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Story and photos by Liz Alper

September 15, 2017 (Spring Valley) - ECM Friday Night Lights stuck around Spring Valley this week to see the Matadors of Mount Miguel square off against a school we don’t get to report on often:  the Wolf Pack of West Hills High.  The kids from Santee left their blue turf this week with a 2-1 record on the young season.  The Matadors are improving, but still in the loss column at 1-2.

East County News Service

September 14, 2017 (Alpine) -- Alpine resident Carey Guthrie, a realtor and past president (2015) of the Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR), a 2,500-member trade group for San Diego-area realtors, is again organizing PSAR’s sixth annual PSAR Un-Fashion and Variety Show.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Photo: CalTrans crew fixing dips on State Route 52 eastbound

September 8, 2017 (San Diego's East County) -- If you're on the road tonight or this weekend, there are several road closures you should avoid including State Route 125, State Route 52, State Route 67, and Interstate 5.

Tonight, all northbound lanes of State Route 125 is closed in the Navajo Road area due to an officer-involved shooting, the Sheriff's office advises. No deputies were injured and there are no outstanding suspects.

Planned highway closures include:

Like our sports coverage?  Donate to help support ECM’s sports section! Type in “Sports” as your donation!

Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and stories!

Does your son or daughter play a sport at a level other than varsity?  Comment on this story or tweet @ECMagSports to request coverage!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

Cover photo: Monte Vista's Jahmon McClendon scored five rushing touchdowns in the first half.

September 8, 2017 (Spring Valley) - For this season week’s edition of Friday Night Lights, ECM was back in Spring Valley, but this week, we were at the other Spring Valley high school.  Just like in the Revolutionary War, Patriots were going up against Monarchs as Patrick Henry took on Monte Vista.  The Patriots are off to a rocky start this season, starting 0-2.  The Monarchs, meanwhile, sported an even 1-1 record coming into tonight.

By Jonathan Goetz

September 7, 2017 (Jamul) - Members of the Jamul Indian Village tribal government presented $2,677,500 to the San Diego County Fire Authority Tuesday at the fire station across the street from Hollywood Casino Jamul-San Diego. This is on top of a recent $1.1 million contribution toward road and traffic improvements.

By Miriam Raftery, East County Magazine

Hear our interview with Josh Butner at the audio link and scroll down for highlights.

September 4, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Josh Butner says he’s running for Congress against Representative Duncan Hunter in the 50th Congressional District to “put people first, not personal profit or special interest politics.” 

A former Navy Seal Lieutenant Commander and current trustee on the Jamul-Dulzura Union School District board, he wants to champion a strong public education, restore integrity, and provide strong leadership on issues ranging from foreign policy to helping military families to combating climate change.

East County Magazine’s Show recently sat down with Butner for an in-depth interview originally aired July 21 on KNSJ radio. Hear the full 42-minute interview by clicking the orange audio link, and scroll down for highlights. He is one of five Democrats in the race; two Republican challengers to Hunter have also announced intentions to run. With Hunter under a federal criminal probem, this race is drawing national attention.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Jamul Indian Village site before the casino

September 3, 2017 (Jamul) - U.S. District Judge Kimberly Mueller, Eastern District of California,  dismissed on August 29^th an amended complaint in Rosales v. Dutschke which sought $4 million in damages for what plaintiffs contend was the illegal and unconstitutional desecration of Native American remains to make way for the Hollywood-Jamul San Diego Casino.

By Miriam Raftery, East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Photo, left:  Cal Fire, 9/2/2017

Photo, below right: Paula Maness, 9/1/2017

September 2, 2017 (Dulzura) – The Border Fire south of Dulzura is now 75 percent contained and has charred an estimated 130 acres, according to Cal Fire.

The brush fire began yesterday along Highway 94 near Marron Valley Road.It is currently spreading to the northeast and is not expected to impact populations. Firefighters will remain on scene constructing containment lines and  mopping up hot spots.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left: Erik Prince, Blackwater founder

September 1, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- Blackwater founder Erik Prince has been “implicated in murder,” the Nation reports. The article, written by journalist and author Jeremy Scahill, indicates that sworn statements filed in Federal Court on August 3rd allege that the private military company’s founder, Erik Prince launched a “crusade” to eliminate Muslims and Islam.Many East County residents will recall meeting Scahill, who visited Potrero and San Diego back in 2007.  Scahill came to warn local residents about serious ethical issues involving Blackwater, which was aiming to build a paramilitary training camp in a valley in Potrero. 

The Nation article reports that a former Blackwater employee and an ex-Marine who worked as a security operative for Blackwater both made explosive allegations in sworn statements claiming that Prince may have murdered or facilitated the murder of people who were cooperating with federal authorities investigating the company. Their identities are being kept secret for their own protection.

East County News Service

September 1, 2017 (Dulzura) – A Cal Fire helicopter assigned to firefighting on the Border Fire south of Dulzura today made a hard landing in a field adjacent to the brush fire.

The pilot was the sole occupant on board and did not suffer any injuries, Cal Fire reports.

Update 11:54 a.m.  The Sheriff advised residents through Alert San Diego that  the fire is in the Bee Canyon area of Dulzura. No evacuations have been advised but residents are urged to stay tuned to local media and make sure your mobile phone is registered with AlertSanDiego to receive evacuation notices, www.ReadySanDiego.org and follow Cal Fire for updated fire information: https://twitter.com/CALFIRESANDIEGO

Update 11:40 a.m.  The fire is now 15 percent contained and has burned 120 acres, Cal Fire reports.

Update 10:45 a.m.  Fire is now 110 acres and still zero percent contained. SDG&E's helicopter, several fixed wing aircraft and over 220 firefighters are among the resources at the scene. 

September 1, 2017 (Dulzura) -- The #BorderFire burning in Dulzura has charred at least 50 acres of brush and is zero percent contained.  The blaze began at 5:40 a.m. near State Route 94 and Marron Valley Road. There are no road closures at this time. The fire is burning to the north and east.

Resources committed include 20 fire engines, 10 hand crews, 7 water tenders, 3 bulldozers, and 3 Type II helicopters.

You can view video and a map at Cal Fire's Twitter feed here:  https://twitter.com/CALFIRESANDIEGO

East County News Service

August 29, 2017 (Spring Valley) – Jaquan Ramsay, 30, has been arrested for allegedly shooting a woman in Spring Valley this afternoon.  The victim, described by authorities as a black female adult, suffered a gunshot wound to her right hand and left arm.

Like our sports coverage?  Donate to help support ECM’s sports section!

Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and stories!

Does your son or daughter play a sport at a level other than varsity?  Drop a line on this story or to @ECMagSports on Twitter to request coverage!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

August 25, 2017 (Spring Valley) - High school football is officially back and that means ECM Friday Night Lights is back too!  In week one, we visited Mount Miguel High School for an exhibition matchup between the Morse Tigers and the Mount Miguel Matadors.

By Kendra Sitton

 

August 24, 2017 (Jamul) — San Diego Senator Ben Hueso (D-San Diego) sponsored SB 649, which would let technology companies install 5G mini and micro cell sites on any government property without county or city oversight. The usurpation of local authority is already sparking protest from his home district: in its Aug. 22 meeting, the Jamul planning group joined other city councils as well as the County of San Diego in opposing the bill, which will be heard by the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Sept. 23.

Update August 24, 2017:  This fugitive has been captured. The Sheriff thanks the media and the public for tips received.

By Miriam Raftery

August 11, 2017 (Spring Valley) – The San Diego Sheriff is urging the public to be on the lookout for Kevin Manriquez, a 24-year-old fugitive who is wanted for child cruelty, robbery and manufacturing a controlled substance.