East County News Service

September 12, 2015 (El Cajon) – Employees of Advanced Air and Vacuum on Marshall Street in El Cajon responded  to a burglary alarm going off at 6:30 last night and made a disturbing discovery.

September 11, 2015 (Santee)--The death of a 79-year-old San Diego woman on Sept. 8 and the recent hospitalization of an 80-year-old Santee woman are under investigation as probable West Nile virus cases, the County Health and Human Services Agency announced today. The 80-year-old woman is currently recovering.

By Miriam Raftery

September 10, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Grossmont High School’s principal sent a letter to all parents yesterday warning of a apparent attempt to kidnap a female student on Tuesday, September 8th. 

According to Principal Daniel Barnes, the teen girl was waiting for a ride at 3:30 p.m. near the baseball field on Milden Avenue when she was approached by a man, who beckoned to her with a cigarette and told her to “get in” his vehicle. She refused and the man drove off on Water Street.

The victim described the suspect as a Hispanic man about 30 to 40 years old with brown hair, brown eyes, dark complexion, round face and large mole on his right cheek.  He was driving  a maroon single cab pickup truck, possibly a Ford F-150, older model with chipped paint.

August 10, 2015 (Santee) – The Santee Lakes Foundation invites you to join in the sixth annual 5K Lap the Lakes on Saturday, September 19at 7 a.m.  The run/walk is held at Santee Lakes in a flat, beautiful setting. There is also a half-mile Jr. Fun Run course for kids.

September 9, 2015 (Ramona)--Attention, pumpkin patch owners!  If you’ve got the great pumpkin growing in your patch, the Ramona Home Journal invites you to enter its “Pick of the Patch” contest and win cash prizes.

September 8, 2015 (El Cajon)--A 9/11 commemoration organized by State Sen. Joel Anderson’s staff is set for 10:30-11:30 a.m. Friday at Grossmont College’s Main Quad. Speaking will be Grossmont College President Nabil Abu-Ghazaleh, Cal Fire Battalion Chief Jeff Lannon, El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, El Cajon Councilman Bob McClellan, MCAS Miramar Chaplain Wayne (Bob) Freiberg, and Steele Canyon High School’s ASB President Trevor Krantz.

Deadline swiftly approaching; residents voice displeasure 

By Kristin Kjaero

September 7, 2015 (La Mesa) -- A controversy arose at the August 11 La Mesa City Council meeting when Friends of the La Mesa Library President John Schmitz noticed that a contract for the city to hire a consultant to conduct a Civic Center/Old Police Station Feasibility Study and Master Plan did not include a permanent library building. He requested that the Council add the library back in, as it was included in earlier Master Plans. Despite this omission, the Council approved the study as is, without the library.

The Council will review a Staff Report on the issue of "Interim" vs. "Permanent" library on its agenda for tomorrow at 4:00 p.m., in which Staff takes the position that the City is not obligated to build a "permanent" Library building.

East County News Service

Hear our radio interview on KNSJ with the co-founders of Visionary Dance Theatre: https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

September 7, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Spencer Powell and Mickey Mounarath, artistic director and business director of Visionary Dance Studio in east San Diego, have a shared vision to enrich the community and give opportunities in the performing arts to disadvantaged young people. Their mission includes fostering “diversity that has no limits in its creative process,” according to the nonprofit’s website at www.visionarydancetheatre.org.

Powell knows first-hand the importance of mentoring for a young person with talent.  “My mother was a single Mom on welfare,” he told East County Magazine.  Fortunately, this gifted performer and teacher had a generous mentor who helped pay for his training in dance—so he went on to an illustrious career in dance and choreography that including serving as artistic director of Ogden Contemporary Dance Theatre. Now retired from the professional dance circuit, he’s giving back, helping find mentors to support aspiring young people with talent in both dance and musical theatre.

East County News Service

“Eagles need forests, not electricity.” – Duncan McFetridge, Cleveland National Forest Foundation co-chair and woodcarver who created this eagle statue.

September 6, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) --The Cleveland National Forest Foundation (CNFF) has issued a written objection to a draft Record of Decision (ROD) issued by Cleveland National Forest Supervisor Will Metz. That decision permits SDG&E to replace electrical lines and poles as well as upgrade of electrical service on lands within and adjacent to Cleveland National Forest.

East County News Service         

September 6, 2015 (Jacumba Hot Springs)--In an August 21 article, we quoted a former Jacumba Planning Group chair who indicated that the Local Government Formation Commission (LAFCO) has a rule prohibiting water sales outside of Jacumba’s water district.

By Miriam Raftery

September 6, 2015 (Santee)—A shot was fired but no one was seriously injured during a struggle to subdue a suspect, Jennifer Rebecca McKee, in Santee yesterday. Witnesses including two law enforcement officers say McKee tried to run over her boyfriend with a vehicle, then attacked him with a baseball bat and assaulted a law enforcement officer.

September 4, 2015 (Alpine)--Bobbi Brink, Founder/Director of San Diego's Lions Tigers & Bears (LTB) sanctuary announced that a 2.5 month old tiger cub found roaming the Southern California neighborhood of Hemet is being transferred to the accredited sanctuary in East San Diego County on Friday afternoon.

Here our interview:  https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

September 2, 2015 (Lakeside) – In an interview with the East County Magazine on KNSJ, Barona tribal council member Beth Glasco shared insights into the 45^th annual Barona Powwow set for this weekend.  A powwow dancer herself, she discusses the history and origin of the Barona Powwow , as well as its cultural significance for her own family and for Native American tribal members who convene from across the nation to celebrate their heritage.

The 45^th Annual Barona Powwow begins on Friday, September 4 and ends Sunday, September 6. The three-day celebration held at the Barona Sports Park starts on Friday, September 4 with Gourd Dancing at 6 p.m. and the spectacular Grand Entry at 7 p.m. and continues throughout the weekend on Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Admission is free.

September 3, 2015 (Santee) - The Santee Lakes Foundation invites you to enjoy CarBQue at Samtee Lakes—a day of classic cars, bikes, antique tractors and farm equipment plus barbeque food, live entertainment and fun for the entire family. The event takes place on Saturday, October 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday, October 17, 2015   8:00 am – 12:00 noon 

September 3, 2015 (La Mesa) -- Are you part of a group looking for a community project? If so, you can help make La Mesa beautiful. We have special projects in several of La Mesa’s 14 parks that may be the perfect fit for your organization’s community service endeavors.