East County News Service

November 7, 2016 (San Diego) - Listen to San Diego Combat Veterans share their experience fighting for our country at a town hall hosted by Congresswoman Susan Davis at the Balboa Park Club at 2144 Pan American Road in San Diego from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. November 10.

By Miriam Raftery

November 6, 2016 (El Cajon) — El Cajon’s Planning Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit Wednesday to start construction of the new El Cajon Animal Care Center.

Voters approved a half-cent sales tax increase to fund the $10.5 million shelter under Proposition O back in 2004, which will be more than double the size of the current shelter, with room for expansion. The new shelter at 1351 North Marshall Ave. will be within a block of the old shelter.

By Miriam Raftery

November 1, 2016 (La Mesa) – Someone with access to confidential files at Helix Water District violated state law and district policy by anonymously mailing part of a board candidate’s personnel file to East County Magazine.

We will not violate privacy rules by publishing the contents.  However, we did speak with the candidate, Louis Tejeda, who gave permission for us to disclose the leaking of his confidential record: a notice of proposed disciplinary action sent 21 years ago, when he was an employee of the district.

On Wednesday, November 2, 2016, Caltrans requested an emergency road closure for bridge repairs to be done on the transition road from southbound I-805 to eastbound SR-52.

Beginning immediately, the transition from southbound I-805 to eastbound SR-52 is closed to allow Caltrans to conduct their work.  The transition road is expected to be re-opened tonight around 2000 hours.

East County News Service

November 1, 2016 (Lakeside) — Three people have been transported to a hospital following a collision in Lakeside reported at 7:11 p.m. tonight.  The crash damaged a home at 13413 Julian Avenue, near the junction with Lakeview Road.

According to the CHP, the collision resulted in two vehicles in the front yard, with a Ford Ranger overturned.

East County News Service

November 1, 2016 (Ocotillo Wells) -- Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue (BORSTAR) agents rescued a man who was lost in the Ocotillo Wells Desert early Monday morning.

On Sunday, around 6:30 p.m., a ranger with California Department of Parks and Recreation contacted Border Patrol agents assigned to the Highway 86 checkpoint and asked for help to locate a missing man last seen in the Ocotillo Wells Desert. He was reported missing by his family after he failed to return from an ATV ride in the desert.

Source:  City of El Cajon

October 31,2016 (El Cajon)--The El Cajon Police Department has been awarded a $170,000.00 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a year-long program of special enforcements and public awareness efforts to prevent traffic related deaths and injuries.  The El Cajon Police Department will use the funding as part of the city’s ongoing commitment to keep roadways safe and improve the quality of life through both enforcement and education, according to a release issued today.

“The El Cajon Police Department is looking forward to working with OTS, our partners in Law Enforcement, and our community stakeholders to reduce injury and death related to traffic collisions,” stated El Cajon Police Lieutenant Randy Soulard. “With an emphasis on the prevention of pedestrian and bicycle-related collisions, we will work collaboratively using a multi-pronged approach in addressing education and enforcement aspects of collision reduction.”

East County News Service

October 28, 2016 (Spring Valley) — The Federal Aviation Administration is hosting a meeting in Spring Valley Tuesday on a proposal to change flight paths to both Lindbergh Field and Brown Field airports, which could sharply increase airliner traffic over East County.  The meeting will be at La Presa Middle School, 1001 Leland Street, on November 1 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Attorney for white nationalist group developed computer program to drop minority voters off voting rosters in 30 states

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left:  Miriam Raftery with Greg Palast at film debut in San Diego

Listen now to our interview with Greg Palast, originally aired on KNSJ:  https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

Scroll down for highlights.

October 28, 2016 (San Diego)--Investigative reporter Greg Palast’s Academy Award-nominated documentary, The Best Democracy Money Can Buy:  A Tale of Billionaires and Ballot Bandits, pulls back the curtain to expose a dark conspiracy to steal votes from millions of minorities across America. A seasoned gumshoe detective turned award-winning investigative reporter, Palast leaves no room for doubt as he masterfully reveals the powerful players behind this insidious scheme.

East  County Magazine editor Miriam Raftery sat down for an exclusive interview with Palast,  in town for the debut of his film in San Diego on Monday.  You can hear our interview by clicking the orange audio link,  and scroll down to  read our review of this must-see documentary.

By Miriam Raftery

October 27, 2016 (Santee) – A 67-year-old woman crossing the 10500 block of Mission Gorge Road this morning at 9:30 a.m. was struck by a Cadillac driven by an 82-year-old woman.  Santee Fire Department and Sheriff’s deputies responded.

Delays are expected Thursday night during one-way traffic control operations

Source: Caltrans

October 27, 2016 (San Diego) - Caltrans crews have scheduled lane closures at the intersection of State Route 67 (SR-67) and Dye Road/Highland Valley Road near Ramona on Thursday night from 7 until 5 Friday morning.

Update October 26, 2016: Defense Secretary Ash Carter has ordered a halt to this action, so  California National Guard members won't have to payback bonuses paid out erroneously years ago. President Barack Obama applauded Carter's decision. Read more.

East County News Service

October 24, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – California National Guard soldiers have been ordered to pay back reenlistment bonuses paid a decade ago, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The bonuses of $15,000 or more  were offered to encourage reenlistment.  The Pentagon intended those bonuses to retain experts in intelligence and other high in demand services during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

East County News Service

October 25, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) — Yesterday’s storm dropped only minimal rainfall but over 4,000 lightning strikes occurred across southwestern California.  But a new storm Thursday evening through Friday could bring heavier rain, hail, thunderstorms and dangerous lightning, the National Weather Service predicts.

East County News Service

October 25, 2016 (El Cajon) – A hearing is set for tomorrow at 3 p.m. in U.S. District Court in downtown San Diego on a restraining order sought by the NAACP and several individuals who claim they were falsely arrested for holding peaceful protests and vigils in the wake of the Alfred Olango shooting by an El Cajon Police officer.

Update:  KNSD reports Teresa Hudson has been found and is safe.  Authorities have not provided further details.

East County News Service

October 23, 2016 (La Mesa)—The family of missing La Mesa woman Teresa Hudson is pleading for help to find her.  She left home near  Dallas  Street and Lubbock  Avenue Saturday morning shortly after midnight and is believed to have driven her daughter’s car, a gray Kia Sportage, license plate 6RQX374.  She suffers from a psychiatric condition and left without her medication,  money, cell phone, food, or water.  She was last seen wearing a pink nightgown.

On Sunday, her husband, John, asked people to check back roads in East County. “We’ll be looking in the Dehesa area ourselves,  believing she went for a joy ride and got lost and ran out of gas with no way to get help.” The car was low on gas, the family has indicated.