By Miriam Raftery

July 19, 2022 (Pine Hills) – Authorities are search for Terry Robert Hughes, 76, who was last seen yesterday afternoon. He failed to come home after a walk near Pine Hills. Search and rescue crews are combing roadways in the area and ask public help to bring him home safely.

Source:  Mt. Helix Park Foundation

July 18, 2022 (La Mesa) - The Mt. Helix Food and Wine Festival on August 20th provides spectacular views at sunset with tastes of top restaurants and beverage companies, artwork by local artists and dancing under the stars to music by Surfs Up, a Beach Boys cover band and the Surf Birdz.

Deadline for public comments in August 8

By Henri Migala

Photo: mule deer buck by Debbie Merrill

July 17, 2022 (San Diego) -- The San Diego National Wildlife Refuge is seeking public comment on their proposed plan to open 160 acres of the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge to hunting. Hunting would be allowed only in the Otay Mesa and Lakes Management Area of the refuge (near Otay Lakes).

East County News Service

Photos by Shiloh Ireland Photography

July 17, 2022 (Lakeside) – For the past several years, Lakeside residents have held an impromptu Fourth of July parade.  This year’s event honored the memory of the late Betty McMillen, founder of the Maine Avenue Revitalization Association and long-time leader of the Lakeside Historical Society.

Participants meet at the Lakeside Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) building in decorated vehicles, then drive through the town to show their patriotic spirit each Independence Day, followed by lunch with hamburgers and hotdogs at the VFW. This July 4, Shiloh Ireland Photography sent in these photos of the occasion.

Source: Julian Chamber of Commerce

July 17, 2022 (Julian) -- On Saturday, July 30 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Julian Chamber of Commerce is co-hosting the 7th annual Sip of Julian. The Sip features many of Julian’s alcoholic beverage purveyors.

By Elijah McKee

Photo: CC via Bing

July 15, 2022 (El Cajon) — It is no secret that 9-1-1 medical calls are sometimes not placed for life-threatening emergencies — yet for lack of any other system, those moments are often forced to be treated with urgent responses, such as ambulance rides to emergency rooms. 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by:  Adriana Martinez 

July 15, 2022 (Alpine) – A Lakeside woman, 35, died at the scene of a collision this morning on Interstate 8-west in Alpine. Two children, ages 3 and 9, in her vehicle sustained moderate injuries, says Officer Travis Garrow with the California Highway Patrol.

By Kathy Carpenter

East County News Service

July 13, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) -- San Diego County Clerk Ernie Dronenburg expanded office hours this summer to offer a new “Love After Hours Evening Wedding Services” program. Couples may book an appointment for an evening wedding on the following Wednesdays this summer: July 20, August 10, and September 14, between 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Update 9:05 p.m.  -- Evacuation warnings have been lifted, the County Office of Emergency Services reports.

East County Wildfire and Emergency Alerts

Video by Joe Dyke: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSxmnewoRkI

July 12, 2022 (Dehesa) -- The #HarbisonFire burning in Dehesa has prompted evacuation warnings along Sycuan Oaks Drive, Vista De La Montana, and Trafalgar Road.  A warnings is to allow vulnerable people (such as those with disabilities or large animals) to leave in advance of an evacuation order.  A temporary evacuation point is at Sycuan Market, 4915 Dehesa Rd., El CAjon.

Harbison Canyon Road is closed between Dehesa Rd. and Crest Blvd.  

Forward spread of the fire has been stopped. Cal Fire reports 37 acres have burned.  

By Miriam Raftery

July 11, 2022 (Borrego Springs) – Famed night sky photographer, columnist and instructor Dennis Mammana is offering several fascinating events sure to put stars in your eyes.  They include a Nightfall Star Party, Borrego Night Sky Tours, and Celestial Overnight Campout all in Borrego Springs. For the adventurous at heart, Mammana is also leading an astronomy trip to Alaska to view the Aurora Borealis, or Norther Lights.

Below are details.

By Mike Allen

July 9, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) -- The agency managing the East County Advanced Water Purification (AWP) program took another step toward legally confiscating a sewage pumping station that now belongs to the city of San Diego.

By Elijah McKee

July 6, 2022 (Lemon Grove) — Looking for weekend family fun with free admission? On Saturday, July 9, the inaugural Citrus Festival will take place at the Lemon Grove Recreation Center from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., featuring food trucks, inflatables, vendors, games, contests, prizes, entertainment and more.

East County News Service

Photo by Rebecca Jefferis-Williamson

July 3, 2022 (Santee) – Erica Wahlberg, 40, died in a hospital, where she was admitted June 28 after suffering medical distress at the Las Colinas Detention facility in Santee.

By Miriam Raftery

July 1, 2022 (Jamul) – San Diego Police seeks public help to find Norma Hernandez,  On Monday afternoon, June 27, she told family she became separated from a group traveling north on foot. She was last known to be in an area southwest of Dulzura. Her cell phone’s last location was in the vicinity of Jamul on June 30.

  ·Attempts to locate her have not been successful thus far. Due to possible exposure to the elements, Hernandez is considered at risk.

Hernandez is described as a 50-year-old Hispanic female with brown hair and brown eyes, wearing a dark shirt and camouflage pants, about 5’5”, and weighing about 180 lbs. She speaks both English and Spanish.