September 1, 2010(El Cajon ) – Folk dancing, authentic Chaldean food, live music and singing performed in Aramaic-Chaldean and English will all be part of the festivities at the Chaldean Annual Festival in El Cajon. A $5 admission/voucher may be used towards food, children’s games, or purchases from vendors. An art and cultural exhibition will also be held.
September 4, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Roundup highlights important stories of interest to East County readers, published by other media.
September 4, 2010 (Ramona) -- Aerial firefighters continue battling the Cowboy Fire, which is currently 65% contained with full control predicted Monday night. If not for this Ramona air field, brush-covered open spaces in our backcountry would be even greater threats to residents throughout San Diego County.
Update 4:15 p.m. - The spread of the fire has been halted at 3 acres; mop crews will remain on scene for approximately there hours, Cal-Fire battalion chief Nick Schuler has informed East County Magazine.
September 4, 2010 (Mesa Grande) – Cal-Fire is at the scene of a three-acre grass fire off Mesa Grande Road and Highway 79, near the co munity of Mesa Grande. The fire was reported at 3:15 p.m. and cause is under investigation.
Update September 4 2010, 12 p.m. -- The Cowboy Fire is 827 acres and 65% contained. Full containment is expected tomorrow at 6 p.m. and full control is expected on September 7th at 6 p.m., Cal-Fire reports. View map of fire at bottom of this article.
East County News Service
September 3, 2010 (Campo) – The Cowboy Fire, which has burned 822 acres, was started by two illegal immigrants who were in distress, Cal-Fire reports.
“They called C4, which is Mexico’s emergency dispatch system, and advised them that they had been lost for two days, were stranded, dehydrated, and were going to light a signal fire to attempt to get some help,” said Roxanne Provaznik, public information officer for Cal-Fire.
September 3, 2010 (Lakeside) – The public is invited to attend the 40th annual Barona PowWow. The event, which has free admission, will be held September 3-5 at the Barona Baseball Field. More than $60,000 in prize money will be awarded in Native American dance competitions. The powwow, which attracts competitors from all over North America, also features vendors selling Native American arts, crafts, and jewelry.
September 3, 2010 (Tierrasanta) – A 66-year old woman was struck by a 2001 Chrysler sedan at 8:36 this morning while walking southbound in the 11200 block of Tierrasanta Boulevard. She died at a hospital later of major injuries sustained in the accident.
September 4, 2010 (San Diego) -- The goal of public education in the United States used to be a "liberal" education. That meant skill in reading and writing and arithmetic, a smattering of history and poetry, a small acquaintance with classical literature, and a free, independent, and enquiring mind.
September 3, 2010 (San Diego)--I normally try to give every movie I see the benefit of the doubt but I will admit, based on such experiences as When in Rome and The Bounty Hunter, that it was hard for me to not be leery. Fortunately, whatever doubts I had immediately dissipated once Going the Distance began and the result was a very good time and lots of laughs. I urge you not to dismiss it.
Update Sept. 3, 2010 12:10 p.m.: The Cowboy Fire is now 42% contained, will full containment projected for Sunday. Smoke can be seen in the area, due to an island of unburned fuel that burned in the middle of the fire. There is no current threat to structures.
Currently there are 48 engines, 35 fire crews, 2 bulldozers, 4 helicopters, 2 helitankers, 4 airtankers, 8 water tenders, 69 overhead for a total of 1,360 firefighters committed to the incident. There have been two minor injuries to firefighters, Cal-Fire reports.
September 3, 2010 (5 a.m.) -- Firefighters have held the Cowboy Fire to 719 acres through the night. The blaze is now 15% contained, said Cal-Fire battalion chief Nick Schuler. He added, "The incident command expects the containment will increase even more when the sun rises."
"If she wins, it would destroy California’s clean energy industry,” -- Senator Barbara Boxer on her opponent, Carly Fiorina.
"The American dream has become too hard for too many people." --Carly Fiorina
September 2, 2010 – Journalists and voters questioned U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-California) and her opponent, Carly Fiorina in a contentious debate last night. Boxer slammed Fiorina for outsourcing jobs, opposing two jobs bills including one to save teachers’ jobs in California, and supporting “billionaires and CEOs” over the needs of working people. Fiorina said California is in the “worst economic crisis” since the Depression and bashed Boxer’s record. In response, the Senator’s campaign releases a fact-check sheet that disproved key Fiorina claims. View the full debate video on C-Span.
Update 8:35 p.m. -- The Cowboy Fire is now 719 acres and is 10% contained. Progress is "excellent" according to Cal-Fire Battalion Chief Nick Schuler.
September 2, 2010 (Campo) 7 p.m. --The Cowboy Fire has reached 300 acres, however Cal-Fire public information officer Roxanne Provaznik reports, "Firefighters are beginning to make some progress." The fire is currently back-burning onto itself and there is minimal threat to structures.
September 2, 2010 (Campo) – A strike team of firefighters is staging at Star Ranch for structure protection, aiming to halt the 200-acre Cowboy fire at the outskirts of the Ranch before it can reach the Campo Hills housing development. The fire is burning in a northeast direction.
“A large water bomber just flew overhead,” Christy Scott, editor of the Alpine Sun, informed East County Magazine. Lake Morena provides an accessible source of water for water-dropping aircraft, she added.
September 3, 2010 (San Diego) – This week, the California Public Utilities Comission approved a San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) solar power initiative that will provide for 100 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaic (PV) solar energy. Under the initiative, 26 MW of utility-owned generation would be slated for construction on existing SDG&E property, with the remaining 74 MW to be purchased from independent power producers.
The initiative could more than double the approximately 80 MW of solar power currently generated in the utility's service territory.
September 2, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) 3:30 p.m. update: – The Cowboy Fire is now 75 acres to 100, Cal-Fire reports. Campo Elementary School is being evacuated, with students taken to Mountain Empire High School.
Update 5:20 p.m. The fire is now out and was contained to less than an acre. Firefighters are mopping up hot spots, according to Santee Fire's Brett Eldridge. Cause is believed to be accidental, possibly from a bulldozer scraping rocks, he added.
September 2, 2010 (Santee) 4:40 p.m. – A brush fire has broken out at the Sycamore Landfill in Santee at 8514 Mast Boulevard. “So far I’ve seen Santee, El Cajon, and La Mesa Fire roll down my street,” said Mark Schoonover, who shot the photo above.
Update 2:35 p.m. Campo Elementary School is being evacuated; students will be taken to Mountain Empire High School
September 2, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – The Cowboy Fire reported at 1:13 p.m. is now 20 acres, burning between Campo and Potrero near the Pacific Crest Trail. Incident Page Network indicates the fire is near the junction of Highway 94 and Star Ranch. Other reports indicate the location is within Hauser National Wilderness and Cleveland National Forest areas.
“Currently the fire is inaccessible by ground units,” Cal-Fire battalion chief Nick Schuler said. “They are attempting to make contact with the fire now,” he said, adding that air tankers and helicopters are also on the scene.
East County News Service September 2, 2010 (La Mesa) – Helix Water Board general manager Mark Weston asked Board members to table a proposed resolution that would have restricted non-emergency communications among board members to business hours. Several board members also leveled criticism at media outlets that reported on the issue.
“I have said that I’m on call 24 hours a day. I’ve been in public works for 30 years,” said Weston, who stated that “portrayal of my character” in some news reports was “quite inaccurate.”
Candidate, speaking in La Mesa, also called for stronger fire protection by County East County News Service
September 2, 2010 (San Diego) – The Center on Policy Initiatives (CPI) has released a today which concludes that over 30% of households in San Diego County can not make ends meet.
“It is unacceptable that more than 30% of San Diegans can’t afford to live in San Diego County,” said Stephen Whitburn, a journalist running against incumbent Supervisor Ron Roberts in District 4.
September 1, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- Effective Friday September 3, at 6:00 a.m., the Cleveland National Forest will raise the fire danger level to VERY HIGH. Forest use restrictions under the very high level will be implemented at that time.
September 1, 2010 (La Mesa) - Helix Water district has received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government FInancial Officers Association of the U.S. and Canada. "This is the fourth year that we have received this award," said board member Chuck Muse.
September 1, 2010 (La Mesa)--Michael Penwell is being sought by the La Mesa Police Department after fleeing from a traffic stop where numerous items of stolen property, narcotics and drug paraphernalia were found. Penwell is described as a white male, 25, with blond hair and hazel eyes. He is 5 feet, 7 inches tall with a thin build and multiple tattoos. He also has a felony parole warrant for his arrest.
August 31, 2010 (La Mesa) -- "He makes $199,000 a year and gets a car and benefits, but this public official doesn’t want to receive routine emails outside business hours. I-Team reporter Lauren Reynolds shows us the unusual steps he’s taking to be left alone.”
August 31, 2010 (La Mesa) – A male bicyclist sustained serious injuries after slamming into a trolley at the intersection of Severin and Amaya drives in La Mesa. La Mesa Police dispatch received multiple 911 calls starting at 5:22 p.m. of the cyclist down on the tracks.
Calls provision allowing school lunch equipment purchases "wasteful spending"
August 31, 2010 (Washington D.C.) – Congressman Duncan D. Hunter (R-El Cajon) , a member of the House Education and Labor Committee, voted against sending H.R. 5504, the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act, to the full House for consideration.
The bill aims to make school lunches more nutritious and get junk food out of schools. The goal is to improve children's health and cut down on childhood obesity, a national epidemic. From 1980 to 2009, childhood obesity in America has tripled--and poor nutritional habits are largely to blame. In California, 30.5% of all children are obese, putting them at higher risk of diabetes and heart problems later on.
by Sharon Courmousis, Sacred Rocks Reserve
s need but not for man's greed.” ~Mohandas K. Gandhi
Story and photos by Dennis Richardson
September 4, 2010 (Mesa Grande) – Cal-Fire is at the scene of a three-acre grass fire off Mesa Grande Road and Highway 79, near the co munity of Mesa Grande. The fire was reported at 3:15 p.m. and cause is under investigation.
East County News Service
September 3, 2010 (Lakeside) – The public is invited to attend the 40th annual Barona PowWow. The event, which has free admission, will be held September 3-5 at the Barona Baseball Field. More than $60,000 in prize money will be awarded in Native American dance competitions. The powwow, which attracts competitors from all over North America, also features vendors selling Native American arts, crafts, and jewelry.
By Dawn Celapino
Nothing but the Truth!
By Brian Lafferty
"If she wins, it would destroy California’s clean energy industry,” -- Senator Barbara Boxer on her opponent, Carly Fiorina.
September 2, 2010 (Campo) 7 p.m. --The Cowboy Fire has reached 300 acres, however Cal-Fire public information officer Roxanne Provaznik reports, "Firefighters are beginning to make some progress." The fire is currently back-burning onto itself and there is minimal threat to structures.
September 2, 2010 (Campo) – A strike team of firefighters is staging at Star Ranch for structure protection, aiming to halt the 200-acre Cowboy fire at the outskirts of the Ranch before it can reach the Campo Hills housing development. The fire is burning in a northeast direction.
September 2, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) 3:30 p.m. update: – The Cowboy Fire is now 75 acres to 100, Cal-Fire reports. Campo Elementary School is being evacuated, with students taken to Mountain Empire High School. 
September 2, 2010 (Santee) 4:40 p.m. – A brush fire has broken out at the Sycamore Landfill in Santee at 8514 Mast Boulevard. “So far I’ve seen Santee, El Cajon, and La Mesa Fire roll down my street,” said Mark Schoonover, who shot the photo above.
September 2, 2010 (La Mesa) – Helix Water Board general manager Mark Weston asked Board members to table a proposed resolution that would have restricted non-emergency communications among board members to business hours. Several board members also leveled criticism at media outlets that reported on the issue.
September 2, 2010 (San Diego) – The Center on Policy Initiatives (CPI) has released a today which concludes that over 30% of households in San Diego County can not make ends meet. 
Gulf oil rig explodes off Louisiana Coast (another one!) 
September 1, 2010 (La Mesa)--Michael Penwell is being sought by the La Mesa Police Department after fleeing from a traffic stop where numerous items of stolen property, narcotics and drug paraphernalia were found. Penwell is described as a white male, 25, with blond hair and hazel eyes. He is 5 feet, 7 inches tall with a thin build and multiple tattoos. He also has a felony parole warrant for his arrest. 
By Miriam Raftery
August 31, 2010 (Washington D.C.) – Congressman Duncan D. Hunter (R-El Cajon) , a member of the House Education and Labor Committee, voted against sending H.R. 5504, the Improving Nutrition for America’s Children Act, to the full House for consideration.
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