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April 14, 2026 (Lakeside) — East County-based senior dog rescue group Lionel's Legacy is holding a day of games, community and advocacy on Saturday, April 18 at the Rock House in Lakeside.
The first-ever "Canine Carnival" is set for April 18 while a slumber party that starts that night will take visitors into more activities the morning and early part of April 19 at 11937 Woodside Ave.
Saturday's event, which runs from noon to 8 p.m., serves as a major fundraiser for Lionel's Legacy, a 501c-3 nonprofit with a mission to provide life-saving medical care and permanent foster homes for aging pets.
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Ray 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 of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in regional water sustainability.
Padre Dam Municipal Water District officials marked the milestone April 8 by ceremonially pulling the railing at the facility’s aeration basin adjacent to Santee Lakes, closing the book on a plant that was ahead of its time that helped shape modern recycled water practices.
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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 and saw Robert Sanford, 45, entering his business suite at 10744 Rockville St., Suite 104.
Deputies believed that Sanford was holding a handgun as he entered the suite.
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April 9, 2026 (Santee) — Twenty-five years after teenage student armed with a gun opened fire at Santana High School, survivors and prosecutors are closer to closing a legal loophole they say allows the state’s most violent juvenile offenders to exploit the justice system for early release.
On Tuesday in Sacramento, the Assembly Public Safety Committee voted 8-0 to advance Assembly Bill 1959, a bipartisan measure authored by Assemblymember Dr. Darshana Patel (D-San Diego). The bill aims to restore judicial discretion in cases involving mass casualties and “heinous” crimes committed by minors.
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One of the dogs rescued by the San Diego Humane Society on Friday (Photo courtesy San Diego Humane Society)
East County News Service
April 4, 2026 (San Diego County) -- The San Diego Humane Society’s East County campus and its main campus are operating under critical "over capacity" conditions this weekend following the arrival of a specialized transport of dogs from the Imperial Valley.
On Friday, April 4, 2026, four of 20 dogs transported from the Humane Society of Imperial County were admitted to the El Cajon SDHS Campus on North Marshall Avenue. The remaining 16 were taken to the San Diego Campus on Gaines Street near the University of San Diego.
San Diego Humane Society officials say that the move was intended to save lives -- despite the severe local space shortage, and that it continues to seek potential adopters for all its companion animals.
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April 2, 2026 (Santee) -- The Santee Fire Department and the Santee-Lakeside Emergency Medical Services Authority have expanded their emergency fleet with the official April 1 start of BLS 5, a new Basic Life Support ambulance.
The unit’s inaugural shift began yesterday morning when EMT Chris Brooks radioed dispatch, placing the vehicle into active service for the region.
BLS 5 marks the third Basic Life Support unit for SLEMSA, the joint authority that manages prehospital care for both Santee and Lakeside.
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Update 7:42 p.m. -- The fire has crossed the river and is now burning directly behind commercial buildings including Michael's. "There appears to be no direct access for engines to get to it," ECM reporter Patrick Ward says. The Sheriff has evacuated some stores and is advising the public to avoid the area.
East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts
Photos by Patrick Ward.
March 29, 2026 (Santee) – Fire crews are battling the Town Center Fire burning in vegetation in the 100 block of River Rock Court, across the river from Walmart and the Town Center shopping plaza. The fire is within 50 to 100 yards of commercial structures and has burned 3 aces as of 7:40 p.m., per Watch Duty.
Per Watch Duty App, the incident commander has requested a type 1 strike team of 5 engines, a strike 3 team of 5 engines, and a water dropping helicopter.
Ground crews are now engaged in structure protection on the south side of the river due to a threat to commercial structures there.
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March 28, 2026 (Santee) -- Deputies from the Santee Sheriff's Station conducted an enforcement operation on Thursday aimed at addressing the growing number of electric bikes (e-bikes) and electric motorcycles (e-motorcycles) being operated in violation of state and local laws within the City of Santee.
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Helix Water District Board Member Joel Scalzitti tells the crowd at the Helix Operations Center on Vernon Way on Friday that the district's new electrification project will be a model for the rest of the county.
Photos and story by Karen Pearlman
March 27, 2026 (El Cajon) – While providing safe drinking water to their 278,000 ratepayers is their main goal, the Helix Water District has put some energy into other public utility needs.
On Friday, the District showed how infrastructure and mandates have led it to expand its portfolio, showing off its $11 million electrification project in El Cajon.
The project on Vernon Way is designed to power Helix's fleet for the next 50 to 60 years -- and acts as a pioneer for the region with a replicable success story for municipalities navigating the transition to zero-emission vehicles.
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March 27, 2026 (San Diego County) -- On the eve of what many are calling the largest civil mobilization in American history, in "No Kings" protests, the official stance from regional law enforcement has been clear and public-facing.
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March 27, 2026 (Santee) – A staffer spotted a camouflage backpack near the front entrance of the Santee Sheriff station today at 12:24 p.m. Surveillance video showed a man on bicycle dropping off the suspicious pack. Deputies secured the area and sought help from the Sheriff’s Bomb/Arson detectives.
Patrol deputies conducted a search of the surrounding area for the individual, while the Sheriff’s helicopter issued public address announcements with a description of the subject.
Bomb/Arson detectives assessed the backpack and identified items that appeared to be military-style equipment. As a precaution, nearby streets and sidewalks adjacent to the station were temporarily closed to ensure public safety. Upon further examination, multiple rounds of high-powered ammunition were recovered from inside the backpack.
Detectives ultimately rendered the backpack safe and confirmed there is no ongoing threat to the public.
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March 27, 2026 (Lakeside) – Voters are invited to the “Candidates to Constituents Town Hall” series. The series is hosted by Alpine resident Anne Tillmond and features local, county & state candidates that voters can connect with over three town halls. The first C2C town hall is on Wednesday, April 22nd, 2026 in Lakeside from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Doors open at 6:15 p.m.
Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.
Hazard Construction President Jason Mordhorst and one of Hazard Construction's old trucks -- which still works.
Photos and story by Karen Pearlman
March 26, 2026 (Lakeside) – If you’ve driven a car in San Diego County, you've literally been on top of things with the Hazard Construction Company.
From the winding, scenic roads of Rancho Santa Fe and Del Mar to the massive, multi-lane interchanges of Interstate 8, the Lakeside-headquartered firm has spent a century literally laying the foundation for San Diego and Southern California's growth and expansion.
This June, Hazard officially hits the 100-year mark -- a rare centennial milestone that cements Hazard as one of the oldest and most influential civil engineering contractors in the state.
Hazard Construction Company started small in 1926 when it concentrated on road construction and excavation, but has evolved into a full-service general engineering contracting firm with a focus on private sector work.
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Skip Interstate 8 and 'ride the rails' with the Padres-wrapped Trolley
East County News Service
March 25, 2026 (San Diego) -- With the San Diego Padres set to kick off the 2026 season at Petco Park tomorrow afternoon (March 26, first pitch set for 1:10 p.m.), baseball fans in Santee, El Cajon, Lemon Grove, La Mesa, San Carlos and beyond are being urged to dodge the inevitable Interstate 8 gridlock.
With sellout crowds expected all weekend, the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System is ramping up Green and Orange Line service to ensure East County fans spend more time in their seats and less time hunting for pricey parking spots.
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March 25, 2026 (Santee) – A juvenile riding an electric motorcycle on Mission Gorge Road yesterday afternoon was struck by a passing motorist and fell off the e-motorcycle.
The motorist fled the scene before Sheriff’s deputies arrived.
In a preliminary investigation, statements from witnesses indicate that a group of kids on e-motorcycles were ‘in the roadway causing a hazard -- riding in lanes, holding up traffic,” when the juvenile was struck, said Sgt. Lorenzo Ortiz.
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File photo: El Capitan County Preserve hiking trail
Story updated March 26
By Miriam Raftery
March 24, 2026 (Lakeside) – The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s office has identified a hiker who died on El Cajon Mountain in the El Capitan County Preserve on March 22 as Johnathan L. Gorbea, 40, of Lakeside.
Gorbea was a decorated U.S. Navy veteran who also worked for the Department of Defense, according to a GoFundMe page set up by one of his cousins, which by 11:30 a.m. March 26 had raised $16,715 of $20,000 sought.
Gorbea’s family reported him missing on Sunday morning, after he failed to return from a hike he had left for on Saturday morning.
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March 21, 2026 (Santee) -- Santee School District was awarded a $215,000 grant through the Strong Workforce Program to launch a new Career Technical Education (CTE) program that will give 7th and 8th grade students the opportunity to explore a variety of career pathways.
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March 17, 2026 (San Diego County) -- As the marine layer thins and temperatures climb across the region, San Diego’s original residents are beginning to stir.
From the coastal sage scrub of Torrey Pines to the rocky canyons of Mission Trails Regional Park, the Southern Pacific rattlesnake is officially back on the move, the County of San Diego warns.
Rattlesnake season in Southern California typically spans from March through October, but experts warn that the peak "shaking" occurs between April and June.
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March 17, 2026 (Santee) -- Get ready for fire-breathing fun at Santee's Bunny Trail, including dragon dancers performing from White Dragon Martial Arts School.
This year, the event takes place from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., at Town Center Community Park East, 550 Park Center Drive in Santee.
This year’s event features a bunny trail experience instead of a traditional egg hunt.
Families stroll booth-to-booth collecting eggs at their own pace, then exchange collected eggs for a festive goodie bag. Visit booths in any order and stop by as many as you’d like. Be sure to bring baskets!
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March 15, 2026 (Lakeside) – Lake Jennings invites you to enter your best photos taken at Lake Jennings between April 1 and April 30, 2026. “Lights, camera… lake life!
Show us your best lake adventures, wildlife sightings, epic catches, and golden sunsets,” the Lake Jennings officials' post on Facebook reads.
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Source: Donna Durckel, County of San Diego Communications Office
March 10, 2025 (San Diego) -- The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has declared a new quarantine area affecting the cities of La Mesa, El Cajon, Lemon Grove, San Diego, and Santee as well as Spring Valley and Bonita in San Diego County after Mexican fruit flies were found during a routine inspection in La Mesa.
Residents should not move produce grown in these areas off of their properties, since this pest can infest more than 50 types of fruits and vegetables.
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March 9, 2026 (San Diego) - Construction is underway to renovate a 13,500 square-foot wing at the County’s Edgemoor Distinct Part Skilled Nursing Facility campus in Santee to convert it into a new Acute Psychiatric Unit.
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March 4, 2026 (San Diego’s East County) – A suspect accused of stealing a Jeep Wrangler in Santee and crashing into parked cars near Parkway Plaza in El Cajon following a pursuit has been arrested and is hospitalized with serious injuries.
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March 3, 2026 (Santee) – A motorcyclist suffered serious injury in a collision with a pickup truck yesterday around 1:50 p.m. at North Magnolia Avenue and the onramp to State Routes 67 and 52.
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Sycuan Casino Resort hosted the San Diego Regional East County Chamber of Commerce's 114th annual East County Honors Awards Gala over the weekend.
Photos and story by Karen Pearlman
March 2, 2026 (El Cajon) -- More than 400 business and nonprofit leaders, community advocates and public officials gathered at Sycuan Casino Resort last Saturday for the 114th Annual East County Honors Awards Gala.
Hosted by the San Diego Regional East County Chamber of Commerce, the event continues to be more than a formal dinner, it also acts as a fundraiser for the nonprofit that represent the diverse business community of the East County region, including El Cajon, Lemon Grove, Rancho San Diego, Alpine, Spring Valley and Jamul.
The organization also maintains strong partnerships with other chambers in Santee, La Mesa, Lakeside, Julian, Borrego Springs, Ramona and Poway.
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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 (D3), Monica Montgomery Steppe (D4) and Jim Desmond (D5) -- are looking at a public outreach initiative aimed at reimagining how the public interacts with the group tasked with governing the county's $8 billion-plus budget.
The survey can be accessed here, with a Feb. 27 deadline for input.
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By Donna Durckel, County of San Diego Communications Office
Photo: rendering of final road improvements
February 12, 2026 (San Diego) - The Board of Supervisors approved three major infrastructure projects to improve safety, mobility and sustainability in unincorporated communities: new traffic signals in Lakeside and Fallbrook, road upgrades in Valley Center and a stormwater filtration project in Fallbrook.
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February 10, 2026 (Santee) -- Grossmont Union High School District Superintendent Dr. Kirsten Vital Brulte has sent a letter to District Attorney Summer Stephan expressing full support for her appeal of the San Diego Superior Court’s decision to grant a recall and resentencing hearing for Charles “Andy” Williams, the perpetrator of the 2001 Santana High School shooting.
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Feb. 10, 2026 (Santee) – It's time to grab your canine friends and their leashes for the dogstravaganza that is Fido Fest.
The city of Santee's annual soirée with all things canine will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year at the event set for Saturday, Feb. 28 at Town Center Community Park East, 550 Park Center Drive.
Fido Fest started out as a somewhat modest local gathering of dogs and their human friends but has become a huge draw for four- and two-legged visitors from East County and beyond.
From 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., Santee's Town Center Park will become a dog-centric playground, featuring everything from high-energy agility courses to the adopt-don't-shop headquarters of "Adoption Alley."
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East County News Service
Ray Stoyer Water Recycling Facility at Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Santee Lakes
East County News Service
Story and photo by Karen Pearlman
One of the dogs rescued by the San Diego Humane Society on Friday (Photo courtesy San Diego Humane Society)
East County News Service
East County News Service
Helix Water District Board Member Joel Scalzitti tells the crowd at the Helix Operations Center on Vernon Way on Friday that the district's new electrification project will be a model for the rest of the county.
East County Magazine
By Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
Hazard Construction President Jason Mordhorst and one of Hazard Construction's old trucks -- which still works.
Skip Interstate 8 and 'ride the rails' with the Padres-wrapped Trolley
East County News Service
File photo: El Capitan County Preserve hiking trail
Photo courtesy County of San Diego
By Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
East County News Service
East County News Service
East County News Service 
By 
East County News Service
Photos and story by Karen Pearlman
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