April 11 in La Mesa

March 27, 2015 (La Mesa) - Noted author, five-time Emmy nominee and co-executive producer and head writer of the award-winning science fiction series, Quantum Leap, Deborah Pratt, will lead an array of local literary talent at an event titled Romancing San Diego 2.0. With her latest book, The Tempting: Seducing the Nephilim, this promises to be an entertaining and informative session. This accomplished actress will be the featured celebrity guest at the Grossmont Center in La Mesa., which will feature an author panel and book signing.

By Miriam Raftery

March 26, 2015 (Santee) – Randy Voepel, Santee’s Mayor for the past 15 years, has thrown his hat in the ring to run for the 71^st State Assembly seat that Brian Jones is vacating due to term limits, SD Rostra reports. He’ll be running against Michael Harrison, who works for Congressman Duncan Hunter and previously worked for Hunter’s father when he served in Congress.

By Miriam Raftery

March 27, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - The warm is warming up, and snakes are coming out of hibernation.

By Miriam Raftery

March 25, 2015 (Alpine) – Homicide detectives are investigating the discovery of human remains in Alpine, the Sheriff’s department reports. According to Lieutenant John Maryon, it appears the remains have been there for quite some time.

By Miriam Raftery

March 26, 2015 (El Cajon) – At the El Cajon City Council meeting on Tuesday, several members of the public spoke out to ask that Officer Richard Gonsalves be fired or put on administrative leave pending outcome of a lawsuit by a woman claiming sexual harassment.  Gonsalves has been demoted, but remains on the force.

By Leon Thompson

March 27, 2015 (Pala) –  According to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, a Fallbrook deputy saw a couple hanging out inside a car that was awkwardly parked in the 2700 block of Pala Road at around 8:15 a.m.

East County News Service

March 25, 2015 (La Mesa)—In this era of tight budgets, the City of La Mesa has launched a “Go Fund Me” online drive to raise money to help defray costs of the 19^th annual Flag Day Parade.  The annual salute to Old Glory will be held on Saturday, May 30^th down La Mesa Boulevard, with pre-parade concerts by the La Mesa Middle School and Parkway Middle School bands.

March 25, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - It's a situation no one ever wants to go through. A loved one suffering from Alzheimer's Disease or another physical or mental disability gets lost or wanders away from home.

East County News Service

March 25, 2015 (Washington D.C.)– Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) has introduced legislation in the House to establish an independent advocate on campus for sexual assault survivors. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) introduced the Senate bill last week.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Wikipedia Commons courtesy of SamBoy

March 25, 2015 (San Diego)—The Cocos Fire charred nearly 2,000 acres and burned down dozens of homes in San Marcos and Harmony Grove in May 2014.  On Wednesday, Judge Howard Shore ruled that a 13-year-old girl was responsible for intentionally and maliciously starting the devastating blaze.

March 24, 2015 (El Cajon) – Get ready to rev up – Cajon Classic Cruises is rolling out its 2015 season starting Wednesday, April 22^nd with a full street closure for opening night.  The cruises will continue all summer long on Wednesday nights from 5 to 8 p.m.

The second week, April 29^th will celebrate Cinco de Mayo.  Other  highlights include Jimmie Johnson night on July 22^nd , a Military Tribute June 17^th, Thunder on Main on September 30^th, and Trunk or Treat on October 28^th at season’s end.

March 24, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination East County includes the Ramona Music Festival and Vallecito Days, recreating frontier life, plus our very own Party with the Press. We’ll also have a preview of coming attractions including egg hunts, April Pool’s Day in La Mesa, and readings of baseball’s most famous stories!  Stay tuned for all of these events and much more, from East County Magazine.

March 24, 2015 (San Diego) –San Diego State University has issued a community safety alert warning that a man armed with a black handgun tried to kidnap a female student Monday night at 10:50 p.m. and force her into a vehicle.

An East County Magazine special report

By Miriam Raftery

March 24, 2015 (El Cajon)--An East County Magazine special investigation reveals a long string of sexual harassment and sexual misconduct claims involving the El Cajon Police Department, dating back over the past two decades.  Following a recent sexual harassment lawsuit filed against the ECPD, victims and witnesses to past sexual crimes and alleged sexual misconduct have come forward to speak with ECM about other cases.

Bonnie Price, who is organizing a protest rally Tuesday at 2:15 outside El Cajon's City Council, contends that the Police Department has a "culture of sexual harassment" that may be overly conducive to such actions.

Originally Published on the ECOreport

By Roy L Hales

March 23, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - The lives of more than 8 million Californians may have been put at risk, when the steam generators at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) malfunctioned. The subsequent California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) investigation failed to probe into the extent to which Southern California Edison (SCE) was responsible for the facilities “design errors.”  Now  the California Assembly Committee on Utilities and Commerce is calling on the CPUC to investigate the SONGS settlement.