Source:  San Diego County Sheriff's Department

July 27, 2016 (San Diego's East County) - Join the San Diego County Sheriff's Department for FREE Night Out Against Crime© events on Tuesday, August 2nd. Sheriff's Stations and Substations all over the county will be hosting block parties to take a stand against crime.

Activities vary by location and may include free food, drinks, giveaways and activities for kids. Night Out Against Crime© is a celebration of community relationships. Meet your neighbors, as well as deputies who patrol your area. All locations will have a Sheriff's Crime Prevention Specialist on site so you can get tips on how to stay safe. See below for a community near you or visit www.sdsheriff.net:

East County News Service

Photo:  American Diabetes Association’s Father of the Year honorees (left to right):  Tum Vongsawad, Jeffrey Martin, Tracy Sundlun.

June 20, 2016 (Santee) – Santee resident Tracy Sundlun, senior VP of global events, Competitor Group, was recently honored by the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) San Diego office with a 2016 Father of the Year award.

East County News Service

June 11, 2016 (Santee) – The city of Santee invites you to Santee Salutes, an annual extravaganza set for July 4^th from 2:30 to 10 p.m. at Town Center Community Park East (550 Park Center Drive) in Santee.

CAPIO, PRSA and AMCP recognize Advanced Water Purification Video

East County News Service

June 2, 2016 (Santee) - Padre Dam Municipal Water District was nationally honored with a Bronze Anvil Award of Commendation from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), an Award of Distinction from the California Association of Public Information Officials (CAPIO) and a Platinum Hermes Creative Award from the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP) for its video, Water, Too Good to Waste. 

East County News Service

May 26, 2016 (Santee)--The Santee Street Fair and Craft Beer Festival draws over 30,000 visitors each year with patriotic fund for the whole family. The eight annual festival will be held this year on Saturday, May 28^th from 10a.m to 6 p.m. at Riverview Parkway and Town Center Parkway in Santee. The festival will feature local breweries and honor the military on the Heroes Stage.

Festival highlights include: a craft beer festival, live music and entertainment, a crafter row and artist alley, over 300 food and vendor booths, carnival rides, and games for the family. 

East County News Service

May 12, 2016 (Santee) - The city of Santee announces Fido Fest, a “paws in the park” event on June 11 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 550 Park Center Drive, Santee. 

East County News Service

April 29, 2016 (Santee) – George Lowery, 50, a homeless man found brutally beaten April 24^th in the San Diego riverbed in Santee, has died of his injuries. 

East County News Service

April 20, 2016 (Santee) -- An Earth Day Community Mural project is being launched in Santee at the Walker Preserve this weekend. Volunteers are needed to help pain a series of six murals at the Magnolia Avenue underpass along the San Diego River starting Friday, April 22^nd through Monday, April 25^th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

East County News Service

March 27, 2016 (Santee) – Kenneth Ryan, 28, has been arrested on multiple felon assault charges and an outstanding robbery warrant after taking a woman hostage in Santee yesterday.

East County News Service

February 25, 2016 (Santee) -- Riding inside the car is one thing, but riding trapped inside the front bumper of a car for 8 miles was quite another for a cat from Santee.

By Mike Allen

January 28, 2016 (El Cajon)--A plan to expand operations at Gillespie Field and develop a 70-acre site once occupied by the El Cajon Speedway was put in a holding pattern because of a lack of federal funding.

Earlier this month, board members from the Gillespie Field Development Council, a five-member board that oversees the county-owned airport, heard that expected federal grant funding to finance the estimated $30 million project wasn’t available.

By Mike Allen

January 18, 2016 (Santee)--Santee’s City Council has voted to amend an earlier ban on medical marijuana dispensaries, adding the explicit prohibition of cultivating and delivering weed within the city.

The city already prohibited the sale of weed dating to 2009, and has never allowed the activity, but a recent slate of regulations adopted by the state and signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown in October has prompted many cities to pass additional laws ensuring that the cities maintain local control.

The vote on Jan. 13 was 5-0, although one council member said the city should take another look at the issue especially in light of the money the city is spending to enforce the ban.

Free & discounted services at over 30 Santee health, fitness & wellness organizations in January

By Steve Lauria

 December 29, 2015 (Santee)--The City of Santee is a growing community in East County, and a great place to live and raise a family. Along with the rest of the country, it has a growing problem with obesity, chronic disease, and other health related problems.

 California Health Network is a nonprofit organization that was founded in Santee in 2012. Some of its efforts include East County’s first health and fitness expo, the East County Live Well Expo, and obesity prevention presentations to more than 60 local high school classes.

To help increase community awareness, California Health Network is promoting “Santee Health Awareness Month” in January of 2016, with the help of local officials and health related organizations.

East County News Service

December 24, 2015 (Santee)--Kellie and Dallas Coates-Legare had fleeting but frequent thoughts of opening a "serenity shop" sometime in their lives. They wanted to create a place focused on all of the anonymous recovery programs that would enhance the recovery journey of individuals while creating a supportive and compassionate environment for all seeking serenity in their lives; a place to buy tokens, books, cards and gifts of inspiration, celebration and healing.

This desire came from a long history of addiction and alcoholism in family members and friends which created a unique awareness of the disease of addiction in Kellie, both as a registered nurse and personally.