By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Mary Loeza, Mom'sTravel Team

September 10, 2023 (El Cajon) – An engine cut off while an aviation student was piloting a plane yesterday slated to land at Gillespie Field in El Cajon.  The instructor, Steve Mitchell, 67 with Blue Max Aviation, told  Fox 5 that he took over the controls and  made an emergency landing, crashing into a wire fence around the airport as well as a fence on private property, dragging it across Magnolia Avenue.

By Miriam Raftery

September 2, 2023 (El Cajon) – The German-American Societies of San Diego will host two weekends of Oktoberfest at their El Cajon headquarters: Sept. 29-Oct. 1 and Oct. 6-8.

Judge denies couple’s request to delay sentencing, after they claimed air travel was unsafe for Jessica Kalasho due to pregnancy

By Miriam Raftery

File photo of  Ben and Jessica Kalasho at a prior hearing

August 26, 2023  (San Diego) – Former El Cajon Councilman Bessmon  “Ben” Kalasho and his wife, Jessica have been found guilty on four counts each of contempt of court in a civil defamation case won by attorney Lina Charry. 

They have been ordered to report to San Diego Superior Court on September 1 to being serving an eight-day jail sentence, as well as pay fines of $1,000 apiece for each count.

Mountain areas could get up to 10 inches of rain

UPDATE -- 4:33 a.m. Saturday-- Hurricane Hilary has sped up, with the bulk of the storm occuring on Sunday, reports @NWSSanDiego

Wind and Monday now look less severe

By Miriam Raftery

August 18, 2023 (San Diego) – For the first time ever, the National Weather Service has issued a tropical storm warning for San Diego County and neighboring counties,upgraded from a watch issued earlier today. 

Hurricane Hilary has been upgraded to a category 4 hurricane with 145 mile an hour winds off the Mexican coast, and is expected to impact our region as a tropical storm bringing dangerously heavy rains, high winds, flash flooding, and conditions conducive to tornados. Flash flood watches have also been issued for Borrego Springs, El Cajon, Escondido, Julian, Lakeside, Pine Valley Poway, and coastal communities. The storm could shift, so be sure to check for updates.

Rainfall is forecast to begin Saturday, with the heaviest rains Sunday afternoon when the tropical storm reaches San Diego County. The eye of the hurricane could come within 100 miles of San Diego. The National Weather Service warns that the storm will be powerful enough to potentially weaken or wash out bridges, flood structures,  close roads, cause power outages, uproot trees, and cause damage to porches, awnings, and unsecured mobile homes.

Below are highlights of warnings from the NWS for our region (the link also has details for neighboring counties):

By Jacob Pamus

Photo:  Pastor Rolland Slade speaks out on Council's decision to defund the task force.

Updated August 21 with statements from Bonnie Baranoff, Coordinatorof the East County Homeless  Task Force, disputing the city's assertions and media statements.

August 16, 2023  (El Cajon) – El Cajon’s City Council majority voted to drop its funding for the East County Homeless Task Force.  Ironically El Cajon has the most homeless among East County communities and 16% of the homeless in San Diego County. 

City Manager, Graham Mitchell said during a Council meeting in late July that even though El Cajon’s interests do align with the task force, “Over time, that alignment has been shifting.” Mitchell  noted that initially he was in support of the task force because of how many different perspectives were involved, including law enforcement and business oriented individuals, but now he does not see that.

Cedar Fire survivor and widow of famed pilot adventurer needs community’s help

By Miriam Raftery

August 2, 2023  (Crest) – Leysl  Muñoz, 87, was well-known to residents in rural Crest, where she regularly drove around in her golf cart with her Burmese Mountain Dog, Rebby.  But on Friday, July 28, she was “critically injured when an EDCO trash truck backed over her while she was sitting in her golf cart,” according to a GoFundMe post set up by her neighbor, Rich Robinson.

“Leysl is confronting a long and difficult road to get back on her feet,” he states. “This GoFundMe effort is being established by her East County friends who want to help her get back on her feet and in a new golf car with Rebby.

July 21, 2023 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Councilman Gary Kendrick sent in this photo of his reaction to a monster he encountered at Comicon.  A childhood fan of comic books, Councilman Kendrick credits reading Superman comics with teaching him the important of being respectful to everyone, a value he strives to follow in his civic duties as an elected official.

Photo/video credit: San Diego Humane Society

View video of reunion

July 20, 2023 (El Cajon) -- A dog who went missing from his home in Las Vegas on July 3 was reunited with his family at noon today at San Diego Humane Society’s El Cajon Campus.

Fitness competition, live band, dancing, sports stars, kids activities, auto show and opportunities to meet police and firefighters are all slated 

East County News Service

July 17, 2023 (El Cajon) -- El Cajon is gearing up to celebrate the 40th anniversary of its National Night Out event, a milestone for a community event that has been fostering positive interactions between law enforcement and the local community. This year’s event, set to be the largest ever hosted, will take place on Tuesday, August 1 from 5 to 9 p.m. in the parking lot at Parkway Plaza Mall in El Cajon.  

East Count News Service

July 11, 2023 (El Cajon) – The bodies of two brothers, Wilburn Burchette, 84, and Kenneth Burchette, 76, were found in their home on July 9.

Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call reporting a death that evening and found the two bodies. “Both men appeared to have been deceased for some time,” says Lieutenant Joseph Jarjura with the San Diego County Sheriff’s department.

By Miriam Raftery; Henri Migala contributed to this report

Photos by Henri Migala

July 9, 2023 (Rancho San Diego) -- A blue vehicle crashed into a power pole on  Steele Canyon Rd. near State Route 94 this morning. The power pole fell across the roadway and the vehicle caught fire, causing closure of Steele Canyon Rd. in both directions.

The crash caused a power outage affecting portions of Spring Valley,  Rancho San Diego and La Presa.

East County News Service

Photo and video by Robert Gehr

July 8, 2023 (El Cajon) – A two-vehicle crash knocked over a fire hydrant at the corner of Van Houton and Douglas in El Cajon this morning, spewing water across the roadways.  The vehicles involved were a white pickup truck and a dark Nissan car, according to ECM photographer Robert Gehr.