By Miriam Raftery

August 17, 2013 (Santee) – An environmental group has lodged a formal complaint over a proposed electronic billboard in Santee, contending that the sign violates city laws and further, should require an environmental review.

The LEC-powered video billboard proposed by a Toyota dealership would stand 70 feet tall and be 321 square feet in size.  It would tower above the junction of highways 125 and 52.

August 15, 2013 (Santee) – State Senator Joel Anderson and District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis will hold an East county Public Safety Town Hall on August 22, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the West Hills High School Theatre at 8756 Mast Blvd. in Santee.  The top priority for parents is protecting their kids from danger.  With new dangers arising daily, it can be difficult to get the information needed to keep children safe.

August 8, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – About two weeks ago, two East County residents, Courtney Case and Victoria Haynes, rescued a female stray Chihuahua-Dachshund mix in Bakersfield. Now she is seeking donations to fund surgery for the rescued dog, which is needed to save her from a degenerative disease.

“She did not have a collar, her nails were painfully overgrown, and she had acquired a limp on her back hind leg,” said Case, an assistant manager at Partnerships with Industry in Santee. “After returning to East County, she had already found a permanent home with a loving family; they fell in love with her sweet and loving personality instantly. Her new family got her all cleaned up and named her Koa, but unfortunately her limp persisted. Koa was taken to the vet to get X-rays and she was diagnosed with Legg-Calvé-Perthes syndrome. This involves spontaneous degeneration of the head on the femur bone. Unfortunately, it was determined that she needs immediate surgery or her condition would worsen and cause her even more tremendous pain and no use of her back right leg.”

By Janis Mork

July 24, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – Helix Water District is looking to raise rates for its 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 fiscal years. For 2013-2014, proposed water rates for the domestic/ single customer - using 25 units bi-monthly - will increase six percent. Commercial/Multi-family customers will see a rate increase of three to eight percent. 

By Miriam Raftery

July 7, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – A controversial housing project that could include up to 430 residential units on 204 acres will be heard by the San Diego Planning Commission on Thursday, July 11 at 9 a.m.  The public can attend and testify at the hearing, which will be held at Council Chamber, 12^th Floor, City Administration Building, 202 C Street in downtown San Diego.

The project proposed by Pardee homes has sparked substantial opposition from environmentalists and residents.  A 925-page environmental impact report details significant negative impacts on wildlife and the environment.  ftp://ecity.ci.santee.ca.us/DDS/FinalEIRCastlerock062013.pdf

Preserve Wild Santee’s Facebook page describes Castlerock as “a monstrous housing development in San Diego and Santee” which “proposes to destroy four vernal pools and fairy shrimp, without examining the cumulative impact of these projects …”

June 17, 2013 (Santee) – If you've had your bicycle lost or stolen in the last six months; call the Santee Sheriff’s Station. Please provide some form of proof; a picture of the bike, a receipt, identifying marks, or a good description of the bike in order to claim it.

Santee Sheriff’s Station

8811 Cuyamaca Street, Santee

Call (619) 956-4071 for more information.

June 12, 2013 (Santee) – Sharp Healthcare will be providing free health screenings in East County. These screenings could help prevent heart problems, diabetes and other risk factors.  The screenings will only take about 15 minutes and are offered on eight different dates this summer.

The screenings will measure your cholesterol, blood sugar, body mass index (BMI), and blood pressure. Sharp Healthcare will also provide personalized strategies to improve your overall health and well-being. No appointment is needed. All adults over the age of 18 are welcome to participate.

Update:  Santee reader Jerrie Dean informs us that her mother saw Larry Negrette return to his mobilehome park today.  The Sheriff's office confirms with the following details:

On Monday, May 27, 2013 at around 10:15 p.m., Mr. Larry Negrette was located in the 10200 block of Ashwood Street in Lakeside. Mr. Negrette had contacted a resident on Ashwood Street and asked for food. The resident provided Mr. Negrette with food and water. As the resident and Mr. Negrette spoke, Mr. Negrette appeared disoriented and could not remember his address or phone number. The resident became concerned for Mr. Negrette and decided to notify the Sheriff's Department. Deputies from the Santee Station responded and contacted Mr. Negrette. He was reunited with his family.

May 27, 2013 (Santee) – Larry Negrette, 70, has been missing form his home in the 9400 block of Mission Gorge Road, Santee, since 5 p.m. Saturday May 25.  He suffers from dementia and high blood pressure.

His family is extremely concerned for his welfare. His vehicle is inoperable and accounted for.  Negrette is Hispanic with grey hair, receding hair line, brown eyes, and a mustache.  He is 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs about 210 pounds. He was last seeing wearing blue jeans, T-shirt, and white sneakers. 

By Sierra Robinson

May 24, 2013 (Santee) – Looking for some family fun this Memorial Day weekend? On Saturday, May 25, the Santee Chamber will be hosting the annual Santee Street Fair. Starting at 10:00 a.m. and running until 7:00 p.m., visitors of all ages can enjoy live music on three stages, over 300 vendor books, food, and entertainment fit for the whole family.

April 30, 2013 (Santee) – Summit Fellowship Concert Series will present the Bayou Brothers in Concert with special guests from the UK, Mama Tokus and Andy Williamson. On Friday, May 3 at 7 p.m.  Tickets cost $15.00.  Start with a blend of accordion, keyboards, guitar, bass, drums and rub board, add three-part harmonies, mix it up with a lot of rockin' Zydeco, blues and R&B and you get the rousing, rollicking, heart thumpin', foot stompin' Bayou Brothers.

By Nadin Abbott

Photos by Tom Abbott

April 25, 2013 (Santee)—Three items before the Santee City Council this week reflect a growing green agenda. These included adoption of a program to help residents finance solar energy and energy efficiency improvements, declaration of May as bike to work month, and announcing April 27 as Arbor Day, when trees will be planted as part of SanTree Fest.

Council voted unanimously to join FigTree Energy Financing’s Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program, which allows residents to finance solar and energy-efficient projects at low finance rates with zero cost to the city. http://www.figtreecompany.com/

April 17, 2013 (Santee) -- Trolley service has been restored in Santee, an Metropolitan Transit spokesperson has informed ECM.  At 1:57 p.m. the trolley struck a pedestrian, who has been transported to a local hospital.  The trolley drive applied the brake but was unable to avoid the collision, said Rob Schupp.

April 9, 2013 (Santee)—The Santee community is organizing a benefit for a Santee family whose kindergarten boy is battling brain cancer.  Diagnosed just this past December, Dylan Pourner has become bed ridden, is on oxygen 100% of his time and is in the process of starting a "research" chemo after the last treatment failed to shrink his very large tumor.

The two largest benefits will be a Coffee Benefit April 16 from  6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and a Concert Benefit April 20 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The "Coffee Benefit" will be held at Coffee Corner cafe at Mast and Carlton in the Pathways Community Church parking lot.  The Concert Benefit will be at the Pathways Community Church.

By Miriam Raftery

March 21, 2013 (Santee) – American Home Show will present the first-ever Spring Home Show at the Town Center Community Park  and Santee Sport Complex in Santee on April 5, 6 and 7 from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. daily.  Admission is free.

‘The show inspires homeowners with countless ideas on enhancing their home’s comfort and functionality, as well as being labeled “made in America,” a press release from organizers states. The event will showcase hundreds of home improvement and landscaping exhibits, with product demonstrations . Attractions will also include live entertainment, speakers, an American business mixer, barbecue competition cook-off, gunny sack race, and a kids’ village.

Don't have plans for lunch or dinner today?

The Miss San Diego Cities Pageant in conjunction with the Miss San Diego Pageant and Scholarship Association invites the community to a fundraiser to support Taylor Cunningham and the Cunningham Family, today Tuesday, March 26 all day at the Chilis restaurant in Santee on Mission George Road. Chilis will donate a portion of all orders (dine in and take out) for parties who bring in the attached filer in support of Taylor Cunningham and Family.

Taylor currently holds the title of Miss San Diego's Outstanding Teen. She and her mother and two sisters were hit by a wrong way drunk driver on the Eastbound 52 just more than a week ago.