Did lack of mental healthcare “PERT” team response contribute to Olango’s death? 

Suicide Help Resources included below

By Jonathan Goetz

September 29, 2016 (El Cajon) – East San Diego County’s El Cajon was rocked Tuesday with an officer involved shooting of an unarmed black man, Alfred Okwera Olango. The city has remained in the spotlight all week.  Lost amid the blitz of media coverage has been other news, including a nudity ban targeting homeless people.

In chronological order, here are the highlights and lowlights:

Source: Grossmont Union High School District

September 29, 2016 (El Cajon) - The public is invited to attend a Building Re-dedication and Open House for Valhalla High School's Modernized Main Building and Theater on Tuesday, October 11. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin at 3:30 p.m., followed by tours of the facility from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.

By Rebecca  Jefferis-Williamson and Miriam Raftery

Photo, left,by Rebecca Jefferis-Williamson: Marchers at Mollison near Broadway

September 28, 2016 (El Cajon) – Parkway Plaza regional shopping center is shut down for tonight after protests spilled into the mall over yesterday’s fatal police shooting of Alfred  Olango, 38, an unarmed African-American man with mental health issues.  Marketing director Ken Gray told  ECM the mall shut down for the night on advice of police.

“ Where I work, a lot of people were crying and screaming,” Gage Miller told  East County Magazine shortly after police evacuated the Walmart store where he works and escorted everyone outside. He said around 3 p.m., “lots of people were marching in the mall and going into the movie theatre…Walmart had to put its gates down. Protesters were spraying water from water bottles all around.”

By Liz Alper

September 28, 2016 (San Diego) - The last La Mesa Chamber breakfast of the year was held at Marie Callender's at Alvarado Road.  The speaker was Senator Joel Anderson.

The majority of Senator Anderson's speech was comprised of his reasons for opposing Senate Bill 654.  SB654 aims to increase parental leave for new parents by six weeks.  Senator Anderson, a Republican and former small businessman, believes this will harm small businesses by putting them out of business.  He understands the struggle that small businesses have already and does not want to add six more weeks of parental leave to that. 

Update:  The victim has been identified as Brandon Deguzman, 21.  Cause of death has been determined to be homicide by shooting,outside the victim's home. 

By Miriam Raftery

September 25, 2016 (Santee) – A fugitive wanted in connection with a deadly shooting in unincorporated El Cajon yesterday morning is now under arrest.

By Jack and Helen Ofield, Lemon Grove

September 22, 2016 (Lemon Grove) - -Measure V on our November 8 ballot would bring up to 15 marijuana storefronts to Lemon Grove, according to Mayor Mary Sessom, serving about 4,000 pot smokers apiece, yielding a mob scene of some 60,000 addicts (more than twice the size of Lemon Grove's population).

Source: Alpine-Mt. Empire Chamber of Commerce

Photos courtesy of the Alpine Sun

September 22, 2016 (Alpine) -- The Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce will present new year-end holiday opportunities for residents, businesses, organizations and vendors.

Council also advises public that Prop A transportation initiative would double road repairs in Lemon Grove

By Jonathan Goetz

Pictured: Karen Beth Pearlman, UT Reporter, taking pictures of a Connect Main Street Powerpoint 9/20/16

View the Powerpoint here

September 22, 2016 (Lemon Grove) – Lemon Grove’s City Council approved a theme for the Connect Main Street concept to commemorate the city’s historical heritage, limit traffic and create a walkable heart for the city between Broadway and Central Avenue.  Council members also informed the public that Proposition A, the regional transportation initiative, would double street repairs in Lemon Grove as well as funding freeways and bringing the trolley to UCSD.

East County News Service

September 21, 2016 (Ramona) – Six Ramona and Poway businesses are sponsoring and hosting hand-painted wine barrels to preview the 4th annual Ramona Art and Wine Festival.

East County News Service

September 20, 2016 (La Mesa) - St. Martin of Touea' Parish 6th annual Fair Trade Shopping Event is on Sunday, October 16th from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

September 16, 2016 (Lemon Grove) – East County Magazine invites you to attend a forum with candidates running for Helix Water District’s board and Lemon Grove Mayor.  The forum will be held on Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at the Lemon Grove Library (3001 School Lane).  You can meet and greet candidates from 5 to 5:30 p.m., with the program beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Come meet the candidates,  hear their goals for the future and responses to questions posed by East County Magazine’s editor, plus bring questions on issues that matter most to you!

By Ryan Alexander, president, Taxpayers for Common Sense



September 19, 2016 (Washington D.C.) -- The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is expected to release its Wind and Solar Leasing Rule in the next few weeks.  The rule would create a system for competitive solar and wind energy development on federal lands. It would also establish megawatt (MW) capacity fees for wind and solar energy projects in order to capture a fair market value (FMV) and a fair return for taxpayers.  View the BLM proposal here.

Updated with document links

By Miriam Raftery

September 18, 2016 (Lakeside) – Some residents of Lakeside’s El Monte Valley have voiced surprise to learn after a sand mining project was proposed that the scenic area has zoning that allows for such use.  Now Robert Hintgen, a planner with the County of San Diego, has provided a history on the zoning designation.

East County News Service

September 18, 2016 (Santee) — Sheriff’s deputies and agents from the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control recently conducted “minor decoy” tests at 11 retail locations in Santee and Lakeside.  All 11 retailers passed the test, refusing to sell alcohol to minors.

Update 3 p.m.:  Forward spread is stopped at six acres; fire is 25% contained, per Cal Fire.

Update 2:45 p.m.: Cal Fire reports the fire is now six acres and that crews are making good progress.

By Miriam Raftery

September 18, 2016 (Cuyamaca Rancho State Park)--1:30 p.m.--A brush fire is burning in the Cuyamaca  Area, multiple sources confirm. A post at WildlandFire.com, a firefighters' discussion forum, indicates the fire started at Harrison Park Road and State Route 79,  burning at least three to five acres so far and moving into timber. 

An air tanker is dropping retardant and two structures are threatened,the post indicates, though there is no official confirmation yet of structure threat.

A caller to ECM reported smoke in the area.  In addition,Trevor Rathfon tweeted a photo ofsmoke behind Lake Cuyamaca indicated,"Fire season has officialy begun."

If you have details on this fire please contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org.