By Miriam Raftery

April 17, 2017 (Santee) – Santee Lakes is an idyllic place to let kids enjoy the simple pleasures of childhood.  On a sunny afternoon over spring break, kids at the lakes gleefully discovered their inner Tom Sawyer or Becky Thatcher. 

I spotted a group of kids piloting a pedal boat around one of several islands in the lake.   A large Canada Goose skidded to a water landing in front of another pedal boat, where a startled dad snapped photos while his kids looked on, pointing with delight.  

East County News Service

March 22, 2017 (Santee) – To commemorate Tuesday, March 28 as the American Diabetes Association’s “Alert Day,” the nine Chick-fil-A restaurants in San Diego County, including the Chick-fil-A restaurant at 9418 Mission Gorge Road, Santee, will giveaway free food to customers who find out their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

East County News Service

By Miriam Raftery

February 21, 2017 (Santee) – For the past 20 years, Santee has lacked an indoor movie theatre, having only a drive-in that’s a throw-back from the ‘50s. But soon, city residents will be able to choose from multiple films to view without leaving town or parking at the drive-in venue.

East County News Service

February 11, 2017 (Santee) – A passenger was struck and killed by a trolley operated by Metropolitan Transit System last night at 6:20 p.m. The fatal collision took place in the 8800 block of Cuyamaca Street in Santee.

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Story and photos by Liz Alper

February 10, 2017 (Spring Valley) - Though Monarchs boys basketball is sporting a poor 8-16 record on the season, they hold a 2-5 record in Grossmont League play.  Tonight, the boys from the Vista hosted the Sultans of Santana, who hold a much better record of 14-11 overall and 4-4 in league play in the Monarchs’ last regular season game at home.

East County News Service

January 26, 2017 (Santee) –  Last night at 11:09 p.m., a caller reported hearing smashing sounds of windows breaking and car alarms going off outside her residence in the 9300 block of Carlton Oaks Drive in Santee. She went outside and saw a white older model Ford Explorer; its occupants were throwing rocks or using some weapon to hit vehicles parked on the street.

East County News Service

January 24, 2017 (Santee) – A woman pedestrian around 50 years old was struck by a vehicle and seriously injured Friday, January 20th around 5:35 p.m. while crossing Magnolia Avenue in front of the 7-11 store on Woodside Avenue.

By Mike Allen

January 20, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- El Cajon’s Gillespie Field is in the middle of an expansion aimed at creating more hangers, more space for aviation- related businesses, and thousands of new jobs.

East County News Service

January 12, 2017 (Santee) – Santee’s Mayor Minto,  newly elected in November, will be the featured speaker at the Santee Chamber of Commerce mixer on January 17^th at 7:30 a.m. at Mimi’s Café (9812 Mission Gorge Rd., Santee).

East County News Service

December 16, 2016 (La Mesa and Santee)--The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce announces that applications are now available for the 2017 Miss La Mesa and Miss Santee Scholarship Pageants. Next year’s pageant will be held on Saturday, March 4th, 2017 at the beautiful new theater at Helix Charter High School.

 Each year the two cities seek young women between the ages of 12-26 to participate in a program that has become a tradition in the cities since the late 1960s and is an outstanding mentoring program for young women.

Update: Hear our interviews with Stephen Houlahan and  Preserve Wild Santee leader Van Collinsworth on environmental issues in Santee by clicking the audio link.

Mike Allen

Photo: Councilman Jack Dale moderated meeting on Castlerock project November 29 with elected officials, city workers, and representatives from developer Pardee Homes.

December 3, 2016 (Santee) -- Angry residents near the Castlerock housing project lashed out at Santee city officials and representatives from developer Pardee Homes during a public meeting November 29, saying the way the project is unfolding is nothing like the plans they saw earlier this year.

East County News Service

November 23, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Pickwick Players will present a murder mystery musical, “Something’s Afoot,” performing off-Broadway live December 2-7 at 9490 Cuyamaca Street in Santee.

By Van K. Collinsworth, Executive Director/Resource Analyst

savefanita@gmail.com

October 31, 2016 (Santee)--Analysis shows 98% of Santee City Council candidate Mason Herron's donors are from outside of Santee; much of these contributors are easily identified as being traffic gridlock producing development interests. (CA Form 460’s are required disclosures.)

In contrast,  Stephen Houlahan has not taken any developer dollars and 76% of his contributors are Santee residents.

By Mike Allen

October 18, 2016 (Santee) -- A Santee candidates’ forum held Oct. 13 at Rio Seco School found common ground on some issues, but differences in how to solve problems and shape the city’s future.

The forum, attended by about 200 people, was one of only a few events where the Santee City Council and mayoral candidates for the Nov. 8 election appeared. It was sponsored by Santee Solutions and the Santee Mobilehome Owners Action Committee, and moderated by the San Diego League of Women Voters.