May 7, 2014 (San Diego's East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:
May 8, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--This week’s Destination:East County features events to honor Mom for Mother’s Day, such as “Tea with the Queen,” along with family activities, art, an Old West Saloon, literature, and golf. In our preview, we have selected some film and theatre, and a patriotism event for next weekend.
CAL FIRE Encourages Wildfire Preparedness and Prevention
May 8, 2014 (Sacramento) – Drought conditions have led to a significant increase in wildfire activity and to ensure Californians are ready, Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. has declared May 4-10, 2014 as “Wildfire Awareness Week”. CAL FIRE is reminding residents during Wildfire Awareness Week of the dangers posed by wildfires and the simple steps that should be followed to prepare for and prevent them.
May 3, 2014 (Lakeside)--A world famous gambler accusing of cheating Barona Casino out of $8,000 will be arraigned in court on May 14. In a preliminary hearing earlier this month at the El Cajon courthouse, Judge John Thompson found sufficient evidence for the defendant to stand trial.
May 7, 2014 (San Diego) – How fair are ratings for judicial candidates meted out by the San Diego County Bar Association?
Last week, the Bar’s Judicial Election Evaluation Committee (JEEC)came out with rankings in five contested Superior Court judicial races. The Bar ranked three candidates as “lacking qualifications” including one with extensive experience and no disciplinary actions. The professional lawyers’ group also gave a “highly qualified” rating to an incumbent judge who pled guilty to reckless driving with alcohol involved and has faced multiple legal disciplinary actions.
Now some candidates are speaking out to criticize the Bar’s ratings system—calling for its abolishment or dramatic changes to make the system more transparent and fair.
One of those candidates, Carla Keehn, has erected billboards starting today to reveal her opponent’s criminal conviction. “Vote for Carla Keehn, the only candidate without a criminal conviction. No one is above the law—not even judges,” the billboards read.
Minute Man leader/anti-immigrant candidate is endorsed by East County Assemblyman Brian Jones
By Miriam Raftery
May 6, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)—Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, a Republican candidate for Governor who founded California’s largest anti-immigrant California Minute Man chapter, is now drawing fire for anti-Muslim remarks made about a prominent member of his own party.
Donnelly, one of 14 candidates including five Republicans in the gubernatorial primary, has won the endorsement of East County Assemblyman Brian Jones as well as the Tea Party.
At the state Republican convention, Jones said he believed Donnelly had heeded party leaders’ advice to be more “inclusive” in his message, Huffington Post reported,. Jones added that he believed Donnelly was “saying the same things, but in a more welcoming manner.”
May 5, 2014 (La Mesa)- At a Proposition H executive briefing held on April 25 by Grossmont Hospital, community leaders in San Diego and East County showed up to learn more about the measure, which will be on the upcoming June ballot. The measure seeks to extend Grossmont Healthcare District’s leae agreement with Sharp Healthcare at Grossmont Hospital for 30 years, until 2051.
May 8, 2014 (Alpine) - Lions, Tigers & Bears, the Alpine non-profit exotic animal sanctuary, invites guests to “follow the yellow brick road” to its annual Wild in the Country Gala on May 10, from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. The event, held at the sanctuary and open to the public, features a silent and live auction, live entertainment and music, a catered dinner, visits with the big cats and bears, interactions with ranch and farm animals in Animal Encounters and fun for the whole family.
May 4, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – Dear EarthTalk: What would you consider to be the key areas we need to improve to make our food safer for our health and easier on our environment?
-- Billy A., Oakland, CA
Although we have come a long way in recent years with regard to the safety and sustainability of our food supply, we still have a long way to go. Toxic pesticides are still used on the vast majority of U.S. grown crops, while other hormone-disrupting chemicals are omnipresent in our food packaging. And excessive use of antibiotics in animal agriculture threatens to render many human drugs ineffective. Environmental leaders would like to see the federal government step up and institute regulations banning such substances in our food supply, but for now it’s still up to individual consumers to make the right choices.
May 3, 2014 (Alpine)- Last Saturday, April 27, a crowd came out to support Dawn August, her husband and their sons, Daniel and Nathan, at the second annual Angela August ‘Fun-raiser’ (For the Love of Angela) at Alpine Town Hall. This fundraising event for Mothers Against Drunk Drivers was held to honor the memory of 25 year old Angela August, who was killed by a drunk driver on June 11, 2012--just five days before she was going to walk and graduate summa cum laude with her graduating class at UC San Diego.
May 5, 2014 (Jacumba) A series of brush fires broke out on the side of the interstate about 4:30. The fire was initially reported as a single start, but soon it was clear that it was at least three starts. The fire is on the north side of Interstate eight half a mile east of McCain Valley Road.
May 5, 2014 (San Diego) – Superior Court Judge candidate Michele Hagan was a guest on our May 5 East County Magazine Show on KNSJ 89.1 FM.
“We don’t let football players choose referees. So why are we letting lawyers choose judges?” asks Hagan, a former prosecutor and judge pro tem who also publishes a blog on legal issues.
She contends that the County Bar Association gave her a “lacking qualifications” rating because she spoke out in her blog about a local judge who awarded alimony to a man convicted of a violent sexual act against his wife, then worked to pass a new state law, AB 1522, to protect victims from having to pay alimony to spouses convicted of a violent sexual felony.
She contends that the Bar’s rating system for judicial candidates is flawed, subject to bias, and not transparent. To read her credentials for the job, click "read more" and scroll down.
May 2, 2014 (San Diego) -- Where you live in the City of San Diego affects how quickly emergency response teams can bring help to you when you need it, according to a report just issued by the 2013/2014 San Diego County Grand Jury.
New column! East County craft beers in your neighborhood
By Ed Barrena
May 4, 2014 (Santee)--BNS Brewing and Distilling Co. in Santee (www.bnsbrewinganddistilling.com) is a great brewery with an Old West appeal. I'd wager Wyatt Earp would probably want to tie his horse off next to the trophy trucks and motorcycles if he made a stop in East County. (Mr. Earp was known to play many a game of poker in what is now the Gaslamp).
The tasting room at BNS is a throwback to the days of the old saloons--and there is not a pint glass in the building, as most beers are served in mason jars. Above the bar hangs a vintage rifle and the tap heads are a mix of replica .50 caliber bullets and the stylish BNS logo.
May 2, 2014 (Sacramento)--As the drought intensifies, a new report by the California Department of Water Resources reveals that groundwater levels across California have historically low water levels. Half of the 5,400 wells studied had shrunk to levels lower than seen in the last 100 years.
May 2, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - Shortly before 7:30 p.m., Heartland Fire & Rescue crews from El Cajon responded to reports of a plane crash at Gillespie Field Airport. As firefighters arrived on scene they found that a single engine Cessna had landed without its’ landing gear, sliding to a stop on the runway.
May 3, 2014 (San Diego)—The Union of Medical Marijuana Patients has filed a lawsuit against the City of San Diego. The lawsuit contends that new regulations for medical marijuana dispensaries are too restrictive and won’t allow enough dispensaries to meet the needs of patients throughout the city.
Critics call bill a "poison pill" aimed at restricting the ability of local municipalities to provide consumers with alternatives to buying power from utilities
May 4, 2014 (San Diego)--The second of California’s community choice aggregates (CCA) was launched amidst state legislation (AB 2145) that could restrict further competition with established utilities.
May 4, 2014 (Lakeside)--The San Diego Sheriff's Department Santee Station is asking for the public's help in providing any information that would lead to the arrest of a suspect who threatened a man with a knife and robbed him in Lakeside.
On Saturday, May 3rd, at 9:22 p.m. the suspect approached the victim who was riding his bike home from a meeting in the unincorporated area of El Cajon on Los Coches Road near Interstate 8. The suspect ran up to the victim and brandished a knife with a 4-6 inch blade and demanded cash. The suspect left the area on foot northbound towards Lakeside.
May 3, 2014 (Alpine)—When Alpine resident Alanna Light heard about the tragic sinking of a Korean ferry boat, she feared for her 24-year-old daughter, who teaches English at a private school in South Korea.
“My dad called me and asked if Kalya was alright,” she recalled, adding that when she heard about the tragedy, “I had a panic attack until I got through to her.” Fortunately, Kayla was fine. But at least 242 passengers on the Sewol ferry have died and another 60 remain missing. Most of the passengers were high school students.
The captain and 14 crew members have been arrested for leaving the ship and abandoning passengers, including children told to stay in their cabins. Two others have also been arrested for over-loading the ship, which had 476 people on board.
Precautions urged for farmers and people entering pigs in livestock competitons at fairs
By Miriam Raftery
May 3, 2014 (Sacramento) – A virus that is deadly to baby pigs has wiped out 10 percent of all pigs in America in the last year, the National Journal reports.
According to the U.S Department of Agriculture’s Chief economist, Dr. Joseph Glauber, the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus , or PED, has spread to 30 states.
That includes California, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The state's website does not list where in California the potent virus has been found.
Photos by Daren Sefcik, Jeff Holz, and Delia Cooley
May 3, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – Multiple fires along I-8 broke out this morning between East Willows Road and Japatul this morning, as ourViejasAlerts reported earlier. The fires are believed to have been caused by a malfunctioning catalytic converter from a vehicle.
The largest forced closure of a viewpoint in Japatul and charred 12-14 acres.
April 30, 2014 (Spring Valley)- Royal Family Kids Camp provides a network of camps and mentor clubs for children of abuse, abandonment, and neglect. The vision is that “every foster child, ages 6-12, experiences a life-changing camp, club and mentor.” The mission is to “create life- changing moments for children of abuse.” The purpose is to “mobilize the faith community to confront child abuse.”
May 3, 2014 (Deerhorn Valley) – A 17-month-old child was bitten three times in the abdomen by a rattlesnake yesterday afternoon while playing in on a patio at a home near Barrett Lake in Deerhorn Valley.
NBC reported that the incident was reported at 4:20 in the 20000 block of Manzanita Way. The Deerhorn Valley Antler indicated that Mercy Air flew out of the area at approximately 5 p.m. with the young patient on board. The child was taken to Rady Children’s Hospital.
Fortunately, the toddler is recovering, according to his older sister , Jessica Taylor. She posted on the Deerhorn Valley Facebook page this morning that her brother is being treated with anti-venom and is expected to be fine. She added, “He’s a tough little guy!”
May 3, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) --As temperatures rise, all sorts of wildlife emerge in the spring., which marks the start of rattlesnake season in San Diego County. As the reptiles come out of hibernation, it’s not uncommon to spot them locally, though bites are rare. Most sightings happen between now and October.
The County’s Department of Animal Services has removed dozens of rattlesnakes from residents’ homes and yards so far this month, said Dawn Danielson, Animal Services Director.
May 3, 2014 (La Mesa) -- Today from 11 a.m to 5 p.m., Johnny B's restaurant in La Mesa will donate 10 percent of proceeds to benefit a new pocket park project called the "Lookout" planned in La Mesa's downtown vlllage. The restaurant owner, John Bedlion, wlil also match the amount raised today. Drawings will also be held, along with a live auction.
“TheLookout” at Legacy Park will become a permanent piece of art that will honor the City’s Centennial celebration. Located at the convergence of La Mesa Boulevard (known as Lookout Avenue until 1940), Allison Avenue, and 4th Street; The Lookout will serve a traditional gazebo function – as a gathering place for social interaction. Center city gazebos have historically occupied a special place in the heart of communities; this one will be no different.
May 2, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - Ratepayers are feeling the pinch from higher utility bills due to rate hikes recently approved by the California Utilities Commission.
May 2, 2014 (San Diego's East County) - Republican Paul Ryan plans to hold a Congressional committee hearing next week on poverty – but he has refused to let any poor people testify.
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