By Miriam Raftery

Photo: ECM news partner 10 News

May 13, 2018 (El Cajon) – Three bodies have been found at the site of a plane that crashed Thursday night on Volcan Mountain near Ranchita. The crash sparked a brush fire that burned a dozen acres.

Although firefighters located the plane on Friday, Sheriff’s search and rescue crews were unable to reach the crash site until Sunday, after firefighters contained the brush fire 100 percent.

SDSU wins 4th Outdoor Title in past six years

Source:  goaztecs.com

Video courtesy goaztecs.com

May 12, 2018 (Clovis) - The San Diego State Track & Field team captured the Mountain West Outdoor Championship Saturday evening. The Aztecs, who entered the day in 11^th place, dominated every sprinting event to rally and win their fourth championship in the last six years.

May 12, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – Joyce Elizabeth Dunne, who taught school for many years in La Mesa and Lemon Grove schools, passed away on Friday, May 4th in Waco, Texas with her daughter Shannon at her side.  Beloved by all who knew her, she will live in our hearts forever.  She is survived by her brother: Donnie, four children: Greg, Grant, Guy and Shannon, and her six Grandchildren.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

CAL FIRE's San Diego unit has issued a proclamation suspending burning permits and other uses of open fires starting May 14th due to fire danger. Below are details from the CAL FIRE announcement issued today:

Due to the extreme menace of destruction by fire to life, improved property, or natural resources caused by critical fire weather and acute dryness of vegetation; and/or fire suppression forces being heavily committed to control fires; and, under authority vested in me by the Director of the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection as per section 4423.1 of the Public Resources Code, I hereby suspend, except within the incorporated cities, the privileges of burning by permit and other uses of open fire in the geographic area described as:

ALL STATE RESPONSIBILITY AREA LANDS WITHIN THE COUNTY / COUNTIES OF SAN DIEGO

East County News Service

May 11. 2018 (San Diego) – Long-time San Diego resident and promising TomBird.com author JohnEgreek also known as John Hodgkinson, has received the prestigious Silver Literary Titan Book Award for his creation,  Grandma’s Secret Blessings, A Memoir with a Twist..

The Silver Award is bestowed on books that expertly deliver complex characters, intricate worlds, and thought-provoking themes.

East County News Service

May 10, 2018 (Spring Valley) – The Sheriff’s department today announced it has begun serving 10-day notices on illegal marijuana dispensaries in Spring Valley and will arrest violators who don’t vacate the premises. The action comes after the Sheriff and County Planning and Development Services served over a dozen search warrants on illicit dispensaries from mid-2017 to early 2018 on Spring Valley pot shops, seizing 7,000 pounds of marijuana, five firearms and $85,000 in cash.

By Rebecca Jefferis-Williamson and Miriam Raftery

April 10, 2018 (Santee) – A fire has scorched multiple apartments at Santee Villas in the 10400 block of Mast Boulevard across the street from Santana High School tonight, where a passerby told East County Magazine details of efforts to save residents and pets from the flames.

“I was riding down Mast Boulevard when I noticed black smoke coming from an apartment complex,” says Robert Johnson, a Santee resident.  “I chucked my backpack and bike,” he says, adding that he followed the lead of others trying to assist. He says  he “started busting windows and helping people out where I could.”

By Miriam Raftery

May 10, 2018 (Lakeside) – A quarter of a century ago, Matt LaChappa was drafted by the San Diego Padres out of El Capitan High School in Lakeside, the pride of the Barona tribe on the Native American reservation where he grew up. But three years later, tragedy struck on April 6, 1996 while the talented left-hander was warming up in the bullpen on opening day of the season with the Padres’ minor league team, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.

He collapsed after suffering a heart attack, then had a second heart attack during an ambulance ride to the hospital.  In a coma for months, he suffered irreversible brain damage. Yet to this day, he remains on contract with the Padres, who promised to take care of their injured player for life.

LaChappa’s inspiring story was highlighted last Sunday on ESPN’s E:60 program in an episode titled “The Contract.” (View trailer.) The show will be replayed throughout the month.

May 10, 2018 (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

• San Diego's night-time surf glowing with aqua colored light as bioluminescence takes hold (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• ·People are afraid of retribution’: Hunter clan fights for survival (Politico)
• Gathering aims to relaunch Minutemen, fortify border in response to caravan (SD Union-Tribune)
• Granite Hills High teacher resigns amid misconduct allegations (SD Union-Tribune)
• Lemon Grove teachers, district at impasse, hire mediator (SD Union-Tribune)
• San Diego DA Candidates Spar Over Police Shooting Investigations, Leadership (KPBS)
• Homeless court offers alternative to revolving door (SD Union-Tribune)
• Congressional District 50: Rep. Duncan Hunter's campaign finance issues have drawn plenty of challengers (SD Union-Tribune)

 STATE

• Neo-Nazi candidate kicked out of California state GOP convention (NBC)
• Gig economy faces shakeup after California high court ruling (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Big utilities are desperately trying to stick consumers with bills for  Calif. wildfires (Los Angeles Times)
• Offshore wind farms coming to California — but the Navy says no to large sections of the coast (SD Union-Tribune)
• 3 Californias? The initiative to break up the state may be on the ballot in November
• Calif. Republicans won’t endorse in governor’s race (Los Angeles Times)

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

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

May 10, 2018 (El Cajon) -- This is the time of year when students have final exams and graduation on their minds. But this May, students at both Grossmont and Cuyamaca College are wondering if they have been exposed to tuberculosis at either campus.

By Miriam Raftery

May 9, 2018 (San Diego) – U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, visiting border communities in San Diego and Arizona in the past week, affirmed a zero-tolerance policy of prosecuting anyone who crosses the border illegally. He also made clear that no compassion will be shown to parents seeking a safe haven in America for their children, stating, “If you’re smuggling a child, then we’re going to prosecute you, and that child will be separated from you, probably, as required by law. If you don’t want your child separated, then don’t bring them across the border illegally.”

Update: A memorial service will be held on May 30th at the Garden Chapel at Greenwood Mortuary, 4300 Imperial Ave. San Diego, CA 92113. Viewing will be from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.with the service itself from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

East County News Service

May 9, 2018 (El Cajon) - El Cajon resident Robert D. Gardner, a video producer honored with 28 Emmy awards, died of a heart attack on May 6^th at his home.  President of Gardner Productions, he also worked at KFMB-TV, the CBS affiliate in San Diego for 17 years.

By Miriam Raftery

May 9, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes a Taste of Julian, the Coyote Music Festival at Cuyamaca College, the Jukebox Kings in downtown El Cajon, a Salsa fiesta in Lemon Grove, Sherlock Holmes Final Adventure at Grossmont College, and the Manzanita High Rendezvous in Lake Morena.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including a Mother’s Day hike on Volcan Mountain in Julian, a salute to military families including kayaking and mountain biking at Lake Morena, a star party at Oakoasis in Lakeside, hiking in Flinn Springs, wilderness survival for families in Lake Morena, a bicycle ride and safety talk at Lindo Lakes in Lakeside, the Ramona Rodeo, the America on Main Street festival in El Cajon, Wild in the Country at Lions, Tigers and Bears in Alpine, Laurel and Hardy comedy night in Spring Valley, La Mesa’s Flag Day parade, a Secret Garden Party at St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, Fido Fest in Santee and Santee’s summer concert series.

So scroll down for all of these events and many more!

May 8, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• U.S. says it will separate families crossing border illegally (Reuters)
• Sessions promises prosecutions for all illegal border crossings, including asylum seekers (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Hawaii volcano eruption destroys 35 structures -- and the lava keeps flowing (CNN)
• Residents on Hawaii's Big Island flee threat of quakes, lava and toxic gas (CNN)\
• Are you owed $1,200? Maybe, if you got a Dish telemarketing call (CBS)
• Trump threatens to close U.S. Borders (Time Magazine)
• HUD Secretary Ben Carson to be sued for suspending Obama-era fair-housing rule (Washington Post)

WORLD

• Trump abandons 'defective' Iran nuclear deal, to revive sanctions (Reuters)
• U.S. Navy fleet will deploy to combat Russia's resurgence (Newsweek)
• Russian opposition leader, hundreds arrested amid anti-Putin protests (The Hill)
• Over a dozen killed in mosque blast, as violence grips Afghanistan (CNN)
• Nigeria:  Bandits slaughter 51 villagers (BBC)

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

May 8, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• In veterans, even a mild case of traumatic brain injury is linked to an increased risk of dementia (Los Angeles Times)
• This retinal implant may one day cure blindness caused by macular degeneration (Los Angeles Times)
• Regular fast food eating linked to fertility issues in women (BBC)

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

• Uber CEO on flying taxis, the future and taking over a company in crisis (CBS)
• Russian spies posing as ISIS threaten to kill military wives' families, evidence shows (CBS)
• Elon Musk’s SpaceX is using a powerful rocket technology. NASA advisers say it could put lives at risk. (Washington Post)
• Electric Winnebagos are coming soon (Reuters)

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