Source: U.S. Forest Service

May 10, 2017 (Ramona) -- As temperatures begin to rise, so have the number of heat-related injuries and air rescues at the popular Three Sisters and Cedar Creek trails in Cleveland National Forest, the U.S. Forest Service reports.

By Rebecca Jefferis-Williamson and Miriam Raftery

April 10, 2018 (Santee) – A fire has scorched multiple apartments at Santee Villas in the 10400 block of Mast Boulevard across the street from Santana High School tonight, where a passerby told East County Magazine details of efforts to save residents and pets from the flames.

“I was riding down Mast Boulevard when I noticed black smoke coming from an apartment complex,” says Robert Johnson, a Santee resident.  “I chucked my backpack and bike,” he says, adding that he followed the lead of others trying to assist. He says  he “started busting windows and helping people out where I could.”

By Miriam Raftery

May 10, 2018 (Lakeside) – A quarter of a century ago, Matt LaChappa was drafted by the San Diego Padres out of El Capitan High School in Lakeside, the pride of the Barona tribe on the Native American reservation where he grew up. But three years later, tragedy struck on April 6, 1996 while the talented left-hander was warming up in the bullpen on opening day of the season with the Padres’ minor league team, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.

He collapsed after suffering a heart attack, then had a second heart attack during an ambulance ride to the hospital.  In a coma for months, he suffered irreversible brain damage. Yet to this day, he remains on contract with the Padres, who promised to take care of their injured player for life.

LaChappa’s inspiring story was highlighted last Sunday on ESPN’s E:60 program in an episode titled “The Contract.” (View trailer.) The show will be replayed throughout the month.

By Miriam Raftery

May 10, 2018 (Santee) – Who was our youngest president?  Who was our oldest? Who was our tallest, shortest and fattest?  Find out on Wednesday, May 16^th,^, when San Diego Union-Tribune columnist Richard Lederer will offer a treasury of fascinating facts about the feats, families, foibles and firsts of our American presidents.  

The self-proclaimed “Wizard of Idiom, Attila the Pun and Conan the Grammarian” will be sharing his wit and wisdom on our nation’s presidents at the Santee City Hall, building 7, at 10671 Magnolia Avenue in Santee from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The even is sponsored by Santee Seniors 55 Plus and San Diego Oasis. It’s free and worth every penny!

Dr. Lederer has sold over a million books, also hosting “A Way With Words” on KPBS and authoring “the “Lederer on Language” column in the San Diego Union-Tribune. He will be signing copies of his books at the event.

Reprinted with permission from the Valley Roadrunner

By David Ross

May 10, 2018 (Valley Center) -- Anyone who knows me knows I generally turn up my nose at conspiracy theories. But there is something going on at the County’s planning department that is worthy of the word “conspiracy,” one that involves the ultimate disrespecting of the voters.

Unless I’m missing something, it also has the unspoken complicity of the lame duck members of the Board of Supervisors who will exit the board at the end of 2018.    Something this big could not be carried forward by the staff of County Planning and Development Services without their knowledge and tacit approval.

$142.6 million net loss in three Calif. districts, while student needs go unmet

East County News Service

May 9, 2018 (San Diego) -- In a first-of-its-kind analysis, researchers found that public school students are bearing the cost of charter schools’ rapid expansion in San Diego and other school districts throughout the state. 

The analysis, Breaking Point: The Cost of Charter Schools for Public School Districts, conducted by think tank In the Public Interest with Dr. Gordon Lafer, examines the cumulative effect of charter schools on California school districts, which rank 42nd nationwide in per pupil spending. 

By Miriam Raftery

May 9, 2018 (San Diego) -- California now has the fifth largest economy in the world, surpassing Great Britain to rank above all other nations on earth except the United States, China, Japan and Germany.

The state’s economic production last year topped $2.7 trillion, fueled in large part by California’s high-tech industry.

By Jonathan Goetz

Photo: Lemon Grove Mayor Pro Tem Jerry Jones

May 8, 2018 (Lemon Grove) – Lemon Grove's downtown redevelopment climate dampened last week, as the City Council blocked a plan to allow four and five story buildings throughout downtown. The infill plan for redevelopment passed on April 17, by a 4-1 vote. But it failed upon second reading on May 1, by a 3-2 vote.

East County News Service

May 8, 2018 (San Diego's East County) – The 14 Chick-fil-A restaurants in San Diego County, including the two East County restaurants at 9418 Mission Gorge Road in Santee and 8200 Fletcher Parkway in La Mesa, are partnering with the San Diego Padres for a “Chick-fil-A Double-Play” promotion during the 2018 season at Petco Park.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Spirng Valley novelist Kate Quinn, New York Times best-selling author of  The Alice Network, will be among the writers at event

May 8, 2018 (San Diego) -- With more bricks and mortar booksellers closing their doors, authors are getting creative about marketing their books.  Making “house calls” to book clubs is not just a way to sell more books, though. It’s a great way to connect with readers who want meaningful discussion with their favorite authors. 

East County News Service

May 8, 2018 (Santee) – Champion Gymnastics and Cheer (10580 Prospect Ave., Santee) will host a free open house Saturday, May 19 from 2-5 p.m. to celebrate its anniversary. 

The public is invited for tours of the facility offering lessons in gymnastics, cheer, tumbling, parkour, and dance plus laser tag, birthday parties, summer camp and a CHAMPS meetup group. There will be free use of the gym, a bounce house, foam pit, hotdogs, popcorn and beverages, plus karaoke and prizes.

For more information, call (619) 449-7717 or visit www.cgcchamps.com. If you sign up for a class, you can also get 50% off the first month’s tuition.

By Miriam Raftery

May 7, 2018 (Santee) – One in seven people entering a hospital needs blood. One pint of blood, the amount volunteer give when they donate blood, can save up to three lives.  Around 38% of people in the U.S. are eligible to donate blood, but less than 10% do so annually.  You can help by donating blood during the Santee Street Fair on Saturday, May 26^th from 10 a.m. to 3:30. The fair is located at Riverview Parkway and Town Center Parkway in Santee.  (View map and event details.)