By Sgt. K. Trotter, El Cajon Police

August 28, 2018 (El Cajon) — As we enter the final stretch of summer spending time at the pool or barbequing with friends and family, El Cajon Police Department is driving home the importance of celebrating responsibly by not driving, or riding a motorcycle, impaired. 

East County News Service

August 28, 2018 (La Mesa) – You’re invited to “shop with joy and purpose” at the annual La Mesa Fair Trade Shopping event on Sunday, October 14^th from 8 a.m. to 1 :30 p.m. at St. Martin of Tours Parish Hall, 7710 El Cajon Blvd. in La Mesa.  La Mesa.  Enjoy Fair Trade Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and lots of samples while perusing the aisles of hand made baskets, jewelry, purses, belts, wallets, handbags, jackets, scarves, toys, pottery, Christmas ornaments, gift baskets, coffee, tea, chocolate and lots more from many vendors.

Update August 29, 2018: The victim has been identified as Susana Gotell, 41, of Santee.

By Miriam Raftery

August 28, 2018 (Lakeside) – A woman jogging on North Woodside Avenue near Riverford Road in Santee was struck by a Chevy work truck driven by Michael Woodfill, 46, tonight at 6:40 p.m.  

Susana Gotell, 41, was transported to Sharp Memorial Hospital with major injuries, but died shortly after arrival.  She was the mother of two teens, ages 16 and 18, Fox 5 News reports.

By Gig Conaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

August 27, 2018 (San Diego) - It hasn’t shown up here in San Diego County yet, but County Agriculture, Weights and Measures officials are urging backyard bird owners to be on the lookout for a highly contagious bird-killing disease: virulent Newcastle disease.

Aztecs to play eight regular season home games and an exhibition

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

August 27, 2018 (San Diego) - San Diego State released today its 2018-19 men’s basketball non-conference schedule. The Aztecs will play 13 games prior to the start of Mountain West action with eight coming at Viejas Arena. The challenging slate features five teams that advanced to the postseason, including three that earned NCAA tournament berths.

East County News Service

August 27, 2018 (San Diego) — The heat is on.  For those who may still be skeptics on climate change, the National Weather Service in San Diego has released statistics on record-breaking heat this summer in our region:

By Judy Lin, CALmatters

CALmatters is an independent public interest journalism venture covering California state politics and government.

Photo:  Caltrans billboard warns of the dangers of drug use while driving. Courtesy Caltrans

August 27, 2018 (San Diego) - California Controller Betty Yee, injured last month in an auto collision suspected to have been caused by a 25-year-old driver under the influence of marijuana, used sharp language last week to demand  that the state’s nascent cannabis industry “step up” and address pot-related traffic accidents.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Runway at Gillespie Field, where the plane departed from on Wednesday

August 26, 2018 (Descanso) — David Alan Derby, 77, of Santee and Ryan Michael Willis, 36, of San Diego were killed in a plane crash near Descanso on Wednesday.  The plane, a single-engine 1682G Champion 7KCAB, was owned by Derby’s company, Three Point Partners Inc.

Like our sports coverage?  Donate to help support ECM’s sports section!  Type in “Sports” as your donation!
Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and stories!

Does your son or daughter play a sport at a level other than varsity?  Comment on this story or tweet @ECMagSports to request coverage!

Check out our sports section for more sports stories!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

August 24, 2018 (El Cajon) - Week two of ECM Friday Night Lights takes us to El Cajon for a huge early season East County matchup between the Valhalla Norsemen and the West Hills Wolf Pack.  The Norsemen are coming off a 41-14 loss at University City last week, while the Pack come back to San Diego carrying the momentum from a 20-3 win against Southwest El Centro.

August 28, 2018 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

• Duncan Hunter not first 50^th Congressional district Rep. embroiled in scandal (KNSD 7)
• Nurses association calls for lawmaker Joel Anderson’s resignation over altercation with its lobbyist (Sacramento Bee)
• Why San Diego can’t house everyone who wants to live here (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• SDG&E still wants consumers to pay $379M for 2007 wildfires and files appeal with court (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• An Urban Wildfire Could Happen in San Diego (Voice of San Diego)
• Federal regulators in San Diego muted after Newland Sierra developer lobbies D.C. power players (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• San Diego doctor caught watching child porn at work will get his job back (10 News)

STATE

• Lawmakers drop bid to change utility liability for wildfires (San Francisco Chronicle)
• Here's how California became the most secretive state on police misconduct (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Lowe's closing Orchard Supply Hardware chain it acquired out of bankruptcy (Los Angeles Times)

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

Trash and recycling services delayed one day in observance of Labor Day

Source:  Waste Management

August 22, 2018 (San Diego) - Waste Management of San Diego’s curbside residential and commercial trash and recycling pick-up schedule will be delayed by one day throughout the week of Sept. 3, in observance of Labor Day. In addition, all Waste Management operations will be closed on Monday, Sept. 3, with normal operations resuming on Tuesday, Sept. 4.

East County News Service

August 22, 2018 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – The Department of State Hospitals has proposed the release of Alvin Quarles, a sexually violent predator, at 43050 Desert Rose Ranch Road in Jacumba Hot Springs.  A serial rapist, Quarles attacked victims at knifepoint while they were sleeping in their homes or hotel rooms. He sometimes raped women in front of their husbands or boyfriends, and at times forced them to have sex while he watched.  Investigators suspect he was responsible for over a dozen assaults in San Diego County during the 1980s. In 1989, he was sentenced to 50 years in prison under a plea bargain.

East County News Service

August 22, 2018 (La Mesa) – Following several successful events at local restaurants aimed at encouraging people to put down cell phones and enjoy interacting with others during dinners out, Unplugged Dining announces a Sept. 18 “Control Your Tech” workshop as well as “Tech Break Tuesday” events at local restaurants on Sept. 25. See below for details.

Source: goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

August 22, 2018 (San Diego) - San Diego State men’s basketball head coach Brian Dutcher has signed a contract extension that will keep him on The Mesa through the 2022-23 season. The extension comes five months after Dutcher led the Aztecs to the program’s Mountain West-leading 11^th conference title and to the NCAA tournament.

Hunter stripped of committee assignments over "deeply serious charges", House Speaker Paul Ryan acknowledges

Update: August 23, 2018: Congressman Hunter and his wife have entered not guilty pleas. ECM news partner 10 News has details: https://www.10news.com/news/rep-duncan-hunter-set-to-be-arraigned-follow....

By Miriam Raftery

August 22, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – Congressman Duncan D. Hunter and his wife, Margaret, have been indicted on federal charges of conspiring to commit wire fraud and falsifying campaign records to take over a quarter of a million dollars in campaign funds and use them for personal expenses, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced yesterday.

The indictment alleges that the Hunters also falsely represented personal expenses as purchases made to help wounded veterans and other charitable causes. in addition, a letter from Hunter's attorney to the Justice Department reveals, prosecutors suggest campaign funds were spent on "extramarital infidenlities and excessive drinking."