Communities

SANTEE GOING RED WITH NEW FIRE ENGINE

 

Source: Santee Fire Department

August 18, 2016 (Santee) -- The City of Santee is reintroducing red-colored fire suppression vehicles into its fleet after 50 years of having yellow as the primary color for the department’s fire apparatuses.


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MOTORCYCLIST KILLED IN WILDCAT CANYON ROAD CRASH

 

By Miriam Raftery

August 18, 2016 (Lakeside) – A 58-year-old Lakeside man died at the scene of a three-vehicle crash in Lakeside yesterday afternoon.


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DUI CHECKPOINT PLANNED IN LA MESA THIS WEEKEND

 

Source:  La Mesa police chief Walt Vasquez

August 17, 2016 (La Mesa) - The La Mesa Police Department Traffic Unit will be conducting a DUI Checkpoint on August 20th, 2016, at an undisclosed location within the City limits between the hours of 7:00pm and 3:00am. 


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POINTE FIRE NOW 80% CONTAINED, EVACUATIONS LIFTED

 

Update August 19,2016 8 a.m.:The fire held to 26 acres overnight and is now 80% contained.

Update 8:40 p.m.: Evacuation orders are now lifted. Please watch for firefighters as you return home.

Update7 p.m.:The fire is 15 acres and 40% contained. A firefighter was bitten by a rattlesnake and has been hospitalized.

East County News Service

Photos by Kristink Kjaero taken off State Route 94 and Kathleen Coates-Hedberg, viewed from Mt. Helix.

August 17, 2016 (Spring Valley) – Evacuations have been ordered in Spring Valley on Ledge Side between Ledge View and South Barcelona due to the Pointe Fire, Cal Fire reports. Structures are threatened north of Point Parkway near the water tanks, NBC 7 news reports.

Monte Vista High School is being set up as an evacuation center at 3230 Sweetwater Springs Blvd. in Spring Valley. The fire is approximately 3 to 5 acres.

 


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LA MESA TRAVELODGE SUED OVER ALLEGED DISCRIMINATION AGAINST DEAF WOMAN WITH SERVICE DOG

 

East County News Service

August 17, 2016 (La Mesa) — A lawsuit alleges that the Travelodge hotel in La Mesa discriminated against a deaf woman traveler, due to her service dog.


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HELIX WATER TO CONSIDER FEES, CHANGES AT LAKE JENNINGS CAMPGROUND

 

East County News Service

August 17, 2016 (La  Mesa) – At today’s 2 p.m. meeting of the Helix Water District Board (7811 University Ave., La Mesa), directors will consider addition of fees and other changes at Lake Jennings, including adding kayak rentals and a tee-pee rental venue at the campground.  These are the latest improvements proposed by a committee led by director Joel Scalzitti.    As a result, the lake that some board  members sought to close due to budget shortfalls is now operating at a profit.  View board package and agenda.

At its last meeting, the board voted 3-2 for hefty rate hikes of 10.1%, effective on water use after  November 1,2016 and billings starting January 1,2017. That action has inspired five challengers to run against two board members who voted for this hefty rate hike as well as earlier recent increases—moves that fueled outrage in public comments and emails sent to the board.


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SDG&E WORKER HOSPITALIZED AFTER SUFFERING SHOCK FROM POWER LINES IN EL CAJON

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Screenshot, ECM news partner 10 News

August 16, 2016 (El Cajon) –A San Diego Gas & Electric worker suffered injuries from an electric shock while working on power lines on Shady Lane in El Cajon Monday morning.


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CIRCLE PLAYERS PRESENT THE TRIAL OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER: OCT.29-30

 

East County News Service

August 13, 2016 (El Cajon) -- Who were the key personages that made the Reformation happen? Was it Martin Luther or a series of circumstances? This courtroom trial tells of Luther’s youth, his parents and his reasons for becoming a monk--and shows why he nailed his 95 theses to the church door.


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BRUSH FIRE IN MEXICO REACHES CAMPO

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo credit: Audrua  A. Lou’Lou, taken at Campo Hills, below cut photo:  Bob Scheid

Update August 14, 2016 2 p.m. -  Fire is now 120 acres, all currently south of the Border,per Cal Fire, which has three engines monitoring the blaze.

Update 7 p.m.:  Cal Fire Captain Isaac Sanchez says the fire is now 60 acres. According to Capt. Sanchez it is entirely in Mexico, though several eyewitnesses have told  ECM it did cross the border earlier in at least one spot near Campo. Cal Fire describes the fire as south of Bell Valley near Potrero,burning southeast along the Mexican side of the border fence."

  Firefighters will remain at scene throughout the evening in order to ensure that it does not spread to the north.  Currently, CAL FIRE and San Diego County Fire have 12 engines, 4 water tenders and 4 hand crews (approximately 100 personnel) at scene. 

 

August 13, 2016 (Campo) – A fast-burning brush fire that started in Mexico has now crossed into the U.S. in Campo, multiple residents confirm.  The fire crossed the border fence about two miles west of the Campo store. 

“It is on both sides of the fence and they are pulling water from private ponds not Lake Morena,” says Karen Noblitt-McIntyre. Lake Morena has been drained to below 3% capacity by the City of San Diego.

Long-time residents of the area advise that the brush there has not burned in many years. Some are voluntarily evacuating near the border.


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MISSING HORSE FOUND SAFE SIX DAYS AFTER RUNNING OFF

 

By Miriam Raftery

August 13, 2016 (Cuyamaca) – Royal, a horse missing in Rancho Cuyamaca State Park since August 9, was found today by a runner who spotted Royal drinking water at Dyer Spring.  Royal is currently at the veterinarian for treatment of a gash on the leg, but otherwise appears to be in good health.


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WHAT’S HAPPENING IN EL CAJON

 

By Monica Zech

August 13, 2016 (El Cajon) – Monica Zech from El Cajon has provided a list of hot happenings in the city coming up, including  anew El Cajon Walks! Meet-up group, Cajon Classic Cruise night, Island Music at the next “Dinner and a Concert,” Oktoberfest, classes, council hearings, nomination deadlines for Women in Leadership and a Veterans’ committee,  a fire station open house, free disaster preparedness class and more.


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MOTORCYCLIST HITS TREE, SUFFERS SERIOUS INJURY NEAR CAMPO

 

East County News Service

August 12, 2016 (Campo) — A 25-year-old motorcyclist from San Diego struck a tree of State Route 94 in Campo this morning shortly after 10:30 a.m., suffering serious injuries.


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HORSE STILL MISSING: SEARCH ON SATURDAY NEEDS VOLUNTEERS

 

East County News Service

August 12, 2016 (Rancho Cuyamaca State Park) - A new search will be mounted this Saturday the 13th for a horse missing since Aug. 7 in Rancho Cuyamaca State Park. The horse became scared bolted when its saddle flipped upside down. It is feared that Royal’s tack may have become entangled in brush, trapping the animal.


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CAL FIRE INVESTIGATION LEADS TO CONVICTION OF ARSONIST WHO SET FIRES IN LAKESIDE AND OTHER AREAS

 

By Miriam Raftery

August 12, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – On Friday, Poway resident Jonathan Benjamin Cohen, 45, was found guilty of five counts of arson.  “Cohen faces up to 30 years when sentenced in September,” says Cal Fire Captain Isaac Sanchez in El Cajon, speaking on behalf of County Fire Chief Tony Mecham.


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SEARCHERS NEEDED TO FIND FOR MISSING HORSE IN CUYAMACA

UPDATE:  SEARCHERS STILL NEEDED!  Need more on horseback, on foot and on bike to search brush areas.  Bring Bluetooth wireless speakers for phones or MP3 players and play horse sounds for Royal to reply to.  Meet Aug. 13 at the Sweetwater Bridge parking lot.  Call Shawna (760) 880-1714

East County News Service

August 10, 2016 (Cuyamaca) – Searchers on foot, on horse, and a drone are requested to help find a horse named Royal that ran off on August 7 in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park at Dyar Springs Trail south of the spring.  “He was fully tacked when he left us. His saddle slipped under him and scared him,” the owner says, according to a post at the Brush Fire Partyline on Facebook.  The horse took off bucking and the owner fears he could be caught up on brush.


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LAKE HENSHAW FUNDRAISING EVENT ON AUGUST 28TH TO BENEFIT SHELTER TO SOLDIERS

 

East County News Service

August 12, 2016 (Ramona) -- Ramona Ranch Winey and Round Up Grill/John Little Catering are partnering to host “Live at the Lake," an interactive outdoor music, food and wine fundraising event on Sunday, August 28, 2016 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm to benefit Shelter to Soldier, a non-profit organization that adopts and trains shelter dogs to serve as psychiatric service dogs for post-9/11 combat veterans. The event will take place at the Lake Henshaw parking lot located at 26439 Highway 78 in Santa Ysabel, CA, 92070.


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THUMBTACKS FOUND HIDDEN IN GRASS AT SANTEE’S MAST PARK

 

East County News Service

August 11, 2016 (Santee) – 10 News reports that Pami Peterson found dozens of tacks, most pointing up, spread out and hidden in the grass at Mast Park where she brought her three young sons to play.


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IT’S OFFICIAL: EL CAjON COUNCIL VOTES TO PUT DISTRICT ELECTIONS ON THE BALLOT

 

By Jonathan Goetz

August 11, 2016 (El Cajon) -- The El Cajon City Council voted 4-0 (with Councilman Bob McClellan absent) on Tuesday, August 9, to put district elections on the ballot.

If approved by voters in the November 8, 2016 election, districts will be finalized in 2017 and utilized from 2018 forward.

Mayor Bill Wells first directed staff to look into the issue back on July 14, 2015. He was concerned that numerous state and federal Voting Rights Act lawsuits have forced similar sized cities and jurisdictions to switch from at-large seats to district elections.

You can read questions and answers from a public forum here:  http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/node/22153

The question on the ballot will read:

Do you approve amending Section 201 of the City of EI Cajon Charter to require election of City Council members by geographic districts in which they reside beginning with the general municipal election to be held in 2018?

The full text is as follows:


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EL CAJON REJECTS FINDINGS OF GRAND JURY REPORTS ON HOMELESSNESS AND POLICE OVERSIGHT

 

By Jonathan Goetz

Photos:  Councilman Tony Ambrose, left, leveled harsh words at Richard Graydon, right, a citizen seeking more help for homeless people.

August 11,2016 (El Cajon) – Tempers grew heated during Tuesday’s El Cajon City Council hearing, where  Council member Tony Ambrose scolded a citizen, Richard Graydon, who had criticized the City's approach to homelessness.  The agenda included the city’s responses to two critical Grand Jury reports, one on homeless issues and the other calling for formation of a citizens’ police oversight board. 

The City determined it already does enough to help homeless people--more than other East County cities-- and also concluded there is no need to allow citizens'oversight of any complaints against El Cajon Police.


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JAMUL RESIDENTS COMPLAIN OF INADEQUATE ALERTS AFTER HIGHWAY 94 SHUTDOWNS--AGAIN

 

By Miriam Raftery

August 11, 2016 (Jamul) — On August 5th, a head-on crash between a big-rig and three other vehicles at the steel bridge on State Route 94 near Jamacha shut down the highway for several hours.  A truck lost a rear axle. One car flipped, another partially over the side,” says Kim Hamilton, Deerhorn Valley Antler editor, who cancelled family dinner plans due to the delay. ”Cars were going the wrong way, no law enforcement,” she told ECM.


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EXPECT DELAYS ON HIGHWAY 94 IN JAMUL AUGUST 15-22

By Miriam Raftery

August 10,2016 (Jamul) – Signs posted by Cal Trans along State Route 94  are warning motorists to expect traffic delays August 15-22 due to ”events.”

According to a Cal Trans press release posted on the Jamul Indian Village website, Caltrans issued a permit to the Jamul Indian Village for traffic control on  SR-94/Campo Road related to the installation of a new temporary traffic signal at the intersection of SR-94 and Daisy Drive.


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6 CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR EL CAJON COUNCIL—BUT DEADLINE MAY BE EXTENDED IF COUNCILMAN AMBROSE DOESN’T FILE BY THURSDAY

 

By Miriam Raftery

August 10, 2016 (El Cajon) – Three seats are up for election on the El Cajon Council. All are currently held by incumbents.  Council members Bob McClellan and Star Bales have filed to run for reelection and qualified to appear on the ballot, according to Monica Zech, the city’s public information officer.  But so far, Councilman Tony Ambrose has not.


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STOLEN MOTORCYCLE AND CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT RECOVERED IN STING OPERATION

 

By Miriam Raftery

August 10, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Yesterday, Steven Guider, 52, was arrested in the 8200 block of Winter Gardens Blvd. in unincorporated El Cajon. Guider posted $2,000 worth of construction equipment on Craigslist that had recently been stolen from a vehicle burglary in Santee.


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LA MESA ARTIST EXHIBITS LANDMARKS IN WATERCOLORS AT LA MESA HEALTH LIBRARY

 

East County News Service

 

August 9, 2016 (La Mesa) –  The Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, a consumer health library at 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, is now hosting its Summer Art Exhibit featuring 19 watercolor paintings by award-winning artist Marilyn Hadley Hallam of La Mesa. The show runs through September 30. The exhibit features paintings of San Diego and Southern California landmarks, as well as landscapes.


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COLON CANCER PATIENT IN CAMPO NEEDS HELP TO CONTINUE CHEMOTHERAPY TREATMENTS

 

East County News Service

August 9, 2016 (Campo-Lake Morena) — A GoFundMe site has been established by Bill Holtwick to help raise money for huge medical costs needed to save the life of his wife, Pat.  Claudia Millerbragg, who runs a Campo-Lake Morena community forum, has confirmed that Pat Holtwick is a cherished community member who has devoted many hours to rescuing abandoned or abused animals.

“I am 71 years old and Pat is 66 and we just can’t keep up with physical and or the financial responsibilities. We are both on Social Security, and are on a very low/limited income,” Holtwick writes.


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FAA RAISES HEIGHT LIMIT FOR FLIGHTS OVER GILLESPIE FIELD

 

By Miriam Raftery

August 9, 2016 (El Cajon) — The Federal Aviation Administration has approved a request from Gillespie Field Airport Manager Marc Baskel to permanently raise the minimum altitude for air traffic over Gillespie Field from 1,188 feet to 1,388 feet.


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DETAILS EMERGE IN SANTEE SWAT TEAM SHOOTING

 

By Miriam Raftery

August 8, 2016 (Santee) — The man who fired arrows from a crossbow at Sheriff’s deputies in Santee and died after officers returned fire during a SWAT team incident Friday has been identified as Santee resident David Michael Moya, 31.


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HEALTH CARE LIBRARY IN LA MESA WILL DISCUSS PREVENTIVE CARE WITH ACUPUNCTURE

 

East County News Service

 

August 8, 2016 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, will host “Preventive Care with Acupuncture,” a free presentation about how acupuncture can treat a variety of health issues, from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24. The program is part of the library’s Wellness Wednesday series, normally held on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Admission is free. Light refreshments will be served. Advance RSVP is not necessary.


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MISSING PERSON AT RISK IN LAKESIDE

UPDATE AS OF 6:47 PM:  BRYAN HAS BEEN FOUND

East County News Service

August 7, 2016 (Lakeside) - The Sheriff's Departments wants the public's help in locating a missing person at risk in the East County.


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HIGH MERCURY LEVELS FOUND IN MANY LOCAL LAKES AND RESERVOIRS

 

Update:   Helix Water says Lake Jennings drinking water tests clean, issue is with fish tissue; state clarifies problem is with fish tissue, not necessarily water for drinking

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

August 6, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – State officials are warning that 150 reservoirs statewide are tainted by mercury. Ten San Diego reservoirs are contaminated, including some of East County’s most popular fishing spots.  “Mercury is negatively impacting the beneficial uses of many waters of the state by making fish unsafe for human and wildlife consumption,” the State Water Resources Control Board website warns.

However some local officials dispute those findings.

 

What lakes locally have mercury issues,accordingto the state?

Local reservoirs listed as "mercury impaired" on the state's document are El Capitan Reservoir, Lake Henshaw, Lake Hodges, Lake Jennings, Loveland Reservoir, Lower Otay Reservoir, Lake Morena Reservoir, San Vicente Reservoir, Lake Sutherland, and Sweetwater Reservoir, according to a California Water Boards publication released in June.


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