East County News Service

July 20, 2019 (Spring Valley) - Christian Rods & Customs Car Club announces its 20th Annual “Classic Car Show” to be held on Saturday, August 24th, 2019 from 9am until 2pm at Faith Chapel located at 9400 Campo Road in Spring Valley. Pre-registration fee of $25 due by August 20th or $30 day of show. The first 100 registrants will receive a dash plaque, T-Shirt, goodie bag and raffle ticket. All cars, trucks & bikes welcome! No year or model limits!

By Miriam Raftery

May 30, 2019 (Spring Valley) – A male caller, possibly a juvenile, called Bancroft Elementary School in Spring Valley at 2:44 p.m. today to state that there would be a shooting and warned the school to go on lockdown.  Staff put the school into lockdown and notified the Sheriff.

Sheriff’s deputies and California Highway Patrol officers responded.  There were no further threats or substantiation, but the school dismissed students with law enforcement present.

Updated with corrected figures for El Cajon, where homelessness rose and a higher percentage are without shelter than last year.

By Miriam Raftery

May 2, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – For the second year in a row, the annual Point-in-Time homeless count for 2019 found a 6% drop in the number of homeless people living on the streets and in shelters across San Diego County.  The count found a 1% increase in those who are sheltered and a 10% decrease in those left unsheltered.

East County News Service

Photo: Creative Commons image per S.A. of a similar Korean War era device

March 8, 2019 (Spring Valley) – Sheriff’s deputies received a call this morning from a resident on Margaret Court, Spring Valley who said his 93-year-old neighbor had given him a grenade.

Detectives responded and it was determined that the device was an inert Korean War era grenade. It was removed from the area for proper disposal, says detective John Debus.

East County News Service

February 19, 2019 (Spring Valley) – A Volkswagen sedan struck and injured a pedestrian near the intersection of Campo Road and North Granada Avenue in the Casa de Oro area shortly before 5:50 this morning, the California Highway Patrol reports.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: ECM news partner 10 News

January 1, 2019 (Spring Valley) – A collapsed culvert caused a sinkhole to open in the Sweetwater Lodge trailer park on Jamacha Road yesterday.   Two residents of a nearby mobile home were evacuated to temporary lodging arranged by the park owner.

By Miriam Raftery

November 22, 2018 (Spring Valley) – The creator of the Magical Forest in Las Vegas has brought her talents to Noah Homes at 12526 Campo Road in in Spring Valley, where the Enchanted Village Festival of Trees & Lights will be open to the public December 14-16 and 21-23.  View video: https://vimeo.com/301286492/bf29b3c559

Tickets cost $14.99 for adults and $9.99 for children  ages 3-12; three’s a limit of 500 tickets per night so advance purchase is advised.  You can reserve tickets online at www.EnchantedVillage.org. All proceeds from this delightful holiday display will benefit programs to help Noah Homes residents with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

Reform candidates’ slate reveals opponents used deceptive tactics, including fake photo, misleading claim on backing by teachers, and scare tactic over theater program

Listen to our interview aired on KNSJ

East County News Service

October 26, 2018 (La Mesa) – Chardá Fontenot is representing a slate of three candidates running to bring changes to the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District board. She says  she wants to increase transparency, bridge the achievement gap between minority and white students, bring back sixth grade camp, increase revenue sources and restore respect by board members to students, teachers and parents. 

She’s also criticized an opposing slate for deceptive tactics used in their campaign, including running a fake candidate photo and misleading voters on which slate has backing from the LMSV Teacher's Association.

Fontenot has served as a district advisory council representative, parent volunteer, and currently chairs the school site council. A mother who once attended schools in the district herself, she’s also  a certified lactation counselor who owns a lactation business.

Hear her full interview on KNSJ 89.1 FM at the audio link and scroll down for highlights.

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Story and photos by Liz Alper

October 13, 2018 (El Cajon) - It happens every year; the Cougars make their way up the hill from Campo Road to Hillsdale Road for a battle to claim the street that unites them both.  Week eight of ECM Friday Night Lights brings you the midseason East County classic, the Battle for the Jamacha Trophy.  It’s been a year since Thomas Fishburne led the Cougars to victory on Norse turf to keep Steele Canyon the owners of Jamacha Road.  He’s at Southwestern College now.  Can the Cougars still defend their stretch of pavement without him?

Update September 22, 2018: The victim has been identified as Melanie Alexandra Feliciano, 24, who died of blunt force injuries to her head and neck, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: ECM news partner 10 News

September 20, 2018 (Spring Valley) – Rene Ruiz, 27, has been arrested after fleeing the scene of a fatal crash that occurred on September 17th at 1:50 p.m. on State Route 94 in Spring Valley. He has been charged with felony manslaughter with gross negligence, felony hit and run, and felony driving under the influence of drugs.

Like our sports coverage?  Donate to help support ECM’s sports section!  Type in “Sports” as your donation!

Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and stories!

Does your son or daughter play a sport at a level other than varsity?  Comment on this story or tweet @ECMagSports to request coverage!

Check out our sports section for more sports stories!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

August 31, 2018 (Spring Valley) - Chugging along, week three of ECM Friday Night Lights takes us to Spring Valley for the first time in 2018, where the Monte Vista Monarchs, led by their explosive senior running back and SDSU commit Jahmon McClendon, took on the Patriots of Patrick Henry, who are coming off an embarrassing 43-0 loss to Morse last week.  McClendon scored five rushing touchdowns in the Monarchs’ 48-21 win over University City last week.  You might recall this matchup from last year, when ECM Sports reported on McClendon’s five rushing touchdowns that beat Patrick Henry 34-27.  This year, however, McClendon wouldn’t let the Pats even touch the Monarchs.