By Miriam Raftery

May 17, 2018 (El Cajon) – A 16-year-old student walking on the trolley tracks near the Roadway Inn in El Cajon was struck and killed by the trolley  around 8 p.m.Tuesday night.

According to a GoFundMe website set up by a teacher to help the family pay for medical expenses, the victim was a sophomore and captain of the basketball team at Chaparral High School.

El Cajon Police and paramedics responded, but the victim, Harley Groleau, was declared dead at the scene.

Update May 18, 2018: Sajjad Hameed Ismael, 20, driver of 2001 Toyota, has been charged with felony hit and run causing death/injury, vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, reckless driving, and driving with a suspended license. He was also booked on outstanding warrants.

East County Wildfire and Emergency Alerts

May 17, 2018 (San Diego) -- Four lanes of Interstate 8 West at Waring Road in the College area are expected to remain closed this evening for investigation and clean-up following a fatality crash. The multi-vehicle collision that occurred this afternoon killed a passenger in a Toyota Avalon and has prompted a SIG Alert.

According to the Cailfornia  Highway Patrol, the Avalon driver struck a slow-moving vehicle and veered onto a hill, struck several trees and then rolled back down onto the freeway.

Lawsuit alleges tribal development corporation breached contract in cannabis operation

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

May 16, 2018 (Santa Ysabel) – The Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel has had a troubled history achieving its goal of gaining financial stability and independence for its 300-member tribe near Julian, some 40 miles east of Escondido.  Now, the Santa Ysabel Tribal Development Corporation is in hot water.

Supervisor Ron Roberts recognizes SDG&E and Fire Foundations for their leadership

Source: SDG&E

May 15, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) -- In an action that will improve communications and awareness for first responders during wildfires and other natural disasters, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors today accepted two grants totaling $164,500 for the installation of 70 Mobile Data Computers on CAL FIRE firefighting rigs in the backcountry.

Story and photo by Miriam Raftery

Photo: Carl Meyer, who led successful recall effort against Potrero planners who voted for Blackwater

May 15, 2018 (San Diego) –  Back in 2007, Potrero residents in San Diego’s East County raised protests against the private military contractor Blackwater Worldwide opening up a training camp in their community. The protests in Potrero, which drew global media attention, came at a time when four Blackwater security guards were accused of a massacre that killed 14 civilians and wounded 17 people in Iraq.

By Miriam Raftery

May 13, 2018 (San Diego) – California law restricts counties from approving more than four General Plan amendments a year, a law meant to prevent developers from pushing through excessive waivers.  But now a video reveals County Planning and Development Services Director Mark Wardlow proposing “bundling” together multiple projects far larger than current zoning laws allow.

May 12, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – Joyce Elizabeth Dunne, who taught school for many years in La Mesa and Lemon Grove schools, passed away on Friday, May 4th in Waco, Texas with her daughter Shannon at her side.  Beloved by all who knew her, she will live in our hearts forever.  She is survived by her brother: Donnie, four children: Greg, Grant, Guy and Shannon, and her six Grandchildren.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Update May 11, 2018 12:45 p.m.: Crews have found wreckage of an airplane but have not been able to identify the plane, nor whoever was aboard.  Anyone with information is asked to notify the Sheriff.

Update May 11, 2018 10 a.m.:  Morning firefighting crews are nearing the site; the fire is now 10 acres, Cal Fire reports.

Update: 9:55 p.m. from Cal Fire: Incident commander reports the fire is 3 to 4 acres, burning at a slow rate of spread on the north side of Volcan Mountain. There are no homes in the area of the  #VolcanFire .

May 10, 2018 (Ranchita/Julian) -- Cal Fire confirms that a brush fire is burning near Volcan Mountain in steep, inaccessible terrain tonight.  The Sheriff's Department has confirmed to ECM news partner 10 News that deputies can see flames near Ranchita, near Volcan Mountain, between Warner Springs adn Borrego.  A plane has been reported down, according to HAM radio reports and calls to authorities though the crash is not yet confirmed.

Brett Staulbaum, a ham radio operator in Shelter Valley, relayed this message to ECM warning of a possible risk to the nearby Shelter Valley area:

By Rebecca Jefferis-Williamson and Miriam Raftery

April 10, 2018 (Santee) – A fire has scorched multiple apartments at Santee Villas in the 10400 block of Mast Boulevard across the street from Santana High School tonight, where a passerby told East County Magazine details of efforts to save residents and pets from the flames.

“I was riding down Mast Boulevard when I noticed black smoke coming from an apartment complex,” says Robert Johnson, a Santee resident.  “I chucked my backpack and bike,” he says, adding that he followed the lead of others trying to assist. He says  he “started busting windows and helping people out where I could.”

Update: A memorial service will be held on May 30th at the Garden Chapel at Greenwood Mortuary, 4300 Imperial Ave. San Diego, CA 92113. Viewing will be from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.with the service itself from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

East County News Service

May 9, 2018 (El Cajon) - El Cajon resident Robert D. Gardner, a video producer honored with 28 Emmy awards, died of a heart attack on May 6^th at his home.  President of Gardner Productions, he also worked at KFMB-TV, the CBS affiliate in San Diego for 17 years.

By Jonathan Goetz

Photo: Lemon Grove Mayor Pro Tem Jerry Jones

May 8, 2018 (Lemon Grove) – Lemon Grove's downtown redevelopment climate dampened last week, as the City Council blocked a plan to allow four and five story buildings throughout downtown. The infill plan for redevelopment passed on April 17, by a 4-1 vote. But it failed upon second reading on May 1, by a 3-2 vote.

Hear our interview at this audio link, or scroll down for higlights.

By Miriam Raftery

May 6, 2018 (San Diego) – In an exclusive interview aired recently on the East County Magazine Show on KNSJ radio, Sheriff Bill Gore said San Diego is the “safest urban county in America” and touted his nine-year record, also addressing controversies. Hear the full interview at the audio link above, or scroll down for highlights.

Gore has a 44-year career in law enforcement, including serving as Assistant Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), where he helped pioneer a cyber crimes squad and joint terrorism task force. A Navy veteran raised in San Diego, he comes from a law enforcement family and is married to one of the FBI’s first women agents. His department serves the county’s unincorporated areas and contracts with nine local cities, including Lemon Grove and Santee here in East County.

By Miriam Raftery

May 4, 2018 (La Mesa) --  I took a trip into La Mesa’s downtown village today to check out opening day of the new Farmer’s Market, which has moved to downtown La Mesa along La Mesa Village.  The market is now operated by the La Mesa Village Association instead of the city, with a new farmer’s market company.

By Tom Christensen, County of San Diego Communications Office

Image credit:  Pixabay

May 2, 2018 (San Diego) - Applying for CalFresh – California’s federal food assistance program – has never been easier. And San Diego County’s Health and Human Services Agency, community partners and food advocates are doing outreach at dozens of events during May’s CalFresh Awareness Month to spread the word.

By Ken Stone, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

May 2, 2018 (Santee) - Assemblyman Randy Voepel should resign for lying about his service record, says his Republican rival and an allied military critic in the wake of new videos of Voepel claiming combat experience.