Photo: (L-R) Councilmember Jerry Jones, Mayor Pro Tem Jennifer Mendoza, Mayor Racquel Vasquez, Councilman Matt Mendoza, Councilman David Arambula

By Jonathan Goetz

November 22, 2017 (Lemon Grove) -- Two recent votes by the Lemon Grove City Council allocate additional funds for city streets based on promises of additional funds that may or may not materialize.

  By Paul Kruze

November 20, 2017 (El Cajon) – Since the East County Perform Arts Center shut down  in 2010, many East County residents have been frustrated with the slow pace of completing repairs and finding new management.

Finally, at last Tuesday’s El Cajon City Council hearing, residents heard the news they’ve long been waiting for. Mayor Bill Wells and City Manager Doug Williford announced that a preliminary five year management agreement for the theater has been reached with Live Nation, a Beverly Hills-based live-events company focused on producing worldwide concert and entertainment-show promotions.

Details of the final agreement are expected to be shared at the next meeting and approved by the City Council. The vote will mark the culmination of some one-and-a-half years of negotiation by Williford.

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By Miriam Raftery

November 20, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego County Gun Owners (SDCGO), a political action committee promoting Second Amendment rights, has long opposed what it contends is an undisclosed internal policy on who can qualify for a concealed carry weapon (CCW) permit. SDCGO says that Sheriff Bill Gore routinely denies CCW permits to law-abiding, trained county residents who qualify under state law for a CCW.

East County News Service

November 20, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Your turkey in the oven won’t be the only thing warming up this Thanksgiving.  The National Weather Service predicts warm, dry weather through the holiday weekend—with record temperatures likely Wednesday and Thursday, Thanksgiving Day.

“We can create at least 6,000 jobs here.” – Pete Beauregard

By Miriam Raftery

November 17, 2017 (Ramona) – Out of the ashes of the 2007 firestorm in Ramona, Casa Aguilar arose.  The home of Pete  Beauregard and his wife, Amy McQuillan, just won the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2017 Innovation Award for zero net energy use. It’s also built to withstand wildfires. 

On October 24, Beauregard, a rancher, veteran, ex-rodeo bullrider and candidate for Congress in the 50^th Congressional district took the bull by the horns and convened a think tank meeting at his visionary home. The event brought together top green industry leaders to brainstorm ideas for bringing green manufacturing and building jobs to East County.

By Tom Christensen, County of San Diego Communications Office

November 15, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - The County’s Health and Human Services Agency is warning anyone who uses an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card to access benefits to be aware of a text messaging scam.

East County News Service

November 17, 2017 (Barrett Junction) – A motorcyclist was killed after being ejected from his vehicle following a collision with a Jeep Wrangler at Barrett Junction early this morning, then run over by another vehicle that fled the scene.

East County News Service

November 17, 2017 (San Diego) — Caltrans crews will close all southbound lanes of Interstate 5 (I-5) from the Interstate 805 merge to La Jolla Village Drive Sunday and Monday night from 9:30 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following morning for bridge work.

All motorists will be detoured to southbound I-805, to westbound State Route 52, to the SR-52/I-5 interchange.

Crews will be working on two separate bridge projects. One is the construction of the Gilman Drive Bridge project, the other is bridge maintenance at the I-5 Sorrento Valley Viaduct, this pavement work will take place on the main lanes of I-5.

Moratorium may block planned movement of nuclear spent fuel into thin canisters at San Onofre

Source: Citizens’ Oversight

November 15, 2017 (San Diego) -- Ray Lutz, Founder of Citizens Oversight, announced last week that the "HELLMSS-MELO Proposal" will be submitted as a component of a petition to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), calling for a national moratorium on the use of thin, single-wall nuclear waste canisters.

East County News Service

November 14, 2017 (Ramona) - Shy, but by no means cowardly, our hills are alive with mountain lions. 

If you’re interested in learning about local wildlife, you’re invited to attend “Living with Lions” this Saturday, November 18^th at 1 p.m. at the Ramona Ranch Winery. 

You’ll hear about local mountain lions roaming San Diego County in this special presentation by the Mountain Lion Foundation. In addition, learn about the Julian Project focused on increasing safety for people, pets, livestock and lions.

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office

November 14, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - If you want to be sure to take home a new furry friend the same day you meet, here’s a deal for you. County Animal Services is waiving fees on all dogs, cats and rabbits that have already been spayed or neutered.

After ISIS Genocide, Iraqi Christians are displaced again

By Noori Barka, PhD, President, Chaldean League of California

November 14, 2017 (El Cajon) -- Since ISIS defeat, and by the time the displaced Iraqi Christians have started to return to the towns and villages in the Nineveh Plains, they were forced to flee again as Iraqi and Kurdish forces clash. It's a shame that after our people started rebuilding their homes with the hope to start their life in peace after ISIS horror are now killed and displaced again by their own governments!

Our people have lost their faith in either Kurdistan or Iraqi governments to protect them. They see no future in their homeland and they are fleeing to neighboring countries looking for a safe refuge for their families.

Iraq is the land of the original Christians: the Chaldeans, Assyrians, and Syriacs. Iraqi Christians were the original architects of Mesopotamia, the cradle of civilization, before the Kurds and Arabs. Today, the Christian population of Iraq is down to about 200,000, a stunning 80 percent decline from the 1.5 million in 2003. Christianity is on the verge of being driven eliminated from its ancestral home.

Update:  November 10, 2017 -- Mr. Reyes has been found safe in Long Beach by the Long Beach Police. Following a medical evaluation by paramedics, he has been reunited with his family.

By Miriam Raftery

November 9, 2017 (Santee)—The Sheriff seeks public help to locate Ralph Solis Reyes Sr., 91.  He suffers memory loss and is considered at risk. He left his Santee residence in a red 4-door 1999 Chevrolet Metro with CA license 4F#X016.

 His son, Ralph Reyes Jr.,  says he called his father on his cell phone around noon and that his father said he was somewhere in San Diego heading to a medical appointment, however he didn’t have a medical appointment.

By Miriam Raftery

November 8, 2017 (San Diego) -- Visitors who stay at San Diego hotels may soon be helping to fund housing for the homeless – if a proposed ballot measure to increase the city’s hotel room tax qualifies for the ballot and wins approval from voters.