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Breaking News

Lionel’s Legacy hosting sleepover party and more in Lakeside April 18-19

Lionel’s Legacy hosting sleepover party and more in Lakeside April 18-19

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Mountain Empire Art Show Debuts April 15 in Boulevard

Mountain Empire Art Show Debuts April 15 in Boulevard

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Padre Dam’s Ray Stoyer Water Recycling Facility decommissioned after more than a half-century of use

Padre Dam’s Ray Stoyer Water Recycling Facility decommissioned after more than a half-century of use

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Lemon Grove Library hosting Sheriff’s reentry event

Lemon Grove Library hosting Sheriff’s reentry event

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Man arrested for threatening deputies, firing shots in Santee

Man arrested for threatening deputies, firing shots in Santee

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Hearing May 15 on proposed release of sexually violent predator Gary Snavely in Borrego Springs: public comments sought

Hearing May 15 on proposed release of sexually violent predator Gary Snavely in Borrego Springs: public comments sought

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Supporters flee Swalwell’s governor campaign amid allegations of sexual assault

Supporters flee Swalwell’s governor campaign amid allegations of sexual assault

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Attacked by AI-cyberbots: Please help us fund critical security upgrades

Attacked by AI-cyberbots: Please help us fund critical security upgrades

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San Diego County has free parking perks for seniors

San Diego County has free parking perks for seniors

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CHP urges drivers to follow hands-free cell phone law; officers report more violations as distracted driving causes hundreds of crashes annually

CHP urges drivers to follow hands-free cell phone law; officers report more violations as distracted driving causes hundreds of crashes annually

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Don’t miss Santa Ysabel and Wynola on your way to visit Julian

Don’t miss Santa Ysabel and Wynola on your way to visit Julian

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Learn how to use the county’s ‘Tell Us Now!’ app on April 13

Learn how to use the county’s ‘Tell Us Now!’ app on April 13

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Still No County Fire Department Five Years After Cedar Blaze

August 15, 2008

Printer-friendly version   Still No County Fire Department Five Years After Cedar Blaze By E.A. Barrera “Given the existing high-risk conditions that are projected to continue into the future, destructive firestorms will certainly occur again. Yet, even armed with this knowledge and after the Cedar Fire wake-up call, the San Diego region is woefully unprepared.” — San Diego County Grand

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Faith, Science and Anti-Catholicism: “THE X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE”

August 15, 2008

Printer-friendly versionBy E.A. Barrera Courtesy of 20th Century Fox. “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings is to search out a matter.” Proverbs 25:2 King James Bible “THE X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE” is a solid, if not often campy thriller involving the nightmares and paranoia many science-fiction fans crave.   The

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COMING SOON!

July 4, 2008

Printer-friendly versionNews, views and resources to improve communities in San Diego’s eastern region* Local and regional news Award-winning team of journalists Wildfire/emergency alerts National news links Best of East County (highlights attractions and activities) Calendar of events (concerts, shows, festivals and more) East County Eater restaurant reviews Lively and informative features Columns and editorials representing diverse voices Voter information People

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Lemon Grove City Council appoints two new Planning Commission members

February 23, 2026

Printer-friendly version“I love Lemon Grove, and I always like to think the glass is half full, not half empty.” – David Eckler, newly appointed Lemon Grove planning commissioner. Photo by Armando Rasing II:  The Lemon Grove City Council introducing the new planning commission candidates one-by-one on Tuesday night By Armando Rasing II February 23, 2026 (Lemon Grove) – David Eckler

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Rehabilitated bobcat released after 4-month recovery in Ramona

February 23, 2026

Printer-friendly versionPhoto courtesy San Diego Humane Society East County News Service Feb. 23, 2026 (Ramona) — A bobcat kitten was returned to her native habitat yesterday (Feb. 22) after undergoing four months of intensive medical treatment at the San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center. The release marked the end of a recovery process that began under critical conditions. On Oct. 14,

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Motorcyclist dies in Descanso

February 21, 2026

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service February 21, 2026 (Descanso) – A man killed in a solo motorcycle crash in Descanso on February 8 has been identified as Fernando Omar Herrera, 39, of San Diego. The motorcycle he was driving veered off the roadway on Viejas Blvd. at Merigan Fire Rd. and struck a wire fence around 11:05 p.m.  Responding paramedics

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And the survey says… County Supervisors looking for input

February 20, 2026

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service Feb. 20, 2026 (San Diego County) — There’s one week left to tell San Diego County officials what you want to see, including ways they can better pull back the proverbial curtain on local government. With a comprehensive survey launched earlier this year, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors — Paloma Aguirre (District 1), Joel Anderson (D2), Terra Lawson-Remer

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“I believe in investigative journalism, but it’s under attack right now...When corporations are only interested in the bottom line, they’re going to cut investigative journalism…The good news is the rise of online nonprofit journalism organizations like East County Magazine.”
JW August, former news director, ABC 10 News
“Very cool…This magazine is filling a real void!”
Jamie Reno, award-winning Newsweek journalist
You guys are fast! Often I get your alerts before I hear from dispatch. I forward many of your Viejas Wildfire & Emergency alerts to all our people.”
August Ghio, former President, San Diego County Fire Chiefs Association
“As I write this letter, a 2,000 acre wildfire is burning in the Julian/Borrego area. East County Magazine and the Wildfire Alerts have provided by far the most extensive and timely coverage on evacuations, road closures and progress of this fire, as they have on many emergencies.”
Anthony Pico, former chairman, Viejas band of the Kumeyaay Nation
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Carole Kennedy, former president, California Faculty Association, SDSU
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Doug Dean, former San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce Education Chair (you can delete the second title)
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“It is with great joy and community pride that the readers of Indian Voices greet the inaugural edition of the East County Magazine...We owe a debt of journalistic gratitude to Miriam Raftery for taking a leading role in the media explosion by creating and providing an online medium for a community that needs a voice.”
Rose Davis, Indian Voices
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I think you are off and running. I'm looking forward to being there when you pick up your Pulitzer.”
Robert Lundahl, Robert Lundahl Films
“You were the first ones to let me know about the plane crash [off I-15 near Miramar]. I was in Sacramento.”
Former Assembly member Marty Block