June 28, 2023 (San Diego) - The County is expanding its campaign to help more San Diegans get online.
These new efforts will be rolled into the regionwide outreach efforts, allowing expansion thanks to a $500,000 grant from the Federal Communications Commission to tell people about the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).
June 28, 2023 (Sacramento) – Today, California State Senate Majority Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) announced that his measure to protect human trafficking victims and make it easier to prosecute human trafficking perpetrators unanimously passed out of the Assembly Public Safety Committee.
“Human trafficking is a form of modern day slavery,” said Jones. “The evil people who buy and sell humans for their own benefit must be convicted to prevent further trauma for all victims. This bill will help bring justice to human trafficking victims and prevent further exploitation of innocent people by putting perpetrators behind bars. Thank you to the members of the Assembly Public Safety Committee for understanding the importance of this issue and moving the bill forward.”
Photo and budget breakdown via County News Service
June 28, 2023 (San Diego) – A new fire station in Jacumba and an animal shelter for Santee are among the projects funded by the County’s $8.17 million budget for fiscal year 2023-24, which Supervisors unanimously adopted on Tuesday.
The budget also has substantial allocations to the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless, build affordable homes, plant trees and help communities reduce greenhouse gas emissions, boost investment in mental health and addiction services, foster youths, justice reforms, and more.
Fireworks caused over $25 million in property loss last year, fine for illegal use is up to $50,000
June 28, 2023 (San Diego) – Beginning at noon tomorrow, June 28, “Safe and Sane” Fireworks will go on sale in many communities across California and in Mexico.But in San Diego County, all consumer fireworks are illegal to own or use, except those in licensed professional fireworks shows. That includes sparklers,firecrackers, poppers and all others.
The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is reminding everyone to do their part to have a safe holiday and help prevent fires and injuries caused by fireworks.
As we gather to celebrate the Fourth of July, make sure your festivities are both enjoyable and safe.
Since 2013, in the State of California, there have been over 20,000 acres burned with fireworks as the ignition source, causing $59.3 million in property loss, with $25.7 million of that total occurring in 2022 alone.
June 28, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – The Santee Fire Department and Lakeside Fire Protection District (FPD) assumed local control of ambulance services in their communities through formation of the Santee-Lakeside Emergency Medical Authority (SLEMSA) back on January 1. As a result, on May 12, an additional ambulance was placed in service in Lakeside. This 12-hour Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance operates daily from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. to assist with peak call volumes. Starting June 30, a A second 12-hour BLS ambulance will go into service in Santee.
June 27, 2023 (San Diego) -- When announcing that the Biden administration has committed $26 million to search for sites to store the nation's nuclear waste, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm raised more questions than answers.
June 28, 2023 (Lemon Grove)-- Danny Jeitler, a beloved Army veteran hailing from St. Louis, Missouri, passed away on June 1, 2023 in Lemon Grove, leaving behind cherished memories and a deep sense of loss among all who knew him. His life was marked by bravery, dedication, and a passion for his hobbies that brought joy to his heart.
Born in 1949, Danny embarked on a life journey that led him to serve his country with honor as a dedicated member of the United States Army. His military service exemplified his unwavering commitment, bravery, and love for his country.
Photo: Jimmie Johnson and his wife, Chandra Janway, at a 2009 rally with then-Supervisor Dianne Jacob in Santee, where Johnson and his wife were honored for their charitable foundation’s generous donations to local schools.
June 27, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – The parents of NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson’s wife, Chandra Janway, Johnson, were found dead today at a home in Muskogee, Oklahoma, along with Johnson’s 11-year old nephew. Raised in El Cajon, Johnson has long been hailed as a hometown hero not only for his NASCAR wins, but also for the generosity of the foundation that he and his wife ran, donating millions of dollars to help children in need and benefit local schools.
Police investigators report that they believe Terry Janway shot and killed her husband, Jack Janway, and their grandson, Dalton, then killed herself.
NASCAR issued this statement. “We are saddened by the tragic deaths of members of Chandra Johnson’s family. The entire NASCAR family extends its deepest support and condolences during this difficult time to Chandra, Jimmie, and the entire Johnson and Janway families.”
June 27, 2023 (Sacramento) -- The Joint Legislative Audit Committee this week unanimously approved a request by Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) to audit Liberty Healthcare’s long-running exclusive contract to manage the Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) Conditional Release Program (CONREPO) currently overseen by the Department of State Hospitals. A petitionin support of the audit request has almost 1,600 signatures.
Photo: Parole officers visit a residence, by Scorpion, Creative Commons 4.0 license
Updated June 28, 2023 with statement from Mary Xjimenez from the Calif. Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
June 27, 2023 (La Mesa) – Should a parole office be allowed in La Mesa, just a few hundred feet from elementary schools and a preschool, around the corner from breweries and cannabis dispensaries, also near a senior daycare center and other sensitive uses?
That’s exactly what the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation is considering, according to a letter sent to the city dated April 25.
Kristina Khokhobashvili with the CDCR told ECM that the site, if approved, would serve not only parolees from East County and Chula Vista, but also the parolees who have tracking devices –which includes sexual predators and potentially violent offenders.
Thus far, she said, the state has not signed a lease for the site at 8374-8376 Hercules Street, across the street from Carl Burger Dodge and Journey Church, which plans to open an elementary school on its property next year. According to Khokhobashvili, the state is still researching locations.
June 27, 2023 (Lemon Grove) --Buon appetito! Take a culinary stroll with ECM as we review AnniVenti La Trattoria in Lemon Grove with fresh Italian dishes created from family recipes and a modern twist inspired by the owners' family business in Palermo, Italy.
June 25, 2023 (Santee)-- The City of Santee has a new Community Center on the horizon. After several years and multiple community workshops, City Council meetings, and COVID delays; Santee’s future community center is starting to come to life.The architectural and environmental work is nearing completion for the new building, with construction anticipated to begin in 2025.
Photo, left: immigrants in Jacumba, CA, where some told aid workers they were barred from asking for asylum.
June 25, 2023 (Washington D.C.) -- The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of the District of Columbia, Center for Gender & Refugee Studies and National Immigrant Justice Center this week sued the Biden administration over its sweeping and restrictive changes to asylum policies.
June 25, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) — Cal Fire/San Diego County Fire will suspend all outdoor residential burning within the State Responsibility Areas of San Diego and Imperial counties, effective Monday, June 26, 2023, at 8 a.m.
Photo, left: Director of Finance Clay Schoen presents budget breakdown
June 25, 2023 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon’s City Council on June 13 received a presentation on the Preliminary Annual Budget for fiscal year of 2023-2024. Council also moved forward on a ban on homeless camping on public property that would be similar to the City of San Diego’s new ordinance.
Photo, left: A San Diego Helitack crew heads into the smoke to clear crush as the Proctor fire burns in the background.
June 24, 2023 (Jamul)-- Crews from CAL FIRE and Inmate fire crews are still on the scene at the #ProctorFire this evening, mopping up and dousing hot spots. All road closures and evacuation orders have been lifted.
The brush fire was reported off Proctor Valley Road around 5:23 pm. Units were dispatched to the scene and reported the blaze burning in medium vegetation with a medium rate of spread. Due to vegetation drying out and homes in the area, the fire was upgraded; more air and ground units were called in.
June 24, 2023 (Jamul) – A brush fired dubbed the #ProctorFire is burning along Proctor Valley Road near Jamul. CalFire reported at 5:37 that a vehicle fire at 12998 Proctor Valley Rd. spread into the brush, had charred a half acre and was burning at a moderate rate of spread.
Since then, scanner traffic indicates a structure threat and that the fire has reached five acres.
June 24, 2023 (San Diego)-- On Wednesday afternoon, SANDAG and Facilitating Access to Coordinated Transportation (FACT) representatives were joined by local community members to celebrate the launch of RideFACTNow, a new and first-of-its-kind on-demand specialized transportation service in the San Diego region.
The new on-demand service is for people using mobility devices, including wheelchairs, and will operate on a same-day basis with a maximum one-hour response time.
June 24, 2023 (San Diego) -- With a brief biography, author Patricia Daly-Lipe and her husband put together a lovely collection of notes, drawings, and paintings they inherited from Steele’s mother, Georgeanna Lipe. The talented artist lived from 1909 – 2012.
Georgeanna Lipe’s watercolors in How She Did It include areas in San Diego and Europe. Her style is delightful. This review includes examples of her paintings.
Board also approves budget for fiscal years 2024 and 2025
Photo courtesy PublicDomainPictures on Pixabay
East County News Service
June 24, 2023 (San Diego) - The San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors today approved wholesale water rates for 2024 following a public hearing and approved the recommended budget for the next two fiscal years. The budget and rates support continued work on numerous agency priorities, including capital projects critical for maintaining safe and reliable water supplies.
June 24, 2023 (Spring Valley) – California Highway Patrol is searching for the drivers of a red SUV and a silver sedan which each struck a 50-year-old woman in Spring Valley shortly before 10 p.m. on June 22, then fled the scene.
The woman was walking northbound on Jamacha Blvd. east of Lamplighter Village Drive when she was hit by the red SUV, which was traveling west on Jamacha. The impact knocked the victim to the ground. While she was lying on the roadway, she was struck a second time by the silver sedan.
The woman sustained major injuries and died at the scene.
“Both vehicles were last seen fleeing the scene, westbound on Jamacha Blvd.,” says Officer Matthew Baranowski with the California Highway Patrol.
June 23, 2022 (El Cajon)—The couple found dead yesterday morning by their daughter in the family’s home have been identified as Eric and Denise Helen Orpinela. According to the Sheriff’s Department, Eric Orpinela shot and killed his wife, then committed suicide.
The couple had three young children. The oldest, who found the couple in their residence on East Bradley Ave. in ElCajon, is 14.
June 23, 2023 (Boulevard) -- A woman has been arrested on suspicion of shooting her daughter in Boulevard.
Shortly before 10 a.m., deputies from the Sheriff's Rural Command responded to a call about a 22-year-old woman with a gunshot wound who came to a fire station on Church Road.
Deputies learned that the victim and her mother, Andrea Najera, had gotten into an argument earlier that morning inside their home near the fire station.
June 23, 2023 (Lemon Grove) – Michael Perez, an attorney who runs the nonprofit Imago Dei (operating as 29: Eleven), with his wife, a dream to restore two historic buildings in Lemon Grove. They wanted to open up a home for women who are struggling, including pregnant women in need of shelter and mothers with babies. Since buying the property in 2008, however, Perez told ECM, “We’ve been in a constant struggle with the city of Lemon Grove over building permits.”
He described a nightmare of obstacles in the permitting process, as well as frustrations with the Sheriff’s department for not being responsive to his pleas for help to keep out homeless people who repeatedly broke down barriers to camp out inside.
Then last week, a fire destroyed one of the two buildings, a house originally built in the 1930s by Dr. Ebon McGregor. The other building, which once served as Dr. McGregor’s was spared. The site is on Main Street, next to city hall in the heart of Lemon Grove.
“My wife and I both cried when we heard about it,” Perez told ECM. “We’re going to trust God,” he said, adding that he still hopes to find a way to bring the nonprofit’s services to the site. “I think it’s needed.”
June 23, 2022 (El Cajon) – The San Diego Sheriff’s homicide unit is investigating the deaths of a man and woman found dead in their home in the 200 block of East Bradley Ave. in El Cajon yesterday morning.
According to Lieutenant Joseph Jarjura, “Both victims appeared to have head trauma.”
ECM news partner 10 News reports that the couple was found by their daughter, a minor, around 9:47 a.m.
June 22,2023 (San Diego’s East County) -- Parades, outdoor concerts, dancing under the stars, farm tours, theater productions, a food fest, and more are all happening in East County as summer heats up.
Scroll down for full details on these and many more hot summertime happenings.
June 22, 2023 (El Cajon) – Last Tuesday, staff and parents with opposing views came to the Cajon Valley School Board meeting to be heard. With well over 200 people in attendance the Cajon Valley boardroom was overflowing with outrage and passion. LGBTQ rights were at the forefront of the debate.
June 22, 2023 (San Diego) --Why is the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day so deadly? It’s called the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer!
Now that Memorial Day is behind us, we are now on the road to the deadliest days of summer--the days when our teenage children hit the streets with lots of time on their hands as well as cell phones and distracting friends.
Per mile driven, drivers aged 16 to 19 years old are nearly three times more likely than drivers older than 20 to be in a fatal crash. During the summer months, teenage deaths in vehicle accidents increase by 26% compared with the other months of the year.
Source: Senator Brian Jones' office
The Santee Fire Department and Lakeside Fire Protection District (FPD) assumed local control of ambulance services in their communities through formation of the Santee-Lakeside Emergency Medical Authority (SLEMSA) back on January 1. As a result, on May 12, an additional ambulance was placed in service in Lakeside. This 12-hour Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulance operates daily from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. to assist with peak call volumes. Starting June 30, a A second 12-hour BLS ambulance will go into service in Santee.
When announcing that the Biden administration has committed $26 million to search for sites to store the nation's nuclear waste, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm raised more questions than answers.
East County News Service 
Buon appetito! Take a culinary stroll with ECM as we review 
The City of Santee has a new Community Center on the horizon. After several years and multiple community workshops, City Council meetings, and COVID delays; Santee’s future community center is starting to come to life.The architectural and environmental work is nearing completion for the new building, with construction anticipated to begin in 2025.
East County Magazine
East County News Service
Story and photos by Christianne McCormick
Source: SANDAG
Board also approves budget for fiscal years 2024 and 2025
East County News Service
Last Tuesday, staff and parents with opposing views came to the Cajon Valley School Board meeting to be heard. With well over 200 people in attendance the Cajon Valley boardroom was overflowing with outrage and passion. LGBTQ rights were at the forefront of the debate.
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