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By Don Harrison, San Diego Jewish World, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

May 15, 2021 (San Diego) - A friend asked what is my reaction to the current war between Israeli Jews and Palestinian and Israeli Arabs.

It’s painful to watch.  I imagine every other Jew and every Arab feels exactly the same way.

Aztecs fall in Kathy Van Wyk’s final game as head coach

Source:  goaztecs.com

Video courtesy goaztecs.com

May 15, 2021 (San Diego) - San Diego State dropped a 4-1 decision to Fresno State in the series finale Saturday afternoon at SDSU Softball Stadium. The Aztecs fell to 28-16 on the season, including a 13-11 final record in Mountain West play, while the league-champion Bulldogs improved to 36-10 and 20-4. 

East County News Service

May 14, 2021 (Pala) - Pala Casino RV Resort has been awarded a flawless 10/10*/10 Good Sam rating for the sixth consecutive year. Pala Casino RV Resort was one of only 153 Good Sam Parks throughout the United States to earn a perfect score in the 2021 rankings. Pala Casino RV Resort was awarded top marks in every category, including facilities, restrooms, showers, and overall visual appearance. Pala has received this coveted recognition every year since opening.

Source: Caltrans

May 14, 2021 (Spring Valley) -- Crews will close all lanes of westbound State Route 94 (SR-94) from Avocado Boulevard/Calavo Drive to Kenwood Drive Sunday through Thursday from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., according to Caltrans. The westbound SR-94 nightime closures include the on-ramp from Avocado Boulevard/Calavo Drive, the off- and on-ramps at Sweetwater Springs Road/Campo Drive, and the Kenwood Drive off-ramp.

East County News Service

Photo: Hasan Ikhrata, SANDAG Executive Director

May 14, 2021 (San Diego) – Governor Gavin Newsom has issued a May budget revision, following news of the state’s windfall $75 billion surplus despite the pandemic.  The May revision includes an unprecedented investment in critical infrastructure through California.

By Miriam Raftery

May 14, 2021 (San Diego) – True crime author and Pulitzer-nominated investigative journalist Caitlin Rother discussed her new book, Death on Ocean Boulevard: Inside the Coronado Mansion Case, in an interview airing  today on the East County Magazine Radio Show on KNSJ, 89.1 FM.  The show airs at 5 p.m.; Rother's interviews airs in the second half of the program.

The book explores one of San Diego’s most infamous and intriguing cases, the death of Rebecca Zahau, who was found hanged in the Coronado mansion of her millionaire boyfriend, Jonah Shacknai. The Sheriff ruled the death a suicide, but a civil jury found Jonah’s brother, Adam Shacknai, responsible.

In her book, Rother raises serious questions about the Sheriff’s investigation, though her findings raise as many questions as they answer.

By Claudia Erickson

May 14, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) -- We have been living and breathing by our technology during the pandemic.  Zoom meetings are essential and watching reruns of “The Office” has admittedly helped many a soul get through some tough months. Using our tech devices has been a lifeline, but has also brought about increased anxiety, Facebook fights and Twitter wars. 

East County News Service

Photo:  scholarship winner Grace Freeman, Grossmont High School 

May 13, 2021 (El Cajon) -- North Island Credit Union has awarded 10 scholarships of $1,000 each to college-bound students in San Diego and Riverside Counties in its annual College Scholarship Program. The winners include three students in El Cajon:  Grace Freeman and Mirfit Mohammad at Grossmont College, as well as Sergio Garcia at Granite Hills High School.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo via The Mountain Community on Facebook, posted by Laura Palmer Vikara

Update May 13, 2021 -- The California Highway Patrol reports that the  driver was trapped in the vehicle and died. The body of a second male victim as found later in the afternoon. Both of their identities are unknown. Around 7:48 p.m. the driver hauling a semi-trailer (big rig) lost control and struck the center divider, hit a bridge rail and rolled down an embankment off I-8 east of Sunrise Highway, where the truck became engulfed in flames. CHP, Border Patrol and Cal Fire arrived shortly after the crash. It is unknown what caused the accident and whether the victims wore seatbelts. CHP asks anyone who witnessed this crash to call the CHP in El Cajon at (619)401-2000.

May 12, 2021 (Pine Valley) – Westbound Interstate 8 is shutdown from Buckman Springs Road to Sunrise Highway due to a big rig truck that caught fire, crashed and damaged a bridge. Traffic is being diverted onto Old Highway 80.

According to the CHP Incidents page, the accident occurred near the Border Patrol Checkpoint, which is three miles east of Pine Valley.  Damage to 30 feet of metal and concrete on the bridge is reported.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Photo, left, taken by John Margolin from his home near the #CochesFire.

Update 5:35 p.m.:  The evacuation advisory has been lifted and the evacuation center at W.D. Hall Elementary has been closed.

Update 5:10 p.m.:  Cal Fire reports the fire's forward spread has been stopped at 30 acres; it is 5 percent contained. No structures have been damaged or destroyed.

May 12, 2021 (Lakeside) – The #CochesFire that started  along I-8 east, south of Los Coches Road in Lakeside, has grown to 30 acres.  Evacuation warnings have been issued for the area and anyone wishing to evacuate can go to WD Hall Elementary School at 1376 Pepper Drive in El Cajon.  There are no mandatory evacuation orders as of 4:40 p.m.

The fire is burning at a moderate rate of spread and moving toward the Walmart and Valleyview Truck Trail.  Air tankers, helicopters and multiple fire engine are battling the blaze.

The right lane of I-8 is blocked by the brush fire and traffic is backed up to state route 67/Magnolia exit. Expect delays of up to a half hour, KUSI reports.

By Briana Gomez 

May 12, 2021 (La Mesa) -- La Mesa’s community relations division hosted a Commission on Citywide Communication meeting in late April via Zoom. Commissioners began by answering questions about internet access, linguistics, and education. The main concern was improving how to get information out to residents following the COVID-19 pandemic and the riots that plagued La Mesa last year.

By Alexa Oslowski

May 11, 2021 (La Mesa) - The City of La Mesa announced in a news release on May 7 that it will be hosting a vaccine clinic on May 22 in partnership with the County of San Diego, Helix Charter High School, Champions for Health, and the Philippine Nurses Association of San Diego. This is one of the latest efforts by the city to improve vaccine equitability and access.