East County News Service

June 24, 2023 (Spring Valley) – California Highway Patrol is searching for the drivers of a red SUV and a silver sedan which each struck a 50-year-old woman in Spring Valley shortly before 10 p.m. on June 22, then fled the scene.

The woman was walking northbound on Jamacha Blvd. east of Lamplighter Village Drive when she was hit by the red  SUV, which was traveling west on Jamacha.  The impact knocked the victim to the ground. While she was lying on the roadway, she was struck a second time by the silver sedan.

The woman sustained major injuries and died at the scene.

“Both vehicles were last seen fleeing the scene, westbound on Jamacha Blvd.,” says Officer Matthew Baranowski with the California Highway Patrol. 

East County News Service

June 21, 2023 (Spring Valley) –Sweetwater Regional Park in Spring Valley will soon be expanded from 300 acres to 490 acres, helping the county to complete the 11-mile Sweetwater Loop Trail around Sweetwater Reservoir.

Story and Photos By Josh Stotler

June 20, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) --  Federal, state, and tribal fire departments battled the #Blackwood Fire this afternoon, which threatened homes before crews halted the blaze at 37 acres.

The fire broke out around noon on the Campo Reservation just off interstate 8 on Black Wood Rd and Old Mine Rd.  Initial responders confirmed a vegetation fire and immediately upgraded the incident, calling for more ground units as well as air support.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  A Yellow-Naped Amazon Parrot, by Charles J. Sharp, Sharp Photography, CC by SA 4.0

June 15, 2023 (Jamul) – Chirping at a Miami airport alerted authorities to a smuggler with 29 parrot eggs inside—including one that had just hatched. Two dozen of the eggs later hatched out, including 21 critically endangered Yellow-Naped Amazon parrots and three Red-Lored Amazons.

Update June 19, 2023 --The deceased has been identified as  Max Andrew Vizcarra, 26. The Medical Examiner found cause of death to be blunt force injuries and inhaling products of combustion.

By Miriam Raftery

June 15, 2023 (Dulzura) – A 26-year-old San Diego man lost control of the sedan he was driving last night on State Route 94 in Dulzura, causing a fiery collision with a pickup truck.  The crash killed the sedan driver and injured the pickup truck’s driver.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the sedan was heading westbound on 94 just west of Cochera Via Drive around 7:10 p.m. when the driver traveled onto the dirt shoulder, then spun counterclockwise and crossed into the eastbound lane. The sedan struck a 2012 Dodge Ram 2500 pickup driven by a 26-year-old man from Tecate, Mexico, who was traveling at 55 miles per hour.

“The right side of the sedan struck the front of the Dodge, resulting in the sedan bursting into flames,” says Officer Jared Grieshaber with the CHP. “The driver of the sedan was knocked unconscious during the impact, and the driver of the Dodge attempted to extricate him from the sedan, but was unable to do so.”

By Miriam Raftery

Donald Michael Santini,  aka Wellman "Wells" Simmonds

June 13, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – A fugitive wanted for the murder of a Florida woman nearly 40 years ago, as well as a robbery in Texas, has been leading a double life in Campo. There, he brazenly held public positions under an assumed name.

On Wednesday, Donald Michael Santini, known locally under the alias Wellman “Wells” Simmonds, was arrested in Campo's Lake Morena community by U.S. Marshals, ECM news partner 10 News reports.

Simmonds served on the Campo-Lake Morena Community Planning Group as well as president of the board of directors for the Lake Morena Views Mutual Water Company, a troubled water district where nitrate contamination has left district residents forced to drink bottled water for the past three years, as ECM reported.

“Everyone was surprised. There was nothing unusual about him,” Billie Jo Jannen, Chair of the planning group, told ECM.

By Miriam Raftery

June 4, 2023 (San Diego) – The outbreak of Vesicular Stomatitis  Virus (VSV) that started last month in San Diego County has now spread to San Bernadino as well as Riverside County. There are now 44 properties quarantined, including 28 in San Diego County, according to the latest update posted  June 2, 2023 by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.

Since the last report a week earlier, 18 new properties affected by VSV have been identified, including three new confirmed positive cases and 8 suspected cases in San Diego County.

To date, all of the premises quarantined have cases in horses or other equine species, except one property that has clinically affected cattle locally. However the disease can occur in other animals such as llamas, alpacas, pigs, sheep, goats and deer.

By Miriam Raftery

May 27, 2023  (San Diego’s East County) – The County of San Diego is kicking off its annual movies in the park, which this year features 150 movies at dozens of parks across the County.  Bring the family—along with blankets and lawn chairs—to cozy up for a night under the stars.

The season opens this Memorial Day weekend at Waterfront Park downtown and runs through October.  East  County and inland locations include Anza Borrego,Campo, El Cajon, Encanto, Escondido, Julian , Lakeside,  La Mesa, Lemon Grove, Pine Valley,  Potrero, Poway, Ramona, Rancho Penasquitos, Rolando, San Carlos, and Spring Valley.

Theme weekends have also been scheduled, including Juneteenth (June 16 and 17), Comic-Con (July 21-22), Ladies Night (Aug. 12), International Dog Day (Aug. 25 and 26), Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15) and Halloween (late October).

Update May 23, 2023:  Quarantines have been imposed by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture on 15 properties in San Diego County and 4 in Riverside,  Locally, 6 cases have been confirmed and 9 more are suspected. 

Read more:  https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/quarantines-imposed-vsv-livestock-dis...

By Miriam Raftery

May 20, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) –  A case of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV), a viral disease which causes severe blister-like lesions on the mouths and hooves of horses, cattle, pigs, goats, llamas, and other hooved livestock, has been confirmed in San Diego County, according to Dr. Craig Chandler, DVM, at the East County Large and Small Animal Practice. According to Dr. Chandler, testing is underway on samples from several other horses in East County with suspected VSV.

According to the American Association of Equine Practitioners, VSV is contagious and debilitating, but rarely life threatening.  It can also spread to humans, so safe handling procedures should be followed.

The disease is reportable; livestock should be isolated for 14 days after the last case.  The disease takes 2 to 8 days from exposure to appear and usually runs it course in about 2 weeks, though sores can take up to months to resolve.  Testing is required to confirm  presence of the disease.

Dr. Chandler posted the following information on Facebook and gave permission for ECM to reprint it, along with a photo:

East County News Service

May 20, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) – The I-8 pavement replacement and road improvement project from Viejas Creek in Alpine to Pine Valley Creek is 40 percent completed after the first 160 days of work, with completion of the entire project expected in spring 2024.

Update May 27: Sweetwater has announced on its website that it will reopen the reservoir to hiking and birdwatching on May 30, but the district has not yet committed to when or if fish will be restocked.

By Miriam Raftery

May 18, 2023 (Alpine) – Loveland Reservoir in Alpine has been closed since January,  after heavy storms caused major erosion to trails left exposed by Sweetwater Water Authority's decision to drain the lake to dead pool status. Though rains have replenished water levels to above the heavily eroded banks, public access has not been restored--much to the consternation of area residents.

Last night, East County residents in support of reopening Loveland packed the hearing room at the Sweetwater Water Authority headquarters in Chula Vista to voice their views.

East County News Service

May 15, 2023 (San Diego’s East County) -- London West End musical theatre star Dean Chisnall, returned to Steele Canyon Charter High School May 17 through May 20 to instruct and inspire the SC Players and musicians. He shared  his professional practices, experiences and wisdom through workshops, seminars, and discussions. The visit culminates with a live performance by Mr. Chisnall on Saturday, May 20 at 2 p.m.in the Steele Canyon HS Theatre.

Event benefits health services in rural East County and honors longtime volunteer and advocate

Source:  San Ysidro Health

May 15, 2023 (San Diego) - On April 18, 2023, 300 community leaders came together to join San Ysidro Health for its 2nd annual Rural Health Celebration Luncheon & Benefit to support the expansion of vital medical, dental and behavioral health services for all in rural East County. San Ysidro Health celebrated and recognized its last living Founding Mother, Mrs. Carmen Martinez, who will be turning 100 years old later this year. San Ysidro Health also recognized Arvilla Johnson, the unofficial Mayor of Campo, the 2023 Volunteer of the Year award for her lifelong commitment to supporting the rural community. Healthcare providers, Dr. Wylie and Nurse Practitioner, Carol Lieber, who provide care at various San Ysidro Health clinics in East County shared their experiences of providing care and challenges faced when working with their patients who live throughout rural East County. The event also honored the passing of well-known community champion and member of the San Ysidro Health External Affairs team, R. Daniel Hernandez.