East County News Service

June 23, 2021 (La Mesa) – Location Matters, Inc. has announced sale of a retail building at 8371 in the heart of La  Mesa’s downtown village for $1,850,000.  The buyer is Whissel Realty Group, a family-owned real estate company that plans to move its corporate office to this location. 

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Update 10:30 p.m.:  CALFIRE San Diego officials have lifted the evacuation warning for the Mesa Fire and closed temporary evacuation points. State Route 76 is open in both directions. Motorists are reminded to drive with caution due to emergency vehicles which will remain in the area overnight. Fire officials estimate the fire at 350 acres with zero percent containment.

June 23, 2021 (Pala) – A fast-moving brush fire named the #MesaFire has scorched 260 acres and is zero percent contained, per Cal Fire/San Diego County Fire.  State Route 76 is shut down from Horse Creek Ranch to Pala Casino due to the fire which began off highway 76 and Cousier Canyon.

An evacuation warning is in place for those who live near Pala Casino, according to the San Diego sheriff.  The warning is voluntary but be ready to leave when advised to do so.

Temporary evacuation points have been established at Valley Center High School, 31322 Cole Grade Road in Valley Center and at the park and ride at the junction of I-15 and highway 76. (An earlier temporary evacuation location at Pauma Casino is no longer in effect.)

A smoke advisory has been issued.  Smoke impacts are likely in areas near and to the east and northeast of the fire, where fine particulates, or PM2.5 concentrations, may reach unhealthful levels. Winds are expected to remain from the same general direction through Thursday.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Supreme Court building, CC by NC-ND

June 23, 2021 (Washington D.C.) – In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court justices ruled that unless there is an emergency, police cannot force their way into a misdemeanor suspect’s home without first getting a warrant.

The ruling does not apply to felony pursuits. However when pursuing a suspect over a misdemeanor offense, officers can only enter if there is good reason, which Justice Elena Kagan said would include circumstances such as to “prevent imminent harms of violence, destruction of evidence, or escape from the home. But when the officer has time to get a warrant, he must do so – even though the misdemeanant fled,” she added.

By Miriam Raftery

June 23, 2021 (Ramona) – Family and friends are grieving the loss of Anthony Eunice, a 17-year-old Ramona resident who died June 13 from injuries in a car accident. 

Local teachers invited to request resources that promote anti-racism through the DonorsChoose platform

Source:  SDG&E

June 22, 2021 (San Diego) - Over the past year, teachers across our region and the nation have had many teaching moments related to racial and social justice. To support educators’ ongoing efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in their classrooms and at their schools, San Diego Gas & Electric has established a new grant program with $250,000 in shareholder funding. Teachers who request anti-racism learning materials through the nonprofit crowdfunding platform DonorsChoose, will have donations to their pro jects matched with $2 for every $1 that they raise. receive two dollars in matching funds for every dollar they raise.

Outlines Path Forward on Troubled Legacy of Federal Boarding School Policies in Remarks to National Congress of American Indians

East County News Service

June 22, 2021 (Washington D.C.) -- In remarks to the National Congress of American Indians 2021 Mid Year Conference today, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced a Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative, a comprehensive review of the troubled legacy of federal boarding school policies.

Today’s announcement is accompanied by a secretarial memo in which Secretary Haaland directs the Department to prepare a report detailing available historical records, with an emphasis on cemeteries or potential burial sites, relating to the federal boarding school program in preparation for a future site work. This work will occur under the supervision of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs.

Hosted by the La Mesa Village Association and presented by Johnny B's

Source:  La Mesa Village Association

Photos courtesy CeCe Canton Photography

June 21, 2021 (La Mesa) - The La Mesa Classic Car Show rolls back into downtown La Mesa this summer after being put on hold in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The car show will feature pre-1974 cars, trucks and vans that will be parked along La Mesa Boulevard between 4th Street and Spring St. for the public’s viewing pleasure. The Classic Car Show is a free, community event that will be held every Thursday beginning June 24, 2021 - August 26, 2021 from 5 – 8 p.m.

By Miriam Raftery

June 21, 2021 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Police detectives are investigating the stabbing death of a woman who appeared to be homeless found sitting in a pool of blood at a bus stop at East Madison Ave. and Walter Way Wednesday night at 6:40 p.m. 

“Officers arrived and began CPR. The victim appeared to have been stabbed at least one time,” says Lieutenant Keith MacArthur.

Update June 20, 2021 11 a.m. -- The fire is holding at 343 acres and remains 5% contained, Cal Fire reports this morning.

Update 8 p.m.  --  Cal Fire tweet:  #OverlandFire off of Canebrake Canyon Road and Great Southern Overland Stage Route , East of Mount Laguna in San Diego County is 343 acres and 5% contained. Change in acreage due to better mapping. @CALFIRESANDIEGO

By Miriam Raftery

June 19, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – A brush fire burning near Canebrake along the Great Southern Overland trail has scorched 500 acres and is zero percent contained as of early this afternoon, Cal Fire reports. The #OverlandFire is east of Mount Laguna in the Anza-Borrego Desert.

No evacuations have been ordered as of 1:30 p.m. The fire is in a remote location and is not currently threatening any structures. However, a Cal Fire spokesman on Twitter indicated access for ground crews is difficult due to rugged terrain, requiring additional air resources that are now on scene.

Several Canebrake residents contacted ECM to clarify that the fire is not burning within the community of Canebrake, but to the west.

East County News Service

June 19, 2021 (Anza-Borrego Desert) - Cal Fire is at the scene of a vegetation fire in the community of Canebrake. The fire is 100 acres with a slow rate of spread, but 0% contained. The remote location is making access by ground difficult. Ground and additional air resources assigned.

(Photo - left) Adopter Chappie Hunter understands challenges of wearing prosthetics firsthand

June 19, 2021(Alpine) --  Chloe, one of two dogs rescued by San Diego Humane Society’s Humane Law Enforcement and fitted for prosthetics by the medical team at San Diego Humane Society’s Escondido Campus, is being adopted by a family who understands the challenges of having a leg amputated first hand. SDPD Detective Chappie Hunter and his family have been fostering Chloe since her three-month recovery period at SDHS. The family has decided to keep her and make the adoption official. Detective Hunter lost his leg in a crash in Alpine in 2013. After a year of recovery, he returned to work with a prosthetic leg.

June 19, 2021 (San Diego's East County) -- Father's Day is June 20th. If you shop on Amazon for Father's Day or anytime year-round, you can also choose to support our nonprofit news reporting and the East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts that we support!

Just click this link to choose East County Media as your charity of choice (which supports East County Magazine) at  https://smile.amazon.com/ch/83-1108634.  Then in the future, eveytime you shop Amazon log in through Smile.Amazon.com and our nonprofit will receive a percentage of all your purchases!  If you are also an Amazon Prime member, you will still receive all of your benefits such as free shipping, too!