February 14, 2013--(San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL/REGIONAL

• Ramona solar farm wins approval (UT San Diego)
• RCPG Chair says County getting mixed signals from Ramona residents on housing projects (Ramona Patch)
• Ruling puts SD pension overhaul in doubt  (U-T San Diego)
• Local DMV Staffers Were Bribed $100,000 for Driver’s Licenses, Feds Say (La Mesa Patch)
• San Diego Hospice faces critical moment (U-T San Diego)
• Boxer Wants Probe Into Equipment Problems At Troubled San Onofre Nuclear Plant
• Helix Star RB Michael Adkins Will Play Football for the Colorado Buffaloes (La Mesa Patch)
• Santee Farmer’s Market to move west (Santee Patch)
• Council acting on well at Town Center despite other claims to water  (Santee Patch)

STATE

• Christopher Dorner's charred body is positively identified  (Los Angeles Times)
• Controller: California is $4.3 billion ahead of forecast in January (Sacramento Bee)
• Governor Brown, Republicans float proposals to change fire fees (Sacramento Bee)
• California Seeks To Adopt Nation's Toughest Gun Laws (KPBS)
• Environmental groups, unions team up to resist CEQA push (Sacramento Bee)
• Many in Calif. Rely On Contaminated Water Sources (KPBS)
• Delta Smelt Deaths Means Less Water for Central and Southern California (KPBS)

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.

January 9, 2013 (Ramona) – The Oasis Camel Dairy opens its doors for tours on January 13 and February 10 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Enjoy a humorous and intimate hour with the camels and tour the facilities and pastures of the farm.

By Nadin Abbot

December 22, 2012 (Ramona)--The temperature was quickly dropping and the car thermometer read in the upper thirties as I talked to Janine outside her mobile home late last night She is a resident of the Ramona Terrace Estates, which lost propane yesterday due to a major leak.

Janine, who did not provide her last name, is worried since they will not get gas power restored until Christmas Eve. It will be cold for the next few days, and among the residents is her father, who lives in one of the units that are "propane only," so right now he is using a space heater to keep warm.

Appeals must be received by February 2, 2013

Updated 12/19/20 3 p.m.

December 19, 2012 (Ramona) – Cleveland National Forest Supervisor Will Metz today announced a decision to implement of a permit system for visiting Cedar Creek Falls.  Initially, 75 permits per day for groups up to 5 people will be issued and can be reserved online.   During peak season, the falls have drawn as many as 1,000 visitors –thus the permit system is apt to reduce the number of visitors who will be able to access the popular attraction during peak demand.

The Ramona trailhead to the falls, closed since July 2011 when 16-year-old Joseph Meram fell to his death, will be reopened in April when use permits take effect, Brian Harris at the USFS told ECM.  However a permanent closure on cliffs above the falls was also announced, along with a permanent ban on alcohol in the Cedar Creek Falls area.

Photo courtesy 10 News

December 13, 2012 (Ramona) – A school bus mechanic, 32, from Ramona has died of injuries following a collision .  The mechanic was working to repair a San Diego Unified School District bus that had broken down on the right shoulder of I-805 southbound under El Cajon Boulevard at 6:55 a.m. when a 2005 Nissan Altima driver lost control in heavy rain and slammed into the bus.

According to the California Highway Patrol, the Nissan driver, a 41-year-old woman, lost control due to her speed on the wet roadway. Her vehicle struck the rear of the bus, trapping the mechanic in the engine compartment and causing serious injuries.

November 20, 2012 (Ramona) – Oasis Camel Dairy hosts its 3rd Annual Pomegranate Days on November 24 and 25 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day.

This holiday tradition includes feeding pomegranates to the camels, a special performance of the performing bird show and a behind the scenes tour of the dairy.Camel rides will also be available, as well as camel milk chocolate, soaps and lotions. 

September 24, 2012 (Ramona) – A man, 34, was shot and killed in Ramona on September 16 at 3 p.m. following an altercation with a homeowner and the homeowner’s son in the 1300 block of Walnut Street.

According to Lt. Glenn Giannantonio with the Sheriff’s Homicide Detail,  the victim was unknown to the homeowner.  “The man got into an argument with the homeowner and the two started fighting. The homeowner's adult son also got involved in the altercation. The homeowner's son retrieved a gun from the residence and the man was ordered to leave at gunpoint. There was a struggle over the gun and the man was shot by the homeowner.”

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Nadin Abbott and Miriam Raftery

August 5, 2012 (Ramona) – What loves eating watermelon, has feet like snowshoes, and can guzzle up to 40 gallons of water at a time? 

These are among the surprising facts about camels that I learned during the Watermelon Days Festival at the Oasis Camel Dairy on a sweltering midsummer day in Ramona. The climate here is ideally suited for these “ships of the desert”, which delighted audiences at this unique East County attraction.

• Special report: water supplies pass tipping point (UT San Diego)
• Ramona’s original horses come home (Ramona Patch)
• San Diego County’s wildlife killers (Voice of San Diego)
• Heartland Fire Chief steps down (La Mesa Today)
• Unclaimed funds being held by county (10 News)
• 15-year-old Santee driver in fatal SR 52 crash sentenced to one year
• A costly, cranky day for La Mesa (La Mesa Today)
• La Mesa’s $1.9 million payment to state could be cut in half, says city manager (La Mesa Patch)

• California Health Exchange seeks to make buying insurance a breeze (Sacramento Bee)
• Lawmakers seek state parks investigation (Sacramento Bee) 

Second transient beating in a week raises questions in this rural town

By Miriam Raftery

May 9, 2012 (Ramona) – Sheriff’s deputies have arrested Tanner Hendee, 19, for the severe beating of a homeless man found unconscious yesterday morning.

May 6, 2012 (San Diego's East County) -- ECM editor Miriam Raftery snapped this image of last night's "super moon" -- the closest that the moon comes to earth in its orbit this year. 

This full moon shot was taken off Highway 79, between Santa Ysabel and Ramona, casting a golden halo as it rose.

Update:  May 4, 2012 -- The Sheriff’s Department announced on Wednesday night that a suspect had been arrested in the death of a 94-year-old Ramona woman.

Gary Allen Thomas, 63, a resident of the mobile home park where the victim lived, was arrested Wednesday afternoon, sheriff’s homicide Lt. Larry Nesbit said at a news conference at department headquarters.
 

February 27, 2012 (Ramona) – San Nicolas Island is best known as the setting for the novel Island of the Blue Dolphin.  But the isle in California’s Channel Islands was also used by the Navy—and a colony of wild cats believe to be descended from pets of naval personnel  were hunting wild birds and lizards, endangering native species including foxes. 

The Navy was prepared to kill all of the feral cats—until the Humane Society and the Fund for Animals stepped in.