By Mike Allen

Photos by Mike Allen

October 3, 2022 (Santee) - Santee just got another nationally-known retailer that’s expected to attract loads of shoppers from all over the county.

Sportsman’s Warehouse, a sporting goods chain based in Utah, held a soft opening Sept. 30, and will hold its grand opening Oct. 6-8. It’s the first store in the chain to open in San Diego County. The next closest stores are in Yuma, Az. and Murietta in Riverside County.

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

October 3, 2022 (San Diego) -- We are about to step into the height of fire season as Santa Ana Winds will soon be blowing. During wildfires, winds can send embers flying well over a mile on and into unprotected combustibles and openings around your home.

By Liz Alper

Photo via @padres on Twitter

October 2, 2022 (San Diego) - The Padres wrapped up their last interleague series with the White Sox today, within one win of clinching a postseason berth.  Lance Lynn started for Chicago against Blake Snell.

By Miriam Raftery

View full interview, recorded for the East County Magazine Radio Show on KNSJ, by clicking image at left

September 21, 2022 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells has served as Mayor for nine years, and on the City Council and  Planning Commission before that.  A healthcare professional, he brings a unique perspective to issues such as homelessness. He’s running for eelection and this week, sat down for an exclusive interview in which he discussed his accomplishments, key challenges facing the city, and his goals if reelected. He also spoke out on the city’s conflicts with the county over a homeless motel voucher program.

He says his commitment is to "trying to do what’s right" while" listening to everyone's point of view."

Source: Toni Atkins, President Pro Tem, California State Senate

October 1, 2022 (San Diego) – State Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) released the following statement following Governor Newsom’s proposal to implement a windfall profits tax and his announcement directing the California Air Resources Board to immediately take steps necessary to allow early transition to winter-blend gasoline:

By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

October 1, 2022 (Guatay) - A deer mouse collected in routine monitoring from an open area in Guatay near Pine Valley has tested positive for the potentially deadly hantavirus.

The schedule is highlighted by games at Stanford, San Francisco (Chase Center) and the West Palm Beach Invitational

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

September 30, 2022 (San Diego) - Head coach Stacie Terry-Hutson has released the Aztecs’ non-conference schedule. The highlights include a game at Stanford, a clash with San Francisco at the Chase Center, home of the Golden State Warriors, and a trip to Florida for the West Palm Beach Invitational.

East County News Service

Photo: CC-NC-ND via Bing

September 30, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – Assemblymember Akilah Weber M.D. invites young people to participate in a virtual Youth Money Skills program on Thursday, Oct. 13 at 5 p.m.  The program aims to teach financial independence skills to youths.

By Kathy Carpenter

"Oh, it's hard to give in! But it is worse to risk everything for stubborn pride." --Creon quote from Antigone by Sophocles. 

September 29, 2022 (Poway) - PowPac is presenting Another Antigone. A wry, witty, drama written by AR. Gurney, the play portrays the battle of wills between a college professor and his student. The play compares collegiate life to a Greek tragedy.  Four tremendous acting jobs, touches of humor, and thought-provoking moments guide us through this look at the repercussions of choice. Does anyone win when pride becomes involved?

By Miriam Raftery

Photos:f Alena Mitchem, known as Gracie; her hair  was dyed green when she was last seen

September 29, 2022 (Spring Valley) – The family of 15-year-old Alena “Gracie” Mitchem is asking for public help to find her. She has been missing form her Spring Valley home since late at night on September 22.  Gracie has green eyes and brown hair, but her hair was dyed green when she was last seen, according to a listing on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children website. She is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs about 155 pounds. (Note, some flyers had a misspelling. Her first name is Alena.)

Her sister, Aleena Christine Jones, posted on Facebook, “We believe she was lured out by someone online via the PlayStation platform...She took important documents that no child would think of…She’s had zero contact with anyone since her disappearance, no social media presence whatsoever… We have to bring her home.… Gracie we love you so much.”

Gracie’s mother, Shannon Hoffman, believes her daughter was lured by an adult. She is frustrated with the Sheriff’s initial response treating the matter as a runaway case, and by the lack of media notification, but added that detectives are now checking into the Playstation contacts. “As a mother, I know deep down something is wrong,” she posted, adding that she suspects someone enticed Gracie with a promise of a job, since the family has struggled financially.

By Miriam Raftery

September 28, 2022 (El Cajon) – A man on probation for a violent assault was placed in an El Cajon motel under the county’s voucher program for homeless people. Today, he was arrested for a new assault with a deadly weapon after reportedly ramming an El Cajon Police officer’s patrol car with his vehicle.

El Cajon police officers, responding to recent narcotics activity, were conducting enforcement on West Main Street when officers recognized 33-year-old Ruben Quintana, from another assault with a deadly weapon.  He was seen coming out of a room at the Travelodge motel at 425 W. Main Street, then leaving in a vehicle.

By Miriam Raftery

File photo: CC by NC-ND via Bing:  homeless encampment

September 28, 2022 (San Diego) -- The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday to declare homelessness a public health crisis.