By Miriam Raftery

November 4, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – The future of the San Miguel Fire District hangs in the balance.  Should San Miguel keep its contract with Cal-Fire or return to being a stand-alone district, as the current board recently voted by a slim margin?  We interviewed a representative from  each of the two slates running for our East County Magazine Radio Show on KNSJ. Listen now by clicking the orange audio link.

 In this heated session,  incumbent Bill  Kiel, a retired engineer, makes the case for staying with Cal-Fire, while retired fire chief Kim Raddatz argues for giving Cal-Fire the boot and returning to an independent district.  Each side claims their position will be best for taxpayers and public safety.  One side is backed by Cal-Fire firefighters, the other by leaders of the former San Miguel firefighters.

By Mike Allen

November 3, 2016 (El Cajon) -- The Sycuan band of the Kumeyaay nation has plans to build a high-rise hotel and expand its casino.

The plans call for an 11-story, 300-room, hotel plus an additional 21,000 square feet of gaming space with 500 new devices, bringing the total to 2,500. The project would also include a 2,030-car parking garage, an upscale restaurant, a spa, fitness center, and larger outdoor area with two swimming pools.

By Miriam Raftery

October 29, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Multiple candidates in the Grossmont Union High School District Board race have complained of mailers containing false or misleading information on candidates' party endorsements or affiliations.

Below is information on which parties have endorsed candidates in the race,  as well as which candidates have teachers' union backing and which seem to be running stealth campaigns--offering little or no information for voters.

East County News Service

November 3, 2016 (Lakeside) - Take the kids to breakfast with Santa Claus from 8:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 3 at the Lakeside Community Center (9841 Vine Street).

Update with comments from the Lincoln Club President and links to prior concerns raised about the PAC by the FPPC.

By Miriam Raftery

November 3, 2016 (La Mesa) — A hit piece mailer on La Mesa City Council Colin Parent has been sent by a shadowy political action group tied to his opponent.

The mailer deceptively states Parent moved to La Mesa only to run for Council and mentions he’s lived in Sacramento and San Diego.  It fails to mention his long and deep ties to East County.  Parent went to Fuerte Elementary School near Mt. Helix, had his first job on La Mesa Blvd. with the East County Development Council, grew up going to local La Mesa hang-outs such as the Aquarius roller rink, was active in Boy Scots and graduated from Valhalla High School in the Grossmont Union High School District before attending UC San Diego and later, getting a law degree in New York.

By Miriam Raftery

November 1, 2016 (La Mesa) – Someone with access to confidential files at Helix Water District violated state law and district policy by anonymously mailing part of a board candidate’s personnel file to East County Magazine.

We will not violate privacy rules by publishing the contents.  However, we did speak with the candidate, Louis Tejeda, who gave permission for us to disclose the leaking of his confidential record: a notice of proposed disciplinary action sent 21 years ago, when he was an employee of the district.

By Miriam Raftery

November 2, 2016 (El Cajon) — The father of Alfred Olango, a Ugandan immigrant who was fatally shot last month by an El Cajon Police Officer Richard Gonsalves, has announced plans to establish the Alfred Olango Justice and Unity Foundation for police reform. In addition, Olango’s sister has filed a claim against the City of El Cajon alleging negligence in her brother’s death.

East County News Service

November 1, 2016 (Alpine) - Local teens are determined to help their best friend as she fights bone cancer by organizing a major fundraising event.

Samantha Bodger, 16 years old, who lives in Alpine and is a top student at Granite Hills High School, was diagnosed with High Grade Osteosarcoma in August 2016.  She requires 10 months of intensive chemotherapy and a major surgery to amputate her leg mid-November.

East County News Service

Nov.1, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – The 2016 San Diego Regional Law Enforcement Teddy Bear Drive benefiting Rady Children’s Hospital will launch on Thursday, Nov. 3 at the nine Chick-fil-A restaurants in San Diego County, including the Chick-fil-A restaurant East County’s Chick-fil-A restaurant at 9418 Mission Gorge Road, Santee.

East County News Service

November 1, 2016 (Cuyamaca) — Craig Maxwell snapped these dramatic images of spectacular skies and fall foliage in Cuyamaca, a gem in our backcountry region.

East County News Service

November 1, 2016 (Lakeside) — Three people have been transported to a hospital following a collision in Lakeside reported at 7:11 p.m. tonight.  The crash damaged a home at 13413 Julian Avenue, near the junction with Lakeview Road.

According to the CHP, the collision resulted in two vehicles in the front yard, with a Ford Ranger overturned.

East County News Service

November 1, 2016 (Ocotillo Wells) -- Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue (BORSTAR) agents rescued a man who was lost in the Ocotillo Wells Desert early Monday morning.

On Sunday, around 6:30 p.m., a ranger with California Department of Parks and Recreation contacted Border Patrol agents assigned to the Highway 86 checkpoint and asked for help to locate a missing man last seen in the Ocotillo Wells Desert. He was reported missing by his family after he failed to return from an ATV ride in the desert.

By Miriam Raftery

November 1, 2016 (Julian) -- "Chris Gardner has been the Jess Martin Park volunteer park host for 6 years, for the community of Julian, he is simply irreplaceable!" So reads a petition launched by Julian residents hoping to keep Gardner on site.

East County News Service

East County News Service