Children and Families in Santee, Linda Vista, Tierrasanta and More Will Benefit

May 22, 2015(San Diego) – United Way of San Diego County is granting nearly $2 million to four community partnerships that are working collectively to help the youngest San Diegans and their families.

East County News Service

May 20, 2015 (Santee) -- Five teenagers must stand trial for the murder of Stephen Lee Hissom, a 55-year-old homeless man who was beaten to death in Santee on November 29^th, 2014.

May 9, 2015 (Santee) - The Grossmont Healthcare District (GHD), a public agency that supports various health-related community programs and services in San Diego’s East County region, has sent a letter to the Navy stating its opposition to the pending closure of a health clinic in Santee.

By Ed Barrena



April 24, 2015 (Santee)--Some breweries are huge, some are small. Butcher's Brewing in Santee is a small microbrewery, however they serve nothing but big beers.

Photo courtesy of Heartland Fire & Rescue

April 8, 2015 (Santee) - A fire that began at a towing yard on Pioneer Way in Santee Monday evening spread to a nearby deli, NBC news reports.  The two-alarm blaze destroyed a motorhome and several other vehicles.

By Miriam Raftery

March 26, 2015 (Santee) – Randy Voepel, Santee’s Mayor for the past 15 years, has thrown his hat in the ring to run for the 71^st State Assembly seat that Brian Jones is vacating due to term limits, SD Rostra reports. He’ll be running against Michael Harrison, who works for Congressman Duncan Hunter and previously worked for Hunter’s father when he served in Congress.

-- Take the diabetes risk test for diabetes risk awareness, then get free food from Chick-fil-A on Tuesday, March 24

March 12, 2015 (Santee)--The Chick-fil-A restaurant in Santee, 9418 Mission Gorge Road, is supporting the American Diabetes Association’s “Alert Day” by rewarding customers with free food giveaway on Tuesday, March 24.

March 9,2015 (San Diego’s East County)--On Friday, March 6, 2015 the city of La Mesa and the city of Santee crowned winners in the Miss La Mesa and Miss Santee Pageants.  The programs have been traditions in the cities since the late 1960’s and provide mentoring for young women.  Santee Mayor Randy Voepel and La Mesa Vice Mayor Ruth Sterling were in attendance to formally present Miss La Mesa 2015 Tiffany Hoffman, Miss Teen La Mesa 2015 Kaitilyn Mayhue, Miss Santee 2015 Rebecca Hudson and Miss Teen Santee 2015 Heather Cantin.

View a presentation on the Gillespie Field Sports Village concept by clicking here.

Tune in Friday to our radio show at 5 p.m. on KNSJ 89.1 FM to hear our interview with Robert Germann, proponent of the Gillespie Field Sports Village.

By Miriam Raftery

February 26, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Imagine a new Chargers stadium and sports entertainment complex next to Gillespie Field on vacant land formerly occupied by the El Cajon Speedway.  Sounds far-fetched? The 250-acre  site is surrounded by four major freeways and a trolley stop close by.  Approximately 180 acres are currently vacant—and none of this land has been used for aviation.

Chargers fans’ future is in limbo, with the team threatening to move to Los Angeles County and share a stadium with the Raiders.  The team wants a new stadium, but thus far San Diego county and city leaders have not come up with a solid plan for an alternative location and environmental contamination prevents rebuilding on the existing Qualcomm stadium site.

By Miriam Raftery

February 15, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - Radio Shack has been a fixture in the American retail market for over 90 years. The company started off selling radio parts to ship operators before opening retail stores.

February 2, 2015 (Santee) - The BNS Brewery in Santee (10960 Wheatlands Avenue) is serving up live music on Saturday night, February 7^th. Popular singer Dannie Marie will perform from 6 to 6:45 p.m., followed by Rick Eilliot and the Secondhand Smoke Band from 7 to 9:30 p.m.  For more information visit www.bnsbrewinganddistilling.com/

January 23, 2015 (Santee) – Sheriff’s deputies have arrested Shawn Wood, 30, who was found sleeping in a stolen vehicle in the 7000 block of Mariposa Street in Santee on January 22^nd at 7:25 a.m.

January 15, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Local author Raymond Wong, author of the book I’m not Chinese: the Journey from Resentment to Reverence, will make three appearances locally on January 24^th at the San Diego State Writer’s Conference, as well as on January 29 and February 7^th at libraries in Santee and El Cajon.  Below are details.

Story and photo by Rebecca Jefferis Williamson