By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Billy Ortiz

July 21, 2012 (Santee) – Pilot Wayne Oehler, 79 of El Cajon landed safely on State Route 67 in Santee this morning at 10 a.m. after the engine on his homemade plane locked up.

A California Highway Patrol officer noticed the Europa plane attempting to land on the northbound side of the highway and started a traffic break, helping the plane to land safely at the Riverford Road off-ramp, UT-San Diego reported.

July 15, 2012 (Santee)—Now you can meet your legislator and beat the heat—all at the same time.  Assemblyman Brian Jones, whose district includes most of East County, invites constituents to the second annual Ice Cream Social Open House at his Santee office on Thursday, July 26, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. 

July 11, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)—Seth Tucker, 22, was arrested this morning for a scam in which he allegedly asked Santee residents for donations to send a local high school baseball team to Maui for a championship game.

“Investigators learned that Tucker had been doing this scam for several months in several different neighbors,” said Sgt. Tom Poulin.  “He would always represent himself as a player for the local high school team of the area he was in.”

By Paul Kruze

Curfew and social host ordinance sweeps to continue this weekend
 

San Diego Planning Commission to weigh changing zoning to allow project at April 26 meeting; Opponents plan march today in Santee

March 31, 2012 (Santee) – Santee Mayor Randy Voepel didn’t mince words. “This is a declaration of war,” he said at Wednesday night’s City Council meeting, where Councilmembers voted unanimously to oppose the gas-fired Quail Brush power plant. 

The 100 megawatt (MW) “peaker” power plant is proposed on 10 acres adjacent to Mission Trails Regional Park, close to West Hills High School and homes. 

Santee Council to weigh resolution opposing power plant March 28;  San Diego Council to consider zoning change to allow facility on April 26

By Miriam Raftery

March 25, 2012 (San Diego/Santee) – Seventeen staffers from the California Energy Commission heard from concerned residents at a standing-room-only workshop on a proposed gas-fired power plant this week at Mission Trails Regional Park.  Over 60 residents filled out speaker cards to oppose the controversial project and dozens more packed the room.  

In emotionally charged testimony, residents pleaded for the project to be withdrawn or approval denied.  They voiced concerns over the dangers pose by wildfire and explosions as well as worries over noise, traffic, air pollution, visual blight, and impacts on wildlife, homes, schools, and Mission Trails Regional Park.

By Serena Scaglione

March 21, 2012- The California Energy Commission (CEC) will hold a workshop at 5 p.m. this Thursday, March 22 at Mission Trails to discuss the proposed Quail Brush Generation Project being developed by Quail Brush Genco, LLC, a subsidiary of Cogentrix Energy.

According to project documents, the Quail Brush Generation Project is a 100-megawatt natural gas power plant under long-term contract with SDG&E. The power plant is designed to support renewable resources and deliver power only when needed.

March 8, 2012 (Santee) -- County officials and community partners unveiled the new volunteer garden at Edgemoor in Santee yesterday.

The volunteer garden, located at 255 Park Center Dr., is open to both community residents and County staff to increase access to fresh produce and physical activity. Residents of Edgemoor, will be involved in the garden through the Recreational Therapy Unit.

El Cajon tops list for East County at 50; La Mesa has 7 yet crime rate has gone down

By Miriam Raftery

February 9, 2012 (Santee) – The Randy Jones “5K For Independence” walk and fun run will be held on February 18 at Santee Lakes.  The event benefits Home of the Guiding Hands, which assists developmentally disabled adults and which has been hard-hit by state budget cuts.

Participants are invited to stay at Santee Lakes for a day of family fun, picnic lunch, beer garden, and awards ceremony.

January 17, 2012 (Santee) -- The FBI and San Diego Sheriff’s Department are seeking the public’s assistance to identify a man who robbed the Pacific West Bank, 9955 Mission Gorge Road, Santee, California, on Tuesday, January 17, 2012.

January 14, 2012 (Santee) – On Monday, January 23, 2012 Sportsplex USA president Bill Berghoff will make a donation to the Santee School District Foundation in the amount of $1440.  Sportsplex USA and the Santee School District Foundation (SSDF) have partnered with the goal of offering affordable youth indoor soccer programs to all parents and children in Santee.