East County Magazine

August 24, 2017 (Campo-Lake Morena) -- The Campo-Lake Morena Community Planning Group meeting on August 28  will include discussion of a formal planning group response to  the County's proposed climate action plan. Other key items include review of applicants for a vacancy, an update on transfer of lands for Camp Lockett, and more.  Click here to view the full agenda as a full-sized pdf document.

You can also scroll down to view the full agenda in a slightly smaller format.

By Miriam Raftery

August 23, 2017 (La Mesa) – If you’d like to have a say-so about water rates and other issues in the Helix Water District, you may soon have that chance.  The district’s board has voted unanimously to establish an advisory board comprised of its customers.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo of Boston Free Speech counter-protest rally by Ken Breeman (cc)

August 23, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) - Across the U.S., 67 rallies in 23 states organized by hate groups including Nazis and  Ku Klux Klan members have been cancelled, Newsweek reports.  The groups say that they will instead hold a virtual event online on September 9th, but will not be wielding torches and marching through America’s streets  chanting anti-Jewish, anti-black and anti-immigrant messages as they did in Charlottesville, Virginia.

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office

Image Credit: Pixel and Paper Photography

August 22, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - Lots of purring, happy barks and maybe even a cock-a-doodle-do Monday as shelter pets from County Animal Services settle into their new forever homes. They were among 306 animals adopted from the County’s three shelters on Clear the Shelters Day Saturday. That total beat last year’s total of 304 by just a (doggie) hair and a whisker.

Update August 22:  The fire is 80% contained and holding at 200 acres, per Cal Fire. 175 federal, state and local firefighters have been battling the blaze.  Cause has not been determined.

Update 6:00 p.m.: Forward spread of fire has been stopped and threat to Campo Indian reservation mitigated, Cal Fire reports.

Update 4:12 p.m.:  Campo Sheriff Substation reports  EclipseFire is at 200 acres. Safe zone is at Mountain Empire High School, 3305 Buckman Springs Rd. in Campo. Fire is advancing at moderate spread, 10-15 mph winds, 0% contained.

Update 3:50 p.m.:  Campo Indian reservation is also now threatened, Cal Fire tweeted moments ago. Evacuations are in progress.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Donna Tisdale

August 21, 2017 (Campo) -- The #EclipseFire has burned 25 acres at La Posta Road and Royal Willie Road in the Campo area.  Structures are now threatened and evacuations are occurring at a Navy training site on La Posta Road, Isaac Sancheez, Cal Fire public information officer, has advised ECM.

The fire is burning at moderate rate of spread and no structures are threatened, according to Cal Fire.  The California Highway has ordered closure of La Posta Road. 

SDG&E has dispatched its air crane to help battle the blaze.

By Miriam Raftery

August 20, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Last month,  rural residents voiced frustration when the County announced meetings on outsourcing animal services with only 24 hours notice before the only meeting in East County, as ECM reported.  This week,  rural community leaders are voicing frustration that public meetings on how to improve ambulance services were again announced on short notice.  All the meetings are slated mid-day on weekdays this week, when working people can’t attend.  Moreover, rural planning group chairs say there were left in the dark and were never notified by the county of these meetings.

By Paul Kruze

August 19, 2017 (El Cajon) -- Yet more eyes are going to be fixed on embattled El Cajon Councilman Ben Kalasho with news that he has filed a discrimination complaint with the State of California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. The action follows last Tuesday’s 4-1 vote affirming that the only electronic device permitted to be used by Council members at the dais during City Council meetings are city-provided Apple iPad tablets.

The iPads provided to members of the City Council will be configured to only allow access to City of El Cajon official websites and access to the city’s financial budget documents and municipal codes, but other Internet sites will be blocked.  Note-taking software will be downloaded onto the iPads and an attached keyboard will be provided.

By Miriam Raftery

August 17, 2017 (La Mesa, California)—La Mesa Councilmember and Vice Mayor Kristine C. Alessio has quit the Republican Party over the party’s failure to take a stand against racism.

“I’m out of the Republican Party,” Alessio announced on her Facebook page yesterday. “I’ll never be pro choice, never be against the second amendment, but I cannot stand with anyone who will not say no to racism and prejudice. Count me as decline to state and in favor of liberty.”

By Kendra Sitton

August 16, 2017 (Spring Valley) -- Finding a new home for Bostonia’s Station 19 dominated the San Miguel Consolidated Fire Protection District Board meeting on Aug. 9.

Upon a motion by Director McKenna, seconded by Director Kim Raddatz, the board voted unanimously to direct the Fire Chief to hire a consultant to plan, direct and oversee the due diligence processes and respective timelines, and make recommendations back to the Board on options for placement of a short-term and/or permanent fire station at 657 E. Bradley, El Cajon.

By Miriam Raftery

August 15, 2017 (La Mesa) -- Choosing a citizens’ advisory committee will be on the agenda (item 9) this Wednesday for the Helix Water Board. The board is considering creating the advisory group to allow ratepayers to provide feedback on assigned topics that could include water rates, budgets, conservation, strategic planning and more.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo credit: San Diego Free Press

Updated to include remarks from SANDAG member Jerry Jones of Lemon Grove

Other County Apps can help find lost dogs, get emergency info, find veterans services, search for library books, save lives and more

By Miriam Raftery

August 13, 2017 (San Diego) – See a pothole, graffiti, or other problem in San Diego’s unincorporated communities?  Now you can download the County’s “Tell Us NOW” app, enabling you to take a photo and instantly submit it. The App is available for Apple and Android phones.

By Jonathan Goetz

Photo: Ben Kalasho, August 8, 2017 (El Cajon)

August 11, 2017 (El Cajon) - Councilman Ben Kalasho threatened to file an employment discrimination complaint Tuesday as the Council discussed a resolution to limit Council members’ use of electronic devices during City Council meetings.    

By Jordan Damond, East County Magazine

ECM Editor Miriam Raftery also contributed to this report

Image: North Korea News Agency

August 9, 2017 (San Diego) -- “North Korea best not make any more threats to the United States," President Trump told reporters yesterday at the Bedminster, N.J. retreat where he is vacationing. "They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen.”   (View AP video.)  The remarks came in response to growing threats by  North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

But Trump’s strong though inflammatory statement triggered a response by North Korea threatening to attack Guam, where U.S. has a military base, with “enveloping fire,” CBS reports.

By Jordan Damond

August 8, 2017 (San Diego) -- North Korea’s latest missile testings show them to be capable of targeting the entire West Coast of America.  The missiles’ standard trajectory is believed to have an average range of 10,400 kilometers, and much of the United States’ west coast lies between 10,000 to 12,000 kilometers of Korea.