East County News Service

June 29, 2015 (El Cajon)—Three suspects are in custody after a group of people reportedly forced their way into a garage and tried to assault a homeowner and collect a debt, But the homeowner, who lived in the 8200 block of Limon Lane in unincorporated El Cajon, armed himself with a shotgun and shot one of the suspects in the leg.

June 26, 2015 (El Cajon ) – From now through July 4, Coldstone Creamery in Rancho San Diego (2963 Jamacha Road, El Cajon) will donate 20% of all purchase to benefit the ACES Foundation, which supports the El Cajon Animal Shelter. Just mention “El Cajon Animal Shelter” when ordering, or present the flyer in this story.

By Miriam Raftery

June 27, 2015 (Ramona) – A 21-year-old Ramona man driving a new 2015  Honda Civic was struck head-on Friday night at 10:34 p.m. on State Route 67.  A Kia driven by a 16-year-old San Diego teen with a provisional driver’s license crossed the center line after the driver lost control.  The two drivers, along with a 16-year-old passenger in the Kia, all sustained serious injuries.

By Miriam Raftery

June 25, 2015 (Ramona) – It’s summertime and the living is easy – especially at Grant James Vineyard in Ramona, where dinners are served al fresco every Friday night from 6 to 7:30 p.m.  Something Delicious will serve up pasta, salad and bread on the patio with vineyard views.

The winery also hosts Gourmet Foodie Potluck parties. The next one is on June 27^th  at 6 p.m.  “This is a great way to share your favorite homemade dish and meet new friends,” the invitation sent to winery customers entices.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Glendale Police

June 25, 2015 (El Cajon) – A rap music artist suspected of breaking into a home and exposing himself to a 30-year-old woman, as well as stalking a 17-year-old girl is now in custody. El Cajon Police arrested 32-year-old Von Ryan Manago, said Lt. Frank La Haye.

Manago has been charged with indecent exposure and burglary. He had previously been arrested for burglarizing a woman's home in Glendale while she was sleeping in 2012.  According to a Glendale News-Press article, Manago is a rap musician who goes by the rapper name Nem-Iz. Born in New Jersey, he has also lived in Raleigh, North Carolina and is the CEO of Writer's Blokk Media, an Indie music label.

For crime buffs out there, here are the bare facts of how police tracked down the prowler flasher suspect.

By Miriam Raftery

June 25, 2015 (El Cajon) – Nationwide, over 400,000 rape kits have never been tested, including many right here in our region.  Yet testing every rape kit can produce undeniably dramatic results.

June 24, 2015 (Lakeside)--The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has issued a Boil Water Order and Public Notification for Louis Stelzer County Park located at 11470 Wildcat Canyon Road, Lakeside, effective immediately.  The water system serves a ranger station, volunteer pad, park drinking fountains and public restrooms.

The drinking water system has tested present for total coliform bacteria. 

June 24, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--A welcome sight will soon be rolling out to some outlying areas of the County.

By Miriam Raftery

June 22, 2015 (El Cajon ) – A woman who left her dog in a hot car for five hours at the El Cajon courthouse on June 19^th  has been arrested and charged with animal cruelty.

By Robert Clark  

 The El Cajon City Council meeting of June 9 was notable for what  happened--and for what did not happen.

As reported in "East County Magazine" on  June 12  ("Smoking Hot Debate"), the Council voted 3-1 to support Senate Bill 151, which would increase the legal age to buy tobacco in California from 18 to 21.

 What did not happen was a "budget workshop." The City Council meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. For the last four years (2011 through 2014), I have attended the workshops on the first meeting in June, at which time information would be provided to the public regarding the estimated financial results for the current fiscal year, and numbers were available for the proposed budget for the fiscal year commencing the following July 1. The Council would then vote to adopt the budget at the second June meeting.

By Jaime Mirman

June 18, 2015 (La Mesa)--Our own San Diego Concert Band offered a concert on June 14 at Harry Griffen Park in La Mesa. The stage was surrounded by at least 250 enthusiastic listeners.

By Miriam Raftery

June 18, 2015 (La Mesa) – After hearing testimony from a Boy Scout leader and other users of the Lake Jennings Campground who pleaded to keep it open, the Helix Water Board voted to delay action on possible closure for one year.  But the long-term future of the campground is not yet secure, despite recent financial gains.

Since Helix took back ownership of the lake in 2008, the campground had been losing money at $200,000 a year – but that’s dropped to only $24,000 a year today, nearly a break-even point.

Update June 19, 2015 5 p.m. -- The fire is 170 acres and is now 68% contained, Cal Fire advises.

Update June 18, 2015 12 p.m. -- A firefighter has been injured, NBC news reports, as firefighters continue holding the blaze in rugged terrain. 

Update June 18, 2015  8 a.m. -- Cal-Fire now estimates the fire is at 178 acres and 38% contained.  Firefighters worked through the night with headlamps in steep terrain.  Wildcat Canyon Road is open in both directions and homes are no longer threatened at this time.

Update 9 p.m. -- The fire has burned 150 acres and is 10% contained.  Temperature is 75 degrees and humidity is 54%; the rate of spread is now slow.  Hundreds of firefighters are battling the blaze including Cal-Fire, the U.S. Forest Service, Heartland and Barona. Wildcat Canyon Rd. remains closed from Founder's Way to San Vicente Road, Cal-Fire advises.  The County Office of Emergency Services and the American Red Cross are also now involved.

Update 6:45 p.m. - Cal Fire spokesman Kendal Bortisser has advised  that the fire has potential for 500 acres, though Cal Fire hopes to contain it at 50 acres.  Fire is 10% contained, incident commander estimates. Residents report heavy smoke and poor air quality. The Sheriff has evacuated 7 homes but no others are currently threatened. Those evacuated are sheltering at the Barona Casino. View live-streaming video on Fox 5 at http://fox5sandiego.com/on-air/live-streaming/.

Update 6:02 p.m. The road closure has been moved to south of the Barona Casino to give people access to the casino, CHP reports.  U.S. Forest Service Crews, Cal Fire and Barona firefighters are battling the blaze

Photo  by Shannon Cervantes: fire with Barona Casino in foreground

June 17, 2015 (Lakeside) - A brush fire is burning in Lakeside early this evening on the Barona reservation near Wildcat Canyon Road. The fire, reported about 4:50 p.m. near Acuunya Way., is northeast of the casino and moving northeast toward a glider port. Cal Fire estimateed the blaze at 20 acres but a retired fire official in the area has estimated that the fire has swelled to 40 or 50 acres.

Structures are immediately threatened and the blaze is spreading rapidly, according to Cal-Fire. Wildcat Canyon Road is closed due to the fire from San Vicente Road to just south of the casino. Fixed wing aircraft and helicopters are battling the fire, ECM news partner 10 News reports.

Multiple news outlets report the Sheriff has evacuated several residences in the Acuuunya Way area.

East County News Service

June 16, 2015 (Julian)—A 24-year-old hiker has died after suffering apparent heat-related physical distress on the Cedar Creek trail near Julian on June 16^th in the early evening.  His friends called 911 and paramedics were notified, along with Sheriff’s deputies.