East County News Service

August 14, 2015 (San Diego)—Fruits, nuts, and other crops including some sold as organic have been grown using irrigation from oil fracking wastewater laced with toxins in drought-stricken California.

Now some consumer advocacy groups including Food & Water Watch are calling for a halt to the practice.  Courage Campaign has launched a petition for consumers to pledge that they won’t buy food products grown with oil wastewater, or what Courage Campaign calls “toxic sludge.”

 A shocking investigation by Mother Jones magazine reveals that oil wastewater has reportedly been sold to 90 landowners in Southern California, including Bee Sweet Citrus and  Halos, a citrus company which has the slogan “pure goodness” and Sunview, which sells grapes and raisins including some certified as organic.  Another company reportedly irrigating with oil wastewater is Trinchero Family Estates, which supplies grapes for winemakers including Sutter Home.

By Devoreo Bell

Photo: NIFC.gov

August 13, 2015 (Ramona)--Last week, East County Magazine reported on the United States Forest Service’s announcement that it will not allow its new air tanker firefighting planes to land at the Ramona Air Base. The USFS says the runway is not long enough. However Cal Fire provided a video showing a Cal Fire pilot landing the same type of plane in Ramona.

Now, all  five of San Diego’s Congressional representatives (Duncan Hunter, Darrell Issa, Scott Peters, Juan Vargas and Susan Davis) have signed a letter sent to Chief Thomas Tidwell of the USFS asking him to take action.

August 11, 2015 (Pala)--The Pala Band of Mission Indians announced today that it has donated $140,000 to the Bonsall Union School District for the 2015-2016 school year.

By Janis Russell

August 9, 2015 (El Cajon)- Last Friday, July 31, the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce hosted the first of its Dine and Dialogue series with Congresswoman Susan Davis.

Photo: "Junior Seau Chargers jersey" by Deejay from SoCal, U.S.A.  Forever #55. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

August 11, 2015 (San Diego)--The San Diego Chargers will pay tribute to Chargers and San Diego icon and Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Junior Seau prior to the team’s regular-season home opener against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Sept. 13.  The tribute will take place prior to kickoff on the 50-yard line at Qualcomm Stadium and will feature a special video followed by an address from Seau’s daughter Sydney.

By Ed Barrena

August 11, 2015 (San Diego)--The City of San Diego has presented its stadium report to The San Diego Chargers, who reportedly are unimpressed with the new proposal, while at the same time, NFL owners are meeting to discuss a potential new stadium in Carson, according to Sports Illustrated.

August 12, 2015 (San Diego's East County)-- East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• GOP gathering drops Trump over Megyn Kelly comments (CBS)
• GOP takes on Donald Trump (CNN)
• Fiorina won happy hour debate (Washington Post)
• Sanders surges into lead over Clinton in New Hampshire, poll finds (Fox)
• Hillary Clinton agrees to provide private e-mail server to FBI (Washington Post)
• Court puts limits on cell-phone tracking (U-T)
• Ferguson protesters arrested as county declares state of emergency  (CNN)
• When did MLK first say 'I have a dream?' Earlier than you might think. (CS Monitor)

WORLD

• Flight MH17: Possible Russian missile parts found at MH17 site, say prosecutors (+video)  (CS Monitor)
• 9 People Accused In $30 Million Hacking And Insider-Trading Scheme (NPR)
• Europe's migration wave: Latest developments (AP)
• Pakistan stunned as child sex abuse ring is uncovered (CS Monitor)
• In Mali, hotel siege and village massacre highlight Islamist threat (+video)  (CS Monitor)
• Blast kills around 50 in Nigeria's Borno state (Reuters)
• How this hacker can virtually 'kill' you, and what to do about it  (CS Monitor)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

Photos courtesy of Sandra Small/ Photographer, Source: La Mesa Chamber of Commerce

August 11, 2015 (La Mesa) --A group of very happy and thirsty La Mesa Chamber members gathered to visit this new wine bar and be a part of the ribbon cutting to welcome Proprietor's Reserve  to La Mesa on Thursday, August 6th.  Owners, Barbara and Michael Rammelsberg were on hand and greeted members, with their warm smiles and bubbly personalities.  Barbara was there early, setting up the area to be sure that the cheeses and other delicious food items were ready as guests arrived.  

After the  ribbon cutting, guests were escorted into the restaurant and were treated to hot chicken wings and their special meatballs and other delectable items.  This is truly a family run business, as the crowd was introduced to their sons who were also on hand to meet attendees and were also reminded that their grandson works in the bar, the Turquoise Room as a bartender.  Michael spoke to the group and shared his vision, experience and goals for this new addition to the La Mesa business community. 

East County News Service

August 10, 2015 (San Diego)—Local student filmmakers may soon take home top honors in the motion picture industry.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Mark and Miriam Raftery at SDG&E community partners event

August 10, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – East County Magazine, a publication of the nonprofit Heartland Coalition, and Grossmont Hospital will each receive a $500 Energy Solutions Partner Award from San Diego Gas & Electric Company.

August 11, 2015 (La Mesa) -- Applications are being accepted for several openings on the City’s Youth Advisory Commission. Applicants must live within the city limits of La Mesa and be at least 13 years old, but not more than 20 years old, at the time of appointment.

Participating on the Commission is a great way for young people in middle and high school to work with their peers to explore and develop activities that promote positive youth relations in the City and gain volunteer experience that can be applied towards community service hours.

East County News Service

Update 5 p.m: This fire is holding at 50% and the same acreage reported this morning, according to the Riverside Fire Department. Highway 74 is now reopened.

August 11, 2015 (Anza)--A fire burning near Anza has charred 487 acres and is now 20% contained. (View incident page here for updates: http://www.rvcfire.org/_Layouts/Incident%20Information/IncidentInfoDetai...)

The blaze started yesterday afternoon with a mobile home fire. The brush fire is in Riverside County near Highways 74 and 371, but smoke is visible in parts of northeast San Diego County and Imperial County.

PHOTO: A new survey of Internet users shows the convenience of public wireless networks may come at a high cost. Nearly half failed a quiz about Wi-Fi safety, while tens of thousands admit to online activities that could put their personal information at risk. Photo credit: Joel Runyon/WikiMedia Commons.

By Eric Galatas, Public News Service

August 9, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)-- Californians often are putting convenience ahead of safety when they use free public wireless networks, according to a new AARP report that found that a quarter of adult Internet users access public Wi-Fi at least once a week and are vulnerable to cyber attacks.

August 9, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) –  A heat wave is forecast to hit our region starting mid-week, with heat advisories possible by week’s end.  A high pressure system could bring temperatures above 100 degrees in inland valleys as well as deserts.