September 2016 Articles

7 EL CAJON COUNCIL CANDIDATES WILL BE AT TONIGHT'S JOURNALISM FORUM AT GROSSMONT COLLEGE

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

October 5, 2016  (El Cajon) –El Cajon residents are invited to attend a Journalism  Forum featuring candidates running for the  El Cajon City Council.  The forum, co-moderated by journalists from four major media outlets, will be held on Wednesday, October 5 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Grossmont College at Griffin Gate in Griffin Center. (See map.)

Bring your questions, meet the candidates and hear their ideas and goals for El Cajon.

The moderators will be: Miriam Raftery,  editor of East County Magazine, Karen Pearlman, reporter for the San Diego-Union Tribune, Albert  Fulcher,  editor of the East County Californian, and Marya Fani, broadcast journalist at Mega Network. 


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DEMONSTRATIONS CONTINUE IN EL CAJON; LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERTS OFFER OPINIONS ON SHOOTING

 

By Miriam Raftery

October 1, 2016 (El Cajon)—No arrests were made overnight as protests continued for a fourth night and into today, following the shooting of Alfred Olango by El Cajon Police on Tuesday.

Tensions remain despite video released yesterday and a photo showing Olango in a shooting stance, aiming a vaping device at Officer Richard Gonsalves, who has said he believed it to be a gun. 


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SDG&E RESPONDS TO QUESTIONS ON PLANNED OUTAGES

 

East County News Service

September 30, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Recently, a reader in Julian asked us why a planned power outage announced did not occur, as well as how to tell what circuit powers their location. Since planned outages have occurred in other communities as well, we reached out to SDG&E for details.

Allison Torres, communications manager at SDG&E, indicated that SDG&E makes every effort to notify customers in advance of a planned outage or cancellation of an outage planned. She also provided details on why planned outages are needed, why they are sometimes cancelled, and how to find your circuit number. Here is her response:


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$2 MILLION RAISED FOR COMMUNITY CENTER IN EL CAJON

 

By Jonathan Goetz

September 30, 2016 (El Cajon) - The Salvation Army is embarking on a massive new building for their 4.6 acre El Cajon Campus. A year and a half ago the Salvation Army started raising money for the $5.4 million expansion to double their 2.3 acre site on South Anza Street in El Cajon from Main Street to Decker Street.


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MATADORS DON'T STAND A CHANCE AGAINST UNSTOPPABLE WARHAWKS OFFENSE

 

By Liz Alper

September 30, 2016 (Spring Valley) - For this week's Friday Night Lights, ECM traveled to Mount Miguel High School to watch the Matadors take on the Madison Warhawks.


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SDSU WOMEN'S SOCCER TIES FRESNO STATE 1-1

 

Aztecs run unbeaten streak to three games

Source: goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

September 30, 2016 (Fresno) - San Diego State and Fresno State played to a 1-1 draw Friday night at the Bulldogs’ Soccer and Lacrosse Field. SDSU ran its unbeaten streak to three games with the result and moved to 4-5-1 on the season (2-0-1 Mountain West). Fresno State, meanwhile, watched its record go to 5-5-1 (0-2-1 MW).


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LEAP FROG BATTLE, BUT DBACKS WIN WITH LONG BALL HELP

 

By Liz Alper

Photo via @Padres on Twitter

September 30, 2016 (Phoenix) - The Padres ended September and their season in Phoenix.  It’s bittersweet.  Jaxon Shipley started for the Dbacks against Edwin Jackson for the Padres.


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VIDEO OF EL CAJON POLICE SHOOTING RELEASED

Unrest continues for fourth night, prompting business closures

By Miriam Raftery

Warning:  Graphic content in video

September 30, 2016 (El Cajon)—At a press conference in El Cajon this afternoon, authorities released two videos  in the fatal shooting of Alfred Olango, 38, by police.  The first is surveillance video from a taco shop; the second is cell phone video taken by a witness.


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7.0 EARTHQUAKE POSSIBLE IN NEXT FEW DAYS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

 

East County News Service

September 30,2016 (San Diego) –Following a swarm of recent small magnitude earthquakes that began on Monday near the Salton Sea in Southern California, the California Office of Emergency Services (OES) has issued an advisory that there is a small chance that an earthquake measuring 7.0 or  more on the Richter scale could occur on the San Andreas fault before October 4.

The advisory warning includes San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, Los Angeles, Kern , Imperial and Ventura counties.


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A MESSAGE FROM EL CAJON MAYOR BILL WELLS

 

September 30, 2016 (El Cajon) --  El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells issued the following statement to clarify his remarks made in a  Sept. 28 press conference regarding the shooting of Alfred Olongo by an El Cajon Police officer. 

I have been asked by several people since yesterday’s press conference if I intended to suggest by one of my responses that it is my opinion, after having watched the video, that the officer’s use of his firearm was not justified.  This was absolutely not my intent.


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SDSU LACROSSE ANNOUNCES FALL 2016 SCHEDULE

 

Five NCAA tournament squads await Aztecs in October

Source: goaztecs.com press release

Photo: Vickie Porter courtesy goaztecs.com

September 30, 2016 (San Diego) - San Diego State lacrosse head coach Kylie White announced the team’s challenging 2016 fall schedule this week, with the Aztecs facing 11 different opponents in October, including five teams that qualified for the 2016 NCAA Tournament last May.


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WILLKOMMEN! LA MESA OKTOBERFEST ADDS NEW, AUTHENTIC ATTRACTIONS TO 3-DAY GERMAN CELEBRATION

 

New Authentic Food, Beer, Games, Contests, Dance Parties and Entertainment Highlight Largest Oktoberfest West of the Mississippi

East County News Service

September 1, 2016 (La Mesa) – The Bob Stall Chevrolet La Mesa Oktoberfest Presented by Spaten opens Friday, September 30 with a 3-day weekend dedicated to family fun, authentic German food, beer and entertainment.


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SDSU WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PARTICIPATES IN WBCA DAY OF SERVICE

 

Aztecs read to local children at Spring Valley Public Library

Source: goaztecs.com press release

Photos courtesy goaztecs.com

September 30, 2016 (Spring Valley) - San Diego State women's basketball took part in the Women's Basketball Coaches' Association (WBCA) Day of Service on Thurs., Sept. 29 by reading to San Diego-area children at Spring Valley Public Library.


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BODY FOUND IN HOME NEAR DOS PICOS PARK

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Cal-Fire

September 30, 2016 (Ramona) — Firefighters discovered a body inside a burned home near Dos Picos County Park in Ramona yesterday morning.


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COUNTY TO HAND-SPRAY LEMON GROVE NEIGHBORHOOD DUE TO ZIKA

 

Source: County News Service

September 30, 2016 (Lemon Grove) -- County Vector Control crews plan to hand-spray a neighborhood in Lemon Grove early next week to continue to prevent invasive Aedes mosquitoes from getting the chance to potentially spread the Zika virus.


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STRONG WINDS FORECAST FOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY

 

East County News Service

September 30, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Windy conditions are forecast Sunday through Monday across the County, with strongest winds in the mountains, deserts, and over coastal waters. Gusts could reach 55 miles per hour in the mountain and desert areas, the National Weather Service predicts.


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PRAYER SERVICE FOR CITY OF EL CAJON: 10 AM FRIDAY

September 30,2016 (El Cajon)--A group of pastors from East County churches will meet at 10 a.m. at the Police Department Headquarters to pray for peace and unity over the City of El Cajon.  -- Pastors from 30-40 churches are expected to attend.

A diverse group of pastors are expected, including African-American pastors, Middle Eastern pastors, as well as churches representing many denominations.


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DEMONSTRATIONS CONTINUE OVERNIGHT IN EL CAJON: TEAR GAS DEPLOYED AS PROTEST TURNS VIOLENT

 

2 men wanted for stealing photojournalist’s $15,000 camera Wednesday night

By Miriam Raftery

September 30, 2016 (El Cajon)--Demonstrations continued overnight in El Cajon over the killing of Alfred Olango Tuesday by police.

  After receiving several 911 calls of 50-70 protesters blocking cars and breaking car windows, police declared an unlawful assembly. 10 News reports that tear gas and pepper balls were deployed by police. The station posted video of the incident and reported that protesters also knocked a motorcyclist off a motorcycle. Glass bottles were also thrown at officers. Two arrests were made, according to police.

 “A large group of demonstrators marched through the streets throughout the evening and into the early morning hours,”said Lieutenant Rob Ransweiler.

Police are also investigating theft of a $15,000 camera taken forcibly from a photojournalist.   A video viewed by 250,000 people on social media has led to identification one suspect, San Diego News Video reports.  Public help is requested to identify a second subject shown at the end of a video here: https://www.facebook.com/SDNVtv/videos/918156954956981/


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SDSU MEN'S SOCCER TIES OREGON STATE IN PAC-12 OPENER 1-1

 

Aztecs to face Washington at home on Sunday

Source: goaztecs.com press release

Photo:  Mac Clarke courtesy goaztecs.com

September 29, 2016 (San Diego) - The No. 22/19 San Diego State men’s soccer team played Oregon State to a 1-1 draw Thursday in the Pac-12 opener for both teams at SDSU Sports Deck. With the result, the Aztecs move to 5-1-3 on the season, while the Beavers stand at 4-3-2 overall.


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SDSU VOLLEYBALL: AZTECS FALL AT BOISE STATE IN THREE SETS

 

Volleyball drops 3-0 decision at BSU

Source: goaztecs.com press release

Photo: Dani Bolden had 10 digs, four kills and three service aces at Boise State Thursday evening.  Courtesy goaztecs.com

September 29, 2016 (Boise) - San Diego State struggled offensively Thursday evening as it dropped a three-set decision (25-19, 25-23, 25-16) to Boise State in Bronco Gym. With the loss, the Aztecs fell to 9-7 (1-1 Mountain West) on the season while the Broncos improved to 11-5 (2-1 MW).


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DODGERS PUT DAMPER ON PADRES' LAST NIGHT AT HOME

 

By Liz Alper

Photo via @Padres on Twitter

September 29, 2016 (San Diego) - Hunter Renfroe and Wil Myers led the Padres to a series win in a leap frog battle against the Dodgers.  It’s hard to believe, but they were going for the sweep tonight in the home series finale (and Dick Enberg’s last game) with Christian Friedrich on the mound against the rookie Juan Urias.


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EAST COUNTY REALTORS GROUP TO SHARE CEO WITH NORTH COUNTY REALTORS GROUP

 

 

East County News Service



September 29, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Two San Diego-area realtor trade groups, the Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR) with an office in El Cajon, and the North San Diego County Association of Realtors (NSDCAR), have decided to share a chief executive officer.


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OFFICER INVOLVED IN EL CAJON SHOOTING HAD BEEN DEMOTED FOR SEXUAL HARASSMENT

 

Women officers have fewer use of force incidents, but only 9% of ECPD officers are women. Could more females on the force have prevented death of Alfred Olango?

By Miriam Raftery

September 29, 2016 (El Cajon)—Mayor Bill Wells has confirmed that the officer who fired the fatal shots in Tuesday’s controversial shooting of Alfred Olango was  Richard Gonsalves—the same officer embroiled in a sexual harassment scandal last year. 

Could a culture that encouraged women officers to join the force have perhaps prevented Tuesday’s tragedy, before Olango pulled out a vaping device mistaken for a gun?

Multiple studies over 40 years have shown  that women police officers  are better at defusing tense situations and have significantly lower use-of-force rates than male officers,  the Washington Post recently reported.

For example, A 2002 study by the National Center for Women & Policing of excessive force incidents in seven major city police departments found that “the average male officer is over eight and a half times more likely than his female counterpart to have an allegation of excessive force sustained against him … [and] two to three times more likely than the average female officer to have a citizen name him in a complaint of excessive force.”

But the El Cajon Police Department has long drawn criticism for tolerating sexual harassment  and other sexual misconduct by male officers toward women on the force--hardly a history conducive to attracting women seeking careers in law enforcement.


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EL CAJON’S WILD WEEK: OFFICER INVOLVED SHOOTING, NUDITY BAN, PROTESTS AND PARKWAY PLAZA CLOSURE

 

Did lack of mental healthcare “PERT” team response contribute to Olango’s death? 

Suicide Help Resources included below

By Jonathan Goetz

September 29, 2016 (El Cajon) – East San Diego County’s El Cajon was rocked Tuesday with an officer involved shooting of an unarmed black man, Alfred Okwera Olango. The city has remained in the spotlight all week.  Lost amid the blitz of media coverage has been other news, including a nudity ban targeting homeless people.

In chronological order, here are the highlights and lowlights:


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LEMON GROVE MAYORAL CANDIDATES SHARE DIVERSE VIEWS FOR CITY’S FUTURE

 

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

Hear full audio of the one-hour candidate forum by clicking the audio link.

September 29,2016 (Lemon Grove)—At a candidate forum hosted by East County Magazine and the Lemon Grove Library on September 21st ,  three mayoral hopefuls shared their visions for the future of Lemon Grove. 

Council members George Gastil and Racquel Vasquez, along with former Chamber of Commerce President Teresa Rosiak, fielded questions from moderator Miriam Raftery, editor of ECM, ,as well  as audience questions.

Audio: 


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BUILDING RE-DEDICATION AND OPEN HOUSE AT VALHALLA HIGH SCHOOL OCT. 11

 

Source: Grossmont Union High School District

September 29, 2016 (El Cajon) - The public is invited to attend a Building Re-dedication and Open House for Valhalla High School's Modernized Main Building and Theater on Tuesday, October 11. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin at 3:30 p.m., followed by tours of the facility from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.


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LOCAL TRIBES SEND CARAVANS TO AID STANDING ROCK SIOUX OPPOSED TO DAKOTA PIPELINE

Videos on social media show heavily armed police  arresting “water protectors” today; San Diego rally planned Oct. 30

Update Oct. 7, 2016: Hear our interview on KNSJ Radio with Bobby Wallace by clicking the audio link

By Miriam Raftery

September 28,2016 (San Diego)—“We must, we will, bring more supplies. Our number one goal is to help the people,”  Barona tribal member Bobby Wallace told East County Magazine.

Winter will soon bring bitter cold to the Standing Rock Sioux encampment in Cannnonball,North Dakota, where “hundreds of tribes” have sent thousands of people camp out and take a stand against the Dakota access oil pipeline.  Wallace has been organizing relief supplies gathered by local tribes to support  the effort.

Speaking last week at an Activist San Diego meeting in San Diego,  Wallace told of the reactions when he arrived with the first caravan of supplies for the three camps.”Men, people, had tears in their eyes.  People hugged us…just knowing people far away cared.”

Audio: 

Interview with Bobby Wallace of Barona on Standing Rock caravan

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UNREST GROWS IN EL CAJON: MAN KILLED POINTED VAPING DEVICE AT OFFICERS,HAD CRIMINAL RECORD

 

 

By Miriam Raftery

Jonathan Goetz also contributed to this report.

Photo, left, by Rebecca Williamson, during vigil at shooting sight this evening

September 28,2016 (El Cajon) –Amid mounting tensions and protests this evening,  El Cajon Police released updates in yesterday’s fatal shooting of Alfred Okwera Olango.  

The updated information reveals the Olango, an El Cajon resident, drew a vape smoking device from his pocket and pointed it at officers. The release also indicates a Psychiatric Emergency Response Team was unavailable due to being dispatched to another call.

A 10 News investigation found  Olango had a criminal record including  a 2005 arrest in Colorado as a felon in possession of a firearm—a semi-automatic pistol in the vehicle he was driving. He also pled guilty to receiving stolen property and driving under the influence in 1999, as well as selling cocaine in 2001.

In this confrontation, however, Olango did not have a gun or any other weapon.  The Ugandan refugee who came to America  after death threats to his famliy was shot and killed after his sister called officers for help due to her brother's erratic actions.

Tonight, crowds clashed with police.  While organizers of a march and vigil sought to keep the peace, some protesters reportedly threw bottles at police and chased a counter-protester wearing a Trump hat after he shouted racial slurs.


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MAN AT EL CAJON PROTESTS ATTACKED FOR TAUNTING PROTESTERS, WEARING TRUMP HAT

 

East County News Service

Photo via CW6 San Diego Twitter

September 28, 2016 (El Cajon) - The El Cajon protests after Alfred Olango was gunned down by police continue peacefully, but things escalated a bit tonight after a man was attacked for wearing a Donald Trump hat and taunting protesters with racial slurs, ECM has learned.


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PARKWAY PLAZA EVACUATED, CAR SHOW SHUTDOWN AMID UNREST AFTER POLICE SHOOTING

 

 

By Rebecca  Jefferis-Williamson and Miriam Raftery

Photo, left,by Rebecca Jefferis-Williamson: Marchers at Mollison near Broadway

September 28, 2016 (El Cajon) – Parkway Plaza regional shopping center is shut down for tonight after protests spilled into the mall over yesterday’s fatal police shooting of Alfred  Olango, 38, an unarmed African-American man with mental health issues.  Marketing director Ken Gray told  ECM the mall shut down for the night on advice of police.

“ Where I work, a lot of people were crying and screaming,” Gage Miller told  East County Magazine shortly after police evacuated the Walmart store where he works and escorted everyone outside. He said around 3 p.m., “lots of people were marching in the mall and going into the movie theatre…Walmart had to put its gates down. Protesters were spraying water from water bottles all around.”


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