim, a 46-year-old African-American man, is being withheld pending notification of his family.

East County News Service

January 30, 2018 (La Mesa) -- In celebration of Valentine's Day, you’re invited to take your sweetheart, best friend, or even a group of friends to a dessert & wine pairing at San Pasqual Winery tasting room in La Mesa’s downtown village.

By Miriam Raftery

January 29, 2018 (La Mesa) – Matthew McConnell, 44, died in a hospital several hours after he was struck by a vehicle Friday night. According to La Mesa Police, he was walking across the intersection at Fletcher Parkway and Nagel Street near Grossmont Center on a red light when the tragedy occurred.

By Miriam Raftery

January 29, 2018 (La Mesa) – The City of La Mesa invites residents to attend two upcoming town hall meetings, where elected officials and city staff will be on hand to answer residents’ questions and hear concerns.  The forums will be held Tuesday, January 30 at the La Mesa Arts Academy (4200 Parks Ave.) and Tuesday, Feb. 6 at Northmont Elementary School (9045 Gregory Street), both from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Mayor Mark Arapostathis and City Council members Kristine Alessio, Bill Baber, Guy McWhirter and Colin Parent are expected to participate, as well as Police Chief Walt Vasquez, Heartland Fire & Rescue Chief Colin Stowell, City Manager Yvonne Garrett, City Attorney Gleen Sabine, and staffers from La Mesa’s departments of public works, finance, and community development.

By Mike Allen

January 28, 2018 (Santee) -- In his first state of the city address last week, Santee Mayor John Minto outlined a vision that puts a priority on several capital improvement projects and saving money on the city’s growing pension liabilities.

East County News Service

January 27, 2018 (La Mesa) – A 44-year-old man was struck and killed last night by a Ford Taurus while walking southbound across westbound lanes of traffic in the 8500 block of Fletcher Parkway.

La Mesa Police received a call reporting the accident around 9 p.m. The victim was transported to Sharp Memorial Hospital in critical condition but later succumbed to his injuries. His identity is being withheld pending family notifications.

Warner Springs and Murrieta farm raises pastured chickens, rebuilds healthy soils and grasslands, and coexists with wildlife

Story and photos @Pasturebird and Primal Pastures.

January 27, 2018 (Warner Springs) -- Most people don’t set up a wholesale pastured poultry operation in an area known for its mountain lion activity as much as for its orchards.  Yet for farmer Paul Grieve of Pasturebird, flourishing habitat is an integral part of farming. “The important thing to us is that we build an ecosystem.  Our role is to steward the land and grow a great environment for Mother Nature.”

By Jillian Hymer

January 26, 2018 (El Cajon) – At a StoryTent pitched outside the El Cajon Library last week, children listened to stories read aloud and enthusiastically chose books to read. It’s all part of Traveling Stories, a local nonprofit that focuses on “inspiring children to learn to read so they can read to learn.”  You can bring your children ages 2-12 to weekly readings at three locations in San Diego County, including the El Cajon Library each Wednesday from 3:30-5:30 pm.

A StoryTent is set up where staff members, volunteers and parents all pitch in to “empower kids to outsmart poverty…by helping kids fall in love with reading by the 4th grade,” said Hezhi Naseem, the Field Director.

Now hiring for new Director of Sales position

East County News Service

January 24, 2018 (El Cajon) --  Sycuan Casino announced today that the organization is now hiring for a new Director of Sales position. This position is the first of over 700 new jobs for the hotel and resort expansion project. The new positions will be in the hotel, food and beverage and casino divisions. Sycuan will begin hiring for departmental leadership positions during the first half of the year and will host a series of job fairs mid to late 2018.

By Paul Kruze; Miriam Raftery also contributed to this report

Hear court audio

Read appellate decision

January 21, 2018 (Alpine) -- Just as students returned to school after winter break last week, lawyers for the Alpine Union School District (AUSD), Alpine Taxpayers for Bond Accountability and Grossmont Union High School District returned to court in front of a three-judge tribunal headed by Associate Justice Patricia D. Benke of the 4th District California Superior Court of Appeals.  

But a week later, the court panel upheld an earlier ruling by Judge Pressman against Alpine, agreeing that the GUHSD need not keep millions of dollars set aside for an Alpine High School that now may never be built, despite previous bond measures approved by voters that included funds for the school. Then on Friday, the State Board of Education denied Alpine's unification petition that would have enabled the AUSD to build the high school. The double losses may prove to be knock-out blows for the hard-fought effort to bring a high school to Alpine.

East County News Service

Photo: cc by Gage Skidmore

January 24, 2018 (El Cajon) -- The Oak Ridge Boys, who were recently inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, will perform on Saturday, February 3^rd at 5 p.m. in Sycuan’s Live and Up Close Theatre in EL Cajon.

Their four-part harmonies and upbeat songs have won many awards including a Grammy, Country Music Association and American Country Music awards—and they’re still going strong after more than 40 years.

By Miriam Raftery

January 24, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – County Supervisors on Tuesday approved a proposal to accept bids from outside animal welfare organizations seeking to compete against the County’s Animal Services Department to provide services in the County’s unincorporated areas, including rural, desert and mountain regions in East County as well as neighborhoods such as Spring Valley, Alpine, and Lakeside. In East County, the city of Santee will also be impacted.