By Miriam Raftery

July 10, 2017 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – Adventurer Dana Law will present a travelogue about the West Coast’s national scenic trail on Tuesday, July 18 at the Jacumba Library (44605 Old Hwy 80, Jacumba Hot Springs, CA 91934 at 6 p.m. On 31 separate journeys over 13 years, Law completed all 2,650 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, which begins in California at the Mexican border and ends at the Canadian border in Washington.

East County News Service

June 25, 2017 (Borrego) – A private plane owned by Borrego Sun publisher Patrick Meehan broke apart during what the pilot described as a “nice and soft” landing last week.  The incident forced closure of Palomar Airport for several hours.

Meehan was not on board and there were no injuries.

By Tom Christensen, County of San Diego Communications Office

June 19, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - With high temperatures expected to hover around 120 degrees in eastern San Diego County desert areas through the middle of next week, County health officials are reminding the public to take precautions to avoid heat-related illnesses and pay extra attention to children, elderly and pets.

East County News Service

June 2, 2017 (Jacumba Hot Springs) – The Jacumba Hikers and Walkers will hold three final Saturday excursions this season including:

• June 3:  An 8.5 mile hike to Mt. Laguna along the Pacific Crest Trail with stops at Garnet Peak and Indian Creek
• June 10:  Trek to the Desert View tower, one of the oldest roadside landmarks in our region
• June 17:  A 10-mile hike to Sunset/Big Laguna Trail Loop for sweeping views.

By Miriam Raftery

May 25, 2017 (San Diego)—“Coast to Catcus: The Canyoneer Trail Guide to San Diego Outdoors” by Diana Lindsay has received first place in the Outdoor Writers Association California’s 2017 Craft Awards Media Competition. Judges felt that the design and visual appeal of the entry was “Inspiring, intriguing and compelling.”

By Miriam Raftery

May 11, 2017 (Jacumba Hot Springs) — The Jacumba Hikers and Walkers will hit the trail this Saturday, May 13^th  on a five-mile hike to visit an inactive garnet mine. Hikers will encounter a waterfall, exhilarating views and othr hidden treasures of the high desert area.  “Bring your rock picks and safety glasses to do a little mining, or just enjoy your lunch on a scenic hilltop at the mine,”  the invitation reads.

Editor’s note:  We first wrote about Kathleen Hayden’s efforts to restore the Coyote Canyon heritage herd of wild horses locally in January 2013. Read article. But in July 2013, she was served with an eviction notice and forced to  give up the last descendants of San Diego’s wild horses. Despite a 2012  support  letter from Congressman Darrell Issa and a 2014 letter from a genetics expert confirming that the horses are rare and of historic significance as descendants of Spanish Colonial horses,  the U.S. Bureau of Land Management has done nothing to protect or return them--and now is not turning over the deed of transfer, Hayden says  Now she has penned an open letter to  the House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop questioning the legality of the transfer.

Dear Chairman Bishop,

Please investigate the transfer of the BLM Federal CA Coyote Canyon Wild Horse Herd area (20,000 acres)  to CA Anza Borrego Desert State Park.  In response to Ca State Senator Joel Anderson's request for the deed, Parks claim it doesn't exist.

La Mesa to vote April 11 on resolution to oppose AB 805

By Miriam Raftery

April 8, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Elected leaders in numerous local cities are gearing up to oppose a state bill that critics warn weaken the voices and voting power of smaller cities on the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), as well as the Metropolitan Transit System and North County Transit District.  The bill gives more power to the city of San Diego, which critics contend will mean not enough clout by representatives from the county or other cities in the region to pass, block, or even place items on the agenda.

East County News Service

Photo:  San Andreas Fault courtesy lkluft on Wikipedia

March 26, 2017 (Ocotillo Wells) - A magnitude 3.6 earthquake shook the East County desert and Imperial County early Sunday morning, with the epicenter 69 miles east-northeast of San Diego, CBS 8 reports.

East County News Service

March 25, 2017 (Borrego Springs) - Every year on the first Saturday of April – the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park attracts story tellers from all over the globe to compete in the annual Peg Leg Smith Liars Contest. This year’s event will be held on April 1st, starting at dusk.

East County News Service

March 12, 2017 (Borrego Springs) – The recent rainstorms have created quite a sight in the Borrego Springs area: a desert wildflower bloom that hasn't been this vibrant in years. But those blossoms are also attracting huge crowds, the San Diego Sheriff’s Department warns, and that’s led to traffic problems on roadways in and around Borrego Springs.

East County News Service

March 4, 2017 (Borrego Springs) – You never know what you’re going to find in the Anza Borrego Desert!  Our editor, Miriam Raftery, headed out in search of wildflowers this weekend.  It’s still 1-2 weeks too early to see fields of flowers in bloom, but she did get some close-ups of early blossoms, scenic shots and an up-close look at some of the many whimsical sculptures dotting the desert terrain.

East County News Service

March 1, 2017 (Borrego Springs) -- Once in a blue moon our deserts get big winter rains and explode into an extraordinary spring bloom. Join the Water Conservation Garden's Director of Horticulture, Clayton Tschudy, for a wildflower tour of the Anza-Borrego State Park on Saturday, March 4.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Library entrance, Proposal A

February 19, 2017 (Borrego Springs) -- Proposed designs for the new Borrego Springs Library/Park/Sheriff's Substation project are be viewable online from February 18, 2017 to February 24, 2017. The public is invited to view the three proposed designs at: http://www.sandiegocounty.gov/content/sdc/general_services/Facility_Planning_Design_Construction.html

East County News Service

February 13, 2017 (Borrego Springs) – This year’s heavy rains may result in one of the most spectacular wildflower seasons in recent memory in the Anza Borrego Desert State Park.