May 29, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – After spotting a Saturn car driving erratically near 257 East Bradley Avenue in unincorporated El Cajon at 12:08 a.m., three deputies from the Santee Sheriff’s Patrol Station attempted to stop the vehicle.  The driver accelerated, leading deputies on a two-minute pursuit.  The Saturn then struck a parked car in the driveway of a home at 988 Flint Street, pushing it into the garage.

By Miriam Raftery

April 27, 2012 (Santee)—The San Diego Planning Commission voted 4-2 to grant a 60-day continuance to Quail Brush Genco (Cogentrix), delaying a decision on whether to rezone property near Mission Trails Regional Park as industrial space in order to allow construction of a gas-fired power plant. 

Congressman and Mayoral candidate Bob Filner called the continuance request “a chance to propagandize" as the project developer seeks to allay widespread community opposition. Filner has said the power plant would “harm the surrounding air quality and degrade Mission Trails Park – plus, installing a gas-powered plant in an area ravaged by the 2003 wildfires makes little sense.”

San Diego Planning Commission to weigh changing zoning to allow project at April 26 meeting; Opponents plan march today in Santee

March 31, 2012 (Santee) – Santee Mayor Randy Voepel didn’t mince words. “This is a declaration of war,” he said at Wednesday night’s City Council meeting, where Councilmembers voted unanimously to oppose the gas-fired Quail Brush power plant. 

The 100 megawatt (MW) “peaker” power plant is proposed on 10 acres adjacent to Mission Trails Regional Park, close to West Hills High School and homes. 

Santee Council to weigh resolution opposing power plant March 28;  San Diego Council to consider zoning change to allow facility on April 26

By Miriam Raftery

March 25, 2012 (San Diego/Santee) – Seventeen staffers from the California Energy Commission heard from concerned residents at a standing-room-only workshop on a proposed gas-fired power plant this week at Mission Trails Regional Park.  Over 60 residents filled out speaker cards to oppose the controversial project and dozens more packed the room.  

In emotionally charged testimony, residents pleaded for the project to be withdrawn or approval denied.  They voiced concerns over the dangers pose by wildfire and explosions as well as worries over noise, traffic, air pollution, visual blight, and impacts on wildlife, homes, schools, and Mission Trails Regional Park.

By Mike Lewis

March 21, 2012 (Santee)-The proposed 100 megawatt  (MW) Quail Brush Generation Power Plant Project encountered more resistance at the San Diego Planning Commission meeting downtown Thursday morning.

In a victory of sorts for the project’s opponents, a 30-day continuance was granted, delaying a decision on rezoning the 22-acre plot from open-space to industrial.

By Serena Scaglione

March 21, 2012- The California Energy Commission (CEC) will hold a workshop at 5 p.m. this Thursday, March 22 at Mission Trails to discuss the proposed Quail Brush Generation Project being developed by Quail Brush Genco, LLC, a subsidiary of Cogentrix Energy.

According to project documents, the Quail Brush Generation Project is a 100-megawatt natural gas power plant under long-term contract with SDG&E. The power plant is designed to support renewable resources and deliver power only when needed.

An ECM exclusive interview by Miriam Raftery

March 13, 2012 (Santee) – Assemblyman Brian Jones (R-Santee) announced last week that he is running for reelection.  In an exclusive interview, the conservative legislator shared highlights  and frustrations from his first term in the Legislature, as well as his priorities for the future if reelected in November.

With reapportionment, Jones 77th district will become the 71st Assembly District.  The district picks up some new areas including Pine Valley, Julian, Ramona, and Borrego Springs in San Diego County, as well as portions of Riverside County.

March 8, 2012 (Santee) -- County officials and community partners unveiled the new volunteer garden at Edgemoor in Santee yesterday.

The volunteer garden, located at 255 Park Center Dr., is open to both community residents and County staff to increase access to fresh produce and physical activity. Residents of Edgemoor, will be involved in the garden through the Recreational Therapy Unit.

March 8, 2012 (Santee)—The City of Santee invites you to join in its free SanTree Fest on Saturday, March 17 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at Town Center Community Park, 10123 Riverwalk Drive. 

Community volunteers are welcome to help plant 40 to 50 trees, enjoy live bluegrass music by the Box Canyon band,  free food samplings, crafts for kids, and get information on landscape improvements, health and wellness, and the environment.

El Cajon tops list for East County at 50; La Mesa has 7 yet crime rate has gone down

By Miriam Raftery

February 29, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Under court order to reduce prison overcrowding, the state passed AB 109 to allow transfer of many prisoners to county jails. In San Diego County, that resulted in 950 prisoners being released early to ease overcrowding in the County jail.  Tonight, La Mesa Police Chief Ed Aceves shared statistics on how many of those prisoners have wound up in East County communities.

February 9, 2012 (Santee) – The Randy Jones “5K For Independence” walk and fun run will be held on February 18 at Santee Lakes.  The event benefits Home of the Guiding Hands, which assists developmentally disabled adults and which has been hard-hit by state budget cuts.

Participants are invited to stay at Santee Lakes for a day of family fun, picnic lunch, beer garden, and awards ceremony.

January 17, 2012 (Santee) -- The FBI and San Diego Sheriff’s Department are seeking the public’s assistance to identify a man who robbed the Pacific West Bank, 9955 Mission Gorge Road, Santee, California, on Tuesday, January 17, 2012.

Brothers had long criminal pasts, court records reveal

January 16, 2012 (Santee)--Anthony Tesch, the man who was shot inside a Santee home on January 13, has died at a local hospital. He was 41, according to the San Diego Medical Examiner. 

Today, the San Diego Sheriff announced the arrest of Joseph Todd Hall in the 10000 block of Riverford Avenue, Lakeside. He was booked into the San Diego Central Jail on a murder charge.

"It was learned during the investigation, the victim and suspect were brothers," a release issued by the Sheriff's department reveals.

January 14, 2012 (Santee) – On Monday, January 23, 2012 Sportsplex USA president Bill Berghoff will make a donation to the Santee School District Foundation in the amount of $1440.  Sportsplex USA and the Santee School District Foundation (SSDF) have partnered with the goal of offering affordable youth indoor soccer programs to all parents and children in Santee. 

January 13, 2012 (Santee) – The San Diego Sheriff seeks public help to locate Joseph Todd Hall, also known as “Happy.”  He is wanted for an attempted murder in Santee this morning and is considered armed and dangerous. 

A special bulletin describes Hall as having multiple tattoos with a shaved head and brown eyes. He is 6 feet 1 inches tall and weighs 200 pounds. If you see him, call 911 immediately and do not make contact with him.

January 13, 2012 (Santee) – The Sheriff’s Homicide detail has been called to the scene of a shooting in the 10000 block of Prospect Avenue in Santee.  At 5:09 a.m., deputies responded to a call of a shooting and found the victim inside the home. 

“The victim was transported to an area hospital by helicopter where he is on life support,” Lieutenant Larry Nesbitt with the Sheriff's Homicide Detail said.

January 13, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)—Due to guardrail repairs, the connector ramp from northbound State Route 67 to westbound Interstate 8 will be closed Saturday morning. The closure will be in effect from 3 a.m. to 11 a.m., according to the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans).

January 4, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – A man suspected of burglarizing senior citizens in Santee, Chula Vista, and Rancho Bernardo was arrested this morning. Joshua David Nicholes, 20, was taken into custody by detectives from the Santee Sheriff’s Station and Riverside Sheriff’s deputies after a warrant search on Margarita Road in Temecula.

December 24, 2011 (San Diego) -- San Diego County Credit Union (SDCCU), San Diego’s largest locally-owned financial institution with three local East County branch offices in El Cajon, La Mesa and Santee, has announced it will return as title sponsor of the 2012 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.

(from left to right): Chris Sichel, executive director of the Make-A-Wish Foundation in San Diego, Make-A-Wish kids Aidan, Tyler, Emma and Christian, and Teresa Halleck, president/CEO of San Diego County Credit Union president. 

 
December 15, 2011 (San Diego County) -- The San Diego County Sheriff's Department has been awarded a new traffic safety grant for a year‐long anti‐DUI program aimed at preventing deaths and injuries on our roadways. 

December 9, 2011 (Santee) – West Hills High School in Santee was briefly locked down this morning after a caller reporting spotting a mountain lion nearby.  Fish & Wildlife officers, along with Sheriff deputies, searched the area with help from a Sheriff’s helicopter but could not locate the animal.

Several other lion sightings were reported  earlier this week locally, though most remain unconfirmed.

December 9, 2011 (Santee) – Santa and snow are in the forecast for Sunday, December 11 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the annual Santa at the Lakes at Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve. Tons of snow for sledding, Santa visits, and s’mores around the fire are highlights of this year’s event.