Oct. 29, 2025 (San Diego County) -- Need international document authentication? Now's your chance.
San Diego County residents needing international document authentication will have an opportunity to have a one-stop-shop for it on Wednesday, Nov. 5, as the California Secretary of State’s Apostille pop-up shop returns for a fifth and final 2025 appearance.
Hosted at the San Diego Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk’s Office inside the County Administration Center, this one-day event brings this vital Sacramento-based service directly to locals.
The envent will go from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 5 at the center at 1600 Pacific Highway, Suite 273, in downtown San Diego.
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October 17, 2025 (Jamul) - San Diego’s premier new luxury destination, Jamul Casino Resort, recently welcomed guests to the official grand opening of its state-of-the-art boutique hotel tower, marking a new era in Southern California hospitality. The stunning 16-story property features a premium spa with a full-service salon, a rooftop pool with sweeping mountain views, and a signature dining venue. With 200 spacious, Alexa-enabled rooms including multiple high-tech luxury suites, a speakeasy and invite-only gaming spaces, it creates an unparalleled stay and play experience.
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Oct. 15, 2025 (Ramona) -- The 13th annual Ramona Art, Wine & Music Festival is heading to the Begent Ranch in Ramona on Saturday, Nov. 1.
The popular event, set from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at the ranch at 18528 Highland Valley Road, will include wines and craft beverage tastings, all-day live local music, a live auction at 2 p.m. featuring comedian Josh Lawson as auctioneer, and the opportunity to view and buy handcrafted art from local fine artists.
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East County's Casa de Oro, which was going to benefit from a demonstration project for Campo Road road improvements, saw a grant from the federal government rescinded. ECM photo
Local residents and officials voice disappointment in decision
By Karen Pearlman
Oct. 14, 2025 (Casa de Oro) -- Campo Road, one of San Diego County’s historic thoroughfares, was the unfortunate recipient last month of a federal snub and a $1 million-plus grant being taken back.
In Sept. 9 email to the county, a United States Department of Transportation official explained its rescinding of the $1.1653 million grant, calling a Casa de Oro community group-backed plan that dared to add bike lanes to the area “hostile to motor vehicles.”
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Oct. 14, 2025 (San Diego) -- Jewish Family Service of San Diego has found another way to help those impacted by the United States federal government shutdown.
The nonprofit that helps the entire community, along with The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, is hosting a drive-thru food distribution on Oct. 15 at Jewish Family Service of San Diego,Joan & Irwin Jacobs Campus in Kearny Mesa for families impacted by the shutdown.
Nearly 200 families of federal workers and those in the military will each receive about 40 pounds of food, including fresh produce, non-perishable and shelf-stable pantry food.
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Oct. 12, 2025 (Lakeside) -- Circle TLC Ranch-Equine Therapy is holding its 14th annual chili cookoff in November.
Dubbing itself "the best chili cook off in East County," leaders of the group say they are currently seeking chili cookers for the event, which costs $25 as a donation to enter a chili to contend.
The cookoff costs $5 (as a donation) that includes tasting and judging chilis as well as a bottle of water to clean the palate and put out any fires from the hot dishes. Children under age 2 will be admitted at no cost.
The event is scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 8 at 11541 Moreno Ave. in Lakeside.
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Nonprofit rescue organization Horses of Tir Na Nog cares for more than 100 animals, including Buttermilk the horse. The rescue group is having an Open House at its site in Guatay on Nov. 1. Photo by Karen Pearlman
East County News Service
Oct. 11, 2025 (Guatay) -- Horses of Tir Na Nog, the equine-focused rescue in rural East County, is holding it Dia De Los Muertos Open House in November.
Celebrating ranch residents who have passed, Horses of Tir Na Nog's annual open house will be from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 1 at its site at 26930 Old Highway 80 in Guatay near Descanso.
Horses of Tir Na Nog co-founder Amy Pat Rigney said the event will honor the lives of horses and other ranch residents who have crossed the Rainbow Bridge over the years.
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Anza-Borrego Desert State Park photo (left) by Karen Pearlman
East County News Service
July 15, 2025 (San Diego County) -- California State Parks Foundation(link is external)has extended its invitation to park visitors and photography enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels to capture the natural beauty, recreational activities and unique landscapes of California’s state parks.
The California State Parks Foundation Photo Contest, originally open for submissions through Sept. 30, is now extended through Oct. 23.
"Due to the popularity of the contest and to give Californians more time to capture the magic of fall, State Parks is extending the contest by two weeks," an email from the CSPF said. "Be sure to submit your photos from one of 280 state parks in up to five categories for a chance to win special prizes."
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October 8, 2025 (Crest) -- Every year, devastating wildfires sweep across the United States, threatening homes, landscapes, and lives. As more people live in wildfire-prone areas, communities like Crest are stepping up to reduce risk and strengthen resilience.
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October 7, 2025 (Spring Valley) – Public help is sought to local Angel Mauricio Reyes Mejicanos, 15, who vanished after walking his sister to school on September 29. He was reportedly sighted in the Encanto area on October 1. His family is pleading for public help to find him according to the RAD Movement, which helps families of missing children.
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October 6, 2025 (Descanso) – A goat trapped between boulders on Mizpah Lane in Descanso has been freed, thanks to the efforts of Cal Fire/San Diego Fire crews.
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October 2, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – Ready to savor German beers and foods, kick up your heels to traditional German music as well as contemporary bands, enjoy games, carnival rides and vie for prizes? All of these opportunities and more can be found at Oktoberfest celebrations across East County include large festivals in La Mesa and El Cajon this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, as well as smaller Oktoberfest gatherings in Alpine and Julian on October 4.
Scroll down for details on Oktoberfest events across San Diego's inland region.
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Oct. 3, 2025 (Alpine) -- For a unique, once-a-year experience, Lions Tigers & Bears sanctuary in San Diego County is inviting the public to its annual Spooky Campover event on Friday, Oct. 24.
The overnight campout offers the rare chance to sleep under the stars -- surrounded by the sounds of rescued big cats and other sanctuary animals.
The "spooky celebration" packs in a night of Halloween-themed fun.
Attendees will enjoy campfire songs, pumpkin carving and a Halloween costume contest.
For those who dare, an all-ages haunted house will also be part of the evening's entertainment.
Visitors can also test their knowledge in an animal trivia challenge (with clues available on the LTB website), make s'mores, and sip on hot cocoa by the campfire.
The fun doesn't end when the sun comes up the next day. The following morning features the "Pumpkin Bash."
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San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to approve pilot program for El Capitan Reservoir. Photo courtesy Friends of San Diego Lakes via Instagram
By Karen Pearlman
Oct. 1, 2025 (San Diego County) -- In a move hailed by East County residents and recreation advocates, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Wednesday to approve a pilot program that could dramatically expand public access and recreational opportunities at El Capitan Reservoir in Lakeside.
Championed by Supervisor Joel Anderson of District 2 and Vice Chair Monica Montgomery Steppe of District 4, by a 5-0 vote, the Supervisors approved a recommendation to allocate up to $2.4 million over four years to allow the County’s Department of Parks and Recreation to oversee maintenance and operation of the reservoir's recreational activities.
The goal is to establish a consistent, year-round operation model similar to the successful long-term partnership currently in place at Lake Morena.
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October 1, 2025 (Boulevard) – Border Patrol agents thwarted a drug smuggling attempt Sunday afternoon, seizing over 52 pounds of methamphetamine concealed within the spare tire of a side-by-side utility terrain vehicle in San Diego’s East County.
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Photo: sign posted by East County residents when two sexually violent predators were proposed for release in their neighborhood
September 27, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) - Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) announced the passage of his Senate Bill 380, which directs the Department of State Hospitals to examine placing sexually violent predators in state-run transitional housing facilities upon release. Current law allows for their conditional release into the community where they pose a significant risk to the public safety.
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Sept. 26, 2025 (Jacumba) -- The Federal Bureau of Investigation is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information on the individual or individuals who shot at and robbed four hikers, injuring one, earlier this year in Jacumba.
The FBI's San Diego Field Office, Imperial County Resident Agency, in coordination with federal law enforcement partners, is offering the reward for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the individual(s) who in January committed assault and armed robbery on four hikers near the United States/Mexico International Border.
On Wednesday, Jan. 22, at about 10:37 a.m., four hikers were shot at and robbed at gunpoint by two unknown Hispanic male subjects approximately 1,000 feet from the U.S./Mexico international border.
At that time, the unknown subjects began shooting in the direction of the hikers, hitting one of the hikers. The unknown subjects then approached the hikers and stole their valuables while holding them at gunpoint. The injured hiker suffered non-lethal injuries.
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September 23, 2025 (Spring Valley) - Two juveniles have been arrested on suspicion of bringing a replica firearm (BB gun) to an East County magnet school.
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September 16, 2025 (Potrero) -- The San Diego County Sheriff's Office wants the public's help in finding a missing person. Ganna Kovrizhynkh, 38, was reported missing to the Sheriff's Office by a friend on July 12. Family members say they last heard from Kovrizhynkh on July 5 while she drove through San Diego County as part of a cross-country trip. Her vehicle and trailer were later found unattended in Potrero.
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Sept. 10, 2025 (San Diego County) – The Cottonwood Sand Mine project in Rancho San Diego was rejected unanimously Wednesday by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors.
In a packed board room, the supervisors heard from more than 100 speakers in a span of over two hours, including more than a dozen by phone.
The vote apparently means the end of a years-running saga for East County residents since sand mining along the Sweetwater River was first proposed seven years ago.
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September 11, 2025 (San Diego County) -- San Miguel Fire Consolidated Protection District is taking the lead in challenging a San Diego County Civil Grand Jury report released earlier this year that recommends consolidation of fire protection districts around San Diego County, and recommending that “willing” districts become part of the San Diego County Fire Protection District. The goal is to improve fire protection services.
San Miguel Fire Chief Andy Lawler is pushing back against a narrative that recommends standalone fire districts like his become part of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire). Alpine Fire also aims to stay independent, while some other districts have already relinquished local control, in most cases voluntarily though one community fought consolidation in court.
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Update: Forward progress has been halted. The fire has been mapped at 75 acres and evacuation orders have been lifted, Watch Duty App reports.
East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts
Photo, right by Henri Migala
September 5, 2025 (Spring Valley ) -- Level 3 "go now" evacuations have been ordered in zone SDC-2153 in Spring Valley due to the fast-moving #LodgeFire, which started near Jamacha Blvd. and Double Tree Road a short time ago. View the Genasys evacuation map.
The brush fire has charred 30 aces and has potential to burn 200-300 acres, per Cal Fire. Aircraft includng fixed-wing plane and helicopters are battling the blaze along with ground crews; Cal Fire asked people to avoid the area. Two large air tankers have been requested.
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Aug. 30, 2025 (Descanso) –Horses of Tir Na Nog, the nonprofit animal rescue group with a ranch and more than 100 animals, is having a fundraiser at Kings Inn in September.
The group is also trying to cover the cost of hay that was compromised during a storm in late August.
The fundraising evening starts at 5:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 20 at Kings Inn at 1333 Hotel Circle South in Mission Valley. The event will include a fiesta buffet featuring a chile relleno casserole, chicken fajitas, Mexican rice and beans and a vegan garden salad.
There will also be a horse-themed opportunity drawing and a presentation featuring ranch residents.
A surprise thunderstorm that hit San Diego County on Aug. 25 also rained on the parade of hay at Horses of Tir Na Nog, the nonprofit animal rescue group in rural Descanso.
The organization reports that the storm lasted more than two hours and left behind close to two inches of rain, according to local rain gauges.
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Aug. 15, 2025 (Guatay) – Horses of Tir Na Nog is going hog wild with its latest event.
The nonprofit equine rescue group, which also rescues other animals, is hosting a fundraiser, “Wine for Swine,” to support its pig rescue efforts.
The Aug. 23 event (for those 21 and older) will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at Cork and Stem, a wine bar and flower shop in Hillcrest.
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Aug. 10, 2025 (Spring Valley) -- San Diego County Department of Animal Services has taken custody of a Chihuahua and is pursuing animal cruelty charges against a Spring Valley woman after a disturbing video surfaced which appeared to show a dog being struck with a wooden plank, then covered with a container and kicked.
On July 21, a concerned citizen recorded a video of the incident in an apartment complex parking lot in Spring Valley.
The woman, reportedly living out of her vehicle at the time, was seen apparently striking the dog. Since that time Animal Services officers from County Animal Services and officers from the San Diego Humane Society attempted to locate the woman.
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Update 3:20 p.m.-- Evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted; forward spread has been stopped.
Update 1:30 p.m.-- The fire has been mapped at 88 acres and is now 5% contained. Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place.
East County WIldfire and Emergency Alerts
August 8, 2025 -- There is immediate structure threat from the #RoadrunnerFire, a brush fire that began at Roadrunner Lane and Ribbonwood Road. The fire has burned 25 acres and has zero containment.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department has issued Evacuation Orders and Warnings for nearby areas, all north of I-8 as of 12:55 p.m. For an interactive map with updated emergency evacuation information visit: OES Emergency Map
The temporary evacuation point is located at : Golden Acorn Casino (1800 Golden Acorn Way, Campo 91906).
An Evacuation Order requires immediate movement out of the affected area due to an imminent threat to life.
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August 6, 2025 (San Diego’s East County) – Dangerously high temperatures are forecast across much of East County through Friday, peaking on Thursday. Other East County communities could reach the high 90s.
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August 6, 2025 (Jamul) – A 25-year-old woman from Descanso who was not wearing a seatbelt overturned down an embankment off State Route 94 east of Otay Lakes Road at 6:15 this morning. She was ejected from the vehicle, a 2010 Hyundai Elantra, and became trapped underneath it.
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Update July 27, 2025: The victim has been identified as Marie Anderson, 60, of El Cajon.
East County News Service
July 23, 2025 (San Diego) – An El Cajon woman, 60, is dead and three others injured as a result of a three-vehicle crash that occurred July 19 on Dehesa Road, east of Sloan Canyon Road in unincorporated El Cajon. Her identity has not yet been released by the county medical examiner.
According to the California Highway Patrol, she was driving a 2018 Nissan Sentra westbound on Dehesa Rd. when for unknown reasons, her vehicle crossed over the center double-yellow lines and struck a 2007 Honda Pilot driven by a 77-year-old El Cajon woman.
The Nissan driver could not regain control and then crashed into a 2019 Ford F-150 driven by a 42-year-old El Cajon woman with a female passenger. The Ford overturned onto the roadway.
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July 17, 2025 (Crest) – San Miguel Fire & Rescue Deputy Chief Tobin Riley appeared before the Crest Community Association Thursday to provide an update on construction of Fire Station 18 on the corner of Suncrest Boulevard and North Lane. The update was provided after Facebook posts by concerned residents wondered why the lot has been sitting empty for so long.
“Perception is reality, people drive by, they see the dirt lot not moving and they have the right to ask questions,” Riley said. “The station is being built in phases.”
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East County News Service
San Diego’s newest boutique hotel now open
East County News Service
East County's Casa de Oro, which was going to benefit from a demonstration project for Campo Road road improvements, saw a grant from the federal government rescinded. ECM photo
Photo courtesy Jewish Family Service
East County News Service
By Diana Griffin
East County News Service
By Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to approve pilot program for El Capitan Reservoir. Photo courtesy Friends of San Diego Lakes via Instagram
Source: Border Patrol
East County News Service
East County News Service
Source: San Diego County Sheriff
By Miriam Raftery
By Paul Levikow
Update: Forward progress has been halted. The fire has been mapped at 75 acres and evacuation orders have been lifted, Watch Duty App reports.
Story and photo by Karen Pearlman
Story and photo by Karen Pearlman
East County News Services
By Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
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