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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
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
News Issues
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
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
Politics
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
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
Wildfires and Emergencies
Cal State University San Marcos and nearby homes evacuated due to brush fire
East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts April 5, 2026 (San Marcos) – The #MoreeFire in San Marcos has led to evacuations, including the California State…
Help shape fire priorities in San Diego County
East County News Service April 4, 2026 (San Diego County) — With “fire season” now a year-round threat, public input is growing in importance as…
Events & Arts
Lionel’s Legacy hosting sleepover party and more in Lakeside April 18-19
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 14, 2026 (Lakeside) — East County-based senior dog rescue group Lionel’s Legacy is holding
Mountain Empire Art Show Debuts April 15 in Boulevard
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 14, 2026 (Boulevard) — The Backcountry Resource Center in Boulevard will be busy this Wednesday,
Visit East County
DESTINATIONS: Borrego and beyond — a beautiful backcountry day
Printer-friendly versionBy Karen Pearlman, with photos by Karen Pearlman and Miriam Raftery Feb. 22, 2026 (San Diego County) — With
We need your help! We have more news tips for East County issues than our budget can cover
Printer-friendly versionLast year tapped our resources at East County Magazine more than any on record, with so many major news
People
Donate to help pets in need at Alpine Pet Food and Supply Drive April 4
East County News Service March 14, 2026 (Alpine) – Dog and cat food, treats, grooming supplies, new pet toys, feeding
Descanso resident named American Honey Queen
By Miriam Raftery February 18, 2026 (Descanso) — You could call it sweet success. The American Beekeeping Federation has chosen
Communities
Lionel’s Legacy hosting sleepover party and more in Lakeside April 18-19
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 14, 2026 (Lakeside) — East County-based senior dog rescue group Lionel’s Legacy is holding
Mountain Empire Art Show Debuts April 15 in Boulevard
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 14, 2026 (Boulevard) — The Backcountry Resource Center in Boulevard will be busy this Wednesday,
Features
Lionel’s Legacy hosting sleepover party and more in Lakeside April 18-19
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 14, 2026 (Lakeside) — East County-based senior dog rescue group Lionel’s Legacy is holding
Mountain Empire Art Show Debuts April 15 in Boulevard
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service April 14, 2026 (Boulevard) — The Backcountry Resource Center in Boulevard will be busy this Wednesday,
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CUCUMBERS AND CUCUMBER PRODUCTS RECALLED DUE TO SALMONELLA
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery December 5, 2024 (Washington D.C.) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports that 68 cases of salmonella have been linked to cucumbers, including 18 people who were hospitalized. SunFed Produce, Baloian Farms of Arizona Co. and Russ Davis Wholesale have issued voluntary recalls of all sizes of fresh American/slicer cucumbers grown by Agrotato and
VIDEO OF THE WEEK: INTERVIEWS WITH FIRE CHIEFS AT BARONA CONTROLLED BURN
Printer-friendly version Click here to view video full screen, or scroll down: https://youtu.be/n_au8Pk7gCM December 5, 2024 (Lakeside) – Shiloh Ireland interviewed Barona Fire Chief Ken Kremensky and Cal Fire Division Chief Eric on December 3 during a 160-acre controlled burn on the Barona reservation in Lakeside. Burning old brush has ecological benefits, also protecting communities from wildfires since it’s far
DECEMBER IS NATIONAL IDENTITY THEFT PREVENTION AND AWARENESS MONTH; SDCCU OFFERS DEC. 18 WEBINAR AND RESOURCES TO HELP YOU STAY SAFE
Printer-friendly versionWebinar on identity theft prevention will detail ways to protect your information Source: San Diego County Credit Union December 4, 2024 (San Diego) – San Diego County Credit Union (SDCCU), one of San Diego’s largest locally-owned financial institutions, is offering free resources and raising awareness regarding identity theft crimes during National Identity Theft Prevention and Awareness Month. On Wednesday, December 18
REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT CULTURAL HUB MODEL TO BE UNVEILED DECEMBER 7
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery Photo: screenshot from video by the Aja Project on the Refugee and Immigrant Cultural Hub December 3, 2024 (San Diego) – A 3-D model of a planned Refugee and Immigrant Cultural Hub (RICH) will be unveiled on December 7 at 5555 University Avenue in San Diego’s mid-city community to serve the diverse needs of San Diego’s
MISSING SENIOR FOUND DEAD NEAR I-8 ONRAMP IN LA MESA
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service December 3, 2024 (La Mesa) – The body of Vivian Crowder, a 71-year-old woman with dementia who has been missing since October 29th was found this morning by workers from Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol along the onramp from La Mesa Boulevard to eastbound Interstate 8. La Mesa Police department expressed profound sadness at
EL CAJON NAMES NEW CHIEF OF POLICE
Printer-friendly versionEast County News Service December 3, 2024 (El Cajon) – The City of El Cajon announces Captain Jeremiah Larson’s promotion to Chief of Police, effective December 18. Larson has served the El Cajon community for over two decades and will succeed the current Chief of Police, Mike Moulton, who announced his retirement earlier this year. Larson grew up in El
EAST COUNTY ARSONIST ARRESTED, CHARGED WITH SETTING NINE FIRES IN NOVEMBER
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery December 2, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – Cal Fire investigators have arrested a serial arsonist accused of setting nine fires across East County between Nov. 10 and Nov. 30. Allen Dinoyo, a transient resident of San Diego, will be charged with multiple felonies. He is accused of starting vegetation fires on Nov.10 in Jamul,
SCOTT CHADWICK, NEW CEO AT HELM OF PORT AUTHORITY, IS ANCHORED IN EAST COUNTY
Printer-friendly version By Miriam Raftery December 1, 2024 (El Cajon) – San Diego Port Commissioners have named Scott Chadwick to serve as the new CEO of the San Diego Port Authority, starting in January. Born and raised in El Cajon, Chadwick graduated from Valhalla High School and Grossmont College, later obtaining a B.A. in political science from Purdue University. Currently
MAN ARRESTED AFTER THREATENING OFFICERS AT GROSSMONT CENTER
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery November 30, 2024 (La Mesa) — A man who reportedly threatened police officers and security officers was arrested this afternoon at Grossmont Center. According to La Mesa Police Lieutenant Matt Conlon, police were summoned after the suspect caused a commotion in the food court and other stores, also threatening security officers. When La Mesa Police officers
EL CAJON POLICE RESPOND TO VANDALISM OF BUS
Printer-friendly versionBy Robert Gehr November 30, 2024 (El Cajon) – A man was taken into custody for smashing windows on an MTS bus on November 26 around 6:30 a.m. He was transported by American Medical Response to a hospital. It took multiple police officers to restrain the man, who eventually had what appeared to be a spit mask or possible head protection device put on. Broken glass and
Register to Vote!
Printer-friendly versionVoter registration drives are being held at several East County locations listed below. You must be registered by October 20th to vote in the November 4th presidential election. Registering in person means you don’t have to worry about forms getting lost in the mail or arriving too late. If you’re not yet registered, you can sign up at any
WATER SHORTAGE REVIVES RECYCLED WATER PROPOSALS
Printer-friendly versionBy E.A. Barrera Photos by Daisy Sharrock October 1, 2008 (SAN DIEGO) – Water is the single biggest issue facing the future of San Diego County. Even the process for updating San Diego County’s land use general plan – the so-called General Plan 2020 process – depends on the availability and amount of water the area will sustain. "Water
Health Tips
Printer-friendly version HUMAN WEST NILE VIRUS CASES REACH FIVE TOTAL SAN DIEGO August 18, 2008 — Another confirmed locally-acquired human case of West Nile virus (WNV) brings the year-to-date total to five—including one patient in East County, according to the County Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA). FDA DECISION ON BPA OUTRAGES HEALTH ADVOCATES FALLS CHURCH, Va., Aug 20, 2008
A Firestorm of Controversy – Still No County Fire Department Five Years After Cedar Blaze
Printer-friendly versionBallot measure will ask voters to approve tax for fire services By E.A. Barrera Photos courtesy of La Mesa Fire Department “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
DYING TO COME TO AMERICA – Immigrant Death Toll Soars; Water Stations Sabotaged
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery September 1, 2008 (Holtville)–“These people came here looking for opportunity. Not one of them expected to die,” said Enrique Morones, erecting a hand-made wooden cross at a gravesite marked only by a brick engraved with the name Jane Doe. A few years ago, there were twenty bricks in this pauper’s graveyard at Holtville in Imperial County,
Tough Medicine, Part I
Printer-friendly versionGrossmont Hospital Investigations Raise Oversight Concernts, Criticisms By Sara McInerney, staff writer, and editor Miriam Raftery September 14, 2008 (La Mesa)–Revelations of preventable patient deaths and alleged neglect at Sharp Grossmont Hospital have led some community leaders to demand increased oversight even as new complaints of patient care at Grossmont surface. Grossmont is one of four hospitals in San Diego
Tough Medicine, Part II
Printer-friendly versionCommunity Leaders Call for New Hospital in East County: Long Waits in Grossmont ER, Patient Deaths Heighten Urgent Need By Sara McInerney, Staff Writer September 18, 2008 (La Mesa)–Government investigations into at least three preventable patient deaths at Sharp Grossmont Hospital have raised serious questions about the facility’s capacity to service the needs of East County’s growing population. Closure of
Democratic Candidates Urge Voters to Unite for Change at East County Rally
Printer-friendly versionBy Miriam Raftery "I’ve been a Republican for 35 years and I became a Democrat in January," La Mesa Councilmember David Allan told a crowd of approximately 350 people at the East County Uniting for Change picnic on Sunday at Harry Griffith Park in La Mesa. Sponsored by the La Mesa-Foothills, East County and Santee Democratic Clubs, the event
Budget Crisis Hits Home
Printer-friendly versionState workers in East County struggle to cope with prospect of huge pay cuts, lay-offs; Judge orders Sept. 12 hearing on Governor’s wage-slashing orders By Miriam RafteryPhotos by Aida Canonizado Mildred Scarber, a state employee who works at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in El Cajon, was shocked to learn that Governor Schwarzenegger has ordered all state employees’
Taxing Issues
Printer-friendly versionLa Mesa Council candidates address budget gap, public safety and future growth By Miriam Raftery State budget cuts have left La Mesa facing a potential budget shortfall of several million dollars. In exclusive interviews with East County Magazine, challenger Shannon O’Dunn as well as incumbents David Allan and Ruth Sterling shared their views on bridging the budget gap as
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