East County News Service

February 10, 2021 (San Diego) – Sempra Energy  of San Diego has again been named one of the “World’s Most Admired Companies” for 2021 by Fortune Magazine. This marks the 11^th year that the company has been included on the annual list, which recognizes global businesses with the strongest corporate reputations within their sectors and across industries.

“Today’s recognition from Fortune is underpinned by our high-performance culture and reflects our commitment to furthering our mission to be North America’s premier energy infrastructure company and providing sustainable value to all of our stakeholders,” said Jeffrey W. Martin, chairman and CEO of Sempra Energy. “Against the backdrop of unprecedented challenges from a global pandemic, this honor is a credit to our essential workforce — 18,000 employees who work hard every day to deliver reliable, affordable and sustainable energy to power the lives of over 35 million consumers across North America.”

By Miriam Raftery

February 10, 2021 (Lakeside) – Despite a petition signed by more than 1,500 constituents urging Supervisor to approve this morning’s agenda item to buy and preserve 98 acres in Lakeside’s El Monte Valley from Helix Water District, Supervisor Joel Anderson has issued a press release late yesterday indicating he will likely oppose the measure.

To watch this morning’s meeting or send in comments, visit https://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/cob/bosa.html.

Anderson contends the land is too expensive compared to another proposed land purchase at Star Ranch in Campo, which is also on the agenda.

While Campo-area residents have longed pushed for preservation of  Star Ranch, protecting that large parcel provides no direct benefit to people in Lakeside, who fear that if the County does not buy the land, it could be sold to sand mining interests. Helix Water previously sold a separate parcel in El Monte Valley to a sand miner, whose proposed project has drawn strong opposition from Lakeside residents.

Anderson’s district includes El Monte Valley.  The announcement that he opposes the El Monte Valley land purchase proposed by Dianne Jacob before she left office due to term limits has outraged some Lakeside residents.

East County News Service

February 9, 2021 (Alpine) -- A man is under arrest following a three-hour SWAT standoff in Alpine this morning.

Around 7:30 a.m., deputies from the Sheriff's Special Enforcement Detail (SED)/SWAT tried to serve a search warrant at a home in the 4600 block of Park Lane.  The warrant was issued after deputies received reports of a man firing a gun at that address on January 25.

The Alpine Sheriff's Station's Crime Suppression Team investigated and learned Joshua Havins, 30, lived at that location.  He is a felon currently on probation and is prohibited from owning or possessing firearms under California law, according to the Sheriff’s department.

By Miriam Raftery

February 9, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego County health officials last week reported the death of a 10-year-old child from COVID-19, the first minor to succumb to the virus locally. 

By Miriam Raftery

February 9, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – Vaccinations for seniors age 65 and over will be provided in Alpine, Pine Valley, and Valley Center this week.  Appointments are available 1-2 days before each date.

Valley Center Elementary, Valley Center:  Feb.9-10

Joan MacQueen School, Alpine: Feb. 11-12

Mt. Empire High School, Pine Valley Feb. 13-14

For direct access to each site, click on the following links:

By José A. Álvarez, County of San Diego Communications Office

Video by Suzanne Bartole

February 8, 2021 (San Diego) - Ninety-five percent of all San Diegans who have died from the novel coronavirus had underlying medical conditions and hypertension or high blood pressure was the primary condition.

By Katie Cadiao, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo:  The COVID-19 vaccine is now available for health care professionals and people 65 and older at multiple sites in the region.

February 8, 2021 (San Diego) - The County’s expanding COVID-19 vaccination efforts now include the opening of a site at Tubman Chavez Community Center. Starting today, the site will offer COVID-19 vaccinations from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday.

By Miriam Raftery

January 19, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – Jamul Indian Chairwoman Erica Pinto, newly elected Chair of the California Indian Health Council, sat down for an interview with ECM in January aired on KNSJ radio.

We discussed healthcare issues facing Native Americans in our region, COVID-19, and her goals as the new Chair, including “finding ways to improve our healthcare,” notably finding and retaining doctors for remote rural areas. We also asked her reaction to Pres. Biden's nomination of the first Native AMerican women to head up the Department of the Interior, which oversees the Bureau of Indian Affairs as well as federal public lands.

February 8, 2021  (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.

• Democrats split over criteria for $1,400 payments as relief bill advances (Washington Post)
• Senate eyes speedy Trump impeachment trial (The Hill)
• Democrats’ $50,000 student loan forgiveness plan would make 36 million borrowers debt-free (CNBC)
• Was the storming of the US Capitol a coup? An academic group now says yes (Politifact)
• Sports leaders seek to protect women's sports while accommodating transgender girls and women USA Today)
• Revealed: US citizen newborns sent to Mexico under Trump-era border ban (Guardian)
• Exclusive: Dozens of former Bush officials leave Republican Party, calling it 'Trump cult' (Reuters)

WORLD

• Al-Qaeda's leader in Yemen under arrest: UN report  (MSN)
• Hong Kong unveils national security guidelines for children aged six and above (Reuters)
  
  Russian court jails Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, West demands his release (Reuters)
  
  
  
  Police find 12 bodies dumped on road in Mexico's Veracruz state (Reuters)
• Israel sharing COVID-19 data with Pfizer to help fine-tune vaccine rollout (Reuters)
• Vale will pay nearly $7 billion over Brazilian dam collapse that killed 270 people (CNN)

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

February 8, 2021 (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

• Plan in the works to vaccinate San Diego County’s homebound seniors (10 News)
• Frequently Asked (Yet Largely Unanswerable) Questions on San Diego’s Vaccine Situation (Voice of SD
• In wake of La Mesa riots, report finds La Mesa Police Dept. unprepared (KUSI)
• Woman left alone to die after striking her head in jail, independent review finds (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• San Diego's pension payment spiking $50M, worsening budget crisis during pandemic (SD Union-Tribune)
• Sacramento Report: A Social Media Star Is Born in the Assembly (Voice of SD)

STATE

• Dodger Stadium’s COVID-19 vaccination site temporarily shut down after protesters gather at entrance (Los Angeles Times)
• COVID body count forces air quality agency to end limits on cremations in L.A. County (SacBee)
• Yet another concerning COVID variant increasingly found in California, researchers say  (SacBee)

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

Over 1,500 sign petition to save valley from sand mining

By Henri Migala

Photo: marchers support land purchase to protect land from sand mining

February 7, 2021 (Lakeside) -- San Diego County Supervisors are slated to vote this Wed., Feb. 10 on purchasing 98 acres of Lakeside’s  El Monte Valley from the Helix Water District. A petition signed by more than 1,500 people urges them to vote yes, in hopes of protecting the valley against sand mining and protecting it for posterity. (An earlier petition to stop sand mining in the valley drew more than 3,000 signatures.)

Former Supervisor Dianne Jacob introduced the measure to protect the land for the public and prevent it from becoming a sand mine. Jacob, who represented District 2 which includes Lakeside, was a forceful ally of the community and the Kumeyaay in their efforts to protect El Monte Valley, a designated county scenic view corridor, from being mined. She secured funds and gathered support of other Supervisors to purchase the land, but term-limits ended her tenure before the issue came up for a vote. Now her replacement, Supervisor Joel Anderson, and two other newly elected Supervisors, will cast deciding votes.  

To make sure the new Supervisors are aware of the strong sentiments of the community, a “Save El Monte” demonstration and march was held by Kumeyaay Native Americans and people from across San Diego County on Saturday.

East County News Service

Photo courtesy of Sycuan Casino Resort

February 7, 2021 (Sycuan) -- Sycuan Casino Resort and Singing Hills Golf Resort at Sycuan are among the first hotels in the world to become Sharecare Health Security VERIFIED® with Forbes Travel Guide. The comprehensive facility verification helps ensure that guests and travel planners can book with confidence at properties that have appropriate health safety procedures in place.

By Miriam Raftery

February 7, 2021 (Descanso) – Looking for something special for your valentine?  Descanso Junction invites you to savor a private five-course meal by Master Chef Michael Wray – served up to you and your sweetheart in an intimate lighted bubble beneath oak trees.

Story and photos by Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

Feb. 7, 2021 (El Cajon) -- Marcy's, long-time anchor store at Parkway Plaza regional mall in El Cajon, is closing down. Sales ranging from 10% up to 50% discounts or more are currently offered. 

“After careful consideration, Macy’s has decided to close our El Cajon Parkway location. This closure is part of the company’s strategy announced in early 2020,” said Julianne Olivo with Macy's corporate office public relations.

  “Macy’s previously shared this information with our valued colleagues. Regular, non-seasonal colleagues who we are unable to place at nearby Macy’s store will be eligible for severance, including outplacement resources,” she added.