By Miriam Raftery

March 16, 2023 (Santee) – A Santee teenager missing since January has been found safe in San Diego. 

Veronica Moreno, 16, has been reunited with her family, Sergeant Matthew Carpenter with the San Diego Sheriff’s Family Protection Detail and Juvenile Services Group announced today.

East County News Service

March 15, 2023 (San Diego) -- The latest atmospheric river to drench our region dumped several inches of rainfall in many San Diego County areas over the two days ending Wednesday at 5:45 p.m.

Palomar had 5.78 inches of precipitation. In East County, the Mesa Grande reservation had 3.82 inches and Lake Cuyamaca got 3.56 inches.Julian received 2.44 inches and nearby Pine Hills had 3.09 inches.  Descanso had 2.43 inches. Many other communities received between 1.6 and 2 inches including La Mesa, Santee, Ramona, and Pine Valley. 

Though this is heavy precipitation for San Diego County, some areas elsewhere in California have set all-time records for deep snow levels. Cal Trans warns motorists to avoid some areas due to avalanche dangers, and some avalanches have already occurred.

East County News Service

March 15, 2023 (Pine Valley) – A 61-year-old man from Yuma, Arizona died at the scene of a rollover crash in Pine Valley this morning.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the motorist was driving a Chrysler 200 eastbound on Interstate 8 east at a high rate of speed during this morning’s rainy weather when he lost control shortly after 7:30 a.m. and rolled over several times.

East County News Service

March 14, 2023 (El Cajon) – A male pedestrian died after being struck by a Kia the morning of March 12 on I-8 in El Cajon. He has not yet been identified.

The white 2016 Kia was changing lanes on westbound I-8 near West Main St. when the pedestrian “walked into the path of the Kia,” according to Officer Jared Grieshaber with the California Highway Patrol.

Hearing April 5 for County Supervisors to weigh the Regional Decarbonization Framework

Public urged to speak at meeting and submit comments by March 31 deadline at project website

By Miriam Raftery

Hear our interview with Bill Powers, Protect Our Communities Foundation, recorded four days before the nonprofit group filed a lawsuit against the County.  The interview originally aired on KNSJ radio. View video of  interview.

March 8, 2023 (San Diego) – The Protect Our Communities Foundation (POCF) has filed a lawsuit against the County of San Diego contending that the County hired a  biased utility industry consultant direct the County’s Regional Decarbonization Framework (RDF) and that the RDF’s conclusions are skewed toward utilities’ interests over consumers’ interests based on flawed data. The suit also names the University of California as a defendant, contending that UCSD concealed researcher David Victor’s financial ties to the utility industry when it won a no-bid contract from the County to prepare the report that Victor co-authored.  

In an exclusive interview with East County Magazine aired on KNSJ radio four days before the suit was filed in late February, Bill Powers, an engineer and board member on the Protect Our Communities Foundation, discussed why the organization is taking a stand against the RDF. He contends that if approved by Supervisors as written, it could result in fast-tracking industrial-scale wind and solar projects in our backcountry, even waiving environmental impact reviews, when it would be more economical to build rooftop and parking lot solar in urban areas – without harm to local communities and environmental habitats.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  CC via Bing

March 8, 2023 (San Diego) – San Diego County residents, along with residents in most other California counties, can delay filing their state and federal taxes until October 16 – if you were impacted by the recent winter storms. 

``As communities across the state continue recovering from the damage caused by the winter storms, California is working swiftly to help recovering Californians get back on their feet,'' Gov. Gavin Newsom said. ``The state is aligning with the Biden Administration and extending the tax filing deadline in addition to the tax relief announced earlier this year.''

Those with storm damage can also claim a deduction for disaster loss. 

By Miriam Raftery

March 7, 2023 (San Diego) – Michael J. Buono, a professor at San Diego State University, has died of Legionnaire’s disease, SDSU confirmed today. He was a faculty member in the School of Exercise and Nutritional Science and had been with SDSU for four decades.

Jury concluded Arambula acted in self defense following conflicting statements by Williams about whether his dispensary application was discussed and how much he drank.

Missing witness, in a deposition, stated under oath that Arambula had history of wanting to "fight" after drinking,  threw a glass against wall, told witness he "beat" Williams and asked witness to destroy photos of plaintiff's injuries. The jury never heard this evidence.

By Jessyka Heredia 

Miriam Raftery also contributed to this report

March 6, 2023 (Lemon Grove) -- On Monday, in day three of the Williams vs. Arambula and City of Lemon Grove civil trial, David Arambula and the City of Lemon Grove were both found not liable by a jury in the assault and battery case filed by Christopher Williams.

The case centered around an evening in July 2017 at Arambula’s home, which ended in violence. A mutual acquaintance, Taisha Brown, set up the meeting, which Williams said was to discuss his pending marijuana dispensary application but which Arambula said he believed was to discuss bringing new business investment to the city. Williams claimed they discussed the dispensary and that Arambula pushed him to bring in a partner, but he refused. Arambula denied those claims. After others left, Williams returned for his cell phone and contended that he was assaulted unprovoked by Arambula, resulting in hospitalization for injuries. Arambula claimed Williams attacked him first and that he acted in self defense.

By Jessyka Heredia

Photos by Jessyka Heredia and MIriam Raftery

Photo, left: David Arambula

March 4, 2023 (Lemon Grove) – Testimony was heard yesterday from the defendants in day two of the civil trial Christopher Williams vs. David Arambula and the City of Lemon Grove, in which Williams alleges that former Councilman Arambula assaulted him during a business meeting at Arambula”s house to discuss Williams’ medical marijuana dispensary application with the City. The application had been denied by the planning commission and an appeal was slated to be heard by the City Council the following week.

Arambula disputes assault claims

Arambula was called to the stand first by Cory Briggs, who represents Williams in the case. Arambula said he met Williams for the first time the evening of July 14, 2017 at his home. Arambula stated that Taisha Brown,  Vice Chair of the county Democratic party at the time, invited Williams with Arambula’s consent because Arambula was tasked with “bringing as much revenue sources as possible” by the city Manager Lydia Romero.

Arambula said that Brown knew the city’s financial condition was in the red and that Williams wanted to invest in the city. When asked by Briggs if he knew they would discuss city business, Arambula said, “Yes, investing in the City.” He denied knowing that Williams had a pending cannabis dispensary application on appeal, contradicting Williams' testimony the day before.

Expect Overnight Work and Daytime Traffic Control

Source: CalTrans

March 3, 2023 (Ramona)-Caltrans construction crews will continue 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 Sunday, March 5, through Monday, March 6, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. at the following locations:

• Ramona Street/Day Street and Main Street
• 15^th Street and Main Street
• 13^th Street and Main Street
  

Teen driver who died was not wearing seat-belt

East County News Service

Updated March 3, 2023 with identity of the victim.

March 2, 2023 (La Mesa) – An 18-year-old El Cajon man, Eugene Nelson,has died after he lost control on I-8 west and struck a California Highway Patrol vehicle that had stopped to investigate a pair of unrelated solo-vehicle accidents on Feb. 25.

According to Officer Jared Grieshaber, the vehicles involved in those two accidents were blocking the center divider and the #1 lane of traffic. “The CHP officer on scene parked his patrol vehicle with the emergency lights activated, within the #1 lane, and partially within the center divider for scene safety,” Officer Grieshaber said.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Williams' facial injuries, taken by Kathleen McLean

March 1, 2023 (Lemon Grove) – A civil lawsuit filed by Christopher Williams against the City of Lemon Grove and former Councilman David Arambula alleges that Arambula violently assaulted Williams at Arambula’s home in July 2017.  Williams contends that he was “attacked” after a meeting regarding an appeal filed by Williams over a cannabis dispensary application.  Attorneys for Arambula and the city contend that Williams’ injuries resulted from a “fight” and that Arambula acted in self defense.

In opening statements in Superior Court  on day one of the trial today, Williams’ attorney Cory Briggs stated that the evidence will show that “Mr. Arambula, unprovoked, beat my client almost senseless,” causing a visit to a hospital emergency room and resulting in serious physical and emotional damage.

Briggs told the jurors to focus on where the meeting took place at Arambula’s house and why was it held there, as well as how the meeting ended in violence, and why.  He cautioned that much of what the jurors would hear would be “noise” intended to distract them from the evidence.

Kathryn Lee-Colgan, attorney for Arambula, told the jury to focus on “responsibility, reasonableness and common sense. She stated that Arambula was the city’s first elected Latino councilmember and a former Marine. 

Average gas bill expected to decrease by $140 relative to January

East County News Service

February 28, 2023 (San Diego) – After hitting a historic high in January due to unprecedented natural gas market conditions in the West that resulting in a doubling of consumers' gas bills, San Diego Gas & Electric announced today that the March natural gas commodity price has declined by approximately  83% compared to January 2023, plunging from $3.45 per therm to $0.60 per therm.

The typical residential customer’s gas bill (commodity plus delivery charges and other mandated fees and taxes) is expected to decrease to about $85 in March, from  around $225 in January. This is the second month in a row that natural gas commodity prices are going down. The reduction in wholesale natural gas price is driven in part by the restoration of service to an out-of-state pipeline.

400+ properties offered; register by March 2 to participate

Source: Treasurer-Tax Collector of San Diego County

 February 28, 2023 (San Diego) - San Diego County Treasurer-Tax Collector Dan McAllister announced bidder registration for the 2023 online property auction closes this Thursday, March 2. A total of 404 properties are currently for sale.   

"God allows U-turns." -- Kathi Torres

By Miriam Raftery

View video interview by clicking image, right

February 26, 2023 (San Diego) – Kathi Torres with Freedom from Exploitation, an organization that helps survivors of human trafficking, is also a survivor of sex trafficking. In an exclusive interview with East County Magazine originally aired on KNSJ radio, Torres speaks out on her own experience, how to protect teens from traffickers, and how to get help for victims here in San Diego County, a national hub for human trafficking.

She also calls for repeal of a state law, Senate Bill 357, that decriminalized loitering to solicit prostitution, which she says has cut off the main avenue for victims to get help. 

“Because of this new law, police can’t stop, cite or arrest anyone for loitering to solicit prostitution,” including victims as well as men driving around looking to pick up prostitutes. But when police can’t detain trafficking victims, the victims don’t get referred to programs that can help them escape from being trafficked, says Torres, who was also a panelist at a recent presentation of “Stolen,” an NBC San Diego investigative series on trafficking.