East County News Service

November 22, 2016 (El Cajon) -- Drum Macomber sent in this photo of Senior Patrol Leader Kyle Jackson and Patrol Leader Alex Horn, Boy Scouts from Troop 362, with the El Cajon Main Street Flag Committee.

"This photo was not staged; it just happened when we decided that we should have the Pledge of Allegiance at the Work Party," Macomber says. "This is a Norman Rockwell Moment if ever."

For more sports coverage, visit ECM's Sports section

Source: NASCAR.com

Cover photo:  Creative Commons under Nascarking (Wikipedia).  Newsflasher photo:  Creative Commons under Flickr upload bot

November 20, 2016 (Miami) - Jimmie Johnson today won his seventh Sprint Cup championship and his first in three years at the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Miami.  The 41-year-old and El Cajon native is now tied with Dale Earnardt and Richard Petty as a seven-time premiere series champion.

East County News Service

November 18, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Help is needed to recover two golf carts stolen overnight from the Tir Na Nog horse rescue center east of Alpine or purchase replacements.

The owner posted this message on Facebook:

Horses of Tir Na Nog

Source: County of San Diego

November 18, 2016 (Campo) - The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has issued a Boil Water Order and Public Notification for the Lake Morena County Park water system located at 2550 Lake Morena Drive in Campo, CA 91906, effective immediately. The water system is designed to provide potable water for a campground with 86 camper sites, ranger office, 4 fulltime residents, 7 volunteer RV pads and 2 public restrooms.

East County News Service

November 17, 2016 (Alpine) - Join Lions, Tigers & Bears, San Diego's only big cat and exotic animal rescue, for the 2016 Christmas fundraiser on Saturday, December 3 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  There will be a VIP reception from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.  You can do holiday shopping and watch your furry friends open Christmas presents!

Also enjoy a visit with Santa,food trucks and plenty of festive fun.

Current Sage Project partner Lemon Grove will be first in North America to use new toolkit

Source: SAGE Project

November. 16, 2016  (Lemon Grove) – California cities have long been tasked with developing a plan to reduce carbon emissions and create more sustainable, environmentally friendly communities. The City of San Diego approved its Climate Action Plan last year and other nearby cities have followed suit as a result of the state mandate. But for smaller cities the task can be overwhelming.

Update: Hear our interview with Paige Rogowski, Executive Director of the Anza Borrego Foundation and Diana Lindsey,  past president of the Foundation and historian for Anza Borrego Desert State Park. Listen now by clicking the audio link.

Guided hikes are also available

East County News Service

November 16, 2016 (Anza-Borrego) – In celebration of Anza-Borrego Foundation’s 50th Anniversary, Anza-Borrego Foundation and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park are inviting visitors to complete two five-hike challenges on some of the most famous (and infamous) peaks and trails in the region.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Robin Norris Kendall, Miriam Raftery, and Mike Uhrhammer

November 15, 2016 (Lakeside) – If you love camping but don’t want to lug around camping gear, now there’s a fun new camping experience at Lake Jennings in San Diego’s East County:  tipis!

They’re spacious – each measures 20 feet in diameter, made of canvas from Colorado and pine wood poles from Montana.  Tipi (also spelled tee-pee) is a Lakota Sioux Indian word meaning “living in.” The Native Americans used buffalo hides to make their tipis, which were toted on horseback from site to site across the Great Plains. 

East County News Service

November 15, 2016 (La Mesa) – Friends of Angie Andrus are asking for public help to locate her.  According to Esther McElroy Beish, a family friend, Andrus suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, diabetes and high blood pressure. 

She was last seen in the Lake Murray area on October 24, when her vehicle was towed.   She could be living on the streets and confused.  “We have no idea where she is or if she is okay,” says Beish.

Update 8 p.m.:   Todd Perkins has been found safe in Lemon Grove.

East County News Service

November 14, 2016 (Lakeside)—The  Sheriff has issued a be-on-the-lookout bulletin for Todd Randolph Perkins,48.  He has been missing since 2:30 p.m.  His caretaker says he may have walked away from his home on Dorsal Drive in Lakeside.

He suffers from a medical condition that causes him to limp.  He has green tattooso on both arms. He is white with brown hair and brown eyes, 5 feet 6 inches tall, and weighs 130 pounds.  He has told his caretaker that he would like to return to his former home on the 7100 block of Broadway in Lemon Grove,though he does not drive.

East County News Service

November 13, 2016 (Lakeside) - Billy Ortiz snapped this stunning shot of tonight’s  Super Moon,  the closest the moon has been to earth in over six decades,  with silhouetted great blue heron on the horizon in Lakeside.

By Miriam Raftery

November 12, 2016 (Jamul-Dulzura) — Two military veterans have won seats on the Jamul-Dulzura Union School Board.  Running on a platform of giving back and continuing to serve their community, the pair won two open seats.

Sam Manis is an Army veteran once assigned to the White House communications agency. He is a farmer and cheesemaker, father of triplets  and has served as treasurer of the San Diego County 4H Club.   He stated on his Facebook  page, “I am running for the Jamul-Dulzura Union School Board because I have devoted my life to serving my community and children. As a long time Jamul resident I am deeply rooted in this community and want to support our local schools so every child is able to grow and learn to the best of their ability. As a US Army veteran, I firmly believe in giving back to this great nation that has been so generous to me.”

By Robert Gehr

Update November 13, 2016:  Jarred  Jefferson, 22, has been charged with felony vandalism for destroying or damaging 13 flags,  as well as two counts of obstructing an officer, NBC 7 News reports.  Poles were broken and some flags thrown in the street, where vehicles ran over them.  The flags had been put up by a local Boy Scout troop.

November 12, 2016 (El Cajon) — El Cajon Police arrested a young man yesterday morning who was reported to be damaging American flags displayed along Main Street in downtown El Cajon in recognition of Veteran’s Day.

Witnesses called El Cajon Police to report a man vandalizing American flags and it didn’t take very long for a Police officer to arrive, track down the perpetrator and make contact. The suspect did resist initial attempts by the first officer on scene attempting to arrest him, but was eventually taken into custody after another officer responded and aided in controlling the uncooperative man.

Council members elected, marijuana measure fails

By Miriam Raftery

Update November 10, 2016:  This evening George Gastil has retaken the lead by a slim 19-vote margin as counting of mail-in and provisional ballots continues.

November 9, 2016 (Lemon Grove) — The race to fill Lemon Grove’s mayoral seat vacated by retiring Mayor Mary Sessom is still too close to call.  Councilman George Gastil jumped into an early lead, but today Councilmember Racquel Vasquez has pulled into the lead by a mere 12 votes.  If elected, she would be the first African-American mayor in San Diego County.