May 18, 2017 (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

• Santee ok’s start of special district for Castlerock residents (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Should UCSD and other hospitals pay millions of dollars to sports teams? ( San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Local Experts Explain Recent Uptick in Shark Sightings (NBC)
• Ramona High School listed for sale in funny senior prank (Fox 5)
• Gaming gone bust, tribe turns to marijuana farming (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• A day in the life of Rep. Duncan Hunter (Fox News)
• Drugs, graffiti found at La Mesa little league field (10 News)
• San Diego using loophole to hand out large raises during pay freeze (San Diego Union-Tribune)

STATE

• Bill would expand property tax portability for older CA homeowners (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Gov. Brown defends gas tax, local legislator (OC Register)
• DMV issues hundreds of disabled placard citations (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Army Training In California Desert To Take On Cyber Threats (KPBS)
• California courts look to modernize with chatbots, video tech (SF Chronicle)

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

By Miriam Raftery

An East County Magazine Special report

May 17, 2017 (Washington D.C.) – In a bombshell announcement, the U.S. Justice Department has  issued an order to appoint a special prosecutor  to investigate Russia’s efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, including any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the Trump campaign.  Far more broadly, the order allows investigation of any matters that arise from the investigation and all other matters within a special prosecutor’s jurisdiction under federal law – including authorization to prosecute federal crimes arising from the investigation.   

Acting Attorney General  Rod. J. Rosenstein issued the order to appoint Robert Mueller, a former federal prosecutor who served as FBI director from 2001 to 2013 under both Republican President George W. Bush and Democratic President Barack Obama.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Gage Skidmore

May 17, 2017 (Washington D.C.) –President Donald Trump pressured FBI director James Comey to halt the FBI investigation into former National Security Director Michael Flynn’s Russian connections, but Comey refused, according to a memo written by Comey at the time,  the New York Times reports.  Comey also refused Trump’s demand to jail journalists for publishing leaked materials—shortly before the President fired Comey.   The revelation has top Republican and Democratic Senators preparing to subpoena records that could, potentially, lead to impeachment.

“Obstruction of justice is what it looks like to anybody who’s looking at it,” Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat working with Republican  Senator Lindsey Graham to investigate the FBI’s role in the federal Russia investigation,  Politico reports. “This is about as lay down a case…as a prosecutor could imagine,” he added.

Republican Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House Oversight Committee who has said he won’t seek reelection,  today announced on Twitter that his committee will “get the Comey memo, if it exists,” adding, “I need to see it sooner rather than later. I have my subpoena pen ready.”

By Miriam Raftery

May 17, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Pursuit of Marvin Peeples, a suspect reportedly violating a restraining order in Lemon Grove yesterday, led to a deputy’s vehicle became involved in a collision in San Diego before the suspect was ultimately arrested.

Lakeside resident Dave Thomas among honorees feted for overcoming life-altering injuries

East County News Service

May 17, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Lakeside resident Dave Thomas will be among those honored at the 2017 “Victories of Spirit” event celebrating the power of rehabilitation and the strength of the human spirit.  The 27^th annual celebration held by Sharp Rehabilitation and Sharp HealthCare Foundation  will begin at 6 p.m., Friday, May 19, at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego.  The title sponsor is United Healthcare. The event will honor the power of rehabilitation and pay tribute to extraordinary individuals and community organizations for their inspirational achievements and contributions to others.

East County News Service

May 16, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- Registration is now open for “Bike to Work Day!” Join thousands of San Diegans and cycle to work on Thursday, May 18.

Biking to work is a great way to save money, get fit, and be environmentally friendly.  Register for Bike to Work Day and log bike trips to be automatically entered to win one of many great prizes. 

East County News Service

May 16, 2017 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, will host “All About Peripheral Neuropathy,” a free program on the causes, symptoms and treatments for this nerve disorder, from 10 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, May 24. The program is part of the library’s “Wellness Wednesday” series, normally held on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Admission is free. Light refreshments will be served. Advance RSVP is not necessary. Handouts will be available.

By Miriam Raftery

May 14, 2017 (Jamul) – Wineries from along the emerging Highway 94 wine corridor  served up fruits of their labors at the Jamul Wine Festival April 29^th at St. St. Pius X Catholic Church in Jamul,  all to benefit building classrooms for local children.  Guests also savored an abundant array of delicious foods,  bid on unique silent auction items,  enjoyed live music, a presentation with wine tasting tips, and more.

“We are excited to have this opportunity to showcase the Vineyards and Wineries in Jamul and to make our Festival the first of many to come,” said Gary Gorton with the Knights Council 9659 at the church.

East County News Service

May 15, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – This week’s Destination East County includes La Mesa Rocks, the Manzanita Rendezvous, Julian Fiddle and Pickin’ Contest, El Cajon’s America on Main Street, Explore Mission Trails Day, a Wild in the Country Casino Real benefit, and the Grip It and Rip It Golf Tournament.

Plus, we’ll tell you about coming attractions including a production of Into the Woods, , open house at the Oasis Camel Dairy, La Mesa’s Flag Day Parade, Fly Days at Gillespie Field, the annual Julian Dance and Barbecue, Fido Fest in Santee, Lavender Days at Summers Past Farms, Sundays at Six Concerts in LA Mesa, Night Fishing at Santee Lakes, the Julian Blues Fest,  Santee Summer Concerts, a Father’s Day Brunch with Cowboy Jack, and a Father’s Day adventure at Fort Cross in Julian filled with rugged, manly experiences! 

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

By Julie Pendray 

May 15, 2017 (Alpine) -- When construction of a high school in Alpine was delayed indefinitely following passage of bond measures in 2004 and 2008, Alpine Union School District (AUSD) decided to seek unification. Reorganizing the district would enable it to operate K-12 schools and build the high school without waiting on Grossmont Unified High School District (GUSD), which is responsible for the school’s construction under Props. H and U. Alpine’s proposal was given the green light by the County Office of Education, which forwarded its recommendation to the state Board of Education (Board) in 2014.

East County News Service

May 15, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Some utility customers who opted out of having smart meters installed are complaining that they have received inflated estimated bills for their analog meter, says Susan Brinchman, director of the Center for Electrosmog Prevention in La Mesa, a group opposed to smart meters.

Chuck The Rooster Loses His Voice, by Sigal Haber (Amazon, 2017, 32 pages).

Book Review by Dennis Moore

May 15, 2017 (San Diego) - After many years as a university professor, teaching and researching entrepreneurship and management, Sigal Haber asked herself how to introduce the concept of entrepreneurship to young children?

How does one introduce the concept of entrepreneurship to young children? Teach them in a fun way what does it mean to be a leader in a community and to take responsibility in a humorous way? These questions brought Haber to write the book Chuck the Rooster Loses His Voice.

Aztecs await a possible at-large bid to the NCAA tournament

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

May 13, 2017 (Reno) - The San Diego State softball team broke a 6-6 tie with two runs in the top of the sixth inning and five more in the seventh en route to a 13-6 victory over Nevada Saturday afternoon in Reno. The win gave the Aztecs (31-18, 15-9 MW) the series and a second-place finish in the final Mountain West standings.

By Miriam Raftery

May 13, 2017 (Del Cerro) – The National Action Network has announced that a call for “prayer and justice” will be held Monday evening for Robert Branch, an African-American man set to start trial for felony assault on a Sheriff’s deputy who choked him unconscious in Del Cerro back in May 2015.

Source: ATV Safety Institute

May 12, 2017 (Campo) -- This summer, June 2 - 11, the ATV Safety Institute will be hosting ATV Safety Week throughout the country. ASI is working with certified Instructor Jim Rue who has volunteered to provide free hands-on ATV RiderCourse training in Campo at the Golden Acorn Training Site on June 3 & 10 beginning at 8:00 a.m. at 1800 Golden Acorn Way in Campo.