By Miriam Raftery

September 22, 2018 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police seek public help to find the driver of a silver Nissan Altima that struck and seriously injured a 58-year-old man in a wheelchair Thursday night around 9:25 p.m. in the 1000 block of East Main Street.

Officers and paramedics responding to a call of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle found the victim unconscious near the center left turn lane, alongside his wheelchair.  He was transported to a hospital with life-threatening head injuries, says Lt. Steve Kirk.

Update September 22, 2018: The victim has been identified as Melanie Alexandra Feliciano, 24, who died of blunt force injuries to her head and neck, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: ECM news partner 10 News

September 20, 2018 (Spring Valley) – Rene Ruiz, 27, has been arrested after fleeing the scene of a fatal crash that occurred on September 17th at 1:50 p.m. on State Route 94 in Spring Valley. He has been charged with felony manslaughter with gross negligence, felony hit and run, and felony driving under the influence of drugs.

East County News Service

September 20, 2018 (La Mesa)-- On Friday, a Helix Water District customer reported  that she received phone calls from someone wanting her credit card information so they could lower her interest rates. The Caller ID on the customer’s phone identified the caller as Helix Water District, but the district warns, “These calls are not coming from Helix Water District. Under no circumstances will a Helix employee ask for your credit card number, over the phone or in person.”

East County News Service

September 19, 2018 (San Diego) -- Marine Sergeant Gary Wilson saved a woman from a burning SUV yesterday after a multi-vehicle collision, also freeing a second driver from the wreckage.

According to Officer Jake Sanchez with the California Highway Patrol, a white Freightliner truck was traveling south on State Route 163 just north of highway 52 at a high rate of speed. The truck rear-ended a Toyota Highlander, pushing it into several other vehicles stopped in heavy traffic.  The Highlander was pushed off the roadway and caught fire.

By County News Center, County of San Diego Communications Office

Image credit: PhotoSpin

September 17, 2018 (San Diego) - Local law enforcement and health officials are warning the public about a spate of deaths in beach communities connected to cocaine laced with the highly-potent and often deadly drug fentanyl.

By Miriam Raftery

August 31, 2018 (Lakeside) – The County has published a draft environmental impact report (EIR) for the controversial El Monte Sand Mining Project. 

By Ken Stone

Reprinted by Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  Daniel Ellsberg, who leaked the Pentagon Papers to The New York Times and The Washington Post, will speak at 7 p.m. Oct. 2 at SDSU’s Montezuma Hall. Photo via SDSU

September 15, 2018 (San Diego) - Daniel Ellsberg, the famed leaker of the Pentagon Papers in the early 1970s, is set to speak at San Diego State University next month. For that you might thank a renowned leaker of early 2010.

Photo: Hurricane Florence, viewed from space, courtesy of NASA, is four times the size of Ohio.

September 14, 2018 (San Diego) -- San Diego-based International Relief Teams (IRT) is supplying relief aid to victims of Hurricane Florence on the East Coast. The hurricane is expected to cause massive damage from dangerous storm surges, coastal flooding, and unprecedented inland rainfall.

States of emergency have been declared in the Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland, and Georgia and more than one million people are under mandatory evacuation orders. A half million are currently without power.

To help families impacted by Hurricane Florence, please go to www.irteams.org/donate or mail a donation to 4560 Alvarado Canyon Rd, Suite 1H, San Diego, CA  92120.

Scooter craze offers freedom for riders seeking alternatives to cars, but raises concerns over injuries, parking and public safety

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Scooter riders don't always follow traffic rules; cc by N.A.

September 9, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – The latest worldwide transportation craze has hit our region.  Electric “dockless” scooters for short-term rental are cropping up across San Diego County, offered by companies such as Bird, Lime, Uber and soon, Lyft.

By Miriam Raftery

September 12, 2018 (El Cajon) - Jon Christopher Clark has been charged with first degree murder after the body of his girlfriend, 19-year-old Kiera Bergman from El Cajon, was found beside a desert highway near Phoenix, Arizona last week.

Battle to save the county's last volunteer fire district now hinges on a protest process that could give voters the final say

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

Miriam Raftery, Editor, also contributed to this report.

 

Photo:  Battalion Chief Mike Van Bibber, Julian-Cuyamaca Fire Protection District

September 11, 2018 (Julian) -- A group of Julian area residents fighting fire axes-and-hoses against a county takeover of fire and medical first responder services won a firm victory last Thursday in Superior Court. Judge Timothy Taylor ruled to allow a ballot measure to fund future operations for the Julian Cuyamaca Fire Protection District (JCFPD).

Backers of the initiative hoped the ruling would curtail the County of San Diego’s efforts to terminate the JCFPD, the region’s last all-volunteer fire department, and shift fire and ambulance services to the County Fire Authority (CFA) in conjunction with Cal Fire.

But despite Judge Taylor’s ruling, yesterday the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) voted 7-0 to dissolve the district. Residents could still block the takeover through a protest process that’s now been triggered.  Determined opponents of the takeover are gearing up for the fight, arguing that eliminating volunteer firefighters who live in the community will make the area less safe, not safer has had been promised by the CFA.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Sunrise Powerlink tower dwarfs mountain ridges in McCain Valley

September 7, 2018 (Boulevard) -- Boulder Brush LLC (Terra-Gen) is seeking a major use permit to construct and operate a gen-tie line and substation/switchyard facilities on 110 acres of private land in McCain Valley south of I-8. The gen-time line would carry energy from the Terra-Gen Wind project proposed on Campo Kumeyaay tribal lands.

By Miriam Raftery

September 7, 2018 (Washington D.C.) – Newly released documents which Republican leaders tried to block from being admitted into evidence now reveal that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh lied under oath multiple times during his current confirmation hearing as well as at a prior confirmation hearing for his U.S. District Court seat.  

Lying under oath – perjury—is a federal crime and an impeachable offense for a judge.

Kavanaugh lied under oath about knowing about wireless surveillance programs when he worked for President Bush, about interviewing a controversial judicial nominee, and about receiving stolen and confidential Democratic party documents.

“Everybody forgot the Mission. But we are making a comeback. Our goal is to recognize and reconcile long-time differences between the Native, Anglo and Hispanic populations by restoring the Mission and bringing back historical community events like the annual Harvest Festival and Fiesta.” -- Gil Koda, parish finance councilman, volunteer

By Miriam Raftery

August 31, 2018 (Santa Ysabel) – A Herculean effort is underway to restore the Santa Ysabel Indian Mission (23013 Hwy 79) in time for its bicentennial celebration on Sunday, September 16th,^, 2018 at 10 a.m..  The multi-cultural celebration will include an outdoor mass and brunch with the Bishop, Native American bird singers and drummers, a flyover by the Navy’s Blue Angels, military salutes, multi-cultural dance groups, local celebrities, a historical wagon train show, tours of the mission and museum, Native speakers and historians, an arts and crafts show, and more.

Two other long-time community traditions are also being revived: the Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 20^th and a Fiesta in June 2019. There will also be a golf tournament on September 8^th at the Warner Springs resort as a fundraiser for these ambitious plans.

With Rep. Duncan D. Hunter indicted on federal corruption charges, will you vote for Hunter, a Republican, his Democratic opponent, Ammar Campa-Najjar, or not vote?

50th Congressional District voters, please take our poll here:   http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/poll/rep-duncan-d-hunter-has-been-indi...