By Miriam Raftery

Photo, ,left:  Stacy Taylor interviewing anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan on KLSD radio

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Cal-Fire

September 30, 2016 (Ramona) — Firefighters discovered a body inside a burned home near Dos Picos County Park in Ramona yesterday morning.

East County News Service

September 21, 2016 (Ramona) – Six Ramona and Poway businesses are sponsoring and hosting hand-painted wine barrels to preview the 4th annual Ramona Art and Wine Festival.

Update Sept. 21,2016:  Sheriff's Homicide Detectives have arrested Sandra Leigh Stoneburner, who lived at the Camino San Ignacio address.  She is charged with murder of  the victim,  her sister Carrie Deatherage, 51.

East County News Service

September 17, 2016 (Warner Springs) — A shooting at the Los Coyotes Indian Reservation in Warner Springs has left a woman, 51, in grave condition.  A 57-year-old woman has been detained as a “person of interest” at the scene, says Lieutenant Kenneth Nelson.

East County News Service

September 16,2016 (Descanso) – If you’re hankering for some saddles, tack, Western wear or other cowboy gear, mosey on over to a cowboy swap meet at William  Lang Leather Works (formerly McClintock’s Saddle Works at 25077 ViejasBlvd.) in Descanso on Sunday, September 25 from 8 a.m. to 1p.m.

Hunters urged to be fire-safe; lead ammo now illegal in state forests

East County News Service

September 12, 2016 (Sacramento) – If you’re hiking in California forests, you may want to wear bright colors to make sure you can easily be seen.  Deer hunting season opens Saturday, Sept. 17 in most zones in the state.

East County News Service

September 6, 2016 (Ramona) – A 33-year-old motorcyclist suffered life-threatening injuries after being struck while attempting to pass a Toyota Tacoma shortly before 1 p.m. today in Ramona.

East County News Service

September 3, 2016 (Mount Laguna) – You’re invited to step back in time and enjoy an authentic 1800-1840s Rocky Mountain fur trader’s encampment at the Laguna Mountain Rendezvous from Sept.30 to Oct. 9.  Day visitors and period campers are welcome.

East County News Service

August 28, 2016 (Mt Laguna) -- Lore of the Laguna’s (Living History Pageant) returns as the Laguna Mountain Volunteer Association presents its 29th Annual LIVING HISTORY after a two-year hiatus. The past comes alive in this re-enactment of life in the Laguna Mountains, starting in the early 1900s and going back in time. Visit with Native Americans, rugged cowboys and turn-of-the-(last) century mountain men. Meet the first Laguna Forest Ranger, and relive the summer encampment of a 1908 pioneer family from Imperial Valley. How did they survive back then without any modern devices or conveniences and most of all, cell phones or social media? It was a slower pace, but lives were just as eventful and full of adventure as they are now.

East County News Service

August 25, 2016 (Ramona) - The August Open Farm Tour and Show at the Oasis Camel Dairy is set for this next weekend, August 27th and 28th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

East County News Service

August 21, 2016 (Julian) -- The 47^th Annual Julian Music Festival 2016 to benefit the California Wolf Center will take place Saturday, September 17 from 1 to 7 p.m.(Door opens at noon)  The setting for the festival will be the Menghini Winery located at 1150 Julian Orchards Drive in Julian.  Parking is free.  Tickets may be purchased on the website:  https://julianmusicfestival.com.

By Miriam Raftery

August 13, 2016 (Cuyamaca) – Royal, a horse missing in Rancho Cuyamaca State Park since August 9, was found today by a runner who spotted Royal drinking water at Dyer Spring.  Royal is currently at the veterinarian for treatment of a gash on the leg, but otherwise appears to be in good health.

UPDATE:  SEARCHERS STILL NEEDED!  Need more on horseback, on foot and on bike to search brush areas.  Bring Bluetooth wireless speakers for phones or MP3 players and play horse sounds for Royal to reply to.  Meet Aug. 13 at the Sweetwater Bridge parking lot.  Call Shawna (760) 880-1714

East County News Service

August 10, 2016 (Cuyamaca) – Searchers on foot, on horse, and a drone are requested to help find a horse named Royal that ran off on August 7 in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park at Dyar Springs Trail south of the spring.  “He was fully tacked when he left us. His saddle slipped under him and scared him,” the owner says, according to a post at the Brush Fire Partyline on Facebook.  The horse took off bucking and the owner fears he could be caught up on brush.

Update:   Helix Water says Lake Jennings drinking water tests clean, issue is with fish tissue; state clarifies problem is with fish tissue, not necessarily water for drinking

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

August 6, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – State officials are warning that 150 reservoirs statewide are tainted by mercury. Ten San Diego reservoirs are contaminated, including some of East County’s most popular fishing spots.  “Mercury is negatively impacting the beneficial uses of many waters of the state by making fish unsafe for human and wildlife consumption,” the State Water Resources Control Board website warns.

However some local officials dispute those findings.

 

What lakes locally have mercury issues,accordingto the state?

Local reservoirs listed as "mercury impaired" on the state's document are El Capitan Reservoir, Lake Henshaw, Lake Hodges, Lake Jennings, Loveland Reservoir, Lower Otay Reservoir, Lake Morena Reservoir, San Vicente Reservoir, Lake Sutherland, and Sweetwater Reservoir, according to a California Water Boards publication released in June.

By Miriam Raftery

August 2, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – The deadline to file as a candidate to run for local offices is August 11. But so far, many East County races have no candidates declared or qualified for the ballot, according to the Registrar of Voters candidate list for the November election.  Most community planning groups have nobody running.  The same is true in some school, water and fire districts. Races with no candidates will be filled by appointment. In other districts, people are running unopposed—even incumbents on some of the most controversy-riddled boards.

No candidates are listed yet for the city councils in El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove or Santee, nor for the mayoral seats open in Lemon Grove and Santee, nor the La Mesa City Clerk or Treasurer seats.  Candidates have been actively campaigning in some of those races and some will likely file before deadline, but it’s also common for candidates to drop out before qualifying for the ballot.

In the Grossmont Union High School District, incumbent Jim Stieringer is thus far running unopposed in district two (La Mesa/Mt. Helix/Rancho San Diego); in district one (Lemon Grove/Spring Valley) which is an open seat, only one candidate has filed: Pastor Steve Babbitt from Spring Valley Community Church.