By Miriam Raftery

September 14, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes the Alley Cat Art Walk in El Cajon, the Julian Music Festival, Santa Ysabel Mission’s Bicentennial Celebration, a Tom Petty Tribute in El Cajon, and the opening of raspberry picking season  at Julian Farm and Orchard.

Plus, we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including Julian’s Old Fashioned Country Fair, Gregory Page and Sky Ladd in concert at Schwaesdall Winery in Ramona, Oktoberfests in La Mesa and El Cajon, a masquerade ball in El Cajon, spooky camping at Lake Jennings, our East County Dining Club at Fourpenny House in La Mesa, fair trade shopping in La Mesa, the Laguna Mountain Rendezvous, the Pumpkin Express haunted train ride, HauntFest on Main in El Cajon, and the Borrego Days desert festival.

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

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.

East County News Service

September 11, 2018 (Santee) – Hannah Gbeh will be the featured speaker at the East County Democratic Club meeting on Thursday. September 20 at Jimmy’s Restaurant in Santee (9635 Mission Gorge Rd.)  Dinner and social hour start at 6 p.m. with the meeting at 7 p.m.

East County News Service

September 11, 2018 (El Cajon) -- The San Diego and Imperial Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network is providing one-on-one business advising and training to small business owners to help them obtain capital as well as increase sales and jobs for the East County region.

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By Liz Alper

Videos courtesy goaztecs.com

For video of Ryan Agnew and Kyree Woods, click "read more" and scroll down.

September 11, 2018 (San Diego) - With a win under their belts, SDSU football head coach Rocky Long and juniors Ryan Agnew and Kyree Woods took the floor on Tuesday afternoon in a much better mood than last week's press conference.

Pregnant Women in Custody Act of 2018 will create a national standard for care of pregnant women in all federal prisons and require Dept. of Justice to collect data on mental and physical health of pregnant women in custody

East County News Service

September 13, 2018 (Washington D..C.) - Today, Representatives Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Mia Love (R-Utah) and Catherine Clark (D-Mass.) led the majority of women in both the Democratic and Republican House Caucuses in introducing legislation to provide a national standard of care to address pregnancy-related needs of incarcerated women during pregnancy, labor, delivery and post-partum periods. San Diego Congresswoman Susan Davis is among the cosponsors.

Source:  Grossmont/Cuyamaca Community College District

September 10, 2018 (El Cajon) – Food, music and dance at Cuyamaca College and a visit at Grossmont College by nationally acclaimed poet Yosimar Reyes will highlight a series of special events honoring Latinx Heritage Month at the two East County colleges from mid-September to Nov. 1. All events are free and open to the public.

By Miriam Raftery

September 9, 2018 (Jamul) – Unveiling of a new logo, giveaways for guests, and a VIP dinner with Master Chef Ron DeSantis crowned a rebranding celebration last month at the Jamul Casino.

Jamul Indian Village and the Jamul Indian Village Developmemt Corporation hosted a block party after taking back management from Penn Gaming at the facility formerly known as Jamul Hollywood Casino.

By Miriam Raftery

September 9, 2018 (Lemon Grove) – Christopher Truax Jr., a 21-year-old Marine Corps Sergeant, has been identified as the victim fatally shot early Friday in Lemon Grove.  The Sheriff has asked for public help to solve the crime.

Source: Ramona H.E.A.R.T. Murals

September 11, 2018 (Ramona) -- Check out two utility boxes turned into art at 4^th and Main across from the Ramona Valley Inn by Lourans Mikhail and another at 14^th and Main, facing 14^th  next to Dunkin Donuts, by Marie Bravo.

“The Creamery” features ultra creamy, extra rich homemade ice cream

East County News Service

September 8, 2018 (Lakeside) – Barona Resort & Casino recently unveiled The Creamery, a 1932-era ice cream shop serving super-premium, incredibly delicious house-made ice cream. It is the latest eatery to be unveiled as part of Barona’s Welcome Home expansion.

Source: Lakeside Fire

September 7, 2018 (Lakeside) -- The Lakeside Fire District is hiring for both entry-level Firefighter-Paramedic and Reserve Firefighter. Check out this dramatic video (https://twitter.com/i/status/1038201517344468992) and visit http://lakesidefire.net  for more information.

Applications close on November 1, 2018 at 4:00 p.m.

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.

By Miriam Raftery

September 7, 2018 (Lemon Grove) --  Shortly after midnight, sheriff's deputies saw a man and woman inside a vehicle parked in the middle of the street  in the 7400 block of Pacific Avenue, in  Lemon Grove. When the deputies investigated, they found the man bleeding from what a witness described as a gunshot wound, says Lt. Rich Williams with the Sheriff’s homicide unit.

Deputies called for Lemon Grove Fire Department personnel to assist and began providing first aid.

“The man was seriously injured and soon stopped breathing. Deputies performed CPR until relieved by fire department personnel,” says Lt. Williams. However dDespite lifesaving efforts, the man was pronounced deceased at about 12:39 a.m.