1 of 9 community colleges nationwide to net 2016 Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award

East County News Service

September 20, 2016 (El Cajon) - For the second time, the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District has received a Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) award, a national honor recognizing colleges and universities for outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion.

East County News Service

September 20, 2016 (El Cajon) - The Grossmont College English Department's Creative Writing Program is presenting the Fall 2016 Reading Series, Thursday, Sept. 29 – Monday, Dec. 5.

Updated to include clarification from  SDG&E that its sponsorship was short-term,  not long-term.

East County Magazine

By Miriam Raftery

September 19, 2016 (San Diego) — Last week, the San Diego Union-Tribune rolled out a much-touted revamp of its website featuring San Diego Gas & Electric, a division of Sempra Energy, as its only sponsor.  The deal allows SDG&E to reach news readers directly with messages such as energy saving tips, but also poses potential conflicts of interests for San Diego’s largest newspaper.

SDG&E spokeswoman Stephanie Donovan has clarified that the sponsorship was only for two days, not an ongoing sponsorship. She added thiis perspective on the sponsorship:

By Liz Alper

Photos courtesy Joel Price, San Diego Chargers

September 19, 2016 (San Diego) - After a shocking loss last week in Kansas City, the Chargers came back home to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars.

In partnership with the San Diego Blood Bank

East County News Service

September 19, 2016 (El Cajon) -- The San Diego Blood Bank will accept blood donations at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church (2766 Navajo Road) in El Cajon on Sunday, September 25, 2016 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.  in the parking lot. All blood types are needed. Current inventory for the universal blood type, O negative, is at critically low levels.

Pumphrey (offensive) and Blain (special teams) earn MW weekly accolades

Source: goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

September 19, 2016 (Colorado Springs, Co.) - San Diego State football players Donnel Pumphrey (Las Vegas, Nev.) and Tanner Blain (Lindenhurst, Ill.) have each been named Mountain West Players of the Week, the league announced Monday. Pumphrey was chosen as the MW Offensive Player of the Week, while Blain garnered MW Special Teams Player-of-the-Week accolades.

By Miriam Raftery

September 19, 2016 (San Diego) -- The Census Bureau recently decided to double the official federal poverty level for cities with high costs of living, such as San Diego.  Under the new calculations, nearly a third (31%) of all households in the city of San Diego are now living in poverty.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Nadin Abbott, Reporting San Diego;Volunteer searchers combed burned property where two bodies were located after Sheriff's declined to search hills behind couple's home

September 18, 2016  (San Diego’s East County)—Campo resident Claudia Millerbragg  asked the Sheriff’s Department on July 2^nd  to launch an internal investigation into what she and other residents described as  rude unprofessional treatment by Sheriff’s officials.  She says three other residents also spoke with the internal affairs

Frustrating by deputies’ lack of response to citizens’ concerns about two missing people after the Border Fire, Millerbragg was present with other local women who launched their own search and within 10 minutes,  found bodies of the missing couple huddled between boulders behind their home.

Now a  Sheriff’s internal investigation  into the matter has closed, with a disposition of “unfounded” in part and “exonerated” in part. The finding has left residents frustrated over the apparent lack of resolution of their concerns.

Aztecs lose on an own goal in the 77^th minute

Source: goaztecs.com press release

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

September 18, 2016 (San Diego) - San Diego State closed its non-conference schedule on Sunday night with a 1-0 loss to No. 24/23 Texas Tech at SDSU Sports Deck. The difference maker was an own goal, which snapped the Aztecs’ two-game winning streak and dropped them to 2-5. The Red Raiders, meanwhile, improved to 7-1-2.

East County News Service

September 18, 2016 (Palomar Mountain) — Jim Hamerly and Peggy McCauley Hamerly had some unexpected visitors at the home on Palomar Mountain.  They were eating breakfast at 7 a.m. when “these two young mountain lions sauntered by our home and stopped and just looked at us,” Jim posted on Facebook.

By Liz Alper

Photo via @Padres on Twitter

September 18, 2016 (Denver) - Here’s a sentence we’ve never heard in a while:  the Padres were in danger of getting swept by the Rockies as they entered today’s finale.  They’d hope to avoid that with Jarred Cosart on the mound against Chad Bettis.

East County News Service

September 18, 2016 (Santee) — Sheriff’s deputies and agents from the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control recently conducted “minor decoy” tests at 11 retail locations in Santee and Lakeside.  All 11 retailers passed the test, refusing to sell alcohol to minors.

Update 3 p.m.:  Forward spread is stopped at six acres; fire is 25% contained, per Cal Fire.

Update 2:45 p.m.: Cal Fire reports the fire is now six acres and that crews are making good progress.

By Miriam Raftery

September 18, 2016 (Cuyamaca Rancho State Park)--1:30 p.m.--A brush fire is burning in the Cuyamaca  Area, multiple sources confirm. A post at WildlandFire.com, a firefighters' discussion forum, indicates the fire started at Harrison Park Road and State Route 79,  burning at least three to five acres so far and moving into timber. 

An air tanker is dropping retardant and two structures are threatened,the post indicates, though there is no official confirmation yet of structure threat.

A caller to ECM reported smoke in the area.  In addition,Trevor Rathfon tweeted a photo ofsmoke behind Lake Cuyamaca indicated,"Fire season has officialy begun."

If you have details on this fire please contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org.

By Miriam Raftery

September 18, 2016 (Mt Helix) – I grew up in La Mesa, where my mother had a bird feeder.  It attracted many species, but never bluebirds.  Until recently, I’d seen bluebirds only rarely, in the mountain areas.  So I was delighted to spot one in our yard on Mt. Helix this week—and soon learned that bluebirds are expanding their range locally.

By  Miriam Raftery

East County Magazine sat down with Councilwoman Kristine Alessio, who is seeking reelection to the La Mesa City Council.  Alessio, an attorney specializing in land use issues, was born and raised in La Mesa and previously served on the  Planning Commission.  “I have a very good understanding of the city,” she says. 

You can hear her interview, originally aired on KNSJ radio,  by clicking the audio link: https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au..., or click “read more” and scroll down to read highlights.