By Miriam Raftery

April 28, 2020 (San Diego) – Over the weekend, 98 new cases of COVID-19 were reported by the San Diego County Health and Human Services department. The jump follows the trend in several cities where rallies were held to end shutdowns. The Sheriff arrested several local protesters over the weekend for violating stay-home orders.

The disease has spread rapidly in East County, where El Cajon now has 181 cases, La Mesa 71, Santee 29, Lemon Grove 28, Lakeside 22, Ramona 14, Jamul 6, and Alpine 4.  The communities of Ranchita, Boulevard, Potrero, Julian and Pala each have 2 cases; Borrego Springs, Descanso, and Tecate each have at least 1 case. View an interactive map with the latest updates on local cases by community.

East County News Service

December 4, 2019 (Ramona) -- This year’s Ramona Holiday Wine Trail runs four weekends to make sure you have time to cover all 18 participating wine-tasting venues and take advantage of all that the Holiday Wine Trail has to offer. The event includes holiday shopping at wineries as well as live music, special events and promotions plus of course, wine tasting.  This year, the wine trail runs each Saturday and Sunday between Thanksgiving and Christmas:

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: ECM news partner 10 News

October 28, 2019 (Ramona) – The Sawday Fire which began Friday morning and scorched 97 acres was caused by a parked trailer that caught fire, Cal Fire reports. It is not yet known what caused the trailer to ignite along Sawday Truck Trail near Littlepage Road.

UPDATE 5:41 P.M.:  ALL EVACUATION ORDERS LIFTED.  FIRE IS 52% CONTAINED

UPDATE 2 p.m. : Congressman Duncan Hunter has contacted the White House to request that military aircraft assets, such as the C130s used for fighting fires, be moved and available at Naval Air Station Point Mugu.  Rep. Hunter indicated that these assets could be moved to this location for training purposes in anticipation of California declaring an emergency and requesting assistance.

UPDATE 1:16 P.M.:  FORWARD RATE OF SPREAD STOPPED;  FIRE IS 97 ACRES AND 15% CONTAINED

UPDATE 10:52 A.M.:  Fire is currently 70 acres and 0% contained.  150 firefighters currently engaged.

UPDATE 10:42 A.M.:  ALL EB & WB LANES OF HWY. 78 AT 3RD ST. HAVE REOPENED.

East County News Service

Fundraiser launched to help pay victim’s medical bills

By Miriam Raftery

Photo via ECM news partner 10 News

October 6, 2019 (Ramona) — A $25,000 reward is being offered anonymously for information leading to arrest of the driver of a black Ford Edge SUV with stolen license plates, NBC 7 reports. The vehicle struck and critically injured Ramona bicyclist Michelle Scott last Wednesday morning on State Route 67 north of Dye Road.  

By Katie White, County of San Diego Communications Office

September 20, 2019 (Ramona) - Fasten your seatbelts and prepare for takeoff as one of Ramona’s biggest events returns for its 24th annual edition.

The Ramona Air Fair & Fly-in is coming to the County of San Diego’s Ramona Airport, 2926 Montecito Road, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5. Event admission and parking are free, and all ages are welcome.

By Miriam Raftery

September 6, 2019 (Ramona) --- After Virulent Newcastle Disease (VND) was detected in Ramona last week and the area placed under a regional quarantine, the California Dept. of Food and Agriculture has announced that it will hold a town hall at the Ramona branch library on Monday, Sept. 9 at 6:30 p.m. 

Bird owners are invited to come learn more about the disease, how to proptect your birds, methods to clean your property,  status of the outbreak, and what to expect in recovery.

By Miriam Raftery

September 6, 2019 (Ramona) – The Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona is opening its farm store on Sept. 7, 8, 14, 15, 28 and 29 as well as Oct. 5, 6, 12, 13, 20, 26 and 27. Besides shopping for products such as camel milk bath bombs and lotions, you can now relax with country views while sampling 11 varieties of camel milk chocolate by Al Nassma including dark, milk, orange, sweet-spice, date and white chocolate varieties, along with non-alcoholic beverages and snacks.

East County News Service

September 3, 2019 (Ramona) – The 2Create Gallery and Art Center (438 Main St., Ramona) is hosting two upcoming events.

East County News Service

August 26, 2019 (Ramona) — It’s time for stompers and swabbers to create their two-person teams to challenge brother, sister, classmates, boss, colleague or best friend to win the  title of “Ramona Grape Stomp Champion” at the third annual Ramona Grape Stomp on Saturday, September 14 at the Ramona Outdoor Community Center (ROCC) from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The event offers fun for the entire family—children’s activities, wine tasting, competitive and fun stomping, music, line dancing, food, and shopping. 

By Miriam Raftery

July 3, 2019 (Ramona) -- Visitors at the Begent Ranch got hands-on artistic experiences at Ramona’s eclectic new event, the Anomar Arts Festival, last weekend. The festival is the creation of the 2CreateGallery and The Art Center of Ramona, with a goal to help everyone explore the world of art.

By Ken Stone

Reprinted with permission from Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Network

Photo:  Former Rep. Duncan Lee Hunter chats with former constituents at Ramona Mainstage before his son’s town hall in March 2017. Photo by Chris Stone

May 22, 2019 (Ramona) - Rep. Duncan D. Hunter returns to the scene of a raucous 2017 town hall when he takes part Saturday in another Ramona Mainstage event.

But his office doesn’t call it a town hall.

By Miriam Raftery

April 2, 2019 (Ramona) -- The Ramona H.E.A.R.T. Mural Project will hold a dedication ceremony for its 19th mural, “Bandy Blacksmith,” by artist Beata Wojcik at D’Carlos restaurant, 1347 Main St., Ramona on Saturday, April 6th at 10:00 a.m.