By Miriam Raftery

Click image, left, to view San Diego Sheriff's video remembering 911

September 11, 2023 (San Diego) – Flags across the nation are at half-mast today to commemorate 2,996 people killed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The attacks by hijacked airlines destroyed the World Trade Center’s twin towers in New York City, ravaged the Pentagon in Washington D.C. and took the lives of passengers and crew aboard a United Airlines plane bound for the Capitol that crashed in Pennsylvania.

Locally and nationally, first responders today are remembering those who lost their lives, as well as the brave first responders who came to the aid of survivors.

By Mike Allen

September 11,2023 (Santee)-- Santee’s Trolley Square will offer a bit of upscale shopping when Macy’s takes over the now vacant Bed Bath & Beyond space starting in November.

“They told us they’re shooting for Black Friday in November,” said Pam White, Santee’s economic development manager.

This Macy’s won’t be the same kind found in most of the regional shopping malls. Instead, it will be a scaled-down format the national chain has been testing for several years and that has garnered some success.

By Miriam Raftery

September 5, 2023 (Ramona) – A head-on crash in Ramona early yesterday morning proved deadly for one driver, but the other survived with non-threatening injuries. Both young drivers were residents of Ramona. The difference? The motorist who survived was wearing a seatbelt, while the other was not.

East County News Service

September 3, 2023 (San Diego's East County) -- The maximum amounts for which you can be eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in California will increase starting October 1st, 202312. 

By Mike Allen

September 1, 2023 (Santee) -- The owner of the Santee Drive-In Theater said the outdoor movie complex that opened in 1958 will shut down in January. In a press statement, Susan Boyd, a member of the Forte Family, said the business “is no longer economically viable.”

“We are facing loss of customers, higher costs, equipment obsolescence, competition from streaming services, and the inability to show some of the newly released films.  Like movie theaters across the country, we can’t afford to stay open,” she said.

Instead of letting the property sit vacant, the family selected North Palisade Partners of Los Angeles as buyers in a sale that’s expected to occur in 2024, according to the recent press statement.

This news confirms what East County Magazine reported in early May, based on several reliable sources.

East County News Service

August 31, 2023  (El Cajon) -- Pacific Emblem Company, a 35-year-old custom manufacturer of patches, emblems and wristbands, is stepping up in a big way to help raise money for the fire victims on Maui.  The company’s goal is to raise $50,000  or more through its special site, www.MauiStrong.help and donate to the Hawaii Community Foundation (referred to as the Maui Strong Fund). 

100% of the money raised will be donated (after the cost of goods, employees, and shipping, which is free for the public. 

The company has ties and friends on the Hawaiian Islands and wanted to do something to help as much as possible. 

“My heart hurts for all those on Maui who lost their lives, homes, and businesses and I had to do something to raise desperately needed funds for the residents,” said Rich Soergel (aka Dr. Patch) at the helm of Pacific Emblem Company.

Our readers value East County Wildfire and  Emergency Alerts!  Read some of their testimonials below.

You can also support our alerts  with a donation at https://www.EastCountyMedia.org/donate. 

“You guys are fast! Often I get your alerts before I hear from dispatch.  I forward many of your …Wildfire & Emergency alerts to all our people.” – Chief August Ghio, president, San Diego County Fire Chiefs Association (now retired)

“Everyone here should sign up for East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts.”—Supervisor Joel Anderson, at a town hall in Julian

“As Executive Director of the Resource Conservation District of Greater San Diego County and President of the Fire Safe Council of San Diego County, I would like to commend Ms. Raftery (founder of East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts) for her suggestions for protection of San Diego County's unincorporated and wildland-urban interface areas.” – Marty Leavitt

“Thank you so much for the unexpected yet timely alert regarding the fire yesterday.  We saw the smoke but were left completely uninformed. Then suddenly I rec’d your email!  I’m referring you to many others.” – Ellen Sullivan, reader

by Sherman Smith, Kansas Reflector

Photo, August 11, surveilance photo of the raid (Courtesy Marion County Record)

August 31, 2023 (Topeka, Kansas) — Police Chief Gideon Cody arrived at the Marion County Record and handed a copy of a search warrant to Deb Gruver, the veteran reporter who had questioned him about alleged misconduct at his previous job.

August 29, 2023  (San Diego) -- The National Weather Service has extended the Excessive Heat Warning for the San Diego County deserts, mountains and valleys through Wednesday, August 30, at 8 p.m.. Temperatures will reach 110 to 117 degrees in the deserts, 95 to 107 in the valleys, and 90 to 100 in the mountains.

The San Diego County Department of Emergency Services advises:

• Stay inside or shaded areas. Drink lots of water.
• If you feel sick from the heat, call 9-1-1.
• Never leave young children or pets alone in vehicles.
  

Source:  SDG&E

Photo:  Shelter Valley Community Center Board President Steve Bassett inspects installation at Shelter Valley Community Center site.

Connected devices such as energy storage and smart thermostats centrally managed to reduce demand on the grid

August 28, 2023 (San Diego) – As extreme heat records fall across the West and strain the power grid, San Diego Gas & Electric is piloting a new cleantech innovation known as a virtual power plant (VPP) to reduce energy demand and put electricity back on the grid during peak hours – all through leveraging the capabilities of customer-owned smart thermostats, rooftop solar, energy storage and other connected resources such as water pumps.

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.

By Miriam Raftery

August 25,  2023 (Milwaukee) – Eight Republican presidential candidates squared off in a debate in Milwaukee. Donald Trump, facing indictment on 91 criminal charges in four cases, did not participate but was a topic of discussion among his opponents.  The debate proved lively, with some candidates sharply differering with each other, all criticizing Democrat Joe Biden’s administration, all approving Vice President Mike Pence's action to certify votes, but only two willing to criticize Trump, the party frontrunner.

The issues ranged from abortion, which all eight candidates support restricting, to Bidenomics, climate change, crime, border security and foreign policy. Clear policy differences emerged--as well as some strong clashes among contenders.

Fox news anchors Bret  Baier and Martha MacCallum posed questions to the candidates shown in the photo, top left to lower right: North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum,  former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie,  Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Former United Nations Ambassador and ex-South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, former Vice President Mike Pence, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and  U.S.Senator Tim Scott from South Carolina.

Our coverage includes positions of Trump, despite his absence, and the record and stances of the Biden administration as well to provide the range of options for voters.

By Shauni Lyles, County of San Diego Communications Office

Video by Suzanne Bartole

August 24, 2023 (San Diego) - It’s been one year and counting since hopeful chefs looking for a way to start a business in their homes found one through the County’s Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKO) program.