By Miriam Raftery

April 24, 2018 (El Cajon) – A motorcyclist who rear-ended a Toyota Tacoma last night on I-8 east, just west of El Cajon Boulevard, succumbed to his injuries later in the evening.

The victim, 55, from Oceanside was riding a 2016 Harley Davidson motorcycle at a reportedly high rate of speed, along with a passenger, when he struck the rear of a Toyota Tacoma around 6:06 p.m. Both the motorcyclist and his passenger, a 30-year-old woman from South Carolina, were ejected onto the freeway lanes with major injuries.

East County Dining Club invites you to join us at:

SWAMI’S CAFÉ

8284 La Mesa Blvd., La Mesa

Friday, April 27 at 6 p.m.

Benefits East County Magazine

Swami’s Cafe has high ratings from Zagat, Trip Advisor and Yelp. Their dinner menu has an amazingly diverse menu of delicious dishes with f healthy options plus heartier fare and exotic choices. There’s something for all, and dinners are affordable! (Most entrees are under $20 including seafood, chicken, steak, burgers, pasta, salads, vegetarian options and more.)

Prizes include Midway Museum passes, wine baskets, gift certificates to local restaurants, boutiques and shops, jewelry, books, coffee, dance concert tickets, pilates class & much more.

For this event, you can order anything off the menu, but please RSVP to reserve space and check in before ordering.

Come meet your neighors and the media, and enjoy some great food!

 RSVP TO RESERVE SPACE: 619-698-7617 or editor@eastcountymagazine.org

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

April 23, 2018 (El Cajon) -- An iconic mainstay of El Cajon retail shopping is closing with the sudden announced closing of the Sears store at Parkway Plaza.

The official announcement of the El Cajon store’s closing came earlier this week as part of the latest round of eight store closures by the wounded national retailer that plans to close 166 stores this year.

By Miriam Raftery

April 23, 2018 (San Diego) – If you’re traveling by air, be sure to check with the airline before heading to the airport.  The FAA has ordered emergency inspections on 352 airplane engines in the U.S. similar to the engine that exploded in mid-flight last week, killing a passenger aboard a Southwest flight from New York to Dallas. 

By Miriam Raftery

April 20, 2018 (San Diego) – The County Grand Jury has released a report  recommending that the city of San Diego consider consolidating some of  its 43 community planning groups and develop policies to increase diversity in the groups.

By Ken Stone

Reprinted with permission from Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  Voepel wearing the Combat Action Medal.

April 18, 2018 (San Diego) - Republican Assemblyman Randy Voepel is taking heavy flak from a GOP rival, who along with another Navy veteran is accusing the former Santee mayor of having “Stolen Valor.”

Monday morning on KUSI TV, 30-year Navy SEAL veteran Larry Wilske brought up claims by retired Master Chief Petty Officer Terence Hoey* that Voepel misrepresented his military service record.

By Miriam Raftery

April 18, 2018 (Sacramento) – Senate Bill 827, a controversial bill that would have forced cities in California to allow high-rise housing up to 55 feet tall near major transit stops, died in the State Senate’s Transportation and Housing Committee.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: ECM news partner 10 News

Repair is difficult due to proximity to gas line and storm drain

April 17, 2018 (El Cajon) – A sink hole that formed overnight at Johnson Avenue and Vernon Way in El Cajon swallowed up a car, but fortunately emergency responders rescued the driver.

Helix Water District repair crews have begun making repairs and the intersection is now open to traffic on Vernon Way and southbound Johnson Avenue, though northbound Johnson remains closed.

By Jonathan Goetz and Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Standing room only crowd included dozens of gun control supporters as well as gun rights advocates

April 17, 2018 (El Cajon) – Actions of the Cajon Valley School District have become targets for both sides in the gun violence debate. At the April 10^th board meeting, members came under fire for:

• Hillsdale Middle School students put on lunch detention for participating in an on-campus walk out during the nationwide March for Our Lives;
•  Termination of a contract for counseling intern Margaret Katchur Morghen, who sat with students during detention as a “learning exercise on the First Amendment” and also spoke with media about the walk-out;
• School board member Jim Miller firing off a derisive letter to a retired teacher who had written to the Superintendent asking for actions to reduce gun violence at schools. Miller responded on behalf of the San Diego Gun Owners Political Action Committee, and wore a National Rifle Association (NRA) hat during the school board’s April 10, 2018 public meeting.

Those actions got the public up in arms, figuratively speaking. Gun rights advocates and people concerned about gun violence packed the hearing room at the April 10^th school board meeting.  Eight people testified during public comments, split evenly with four rounds on each side.

Updated April 17th with identiy of the victim.

By Miriam Raftery

April 16, 2018 (Ramona) – Sheriff’s deputies responding to a 911 call reporting gunshots and screams Sunday night shortly after 8:30 p.m. found a mortally wounded man on the ground in front of a home at 15921 Wood Rock Lane in Ramona, according to Lieutenant Michael Blevins. 

The victim has been identified as 21-year old Ivan Nivinskus.  The county Medical Examiner has ruled the death has been ruled a homicide, caused by multiple gunshot wounds.

By Mike Allen

 View full-size map B adopted by Council here.

 April 14, 2018 (Santee) -- Santee’s ongoing process of shifting from voting for their representatives by all city voters to a system of district elections took another step to reality last week when the council adopted a map made by Mayor John Minto and held the first reading instituting the change.

 Minto offered a map he drew that divides the city into four areas and with a close balance of some 13,000 people in each district. His motion also called for a change in the cycle of elections that results in two council seats being elected every four years starting in 2020. The mayor’s position will remain at large, or selected by all city voters.

 His motion, which was seconded by Councilman Ronn Hall, passed 3-2 with Council members Brian Jones and Rob McNelis opposed. The second reading and adoption of the law and the map is scheduled for April 25.

Update April 20: The Design Review Committee hearing slated for April 23 has been postponed. 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Jeff Phair, right, shares information with area resident Anthony McIvor, left, at site of planned La Mesa Summit Estates.

April 12, 2018 (La Mesa) – On a hilltop above the Serramar development in La Mesa’s Eastridge area, local builder Jeff Phair hopes to build La Mesa Summit Estates.  The proposal calls for 30 new homes—each with multi-generational suites complete with separate entrances, stacked washer/dryers, and media centers.  They’re designed for families that want space for parents, grandparents or grown children---and the concept came out of extensive meetings with neighbors.

 “All developers don’t wear black hats,” an article in The Phair Company’s newsletter is titled. The company has a policy of “cooperative community based planning” that calls for meeting with neighbors and incorporating their input into designs, where possible, before ever approaching city staff of elected officials.

East County News Service

Photo: California National Guard

April 11, 2018 (San Diego)— Governor Jerry Brown has approved a request from President Donald Trump to send National Guard troops to the international border, funded by the federal government to combat “lawlessness,” according to the President’s request.

But in his response to the Trump administration, Brown indicated that the 400 troops sent by California will be utilized not for immigration enforcement, but rather for “new staffing will allow the Guard to do what it does best: support operations targeting transnational criminal gangs, human traffickers and illegal firearm and drug smugglers along the border, the coast and throughout the state,” threats that are priorities for both Democrats and Republicans, including two prior administrations, Brown noted.

East County News Service

April 9, 2018 (Santee) -- A Notice of Intent to Circulate a Petition for the Santee General Plan Protection Initiative was filed late Friday by Van Collinsworth, Preserve Wild Santee’s Geographer/Director, and by Santee City Councilman Stephen Houlahan. 

Update April 9, 2018: The good Samaritan who died has been identified as Kenneth Riddle, 46, of El Cajon. He leaves behind a wife and young daughter. A GoFundMe page to help the family has been established where donations can be made.

Update April 11, 2018: The driver who was killed has been identified as Lamont Taylor, 35, of El Cajon.

By Miriam Raftery

April 8, 2018 (El Cajon) – Two good Samaritans stopped to help a driver involved in a solo vehicle collision at 1:20 a.m.  on eastbound I-8 just west of El Cajon Boulevard in El Cajon.  The vehicle had come to rest in the number 2 lane of traffic.