East County News Service

Photo via ECM news partner 10 News

February 15, 2023 (Alpine) – A Kenworth tractor pulling an enclosed trailer rear-ended a Peterbuilt truck with car carrier on Interstate 8 west of Tavern Road on Feb. 13 at 6:31 p.m. The Kenworth truck caught fire and the driver died at the scene.

The collision caused shut-down of I-8 east for several hours, until 1:08 a.m. Feb. 14. Due to possible fire damage, the Tavern Road overpass remained closed until CalTrans could inspect it, reopening around 11 p.m. on Feb. 14.

By Miriam Raftery

February 15, 2023 (Escondido) – The California Highway Patrol is investigating a suspected homicide on state property. The victim is a woman found  dead on the El Norte onramp to northbound I-15, near a known homeless encampment. 

Officers observed signs of foul play including defensive wounds to the victim, according to the CHP.

CHP was notified by Escondido Police at 7:22 last night and responded to the scene, along with the Escondido Fire Department, which pronounced the victim dead. Officers secured the area and declared it a crime scene.

East County News Service

February 13, 2023 (Jamul) – A San Diego man, 40, sustained major injuries in a crash on February 10 in Jamul while attempting to pass another vehicle on State Route 94.

East County News Service

February 12, 2023 (San Diego) -- Know a teen who loves science, learning new skills, and exploring the outdoors? You can invite them to participate in the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation's Eco Ambassadors program. The application deadline is February 28. 

Source:  City of La Mesa

Updated Feb. 19: Photo, left, La Mesita Park fitness plaza, courtesy City of La Mesa

February 10, 2023 (La Mesa) – In celebration of Heathy Heart week, a ribbon cutting will be held for the City of La Mesa’s newest outdoor fitness plaza on February 14, 2023, at 12:15 p.m. at La Mesita park, 8855 Dallas Street. Funding for the equipment was made possible through a $40,000 Age-Friendly Communities Grant provided by the San Diego Foundation, in addition to a $10,000 Greenfields Outdoor Fitness Grant in celebration of the California Park and Recreation Society’s 75th Anniversary.

Expect overnight work and daytime traffic control

Source:  Caltrans

February 10, 2023 (Ramona) — Caltrans construction crews will begin making pedestrian crossing ramp improvements in downtown Ramona along Main Street as part of the State Route 67 (SR-67) Pavement Rehabilitation Project.  The sidewalks will be compliant with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Nighttime work is scheduled to take place on Monday, February 13, and Tuesday, February 14, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. at the following locations:

By David R. Shorey, East County Program Manager, Institute for Public Strategies

February 10, 2023 (San Diego) -- When President Ronald Reagan said “There are no constraints on the human mind, no walls around the human spirit, no barriers to our progress except those we ourselves erect,” he was speaking to a joint session of Congress in a February, 1985 State of the Union Address. He could have been addressing the citizens and city leaders of Santee in 2020. That’s when the City Council passed a resolution recognizing that as a community, they had to actively work to be anti-racist. That included continuing to learn about, reflect on and incorporate anti-racist policies into City government and strengthen a future incompatible with hatred or racism in the Santee community and nation.

Services for East County children in need is Saturday, February 25

Source:  San Diego County Dental Foundation

Image by Pexels from Pixabay

February 9, 2023 (El Cajon) - The San Diego County Dental Foundation will host the free Give Kids a Smile preventive dental treatment program for East County children in need at the El Cajon Family Health Center on Saturday, February 25 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

San Diego Humane Society’s Project Wildlife Team rehabilitates bobcat before release

February 9, 2023 (Ramona) --  A bobcat, who spent three weeks in care with San Diego Humane Society’s Project Wildlife team, returned to the wild this week. The adult male was released by Project Wildlife staff in Mission Trails Regional Park, not far from where he was initially found on Jan. 18 by a good Samaritan who called San Diego Humane Society’s Humane Law Enforcement for help.

Humane Officers  transported the injured cat to the Veterinary Emergency Group in Encinitas, where he was triaged and given supportive care overnight. The bobcat arrived to San Diego Humane Society on Jan. 19 with injuries indicating he had likely been hit by a car. Project Wildlife’s veterinary team at the Pilar & Chuck Bahde Wildlife Center in San Diego immediately administered pain medication, performed radiographs and treated the bobcat for abrasions and minor contusions.

Once stabilized, the bobcat was moved the next day to the organization’s Ramona Wildlife Center, where Project Wildlife’s staff specialize in caring for native apex predators such as bobcats, coyotes and bears.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Screenshot of wreckage from video posted on Facebook

February 8, 2023 (Santee) – The driver of a Ford Focus has been airlifted to a hospital with severe injuries sustained in a crash so violent that the vehicle blew apart, as surveillance video shown on CBS 8 reveals.

According to Sergeant Dwain Washington with the San Diego Sheriff’s department, the silver Ford Focus was traveling south on North Magnolia in Santee shortly before 6 a.m., approaching the Prospect intersection. A white Ford F-350 pickup truck traveling west on Prospect collided with the car, crushing its  front end and sending the engine flying into the roadway.

Update 5 p.m.:  The Sheriff  has released a statement calling the students' report "unfounded."  Here is the full statement:

After further investigation, Detectives have determined this incident near Lakeside Middle School was unfounded. There is no danger to the community. We thank the public and the media for their cooperation and understanding.

East County News Service

February 8, 2022 (Lakeside) – Public help is sought by the San Diego County Sheriff’s department to find a man suspected of trying to grab a child walking to school in Lakeside yesterday around 8 a.m.

By Miriam Raftery

February 8, 2023 (La Mesa) – San Pasqual Winery has Valentine’s week happenings in the Barrel Room at its tasting room in La Mesa’s downtown village.

East County News Service

February 5, 2023 (Jacumba Hot Springs)  - From bathhouse bazaars to a candlelight concert and organized hikes, Jacumba Hot Springs has something for everyone coming up.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo and artwork credits: City of La Mesa and La Mesa Chamber of Comemrce.

February 3, 2023 (La Mesa) – The site of La Mesa’s former police station will soon be home to 147 affordable apartment homes. A groundbreaking ceremony was held at the site at 8181 Allison Avenue on January 24.

East County News Service

February 2, 2023 (Pine Valley) – A 27-year-old man from Anaheim died at the scene of a solo vehicle crash in Pine Valley on January 26.

According to Officer Jared Grieshaber with the California Highway Patrol, around 220 p.m. the victim was driving a 2019 white Ford F-350 Super Duty westbound on Old Highway 80 west of Buckman Springs when “for reasons still under investigation, the driver made an unsafe turning movement to the right as the roadway curved to the left.”  As a result, the vehicle went off the roadway, struck a tree and overturned.