East County News Service

View raptors and learn about birds of prey at Hawk Watch, hosted by the Wildlife Research Institute at Begent Ranch (18528 Highland Valley Rd.) in Ramona each Saturday in January and February starting at 10 a.m.  Arrive early for this free event, with coffee and donuts available starting at 9:30 a.m. It’s recommended to bring binoculars, a folding chair, sturdy shoes and a jacket.

The event begins with an educational biologist’s talk plus a Q&A session with falconry or ambassador raptors that you can see up close and personal.  After the 1.5 to 2 hour seated program, you can opt to drive a 2-mile route on paved roads to observe wild raptors including a Bald Eagle nest. Biologists and expert volunteers will help you spot and identify birds and view them through their high-powered professional telescopes.

East County News Service

November 17, 2024 (Ramona, CA) – Sheriff’s deputies found the body of an unidentified person, along with two deceased dogs, inside a burned trailer home in Ramona yesterday.

Firefighters responded to the blaze in the 18000 block of Cinnamon Rock Road in Ramona and extinguished the fire, after which deputies from the Ramona substation located the victim and dogs.

East County News Service

September 13, 2024 (Ramona) –Yesterday morning before 9 a.m., the Ramona Sheriff's Substation was notified by Olive Pierce Middle School about a threat of a possible school shooting. After an investigation, authorities have concluded the threat was unfounded.

Deputies arrived at the school within minutes. For the safety of students and staff, school administrators made the decision to place the school on a limited lockdown while deputies investigated the incident.    

After a thorough search of the entire campus, deputies did not find anything suspicious at Olive Pierce Middle School. No one was hurt.

Out of an abundance of caution, deputies also conducted security sweeps at Ramona High School and Ramona Community Montessori School and provided extra patrols at all three campuses until the end of the school day.

Photo: El Capitan County Preserve

By Shauni Lyles, County of San Diego Communications Office

August 7, 2024 (San Diego’s East County)-- Due to triple-digit temperatures, two County parks will be closed for the month of August. They are El Capitan County Preserve in Lakeside and Mt. Gower County Preserve in Ramona.

These locations have difficult trails that end in isolated areas. They also offer very limited shade which can lead to dangerous conditions during major heat events. They join two desert parks that are already closed for the summer due to extreme heat: Vallecito and Agua Caliente County Parks.

East County News Service

July 7, 2024 (Ramona) -- Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona invites you to open farm days on select Saturdays all summer long. The next open farm day is July 20^th.  Enjoy a camel and bird show, feeding treats to camels, a camel encounter with photos, petting mini-sheep, and more.

You can also take a camel ride and shop for camel milk products such as lotions, soaps and chocolates.

East Councy News Service

June 14, 2024 (Ramona) -- Relive the history of protest music and experience the sounds of Bob Dylan, Barry McGuire, Neil Young, and more on Saturday, June 15 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ramona Library.

Desert Crossing is a musical duo that specializes in vocal harmonies in covers and originals across a variety of musical genres. Sponsored the Friends of the Ramona Library.

By Miriam Raftery

April 25, 2024 (Ramona) – A phone call to the Sheriff’s communications center yesterday around 1:40 p.m. reported an individual armed with a firearm outside  Ramona High School. The incident prompted a lockdown of the high school and other nearby schools while deputies from Ramona and Poway stations searched the campus.

The call appears to have been a false report or “swatting” incident to provoke a law enforcement response. Nothing suspicious was found.

East County News Service

Photos courtesy of CalFire San Diego

December 20, 2023 (Ramona)—The crew from Cal Fire’s Station 80 rescued nearly 20 animals from a barn fire in Ramona earlier this week, including these adorable puppies.

Unfortunately, one animal perished in the fire on Ramona Real.

East County News Service

December 8, 2023 (Ramona) - Ramona Community Foundation (RCF), a regional affiliate of San Diego Foundation, has awarded $40,000 to seven local nonprofit programs that demonstrate the power to build a more vibrant community and recover from the pandemic.

By Miriam Raftery

November 27, 2023 (Ramona) – A 26-year-old man has been arrested for causing a head-on crash on November 25 in Ramona that killed a Ramona woman, 44, then fleeing the scene.

East County News Service

October 9, 2023 (Ramona) -- A woman has been arrested on suspicion of deliberately starting a house fire in Ramona early this morning.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department received a call around 6 a.m. from one of two residents at a home in the 200 block of Haley Street,  stating that their house was on fire.   

Update: Zita Swanson has been found safe and reunited with her family.

September 21, 2023 (Ramona) -- The Sheriff's Search and Rescue (SAR) Unit has been activated to help locate a missing woman in Ramona.

Zita Swanson, 66, left her home early this morning in the 700 block of G St. in Ramona and did not return home, says Lt. John Malan.

She does not have a vehicle, and is not believed to be carrying a cell phone or purse. Shie is Hispanic, 5'5" tall, 174 pounds with gray hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a purple or blue striped blouse, blue jeans and black shoes.

August 20, 2023 (San Diego's East County) --The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning now through 5 p.m. for El Cajon, La Mesa, Poway, Ramona, Alpine, Tierrasanta, Escondido, Santee, Lakeside and San Diego Country Estates. This is due to heavy rainfall capable of producing life-threatening flash floods.