By Jack and Helen Ofield, https://www.newpacificproductions.com

By Andy Tolley, County of San Diego Communications Office

July 30, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - San Diego is known for its many hiking trails. But sometimes, you want to know what you’re getting into before you make that trek. Or maybe you just want to see if the view really is as spectacular as the photos.

By Miriam Raftery

July 30, 2017 (San Diego) – San Diego County will experience monsoonal moisture starting Monday through at least Friday, with high heat, afternoon and evening thunderstorms and rain possible each day, especially over the mountains and deserts, though dangerous conditions are also forecast along the coast.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Screenshot, the Washington Post

July 30, 2017 (San Diego) -- Law enforcement leaders across the nation are denouncing remarks made by President Donald Trump that critics say encourages police brutality. View video of Trump’s remarks.

Here is what President Trump said while speaking to law enforcement officers at Suffolk County Community College in New York:

By Miriam Raftery

July 29, 2017 (Spring Valley) – A resident of Sangamon Avenue on Dictionary Hill in Spring Valley says a backyard security camera at his home captured an image of a large cat that he believes to be a mountain lion. 

East County News Service

July 28, 2017 (La Mesa) – More than 60,000 people in San Diego County reportedly suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. Another 150,000 people love and care for them. What are the risk factors for dementia and lifestyle factors associated with good brain health? What is the latest research telling us? Are there new daily habits that can improve brain health?

By Miriam Raftery

July 28, 2017 (Jamul) – Earlier this month, we covered concerns raised by Jamul community members and Supervisor Dianne Jacob over highway safety concerns on State Route 94 since the Hollywood Jamul-San Diego Casino opened and on delays in improvements planned on State Route 94.

In response to our inquiry, we received a statement issued by Caltrans, as well as additional remarks from Caltrans public information office Cathryne Bruce-Johnson.

Below is the statement:

East County News Service

July 28, 2017 (San Diego) — The Pomerado Brass Quintet will perform a free concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 30 in the visitor center at Mission Trails Regional Park.

Based in San Diego, California, the Pomerado Brass Quintet was formed in the summer of 2005 as a spin-off from the Pomerado Community Band.  The Pomerado Brass Quintet performs a wide variety of music from classical, marches, jazz, ragtime, Dixieland, and selections from Broadway musicals.

U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations votes on Leahy Amendment

By Miriam Raftery

July 28, 2017 (Washington D.C.) -- This morning, the Senate Committee on Appropriations voted to include an amendment introduced by Senator Patrick Leahy (R-VT) in the FY2018 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The amendment prohibits the use of Federal funds to interfere with medical cannabis patients and programs that are in compliance with state medical cannabis laws.  

Country threatens to take away all funds and a fire/paramedic engine if district board refuses County’s offer

East County News Service

July 27, 2017 (Julian) -- On Thursday, July 27 at 6:30 pm, at the Julian Fire Station (3407 Highway 79 in Julian), the San Diego County Fire Authority will make its final presentation to try to convince the community to dissolve its volunteer fire department and be accepted under the Fire Authority. 

The meeting will begin with a professional video mad for  the Julian-Cuyamaca Fire Protection District (JCFPD),  followed by a Powerpoint presentation by County Fire Chief Tony Mecham. The audience will be able to ask questions and express concerns.

The County is proposing that, at a cost of $1.5 million, it will provide a staff of three professional firefighters 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. But if the JCFPD refuses the offer, the County will withdraw all financial support that it has been giving for 30 years, including a paramedic/engine placed at CalFire almost 2 years ago.

Source: Society of Professional Journalists, San Diego

July 27, 2017 (San Diego) -- On Tuesday evening, the San Diego Unified School Board unanimously adopted a policy to delete all emails from district servers after one year despite a recommendation from the San Diego chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists to retain them for two years as other large California school districts do. San Diego SPJ spoke at the meeting, raising concern with this and the fact that district employees will be charged with deciding which emails are public records.

43% of alcohol served in Mexico is produced illegally and may be dangerous, government study reveals

East County News Service

Photo:  Abbey Conner, whose family alleges she died due to tainted alcohol served at a Mexican resort

July 27, 2017 (San Diego) – The U.S. State Department has issued a warning for Americans visiting Mexico.  Since 2010, over 1.4 million gallons of tainted alcohol have been seized in Mexico. That includes counterfeit booze that reportedly contained pure industrial ethanol used in rubbing alcohol – a substance that can be toxic if consumed.

Users could be prosecuted and held liable for damages; sky lanterns have caused fires and serious harm elsewhere

By Miriam Raftery

July 27, 2017 (Lake Morena Village) – Residents in Lake Morena Village are fired up over dangers posed by illegal sky lanterns, also known as Chinese lanterns, launched in the area in recent weeks.  Sky lanterns are illegal in at least 30 states, including California due to fire dangers.

Claudia Millerbragg, moderator of the Campo-Lake Morena Neighborhood Watch Forum, says she found one in her yard about three months ago. Since then, she told East County Magazine,  “Community members have seen four different ones in the sky in the past couple of weeks. Usually Saturday night.”

Millerbragg says she spoke with Captain Cox at the Lake Morena Fire Station.  “This is what he stated,” she posted on the Neighborhood Watch Facebook page yesterday. “1. If a fire lantern lands in your yard, pick it up with gloves on and put in a paper bag. Call the station or main Calfire number. 2. Video any lantern being lit or just leaving property. Call 911. And it is against the law to fire off the lantern.”

By Jordan Damond

Miriam Raftery also contributed to this report

Photo:  Former Seal Team Six hero Kristin Beck, who transitioned to become a transgender woman after her military service, as challenged President Trump, stating, “I was defending individual liberty.”

July 27, 2017 (San Diego) -- On Twitter yesterday President Donald Trump announced that he was reinstating a ban prohibiting transgender personnel from working in any capacity in the U.S. armed forces. This was the reversal of a policy that Barack Obama implemented, which allowed transgenders to serve openly and gave the Defense Department until July 1, 2017 to craft plans for full implementation, a deadline Trump’s administration delayed before the President’s announcement today of cancelling the Obama policy.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Dennis Mammana

July 26, 2017 (Borrego Springs) – California Overland Adventures invites you to a 5-hour sunset-to-stars excursion to experience the Anza-Borrego Desert on August 11 or August 16  from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. including an off-road adventure to rugged badlands, dinner and stargazing in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, which USA Today has called a “stargazer’s paradise.”

Overnight camping options are also available on separate dates.