By Mike Allen

January 30, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) -- The latest car-to-car shooting incident earlier this month on Interstate 8 brings the total to three in the last year, and four in the last three years, prompting the question whether this stretch of freeway from 70^th Street east to Los Coches Road is particularly dangerous.

Source: County News Service

January 29, 2016 (Lemon Grove) -- They come from a variety of backgrounds and each has different challenges, but for one hour a week in the Lemon Grove Library, a group of special needs adults all have one thing in common: their enthusiasm.

County Animal Services rescues dozens of chickens, Bengal cats, rabbits, exotic lizards and a wolf dog with pups 

Source: County News Service

January 28, 2016 (Lakeside) -- County Animal Services investigating a complaint of neglected animals at a Lakeside home found at least a dozen dead chickens and a dead rabbit, but rescued over 100 other animals. In all, Animal Services took in 88 chickens, seven Bengal cats, four rabbits, two bearded dragon lizards and a wolf/dog blend with two puppies.  

East County News Service

January 28, 2016 (El Cajon) -- The El Cajon Citizen of the Year Committee has selected Humbert Cabrera of El Cajon, founder of Cabrera and Associates, Inc., a design and drafting firm, as its 2015 El Cajon Citizen of the Year. Cabrera will be honored at a luncheon on Monday, Feb. 1 at the Elks Lodge #1812, 1400 E. Washington Ave., El Cajon. The luncheon event is scheduled to run from noon to 2:30 p.m. Cost to attend is $18 per person. To RSVP, visit www.eastcountychamber.org or call (619) 440-6161.

By Mike Allen

January 28, 2016 (El Cajon)--A plan to expand operations at Gillespie Field and develop a 70-acre site once occupied by the El Cajon Speedway was put in a holding pattern because of a lack of federal funding.

Earlier this month, board members from the Gillespie Field Development Council, a five-member board that oversees the county-owned airport, heard that expected federal grant funding to finance the estimated $30 million project wasn’t available.

By Miriam Raftery

January 28, 2016 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – Jacumba Solar LLC has cancelled its contract with the Jacumba Community Services District to purchase water for a large-scale solar project..  The project would include over 81,000 solar panels on 304 acres near the SDG&E substation.

“I I think it’s for the best,” Eric Kallen, vice chair of the Jacumba Community Services District, told East County Magazine.

The contract called for Jacumba Solar to pay a $100,000 “gift” on signing with an additional $250,000 lump sum payment due January 15^th.   The District was to provide 40 acre feet of water with an option for Jacumba Solar to purchase 28 additional acre feet if needed for construction, plus three or four acre feet a year long-term for maintenance after the project was built.  The solar projecrt was proposed by Nextera, a Florida-based company.

Story and photo by Miriam Raftery

January 26, 2016 (El Cajon) -- A fifth-wheeler trailer erupted into flames on Terrace Hill Road around 10:30 this morning, sending a plume of black smoke visible across much of the community on the boundary of El Cajon and Lakeside.  The fire briefly threatened a home before firefighters subdued the blaze.

Heartland's El Cajon Fire, Lakeside Fire, San Miguel Fire and Cal Fire responded to the incident.

East County News Service

January 26, 2016 (La Mesa) -- You’re invited to come hear from city staff, real estate professionals and business leaders about the future of La Mesa’s downtown. The discussion will cover market trends, recent policy changes and public investments to encourage investment and walkability downtown.  

East County News Service

January 24, 2016 (Jacumba Hot Springs) -- A sexually violent predator with a long history of violent sexual attacks including rape at gunpoint and  a stabbing will be placed in Jacumba Hot Springs for supervised outpatient treatment, Superior  Court Judge David Gill has ordered.  Authorities received 11 emails and five phone calls on Ural Davis’ proposed release, but no one showed up at Friday’s hearing to provide public comment in person. 

East County News Service

January 23, 2016 (El Cajon) – The San Diego Early Music Society will present Lina Tur Bonet on violin and Kenneth Weiss on harpsichord in “La Petite Merveille and the Red Priest: Music of Jacquet de la Guerre and Vivaldi” on Sunday, February 21 at 3 p.m. in the Cuyamaca College Performing Arts Theatre (900 Rancho San Diego Parkway, El Cajon).

Draining stopped days after our radio broadcast and coverage

By Miriam Raftery

January 22, 2016 (Lake Morena) – Back in February 2014, we ran a story exposing Lake Morena residents’ criticisms of the City of San Diego for draining the Lake Morena Reservoir down to a mere puddle of its former self.  We also aired a radio interview (listen at link) with area residents and a city representative, which won an award from Society of Professional Journalists for best talk radio broadcast. 

After the recent rains, the water level at Lake Morena is still only 2.6 percent of capacity. But here’s some good news for lakefront residents: Kurt Kidman, public information officer for the City, advised East County Magazine this week, “With respect to Morena Reservoir, the City stopped drafting water out of Morena Reservoir back in February 2014 and we have not resumed any drafting since.”

In our radio interview aired that same month, a city official admitted that San Diego had done essentially nothing to ask its citizens to conserve water before making its decision to decimate a lake popular with recreational users, eliminate wildlife habitat and negatively impact the lifestyle and property values for years  to come.

East County News Service

January 22, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) — Residents in San Diego’s East County have raised fears of spreading Valley Fever spores in their arguments against projects ranging from a sand mine in Lakeside to solar projects in Boulevard and Jacumba.  Now a jury in Northern California has shown just how expensive a verdict might be for a government entity or company that ignores such risks.

Hear our interview with Steve Lauria, California Health Network, on Santee's Health Awareness Month (originally aired on KNSJ radio):

http://k003.kiwi6.com/hotlink/pvv1xj39d8/Newsmakers-SteveLauriaSanteeHealthMonth-CAHealthNetwk.mp3

By Steve Lauria

January 20, 2016 (Santee) -- At the end of December, we ran a story on January being Health Awareness Month in Santee. With the month halfway over, here is an update: more than 30 organizations have offered a free or discounted service to the citizens of Santee, for the month of January. The specials can be found here:

www.californiahealthnetwork.org/healthawarenessmonth.

Some organizations, such as Volunteers in Medicine, offer free service, year around to people who can’t afford medical service.Many organizations are offering free services, such as personal training sessions, chiropractic exams,  exercise classes, dance classes and more.

East County News Service

January 20, 2016 (Alpine) — At the El Cajon Courthouse this week, Navy Corpsman Brett Brown entered a not guilty plea to charges of murder and child abuse. He is accused of killing his gilfriend’s 19-year-old son.