East County News Service

September 1, 2024 (Ramona)—Enjoy live camel and talking  bird shows, meet camels and feed them treats during open farm days at Oasis Camel Dairy in Ramona.  The next tours are September 4 and 14 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

You can also enjoy camel milk products such as artisan soaps, lotions, chocolates,and camel milk to drink.

East County News Service

August 8,2024 (Mount Laguna)—The Laguna Mountain Volunteer Association will present its 35^th annual Living History Presentation at Mount Laguna’s Red-Tailed Roost, located at 10401 Sunrise High near mile marker 22.5.  

The program will be held Saturday, August 31 (9 a.m.to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.) and again on Sunday, September 1 (9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.)

By Miriam Raftery

August 2, 2024 (San Diego’s East County) – AB 1819, a measure by Assemblymember Marie Waldron (R-Valley Center) would authorize counties to create special infrastructure financing districts in high or very high fire hazard severity zones.  These districts would fund wildfire mitigation apparatus and infrastructure including new heavy equipment to clear vegetation, create firebreaks, and harden utility infrastructure against wildfires.

 “As climate change progresses, our state is affected by longer, more intense, and increasingly hazardous wildfires. In San Diego alone, almost one-fourth of all wildfires start from the combustion of roadside vegetation by vehicles. It is crucial to have the proper firefighting equipment to prevent wildfires,” a statement by Waldron in the  Senate Floor analysis.“Obtaining funding to increase prevention response and fire-fighting equipment. backcountry areas has been difficult. The creation of an infrastructure financing district for this purpose will raise the necessary funding without the need to raise taxes.”

The bill has passed the Assembly unanimously (with several members absent) and is currently awaiting action in the Senate Appropriations Committee.  All legislative business must be concluded by August 31, the last day of the legislative session.

East County News Service

July 24, 2024 (Alpine) – The Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR), one of San Diego’s largest trade associations for San Diego-area realtors, is applauding the volunteer efforts of PSAR member and Alpine resident Jeff Campbell who is collecting new shoes, newborn to size 13, for foster children until August 17.

Update 8:30 p.m.The Nixon Fire has swelled to 3,500 acres, per pilot estimates reported on Watch Duty App.  A helitanker will be working the fire through the night, though some other air drops have been halted overnight. Winds have been shifting and there is no containment as darkness falls.

Per Cal Fire, nearly 2,000 residences are affected by evacuation orders and warnings.  This includes Sunshine Summit in San Diego County, where residents report Sheriff's deputies advising them to evacuate tonight, as well as in Aguanga, Cahuillo and possibly other communities in this rapidly evolving situation.

 

Update 6 p.m.-- The fire is now 1,000, burning into Beauty Mountain Wilderness. Homes remain threatened.  Additional large air tankers and other resources have been requestesd by the incident commander, Watch Duty app reports.

By Miriam Raftery

July 29, 2024 (Aguanga, CA) – A fast moving brush fire that started between Aguanga and Anza is threatening numerous homes and has sparked evacuation orders and warnings in Aguanga and on the Cahuilla reservation.  The fire in Riverside County is just over the San Diego County line, a few miles of Warner Springs.

It is burning eastward and per Cal Fire is currently around 295 acres with 0% containment. 

An evacuation center has been opened at Temecula Valley High School (31555 Rancho Vistas Rd., Temecula).  Animal services will be on site to assist with animals.

The fire has a dangerous rate of spread,per the incident commander and news photographers on site.

By Jonathan Goetz

July 24, 2024 (Campo) -- The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning in effect until 7 p.m. this evening for areas including Pine Valley, Campo, Jacumba, Boulevard and Mount Laguna. 

East County News Service

July 7, 2024 (Julian)—Banner Ranch invites you to try your luck at panning for gold just as prospectors did in the 1870s at Banner Creek.  On July 12., you can rent a gold panning kit for four hours (9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 2 p.m. to  6 p.m.) and a glass tube container to take home any findings.

Banner City was founded in 1870 when Louis Redman tripped over gold quartz in a canyon 1500 feet below Julian.  He marked his gold find with an American flag, hence the town became known as Banner. Some claim the yield that year from Banner’s mines surpassed those of Julian’s gold prospecting.  Even today, there are over 150 placer claims in the area.

East County News Service

June 20, 2024 (San Diego’s East County)  --The National Weather Service is warning of a prolonged heat wave starting Friday and extending to late next week. But before you think about going to the beach to cool off, be aware that potentially dangerous lightning storms and rip currents are forecast for coastal areas Saturday and Sunday. 

Temperatures could reach up to 114 degrees by this weekend in the low deserts and up to 105 degrees in the high deserts.   San Diego County valleys and mountains could reach 98 degrees.  The high heat poses risks of heat-related illness for people, pets and livestock without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration.

East Councy News Service

June 14, 2024 (Ramona) -- Relive the history of protest music and experience the sounds of Bob Dylan, Barry McGuire, Neil Young, and more on Saturday, June 15 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ramona Library.

Desert Crossing is a musical duo that specializes in vocal harmonies in covers and originals across a variety of musical genres. Sponsored the Friends of the Ramona Library.