By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left: Award-winning  journalists Rachel Williams, Rebecca Jefferis-Williamson, Jonathan Goetz, Miriam Raftery

July 20, 2017  (San Diego) – The Society of Professional Journalists San Diego Pro Chapter last night present four awards to East County Magazine at last night's awards banquet held at the Kona Kai resort, bringing ECM’s awards total to 101 since our inception in 2008. 

This year’s awards for our team, shared among five photojournalists, honored coverage of Border Fire controversies, the shooting of Alfred Olango and ensuing civil unrest in El Cajon, Syrian refugees, and ourradio broadcast of the Helix Water District candidate forum.

By Miriam Raftery

July 20, 2017 (La Mesa) – Authorities are seeking public help to locate a masked, gun-wielding suspect seen exiting Conroy’s Flower Shop  on Jackson Drive in la Mesa at 10:50 a.m.  Passerbys called police and reported eseing the suspect get into a Hyundai Elantra, license 7LNX477, driven by another suspect. They are considered armed and dangerous.

A second witness took a photo of the black Hyundai and its license plate.  Police arrived and confirmed that a robbery had occurred. Minutes later, La Mesa Police spotted the vehicle traveling westbound on I-8 in the College area.

By Miriam Raftery

July 19, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – San Miguel Fire District has launched a Facebook page to alert residents about daily fire and rescue incidents within the district.  You can view the page here: https://www.facebook.com/SanMiguelFireRescue/

East County Magazine

July 19, 2017 (Campo-Lake Morena) – The Campo Lake Morena Planning Group has announced a new vacancy on the board.  (See details, left, on how to apply and get application at www.sandiegocounty.gov/pds/communitygroups.html.)

The agenda for the July 24 meeting includes voting on filling an earlier vacancy.  Other agenda items include an update on Backcountry Land Trust negotiations to acquire Star Ranch,  a proposed agricultural clearing permit for property on Buckman Springs Road, and subcommittee reports on topics ranging from groundwater issues to traffic and public safety.

View full agenda below:

By José A. Álvarez, County of San Diego Communications Office

Image Credit: PhotoSpin

July 19, 2017 (San Diego) -- The County Board of Supervisors this week adopted a new alternative custody program that will help inmates with a mental illness re-enter the community.

Programming for Reentry, Support and Stability, or PROGRESS, will address the mental health of sentenced offenders in an alternative custody setting. The County Probation Department, the Public Defender Office and the Health and Human Services Agency worked with the Sheriff’s Department and District Attorney’s Office to develop the strategy.

East County News Service

July 19, 2017 (San Diego) — The San Diego County Board of Supervisors this week unanimously approved more than a million dollars to equip Sheriff's Deputies with body-worn cameras.

The Sheriff's Department will officially roll out its body-worn camera program next month at the Alpine Sheriff's Station and Ramona Sheriff's Substation. From there, deputies countywide will receive the cameras within four to five months.

East County news Service

July 19, 2017 (Rancho San Diego)—Heritage of the Americans Museum invites you to the Museum Roadshow this Saturday, July 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 pm.  You can bring in your treasures and have certified authenticator and appraiser Craig Helm tell you what it’s worth. 

His specialties are Native American and pre-Columbian artifacts, antique pictures, Western memorabilia and Asian artifacts.

By Miriam Raftery

July 19, 2017 (La Mesa) — The Wheelchair Dancers Organization is getting ready to rhumba in preparation for the showcase-portion of its 5^th annual fundraiser and dance-ability showcase, “Everyone Can Dance” on Sept. 30 at the Balboa Park Club.   Participants must attend specified classes and a dress rehearsal.  Rollers and walkers are needed.

Free wheelchair dance classes are offered at several locations, including Sharp Grossmont Auditorium (5555 Grossmont Center Drive, La Mesa) from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Monday evenings, July 24 and 31 as well as August 7, 14, 21 and 28.

East County News Service

July 18, 2017 (El Cajon) – Mark David Dabrowski, a 55-year-old transient in El Cajon, has been arrested and charged with kidnapping and domestic violence.

Yesterday morning, a witness called El Cajon Police to report that Dabrowski had abducted his former girlfriend, who is also homeless, while she was sleeping on an elementary school campus.

By Miriam Raftery

July 18, 2017 (El Cajon) – A transient is under arrest for the attempted murder of an El Cajon Police officer that occurred yesterday shortly after 10 a.m. The suspect reportedly punched the officer repeatedly, continuing to assault him after he was unconscious.

Officers were dispatched to a Dollar Store, where a robbery had been reported.  Employees said the suspect had gone to a JFC restaurant nearby at 724 Fletcher Parkway. KFC had also called police to report the suspect stole soda from their fountain. There, the suspect,  Daniel Moses Cook, 42, violently assaulted the officer.

By Miriam Raftery

July 18, 2017 (San Diego) – Ten homeless San Diegans have filed a class action against the city of San Diego, challenging citations targeting the homeless as unconstitutional.

Homelessness in the city spiked 10% over the past year, according to the January 2017 Point in Time homeless count. Most of those—5,612—were unsheltered. There are not enough beds and local shelters have long waits. San Diego is also the fourth least affordable city in the nation for housing, making the situation even more bleak for homeless people here.

By Miriam Raftery

July 18, 2017 (La Mesa) -- Not long ago, La Mesa overturned a Prohibition-Era ban on wine making. Now LegalizeFerrets.org, a La Mesa-based group that claims to have 3,000 members, is  asking La Mesa’s City Council to end another long-time ban by declaring  sanctuary city status for pet ferrets.

Who knew that La Mesa was a hotbed of underground ferret activity?  

Now, furtive ferret owners may have found a champion in Councilwoman Kristine Alessio, who raises Bengal cats, has served as Legislative Director for The International Cat Association and as a volunteer for the City's Pet Therapy Program.

July 18, 2017 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

• Carmageddon at the border? A 57-hour closure planned for southbound car lanes to San Ysidro (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• For Women, Hillcrest Isn’t the Only Gayborhood (Voice of San Diego)
• Population in local immigration jails swells; more judges assigned to handle cases (SDUT)
• New hearing set for liquor license at Hollywood Jamul casino (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Yes, SANDAG and other agencies are allowed to lie on the ballot (Voice of San Diego)
• Former El Cajon Police station site to house Hampton Hotel, In-N-Out Burger (SDUT)
• New Study Finds Use Of Community Choice Energy Feasible (KPBS)
• Blind Syrian Refugee, With Family, Finds Safety in San Diego (NBC7)
• San Diego roads need more attention and oversight, audit finds (SDUT)

STATE

• California lawmakers extend cap-and-trade extension (Los Angeles Times)
• How did your lawmaker vote on California’s climate change program? (L.A. Times)
• Energy costs making California unaffordable for too many (Riverside Press-Enterprise)
• Author shelves California teacher tenure bill: surprise alternative emerges (School Info)
• Here’s the most detailed visual of the California budget we know of—come get lost in it  (Cal Matters)
• California Still Facing Pension Crisis Even With Good Stock Market Returns (Reason)
• Market transformation will end dominance of electrical utilities, regulators predict (SDUT)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

July 18, 2017 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Lost mothers: An estimated 700 to 900 women in the U.S. died of pregnancy-related causes in 2016. We have identified 126 of them so far. (Pro Publica)
• Baby boomers turn to stem cells for help with painful joints (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Novel leukemia treatment could be first U.S. gene therapy (ABC)
• Dental lobby prevails: grieving parents shelve `Caleb’s law’ again (Times of San Diego)
• Could Charlie Gard’s case happen in the United States? (CNN)
• SDSU Study Reveals Hookah Chemical Linked To Cancer, Heart Disease (KPBS)
• 'Living Drug' That Fights Cancer By Harnessing The Immune System Clears Key Hurdle
• Her newborn kept getting sick because she was ingesting placenta, CDC says (Jewish World Review)
• Artificial sweeteners linked to weight gain over time, review of studies says (ABC)
• Seeking Online Medical Advice? Google's Top Results Aren't Always On Target (NPR)
• NHS ranked 'number one' health system (BBC)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• High speed Hyperloop ready for key test in Nevada (Reuters)
• Jupiter’s great red spot (CBS)
• FBI warns parents of privacy risks associated with internet-connected toys  (Reuters)
• Honda recalls more than 1M cars over battery fires (10 News)
• China just switched on the world's largest floating solar power plant (WeForum)
• Food Evolution: The GMO debate continues (Cosmos)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.