“We have one of the highest paid superintendents in the state of California, so why are test scores continuing to tank? “ – Alex Welling

By Miriam Raftery

November 25, 2023 (El Cajon) – In an exclusive interview, Alex Welling, candidate running for the Trustee area 5 seat on the Cajon Valley Union School District board of trustees, speaks out. He’s concerned about respecting parents’ rights, increasing transparency, improving low standardized test scores, and holding staff accountable. He has also called for an audit of district finances.

He’s a conservative challenging board  chairman Jim Miller; both are Republicans. Welling has a master’s in legal studies as well as bachelor’s degrees in political science and government.  He’s the communications manager of wildfire resiliency for SDG&E and previously served a public communications officer for SANDAG and as field director for the American Action Network devoted to free market principals. He’s also served on the city of Chula Vista’s board of ethics.

View video  of East County Magazine’s interview,  hear audio aired on KNSJ Radio, or scroll down for highlights.

Update  4:53 p.m.  from the Sheriff:  An evacuation order related to the #SageFire in Jamul has been lifted. The fire started in the 3300 block of Lorrel Place just before 2:00 p.m. @CALFIRESANDIEGO personnel are making progress with the fire. @SDSheriff ASTREA/helicopter also made water drops. SR-94 between Vista Sage and Rancho Miguel Roads will be closed for a few more hours and will reopen with one lane only through the night as crews mop up at the scene. Drive carefully and be mindful of first responders and fire equipment in the area.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, right, by Jeff Harrison

November 23, 2023 (Jamul) --  Mandatory evacuations have been ordered by CalFire due to the #SageFire. which started this afternoon near Highway 94 and Vista Sage in the Jamul/Spring Valley area has burned 30-35 acres and is spreading at a critical rate of speed, fueled by Santa Ana winds.  Highway 94 is being shut down between Steele Canyon and Lyons Valley Road.

Structures are threatened and vehicles are being escorted out to evacuate.  If you are evacuatiing from Jamul, use Otay Lake Rd., Proctor Valley ro Japatul Valley Rd.

East County News Service

November 23, 2023 (Lakeside) -- Santa and his elves are hard at work, getting ready for Christmas and working together with the Lakeside Chamber of Commerce on their Spirit of Christmas event. The festivities will be held on Saturday, December 2 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. along Maine Ave. in the heart of historic Lakeside.

November 21, 2023 (Santee) -- A woman has been arrested in connection with the attempted kidnapping of a child in Santee.

On Monday, November 20 just before 6 p.m., a woman tried to remove a one-year-old child from a shopping cart in the 100 block of Town Center Parkway. The suspect was not successful, since the child was secured in the cart with a lap belt. She then took off on foot heading south toward Mission Gorge Road. Despite a thorough search of the area by Sheriff's Deputies and a Sheriff's ASTREA helicopter, the suspect was not located.

Detectives from the Santee Sheriff's Station immediately began investigating the incident. On Tuesday, November 21 around 7:30 p.m., detectives arrested Isela Ortega, 21,  in the 400 block of Orsett Street in Chula Vista.

East County News Service

November 21, 2023 (San Diego) – Imanol Aparicio, suspected of injuring a woman in City Heights on November 13, has died in a hospital after being shot by San Diego Police officers.

SDPD officers responded to a report of a shooting around 11 p.m. in the 4500 block of Polk Avenue and found a woman with a minor wound to her forehead. The suspect had fled the scene, but was located nearby in the 4000 block of Wightman Street.

“Officers identified themselves and gave the suspect multiple commands, including to take his hands out of his pockets. The suspect said, `Go for it’ and ran while reaching in his waistband. Officers told him to stop but he did not comply,”says Lieutenant Joseph Janjura with the Sheriff’s homicide unit.  According to Lt. Janjura,  the suspect turned towards the officers while continuing to reach and manipulate something in his waistband. Officers gave the suspect multiple warnings and commands.

By Jessyka Heredia

November 21, 2023 (El Cajon)—Outside El Cajon’s city hall  on Nov. 16, youth activists gathered with the local outreach group Home Start to show the need for more housing for homeless youths, as well as funding to get kids off the streets and stop a cycle of lifelong homelessness.

By Shiloh Ireland

November 20, 2023 (Lakeside) -- In 2017, husband and wife Jose Ortiz and Claudia Ortiz purchased the Lakeside Cafe in Lakeside, offering home-cooked breakfasts and lunches. Since 2018, they have generously given complete Thanksgiving meals to people in need each year. But this season, they have received more requests than they can accommodate. So, they are asking help from the community for donations.

East County News Service

Update November 21, 2023: The victim has been identified as Leona Guevara, 63.

November 19, 2023 (Borrego Springs) – Jacob Guevara, 41, is under arrest for the murder of his mother.

The victim’s daughter had requested a welfare check on her mother, 63, due to living conditions in  her residence, according to the Lieutenant Joseph Jarjura with the San Diego County Sheriff’s department.

By Miriam Raftery

Screenshot of video from  ECM news partner NBC 7: Authorities transport an injured patient from the scene.

November 19, 2023 (Spring Valley) – Five people were taken to a hospital last night with gunshot injuries after being shot in the backyard of a home in the  9000 block of Ildica Street in Spring Valley.  Two children were also injured, suffering burns that authorities believe were caused by the shooter throwing fireworks to mask the sounds of gunshots.

The dead-end street was cordoned off last night while authorities searched for a male suspect, who remains at large. No description was provided by authorities; scanner traffic indicated the suspect was wearing black clothing.

By Cristina Johnson

November 18, 2023 (San Diego) -- The U.S. armed forces employed asbestos-containing products throughout much of the 20th century. All five military branches used frequently contaminated products and as a consequence, many service members were exposed to asbestos while defending our nation. Today, as these brave men and women transition into civilian life after their service, they risk developing life-altering diseases that may be linked to their military years. Asbestos exposure remains a compelling concern for all veterans but remains a critical issue among those who served in the Navy.

Once praised for its fire-resistant and insulating properties, asbestos was widely used in naval construction during the last century. It was in every compartment on naval ships, and nobody thought about asbestos being a potent threat when its microscopic fibers were released into the air and inhaled.

East County News Service

November 17, 2023 (El Cajon) -- On December 16^th at 1 p.m., the San Diego Ballet brings the Nutcracker ballet to The Magnolia theater in El Cajon.

Imagine the magic as the Nutcracker features Tchaikovsky's timeless musical score and an international cast of more than 100 beautifully costumed dancers. Sugarplum fairies, leaping Cossacks and flurries of snowflakes swirl across the stage, in this magical journey through a young girl''s imagination.

East County News Service

November 17, 2023 (Lemon Grove ) -- The City of Lemon Grove will host its 24^th annual holiday bonfire on December 3 from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Treganza Park (3200 Main St., Lemon Grove.)

The event includes live music, food booths, arts and crafts, a rock climbing wall, game truck, cookies and hot chocolate, and a giant bonfire to light the night.

By Suzanne Potter, California News Service

Photo:  Giant Sequoia redwood trees, by Yaya  Ernst, AdobeStock

November 17,2023 (Sacramento) -- Have you ever wanted to see the California redwoods, play in the Sierra snow, take a dip at the beach or just throw a family barbecue at the park? This week, the state just launched a new strategic plan to make it happen for more people.

California just launched the "Outdoors for All Strategy," which aims to make the state's natural spaces more accessible, more welcoming and less expensive.

November 17, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include

U.S.

• Biden signs funding bill, averting a government shutdown (NBC)
• US forces under fire in Middle East as America slides towards brink (Reuters)
• Under fire, US Supreme Court unveils ethics code for justices (Reuters)
• Conservatives aim to restructure U.S. government and replace it with Trump’s vision (Associated Press)
• IRS releases updated 2024 income tax brackets (Scripps News)
• Jim Biden's last name has helped open doors. It also has made him a target of House Republicans  (AP)
• Joe Manchin won't seek reelection in 2024, dealing blow to Dems' Senate map (Politico)
• Trump family takes the stand: Angry outbursts, memory lapses and ‘gotcha’ moments from the civil fraud trial (NBC)
• Dems all agree, Tuesday’s elections were a romp. They disagree about why.(Politico)

WORLD

• UN says starvation imminent in Gaza, no let-up in Israeli assault (Reuters)
• Under pressure from Biden, Israel agrees to implement humanitarian ‘pauses’ (Politico)
• White House says intelligence shows Hamas using al-Shifa hospital for command node, storing weapons(CNN)
• Israel rebuffs calls for ceasefire; Lebanon strike angers Hezbollah(Reuters)
• Russia loads missile with nuclear-capable glide vehicle into launch silo(Reuters)
• Putin ally warns 'enemy' Poland: you risk losing your statehood(Reuters)
• Russia formally withdraws from key post-Cold War European armed forces treaty (Reuters)
• A pod of orcas sinks a yacht in the Strait of Gibraltar   (NPR)

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

November 17, 2023 (San Diego's East County) -- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

HEALTH

• Supreme Court deals blow to vaccine skeptics (Newsweek)
• The World’s First Whole-Eye Transplant Is Helping an Arkansas Man Recover From a Catastrophic Injury (Tme)
• CRISPR for high cholesterol shows promise in first study (NPR)

SCIENCE AND TECH

• Elon Musk faces growing backlash over his endorsement of antisemitic X post (CBS)
• A new type of climate-friendly energy is coming online in the U.S. Southwest   (NPR)
• U.S. regulators will review car-tire chemical that kills salmon, upon request from West Coast tribes (AP)

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