East County News Service

File photo: Jamul Indian Village

September 1, 2015 (Jamul) – A 56-year-old construction worker fell to his death at the site of the Hollywood Casino Jamul this morning, Cal Fire and the Sheriff’s office confirm.

The accident occurred about 8:20 a.m. at the construction site located on Jamul Indian Village property.  The worker fell off a 38-foot-platform atop a man lift, said Sergeant Matthew Cook III from the Rancho San Diego Sheriff’s station.

September 1, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - The Sycuan band of the Kumeyaay nation will host its 26^th annual pow-wow September 11-13 at the tribe’s pow-wow grounds, next to the Casino at 5459 Sycuan Road on the Sycuan reservation in El Cajon.

August 24, 2015 (San Diego) – The Barona Band of Mission Indians invites San Diegans to experience Native American dancing, music and traditional food at the 45^th annual Barona Powwow, which will be held on Labor Day weekend at the Barona Sports Park located on the Barona Indian Reservation. The three-day celebration starts on Friday, September 4 with Gourd Dancing at 6 p.m. and the spectacular Grand Entry at 7 p.m. and continues throughout the weekend on Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Admission is free.

“For the past 45 years, the Barona Powwow has been a wonderful opportunity for Native Americans to not only celebrate our heritage and traditions with each other but to share our culture with San Diego,” said Barona Tribal Councilwoman Beth Glasco. “Over the years our Powwow has grown to become one of the most anticipated in our area and we are proud to invite the community out to experience this wonderful cultural celebration.” 

August 29, 2015 (Spring Valley)—Cali Comfort and the Spring Valley Chamber of Commerce invite you to savor the 6^th annual Tailgate and BBQ Festival on October 18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Amateur barbecue enthusiasts will compete for over$1,000 in prizes at this event, which benefits youth sports in Spring Valley and includes free live entertainment for NFL fans and families, a kids’ zone and street vendors.

Photo: Craig McClain with his wife, Kathleen and daughter, Deanna

August 28, 2015 (El Cajon)--The Boy Scouts of the Heartland District in East County honored Craig McClain of Boys to Men Mentoring at a luncheon on August 26^th at the Ronald Reagan Community Center in El Cajon.

By Monica Zech, Public Information Officer for the City of El Cajon

August 28, 2015 (El Cajon)--Music, art shows, classes and more are all coming up in El Cajon.

EVENTS

A Day of Free Music This Weekend In Downtown El Cajon

This coming Saturday, August 29, it will be a day of music at the Prescott Promenade.  Starting at 12 noon, three groups will take the stage as to “make-up” concerts for those that were rained out in May during the Dinner & a Concert series.

August 28, 2015 (Lakeside) -- The Heartland Foundation, publisher of East County Magazine, an award-winning community publication, has been named a media partner of the 2015 Kids Care Fest, a free, family-oriented event open to the public. Kids Care Fest, featuring free health care screenings, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 12 at the Lakeside Rodeo Grounds,12584 Mapleview St., Lakeside. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

August 28, 2015 (Alpine) – Baron’s Market is celebrating its first birthday in Alpine on Saturday, <August 29 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m . The festivities will include ice cream floats, hot dogs, trivia contests and a chance to win a bag full of gourmet groceries.

East County News Service

August 27, 2015 (La Mesa)—La Mesa Police seek public help to locate Hispanic male suspect who robbed the WalMart store’s garden center in Grossmont Center at gunpoint on August 24 at 4:10 p.m.

East County News Service

August 27, 2015 (Jamul) – A 75-year-old man driving a Chevy Blazer is dead of injuries sustained in a crash that occurred at 12:50 p.m. on State Route 94 west of Steele Canyon Road in unincorporated San Diego County near Jamul.

According to Officer Kevin Pearlstein from the California Highway Patrol, the  elderly driver’s vehicle drifted across a turn lane and into oncoming traffic, striking a Toyota Sienna taxi head-on.

By Miriam Raftery

August 26, 2015 (Lakeside) - - Residents, environmentalists and medical experts presented strong evidence for why a proposed sand mining project in Lakeside’s El Monte Valley should not be approved.  Opponents of Enviornmine’s proposed 167-acre project spoke out at tonight’s scoping meeting conducted by the county.’s Planning department.  Public comment remains open until September 14^th, after which an Environmental Impact Report will be drafted.

Dr. Christy Walker, an emergency room physician, testified about the confirmed presence of Valley Fever (coccidioides immitis) in El Monte Valley; evidenced in the treatment of both people and pets who contracted the potentially lethal illness in the Valley. She indicated that Valley fever does not just affect the lungs but can affect multiple organs. Her concern is that mining that lift layers of sand to dig the 100' deep, 182 acre wide mining pit would release fungal coccidioides spores d into the air, greatly increasing exposure and infection.

August 26, 2015 (La Mesa)--Hart Optical Co., 8685 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa, is noting August as “Children’s Eye Health and Safety Awareness Month” with back-to-school tips about children’s vision. “Approximately one in four school age children have some type of vision problem which can affect their success in school,” said Michael Emerson, a Registered Ophthalmic Dispenser who has owned and operated Hart Optical Co. since 1987.

East County News Service

Photo: El Cajon Police

August 25, 2015 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police officers have collared an unusual “suspect” spotting rambling through backyards along Helix View Drive. Though a caller reporting a “possible alligator,” the roving reptile turned out to be a large iguana native to the tropics but commonly kept as pets.

August 25, 2015 (La Mesa)—On Thursday, August 27th at 8 a.m., officers from the La Mesa Police Department and community members will come together in an informal, neutral space to discuss community issues, build relationships, and drink coffee. All community members are invited to attend. The event  is at Starbucks, 5020 Baltimore Drive La Mesa. Please contact Sergeant Brian Stoney with any questions at (619) 667-7555 bstoney@ci.la-mesa.ca.us

By Miriam Raftery

August 25, 2015 (Alpine) –Two men in a white minivan tried to lure a 10-year-old girl into the vehicle on Monday, August 24^th at noon, Sergeant L. Whalen with the Alpine Sheriff’s station reports.  The girl was playing in an apartment complex in the 2000 block of Arnold Way in Alpine when one of the suspects approached and  offered her a ride, saying had candy in the van. The girl ran away and hid in some bushes.

The  white van has had tinted side windows, a pink breast cancer sticker on the back door and two lumber boards on top. One suspect are described as a white man with a freckled face, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with drawstring pulled tight around his face and black sweatpants. Ther is no description of the second suspect.