JACUMBA BATHHOUSE BAZAAR FEB. 5TH AND EVERY FIRST SATURDAY

East County News Service 

February 3, 2022 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – You’re invited to a Bathhouse Bazaar at 44450 Old Highway Highway 80 in Jacumba Hot Springs. This Saturday, February 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. there will be a Taco Love food truck on site, along with Pine Valley Honey.


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COVID-19 CASE REPORTS DOWN, BUT HOME TESTS AREN’T COUNTED: INCREASED DEATHS ARE REMINDER TO GET VACCINATED, BOOSTED

By Katie Cadiao, County of San Diego Communications Office 

Photo Credit: Shutterstock 

February 3, 2022 (San Diego) -- New lab-confirmed COVID-19 infections are beginning to decline in the region, but actual case counts may be higher due to the increasing popularity and availability of home antigen tests, results of which are not reported to the County.


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LA MESA RESIDENT EVELINE WILSON HAS A FAMILY OF 71

By Ray Bello 

Photo: Eveline’s 80th Birthday Party 2011 (partial family photo)

February 3, 2022 (La Mesa) - Imagine having 71 birthdays to remember. Impossible! Eveline Wilson, age 90, has this impossible mission handled. Her son Chuck prepares a calendar for her with each name and birthday. She addresses the envelopes using her Rolodex, personalizes each card and uses lots of x’s and o’s.

 


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STATE AUDITOR SLAMS SD SHERIFF’S DEPT. ON JAIL DEATHS, URGES LEGISLATURE TO FIX ISSUE

By Ken Stone, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  Sheriff Bill Gore, whose retirement is effective Thursday, has pushed back against jail critics in the past. Photo by Ken Stone

February 3, 2022 (San Diego) - On the day San Diego County Sheriff Bill Gore retires, a state auditor released a damning report Thursday that calls on state lawmakers to make “meaningful changes” to reduce his agency’s high rate of jail deaths.


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EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS

February 3, 2022 (San Diego) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego's inland regions, published in other media.  This week's round-up stories include:

LOCAL

STATE

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.


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ECM WORLD WATCH: NATIONAL AND GLOBAL NEWS


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KAISER PERMANENTE WELCOMES BABY BOY AT 2:22PM ON 2/2/22

February 3, 2022 (San Diego) -- A 31-year-old Carlsbad woman gave birth to an infant boy at 2:22 p.m. at the Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center, making for a very unique birth date and time of 2:22 on 2/2/22.

The parents are Natalie and Angel Hernandez. Their new son is Ramon who weighed 8 pounds, 3 ounces and is 19 inches long. Ramon is the first child of Natalie and Angel and the 22nd Great Grandchild of Natalie’s Grandmother Josephine.


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ISIS LEADER DEAD AFTER U.S.SPECIAL FORCES RAID, WHITE HOUSE REPORTS

By Miriam Raftery

Photo via @WhiteHouse on Twitter: President Biden, Vice President Harris and members of the President’s national security team observe the counterterrorism operation responsible for removing from the battlefield Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi — the leader of ISIS.

February 3, 2022 (Washington D.C.) – President Joe Biden announced this morning that the leader of ISIS is dead. The terrorist leader detonated a suicide bomb as troops closed in at his home in Syria, killing his own family members rather than be captured, President Joe Biden and White House officials announced.

There were no U.S. casualties, according to the Pentagon. The raid also reportedly killed an ISIS lieutenant, who barricaded himself in a room and engaged in a firefight with U.S. soldiers.


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OAK RIDGE BOYS TO PERFORM DUO CONCERTS AT SYCUAN FEBRUARY 20

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Oak Ridge Boys in 2013, CC by Gage Skidmore

February 2, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – The Oak Ridge Boys, country music stars with gospel music roots, will perform two concerts at Sycuan Casino’s Live & Up Front Casino on February 20 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.


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SANTEE REDRAWING ITS DISTRICT BOUNDARIES

By Mike Allen

Photo:  the current Santee district boundaries

February 2, 2022 (Santee) -- The city of Santee continues the process of redoing the boundaries for its four electoral districts, which will likely result in keeping the lines as they currently are.


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ATTEMPTED BANK ROBBERY SUSPECT ARRESTED IN LA MESA

February 2, 2022 (La Mesa) – A man who attempted to rob Cabrillo Credit Union at 7900 El Cajon Blvd. in La Mesa yesterday passed a demand note to the teller, but fled before receiving any money.  
 
He fled on foot, heading west on El Cajon Blvd.  La Mesa Police officers searched the area.  Within seven minutes of the initial call, an officer spotted a man matching the suspect’s description on Guava Avenue, says Lt. Katy Lynch.

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GROSSMONT HEALTHCARE DISTRICT RECEIVES $47,117 IN COVID-19 RELIEF FUNDING FROM STATE

Funds will be used to assist in the distribution of free COVID-19 at-home test kits 

Source:  Grossmont Healthcare district

Photo: District employees prepare boxes of at-home COVID-19 test kits for distribution to the community through partners and its Library (Courtesy of Grossmont Healthcare District) 

February 2, 2022 (La Mesa) – The Grossmont Healthcare District announced it has received $47,117 in State funding for COVID-19 relief, which it plans to reinvest into the community by supplementing the nationwide effort to provide the public with free COVID-19 at-home test kits.


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HEALTH AND SCIENCE HIGHLIGHTS


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CONGRESSWOMAN JACOBS TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

East County News Service

February 2, 2022 (San Diego) -- Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53) announced that she tested positive today for COVID-19. 

“I have been testing daily – and tested negative as recently as 6pm last night – but tested positive on an antigen test this morning,” a statement sent to media advises. “Thankfully, I am fully vaccinated and boosted and am only experiencing mild symptoms. I will be isolating and working remotely in accordance with public health guidance. I encourage everyone to get vaccinated, get boosted, test regularly, and stay safe.”


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GROUNDHOG DAY 2022: SIX MORE WEEKS TO STAY HEALHTY AND ACTIVE

By Kori Hudson, MedStar Health

Photo: CC via Bing

 

February 2, 2022 (San Diego) -- Punxsutawney Phil has spoken - we can expect six more weeks of  winter! It’s true - cold and dark days mean you’re more likely to spend time hibernating in bed instead of going on an early run - but a good workout session is always a good idea. Exercise helps release endorphins and maintains muscle mass. The benefits are especially noticeable for those who suffer from SAD; exercise has been shown to help alleviate symptoms during these dark, cold months

 

Here are a few tips from MedStar Health Sports Medicine Physician Kori Hudson.


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LICENSED SKILLED NURSING HOMES VS ADVOCATERS, WHO WILL WIN?

Both sides of issue have rare agreement: California does a poor job

By J.W. August

Photo: Microsoft clip art

February 1, 2022 (San Diego) -- The approval this past week by the California Assembly of new state legislation has the potential to significantly alter the oversight of skilled nursing facilities statewide that are home to some 400,000 patients.

Assembly Bill 1502 cleared the Assembly on a 55-15 vote, with only Republican legislators casting no votes, including the minority leader Republican Maria Waldron representing part of North County. Whether this far-reaching bill becomes law depends on whether the legislation will survive review by the California Senate. The first stop is at the Senate Health Committee.


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MIKE HESS BREWING ACQUIRES ALPINE BEER COMPANY’S OUTPOST, SAVES JOBS

By Miriam Raftery

February 1, 2022 (Alpine) – Beer lovers in East County will soon have more to cheer about.  Mike Hess Brewing of San Diego (www.mikehessbrewing.com) is expanding through their acquisition of Alpine Beer Company’s Outpost. The announcement comes after Alpine Beer Co. sold its Green Flash and Alpine brands in late December to Canada’s Tilray.


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JUNIOR SEAU'S BROTHER KILLED IN HEAD-ON CRASH WITH HELIX WATER DUMP TRUCK

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left: Savaii Seau and his wife, Megan, on their wedding day, courtesy of the Seau family

Updated 8:30 with information on Seau's wife, Megan, the passenger in his vehicle.

February 2, 2022 (Lakeside) –  Savaii Seau, the brother of former Chargers' linebaker Junior Seau, has died of injuries sustained when the 2005 Audi A6 he was driving crossed the center line on Los Coches Road in Lakeside yesterday and struck a Helix Water District dump truck head on.

His wife, Megan, was a passenger in Seau's vehicle and remains hospitalized in stable condition, a family member told ECM.


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JONES INTRODUCES BILL TO SAVE OFF-HIGHWAY VEHICLE COMPETITIONS IN CALIFORNIA

East County News Service

February 1, 2022 (Sacramento) – State Senator Brian W. Jones (R-Santee) today introduced a measure to save off-highway vehicle (OHV) competitions in California. Senate Bill 894 is the third OHV competition bill Jones has authored in the last three years, with the two previous measures easily clearing the Senate only to become stalled in the Assembly.


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PASSAGES: HAROLD BROWN, ECTLC LEADER AND HOMELESS ADVOCATE, 1957-2022

By Miriam Raftery and  Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

Photo via El Cajon Citizens of the Year

February 1, 2022 (El Cajon) – Pastor Harold Brown overcame homelessness and other hardships to become a community leader dedicated to helping others. As founder and CEO of the East County Transitional Living Center (ECTLC) in El Cajon, he championed programs that have helped thousands of people escape homelessness and find hope instead of despair. Brown was also senior pastor of Christian Fellowship  of El Cajon.

Following a long battle with lung cancer, he was hospitalized last week with pneumonia and passed away yesterday morning.

Community leaders voiced sorrow as well as praise for Rev. Brown’s remarkable achievements.

Audio: 


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READER'S EDITORIAL: DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH, WE ARE LOSING THE RIGHT TO VOTE

By Kathleen Harmon

 

February 1, 2022 (San Diego) – Born during the Great Depression, I was in my 30s when President Lyndon Baines Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, guaranteeing that after taking office, he would pass a major tax cut bill, the Clean Air Act, and the Civil Rights Act. In addition to banning job discrimination, these laws also forbade segregation of public accommodation (for example, not allowing blacks to use the bathroom). 


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ROMANCE WRITERS OF AMERICA SAN DIEGO TRANSITIONS TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ROMANCE WRITERS

By Kathy Carpenter

Photo: CC via Bing

January 31, 2022 (La Mesa) - Forty years ago, in February 1982, Romance Writers of America was introduced to San Diego. With five founding members, local chapter RWA San Diego was established. Through championing the romance genre, the national organization brought romance to the forefront, legitimizing romance writing throughout the writing industry.


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BILL ENDING ‘ZOMBIE LICENSES’ FOR NURSING HOMES MOVES FORWARD IN CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE

Shot down before, this time advocates have momentum as bill heads to a vote

By J.W. August

Photo:  Isolation of patients in nursing homes during COVID era increases need for state oversight; image CC-by-NC via Bing

Update August 11, 2022:  AB 1502 has passed the State Senate Judiciary and Appropriations Committees, and now heads to the Senate floor.

Update 5 p.m. --AB 1502  passed the Assembly this afternoon by a 47-12 vote and now heads to the State Senate.

January 31, 2022 (San Diego) -- If you want to drive a car in California you need a driver's license. In San Diego County all dogs must be licensed.  But if you own a nursing home, you can buy another home or chain of facilities, and no license is required. 

Unlike a driver who is in multiple accidents or an animal that's attacked someone, there are no rules when it comes to the takeover or sale of nursing homes, no matter how ugly the track record of the firm buying or selling a nursing home.

Even if a chain operator has a history of poorly managed homes, it can add to its portfolio and can do so without first obtaining a license, as long as it submits a license application. The trouble is, such applications can take years to process.

The California Department of Public Health, which is charged with providing oversight of the nursing home industry, says it has no authority to disqualify owners and operators who are already in operation in the state. The agency says this is allowed to happen under what they call a Management Operations Transfer Agreement.

This is what Tony Chicotel, attorney for California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform (CANHR), calls “zombie licenses.”. He explains it’s  “the essence of license-evasion.” 


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300 COMMUNITY MEMBERS JOIN COUNTY VIRTUAL MEETING ON PROPOSED COTTONWOOD SAND MINE; VAST MAJORITY VOICED OPPOSITION

By Henri Migala 

Update: The public comment period has been extended to Monday, Feb. 28 at 4 p.m. Comments can be sent to Robert.Hingtgen@SDcounty.ca.gov

 

January 31, 2022 (Rancho San Diego) -- The County of San Diego held an online meeting January 19 in response to a request for a Major Use Permit for sandmining at the Cottonwood Golf Course along the Sweetwater River. The property owner’s proposal requires an environmental review and public input. Hundreds weighed in, despite major technical issues.

 

The in-person public meeting that was scheduled for Wednesday, January 12, 2022 was cancelled due to health concerns related to COVID19. However the public can still weight in via the comment link or at a February 1 meeting of the Valle de Oro Planning Group.


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CRASH SHUTS DOWN HIGHWAY 78

 

January 31, 2022 -- A septic truck has overturned on Highway 78 at Yaqui Wells.

The injury accident has shut down the highway in both directions this morning.


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COUNTY SUPERVISORS MOVE FORWARD WITH ALTERNATIVE HOUSING PLANNING

By Elijah McKee

January 30, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – In the past, getting zoning approval for shelter space in San Diego County could take up to two years and require costly payments. 

Now, after the Board of Supervisors unanimously amended a zoning ordinance on Wednesday, there will be fewer obstacles for multiple kinds of safe shelter and housing options, which could especially serve East County.


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SUPERVISORS APPROVE ANDERSON’S AND DESMOND’S REQUEST TO ADDRESS SHORTAGE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Sheriff recruits, via San Diego Sheriff’s Department

January 30, 2022 (San Diego) – San Diego County Supervisors on January 25 unanimously approved a request by East County Supervisors Joel Anderson and Jim Desmond to resolve an anticipated shortage of law enforcement officers as vaccine mandates, retirements, COVID-19, recruitment and retention issues impact staffing levels.


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VOTING RIGHTS BILLS HIT ROADBLOCK IN SENATE, WITH DEMOCRACY ON THE LINE

By Elijah McKee

Photo, left by Rebecca Jefferis Williamson:  Voter casts ballot at San Diego Register of Voters

January 26, 2022 (San Diego) — With year one of the Biden Administration completed and the 2022 midterm elections on the horizon, Congress’s pivotal tug-of-war over federal voting rights legislation continues to escalate.

 

In January 19 in the Senate, Republicans blocked the Democrats’ attempt at passing both the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. The legislation — which was also blocked several times in 2021 — sought to strengthen the protections of voters in light of many recent state laws that suppress voting rights. 

 

Such laws have been levied across the nation in the wake of the 2020 Presidential election and the January 6 attack on the Capitol. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) recently warned, “Our voting rights – and our democracy – are on the line.”


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THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF STARTING A HOME KITCHEN (MEHKO)

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

Jan. 30, 2022 (East County) The County of San Diego’s Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Jan. 26 to adopt a local ordinance to allow, on a temporary two-year basis, Micro-Enterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKO) in the County. 

Apartments, leased spaces, and houses will all be considered private homes. The County cautions future home cooks to check their lease and see if a MEHKO is allowed. Multiple people are not allowed to each operate a MEHKO, or cottage food operation (CFO), in one residence.


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4.0 QUAKE RATTLES REGION

By Miriam Raftery

January 30, 2022 (Palomar) -- A 4.0 earthquake at 9:46 this morning struck approximately 5 kilometers west-southwest of Palomar Observatory in north San Diego County, the U.S. Geological Service reports.  That's about 18 miles northeast of Escondido.

The shaking was felt as far away as Mexico to the south, Santa Maria to the north, and Yuma, Arizona to the east.


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