August 19, 2015 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL/REGIONAL

• Developer Won’t Take No for an Answer on Massive Lilac Hills Ranch Project (Voice of San Diego)
• Helix water board OKs notice of rate changes (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Santee VFW post desperate to find new home (10 News)
• El Cajon wants to thank good businesses (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Measles Vaccination Rates Low At Many San Diego Schools (KPBS)
• July Water Consumption Down 32 Percent In San Diego Region (KPBS)
• Consumers can carry clout over cellphone tower placement (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• City answers to utility-tax rebellion (AP)

STATE

• Large counties could be required to increase number of Supervisors (Cal Watchdog)
• California bans secret hearings on most police shooting deaths (Reuters)
• California's Drought Is So Bad That Thousands Are Living Without Running Water (Mother Jones)
• California Pays Off $14B In Costly Debt From 2004 (AP)
• Despite strong returns, California pension funds’ fiscal hole got deeper (Sac Bee)
• Fraud suit filed against Edison (SD Reader)
• California Rations Birth, Death Certificates Amid Security Paper Shortage (NPR)
•  California will have more seniors living alone (U-T)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

By Janis Russell

August 17, 2015 (La Mesa)- The San Diego East County Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce hosted its second Meet Your Candidates event at Sammy’s Woodfire Pizza in La Mesa on August 5. The speakers were Assemblyman Brian Jones, who is running for Senator Joel Anderson’s seat, and 71^st state Assembly district candidate Randy Voepel, who has been Mayor  and served on Santee’s city council since 2000. Voepel is running against Mike Harrison, who currently serves on Duncan D. Hunter, and Tony Teora, an engineer. (Harrison spoke at a prior Chamber event and Teora is invited for the future.)

By Monica Zech, Public Information Officer for the City of El Cajon

Whether you’re looking for some hot events, a free pet, disaster response training, or tips to stay cool, the City of El Cajon has news you can use.

EVENTS

August 18, 2015 (El Cajon) - A Special Day of Free Concerts On August 29 In Downtown El Cajon.

On Saturday, August 29, it will be a day of music at the Prescott Promenade.  Starting at 12 noon, three groups will take the stage as to “make-up” concerts for those that were rained out in May during the Dinner & a Concert series.

August 17, 2015 (El Cajon) – The public is invited to an Emergency Resource Fair at Parkway Plaza mall in El Cajon on Saturday, August 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. organized by Senator Joel Anderson. You can learn about earthquake safety, fire safety and how to prepare for emergencies. Organizations participating include American Medical Response, Community Emergency Response Team, SDG&E, American Red Cross, Heartland Fire & Rescue, and FEMA.

Hear our exclusive interviews with Jamul Indian Village Tribal Chair Erica Pinto and Hollywood Casino Jamul-San Diego’s General Manager Richard St. Jean, originally aired on KNSJ Radio: https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

By Leon Thompson

Photo, left: Chairwoman Erica Pinto

August 17, 2015 (Jamul Indian Village) – As the long-planned Hollywood Casino Jamul-San Diego  nears completion following a recent topping-off ceremony, the Jamul Indian Village has elected a new Chairwoman, Erica Pinto and brought in Richard St. Jean as General Manager for the casino.  

Chairwoman Pinto is the first woman elected Chair of the tribe and was the youngest person ever elected to the tribal council in 1996, at the age of 21.  Her family traces its roots back as far as Jamul’s history itself—and now she has big dreams for her people and the community.

East County Magazine spoke with Chairwoman Pinto, along with the new General Manager of the casino, Richard St. Jean on plans for the new casino, in exclusive interviews on KNSJ radio.  See highlights below, and hear the full radio interviews  by listening here.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Joseph Zatarain, Potrero Town on Facebook

August 18, 2015 (Jamul) – On Sunday, we reported on a 10-hour closure of State Route 94 last Friday due to a head-on collision involving a semi-truck that left many local residents stranded and angry by the long delays.  Our story included documentation of numerous past lengthy closures on the highway in the Jamul area provided by the Deerhorn Valley Antler editor.We asked the California Highway Patrol and Supervisor Dianne Jacob for comments on this serious issue.

Supervisor Jacob responded,  “The public has every reason to be outraged, given the length of the closure, the dangerously high temperatures that day and the lack of communication from state authorities. I will be sharing those concerns with the Caltrans, CHP and other state officials. Drivers are already at risk on this dangerous and congested state highway, and the situation will become even more dangerous if a casino opens. Thousands of lives are at risk in the event there is a need for an evacuation of the area with nowhere to go."

Kevin Pearlstein, public information officer for the California Highway Patrol in El Cajon, today advised East County Magazine that the delay was due in part to the truck shifting and dropping part of its load. 

"The truck was carrying a form of coal.  When the trailer opened up like a aluminum can it spilled everywhere," he said, adding that the prolonged road closure was due to cleanup of the coal spill.  The accident caused five injuries,two major and three minor to moderate, he added, and providing additional details:

Credit photo to Billy Ortiz

East County News Service

August 17, 2015 (Lakeside) – The County is preparing an environmental impact report on a massive sand mining project  proposed in El Monte Valley. The first step is to determine the “scope” of issues to be addressed. The County will host a scoping meeting on the project on Wednesday, August 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Lakeside Community Center, 9841 Vine Street in Lakeside.

Members of the public, agencies and organizations are invited to attend and submit comments to assist the in determining the scope and content of the environmental informational impact report.  Details can be found at http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/pds/ceqa_public_review.html . To have your comments entered into the official record, you must voice your comments at the public meeting or submit a letter before September 14 to:

By Alan Pentico, San Diego County Apartment Association

August 17, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) - Parking is a scarce and valuable commodity in much of urban San Diego. Many property owners use towing as a tool to keep off-street parking available for tenants and their guests. But the right to tow is not unlimited. California law gives vehicle owners rights and protections against unreasonable and predatory towing. To protect yourself from the steep cost of retrieving a towed vehicle, make sure you’re familiar with the basic tenets of towing law in California.

By Tasha Matthews

August, 17, 2015 (San Diego)—National Weather Service forecasters are predicting a wet winter in San Diego due to the probability of a strong El Niño, perhaps the strongest since records began in 1950.

An El Niño occurs as a result of warming ocean surface waters which release heat into the atmosphere over the Pacific, creating a chain reaction that can result in cloud formation, storms and heavy rainfall.

East County News Service

August 16, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) ---Many wildfires are caused by vehicles – including a dozen spot fires in Ramona last Friday caused by a loose towing chain on a motor home that ignited dry brush. Poorly maintained brakes, tires, or other vehicle components can also spark fires, as can vehicles coming into contact with dry grasses.

Here are some tips for preventing your vehicle from accidentally starting a fire:

Submitted by the La Mesa Police Department

The La Mesa Police Department has been awarded a $34,363 grant from the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to battle alcohol-related crime. This is important to the City of La Mesa in order to increase protection for youth and to keep our community safe.

August 16, 2015 (Chula Vista) -- A La Mesa mother and daughter were killed Thursday in a head on collision on SR-125 just north of the San Miguel Ranch.

Diane Defenbaugh, 60, and her daughter, Kathryn “Katy” Defenbaugh, 29, both veterinarians, were heading to SeaWorld to celebrate Katy’s 29th birthday, but never made it there.

East County News Service

August 15, 2015 (Alpine)--A horse statue stolen from a front yard in Alpine is back home with its owner. The $650 bronze and copper decorative horse was found on a dirt road near the 700 block of South Glen Oaks Road in Alpine just after 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 15th.

A driver passing by saw the horse on the road and called the Alpine Sheriff's Station after recognizing the horse from a community safety bulletin.