By Mike Allen

April 4, 2016 (Boulevard) --Customers of tiny Live Oak Springs Water Co. in Boulevard are worried that a pending 44 percent increase to their water bills won’t provide them with better service, and is nothing more than a bailout to the water company that remains in bankruptcy.

When the California Public Utilities Commission convenes April 7 the commission will likely grant Live Oak its rate increase, which is on the consent calendar. That will send average water bills to $107 a month, from the current average $74, according to the proposed resolution). Yet some customers say instead of helping the company, the PUC should replace the woeful management of Live Oak Springs Water.

“If it’s in bankruptcy, why in God’s name are they allowing him to run the water district?,” says Paul Isham, a 27-year resident of the area at the eastern edge of San Diego County. Isham said Live Oak pumped water from a stream near his property several years ago that caused his well to dry up. The action forced Isham to greatly curtail a small ranch business.

By Liz Alper

April 2, 2016 (Alpine) - REACH and the Viejas Fire Department are unveiling their new medically-equipped helicopter in Alpine.  To celebrate, they are holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, April 8^th from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

East County News Service

March 29, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Clementine Scott James, 67, of Spring Valley died of injuries sustained in a two-vehicle crash in Rancho San Diego Sunday afternoon, the Medical Examiner’s office reports.

East County News Service

Photo: Screenshot off Full Gospel church's Facebook page

March 27, 2016 (Spring Valley) – A fire burned down the Full Gospel Church of God in Christ in Spring Valley last weekend.  The Pentacostal church serves a congregation of about 30 people, mainly African Americans.

Just in time for Easter Sunday services, another church previously burned in a fire has offered up space for Full Gospel’s worship services, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

East County News Service

March 20, 2016 (Alpine) Alpine residents and the watchdog group Citizens Oversight have sent a letter to the President of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) asking assistance in identifying any potential hazards associated with electromagnetic fields ((EMF) related to Sunrise Powerlink.  The residents ask for an investigation to assure that the public is protected. 

The residents’ letter claims that San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) could increase power flowing through the underground Sunrise Powerlink along Alpine Blvd. 

By Miriam Raftery

Updated March 31 with new info from the County Office of Education.

March 15, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – The County Committee on School District Organization will hold six hearings to get public input on the Grossmont Union High School District’s proposed shift to electing governing board trustees by districts.  The GUHSD board voted 4-1 to adopt a controversial map and seek a waiver of a public vote despite opposition from members of the public who spoke, some alleging gerrymandering to oust a dissenting board member and break up a vocal minority voting block, as ECM reported.

The six hearings are set for March 17 in La Mesa, March 28 in El Cajon,  April 4 in Alpine,  April 5 in Jamul, April 6 in Lemon Grove, and April 11 in Lakeside.  The public can testify at the meetings and also submit written comments up until April 7.  The County’s committee will vote to approve or disapprove the district’s request at its April 13 meeting. The Alpine hearing was added after ECM and community members asked that Alpine be added as a location due to the many controversies involving the Alpine area.

For the full schedule of meetings, rules and details, click "read more" and scroll down.

To view the San Diego County Office of Education hearings announcement in English, Spanish and Arabic, click here.

To view data on the GUHSD redistricting plan including demographic details and maps, click here.

Study to address potential contamination and cleanup of historic military site

East County News Service

March 18, 2016 (Camp Lockett) - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has scheduled a public meeting to present information on the upcoming Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study at Camp Lockett. Camp Lockett is a Formerly Used Defense Site located in San Diego County. Its property boundary surrounds the town of Campo.

Camp Lockett was initially used by the U.S. Army for cavalry training and border defense, then for training of troops during World War II. After its use as a training range, portions of Camp Lockett were used for the Mitchell Convalescent Hospital and for a prisoner of war camp.

April 1 in Spring Valley, April 10 in Point Loma

March 13, 2016 (Spring Valley) - The 2015-2016 performance season of the Grossmont Symphony Orchestra and Master Chorale continues with a special choral/orchestral project in honor of the 260th anniversary of the birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.  The concert opens with his operatic overture to Don Giovanni and ends with a performance of his Requiem—a bookending of works that share a common theme: the first recognizing a man’s judgement by God for his many sins, and the last asking God for entrance ofone’s soul to Heaven.

The program is contrasted with a piece of chamber music that the composer wrote for flute and string trio: Mozart’s Flute Quartet in A Major, K. 298 as performed by GSO principal flautist, Kay Van Tassell, and members of the Grossmont Symphony String Quartet.

By Miriam Raftery

March 9, 2016 (Alpine) – The Alpine Union High School District(AUSD)  has turned down an offer by the Alpine Education Foundation to conduct independent testing of electromagnetic fields (EMFs) at the Alpine Elementary School campus, citing legal concerns. 

But Superintendent Bruce Cochrane suggests the door is open to a compromise to get the readings done.  “IF AEF were open to donating the necessary funds to the AUSD, the district would be open to contracting out to the firm they have recommended to do testing at AES,” the Superintendent told ECM.

East County News Service

March 9, 2016 (Alpine) –  The Governing Board of the Alpine Union School District has selected McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C Executive Recruitment & Development to assist the Board in its search for a new Superintendent. Executive Director Anita Johnson is working with the Board on the search process. The Board wishes to extend an invitation to all parents and members of the community to meet with Ms. Anita Johnson to help identify the specific traits, skills, abilities, and experience desired in the new Superintendent. The meeting will be held on:

East County News Service

March 9,2016 (Alpine) — The Alpine Mountain Empire Chamber of Commerce has announced the following upcoming events for the remainder of 2016.  These include monthly Hot Topics breakfasts, mixers, and special events including an “I Love a Clean Alpine” Earth Day celebration April 23, leadership awards, the annual Snow Festival, and more.

Scroll down for the full schedule, or visit www.AlpineChamber.com.  You can also stop by the Chamber office at 1620 Alpine Blvd. Suite 208, in Alpine or call 619-445-2722, or email AlpineChamber@att.net.

East County News Service

March 4, 2016 (Alpine) – California Public Utilities Chairman Michael Picker has sent a response to Supervisor Dianne Jacob’s letter, in which Jacob asked for an independent state review of electromagnetic field levels in the Alpine area near the underground Sunrise Powerlink.  But Jacob contends, “The agency’s initial response falls far short of what must be done.” 

East County News Service

March 3, 2016 (Spring Valley) – A 32-year-old Spring Valley man driving a 2002 Acura at a high rate of speed on State Route 94 eastbound at Spring Street yesterday morning struck a center divider wall, then veered to the right and hit a guard rail. 

By Leon Thompson

March 23, 2016 (Alpine) -- Charlotte Figi developed severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy as a baby.  She was severely disabled and at 5 years old was having 300 grand mal seizures a week--each one potentially deadly.  She was given a liquid concentrate of Cannabidiol or CBD oil extracted from industrial hemp. Her parents and physicians said that she improved immediately and significantly.