By Miriam Raftery

Photo via the Whte House:  President Joe Biden places a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery to honor soldiers buried there.

June 1, 2024 (Washington D.C.)—Speaking at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day yesterday,  President Joe Biden praised soldiers who gave their life to protect our country, and highlighted efforts his administration has made to help military families and veterans. His rival in the November election, former President Donald Trump, took no steps to honor veterans in person, nor any promises to improve the lives of veterans or military members, instead issuing a vitriolic attack on America's judicial system.

“Today, we join our grief with gratitude,” President Biden said at Arlington. “Gratitude to our fallen heroes, to their families, and to the brave souls who continue to uphold the flame of liberty around the world.”

He added, “To everyone who’s lost and loved someone in the service of our country...I know how hard it can be,”  recalling his son,  Beau Biden, an Iraq War veteran died nine years ago of brain cancer linked to his exposure to toxic burn pits in Iraq.  Biden noted that the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics  or PACT Act that he championed and signed into law has enabled his administration to approve over a million claims from veterans injured by toxic exposures during their military service.

Biden has signed over 30 bipartisan laws supporting servicemembers, veterans and their families.“Last year, the VA delivered more benefits and processed more claims than ever in our nation’s history, he said, concluding,  “May God bless our veterans, and may God protect our troops.”

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: C-Span video screenshot of Trump speaking to reporters after the verdicts.

May 30, 2024 (New York, NY) -- A New York state jury has found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony criminal counts of falsifying business records to conceal payments to a porn star in order to influence the 2016 election. The former President and presumptive nominee will face sentencing at a July 11 hearing, where a judge could sentence him to prison. The hearing is just days before the Republican National Convention.

Trump, released pending the sentencing hearing, held a press conference after the unanimous verdict was read. He denounced the trial as "rigged" and a "disgrace," then said voters deliver the "real verdict" during the November 5 election.

By Jessyka Heredia

Watch Full Video Here

May 30, 2024 (Lemon Grove) — On May 20, the Lemon Grove City Council heard from local resident Jason Sundberg, who filed an appeal to reconsider allowing a 70-foot cell tower disguised as a broadleaf tree that will include 12 panel antennas and nine remote radio units. The tower is proposed by AT&T at 6970 San Miguel Avenue on the Christian Church of Lemon Grove’s lot.

May 28, 2024 (Santee) -- This week,  John Olsen interviews Miriam Raftery, editor of the East County Magazine. She shares the range of information that our online news source provides (both existing and upcoming), how you can subscribe, and how you can support our community journalism and wildfire alerts.

Listen to the podcast at these links:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1508560/15109333-miriam-raftery-and-how-the-east-county-magazine-serves-our-communities

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0cxFKYwg6b0b1eSwcPHelR

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/miriam-raftery-and-how-the-east-county-magazine/id1541783400?i=1000656693561

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Miriam Raftery:  Left, Bill Walton at La Mesa's centennial in 2012; right, Walton at La Mesa Boys & Girls Club in 2014

May 27, 2024 (La Mesa)—NBA Hall of Famer and former Helix High School superstar  Bill Walton, 71, died this morning surrounded by his family after a prolonged battle with cancer. One of the greatest basketball players of all time, Walton later became an award-winning sportscaster. But he also won hearts and minds in the La Mesa community through his philanthropic efforts, including raising millions of dollars to build the Bill Walton Gymnasium at the Boys & Girls Club in La Mesa, where he was mentored in his youth.

NBA Commission Adam Silver issued a statement recalling Walton as “truly one of a kind. As a Hall of Fame player, he redefined the center position. His unique all-around skills made him a dominant force at UCLA and led to an NBA regular-season and Finals MVP, two NBA championships and a spot on the NBA’s 50^th and 75^th Anniversary Teams.”  As a broadcaster, Walton overcame lifelong stuttering to deliver “insightful and colorful commentary which entertained generations of basketball fans,” said Silver.

He added,  “What I will remember most about him was his zest for life.  He was a regular presence at league events—always upbeat, smiling ear to ear and looking to share his wisdom and warmth.” Silver said that he envied Walton’s “boundless energy and admired the time he took with every person he encountered.”

Born November 5, 1952,  Walton developed an early love for sports.  As a boy, he watched the San Diego Chargers play at Sunset Park near Lake Murray.  “I saw all those guys and I dreamed,” he said in a speech at a fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club gymnasium that now bears his name.

Update May 28, 2024 -- The deceased have been identified as 82-year-old David Soulner and his wife, 79-year-old Claire Soulner. According to the Sheriff's Department, David Soulner fatally shot his wife, then shot and killed himself.

By Miriam Raftery

May 27, 2024 (Santee) – The San Diego Sheriff’s department is investigating the deaths of two elderly adults found dead with apparent head trauma yesterday morning at their home in Lantern Crest, an upscale senior living facility on Lantern Crest Way.

Deputies responded to a call at 11:25 a.m. yesterday reporting the deaths of an elderly man and woman. Identifies of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of family members.

“Sheriff's Homicide investigators are working to gather more information to determine the circumstances of these deaths. There are no outstanding suspects and no danger to the community,” says Lieutenant Michael Krugh, who adds the an investigation is ongoing.

“The geographic shifts in populations of people experiencing homelessness to East and South County communities demonstrates the effect of the City of San Diego camping ban.”—Paul Downey, CEO, Serving Seniors

By Miriam Raftery

May 24, 2024 (San Diego’s East County)—The 2024 Point-in-Time Homeless Count reveals some significant changes for East County. East County’s total homeless population dropped by 28% overall from  January 2023 to January 2024, from 1,703 to 1,232.  That’s in sharp contrast to the county overall, which had  the number of homeless people increase by 3% to a total of 10,605,

However, some East County communities had sharp rises, notably in communities closest to San Diego, which recently enacted a ban on encampments:

• La Mesa’s total homelessness rose 86%, with a 47.2% rise in unsheltered;
• Lemon Grove’s unsheltered homeless numbers rose 85%

The sharp spikes in La Mesa and Lemon Grove may be due to  the city of San Diego’s ban on homeless encampments, suggests Paul Downey, Chief Executive Officer of Serving Seniors, a nonprofit helping low-income adults age 60 and up.

By Miriam Raftery

May 24, 2024 (Alpine)—By a unanimous vote and without discussion, the Sweetwater Authority board of directors approved restoring the floating fishing dock at Loveland Reservoir in Alpine. Audience members applauded after the votes were cast.

The dock was severely damaged in a January 2023 storm, shortly after the reservoir was drained to dead pool status, an action which left the fishing float on dry land and which also killed off fish, much to the dismay of residents and visitors.

Russell Walsh, who has long advocated for restoration of floating fishing dock, said the vote reflects “a travesty being corrected by persistent citizens and hopefully increasingly willing Sweetwater Directors and upper management.”

By Mike Allen

Photos courtesy of Santee Fire Department

May 23, 2024 (Santee)-- A fire that sent large plumes of smoke across East County yesterday was caused when workers at the Advanced Water Purification (AWP) project in Santee were joining together two large pieces of plastic pipe.

Santee Fire Chief Justin Matsushita said while workers were fusing two large pipes that are 42 inches in diameter, the plastic material, called HDPE, caught fire and quickly overwhelmed the workers, prompting their 911 call.