By Miriam Raftery

February 7, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Back in September 2013, our article titled, “Why is County Veterans Services Department  ignoring rural East County vets?” inspired Supervisor Dianne Jacob to get a measure passed that would bring veterans’ services to libraries in rural East County. 

We wrote our story after a reader, Claudia Millerbragg, informed us that there were no county services for veterans in our County's rural, mountain or desert regions--areas that lack adequate transit services, making it difficult for disabled veterans to travel and receive the services that they need. By contrast, ECM's investigation found an abundance of services in coastal areas, despite the fact that residents in those areas could access transit services--and the fact that East County has more veterans than the coastal region. 

Supervisor Jacob's measure passed in March 2014 and stated that veterans service would be introduced into the El Cajon, Ramona, Julian and Pine Valley libraries by year’s end, with other locations possibly to follow. 

But when East County Magazine contacted the County Veterans Services Department in January of 2015, we learned that a year and a half after our initial report, only two libraries have received veterans’ services – El Cajon and Rancho San Diego, both in suburban areas close to La Mesa, which already had services. Despite the measure passed by Supervisors, no veterans services had yet been brought to rural areas. 

So we made some inquiries - and got results. Those who served our nation will soon be able to access services they need in libraries across our regoin.

February 5, 2015 (El Cajon ) -- Heartland Fire & Rescue crews from El Cajon were at 5:17 a.m. Wednesday following reports of a residential structure fire in the 1000 block of East Madison Avenue in El Cajon.   Fire crews arrived within five minutes to discover heavy fire and smoke coming from three sides of a single story duplex. Firefighters contained the fire within 10 minutes, and stopped the fire from spreading to nearby units. There were injuries reported.

By Andrea Toch

Reprinted with permission from http://blog.protectmyid.com/2014/01/22/sweetheart-scammers-what-you-need-to-know/?

February 6, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)-- Identity theft advocacy organizations and the FBI warn those who use online dating sites to watch out for “sweetheart scammers” who swindle money or bank account information from online daters.

East County News Service

February 4, 2015 (Jacumba Hot Springs) -- The state has approved funding for construction of infrastructure improvements at the Jacumba Hot Springs airport . Back in 2012, County Supervisors authorized a co-pay with the state to pave the runway and make other upgrades.

You're invited to East County Magazine's first "media meet-up" in the community!

Tues., Feb. 3 at 6 p.m. at Downtown Café, 182 East Main St., El Cajon

If you believe community reporting is important in your neighborhood, or that wildfire reporting is important to sustain, please join us and share this invitation with your friends!   

Tell us what news matters most to you - and help our nonprofit award-winning media outlet cover the stories that you believe are important! We're your community media - because East County matters to us all.

February 1, 2015 (San Diego)--San Diego County’s older adults have new opportunities to stretch, lift weights and help maintain an active lifestyle as the County’s popular Feeling Fit Club expands with three new locations—including two in East County.

East County News Service

Photo courtesy of ECM news partner 10 News

January 31, 2015 (Santee) – A young girl was injured after a fire broke out in a unit downstairs from the apartment she was in with her grandmother  Friday afternoon on Mission Gorge Road in Santee. A firefighter battling the blaze also sustained injury, 10 News reports.

“I have seen so much evidence of corruption at the CPUC that it is appalling. Judges who appeared sympathetic to the consumer were regularly changed out for those who would do what Peevey wanted, which meant what the utilities wanted” – Susan Brinchman, , La Mesa

By Miriam Raftery

January 30, 2015 (San Francisco) – Investigators from the California Attorney General’s office reportedly raided the home of former Public Utilities Commission Chairman Michael Peevey this week, seizing computers and smart phones.  State law enforcement officials also seized evidence from the home of Pacific Gas & Electric Company executive Brian Cherry, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

By Miriam Raftery; Kristin Kjaero contributed to this story

Big changes could soon be coming to Grossmont Center

January 28, 2015 (La Mesa)--At the La Mesa City Council meeting on Tuesday night January 27^th, Steve Cushman  gave a presentation  regarding the future of the regional shopping mall and surrounding properties owned by the Cushman family.

A 50-year lease with developers of the shopping center expired in mid-January and now the shopping mall and adjacent properties are reverting back to the Cushman family.  That includes 125 acres, extending beyond the mall itself to many surrounding sites.

By Miriam Raftery

January 26, 2015 (San Diego) – A 15-year-old boy hiking at Mission Trails Regional Park on Sunday was bitten by a rattlesnake.

By Miriam Raftery

January 26, 2015 (San Diego) – Multiple flights have received threats posted on Twitter in recent days, including a threat against a Southwest flight from San Diego to Dallas.  All of the threats proved false – but not before causing added screenings and concerns.

East County News Service

January 25, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Here are some of the most important items on agendas of our local boards, commissions and councils this week in San Diego’s East County.

By Miriam Raftery

January 22, 2015 (Lemon Grove) – A woman crossing Skyline Drive at Alton Drive in Lemon was struck by a vehicle on Thursday at 6:10 p.m. and sustained life threatening injuries.

By Miriam Raftery

January 20, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) –The National Weather Service has issued a Drought Report following the recent rains. While the winter storms have brought some relief, water supplies remain low, though the situation may ease in coming months.