By Miriam Raftery

August 7, 2017 (La Mesa) – La Mesa Police have arrested two teenagers for armed robbery aboard a trolley on July 5^th.

According to police, the victim, a juvenile male, was riding a trolley from San Diego. When it arrived at the Amaya Trolley Station in La Mesa, a group of young males approved the victim and one asked for the time.

East County News Service

August 7, 2017 (Boulevard) – John Mauris snapped these photos of a Cailfornia grey fox in Boulevard. Though less colorful than their cousins, the red foxes, grey foxes are even more agile.

These crafty foxes are one of only two species of canines capable of climbing trees.  

By Rachel Williams

August 7, 2017 (El Cajon) -- Medical handouts, translated to English and Arabic, are strewn across the table at St. John’s Church for Syrian and Afghan refugees. Health organizations around San Diego participated in an educational meet and greet to introduce the differences in urgent and emergency care, proper nutrition and disease prevention.

East County News Service

August 5, 2017 (Anza-Borrego) -- Calling All Photographers!  The 2018 Anza-Borrego Desert Photo Contest is now live and ready to accept your entries!

The contest is meant to encourage desert lovers and photography enthusiasts to capture their favorite views, moments and adventures in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Since the theme of the contest is the unique and natural beauty of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, all photographs must be taken within the Park boundaries.

Board passes over ex-PTA president/LMSV bond oversight committee member and former teacher’s union representative to select church worker

By Kendra Sitton

Read full transcript of meeting here.

August 5, 2017 (La Mesa) -- Rebekah Basson received the appointment to the La Mesa-Spring Valley (LMSV) Board of Education during a special meeting on Aug. 3, just two days before the deadline for an expensive special election to be held in its place.

The sustainably sourced and succulent favorite is flown in fresh every week for guests to savor

East County News Service

August 4, 2017 (Alpine) -- Crab lovers, rejoice: The Buffet at Viejas Casino & Resort is kicking off King Crab Leg Fridays, when guests can enjoy an unlimited feast of the delectable culinary favorite. Flown in fresh every week from the icy waters off of the Alaskan coast, the sustainably sourced King Crab is the newest featured addition to The Buffet’s recent enhancements, which also include a state-of-the-art, no-wait, no-hassle reservation system created in partnership with Yelp.

East County News Service

August 4, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Authorities seek public help to locate 31-year-old Rainier Raroque, a convicted sexual batterer.  He failed to register as a sex offender in San Diego County and is known to frequent La Mesa and Lemon Grove, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department reports.

By Miriam Raftery

August 4, 2017 (El Cajon) –The San Diego Reader reports that a second contestant in the 2016 Miss Middle East Pageant has filed a lawsuit against Ben Kalasho and the pageant that he runs.  Paris Kargar told the Reader that on the eve of the pageant, Kalasho, an El Cajon Councilman, pulled her aside and told her, “You stay here at the hotel tonight with me, and you win.”

Lemon Grove kicked off its 40^th Birthday Celebration at Tuesday’s City Council meeting

Photo: (left to right) Councilman David Arambula, Councilman Jerry Jones, founding Councilman W. Dale Bailey, Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Mendoza, Mayor Racquel Vasquez, founding Councilman Jack Doherty, Councilman David Arambula, former Mayor Mary Sessom and her grandson, former Councilman Tom Clabby and Helen Ofield with the Lemon Grove Historical Society.

By Jonathan Goetz

August 3, 2017 (Lemon Grove) –  To commemorate the city’s 40^th birthday, Lemon Grove Mayor Racquel Vasquez presented certificates to founding Councilmembers W. Dale Bailey and Jack Doherty; Matt Jennings presented a certificate to the City from Senator Joel Anderson at this week’s Council meeting.

Review by Kathy Carpenter

Associate Reviewer sdtheatrereviews.com

Freelance writer Splash Magazine

August 3, 2017 (El Cajon) - Adventure is where you make it. In this rendition of Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson's beloved tale adapted for the conservatory by Jeanette Thomas, Jim is now Jamie, a girl, and she finds life is the adventure. Escape your every day life for a couple of hours and live the adventure of Treasure Island, directed by Brian Rickel & Mitzi Smith and with scores by musical director John Reynolds, complete with pirates, surprises and fun.

Photo courtesy of ECM news partner 10 News

August 2, 2017 (La Mesa) – A long-term highway closure is in effect at State Route 125 and I-8 in La Mesa, where an out-of-control big rig truck struck multiple vehicles, killing two women in a green Chevy car and injuring six other people, including two children, ages 6 and 3.

The children were in an SUV that was struck.  The 6-year-old was not in a carseat suffered major injuries including a broken neck, KNSD reports. She was reportedly not breathing when emergency responders arrived but she was resusciated.The children were taken to Rady Children's Hospital.

According to the CHP site, the big rig on southbond  125 struck a center divider, then careened into northbound lanes, striking multiple vehicles before coming to rest, jackknifed across the freeway. 

By Miriam Raftery

August 2, 2017 (El Cajon) — The El Cajon Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, August 15 at 7 p.m. to consider termination of the former Broadway Market sit'es Deemed Approve Status and Revocation of a Conditional Use Permit for the off-sale of beer, wine and distilled spirits.

East County News Service

August 2, 2017 (La Mesa) – A kitchen fire at Wong’s Golden Palace, 7126 University Avenue, caused an estimated $300,000 in damage to the restaurant.  The Chinese restaurant had celebrated its golden anniversary in 2016, its 50^th year in business.

East County News Service

August 1, 2017 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa Community Services Commission will host a public meeting on August 9 at 6 p.m. at La Mesa Community Center (4975 Memorial Drive) to get community input on proposed uses for MacArthur Park land, including the former Sun Valley Golf Course.

By Miriam Raftery 

August 1, 2017 (La Mesa) – A two-year-old boy has drowned in a swimming pool at his family’s home in the 7200 block of Princeton Avenue in La Mesa.  According to La Mesa Police, it is believed that the boy’s parents put him to bed last night in his bedroom, but somehow the toddler got outside during the night or early morning through a rear sliding glass door that the parents believed was locked.