East County News Service

October 23, 2017 (Borrego Springs) -- The County broke ground over the weekend on a public park, a new library and a Sheriff’s station in Borrego Springs. 

The modern library will be 13,500 feet and equipped with energy efficient features for zero net energy use—also provided plenty of air-conditioned space for residents to escape extreme heat. The new library will be three times the size of the old one that it will replace and will also include a homework center, children’s area, community room and more.  Read details: http://www.sdcl.org/PDF/sdcl_br-faq.pdf

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Smoke from crash visible on UCSD’s HP Wren camera

October 23, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – The small plane that crashed late Saturday afternoon east of the El Capitan Reservoir, sparking a 20-acre brush fire during a red flag warning for high fire danger, was an Extra EA-300/L plane registered to KD Leasing in Henderson, Nevada, National Transportation Safety Administration (NTSA) records indicate. 

Source: San Diego Sheriff

October 21, 2017 (El Cajon) –A $1,000 reward is offered for information leading to arrest of a suspect who assaulted and strangled a  woman last night on a hillside trail east of Starlight Mobile Home park iat 351 East Bradley n unincorporated El Cajon. The victim reported that the suspect wrapped a cable-like rope around her neck, nearly causing her to lose consciousness.

Fortunately she was able to escape from the suspect’s hold; she last saw him running toward the hillside, says Sergeant Miguel Lopez.

Sheriff’s dispatch received a 911 call at 9:16 p.m. Friday night, October 20th reported the assault with a deadly weapon. The suspect was described as a black male, approximately six feet tall, in his mid-thirties wearing a blue plaid shirt and baggy jeans.

By Jonathan Goetz

Photo, left:  Mackenzie Hyden, Michelle Porras, Zayda Estrada, and Sophia Torres in “Spiral Dance” 

October 20, 2017 (San Diego/La Mesa) - Bamboozled by Spencer John Powell's Kidz Danz Kompany was energetic, fast-paced and fun to watch. The music selection was stellar and made for an upbeat show; even a toddler in the row next to me was jumping up and down and dancing with the music. My favorite parts were the flips by Michelle Porras, the high energy classical piece “Psalms for the Children of Syria” and the graceful “Spiral Dance.”

By Robert Gehr

October 21, 2017 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon held its sixth annual HauntFest on Main in downtown El Cajon last night, with a Ghostbusters theme this year.

I had a quite a time weaving through the crowds trying to capture the fun and energy I saw on the faces amongst everyone with my camera. There were literally thousands of people attending this ever-popular event, which can make it challenging to navigate around. One simply cannot be in a hurry to any particular destination.

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Story and photos by Liz Alper

October 20, 2017 (El Cajon) - ECM Friday Night Lights is back in action this week with our first-ever visit to El Cajon Valley.  The Braves are struggling at 2-5 and 0-1 in league play.  Tonight the Monarchs of Monte Vista paid Darryl R. Priest Field a visit.  The boys in red and gold are 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the Grossmont League.

Source: Helix Water District

October 19, 2017 (Lakeside) -- Lake Jennings – the lake, not the campground -- will be closed to all activities, including fishing and boating, from October 30 to November 16 so Helix Water District can study the lake’s hydraulics.

East County News Service

October 19, 2017 (La Mesa) -- The Grossmont Healthcare District’s Dr. William C. Herrick Community Health Care Library, 9001 Wakarusa St. in La Mesa, will host “Eating a Fiber Rich Diet,” a free program on the benefits of a fiber rich diet, from 10 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 25. The program is part of the library’s “Wellness Wednesday” series, normally held on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Admission is free. Light refreshments will be served, including tasting samples of a fiber rich recipe. Advance RSVP is not necessary.

East County News Service

October 18, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - On Saturday, October 21st, the Jacumba Hikers and Walkers are hitting the trail to Carrizo Creek.  This is a four-mile round trip hike rated moderate.  Hikers will be traveling a short distance on a county maintained dirt road, through a short tunnel to the “Echoing Mountains,” down a cliff to a creek bed strewn with boulders, overgrown shrubs and Tamarisk trees. Following the creek bed, you will encounter numerous pools and waterfalls.

East County News Service

October 18, 2017 (El Cajon) -- The Sixth Annual “HauntFest on Main” will be held this Friday night, October 20^th from 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. in Downtown El Cajon. This fun, family-friendly Halloween-themed event includes live music on the Promenade Stage including the Stand-Up Guys from 5 to 7:15 p.m. and the Amazing ‘80s All-Starz from 7:45 to 10 p.m.: This event also features costume contests on the Main Street stage, carnival rides, crafts, games, car show, a candy trail, kids zone with outdoor movies, face painting, inflatables for kids, pumpkin patch, Ghostbusters and more. 

By Miriam Raftery

October 18, 2017 (Alpine) -- No, Ariele Brooke and I didn't just plop down into a movie scene from "Jurassic Park." 

But we did find the last remaining dinosaur  statue from Dinosaur Land, a roadside attraction in the early 1960s, that still stands today along a creek bed in the Alpine Mobile Home Estates on Alpine Boulevard in Alpine, California. 

Update October 19, 2017:  The man killed while standing beside his disabled vehicle has been identified as Cesar Duenas, 55. 

By Miriam Raftery

October 18, 2017 (Lemon Grove) – A Lexus driver struck and killed a disabled motorist who was on the shoulder of State Route 94 at the Lemon Grove off ramp at 5:50 p.m. yesterday.   A tow truck driver, 39, from Santee who was assisting the disabled motorist also was struck and sustained minor injuries.

Updated 12:43 p.m.

East County News Service

October 16, 2017 (Ranchita) – Cal Fire has announced that no criminal charges will be filed against shooters who started the Wilson Fire which has scorched 25 acres in the Ranchita area between Warner Springs and the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

By Miriam Raftery

October 16, 2017 (Julian) - A retired La Mesa Police officer, Tom Ruth, was killed Saturday in a motorcycle accident.

According to the California Highway Patrol, he lost control of his motorcycle and struck a parked truck on State Route 79 near Julian.

By Miriam Raftery

October 15, 2017 (Alpine) – Jack Wadel, 60, was arrested yesterday after the Alpine Sheriff’s department received calls that the suspect “reportedly was threatening to shoot people in the crowded library, and was pointing a toy gun at people,” says Sergeant Alex Navarro with the Sheriff’s department.