November 29, 2013 (Ramona) -- On Friday, Ramona’s East End merchants are offering up a hometown Black Friday in Ramona's Old Town   Starting at 8 a.m., stroll the town’s historic Main Street between 5th and 8th, for sidewalk sales and unique gifts offered by shop owners.  

Later, you can  head up to Ramona Ranch Winery for wine and pizza at 23578 Highway 78 (3 miles east of Ramona's Old Town).   For $10, you can taste 5 different wines; Trezette’s catering will be serving up flatbread pizza and salad from noon to 4 p.m. for an additional $9 each.   Wine is also available by the glasss and bottles will be discounted.

November 11, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – The past month has been deadly on East County roadways.  Accidents in Jamul, Spring Valley, San Diego, Lakeside, and Ramona have claimed the lives of several local residents.

Steven John Eastman, 24, of El Cajon died November 3 of injuries sustained when he was struck by a cement truck while walking along Mission Gorge Road and Cottonwood Avenue on November 1. Witnesses called 911 and paramedics found him unresponsive. He was transported to Sharp Memorial Hospital, where despite treatment, his health declined.

September 30, 2013 (Ramona) – The H.E.A.R.T. Mural Project of Ramona, along with their sponsors, will present the First Annual Ramona Art and Wine Festival, to be held at the Amy Strong Castle at Mount Woodson. The festival will be held on November 2, 2013 from noon to 6 pm. Art, wine and food enthusiasts may purchase passports to the event by visiting www.RamonaArtandWineFest.net. General admission passports are $60, and a V.I.P. Passport is being offered for $110 that will include an exclusive “Winemakers’ Dinner” in the spring of 2014 (date TBD).

October 18, 2013 (Ramona) – Bella Noble, A 5-year-old Ramona girl has died of injuries sustained when her mother, 42, accidentally backed over the child. The tragedy happened at 5:20 p.m. yesterday in the family's driveway on Carnation Road in Ramona, when the mother was backing her Chevrolet Astro van out to visit a friend. 

According to the CHP, the child ran behind the vehicle.

“The mother lost sight of her daughter and felt a bump at the rear of her vehicle and realized she may have struck her child.  Not realizing she had run over her daughter, she pulled forward and struck her child a second time,” said CHP Officer Tommy Doerr.

October 3, 2013 (Ramona) – The San Diego Narcotics Task Force served search warrants and seized over 8,500 marijuana plants being grown illegally at three outdoor locations on September 24 and 25.   The crops had a cash value of $4.6 million and caused damage to an ecological preserve and open spaces, according to the Sheriff.

By Miriam Raftery

September 3, 2013 (San Diego’s East County)—Traffic accidents claimed the lives of four East County residents in the past ten days, including victims from Lakeside, Ramona, and Alpine, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner. 

By Miriam Raftery

August 26, 2013 (Ramona) – The Ramona Water District Board is trying to oust one of its elected members. Last year, the board voted to change its meeting time from 4:30 to 2 o clock p.m.  But the director, Kit Kesinger, was absent and says he can’t attend meetings so early in the day.  He wants the board to change the time back to 4:30, when more members of the public can also attend.

By Miriam Raftery

August 16, 2013 (Ramona) – The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating ""sextortion" threats allegedly made against 19 people including Cassidy Wolf, a former Ramona contestant who won the title Miss Teen USA on Saturday. 

According to NBC Today Show’s website, Wolf said she received an anonymous e-mail several months ago from a blackmailer who claimed to have stolen images from the webcam on her home computer.  The hacker reportedly threatened to publish the images unless Wolf would provide nude photos.

August 3, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – A state court on Tuesday sided with a San Diego County ordinance that is bringing a bumper crop of boutique wineries to the backcountry.

The California Appellate Court affirmed a lower court ruling that upheld the legality of the 2010 winery initiative spearheaded by Supervisor Dianne Jacob. Barring an appeal to the state Supreme Court, the decision marks the conclusion of a three-year legal challenge.

July 26, 2013 (Ramona) – Two months after the County Department of Animal Services (DAS) impounded ten horses in Ramona, another 22 were seized from the same owner Monday.

DAS had been monitoring the herd belonging to Lori Patton since the original seizure May 23 to make sure the animals were getting the proper level of care. 

July 25, 2013 (Ramona) –The Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona invites the public to one of East County’s most unique events, Watermelon Days on July 27 and 28 from 3-6 p.m.

The fun begins with an exotic bird show at 3 p.m., followed by a camel show at 4 p.m.  After that, you can feed watermelons to the camels, enjoy camel rides, and shop at the Camel Dairy store for gift items such as camel milk soaps and lotions.

July 18, 2013 (Ramona) – A hiker found dead on a trail at San Dieguito River Park on the San Pasqual Clevenger Trail has been identified as Ellen Turkish Comisso, 65, of La Jolla.

Two hikers found the victim in brush just off the trail on the morning of July 5 and called 911.  The San Diego Medical Examiner has found that her death was caused by hyperthermia, a condition most commonly associated with heat stroke.  It is unknown how long the victim had been deceased before she was found.

May 24, 2013 (Ramona)--The County Department of Animal Services (DAS) is investigating the death of a horse and is caring for another ten horses seized from an owner in Ramona late yesterday afternoon.      

DAS was called to Ramona Monday after a group of horses was found loose on Highway 78 Monday. CHP and CALFIRE returned them to a nearby property, and DAS began monitoring a herd of 30 horses at the location, noting that the animals lacked food and water. CALFIRE supplied some water, but the conditions prompted DAS to post a notice advising the horses’ owner the animals were subject to seizure.

Concerned neighbors also provided some feed to the horses, but based on the conditions officers found during a check yesterday, DAS seized all of the animals on the property.

Update: Aircraft have been released from the Ramona fire. Otay Fire has been stopped at 120 acres.

Photo by Paul Kruze

May 3, 2013 (San Diego's East County) -- A 15-20 acre fire named Harvest Fire is burning near Otay Mountain.  It is east of Brown Field and is threatening a salvage yard, Cal Fire reports.  There are no threats to structures currently.

Cal-Fire is at the scene of a small brush fire in Ramona.  The fire is at the Ramona Canyon RV Park, 24340 Highway 78.  An air attack has been ordered.

Congressional legislation aims to halt June 15 closure of FAA tower, others

County  News Service

April 23, 2013 (San Diego)--The county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (4/23) urged federal lawmakers to approve pending legislation in Congress that would save the Ramona Airport traffic control tower. The board, on a 5-0 vote, endorsed a pair of bipartisan federal bills that would halt the June 15 closure of the East County facility, along with nearly 150 other towers funded by the Federal Aviation Administration.