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

Printer-friendly versionRay Stoyer Water Recycling Facility at Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Santee Lakes Community event makes way for the East County Advanced Water Purification Program Story and photos by Paul Levikow April 13, 2026 (Santee) — After more than a half-century of water reuse in East County, the Ray Stoyer Water Recycling Facility has been decommissioned, marking the end

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Lemon Grove Library hosting Sheriff’s reentry event

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 13, 2026 (Lemon Grove) — The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office Reentry Services Division is holding a public event aimed at bridging the gap between life behind bars and life as a productive neighbor. From 4 to 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 14 at the Lemon Grove Library, the community is being invited to meet

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Man arrested for threatening deputies, firing shots in Santee

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 13, 2026 (Santee) — With help from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Special Enforcement Detail (SWAT) team, an armed man who threatened deputies was arrested April 11 at his security systems business in Santee. Deputies responded to reports of possible gunshots near North Magnolia Avenue around 12:33 a.m. Upon arrival, deputies checked the area

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

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 11, 2026 (Borrego Springs) – The San Diego Superior Court has ordered the conditional release of Sexually Violent Predator Gary Snavely.  The California Department of State Hospitals has recommended the placement of Snavely at 3406 Running M Road in Borrego Springs  He was convicted of lewd and lascivious acts with two girls ages 8 and

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

Printer-friendly versionBy Jeanne Kuang and Yue Stella Yu, CalMatters This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Photo:  U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell speaks to a crowd during a town hall he hosted at the Fresno Convention & Entertainment Center in downtown Fresno on Dec. 15, 2025. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local April 10, 2026 (Fresno) – Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, one

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

Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery April 10, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) – Our East County Magazine website is being attacked by AI-cyberbots that have repeatedly crashed it. Our new website designed in WordPress is ready to launch with great new features for readers – but we can’t launch without critical security upgrade programs that cost thousands of dollars.  Please help!

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San Diego County has free parking perks for seniors

Printer-friendly versionSan Diego County Supervisor Joel Anderson holds up his senior parking pass at Mt. Woodson Gateway County Preserve in Ramona. (Photo courtesy Joel Anderson Facebook page) East County News Service April 10, 2026 (San Diego County) — While parking prices across the region seem to be climbing faster than a fit hiker scaling Iron Mountain, local seniors can count

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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

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 10, 2026 (San Diego County) — Distracted driving causes hundreds of crashes across California each year, and violations of the state’s hands-free cellphone law remain an ongoing concern. As part of Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the California Highway Patrol is urging drivers to put down their phones and stay attentive to help make roads safer

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

Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 10, 2026 (Rancho San Diego) — We’ve all been there: you’re driving through somewhere in San Diego County and run over a jagged pothole, spot a flooded culvert or keep seeing the same abandoned vehicle on a street corner…. but the thought of trying to find the right County department to call and report

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ECM World Watch: national and global news

Printer-friendly versionApril 9, 2026 (San Diego) — As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include: U.S. Trump’s VA killed a home loan program. Vets are now losing their homes because of it (NPR) Eligible young

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GUHSD CONVENES SPECIAL BOARD MEETING TONIGHT (FEB. 23)

Printer-friendly version  ECM NOTIFIES BOARD OF BROWN ACT VIOLATION; REQUESTS POSTPONEMENT & DOCUMENTATION OF LEGAL CHALLENGE Closed session shrouded in secrecy, including vague description of threatened suit   February 22, 2010 (El Cajon) – Grossmont Union High School District’s board of trustees has called a special meeting on less than 24 hours notice for a closed/executive meeting to discuss threatened litigation with the District’s legal counsel.  East County Magazine has notified the Superintendent

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ROCKY ROADS: 78 BLOCKED BY BOULDER: + ROLLOVER SHUTS DOWN I-5

Printer-friendly version February 23, 2010 (Julian) – A 20,000 boulder has rolled off a mountain and is blocking Highway 78 east of Wynola Road and is blocking the highway, CHP reports. In addition, I-5 is blocked at B Street with traffic diversion in place due to a fatality rollover which occurred at 8:40 a.m.     If you are not yet

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CAJON VALLEY SCHOOL BOARD TO CONSIDER NEW BUDGET CUTS AT TUESDAY MEETING

Printer-friendly version  February 22, 2010 (El Cajon) –Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s preliminary budget, released in January, will force more deep cuts for local schools. Tomorrow evening, Cajon Valley School Board will weigh how to cope with $3.5 million in new revenue reductions that the Governor’s budget would mean for the District—on top of a $6 million shortfall that the Board was already

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HELIX WATER DISTRICT ENDORSES WATER BOND FOR NOVEMBER BALLOT

Printer-friendly version    February 22, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) — At its February 17, 2010 meeting, the Helix Water District Board of Directors adopted a resolution supporting the $11.14 billion water bond set for the November 2010 ballot.   View a video of the full meeting, recorded by www.CitizensOversight.org  here:  blip.tv/file/3260117   Titled the Safe, Clean and Reliable Drinking Water Supply

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WESTERN STATES HOCKEY LEAGUE: STEELHEADS GROUND GULLS WITH 6-1 WIN

Printer-friendly versionby Christopher Mohr   February 20, 2010 (Escondido) – As a hockey fan, you know it’s not your night when the opposing team scores a goal before you take the first bite out of your pretzel. When they also score a short-handed goal, get 43 shots on goal and one player on your team fans on a penalty shot,

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CANDIDATES & ELECTED OFFICIALS ADDRESS TEA PARTY RALLY IN EL CAJON

Printer-friendly version FACT CHECK SITES REVEAL CORPORATE FUNDING BEHIND TEA PARTIES;  POLLS SUGGEST MOST FOLLOWERS ARE UNAWARE OF ACTUAL TAX RATE CHANGES     February 20, 2010 (El Cajon) – T.E.A. (“Taxed Enough Already”) Party protesters rallied in an El Cajon park yesterday, turning out despite drizzly weather. “We were happy with our big turnout considering the weather conditions,” organizer

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FATAL ROLLOVER ON HIGHWAY 67

Printer-friendly version  February 21, 2010 (Lakeside) — Multiple units from the Lakeside Fire District responded to a single vehicle rollover on rain-slickened Highway 67 in northern Lakeside this afternoon. Several passers-by including off-duty fire and police personnel performed CPR on the seriously injured driver until Lakeside Fire units arrived, Captain Scott Culkin reports. Unfortunately, the driver was unable to survive

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MISSING HIKERS LOCATED IN DULZURA AREA

Printer-friendly version  February 21, 2010 (Dulzura) The San Diego Sheriff Department’s Search and Rescue Unit was activated this morning to search for six hikers who failed to return home last night. The group has been located and airlifted out after rushing waters left them trapped, East County Magazine has been informed by a spokesperson with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department.

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SD COUNCIL TO CONSIDER LOCAL JOBS ORDINANCE WEDNESDAY; MEASURE SEEKS TO COUNTER ATTACKS ON LABOR GAINS

Printer-friendly version    DeMaio pushes to ban living wage, local hiring requirements and more; Hueso counters with local jobs ordinance February 20, 2010 (San Diego) On Wednesday, San Diego Councilman Carl DeMaio and the Associated General Contractors are trying to put an initiative on the ballot that would eliminate gains made by labor in recent years. On Wednesday, Councilman Ben

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SUSPECT ARRESTED FOR LAKESIDE STABBING

Printer-friendly version    February 20, 2010 (Lakeside) – Sean Scenna, 22, has been arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon. Scenna is accused of stabbing a juvenile at Lindo Lake County Park in Lakeside on February 14th. According to witnesses, un unknown man approached a group and began having a conversation, which resulted in an altercation that ended

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