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THE RENO REPORT: MORNING HAS BROKEN

Printer-friendly versionBy Jamie Reno Exclusive for East County Magazine October 15, 2008 (Tierrasanta) – Morning has broken. As the sun rises over the East County, a sense of calm permeates my body. Yesterday morning, when I started writing this column for East County Magazine on the new fire threats, it was a different story. I was filled with anxiety. The

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CONTROL OF GROSSMONT UNION HIGH SCHOOL BOARD HANGS IN BALANCE

Printer-friendly versionElection creates rift among Republicans By Miriam Raftery Five candidates are vying for two seats on the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) Board of Trustees. The stakes are high. The outcome of this election may determine if  a popular superintendent will be retained, if a new high school will be built in Alpine, and if divisive forces will

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PROPOSITION U SEEKS FUNDS FOR CLASSROOM UPGRADES, NEW BUILDINGS IN GROSSMONT UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery Grossmont Union High School District’s superintendent and four of five GUHSD school board trustees agree that Proposition U is critical to repair and replace aging buildings throughout the district—and build a long-awaited new high school for Alpine. “We can’t modernize the old industrial classrooms abandoned years ago without Proposition U,” GUHSD Superintendent Robert Collins said

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ETHICS, BUDGET CUTS, & CHOOSING NEW CHANCELLOR TOP ISSUES IN GROSSMONT-CUYAMACA COMMUNITY COLLEGE BOARD RACE

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery The race:  Four candidates are running for two seats on the Grossmont-Cuyamaca College Board of Trustees.  Challengers Mary Kay Rosinski and Moe Bakeer face off against incumbents Tim Caruthers and Bill Garrett, board president.  ECM interviewed Rosinski, Caruthers and Garrett; Bakeer did not respond to interview requests. What’s at stake:  Community colleges face tough times amid

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Remember “L” is on “La Mesa” ballots

Printer-friendly versionCity faces low reserves; bond rating, city jobs at stake if measure fails to pass By Kristin Hobbs Kjaero The proposition Proponents call it the “Vital City Services Measure,” and opponents call it a “Pension Tax.” The impartial ballot analysis identifies it as a “general tax,” which means revenue would go into La Mesa’s general fund and “the City

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STATE OF DISUNION:  WAR VETERANS SPEAK OUT AGAINST MILITARY ABUSE OF TROOPS IN LOCAL STOP ON NATIONAL TOUR

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Editor’s Note:  Military authorities declined to speak with East County Magazine regarding this story. We also requested permission to interview veterans at Balboa Naval Hospital to obtain a diverse range of views on conditions in mlitary service.  Our request was denied.   October 18, 2008 (San Diego)–Army intelligence officer Selena Coppa has risked her freedom to speak out. 

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SAN DIEGO SOLAR HOMES TOUR: SATURDAY OCT. 18

Printer-friendly version The San Diego Solar Homes Tour is quite possibly the longest running and most popular tour in California.  Celebrating the ninth year of the free tour, over 40 homes throughout San Diego County are participating—including many in East County and San Diego’s Eastern region. This self-guided tour, sponsored by the California Center for Sustainable Energy,  offers real-life, working

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7th DISTRICT FIGHT – EMERALD VS. BOLING:  YOUR RINGSIDE GUIDE

Printer-friendly versionAccountant April Boling refuses to comment on allegations of “illegal and unethical bookkeeping”; opponent Marti Emerald shares vision for San Diego’s future By Joseph Rocha October 15, 2009 (San Diego)–Touted  as “The Troubleshooter vs. the Accountant” by local media,  San Diego’s 7th District Council race sounds more like a build-up to a Saturday night cage fight than a hotly contested

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HIGHWAYS OPEN, FIRES 100% CONTAINED IN CAMPO AND RANCHO BERNARDO; FIREFIGHTERS STILL BATTLE JULIET BLAZE

Printer-friendly versionOctober 14, 2008, 11:00 p.m. — All major highways in San Diego County are open tonight. The Juliet Fire, which burned 3,980 acres in the Oceanside area after spreading from Camp Pendleton, is now 60% contained and evacuation orders in Fallbrook have been lifted. The Shockey Fire in Campo is 100% contained after burning 200 acres. A small fire

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LA MESA CITY FEES WILL INCREASE NEARLY 25% IN 2025

Printer-friendly version  By Michael Howard   February 3, 2025 (La Mesa, CA) – The La Mesa City Council, during its Tuesday January 28, 2025 meeting, voted unanimously to increase city fees by 24.7%.   “Some fee schedules are increasing higher than normal,” Assistant to the City Manager Lyn Dedmon admitted to the Council members when the increases were presented for

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STATE PROPOSES RELEASE OF SEXUALLY VIOLENT PREDATOR GARY SNAVELY IN JULIAN: HEARING MARCH 7

Printer-friendly version East County News Service Update Feb. 4, 2025 — Supervisor Joel Anderson has launched a petition to oppose Snavely’s placement in Julian. You can sign his petition here. February 1, 2025 (Julian, CA) – San Diego County Superior Court has ordered the conditional release of Gary Snavely, a sexually violent predator (SVP) at 3452 Wynola Road in Julian. 

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EL CAJON WOMAN ARRESTED FOR SENDING DRUG-LACED MAIL TO LAS COLINAS DETENTION FACILITY IN SANTEE

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service January 31, 2025 – Annette Smith, 58, of El Cajon has been arrested on suspicion of mailing a narcotic-laced greeting card into a San Diego County Jail. In December 2024, deputies assigned to the Sheriff’s Mail Processing Center intercepted a greeting card intended for Alicia Abungan, 52, who is in custody at the Las Colinas

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DEPUTY CHARGED OVER EXCESSIVE FORCE THAT SERIOUSLY INJURED MAN AWAITING TRIAL AND COVERING UP HIS ACTIONS

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery January 31, 2025 (San Diego) — A two-count indictment was unsealed in federal court today charging San Diego Sheriff’s Deputy Jeremiah Manuyag Flores with violating the civil rights of a man in pretrial custody at the San Diego Central Courthouse. Flores is accused of using excessive force that caused a spinal cord injury, then writing a

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EL CAJON ADDS BAGS AND RECEPTACLES FOR DOG WALKERS TO HELP KEEP CITY CLEAN

Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery   Photos by Robert Gehr   January 31, 2025 (El Cajon) – After voting to repeal a long-unenforced ban on dog walking downtown, the city of El Cajon has installed “doggie pots” and poop disposal bags to help dog owners cleanup after their pets.   Photos show receptacle near the waterscape outside the Magnolia performing

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CITY LAUNCHES LA MESA FACADE AND PROPERTY IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM FOR FOURTH YEAR

Printer-friendly versionProgram assists local businesses with grants for property improvements Source:  City of La Mesa January 31, 2025 (La Mesa) – The City of La Mesa is launching the La Mesa Façade and Property Improvement Grant program for a fourth consecutive year. This program aims to bolster local businesses by providing grant funds for up to $25,000 for exterior façade improvements

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EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: LOCAL AND STATEWIDE NEWS

Printer-friendly versionJanuary 30, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) — East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media.  This week’s round-up stories include: LOCAL Local businesses and nonprofits feeling the impact of federal immigration operations (KPBS) San Diego Fire Rescue Department tries out new fire prevention product (KPBS) Measuring

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IN PACKED HEARING, EL CAJON COUNCIL VOTES 3-2 AGAINST CONTENTIOUS IMMIGRATION RESOLUTION

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery View video of full Council hearing (Immigration agenda item begins at 37 minutes.) January 29, 2025 – Emotions ran high during yesterday’s El Cajon City Council meeting, where a packed chamber heard testimony from 88 members of the public over a proposed over immigration enforcement resolution, followed by a heated Council debate that divided the all-Republican

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COVERED CALIFORNIA REACHES RECORD-BREAKING 1.9M ENROLLEES BEFORE OPEN ENROLLMENT’S JANUARY 31 DEADLINE

Printer-friendly versionSource:  Covered California Photo:  nearly 300,000 Californians have signed up during open enrollment through Jan. 26 Janaury 29, 2025 (Sacramento) – Covered California has surpassed 1.9 million enrollees, bolstering its record-high enrollment before open enrollment’s Jan. 31 deadline for California’s remaining uninsured. This open enrollment, 299,060 Californians have signed up for 2025 coverage as of Jan. 26, a 13 percent increase

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