East County News Service

May 8, 2016 (Julian) -- The California Old Time Fiddlers Association invites you to the Julian Fiddle and Pickin’ Contest on Saturday and Sunday, June 4^th and 5^th plus a Saturday night performance by two two-time National Fiddle champions. There’s also a warmup workshop on Friday June 3^rd led by a national Grand Fiddle champions.

By Kathy Carpenter

Associate/Youth Reviewer www.sdtheatrereviews.com

May 7, 2016 (El Cajon) – The Odd Couple is a case of opposing personalities coming together.and trying to work things out. The original movie was in 1968, starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau.  I can hardly believe it was so long ago. In 1970 they made the television series with Tony Randall and Jack Klugman, also a classic. Recently came the remake with Brian Cebrain as Felix and Matthew Perry as Oscar. Although I have only seen a couple of shows, it was also quite funny.

Update: The deceased has been identified as 18-year-old James Will, a Mountain Empire football star, East County Sports reports.

By Miriam Raftery

May 7, 2016 (La Posta) — A Campo man driving a 2004 Acura TSX was reported missing yesterday at 12:30 p.m. to the California Highway Patrol and Sheriff  after failing to reach his destination in Pine Valley, where he planned to pick up his great-grandmother at 6 a.m. yesterday morning. 

East County News Service

May 5, 2016 (La Mesa) — La Mesa Police tried to stop a vehicle for an equipment violation in the Costco Parking lot this morning, but the suspect put his Toyota Camry into reverse quickly, causing officers to have to jump out of the way, according to an police. He fled, leading officers on a brief pursuit before he got out of the vehicle and ran behind businesses along Fletcher Parkway.

East County News Service

May 5, 2016 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – The Jacumba Hot Springs Blues Festival on May 14^th from 1-8 p.m. will feature blues, brews and barbeque—as well as live music, vendors, kids’ activities and an art council raffle.

East County News Service

May 5, 2016 (San Diego) - The Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR), a 2,300-member trade group for San Diego-area realtors, will provide free paper shredding and electronic recycling services from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Friday, May 13, at PSAR’s East County Service Center, 1150 Broadway, El Cajon. The event is open to the public.

East County News Service

May 3, 2016 (Warner Springs) – Extensive vandalism forced closure today of the entire Warner Unified School District complex, which includes elementary through high school classrooms as well as district offices.  The district's website states it hopes to reopen soon and will notify parents when children can return to school.

A maintenance worker arriving at work Wednesday morning discovered the damage, which included graffiti, broken windows, classrooms ransacked, furniture overturned and fire extinguishers discharged.  The worker called  Sheriff’s deputies at 5:15 a.m.

By Miriam Raftery

May 2, 2016 (Boulevard) – Jacumba Solar, Tule Wind, a county presentation on groundwater monitoring, updates on lawsuits over big energy projects and discussion of Live Oak Springs water rate hikes are among the many important items on the Boulevard Planning Group’s agenda for its meeting Thursday, May 5 at 7 p.m. in the Boulevard Fire Training Room (39923 Ribbonwood Road in Boulevard). For the full agenda, click here. For highlights, scroll down.

East County News Service

May 1, 2016 (Santee) -- B. W. "Stoney" Stone, also known as “Mr. East County” of Santee, passed away peacefully in his home on Wednesday, April 20, surrounded by his family and loved ones.

Source: County News Service

See video of reunion on KNSD

Photo: As a result of the region's first Identify the Missing event, Randy Gatewood, missing for 10 years from his family, has been found by his brother Gene Gatewood, at right.

April 30, 2016 (Lemon Grove) -- He once was lost, but now is found.

By Tom and Colleen Taylor

April 29, 2016 (Alpine) - We are in the beginning stages of forming an art league here in Alpine.  We want to meet with local artists who are interested in becoming active in the community by participating in open studios as well as art shows.  We have already reserved www.alpineartleague.org and will be designing that website shortly through FASO (Fine Art Studios Online).  If you would like more information on us, please visit our current website at www.carefreefineartstudio.com or feel free to contact us at 619-609-8304.     

East County News Service

April 29, 2016 (Ramona) – The Ramona Rodeo takes play May 19-22, along with other activities including a parade down Main Street on the 21^st and dancing to the country band Patrick Howard Trampus on the 20^th and 21^st after the rodeo.  There’s also a free slack rodeo performance on the 19^th, as well as a kids day on the 22^nd featuring the youngest cowboys and cowgirls riding sheep in the mutton bustin’ competition.

 Adult rodeo events include bull riding, bareback riding, barrel racing, a tie-down competition, steer wrestling and more. Winners may advance to the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association national rodeo championship.

April 28, 2016 (El Cajon) - A mystery dinner theatre production by Toby Otero. Come spend the evening at the Salty Dog Seaside Seafood and Steak restaurant and see what happens when Captain F. “Bigbeard” McQuarrie and his misfit crew decide to stop their pirating ways and try to sail the straight and narrow. With the notorious French Privateer, “The Razor,” always on his tail, and a drunken pirate head waiter who always seems to do the wrong thing, can Captain Bigbeard and his crew ever truly live a peaceful life? This is the manic tale of a stolen treasure chest, a sensational swashbuckling swordfight, mayhem, mischief, and…MURD-ARRR!!! Performances will be held on Friday and Saturday nights, April 29^th and 30^th, at 7:00pm and on Sunday May 1^st at 2:00pm. The venue is Richardson Hall, 551 Farragut Circle, El Cajon. All seats are $20.00 and include a themed meal. For reservations, please e-mail thecircleplayers@gmail.com or phone (619) 588-5348.

East County News Service

Photo: Clover Flat

April 27, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- Back Country Land Trust closed on March 31^st on the conservation of the abutting 982-acre San Diego Mountain Ranch and the 764-acre Clover Flat properties in La Posta.  The transaction is valued at $6,000,000; funded by SANDAG, the US NAVY, US Fish & Wildlife Service, the Trust for Public Land, the California Wildlife Conservation Board, and BCLT.  Along with the land came  approximately$120,000 in funds for remediation plus management endowment funding, says George Barnett, Vice President of BCLT.