East County News Service

October 19, 2015 (El Cajon) – The El Cajon Police Department will host a community forum on traffic and pedestrian safety on Wednesday, October 21 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Ronald Reagan Community Center, 195 East Douglas Avenue in El Cajon.

From 2011 through 2014, 17 people died in pedestrian traffic accidents in El Cajon and 61 were seriously injured, according to results of a public records request by East County Magazine.  View data.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Kern County Animal Rescue

Update: A body has been found in a vehicle buried since last Thursday under mud in Palmdale. Details: http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/california/Firefighters-Dig-Out-Vehicle-...

October 18, 2015 (Los Angeles)-Torrential rains and flash flooding turned hillsides in Los Angeles and Kern Counties into mudflows last Thursday that cascaded over two freeways—Interstate 5’s grapevine area north of Los Angeles and  State Route 58 near Tehachapi.

Hundreds of terrified motorists swept up in the mud flow escaped their vehicles as the freeways became muddy rivers. Firefighters and swift-water rescue personnel made daring rescues, pulling passengers out of windows as cars bobbed past. One pregnant woman escaped out the sunroof of her vehicle. Others remained trapped in their cars overnight, some with mud up to the windshields. Even semi-trucks became mired in the muck.

East County News Service

Photo: ECM news partner 10 News

October 18, 2015 (Escondido) -- Skeletal remains have been discovered near the shoreline of Lake Hodges.  A woman walking her dog early yesterday morning in the 19900 block of Lake Drive in unincorporated Escondido found the human body parts, 10 News reports.

“The positive identity of the victim as well as the cause and manner of death are pending an autopsy by the Medical Examiner's Office,” said Lieutenant Kenn Nelson with the Sheriff’s Homicide Detail, which is investigating the death.

By Leon Thompson and Miriam Raftery

October 18, 2015 (San Diego's East County) -- This week’s Destination East County includes the 50^th annual Borrego Days Desert Festival, Haunt Fest on Main Street, a trick or treat dog show, Lamplighters Theatre production of “Stage Fright,” and a melodrama in Julian titled “Keeping the Doctor Away.

Plus we’ll have previews of coming attractions including a Marshall Scary Scotty’s haunted amusement park trail, the Odeum guitar duo in concert, and much, much more!

East County News Service

October 17, 2015 (San Diego's East County) -- New, updated HVAC systems offer ways for homeowners to save energy, and therefor money in their wallets. But some homeowners may avoid updating their systems because they are afraid of what seems like a high cost to install.

Now with the new Home Energy Renovation Opportunity (HERO) program, that doesn’t have to be a concern. HERO offers financing for approved energy and water efficient products, as well as renewable energy products, for homeowners in San Diego. With the program, homeowners can get low, fixed-rate financing options and payment plans that can vary from five to 20 years, making it as easy as possible for homeowners to upgrade their heating and air conditioning units and better protect the environment.

By Miriam Raftery

October 17, 2015 (El Cajon) – Two suspects spotted cutting open and climbing through a fumigation tarp over an apartment complex are now behind bars, thanks to an alert citizen who called El Cajon Police. Officers concluded that several apartments were burglarized and recovered stolen property, including jewelry and computers, Lt. Steve Kirk reports.

But the accused thieves may be lucky to have lost only their liberty, not their lives. The El Cajon Police Department reminds citizens that entering structures being fumigated, without proper training and protective equipment, is “extremely dangerous and could result in serious illness or death from exposure to harmful chemicals,” a police press release states.

Photo, left to right:  Heartland & Rescue Firefighter/Paramedic Neil Carter, Captain Tom Brown, and Firefighter/Paramedic Sean Finley. 

By Miriam Raftery

October 16, 2015 (La Mesa) – A woman who recently moved into a rental home at 7000 Colony Drive in La Mesa with her children got a big surprise on Saturday. Walking out of the family’s bedroom, she found a huge snake in the kitchen.

The startled mother called 9-1-1 and barricaded herself in the bedroom with her children while waiting for help to arrive. Heartland Fire & Rescue in La Mesa, along with La Mesa Police and the El Cajon Animal Control soon came to the rescue.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Big-screen at debate-watching party hosted by the Sanders campaign in San Diego at a Hillcrest theatre, where a crowd of about 500 people turned out.

October 15, 2015 (San Diego)—The first Democratic Presidential  candidates’ debate held Wednesday differed sharply from two earlier  Republican candidate debates in both the range of topics discussed and the generally civil tone among competitors. While Republicans focused largely on plans to slash taxes and shrink government, Democrats emphasized issues facing working families, minorities, and income inequality. While Democratic candidates showed clear policy differences, they largely refrained from personal attacks.

CNN and Facebook hosted the debate held  in Las Vegas.  Five candidates participated: former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, ex-Massachusetts Governor Martin O’Malley, Virginia Senator Jim Webb, and ex-Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee. (Vice President Joe Biden did not appear, despite widespread speculation that he is considering entering the race.)

The spotlight and lion’s share of questions focused mainly on the two front-runners, Clinton and Sanders.  Major post-debate polls showed Sanders winning the debate, followed by Clinton, with the other three candidates trailing in single-digits, though many media pundits placed Clinton ahead. Moderator Anderson Cooper and other CNN journalists peppered candidates with questions challenging their perceived vulnerabilities as well as stances on key issues. CNN also posed questions from voters across the country. Here are highlights:

October 16, 2015 (Ramona)--Armed with just flashlights, our fearless hikers hit the trail under a night sky to brave the cobwebs, spiders and … wait! What was that sound?

They made it back out but will you? Hit the Haunted Trail at Dos Picos County Park in Ramona starting this weekend and find out.

County Parks is bringing back the Haunted Trail for some family-friendly Halloween fun on Saturday, Oct. 10 and Saturday, Oct. 17. The hike starts at 6:30 p.m. and lasts until about 8:30.

By Miriam Raftery

October 15, 2015 (San Diego) – After the CNN-hosted Democratic presidential candidate debate Wednesday,  all major polls--including CNN’s own poll--showed Bernie Sanders the winner by wide margins.  Yet post-debate coverage by CNN and other major media almost unanimously declared Hillary Clinton the winner. 

No matter what your party or political preference, this sort of blatant media manipulation should disturb you. Equally disturbing to advocates of a free press, many pro-Sanders comments or those questioning the network’s impartiality were repeatedly removed off CNN’s website stories on the debate.  How come?

The fact that CNN’s owner, Time-Warner, is one of Clinton’s largest campaign donors appears to have influenced the news organization to skew its coverage to favor  its corporate parent’s preferred candidate.  Other media that has given large sums to Clinton's campaign or to the Clinton Foundation similarly ignored polls and declared her the winner.

East County News Service

October 14, 2015 (El Cajon) – A 72-year-old man found with serious head injuries at his home at 1037 Pine Drive in El Cajon last night died early this morning after being transported to a local hospital. 

“Detectives are actively investigating this case as a homicide,” says Lieutenant Frank La Haye with the El Cajon Police.  No suspect information is yet available, however he added, “There is no known or suspected immediate threat to the general public.”

The mortally wounded man was found at 8:35 p.m. after officers responded to a 911 call reporting an assault.

East County News Service

Photo: Two Jacumba CAL FIRE firefighters stand ready to respond in a new paramedic engine at the Jacumba fire station.

October 14, 2015 (San Diego)--San Diego County Fire and CAL FIRE are making a major upgrade to fire and emergency medical services at the County’s Jacumba fire station with the launch this week of round-the-clock paramedic service. It’s the first time ever the service has been offered from the station, located south of Interstate 8 near the Mexican border.

The upgrade is part of an overall effort to increase paramedic capabilities throughout the San Diego County Fire Authority’s service area.  A new paramedic engine at Jacumba is the seventh that County Fire has added over the past few years.  Other new, County Fire-funded paramedic engines now operate out of the Otay, Jamul, Lake Morena, Pine Valley, Descanso and Intermountain stations.

Listen to Destination East County, also airing on KNSJ radio, byclicking the audio link.

By Leon Thompson and Miriam Raftery

October 14, 2015 (San Diego's East County) -- This week’s Destination East County include the Enchanted Garden Gala, Tournament of the Phoenix and Festival of History, Fall Fest in La Mesa, and a Trick or Treat dog show.   Plus we’ll have a preview of coming attractions including A Desert Festival in Borrego springs, Marshall Scotty’s Haunted Amusement Park, Haunt Fest on Main Street, and the opening of the sixth season of the Visionary Dance Theater.

By Liz Alper

Photo: Creative Commons by GamblinMan22

October 13, 2015 (Sacramento) - We see it every time we watch baseball: bored players in their team sweatshirts chewing tobacco during an at-bat or sitting in the dugout.  Even managers are caught on camera spitting out tobacco juice, providing far-from-exemplary role models to youthful fans.

East County News Service

October 13, 2015 (Sacramento)—In a win for privacy advocates, Governor Jerry Brown has signed a bill that prohibits law enforcement from accessing people’s private personal electronic data in most circumstances unless they first obtain a warrant or a court order.