Updated March 17. 2018 with photos of Williams' injuries and quote from his wife, courtesy of Candid Chronicle.

By Miriam Raftery

March 14, 2018 (Lemon Grove) – Last week, the San Diego Reader published an article revealing that a claim has been filed against the City of Lemon Grove by Christopher Williams.  Williams, who has applied to open medical marijuana dispensaries in the city, seeks punitive damages and medical costs resulting from what he alleges was an assault by Councilman David Arambula. Now Councilman Matt Mendoza is calling for an investigation.

East County News Service

March 14, 2018 (El Cajon) – The El Cajon Police Department has identified Joseph Mercurio, 31, as the vehicular burglary suspect shot and killed on March 11^th.  Investigators have since learned from their investigation that “Mercurio was driving a stolen vehicle and had been involved in at least two vehicle burglaries the night of this incident,” Sgt. Forster said. 

By Miriam Raftery

March 13, 2018 (La Mesa) – After 14 years as Superintendent of the La Mesa0Spring Valley School District, Brian Marshall will retire on December 31^st, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Marshall has a long career in East County and San diego.  After receiving his Masters of Arts degree in Educational Administration from San Diego State University and a teaching credential at the University of San Diego, he became vice principal of Lakeside Middle School in 1993 and in 1995 was named principal of Tierra del Sol Middle School in the Lakeside Union School District.

Source:  San Diego Sheriff's Department

March 13, 2018 (Santee) - San Diego County Crime Stoppers and investigators from the Santee Sheriff’s Station are asking for the public's help to locate two unknown suspects wanted in connection with using a stolen credit card and identity theft.   

By Mary Harris

Photo courtesy SimonP on Wikipedia

March 12, 2018 (Alpine) - The next meeting of the Alpine Community Plan Update is around the corner. Look for information that will be posted soon here on ACN. People living in Alpine need to attend and let their county representatives know what is on their mind. Let your voices be heard loud and clear ! Tell them what YOU want and what you don't want.Some say that in the next twenty years, Alpine's population may double. Development is on the rise. What do you want to see preserved in Alpine ? What do you value here enough to fight for?

By Miriam Raftery

March 12, 2018 (El Cajon) -- Agents from the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) and the El Cajon Police Department arrested five suspects in El Cajon on March 10th for ABC violations, including three who furnished alcoholic beverages to minors. 

By Miriam Raftery

March 11, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – A new storm is set to hit our region starting Wednesday, along with cold temperatures.  Rainfall is forecast to be heaviest Friday and Saturday, with snow at higher elevations.

East County News Service

March 11, 2018 (Ramona) -- The Ramona Valley Vineyard Association presents Meet the Winemaker Weekend, taking place at 10 local Ramona wineries on April 7^th, 2018 and April 8^th.  The event features a behind the scene taste, tour and exclusive meeting with the winery owners and winemakers.

Like our sports coverage?  Donate to help support ECM’s sports section!  Type in “Sports” as your donation!

Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and stories!

Does your son or daughter play a sport at a level other than varsity?  Comment on this story or tweet @ECMagSports to request coverage!

Check out our sports section for more sports stories!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

March 10, 2018 (Spring Valley) - While college March Madness is fun, high school March Madness is proving to be just as exciting as tonight, the Patriots of Christian High School traveled to Spring Valley to face the Matadors of Mount Miguel in a 12 vs. 13-seed Division IV matchup in the CIF Southern Sectional state playoff quarterfinals. A tough but fun contest awaited; the Patriots were an almost spotless 11-1 in league play coming into tonight’s game and 22-9 overall.  Compare that to Mount Miguel’s perfect 8-0 record in the Grossmont League and 31-4 record and this was going to be a fun game.

By Paul Kruze

March 9, 2018 (El Cajon) -- As though the water couldn’t get any hotter for embattled El Cajon Councilman Ben Kalasho, he is now facing accusations that he is illegally shielding his personal assets, prior to an anticipated August trial on allegations that he sexually harassed two beauty pageant participants in 2016, among other claims.

The plaintiffs’ attorney, Jimmie Davis Parker, asserts that Kalasho made false real estate filings in order to hide assets that could potentially be sought to satisfy a legal judgment, should Kalasho lose the case. (View documents.) 

Filing false real estate documents is a felony crime in California, though it is not yet determined whether the allegation is true.

East County News Service

March 9, 2018 (Borrego Springs) – Back by popular demand at the Anza Borrego Foundation’s Front Porch Revue on March 17^th and 18^th at the Borrego Springs Performing Arts Center, Jimmy Smith promises this year will be even more outrageous than last time as he gathers the talent in Borrego together.  Enjoy a night of laughter, music, and good spirits, all in support of the work Anza-Borrego Foundation does in partnership with Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

By Pat Landis, President

Photo, left:  Julian Women's Club president Pat Landis, past president Marion Moore and California Federation Area Membership VP Stephanie Stark

March 8, 2018 (Julian) - On March 5^th at a Scholarship Luncheon, the Julian Woman’s Club honored eleven women who have been members of the club from twenty to forty years. Eight are past presidents of the club and several others have served as officers at the District and State level of the California Federation of Women’s Clubs. These are truly exceptional women.

Update March 11, 2018:  "Bubbles" has been found in a canyon near the pet store from which she escaped.

By Miriam Raftery

March 8, 2018 (Spring Valley) – “Bubbles,” a 35-pound, 5 and a half feet long black-throated monitor lizard has been missing from Mike’s Pets at 8300 Paradise Valley Road in Spring Valley since Sunday, March 4^th.

According to reports on 10 News and Patch.com, Bubbles was last seen on a security camera strolling from his cage that he had apparently slipped out of through a small opening, toward the back door of the shop.

Like our sports coverage?  Donate to help support ECM’s sports section!  Type in “Sports” as your donation!

Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and stories!

Does your son or daughter play a sport at a level other than varsity?  Comment on this story or tweet @ECMagSports to request coverage!

Check out our sports section for more sports stories!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

March 7, 2018 (La Mesa) - The Grossmont-Helix rivalry may not be as strong in lacrosse as it is in other sports, but the hate was still there as the boys from both schools took the field tonight in the first conference matchup of the season.  The Highlanders are 2-1 overall and undefeated (1-0) in league, while the Foothillers remain undefeated at 1-0 in each category coming into tonight.  

By Miriam Raftery

March 6, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – Four patients were transported via air and ground ambulances following a crash near I-8 and Japatul Valley Road this morning, according to Cal Fire. 

The collision occurred shortly before 11 a.m. after Border Patrol agents attempted to stop a Ford Expedition traveling west on I-8 near Buckman Springs Road. The driver sped off at a high rate of speed and lost control as he encountered slowed traffic, becoming airborne, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.