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.

Commission allows repowering of Escondido plant

“Today’s rejection of Quail Brush is not only a victory for the environment. It’s a victory for our community. It sends a message that San Diego County shouldn’t rely on old-school, power plant technology and that we can accelerate our efforts to develop renewable, cleaner forms of energy, like rooftop solar and fuel cells.”—Supervisor Dianne Jacob

March 21, 2013 (San Diego) – Before a packed audience in San Diego today, the California Public Utilities Commission unanimously denied SDG&E’s requests to build Quail Brush and Pio Pico, gas-powered peaker plants near Mission Trails Regional Park and in Otay Mesa.  The Commission did, however, authorize repowering of an existing but idle gas plant in Escondido.

March 18, 2013 (Sacramento)--Assemblyman Brian Jones, R-Santee has issued the following statement on the passage of HR 9, a resolution he co-authored that outlines the many characteristics of California’s historic vineyards and their vast contribution to the agricultural legacy of the state:

“Almost 250 years ago, Father Junipero Serra planted grapes at Mission San Diego, and since that time, historic vineyards have grown throughout the state – from northern California and the Central Coast to our own Ramona, Alpine and Riverside County’s Temecula Valley,” said Jones. “I am proud the 71st Assembly District is home to such beautiful and diverse grape growing areas – each of which has achieved worldwide recognition and contributes greatly to our local economy.  I am very pleased the Assembly took the time to recognize the extraordinary contribution of our living historic vineyards to the agricultural and social heritage of the state as well as to the enjoyment of wine enthusiasts throughout California and the world.”

March 3, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – What do you do after winning your second Daytona 500 race?  The Harlem Shake, of course!  View video of East County native and five-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson and his teammates shaking things up as they celebrate their latest victory: http://www.jimmiejohnson.com/cantina

Next up, Johnson will race in Saturday’s Nationwide Race at the Phonenix International Raceway.  Also this week, Johnson announced that Lowe’s has renewed its sponsorship.

“We've been together for this crazy ride, and I'm so happy we're continuing it together,” Johnson said, USA Today reported.

February 20, 2013 (San Diego’s East County)—El Cajon Police today announced the arrest of Forrest Gunner Fermil and Kailee Ray, both 18, in connection with three armed robberies within an hour on February 18 committed by a masked man.

The suspects were arrested in the 10000 block of Vista Parque in Lakeside at 3 p.m. today. After developing a promising lead, El Cajon Police workined in junction with investigators from the Santee Sheriff’s Station and located the first suspect.

February 14, 2013--(San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL/REGIONAL

• Ramona solar farm wins approval (UT San Diego)
• RCPG Chair says County getting mixed signals from Ramona residents on housing projects (Ramona Patch)
• Ruling puts SD pension overhaul in doubt  (U-T San Diego)
• Local DMV Staffers Were Bribed $100,000 for Driver’s Licenses, Feds Say (La Mesa Patch)
• San Diego Hospice faces critical moment (U-T San Diego)
• Boxer Wants Probe Into Equipment Problems At Troubled San Onofre Nuclear Plant
• Helix Star RB Michael Adkins Will Play Football for the Colorado Buffaloes (La Mesa Patch)
• Santee Farmer’s Market to move west (Santee Patch)
• Council acting on well at Town Center despite other claims to water  (Santee Patch)

STATE

• Christopher Dorner's charred body is positively identified  (Los Angeles Times)
• Controller: California is $4.3 billion ahead of forecast in January (Sacramento Bee)
• Governor Brown, Republicans float proposals to change fire fees (Sacramento Bee)
• California Seeks To Adopt Nation's Toughest Gun Laws (KPBS)
• Environmental groups, unions team up to resist CEQA push (Sacramento Bee)
• Many in Calif. Rely On Contaminated Water Sources (KPBS)
• Delta Smelt Deaths Means Less Water for Central and Southern California (KPBS)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

January 24, 2013--(San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL/REGIONAL

• ACLU rips Grossmont Union High School District over lack of English learner services (Lemon Grove Patch)
• Help ID suspects in two armed robbers at Santee ATMs (Santee Patch)
• La Mesa Earns ‘F’ for Its Tobacco Policies (La Mesa Patch)
• La Mesa facing $1 million fine for sewage overflows in 2010 storm (La Mesa Patch)
• City Seeks Federal Trial in Ray Lutz Lawsuit Arising from Occupy San Diego (La Mesa Patch)
• Boulevard Project Awaits SANDAG Grant  (La Mesa Today)
• New Commuter Airline To Fly Between San Diego, Imperial County (KPBS)
• Gillespie Field Airport to Expand, Council Talks 'Santee Aerotropolis' (Santee Patch)

STATE

• California sees a revenue bump after tax changes (Sacramento Bee)
• New proposal would lower voter threshold for police, fire taxes (Sacramento Bee)
• California awarded $674M to build health exchange (Sacramento Bee)
• Report: CPUC budget riddled with errors  (Sacramento Bee)
• Court: Calif. lawmakers violated law to help Brown (Sacramento Bee)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

January 5, 2013 (Santee) -- An 18-year-old Santee woman says she is lucky to be alive after a gas fireplace she was trying to light exploded into flames, burning her face, hair and arm.  Schannon Burr, who is now recuperatoring at home, spoke with ECM 10 News to share details of how the accident happened, plus get tips on how to avoid having a similar situation occur in your home.  For details see: http://www.10news.com/news/santee-woman-burned-while-lighting-familys-ga...