Photo: Thomas Cornwell, 41, convicted of lewd acts on children under age 14, has been diagnosed with pedophilic disorder
November 14, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – Supervisor Dianne Jacob, in a letter to Calif. Attorney General Xavier Becerra, cites disturbing statistics regarding sexually violent predators released in East County. Of 12 released countywide in the past 15 years, nine were sent to East County. Five of the 12 violated conditions of their release and four were sent back to state mental hospitals, according to Jacob. Yet the state is proposing to release two more sexually violent predators into our region.
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November 13, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- Steele Canyon High School is yet another charter that landed in hot water recently, following allegations of violating the law and acting undemocratically to undermine parents’ rights. The accusations are signed by two of its governing board members – Vice-Chair Timothy Abbott and newly installed board member Mark Robak. Both are both accusing the charter committee of excluding parents from decisional power during the process of renewing the charter’s authorization with Grossmont Union School District, the school’s sponsor.
Abbott and Robak are also battling with the school’s governing board about new changes in the bylaws that were allegedly included without proper notification and which are “undemocratic,” according to Robak. “Similar examples may be found in Venezuela and Cuba,” wrote Robak in a letter of protest sent on October 30 to Scott Parr, CEO of the governing board and Principal at Steele Canyon High School (SCHS).
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November 11, 2019 (Campo) – The Pacific Southwest Railway Museum Association (PSRM), a San Diego-area historical and educational nonprofit, will mark the 100-year anniversary of the completion of the San Diego & Arizona Railway (SD&A) with a variety of family-friendly activities at its “SD&A Centennial Celebration Gold Spike Day” on Saturday, Nov. 16 at PSRM’s Campo Railroad Park and Museum in Campo, Calif. The public is invited to attend.
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November 11, 2019 (Jamul) – The Jamul-Dulzura Community Planning Group’s meeting tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. will include preliminary discussion of both the Cottonwood Sand Mine and the Save Our San Diego Countryside Initiative. The latter is a county-wide ballot measure that would require voter approval before Supervisors could waive General Plan density developments for residential projects in rural areas. There will also be an update on the Jamul Casino.
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November 8, 2019 (Spring Valley) – Mt. Miguel High School Foundation will present “Holiday Craft fair”, taking place at the Mt. Miguel Multicultural Events Center, 8585 Blossom Lane, Spring Valley, CA 91977 on Saturday December 14 from 10a.m.-3:00 p.m.
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November 8, 2019 (Alpine) – The Alpine Library will host a forum on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 5:30 p.m. for you to learn more about generators, solar battery backup and other residential emergency power options.
Local businesses including SDG&E, Global Power, and Kamp’s Propane will be on hand to answer your questions.
The library is located at 1752 Alpine Blvd. in Alpine.
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November 5, 2019 (Spring Valley) -- A deputy from the Lemon Grove Sheriff station was involved in a single vehicle collision this morning around 8:23 a.m. in Spring Valley.
According to Sergeant Z. Sanchez, the deputy was responding with lights and sirens activated to assist another deputy with an occupied stolen vehicle. While traveling southbound on Bancroft Drive, the deputy struck a utility pole near the intersection of Kenwood Drive.
He was transported to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries. The collision did not occur during a pursuit, Sgt. Sanchez told ECM.
The driver of the vehicle was taken into custody.
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October 30, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) -- The San Diego County Office of Education reports that because San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has activated a public safety power shutoff in certain parts of the county, schools in the following school districts will be closed on Halloween this Thursday, October 31:
Dehesa School District
Julian Union High School District
Julian Union School District
Mountain Empire Unified School District
Rancho Santa Fe School District
Spencer Valley School District
Vallecitos School District
Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District
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October27, 2019 (Casa de Oro) – The nonprofit Casa de Oro Alliance invites you to its fourth annual Fall Festival on Saturday, Nov. 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will be held at the Spring Valley Academy, 3900 Conrad Drive in Spring Valley.
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October 30, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – A controversial proposal by Skyline church to build a senior retirement center is slated for hearing by the County Planning Commission on November 8 at 9 a.m.at the County’s Campus Center Chambers at 5520 Overland Rd., San Diego.
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October 29, 2019 (San Diego's East County) -- Because SDG&E has announced planned power outages due to high fire danger, the County Board of Education announced that the following school districts will be closed on Wednesday, October 30:
Dehesa School District
Julian Union High School District
Julian Union School District
Mountain Empire Unified School District
Rancho Santa Fe School District
Spencer Valley School District
Warner Unified School District
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Photo: The stolen statue was similar to the horse sculpture pictured.
October 28, 2019 (El Cajon) – A metal horse sculpture stolen from in front of the Double S Tack and Feed Store in unincorporated El Cajon has been recovered in Arizona. Two men have been arrested and charged with the theft.
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October 28 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – With the strongest Santa Ana winds of the season forecast Tuesday through Thursday, San Diego Gas & Electric is warning over 32,000 customers that the utility may proactively shut off power to many communities to prevent lines from sparking fires, including some areas not previously impacted by outages. The outages could begin late Tuesday or early Wednesday and last as late as Friday evening, according to SDG&E.
The communities that may lose power are:
Alpine
Boulevard
Campo
Descanso
Dulzura
El Cajon (portions of)
Encinitas (portions of)
Escondido (portions of)
Jacumba
Jamul (portions of)
Julian
Lakeside (portions of)
Mount Laguna
Pala
Palomar Mountain
Pauma Valley
Pine Valley
Potrero
Poway
Ramona
Ranchita
Rancho Santa Fe (portions of)
San Clemente (portions of)
San Juan Capistrano (portions of)
Santa Ysabel
Valley Center (portions of)
Warner Springs
Steps to prepare for an outage
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October 28, 2019 (Boulevard) – The driver of a 2008 Volvo big rig towing a 53-foot trailer loaded with pineapples lost control of his vehicle on I-8 east of Ribbonwood Road in Boulevard around 2:30 a.m., rolling over and down an embankment. The driver, a 35-year-old El Cajon man, was ejected onto the cab and died at the scene.
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October 27, 2019 (Alpine) – The holidays are coming. What to serve? It’s easy as pie! Alpine Ranch is offering a homemade pie-making class on Saturday, November 9 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.
From pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving to mince pie at Christmastime, home-made pies are a holiday tradition that’s as American as apple pie.
Cost is $40. To register and get directions, contact Nancy Teas-Crain at ntcrain@me.comor call/text 619-733-5016.
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Update 11 a.m. SDG&E has shut off power to around 16,000 customers due to very high winds howling through some mountain and rural areas of East County. Winds approaching 100 mph have been clocked today atop at least one local mountain peak.
East County News Service
October 24, 2019 (San DIego's East County) -- San Diego Gas & Electric will open seven Community Resource Centers tomorrow, Friday, October 25th starting at 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. due to power outages the company initiated during the Santa Ana wind event. Water and snacks will be available, and residents can charge devices and get up-to-date information about power outages at these Centers:
- Descanso Branch Library: 9545 River Dr. Descanso, CA, 91916
- Whispering Winds Catholic Camp: 17606 Harrison Park Road, Julian, CA, 92036
- Pine Valley Improvement Club: 28890 Old Highway 80, Pine Valley, CA, 91962
- Lake Morena Community Church: 29765 Oak Drive, Campo, CA, 91906
- Portrero Community Center: 24550 Hwy 94, Portrero, CA, 91963
- Dulzura Community Center: 1136 Community Building Road, Dulzura, CA, 91917
- Warner Springs Resource Center: 30950 CA-79, Warner Springs, CA, 92086
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Update October 24: As of 8 a.m. Thursday, power is shut off for 431 people in Dehesa, Alpine, Rancho Palo Verde, Santa Ysabel, Wynola, Pine Hills, East Descanso, Green Valley Falls, Cuyamaca, Viejas, West Descanso, Boulder Creek, Live Oak Springs, Boulevard, Jacumba, Japatul Valley, Buckman Springs, Morena Village. Resource centers have been opened in Julian and Descanso; scroll down for details.
October 23, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – SDG&E is warning of a new round of potential power-shut offs that could affect up to 23,944 customers, with a red flag warning from 5 a.m. Thursday through 5 p.m. Friday evening.
The areas that could be impacted are Alpine, Barona, Barrett Lake, Boulevard, Campo, Cuyamaca, Descanso, East Poway, East Valley Center, Julian, Mesa Grande, Mount Laguna, Palomar Mountain, Pine Valley, Potrero, Ramona, Rancho Bernardo (portions), Santa Ysabel, Shelter Valley, Viejas and Warner Springs.
The utility’s site states that it makes several efforts to notify ratepayers prior to shutoffs. In many cases the system worked to provide customers with time to prepare for outages. However, some rural residents have posted complaints on social media stating that they received repeated warnings of shut-offs that never occurred, and later had power shut-off with no warning.
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October 22, 2019 (Spring Valley ) – California’s Largest Annual Amateur Tailgate & BBQ Contest is the perfect way to learn how to take your backyard BBQ skills and test them out in a contest that helps raise money for local youth.The 10th annual Spring Valley Tailgate & BBQ Festival will be held on Sunday, October 27 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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October 21 (San Diego) -- San Diego’s backcountry is expected to experience Santa Ana winds Monday and Tuesday (Oct. 20-22), winds expected to peak on Monday in the 30-40 miles per hour range. The utility has warned 1,032 customers that it may need to turn off power for safety in these communities:
Boulder Creek
Boulevard
Cameron
Crestwood
La Posta
Valley Center East
Viejas
(A map of the areas that could potentially be affected is posted at sdge.com/ready.)
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October 16, 2019 (San Diego) -- Because fire season is now a year-round threat in San Diego, enlisting the support of community volunteers is critical to ensure the safety of the County. The Fire Safe Council of San Diego County is encouraging communities to create local fire safe councils to increase their neighborhood’s chances of surviving a wildfire. San Diego County currently has 41 community fire safe councils – the most of any county in the state – and they want to see that number grow.
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October 15, 2019 (Jamul) – Sheriff’s deputies from the Rancho San Diego station have arrested Richard Lechuga, 29, of San Diego following a violent altercation this morning in Jamul.
The deputies received a radio call requesting a welfare check on a man seen walking around a vehicle and talking to himself in the 15000 block of Skyline Truck Trail I Jamul around 10:10 a.m. They found Lechuga sitting in a vehicle. But when deputies approached, he sprayed three of them with bear spray through an open window, then brandished a knife and what appeared to be a handgun.
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October 15, 2019 (San Diego, CA) -- For the past two years the Mountain Empire Unified School District’s Teachers and Native students received a gift of 500 full-color books including the photography and research of historical Kumeyaay rock art. Much of the rock art located along the U.S./Mexico border is within the school district’s boundaries.
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Update: This item was approved by Supervisors on the consent calendar.
By Miriam Raftery
File photo: Crest Fire Safe Council, 2011
October 14, 2019 (Crest) – During the 2003 Cedar Fire that destroyed many homes in Crest, community residents found themselves trapped in gridlock on La Cresta Road, the primary evacuation route. On Tuesday, October 15, Supervisor Dianne Jacob will ask the County Board of Supervisors to approve acquiring easements from landowners over Suncrest Truck Trial as an emergency evacuation route.
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October 14, 2019 (Flinn Springs) — “Fall is our favorite time at Summers Past Farms!” states an invitation to the Flinn Springs farm’s fun and festive pumpkin patch. You’ll also find a corn maze for kids and an inflatable jump, along with a field of pumpkins in all shapes and sizes to choose from.
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Photo: Site of the planned Lilac hills housing development in Valley Center
October 13, 2019 (San Diego) – A battle is brewing over the future of San Diego’s backcountry. A countywide initiative called “Safeguard Our San Diego Countryside” or “SOS” will appear on ballots in the March 3rd election. If approved by voters, it would require the county to give the people a vote on large housing developments that require general plan amendments to increase density in rural and semi-rural areas.
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October 13, 2019 (Santee) -- Customers of the Padre Dam Municipal Water District, which encompasses about 72 square miles, will see their rates for both water and sewage increase starting Nov. 1--and then go up again, starting on Jan. 1.
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Photo: The stolen statue was similar to the one pictured.
October 12, 2019 (El Cajon) – Be on the lookout for a stolen horse – no, not the galloping variety. A 12-foot-high, 400+ pound iron horse statue was taken by thieves using a long, flatbed truck from the Double S Tack and Feed Store at 14335 Olde Highway 80 in unincorporated El Cajon.
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Public tour expands to two days to showcase San Diego County’s most innovative eco-friendly residences
East County News Service
Photo: Straw bale home in Jamul
September 11, 2019 (San Diego) -- The San Diego Green Building Council (SDGBC), a nonprofit organization promoting sustainable building and community practices in San Diego, will host its 10th annual Green Homes Tour on Saturday, Oct. 19 and Sunday, Oct. 20. In response to growing public interest in the green movement and an abundance of groundbreaking projects in the region, the Tour has been expanded this year to two full days, showcasing a diverse collection of the most innovative eco-friendly homes in the San Diego region including several in East County.
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Update: A second resource center has been opened at the Golden Acorn Casino in Campo.
395 customers of SDG&E are currently without power; outages could impact up to 17,771, the utility warns
October 11, 2019 (Descanso) -- San Diego Gas & Electric will open a Community Resource Center today, Friday, October 11 at 8:00 a.m. in Descanso, CA due to power outages the company initiated during the Santa Ana wind event. Water and snacks will be available and residents can charge devices, as well as get up-to-date information about power outages at the Center.
Community Resource Center location: Descanso Public Library (9545 River Drive, Descanso, CA 91916) 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Additional resouce centers may open if the outage area is extended.
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Barons Market to serve up bites paired with Modern Times brews for the final Backroom Beer Pairing of the year. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, all proceeds to benefit Michelle’s Place and Susan G. Komen® San Diego
East County News Service
October 10, 2019 (Alpine) -- Barons Market and Modern Times will turn up the heat in the kitchen and crack open their best brews for Southern Californians to enjoy at all eight market locations, including Alpine in East County This will mark the last Backroom Beer Pairing of the year and, as always, guests will support their community as they socialize at Barons’ patios and stockrooms. Barons Market will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from tickets sold for its eight store locations directly to breast cancer awareness organizations Michelle’s Place and Susan G. Komen® San Diego.
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By Miriam Raftery
East
East County News Service 
East County News Service
East County News Service
East County News Service
Source: County News Service
By Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
October 29, 2019 (San Diego's East County) -- Because SDG&E has announced planned power outages due to high fire danger, the County Board of Education announced that the following school districts will be closed on Wednesday, October 30:
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
By Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
East County News Service
East County News Service
East County News Service
By Miriam Raftery
By Mike Allen
By Miriam Raftery
Barons Market to serve up bites paired with Modern Times brews for the final Backroom Beer Pairing of the year. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, all proceeds to benefit Michelle’s Place and Susan G. Komen® San Diego
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