June 10, 2011 (Santee) -- The Santee Summer Concert Series, now in its 28th year begins June 16 and features a live band from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. every Thursday through August 18 (Except July 7). The series features the return of four bands that last year were crowd favorites, plus six other bands that range from doo-wop to authentic blues.

Bands will perform on a raised stage overlooking a lawn at the east side of Town Center Community Park just north of the former concert at Trolley Square.

By Laura Cyphert

June 10, 2011 (Lakeside)--As we watch the fires burning our neighbors in Arizona, we are again reminded why relying on imported power transmitted over hundreds of miles of vulnerable transmission lines, is a dangerous gamble for San Diego.

Donated Dwellings Expand Camping Options at Scenic Ramona Getaway

June 9, 2011 (Ramona) --County Supervisor Dianne Jacob joined County staff and a local nonprofit donor Thursday to unveil two new cabins the public can now reserve at Dos Picos Regional Park in Ramona.The 200-square-foot cabins are designed to accommodate disabled users and the general public. They were donated by Cabins by the Lake, Inc., a local nonprofit dedicated to establishing accessible cabins around the region.

 June 9, 2011 (San Diego) --San Diego Police Department Homicide Unit detectives have arrested a suspect in Monday’s murder of Jonathan Gonzalez on a Skyline street. On June 6, 2011, at approximately 2:00 p.m., Gonzalez was standing in the 600 block of Chester Street when a four-door, burgundy-colored Cadillac with chrome rims stopped near him.  Gonzalez and the vehicle’s occupants briefly spoke to each other.  The passenger pulled out a gun and shot Gonzalez before the suspects fled. 

Detectives identified the primary suspect as Ronnie Bonaparte, 27. 

June 9, 2011 (Lakeside) – A driver is unconscious but breathing following a 100-mph crash into a tree on I-8 eastbound just east of Los Coches Road. The vehicle reportedly had a blow-out and lost control , according to the CHP webpage.

June 9, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecting all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views.

 By Miriam Raftery

Top casino designers tapped to make over  East County casino

June 9, 2011 (El Cajon)- Renovations are under way at Sycuan Casino http://www.sycuan.com/ . With a full design overhaul in process, the casino is scheduled to have every inch of the interior revamped by fall. The casino remains open to the public as Sycuan's design and architecture teams work in phases to renovate the casino gaming areas, create an all new non-smoking buffet, open a new sports bar & grill restaurant and install a one-of-a-kind specialty lighting fixture in the main lobby.

Photos by Monica Zech

June 8, 2011 (El Cajon)--A driver traveling eastbound on Rea Avenue shortly before 3 p.m. today hit the gas instead of the brake. Her vehicle plowed through a round center median, launched through a temporary ramp and fence, then over a deep trench before landing in a construction site near El Cajon’s City Hall.

Victim found with no pulse, not breathing, and without identification -- hospital traced identity through running shoes and IPOD

June 8, 2011 (Spring Valley ) – “There was no warning. I was just running—and then I woke up in the hospital,” says Grant Fleener, 60, who collapsed from a heart attack suddenly while on his morning run on Sweetwater Springs Blvd. on April 29. Yesterday, he returned to San Miguel Fire Station to thank a passerby,  firefighters and paramedics who all helped saved his life.

June 8, 2011 (La Mesa)--East County’s largest annual free health fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 11, at the Grossmont Center mall in La Mesa, near the movie theaters.

4 local legislators take massive donations from insurance industry--and vote against bill

June 3, 2011 (Sacramento) – Today the California State Senate voted 25-14 to pass SB 703, which would establish a low-cost health insurance plan to cover an estimated 720,000 people for premiums as low as $30 a month. If passed by the Assembly and signed by the Governor, the measure would provide coverage for more than 723,000 uninsured people who earn between 133% and 200% of the federal poverty level.

June 6, 2011 (Flinn Springs) – The South of France is famed for its lavender fields. Yet many local residents don’t realize that lavender is grown right here in East County.

June 7, 2011 (FDA) -- The U.S. FDA has been in routine contact with the European Union and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to monitor the current outbreak of E. coli O104 and to track any illnesses in the U.S. that may be related to the outbreak.  A deadly new strain of E-coli in Europe has led to deaths of 23 people.  Cases have been reported in several European countries and the U.S. So far, 2200 cases have been reported in 13 countries.

By Jeremy Los

June 6, 2011 – James Johnson, a cab driver who survived a violent assault by Michael Eugene Richardson,  has shared details of his harrowing ordeal with East County Magazine. Richardson, a Poway auto shop owner, will soon face trial for the murders of his wife, Thao Richardson, his mother-in-law, Phan Lai, and a former girlfriend, Jovita Collaza.

Johnson had his fateful run-in with Mr. Richardson in 1975 while as a cab driver in North Carolina. Richardson shot Johnson multiple times, including once in the face. Johnson’s tale reveals the ruthless nature of Richardson, then 22, who had been discharged from Pope Air Force Base three months before the attack.