East County News Service

June 19, 2016 (Mt. Helix) -- Tickets are now on sale for the 9th annual heART of Mt. Helix set for Saturday, August 13 - 5:30 to 10 p.m. at the park atop Mt. Helix.  The popular party on the hill will feature dancing under the stars to the Mighty Untouchables, samplings from over 15 local restaurants along with wine and spirits from several local establishments including, St. Petersberg Vodka, Hennebery Whiskey, and this year's signature cocktail, The Helix, created by Vom Fass, as well as local brews from Helix Brewing Co., Ballast Point and more.

By Miriam Raftery

June 30, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Emotions ran high at a community meeting on Border Fire issues convened by Supervisor Dianne Jacob this morning at the Barrett Junction Café in Dulzura.

 Rural residents praised efforts of firefighters, but voiced frustrations and pointed criticisms over problems that arose including lack of adequate care for animals in the evacuated areas and at shelters. communications failures, and inadequate help to locate a missing couple found dead yesterday by volunteer searchers in Potrero.

Jacob  converted a  previously planned coffee with the community event into a forum for the public to air concerns and for officials to respond.  Representatives from Cal Fire and the Sheriff’s Department turned out, but Animal Services did not.  “Not being here is not a good thing,” Jacob said of Animal Services, adding that she has heard many complaints from rural residents about both Animal Services and the Sheriff’s Department.

East County News Service

June 25, 2016 (La Mesa)—Hope for Iraqi Christians, a La Mesa based organization that assists Iraqi Christian refugees fleeing genocide in the Middle East, has received a pledge from the  Anahid Oram Memorial Refugee Fund to match $10,000 in monthly donations, sponsoring 100 families per month, but only if they can secure sponsors for at least 100 families by July 4. If that goal is met, the matching funds will mean that 200 families will be helped.

You can sponsor a family for as little as  $1 a day. Each donor will receive information on the family adopted.  Smaller donations will be pooled to help reach the total. Or consider adopting multiple families.

June 29, 2016 (Barrett Junction)--Supervisor Dianne Jacob has pulled together an emergency meeting in response to all the concerns raised by Border Fire survivors. The meeting will be held at 8:30 a.m. at the BarrettCafe, 1020 Barrett Lake Road in Dulzura.

A note from her office states: "She will be there with Fire Officials, Sheriff's Department, Office of Emergency Services, Animal Services, BLM, Border Patrol to listen to residents' concerns andanswer questions. This meeting was scheduled already. Sup Jacob has quickly reformed it to include the very people who need to hear from residents there on the ground.  She is well aware of the concerns you've shared with her office."

Listen to Destination East County, also aired on KNSJ, by clicking the audio link.

We thank the County of San Diego for a Community Enhancement Grant supporting Destination East County.

East County News Service

June 28,2016 (San Diego's East County) --This week’s Destination East County includes Fourth of July activities galore, including picnics, parades, a train ride and of course, fireworks!

Plus we’ll have previews of coming attractions including Descanso Days, Pine Valley Days, and a production of the Lion King. 

So stay tuned for all of these events and much, much more!

East County News Service

June 29, 2016 (Santee) -- It’s time to break out the cowbells and get your spots on because Chick-fil-A is issuing a cattle call. The nine Chick-fil-A restaurants in San Diego County, including the Chick-fil-A restaurant at 9418 Mission Gorge Road, Santee, are preparing to give away free food on Tuesday, July 12, as part of the chain’s nationwide promotion called “Cow Appreciation Day.” On that day, Chick-fil-A restaurants nationwide will offer a free entrée to any customer who visits a restaurant dressed as a cow.

By Liz Alper

June 30, 2016 (San Diego) - Padres General Manager A.J. Preller continues his love-fest with the Miami Marlins, trading closer Fernando Rodney to the fish for minor league pitcher Chris Paddack today.

Update June 29, 2016  -- Volunteer searchers have found two bodies between rocks on a hill behind the home where Jim and Kylie Keef lived.  A positive identification is pending the County Medical Examiner's exam. For details,view our article: http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/two-bodies-found-potrero-property-burn...

A memorial fund to also help care for their dogs has been established here:  https://www.gofundme.com/2c2et997

By Miriam Raftery

June 28,2016 (Potrero)—“Barefoot Jim” Keefe and his wife, Kyrie, have not been seen since the Border Fire scorched their property on June 19^th. 

Several dogs were rescued days ago from the blaze  including a dog with burned paws dubbed “Little Joe” after 10 News reporter Joe Little, who helped in the rescue.  According to neighbors, other dogs have died and additional dogs are still running loose.  Friends say the couple would not have abandoned their dogs and voiced concerns that their aqua van with painted flames –the couple’s only known vehicle--was also still at the site, just eight inches from the fire’s scorch marks, along with their trailer.

They fear the couple may have set off on foot or perhaps tried to take shelter in caves on or her their property, and that they may have perished from the fire.

East County News Service

Photo: Day 2 of the Border Fire, Cal-Fire

June 28,2016 (San Diego) -- The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to help those who lost homes or buildings in the Border Fire. The County will waive fees for building permits and plan-check reviews. 

Fees will only be waived for structures that were legally permitted originally, prior to the fire. The Board’s Tuesday action would also distribute trash bins to people in the fire areas to help them clear debris.

The Border Fire started June 19^th and over the past 10 days has charred over 7,600 acres, destroyed five homes and 11 outbuildings. CAL FIRE reported Tuesday that the Border fire, which grew to 7,609 acres, was 92 percent contained.

“It’s an absolute tragedy for anyone who has lost everything,” said Supervisor Dianne Jacob, whose district includes the Potrero, Campo and Lake Morena communities ravaged by the Border Fire.

June 28, 2016 – 4:30 p.m. – A truck carrying a crane has reportedly struck the overpass bridge on State Route 67 southbound at Prospect Avenue in El Cajon and is stuck, according to the CHP incident page.  Lanes are blocked and a fuel spill has reportedly occurred.

A bridge supervisor is en route.  We recommend avoiding this area.  

June 28, 2016 (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

• Protecting the animals left behind in Border Fire (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Julian residents object to Linden Blue’s development plans (San Diego Reader)
• What Brexit means for San Diegans (10 News)
• Google opening in San Diego (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Forest Service uneasy about mural (Ramona Sentinel)
• Federal jury finds two San Diego-area men interfered with flight crew (Reporting SD)
• Norovirus vaccine being tested by San Diego Navy research center (Times of San Diego)
• Building codes review board eliminated (La Mesa Today)
• Tecate: Border’s great exception (San Diego Union-Tribune)

STATE

• Sweeping public utilities changes announced (Sacramento Bee)
• Sweeping California gun control initiative qualifies for November ballot (Patch)
• ‘Brexit’ could halt growth of California trade with Britain (Los Angeles Times)
• Officials: 150 homes burned in deadly California wildfire (San Francisco Chronicle)

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

East County News Service

June 27, 2016 (San Diego) - On Sunday at around 2:15 p.m., a male suspect made unwanted physical contact with a female San Diego State student at a location near campus. The suspect was located shortly after and arrested. Several other female SDSU students reported the same male had attempted to engage them in similar contacts.

Since his arrest, the suspect has been released from custody and has been seen in the SDSU area.  He was wearing a dark baseball hat, long sleeve orange shirt, and gray Dickies pants.

By Miriam Raftery

June 27, 2016 (Washington D.C.) — Suspected drunk drivers can refuse to take a blood test without a warrant, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Thursday. But the Court also held that drivers must submit to a less invasive breath test when ordered, or face arrest.

By Miriam Raftery

June 27,2016 (Washington D.C.) – A Texas law that sought to shut down most of the state’s abortion clinics, forcing some women seeking the procedure to drive hundreds of miles, has been overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court as unconstitutional in a 5-3 ruling.  The decision is expected to impact at least 25 other states that have enacted similar restrictions.

The law required abortion clinics to meet surgical-center operating standards and for doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.  Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, has said that the state’s goal was to “protect innocent life, while ensuring the highest health and safety standards for women.” But the court’s majority found just the opposite—that medical risks for women would rise as a result of the law.