Story by Miriam Raftery; photos by Jim Pelley and Parke Ewing
"I feel like we are living in a third world country." -- Jim Pelley, Ocotillo resident and ECM photographer
August 23, 2012 (Ocotillo) – Workers have begun constructing the first of 112 industrial wind turbines near the small town of Ocotillo on federal Bureau of Land Management property adjacent to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
But as towering turbines eclipse mountains and desert skies, dust released from scraping desert soils bare and excavating massive turbine foundations have residents complaining that their community has been turned into a “dust bowl” while government officials turn a blind eye to conditions that pose hazards to their health.
August 23, 2012 -- (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 reflecting 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.
Hurricane threat for GOP convention in Tampa? (CBS)
August 23, 2012 -- (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:
LOCAL
City races start to heat up in East County (UT San Diego)
11-year-old accused of fatally stabbing friend found mentally incompetent to stand trial (Santee.Patch.com)
Retired Border Patrol union president indicted (10 News)
Group hoping to save ECPAC continues fight (UT San Diego)
Where parolees live in San Diego: map (Voice of San Diego)
San Diego Gas & Electric wind projects draw national notice (KCET)
As heat dries land and lake, asthma fears rise in Imperial County(KPBS)
Summer of hate concert came to El Cajon (San Diego Citybeat)
High costs of bonds shocks Poway Unified School District (UT San Diego)
STATE
Democratic lawmakers move to oppose rewriting CA environmental laws (Sacramento Bee)
SoCal groves report new cases of lethal citrus bug (Sacramento Bee)
Man dies after contracting rare rodent disease at Yosemite (CBS)
Tribal representatives say Interior Dept.is not sincere about resolving concerns over sacred site desecrations by renewable energy projects on public lands
By Miriam Raftery
August 21, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)—Why did the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) host the first in a series of five “listening sessions” with Native American leaders ostensibly to address tribal concerns over impacts of renewable energy projects on public lands—yet didn’t bother to take notes or record the sessions?
Why are no listening sessions scheduled in California or anywhere near our state, where some of the most controversial renewable energy projects are being built atop the graveyards of Native Americans’ ancestors?
August 23, 2012 (Blossom Valley) -- Eight month-old, 69 lb. Olde English Bulldoggie. He is great with all dogs, people and children. He loves to run and play, but also knows the value of a good nap. He is crate-trained, and sleeps quietly through the night. We have lots of pictures on our Facebook page showing the fun our dogs have both during training; as well as playing with the other dogs.
August 23, 2012 (Boulevard)--I have a tree at Sacred Rocks, planted 5 years ago, a Purple Robe Locus. The tree specialist explained to me about watering, and nutrients, and pruning. Because I am away a lot, I have to trust people to do those things for good tree health. Last fall the wind whipped a large branch off, nearly cutting the tree in half. I thought we would lose the tree. But no! It survived.
August 23, 2012 (Ramona) -- C.W. Driver, has broken ground on Palomar Health’s new $4.5 million satellite clinic, the Ramona Ambulatory Care Center in Ramona, Calif. Designed by San Diego-based Mascari Warner Architects, the 7,600-square-foot, single-story outpatient medical clinic built on approximately an acre of land will expand the healthcare services for the Ramona community.
August 23, 2012 (Lemon Grove) -- The audience will be the star on Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. in the H. Lee House Cultural Center, 3205 Olive, Lemon Grove, when the Lemon Grove Historical Society launches the 35th season of its much-loved series showcasing the life and times of Lemon Grove and its broad connections to American history.
Oral histories are why "History Alive" is so popular and why the Historical Society's running theme is "your story begins at home."
August 23, 2012 (Paradise Hills) – Clarence Blunt, who police suspect killed his wife and children, died today in a local hospital.
Lilly Blunt, 33, a nurse and recent graduate of San Diego State University’s nursing program, was found dead inside her Paradise Hills home along with her 7-month-old son, Richard and her 3-year-old daughter, Lianna on August 20.Her estranged husband, Clarence Blunt, the suspect in the triple homicide, was found in the home suffering from self-inflicted injuries.
Investigations by UT San Diego and 10 News reveal that Clarence Blunt had a history of mental illness and serious crimes, including a gruesome murder of a gas station attendant.
August 22, 2012 (San Diego)—Some people just don’t learn.Back in January, San Diego Supervisorsgot sued for hiding information from the public about a developer-backed scheme to eliminate community planning groups.The Board backed down to avoid a trial, vacated votes and held a hearing with proper public notice and open—though heated--public testimony.
Now history has repeated itself. San Diegans for Open Government has filed a lawsuit alleging that Supervisors once more violated the Ralph M. Brown Act.According to the suit, this time the County failed to post an agenda for Supevisors' June 26, 2012 agenda onthe County website for the 72-hours required by state law. Supevisors further failed to postpone the meeting, took action on agenda items and refused to allow members of the public to address Supervisors on a key agenda item.
August 22, 2012 (San Diego)—Campus police are evacuating the West Commons area on the San Diego State University campus due to a bomb threat, an alert posted at the SDSU website and updated at 4:30 p.m. states.
The bomb threat was called in at 3:30 p.m. at the U.S. Bank branch at West Commons. SDSU police and a bomb unit are investigating.
Officials,organizations across party lines dissect benefits and shortcomings of initiative; consumer interest groups call measure deceptive
By Thea Skinner
August 19, 2012 (San Diego)--According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) for the State of California, Proposition 32 is an initiative that seeks to prohibit political contributions via payroll deductions and contributions to candidates.
The ballot measure proposes to change state campaign finance laws to restrict spending by public and private labor unions, corporations and government contractors in local and statewide political races. The measure has sparked fierce debate and is emerging as one of the most controversial measures on the November ballot.
August 22, 2012 (Alpine) - Paula Dickenson, crime prevention specialist with the Alpine Sheriff's Substation, has sent the following alert to the community on a possible identity theft scam, along with information on how to protect yourself and your children from identity theft:
Here is an example of Suspicious Activity! Please call us when this happens. Never let a stranger into your home.
August 22, 2012 (San Diego)--THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SAN DIEGO HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL SAN DIEGO COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA UNTIL 630 PM. * AT 335 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED PERSISTENT THUNDERSTORMS AND HEAVY SHOWERS OVER SHELTER VALLEY...AGUA CALIENTE SPRINGS...AND CANEBRAKE WHICH WILL LIKELY PRODUCE FLASH FLOODING. * LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO OCOTILLO WELLS...SAN FELIPE CREEK...VALLECITO WASH...FISH CREEK...HARPER CANYON WASH...AND HIGHWAY 78.
Amid controversy, Republican Party adopts platform calling for ban on all abortions, including rape victims
By Nadin Abbott
August 22, 2012 (Washington D.C.) – A U.S. Senate candidate’s false belief that pregnancies from rape are rare has sparked national outrage. The incident also reveals fissures in the Republican party-drawing attention to the party’s new plank calling for all abortions to be outlawed—and revealing just how unpopular the party’s extremist platform is with women.
August 21, 2012 (San Diego) – Congresswoman Susan Davis (D-San Diego) has introduced legislation in response to revelations that federal wildlife officials have killed thousands of animals locally without disclosing justifications to the public.
August 21, 2012 (Ocotillo)--Pattern Energy has begun clearing beautiful desert near Anza-Borrego State Park for the nearly 16 square mile Ocotillo Express Wind project. Once completed, the facility will consist of 112 wind turbines, each one standing over 400 feet tall, and requiring wide new roads carved into the fragile desert soil.
Photographer Phillip Colla gives us a birds-eye view of the beginning phase of the destruction with a series of images available at his website. The photos were made possible by aviation support provided by LightHawk.
August 21, 2012 (Rancho San Diego) -- Church members from the Gathering @RSD packaged 3,200 meals to be sent to needy children and their families in the Dominican Republic. The church raised the money through collecting extra change. The effort was coordinated through the organization, Children of the Nations, which reach out to children in need in Africa and the Caribbean.
August 21, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--The colonization of Africanized Honey Bees in San Diego County was confirmed in 1994 and has since caused multiple fatal attacks in Southern California. Feral honeybees in urban areas of San Diego County have been determined to be predominately Africanized by biologists who test the genetic makeup of local bees.
August 21, 2012 (Alpine) – The San Diego Medical Examiner’s office has released the names of two men who died of injuries sustained in an accident on I-8 in Alpine on August 16.
August 21, 2012 (La Mesa) – Two elderly women struck by a Chevrolet Express van while crossing Calle Verde in La Mesa on August 13 have died of their traumatic injuries.
Jean Gastelum, 77, passed away on August 16 at Sharp Memorial Hospital. Her friend, Dorothy Stephens, 83, was pronounced dead at the scene before a medical helicopter arrived.
August 21, 2012 (Sacramento) --Assemblymember Marty Block (AD-78) issued the following statement on being named as Chair of the Assembly Accountability and Administrative Review Committee:
“In the wake of the scandals involving state parks and other examples of waste, fraud and abuse, I take my new role as Chair of the Assembly Accountability and Administrative Review Committee very seriously. In the coming days, I will meet with Speaker John Perez to determine the scope of our investigations. I plan to hit the ground running.
August 21, 2012 (El Cajon) --At last week's El Cajon City Council meeting, the Council voted unanimously to support El Cajon Police Chief Jim Redman’s request for authorization to mail letters to local retailers asking them to voluntarily decline to sell psychoactive synthetic drugs, the most common of which are known as “bath salts,” which have intoxicating effects similar to cocaine and other stimulants, and “spice,” which have intoxicating effects similar to marijuana. Redman also asked the City Council to direct City staff to return as soon as reasonably possible with an ordinance finding that the distribution of synthetic drugs constitutes a public nuisance, and to provide for enforcement to abate such a public nuisance.
August 21, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)—Scattered thunderstorms and heavy rains are forecast for Tuesday through Sunday in San Diego County’s mountains and desert areas.
Skywarn weather activation is requested for Tuesday.
August 20, 2012 (Mojave Desert)--If you have been listening to the past few stakeholder conferences for the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) -- an inter-agency effort to protect desert ecosystems while identifying areas suitable for renewable energy in California's deserts -- then you know that representatives from the California Wind Energy Association (CalWEA) sound disappointed as their plans to industrialize much of California's desert wildlands meet resistance. Some of the DRECP's proposed development focus areas would only accommodate 2-17% of the nearly 2 million acres to which the wind industry initially requested access. The wind industry expressed frustration during the meetings, wondering aloud why they cannot bulldoze desert, carve hundreds of miles of new roads, and set up massive wind turbines standing over 400 feet tall across public lands.
and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflecting 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:
Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include: 
By Miriam Raftery
By Brian Lafferty
By Miriam Raftery
By Shaun Gonzales
August 21, 2012 (Rancho San Diego) -- Church members from the Gathering @RSD packaged 3,200 meals to be sent to needy children and their families in the Dominican Republic. The church raised the money through collecting extra change. The effort was coordinated through the organization, Children of the Nations, which reach out to children in need in Africa and the Caribbean.
August 21, 2012 (Alpine) – The San Diego Medical Examiner’s office has released the names of two men who died of injuries sustained in an accident on I-8 in Alpine on August 16.
August 21, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)—Scattered thunderstorms and heavy rains are forecast for Tuesday through Sunday in San Diego County’s mountains and desert areas.
Reposted with permission; original published August 14, 2012 at 
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