East County News Service 

Photo: Gate Fire started by target shooters in 2017 near Dulzura

October 11, 2018 (Dulzura) — By a 3-2 vote, San Diego County Supervisors approved an ordinance introduced by Dianne Jacob to ban recreational target shooting year-round on two portions of Bureau of Land Management property near Dulzura. The action aims to reduce wildfire risk following multiple blazes sparked by target shooting.  The ban does not apply to hunting of legal game.

By Mike Allen

October 10, 2018 (Santee) -- The proposed Fanita Ranch housing project that would add nearly 3,000 houses to Santee is probably the most controversial issue facing city leaders. But at a candidates’ forum Oct. 9 at the Pride Academy School, three candidates for City Council including two incumbents declined to reveal their opinions about it.

Pizza goodness with an East Coast accent comes to San Diego’s East County community

East County News Service

October 10, 2018 (La Mesa) – Surf Rider Pizza Co. will officially open in downtown La Mesa the first week of November.  Surf Rider Pizza Co. is known for its East Coast-style pizza available whole or by the slice, fresh salads, authentic Stromboli and cheesesteaks and decadent homemade desserts from the onsite bakery. While born in the beachside communities of San Diego, the Surf Rider Pizza Co. brand continues to grow throughout the region, bringing a slice of the East Coast to San Diego.

East County News Service

October 10, 2018 (El Cajon) – Families are invited to attend Operation Kid Safe Day on Saturday, October 20 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Held in conjunction with a Trunk or Treat event, Operation Kid Safe is hosted by Subaru of El Cajon at 900 Arnele Avnue.  Families can get safety tips to set up a family safety action plan, as well as free digital fingerprints, photo safety program, and fee Amber Alert ready child safety form.

GoFundMe page started to pay for medical evacuation flight

By Miriam Raftery

October 10, 2018 (Santee) – Jeanette Craig, a retiree from Santee, has been seriously injured while vacationing in Lesotho, an African nation, when a tour bus overturned. Three people were killed and 12 injured. Craig suffered a fractured pelvis and leg, as well as torn ligaments, 10 News reports.

“Regular airlines will not transport her because of the severity of her injuries. The cost is estimated at $160,000,” says Nicolas Wiseman, a friend who started a GoFundMe page to help Craig return home. “While Jeanette has travel insurance, it will not cover these costs.”

By Miriam Raftery

Photos: Randy Voepel, left; James Elia, right.

October 10, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) — James Elia, the Democratic nominee running for State Assembly in the 71st Assembly District, has been clamoring to debate his opponent, incumbent Randy Voepel, a Republican. But Voepel has gone to extremes to dodge debates and candidate forums, even ducking out of the building when a fire alarm conveniently went off at a recent even where Voepel was slated to speak and spotted his opponent in the room.

Source: Jamul Indian Village

October 10, 2018 (Jamul) -- The Jamul Indian Village announces completion of road safety improvements at the intersection of Lyons Valley Road and Campo Road in Jamul.  Breaking ground in July, the project funded by the Jamul Indian Village was completed on time and on budget, the tribe reports.    

Food drive benefiting East County Transitional Living Center starts Oct. 5

Source: Waste Management 

October 10, 2018 (El Cajon) -  For the second consecutive year, Waste Management of San Diego and the Mother Goose Parade Association have launched a non-perishable food drive benefiting the East County Transitional Living Center. The drive will run Oct. 5 through Nov. 16 and will culminate with food being collected at the Mother Goose Parade on Nov. 18.

East County News Service

October 10, 2018 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, will host “Fall into Healthy Habits for the Holiday Season and Beyond,” an informational program about how to navigate the holiday season for ultimate health and safety, from 10 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 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

October 9, 2018 (El Cajon) – Robert Weaver, a Navy veteran now working for an acquisition agency for the U.S. Navy, has been forced to withdraw from the El Cajon mayoral race in order to keep his job. The decision hinges on a broad legal interpretation of what constitutes a partisan race.

By Miriam Raftery

October 9, 2018 (El Cajon)—Jesse Kendrick, son of El Cajon Councilman Gary Kendrick, has filed a police report accusing Councilman Ben Kalasho of twice stalking and harassing him on the campaign trail, including pursuing him some two miles, at times blocking his way.Kalasho is running against Kendrick on the November ballot.

Jesse Kendrick told ECM that on September 28, he was driving a licensed golf cart in Fletcher Hills “distributing flyers warning the citizens of El Cajon of Mr. Kalasho’s gross misconduct in office” when I noticed a black Range Rover driving very closely behind me.” Those flyers were titled `The terrifying truth about Ben Kalasho.’  View call records to police.

By David Gorn, CALmatters

CALmatters is an independent public interest journalism venture covering California state politics and government.

Photo:  More dust storms are contributing to an increase in Valley fever across California. Image by Famartin via Wikimedia

October 9, 2018 (San Diego) - Rob Purdie is an upbeat guy. You can hear it in his unfailingly positive statements, his voice tinged with a Central Valley twang from a life spent in Bakersfield.

You wouldn’t guess this is a man with a reservoir surgically built into the top of his skull, and that he spends one full day a month with antifungal drugs pumping directly into his brain.

East County News Service

October 8 2018 (San Diego's East County) – The 14 Chick-fil-A restaurants in San Diego County are partnering with local law enforcement agencies to host a “Local Hero Family Night” fundraiser for the annual San Diego Regional Law Enforcement Teddy Bear Drive benefiting Rady Children’s Hospital - San Diego. On Tuesday, Oct. 9, from 5 to 7 p.m., San Diego Chick-fil-A restaurants will donate 15 percent of event sales to law enforcement officials to purchase new teddy bears and stuffed animals for children receiving care at Rady Children’s Hospital. Chick-fil-A restaurants in the East County are located at 8200 Fletcher Parkway, La Mesa, and 9418 Mission Gorge Road, Santee.

By Miriam Raftery

October 8, 2018 (Incheon, South Korea) – California must get 60 percent of its energy from renewable resources by 2030 and 100 percent clean energy sources by 2045, under the landmark Senate Bill 100 signed into law by Jerry Brown as one of his final acts as Governor. Days later, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued a new report for policy makers, written by over 90 scientists and supported by more than 6,000 peer reviews. The report, delivered at a meeting in South Korea, warns that the earth is on track to warm 1.5 degrees Celsius as early as 2030, just 18 years from now.

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Story and photos by Liz Alper

October 7, 2018 (San Diego) - The politically correct can’t complain today; ECM Sports is bringing you both men’s and women’s soccer from SDSU.  Yesterday, Aztec football narrowly defeated the Broncos 19-13.  The lady Aztecs would try to hand the orange and blue a double weekend whammy in two different sports.