Rural communities

COUNTY REDISTRICTING COMMISSIONERS VISIT EL CAJON

Supervisorial district 2 may be split due to population increase; urban and rural residents voice concerns

By Mike Allen

Photo:  Ramah Awad of Majdal Center in El Cajon provides comment to the county’s Independent Redistricting Commission.

August 30, 2021 (El Cajon) -- The process of redrawing boundaries for San Diego County’s five supervisorial districts is underway and the independent commission that will determine those lines visited El Cajon Aug. 26 to listen to the public.


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BOYS AND GIRLS INVITED TO CUB SCOUT PACK 355 “JOIN NIGHT” SEPT. 7 IN SPRING VALLEY

By Miriam Raftery

August 25, 2021 (Spring Valley) –  Boys and girls in grades K-5 and their families are invited to attend Cub Scouts Pack 355 “Join Night” on September 7 at 6:30 p.m. at Santa Sophia Academy, 9806 Juan Street, Spring Valley.


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SUPERVISOR REDISTRICTING HEARINGS ANNOUNCED: AUG. 26 IN EL CAJON AND MORE

By Miriam Raftery

August 24, 2021 (San Diego) – How should redistricting lines be drawn for San Diego County’s supervisorial district?  The County of San Diego Independent Redistricting Commission is hosting pre-mapping public hearings to hear from residents.  The hearings will be held both in-personal and virtually online. 

For East County residents in District 2, currently represented by Joel Anderson, a hearing is set for Thursday, Aug. 26 at 5:30 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan Community Center, 195 E. Douglas Ave. in El Cajon. Meeting link for Aug. 26 El Cajon hearing.

Other hearings are slated for other districts, as well as a general hearing on Sept. 25 at 1 p.m. in Spring Valley

Below is the full schedule of upcoming events and locations:


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THE SAPS AT SEA PROUDLY PRESENT "BACK TO SKOOL DAZE" SEPT. 18

East County News Service

August 22, 2021 (Spring Valley) - The Saps at Sea, the San Diego chapter of the Sons of the Desert, the official Laurel & Hardy appreciation society, has resumed their meetings, with their next being September 18 at Williams Hall at Trinity Presbytarian Church, 3902 Kenwood Dr. in Spring Valley.


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CAL OES APPROVES OVER $21,600 IN REIMBURSEMENTS TO SAN DIEGO COUNTY FOR COSTS OF VALLEY FIRE

East County News Service

Photo by Barry Jantz

August 20, 2021 (Jamul) -- The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) today announced the approval of $21,652 in reimbursements to help the County of San Diego cover the costs of operating a Local Assistance Center (LAC), as well as the removal and replacement of five road signs following last year's Valley Fire. The fire started in the Japatul area near Alpine and burned 20 residential structures as far south as Jamul. 

 The reimbursements represent the state's 75-percent share of the county's $28,870 in costs related to the work that are eligible under the California Disaster Assistance Act following California Governor Gavin Newsom's State of Emergency Proclamation on September 26, 2020.


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BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION INVESTS TO IMPROVE HEALTH IN RURAL COMMUNITIES

East County News Service

August 20, 2021 (Washington D.C.) -- The Biden Administration has announced actions to improve the health of rural communities by making billions of dollars in American Rescue Plan funding available expand telehealth in rural and other under-served communities, help rural hospitals and medical providers meet COVID-19 needs, expand Medicare to include dental, vision and hearing benefits, and expand Veterans’ Administration (VA) training for rural providers, among other key goals.


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TWO MORE ILLEGAL DISPENSARIES IN SPRING VALLEY

Source:  San Diego Sheriff

August 17, 2021 (Spring Valley) - On Friday around 7 a.m., detectives from the San Diego County Sheriff's Department's Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET), with the assistance of San Diego Sheriff Deputies from the Santee Patrol Station's Community Oriented Policing and Problem Solving (C.O.P.P.S.) Unit, San Diego Sheriff Deputies from the Lakeside Patrol Station's Crime Suppression Team (CST) and San Diego Sheriff's deputies from the Special Enforcement Detail (SED) served search warrants at two illegal marijuana dispensaries. One dispensary was located on the 600 block of Grand Avenue in Spring Valley and the other dispensary was located on the 700 block of Grand Avenue in Spring Valley. 


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GOFUNDME ACCOUNT AND MORE SET-UP FOR LAWSON COMMUNITY FAMILY THAT LOST HOME IN FIRE

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

Photo courtesy of Lyons Trading Post.

August 12, 2021 (Lyons Valley) A GoFundMe account has been started for the family that lost their home on August 10 in a fire. Dean Higginbotham and family are left without a home and personal belongings.

According to the GoFundMe account, organized by George Hetzel, an electrical fire was the cause. Higginbotham’s teen daughter escaped --- shoeless.

The family was able to save their pets and livestock.

The teen begins the school year without any clothing, shoes, or school supplies.


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LYONS VALLEY AREA FIRE DESTROYS A HOME

By Rebecca Jefferis Williamson

Jonathan Goetz also contributed to this report

Photo courtesy of Cal Fire

August 11, 2021 (Lawson Valley-East County) - A fire broke out on Tuesday, August 10, around 6 p.m. that destroyed a home on Lyons Creek Lane just east of Jamul.

According to a tweet sent out by Cal Fire/San Diego County Fire they arrived at the scene of a fully involved structure fire that spread to the surrounding vegetation.  The forward rate of spread of the vegetation fire was stopped at one acre. The fire was off Lyons Creek Lane in the community of Lawson Valley.  It was known as the #LyonsFire.

The firefighters stopped the spread by using water and retardant drops using airplanes and helicopters in approximately 40 minutes.

East County Magazine Wildfire & Emergency Alerts broke the story (Twitter: @eastcountyalert) thanks to Nadin Abbott, who issued live updates to our twitter followers. Prompt coverage on fires in Jamul can save lives as many areas have only one way in/out.

No humans or animals were injured. The cause of the fire was not disclosed at this time. 

If you have photos, details, or an eyewitness account on this or any local emergency please contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org

Thanks to the Grossmont Healthcare District and San Diego Regional Fire Foundation for their generous sponsorship of our East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts!


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CHEERS TO THIS: TOAST OF THE COAST INTERNATIONAL WINE COMPETITION WINNERS INCLUDE DEERHORN VALLEY VINEYARDS

Deerhorn Valley Vineyards wins two gold medals

Source:  Deerhorn Valley Vineyards

August 10, 2021 (Jamul) - The results are in in the professionally judged Wine Competition, May 22-23 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds for the annual Toast of the Coast Wine Competition. Deerhorn Valley Vineyards of Jamul, recently was awarded 2 gold medals as a result. The competition awarded gold and silver medals along with the Double Gold Award, which is reserved for the finest wines deemed worthy by a three-judge panel. In addition, Director’s Awards were given to the top performing wines in each varietal or blended category as merited.


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CONGRESSWOMAN SARA JACOBS VISITS MEALS ON WHEELS, HELPS DELIVER FOOD TO SENIORS IN SPRING VALLEY

Volunteers are needed at Meals on Wheels 

By Miriam Raftery

 

August 10, 2021 (Spring Valley) – One in 10 seniors in San Diego County  is experiencing hunger and nearly half of local seniors live alone. Today, Congresswoman Sara Jacobs toured the Meals on Wheels facility in San Diego, then joined Meals on Wheels local president Brent Wakefield to delivery food to Spring Valley seniors – Margaret, who is 98 years young, as well as a military veteran, Larry, and his wife, both 90.


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SPRING VALLEY ACTIVISTS ESCALATE ACTION ON TIJUANA RIVER VALLEY CRISIS WITH PROTEST AT REP. VARGAS’ OFFICE MONDAY MORNING

East County News Service

Photo: Tijuana River Valley; CC by SA via Bing

 

August 8, 2020 (Spring Valley)  – The Spring Valley Cleanup Crew and a coalition of San Diego activists are uniting for a protest in front of Rep. Juan Vargas' (D-CA) office this Monday, Aug. 9 at 8:30 a.m. to demand additional funding be deployed for the Tijuana River Valley crisis.


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FEDERAL JUDGE DISMISSES SUIT CHALLENGING APPROVAL OF CAMPO WIND PROJECT

By Miriam Raftery

“We have really nothing to give our youth, nothing to pass down. All we have are false promises. These windmills are supposed to bring us some glimmer of hope, but all they’ve brought us are despair.” –Tribal elder Denis Largo

August 7, 2021 (Campo) – U.S. District Court Judge Janis Sammartino has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Backcountry Against Dumps, a local citizens’ group, against the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Department of the Interior. The lawsuit sought to challenge the agencies’ approval of Terra Gen’s Campo Wind project on the Campo Indian reservation.


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ADVANCING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES: SPRING VALLEY COMMUNITY ALLIANCE

By David R. Shorey, East County Program Manager, Institute for Public Strategies

Photo:  celebrating the first anniversary of of the Spring Valley Community Alliance are, L to R, SVCA President Braulio Sanabra, Regional Manager Charles Gailband of County Park and Rec., and SVCA Vice President Chris Pierce. Photo courtesy IPS.

August 5, 2021 (Spring Valley) - Braulio Sanabria felt uncomfortable with what was happening in and around Lamar County Park in Spring Valley. There were discarded mini alcohol bottles, drug paraphernalia, graffiti, drug sales and homeless encampments. So he decided to do something about it. What began as one man with a trash bag on a summer day in 2020 has evolved into the Spring Valley Community Alliance (SVCA). The effort grew organically as more and more neighbors began joining Sanabria on Sunday mornings to pick up trash, adopt a highway, report graffiti and take pride in the neighborhood. SVCA recently celebrated its first anniversary with a community cleanup, picnic and celebration at the park on Bancroft Drive.


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SECOND SUSPECT ARRESTED FOR MURDER OF DANTE LOPEZ IN SPRING VALLEY

East County News Service

July 28, 2021 (Spring Valley)—Isak Espino, 25, was arrested yesterday and charged with the murder last month of Dante Lopez. Espino is the second suspect charged with murder in the case; George Gomez III, 21, was arrested on July 14. Both suspects are from San Diego.


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SUSPECT ARRESTED FOR APRIL MURDER IN SPRING VALLEY

By Miriam Raftery

July 26, 2021 (Spring Valley) – Jammerieo Austin, 26, of San Diego has been arrested and charged with the murder of Karmen Dionne Anderson, 40, also known as Karmen Hicks. 


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SPRING VALLEY GROUP LEADS CLEANUP AT TIJUANA RIVER

By Briana Gomez

July 24, 2021 (Spring Valley) -- A group of people led by Victoria Abrenica, founder and president of the Spring Valley cleanup crew, met Friday at the Tijuana River Valley for a large-scale cleanup of the land.


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THUNDERSTORM ROCKS DESCANSO AND ALPINE

By Miriam Raftery

July 19, 2021 (Descanso) – Thunderstorms resulted in 84 lightning strikes in our region on Saturday, July 17—nearly all of them in Descanso and Alpine.  On a Descanso discussion forum on Facebook, some residents described the loud thunderbolts as “house shakers," “insane,”  and a “wake up call” from Mother Nature.


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BODY FOUND IN BURNED SPRING VALLEY MOBILEHOME

 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Cc via Bing

July 18, 2021 (Spring Valley) – A body has been found inside a mobile home at the Sweetwater Lodge Motor Home Park, 10707 Jamacha Blvd., unit 80 in Spring Valley. A 14-year-old escaped a fire shortly before midnight last night, but told Sheriff’s deputies that his grandmother did not make it out.

According to 619 News Media, the juvenile was screaming for help and neighbors tried to enter the residence by kicking a door and pulling windows open before firefighters from San Miguel Fire and Rescue arrived, but were unable to do so due to smoke and flames. View video.


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UNIDENTIFIED MIGRANT FOUND DEAD IN REMOTE DULZURA AREA

Update July 28, 2021: The deceased man has been identified as Victor Sosa-Soto, 33,  of Villa Hidalgo, Mexico, according to the San Diego Medical Examiner.

Story and photo by Miriam Raftery

Photo: Grave of an unknown migrant in Hemet, one of 10,000 people estimated to have died crossing the U.S.-Mexico border since 1994, according to Border Angels. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the rate is increasing, with more migrants dying crossing the border in the first three months of 2021 than in all of 2019.

 

July 18, 2021 (Dulzura) – On June 30, a search and rescue group found the body of a male believed to be from Mexico, part of a group of undocumented immigrants crossing the international border.


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21-YEAR-OLD ARRESTED FOR MURDER IN SPRING VALLEY

East County News Service

 

Photo: cc via Bing

 

July 18, 2021 (spring Valley) – Sheriff’s detectives have arrested a 21-year-old man, George Gomez III, as a suspect in the murder of Dante Lopez, 42.  Lopez, a San Diego resident was fatally shot on July 11 near the intersection of Elkelton Boulevard and Crestmore Avenue in Spring Valley.

 

Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a shooting at 11:15 p.m. on July 11 and found the victim, attempting lifesaving efforts until fire personnel arrived. Lopez was taken to a hospital, but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.


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NOISE ADVISORY: MILITARY TRAINING NEAR EAST ALPINE AND DESCANSO JULY 21 AND JULY 26

East County News Service

Photo: U.S. Army helicopter training, cc via Bing

July 17, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego County has issued a noise advisory for East County’s Descanso and East Alpine communities due to military set for Wednesday, July 21 and Monday, July 26.


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PRECAUTIONARY BOIL WATER ORDER IN EFFECT AT LAKE MORENA COUNTY PARK

East County News Service

July 16, 2021 (Lake Morena) -- The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health and Quality, has issued a Precautionary Boil Water Order for the Lake Morena County Park water system (located at 2550 Lake Morena Dr, Campo, CA 91906).  All affected customers are advised to not drink the water without boiling it first: 


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POWER LINES SPARK FIRE THAT CROSSES BORDER IN TECATE

 

Update 9:25 p.m.: The #BorderFire is now 30 acres and 50 percent contained.  Evacuation orders have been lifted and the temporary evacuation point is closed.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos via CalFire and CalFire international partners

July 15, 2021 (Tecate) – Downed power lines in Mexico sparked the #BorderFire this afternoon, which crossed onto the U.S. side of the international boundary at Tecate, according to Cal Fire on Twitter. Forward spread has been stopped.

The fire began near Tecate Mission Road, west of the Tecate Port of Entry The blaze burned 20 acres at a moderate rate of spread toward the northeast,

An evacuation warning was issued for the community of Tecate and a temporary evacuation point was established at the Potrero Elementary School. 

 


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THREE GANG MEMBERS CHARGED WITH MURDER OF SPRING VALLEY SECURITY GUARD; TWO OTHERS CHARGED WITH EXTORTION PLOT AGAINST DISPENSARIES

By Miriam Raftery
 
Photos: Kenneth Love II, victim killed in extortion scheme
 
July 14, 2021 (Spring Valley) – Three men are charged with murdering Kenneth Love II, a security guard who was shot and killed on June 2, 2020 at an illegal marijuana dispensary in the 8700 block of Troy Street in Spring Valley.

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GUN SHOT SOUND IN LA PRESA SPRING VALLEY LAST NIGHT APPARENTLY A HOMICIDE

Update July 15, 2021:  On July 13, the Medical Examiner's Office conducted the autopsy and has identified the victim as Donte Anthony Lopez, 42, of San Diego. Lopez's family has been notified of his death. The preliminary cause of death is gunshot wound and the manner of death is homicide.

East County News Service

July 12, 2021 (La Presa/Spring Valley, Calif.) -- Law enforcement is encouraging anyone with information about a shooting last night around 11 p.m. near the intersection of Elkelton Blvd. and Crestmore Ave. in unincorporated San Diego County to come forward and speak with the Sheriff’s Homicide Unit, or, to stay anonymous, Crime Stoppers.


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MAN ALLEGEDLY SHOOTS AT SHERIFF DEPUTIES IN UNINCORPORATED EL CAJON

After getting shot at, Sheriffs obtain a search warrant and allegedly find guns, drugs and flammables

Source: San Diego County Sheriff's Department Bureau of Media Relations

July 12, 2021 (Unincorporated San Diego County) -- A man is facing numerous drug and weapons charges after firing a shotgun in the direction of Sheriff's Deputies in the East County. 
 
It happened on Sunday, July 11 just before 6:30 a.m. near Valle De Paz Road in an unincorporated area of El Cajon.  Deputies from the Alpine Sheriff's Substation were responding to calls of a man acting erratically and holding a rifle.  After setting up a perimeter around an area where the man was last seen, a shotgun blast was fired in the deputies' direction.  The shotgun slug hit a nearby home.  No deputies or citizens were hurt.
 

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MARRON VALLEY FIRE NEAR DULZURA BRIEFLY THREATENED POWERLINES AND HOMES

By Miriam Raftery

Photos via Cal Fire

Update July 15, 2021:  The cause of the Marron Fire was a truck that ignited brush, says Cal Fire Captain Thomas Shoots .  "The gentleman was trying to get to the South Bay Rod and Gun Club" but became disoriented on a dirt road and had a techhnical issue with his vehicle, says Shoots, adding that the driver was cooperative and remained on the scene after his truck burned.

July 11, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – The #MarronFire, which began last night along marron Valley Road south of the South Bay Rod & Gun Club in Dulzura, burned approximately 52 acres overnight. The blaze briefly threatened homes and high voltage power lines, however this morning, Cal Fire reports the fire is 40% contained. 


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ROAD FIRE CLOSES WB I-8, PROMPTS EVACUATIONS IN PORTIONS OF DESCANSO & VIEJAS RESERVATION

Update: 7 p.m.: Caltrans San Diego reports all lanes re-opened to traffic 
 
#RoadFire removed from CHP Incidents page
 
No official public updates found on acres burned or % contained since 3:30 p.m.
 
Update: 3:30 p.m.: Initial Attack was successful according to retired fire captain Scott Culkin. Out of town air resources released.
 
Thank you: United States Forest Service (U.S.F.S.), Calfire/S.D. County, Alpine, Viejas, and others. Firefighters will be present throughout the night to contain the fire and put out any hotspots.
 
"Forward spread has stopped," according to Cleveland National Forest, lead agency on the #RoadFire, yet also reporting only 5% contained, as of 3:30 p.m.
 
Update 1:50 p.m.: Per Cleveland National Forest on Twitter, the #RoadFire is now 70 acres and holding, with a moderate rate of spread. The Humane Society urges pet owners to take pets with you if you evacuate, since you may not be able to return to provide food and water during the fire and intense heat.
 
By Jonathan Goetz
 
Photos: #RoadFire by James Cecil (Pic 1: Mountain, Pic 2: SDG&E Helicopter)
 
July 10, 2021 (San Diego’s East County) – All lanes westbound on Interstate 8 west of State Route 79 are closed due to a brush fire, reports Caltrans San Diego.

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COUNTY RESIDENTS ASKED TO TAKE PUBLIC SAFETY POWER SHUTOFF SURVEY

By Miriam Raftery

July 3, 2021 (San Diego) -- The San Diego County Office of Emergency Services is asking all County residents to fill out a survey about the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program.  The SDG&E program to shut off power during high fire-risk conditions has sparked controversy across the backcountry among residents left without electricity to power their homes, businesses, wells pumps, and other vital needs. The deadline to complete the survey is July 13.

The survey asks residents whether they received adequate notification of such outages and whether they experienced financial losses, among other details – the first step toward documenting impacts of the program and potentially leading to changes.


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