Company adds new wildfire risk reduction model, more weather stations

Source: SDG&E

Photo: Cal Fire

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ-IBIVYhdo&feature=youtu.be

Aug. 8, 2016 (San Diego) -  San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) today unveiled the latest additions to its fire-preparedness toolkit for this year, which includes the return of the Erickson Skycrane “Sun Bird” for the seventh straight year. The helitanker, which holds a maximum of 2,650 gallons of water or fire suppressant and can get airborne in just 15 minutes, already helped knock down two fast-moving brushfires just days after its arrival in San Diego on July 1.

Clinton slams plan as “lower wages, fewer jobs, more debt, tax breaks for the 0.1.%.”

By Miriam Raftery

August 8,2016 (Detroit) –  Donald Trump laid out his economic agenda, promising to “jump start” the American economy in a speech in Detroit today.  The plan calls for tax cuts, dismantling trade pacts, slashing regulations on businesses, eliminating Obamacare and boosting production and burning of coal, a greenhouse gas blamed by scientists for climate change.

Then No One Can Have Her, by Caitlin Rother (Kensington Publishing Corp., New York, NY, 2015, 435 pages).

Book Review by Dennis Moore

August 8, 2016 (San Diego) - New York Times Bestselling author Caitlin Rother has done it again! Following on the heels of Lost Girls and I’ll Take Care Of You, two true crime novels that this writer had the distinct pleasure and honor of writing reviews of for the East County Magazine in San Diego, is this riveting and brutal novel that examines the personification of evil and depravity; Then No One Can Have Her.

UPDATE AS OF 6:47 PM:  BRYAN HAS BEEN FOUND

East County News Service

August 7, 2016 (Lakeside) - The Sheriff's Departments wants the public's help in locating a missing person at risk in the East County.

East County News Service

August 6, 2016 (Washington D.C.) - Al Shabrawy Meat Inc. is recalling meat and poultry products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced today. Some of the products contain pistachio nut and soy, known allergens, which are not declared on the product label. The products include salami, bologna, mortadella, sausage, soujouk and makanek meats.

East County News Service

Photo: San Diego Fire Department, via San Diego Police Department Twitter feed

August 6, 2016 (El Cajon – Governor Jerry Brown, California Attorney General Kamala Harris and thousands of San Diegans turned out Friday morning at Shadow Mountain Church in El Cajon to honor the memory of murdered San Diego Police Officer Jonathan DeGuzman. 

Officer DeGuzman died in the line of duty, gunned down July 28 in an attack that also critically wounded his partner, Wade Irwin.

San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman called Officer DeGuzman a “great man” who was liked by everybody on the force.  “As he would approach you, he would flash his big smile, and positive energy was just all around him.” The Chief added that DeGuzman was an outstanding police officer because he “truly cared about everyone.”

By Liz Alper

Photo courtesy @Padres on Twitter

August 5, 2016 (San Diego) - After a good series against the Brewers, the Padres saw the Philadelphia Phillies for the first time since April.  Christian Friedrich got the start for San Diego against a man who was the subject of heavy trade rumors, Jeremy Hellickson.

August 5, 2016 (Santee) -- San Diego Sheriff is advising residents who live near the 9900 block of Woodglen Vista Drive in Santee to stay indoors due to a SWAT stand-off.

The incident began after deptuies were called to a residence for a domestic dispute mid-afternoon.  A suspect believed to be armed refused to come out and a stand-off has occurred.  Scanner traffic indicates the suspect reportedly shot arrows at officers, according to posts at Brush Party Fireline on Facebook.

By Tasha Matthews

ECM Editor Miriam Raftery also contributed to this report

August 4, 2016 (La Mesa)--Councilmember Guy McWhirter opened the La Mesa City Council meeting on Tuesday, July 26^th by expressing concern for our country in the wake of recent shootings of police officers. He thanked police for their brave work helping to protect citizens—two days before two San Diego Police officers were shot, one fatally.

But the Council rejected a Grand Jury recommendation to create a police oversight board aimed at assuring that citizens’ rights are protected if officer misconduct is alleged. The Grand Jury made its recommendations to La Mesa and other local cities in a report on Citizens Oversight Boards of Police Behavior.

East County News Service

August 4, 2016 (Santee) - The Pacific Island Beer Company invites you to a Polynesian parking lot luau on Sunday, August 21 from noon to 7:00 p.m.

Source: Caltrans news release

August 4, 2016 (San Diego) - Motorists are advised to expect delays on East County freeways Friday during the funeral procession for fallen San Diego Police Department Officer Jonathan “JD” DeGuzman.

By Miriam Raftery

August 2, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – The deadline to file as a candidate to run for local offices is August 11. But so far, many East County races have no candidates declared or qualified for the ballot, according to the Registrar of Voters candidate list for the November election.  Most community planning groups have nobody running.  The same is true in some school, water and fire districts. Races with no candidates will be filled by appointment. In other districts, people are running unopposed—even incumbents on some of the most controversy-riddled boards.

No candidates are listed yet for the city councils in El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove or Santee, nor for the mayoral seats open in Lemon Grove and Santee, nor the La Mesa City Clerk or Treasurer seats.  Candidates have been actively campaigning in some of those races and some will likely file before deadline, but it’s also common for candidates to drop out before qualifying for the ballot.

In the Grossmont Union High School District, incumbent Jim Stieringer is thus far running unopposed in district two (La Mesa/Mt. Helix/Rancho San Diego); in district one (Lemon Grove/Spring Valley) which is an open seat, only one candidate has filed: Pastor Steve Babbitt from Spring Valley Community Church.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy Transgriot blog

August 4,2016 (Washington D.C.) — The U.S. Supreme Court has voted 5-3 to temporarily prevent a transgender student in Virginia from using the bathroom of his choice, until the high court decides whether to hear the case.

By Miriam Raftery

August 3, 2016 (La Mesa) – With scarcely any public notice, Helix Water Board passed a 10.3% rate hike by a slim one-vote majority. The stated reason was because water use has dropped due to customers conserving water--just as the district asked them to do.

Directors Kathleen Coates-Hedberg and Joel Scalziti voted against jacking up rates, while directors John Linden, Chuck Muse and Deana Verbeke voted for the rate hike over public objections.

By Miriam Raftery

The County of San Diego’s new library in Alpine has been nominated for an Orchid Award in the San Diego Architectural Foundation’s annual Orchids and Onions Awards. The project was created through the design-build team of C.W. Driver, Ferguson Pape Baldwin Architects, and architect Manuel Oncina selected in a competitive design process.

From indoor trees for kids to cozy up and read under to an outdoor patio with park view, 42 million books, many specialized spaces and plenty of high-tech amenities, the spacious new library is not only innovative in design and beautiful, it’s also energy efficient as the County’s first Zero Net Energy building.  Next up, the County is seeking LEED Gold certification.