East County News Service

December 27, 2016 (Borrego Springs) – Anza Borrego Desert State Park invites the public to start the New Year off with a “First Day Hike.”  The park will offer two guided hikes on January 1^st, one at 9 a.m. and the second at 2 p.m.

Not wearing seatbelt led to ejection of driver from vehicle

East County News Service

December 25, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) — Two women died yesterday morning  after they were ejected from a vehicle that rolled over on a rain-slicked section of S-2, the Great Southern Overland Stage Route, south of State Route 78 in rural East County.

Part III in our series on the Ocotillo wind turbine collapse

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Jim Pelley

December  11, 2016 (Ocotillo) – State Senator Ben Hueso (D-40^th district) wants to know why a massive wind turbine collapsed on November 21^st  in Ocotillo on public land—and what will be done to prevent future such disasters.

In a letter to Beth O’Brien,  Pattern Energy’s manager of external affairs,  Senator Hueso notes that this is the third serious incident that has occurred at the Ocotillo Wind Energy Facilitiy since it opened approximately four years ago.  Prior problems include a wind turbine that burst into flames and another that hurled a multi-ton blade onto a public trail.

He indicated that residents have contacted him with concerns and asked him to look into the matter.  East County Magazine also contacted the Senator to ask what steps will be taken to protect public safety.

Painter featured in documentary headed for festival

East County News Service

Photo: Artist Jim Hall paints an iconic scene of Borrego Springs in his Lineillism style for the town’s 2017 film festival poster and program.  Hall is the subject of  the documentary, Lines of Sight, staging its California premiere at the festival in January.

December 3, 2016 (Borrego Springs) - The Borrego Springs 2017 Film Festival slated for January 12-14 will feature a poster and program created by artist Jim Hall, whose daring new painting style and life story are the subject of the award-winning documentary, Lines of Sight. The hour-long film will stage its California premiere at the festival in January.      

Hall created a new painting style called “Lineillism” after his vision was temporarily marred by a case of Shingles. He saw the world in all vertical lines and decided to paint that way. The style is similar to Pointillism, but instead of dots, Hall uses all vertical brushstrokes - up to 500,000 in a painting.      

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Jim Pelley

November 21, 2016 (Ocotillo) – A 500-foot-tall wind turbine at the Ocotillo Wind Energy Facility collapsed this morning, spewing debris and three blades each weighing many tons across the desert floor.

ECM photographer Jim Pelley, an Ocotillo resident, says 30 minutes after the collapse, the other 111 turbines were still spinning and no one from Pattern Energy had arrived.  Around an hour or more after the collapse, Pattern arrived and deenergized the entire project.

East County News Service

November 1, 2016 (Ocotillo Wells) -- Border Patrol Search Trauma and Rescue (BORSTAR) agents rescued a man who was lost in the Ocotillo Wells Desert early Monday morning.

On Sunday, around 6:30 p.m., a ranger with California Department of Parks and Recreation contacted Border Patrol agents assigned to the Highway 86 checkpoint and asked for help to locate a missing man last seen in the Ocotillo Wells Desert. He was reported missing by his family after he failed to return from an ATV ride in the desert.

Loans are available to help people with dry wells due to the drought

By Michele Clock, County of San Diego Communications Office

October 27, 2016 (San Diego) -- Do you own a property with a well in San Diego County? Is it dry due to our prolonged statewide drought? Help is available.

A new emergency water distribution program is offering assistance to residents without access to running water for drinking and sanitation due to a dry well. Residents who qualify can receive low-interest loans to replace individual water well systems and install temporary water tanks. The water assistance is not for landscaping or agricultural needs.

Starts Season-long Celebration for Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

East County News Service

October 25, 2016 (Borrego) – How do you protect and preserve Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, the largest state park in California – with its 600,000 acres of flora, fauna, hiking trails, free camping, archeological sites and much more? That’s the job of the Anza-Borrego Foundation, celebrating its 50th anniversary this desert season.

By Gig Connaughton, County of San Diego Communications Office

October 19, 2016 (Jacumba) - The County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a permit Wednesday to build a solar farm in Jacumba that could generate enough electricity to power 5,000 homes.

Proponents and County staff said the plant fit the guidelines of the County’s general plan, would help the region meet state goals of producing one-half of all electricity from renewable sources by 2030, and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

East County News Service

September 30, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Windy conditions are forecast Sunday through Monday across the County, with strongest winds in the mountains, deserts, and over coastal waters. Gusts could reach 55 miles per hour in the mountain and desert areas, the National Weather Service predicts.

East County News Service

September 5, 2016 (Jacumba) - Courtesy Day Use at Jacumba Hot Springs Spa & Resort after every Saturday Hike for participating hikers.  View hiking safety tips.

By Miriam Raftery

August 28, 2016 (Anza-Borrego Desert) – A reader of East County Magazine has come forward to say that he saw Mickey James Guidry , then 16, at the site where the Jeep driven by the teen broke down in the Anza-Borrego Desert over Thanksgiving weekend back in November 2009—just before Mickey went missing  The witness says he saw Mickey speaking with a couple who offered him a ride, and showed him a map with possible routes Mickey may have later taken on foot.   

The Jeep Mickey was driving was found 22-miles along Fish Creek Wash, its tire worn down to the rim and bumper torn off. Mickey’s wallet and ID were left in the Jeep. His cell phone was not working.  To this day, nobody knows if he managed to walk out or get a ride and go away voluntarily.

By Miriam Raftery

August 2, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – The deadline to file as a candidate to run for local offices is August 11. But so far, many East County races have no candidates declared or qualified for the ballot, according to the Registrar of Voters candidate list for the November election.  Most community planning groups have nobody running.  The same is true in some school, water and fire districts. Races with no candidates will be filled by appointment. In other districts, people are running unopposed—even incumbents on some of the most controversy-riddled boards.

No candidates are listed yet for the city councils in El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove or Santee, nor for the mayoral seats open in Lemon Grove and Santee, nor the La Mesa City Clerk or Treasurer seats.  Candidates have been actively campaigning in some of those races and some will likely file before deadline, but it’s also common for candidates to drop out before qualifying for the ballot.

In the Grossmont Union High School District, incumbent Jim Stieringer is thus far running unopposed in district two (La Mesa/Mt. Helix/Rancho San Diego); in district one (Lemon Grove/Spring Valley) which is an open seat, only one candidate has filed: Pastor Steve Babbitt from Spring Valley Community Church.

Source:  County News Service

July 17, 2016 (Borrego Springs)  - Calling all science explorers!  You can build programmable robots using Lego Mindstorms kits on July 21 at 3:30 p.m. at the Borrego Springs Library.

By Miriam Raftery

June 22, 2016 (Anza-Borrego) – A proposal  to ban off-trail hiking and other activities at sensitive areas of state parks won’t apply in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.