April 12, 2011 (Ramona) – A 17-year-old girl was sexually assaulted between 11 p.m. and midnight Friday night while walking in an alley in Ramona, behind businesses located between Main and B Streets, the San Diego Sheriff’s office reports today. The male assailant wore a dark, hooded sweatshirt; no other description is available at this time.

According to Lt. James Bolwerk, the teen is a Ramona resident. “The Sheriff’s Department reminds the public to always travel in pairs, stay in well lit areas, and be aware of their surroundings,” a release from the Sheriff’s office states.

April 10, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Two separate accidents in Ramona and Valley Center resulted in damage to aircraft and injury to one pilot.

April 4, 2011 (Ramona) -- A stolen bronze moose statue from Ramona was recovered in a vacant field on March 30, about a mile from the 2800 block of Willow Oak Drive where it was stolen sometime between February 15 and 23. The area is located at the intersection of Dye Road and Southern Oak Road and is frequently used by people who ride and train horses.

A watchful citizen made the discovery and contacted the Sheriff’s Department after reading  media articles about the theft of several statues in our region.

By Joy Ryder

April 1, 2011 (Julian) – Highway 67 is notorious for the many head-on collisions and fatality crashes which have occurred on the winding stretch from Lakeside to Julian. Today, Cal-Trans and the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) announced a solution.

In a joint press conference outside Julian Apple Pie Company, a major project sponsor, officials from both agencies revealed plans to replace old 67 with a new double-decker freeway from Santee to Julian.
 

"Celebration of life" service set for April 1
 

March 26, 2011 (Ramona) –The San Diego Medical Examiner has identified Kevin Montgomery Birse, 22, of Ramona as the driver who perished in a vehicle accident on March 23rd on San Vicente Road, just east of Wildcat Canyon Road in Ramona.

County announcement describes new facility as "a town treasure"

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Dave Patterson
February 12, 2011 (Ramona) –State and County officials will join Friends of the Ramona Library to celebrate the grand opening of a new, state-of-the-art library on Tuesday, February 15 at 11 a.m.  After the ceremony, the library will welcome the public with a day of programs including live music, face painting and read-alouds for children, plus tours of the new building.

Located at 1275 Main Street in Ramona, the 21,000-square-foot Tuscan and Southwestern-style library is four times the size of the old building and boasts rooftop solar panels that will produce about 20 percent of the energy needed to run the library.

February 12, 2011 (Ramona) – Carl Jones, 43, of Ramona has been arrested following an all-night stand-off with the San Diego Sheriff’s SWAT team. Jones had barricaded himself inside his residence at 23610 Galeria Circle following a domestic violence dispute. Jones also threatened suicide, Lt. Jim Duffy said.

Although several shots were fired, no one was harmed and Jones was arrested on weapons and domestic violence charges.
 

"Don't wait for your town to be devastated. Take action Now! Here's an example of what you can do.  Pass this on." -- Dave Patterson

By Dave Patterson
 

January 17, 2010 (Poway) – Ramona resident Cynthia Clay, founder of Clay’s Canine Sidekicks and Leashes for Leaving, died Christmas night, December 25th, one day before her 58th birthday.

“Cyndy, while seriously disabled herself, created and managed over the years two service dog training groups,” said Hope Goodwin, a client who owns a service dog obtained through Clay. “I believe that Cyndy's training group is the only one in the U.S. that teaches the disabled how to train their own Service Dogs,” she said of the two-year program.

December 30, 2010 (San Diego) – Across the County, emergency crews are busy repairing roads and assessing other damage from the most recent storm.

Following on the heels of last week’s heavy storms which saturated soils and overflowed numerous waterways, the most recent downpour caused additional rock and mudslides, undermined roads and caused potholes and sinkholes.

Jakubec formerly ran a contracting business in Ramona
 

By Miriam Raftery
 

November 22, 2010 (Escondido)—George Djura Jakubec, 54, pled not guilty today to 28 criminal counts. He is accused of possessing destructive explosive devices and the ingredients to make them, as well as robbing two local banks.
 

Deputy District Attorney Terri Perez told Judge Marshall Hockett that the suspect’s home was “a bomb factory” containing “the largest quantity of these types of homemade explosives at one place in the United States.” Those materials pose “a huge danger to officers and the public,” she said.

October 29, 2010 (Ramona)--What could be spookier than a haunted hike in the woods?  Dos Picos CountyPark in Ramona is offering a haunted trail hike on Saturday, October 30th at 7:30 and 8 p.m.

The scary but kid-friendly trail hikes will include a moderate walk with some hills and uneven surfaces. Younger hikers must be accompanied by an adult. Everyone is encouraged to bring a flashlight.

October 22, 2010 (Ramona)--The Palomar Ranger District of the Cleveland National Forest is conducting prescribed burning from October 19th 2010 to May, 2011 if weather and fuel moisture conditions permit. This vegetation treatment is for community defense, fuel break maintenance and forest health, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The prescribed burning will take place on Forest Service Land that adjoins the San Diego Country Estates.

September 13, 2010 (Ramona) – David Bruce Menea, 54, was struck and killed on Main Street Saturday night while illegally crossing the road, CHP reports. He was struck by a 4-Runner SUV, which went on to strike a parked Volkswagen, pushing the VW into Mike’s Liquor Store. Three other people were injured from the collision and flying glass.

ECM news partner Channel 10 News has dramatic video of the crash viewed from inside and outside the store, as well as an interview with eyewitness Terri Linnell. Linnell, who ran for Congress on a T.E.A. party platform during the June primary, tried to assist the fatally wounded bicyclist. “He died in my arms,” she told 10 news.

August 18, 2010 (Ramona) – San Diego Sheriff’s ASTREA helicopter rescued five hikers last night, including a 20-year-old who was experiencing heat exhaustion symptoms. One of the hikers used her cell phone to call for help and advised they were not sure if they were on the correct trail. She also reported that one of her friends was unable to walk any further.