By Miriam Raftery

August 25, 2013 (Borrego) --A flash flood watch has been elevated to a flash flood warning today for north and central areas of East County, where heavy rain and flash flooding is occurring.  Heaviest rains are from Shelter Valley north to Borrego Springs, including areas burned by the Vallecito Fire and Banner fire.

Debris flows and flooding are occurring in these areas.  A SIG ALERT has been issued for Highway 78, which has been shut down in the San Felipe/Monument Valley area, where boulders have washed into the roadway.  At Tarantula Wash, one-way traffic controls will remain in effect for several days until roadway repairs can be done, according to the CHP website.

  Campgrounds may be impacted by flash floods and debris flows. Excessive runoff will also cause flooding of small creeks, streams, country roads and farmlands nearby.

A flash flood warning remains in effect for a broader area in our local mountains and deserts.  Monitor the news to learn if this becomes elevated to a flash flood warning, which means flooding is eminent or occurring.

“Today we had the worst flash flooding we have seen in years,” Bob Kutscher, a resident of Borrego Springs on Velite Drive, a main floodway for the Hellhole Canyon watershed wrote in an e-mail to ECM.  Here is a video that he shot of the flash flood on his roadway this afternoon: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky2fhdoiHpA.  

By Nadin Abbott

Photos by Tom Abbott

“The hysteria ended up playing into the hands of those who wanted a political coup--the removal of a democratically elected Mayor, purely by rumor and innuendo.” – Mayor Bob Filner

"I have never felt prouder of the people of San Diego." -- Michael Pallamary, leader of the recall effort

"It is time for San Diego to come together. It is time to heal." -- Todd Gloria, who will serve as Interim Mayor until a special election

August 24, 2013—Mayor Bob Filner will step down from office effective at 5 p.m. on Friday August 30, under a deal that will have the City pay limited legal fees to defend Filner against sexual harassment allegations.  Councilman Todd Gloria will serve as interim Mayor and a special election will be held 90 days after the mayoral seat is vacated to fill the seat.

The Mayor apologized for his “personal failings” and to those who have been hurt, but insisted that he believes he will be ultimately cleared of legal wrongdoing and further, contended that he is being forced from office by the city’s power brokers in a “political coup”  based on unproven allegations.  Hear his full resignation speech.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Jim Pelley

August 23, 2013 (Ocotillo ) – It looked like a scene out of the 1930s, when factory-scale farms removed topsoil in the Midwest, creating dust storms that swept across the western states, reducing vast areas to a Dust Bowl.   Is history repeating itself?

Residents of Ocotillo and other desert communities across the Southwest have recently voiced worries that industrial-scale wind and solar projects that stripped bare the earth would cause dust storms.  Yesterday, a monster-scale dust  cloud rolled across Ocotillo, blackening the sky and obscuring even the wind turbines that tower 500 feet above the town.

By Miriam RAftery

Photos by Richard Campbell and Billy Ortiz

August 23, 2013 (San Diego's East County)--A tropical storm system has moved into our area, bringing thundershowers, humid weather and dramatic lightning displays across East County’s mountain areas .The storm system is expected to weaken Saturday, but more thunderstorms and lightning are forecast Sunday through Tuesday across East County’s mountain and desert areas.   (View video of lightning  over Descanso on the Brush Fire Partyline’s Facebook Page)

In addition, a blowing dust warning has been issued by the National Weather Service for desert areas in San Diego and Imperial Counties.

By Miriam Raftery; photo by Donnie Durfee

Rural residents are demanding answers and improved communications after a truck with an oversized load  broke down and blocked traffic on State Route 94 for over 50 hours.  Even after the road was cleared, the big rig remained on the shoulder at Marron Valley Road in Dulzura for two weeks before it was finally removed. 

Media was not warned and no Sig Alert was issued to alert residents prior to the oversized load taking to the highway, even though the slow-moving, extra-wide load obstructed traffic in both directions along the main evacuation route for residents in areas including Jamul, Deerhorn Valley, Potrero,  Barrett Junction and Tecate.

During the blockage, residents were forced to detour up to 90 miles, causing delays of many hours.  Yet a SigAlert was not issued until seven hours after the road was completely blocked by the mechanical breakdown.  Even before the breakdown, the oversized, slow-moving load obstructed traffic in both directions.  The load was about 231 feet long – yet posted signs indicate the maximum truck length allowed is 75 feet.  So why was this rig allowed to take this narrow route with many hairpin curves when straighter, wider routes to its destination were available?

By Miriam Raftery

August 22, 2013 (Santee) –Founded in Santa Ysabel half a century ago, Dudley’s Bakery has gained fame across the region for its tempting array of freshly baked bread varieties such as Julian apple nut and jalapeno cheese breads.  Long a secret of travelers through East County’s backcountry, Dudley’s later gained fame after winning the U-T San Diego’s “Reader’s Choice” poll as best bakery in the county three years in a row.

Now, fans of Dudley’s breads, fruit bars, pies and more won’t have to drive to the mountains.  Dudley’s has announced plans to open up Dudley’s Bakery and Deli in the Santee Town Center in Santee this September.

August 21, 2013 (San Diego's East County) --ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Manning gets 35 years in WikiLeaks case  (AP)
• Judge: EPA may have tried to skirt disclosure law (U-T San Diego)
• Intermittent Nature of Green Power Is Challenge for Utilities   (New York Times)
• NSA broke privacy rules thousands of times per year, audit finds (Washington Post)
• CIA acknowledges Area 51 in declassified documents (U-T San Diego)

WORLD

• Militants Kill 25 Egyptian Policemen In Sinai (NPR)
• Lawyer expects Egypt's Mubarak to be freed this week (Reuters)
• As Egypt lionizes police, activists worry (Reuters)
• Scores killed in 'Day of Rage' demonstrations in Egypt (Jerusalem Post)
• Smaller, transportable nuclear reactor
• American al Qaeda militant urges attacks on U.S. diplomats (Reuters)
• Egypt's military chief: Army to confront violence (UT San Diego)
• Christians confronting their own Kristalnacht-like attacks in Egypt
• In Kabul, A Juggling Act That Offers Joy For Afghan Kids
• Activists inspired by ouster of Morsi in Egypt launch campaign to overthrow Hamas in Gaza (JPost)
• Al Qaeda planning attacks on high-speed trains in Europe: newspaper (Reuters)
•  Japan to issue gravest Fukushima nuclear warning in two years: agency (Reuters)
• Syria opposition says 1,300 killed in Damascus attack, chemicals used  (Reuters)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

August 21, 2013 (Pala) -- The Pala Band of Mission Indians will hold its sixth annual “Honoring Traditions” Powwow August 23-25 at the Pala Rey Youth Camp, 10779 Highway 76, Pala. The Grand Entry will take place 8 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday. This event is free and open to the public.

Activities include powwow dance contests, bird singing, an exhibition of “shinny” - a traditional Native American ball game, a homemade bow and arrow contest and a peon tournament. All ages are welcome to participate and the prizes range from $50 to $1,000. Eight invited performers will also compete in a drum contest for a grand prize of $12,000.

By Billy Ortiz

August 20, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – A brush fire broke out this afternoon in the 1300 block of Aurora Drive in El Cajon close to Lakeside.  The blaze started on an open space preserve and swiftly spread, threatening homes.

Some homes were evacuated, but fortunately a 100-foot fire break along the eastern edge of the preserve helped stop the fire from advancing closer to homes.

August 19, 2013 (San Diego) – This Thursday, August 22, the San Diego Debate Club will host a panel discussion to argue the proposition, “Should marijuana be legal in the United States?”  The debate will consist of two, four-person panels, one in favor of legalizing pot and one opposed; a moderator; and a live audience.  It will be held from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Moose Lodge, 3636 Ruffin Road in San Diego (map).  The event will be broadcast on KNSJ 98.1 radio, is open to the public, and will feature an audience participation segment.  A happy hour will precede the event starting at 6:00 p.m. 

By Miriam Raftery

August 20, 2013 (El Cajon) – El Cajon City Council will consider an ordinance to restrict alcohol sales at its next meeting on August 27.

The law aims to restrict sales of single-serve alcohol containers to individuals with repeated arrests for alcohol-related offenses.  The law would not affect restaurants or bars.  It would restrict sales at future stores and would also require current stores to comply with the law. 

By Jamie Reno

August 20, 2013 (San Diego) – I'm sure by now you've read the news that embattled San Diego Mayor Bob Filner is probably resigning. Yes, the greasy pol is apparently out - though some of the details of his pending resignation "deal" are still uncertain. It had to happen. At least 18 very credible women have come forward with specific accounts of Filner's creepy behavior. That he is apparently leaving represents a potentially healing moment for this city, which has taken a major PR hit in recent weeks.

Leaders in Latino, African-American and Native American communities defend Mayor

By Nadin Abbott

August 19, 2013 (San Diego)—They approached the podium singing “We Shall Overcome,” a classic from the Civil Rights marches of the 1960s.

Enrique Morones, a community activist and supporter of Mayor Bob Filner, led them. Morones started the rally by informing the press that the silent majority “will be silent no longer.” He said that many groups, ranging from labor, to neighborhoods, to veterans and women, were standing together “stopping the public mockery of our judicial system.”

By Nadin Abbott; photo by Jeff Holtz

August 18, 2013 (San Diego)—The San Diego County Fire Authority has released a Master Strategic Plan for the next five years. The plan became effective on July 1, 2013 and will remain such until June 30, 2018. You can read the plan here: http://bosagenda.sdcounty.ca.gov/agendadocs/doc?id=09010e9680174b28.