By Miriam Raftery, East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts Service

Photo: Skott Dehla Crozz on Brush Fire Partyline's Facebook Page

October 9, 2017 (Tecate) – A brush fire is burning just south of the border in Tecate, Cal Fire Captain Isaac Sanchez advised in a phone interview with East County Magazine.  Cal Fire has positioned resources on the U.S. side of the border to prepare in case the blaze crosses over.

“I've seen 4 fire trucks heading out the 94,” Candie Wemple said in an email to East County Magazine. Posts on social media indicate black smoke is visible from Campo, Potrero and Barrett Junction.

By Valerie Watts

October 9, 2017 (Alpine) - Lions, Tigers and Bears announces its annual Spooky Campover from 3 p.m. Friday October 27 until 12 p.m. October 28.  Bring your own pumpkin to carve, food, camping gear and best costume to 24402 Martin Way, Alpine, CA 91901.  This event promises "a wild and ghoulish night under the stars with the rescued animals."  There will be pumpkin carving, s'mores, campfire songs, a costume contest and animal feedings.  To reserve your spot for this unique camping adventure, call (619) 659-8078 option 2, or book online www.lionstigersandbears.org

By Liz Alper

October 7, 2017 (Spring Valley) - Saps at Sea, the San Diego chapter of the Sons of the Desert, the international Laurel & Hardy fan club, presents their Halloween program, Howlarious HalloScream! on October 28 at 7:00 p.m. at Trinity Presbytarian Church in Spring Valley.   The Saps are teaming up with the Theater Organ Society of San Diego and both groups' very own Russ Peck will be playing organ accompanyments to the films.

East County News Service

October 6, 2017 (San Diego's East County) - Known for his generosity in support of East County community organizations, businessman William “Bill” Thomas Verbeck passed away at his home in Spring Valley on September 27 at the age of 90, with friends by his side.

East County News Service

October 4, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- Agriculture values in San Diego County returned to their growing ways in the latest annual County Crop Report, increasing by 2.63 percent to nearly 1.75 billion dollars last year.  That’s a big shift, after two years of decline during the drought.

By Miriam Raftery

October 1, 2017  (Campo) – After being blocked on a neighborhood watch forum, Campo-Lake Morena Community Planning Group member Keven Owens posted a profanity-laced podcast on his “Erroneous Opinions” webpage in which he threatened to punch 69-year-old Claudia Millerbragg in the face.

A partial transcript of his more than 20 minute rant is below, asprovided in writing by Owens in an email response after ECM sent him an inquiry. You can hear an audio excerpt at the audio link above published under the Fair Use doctrine on a matter of clear public interest:

East County News Service

October 2, 2017 (El Cajon) — Scotty’s Scare Trail, located at the Marshall Scotty’s abandoned amusement park, is rumored to be haunted to old employees and children who never left.  Left in a “scary decrepit state,” the site is “the perfect destination to let our monsters out of their cages to roam free,” the Halloween venue’s webpage states.

East County News Service

October 1, 2017 (San Diego) -- San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) this week announced a $100,000 charitable grant to purchase essential equipment and medical apparatus for San Diego County Fire and rural fire agencies to better serve local communities and protect the region from future fires.

Concerned raised by Jamul residents who say inequities in fire mitigation grants favor Alpine areas at lesser risk

By Paul Kruze

September 24, 2017 (Alpine) -- Nearly 60 East County residents attended the first open house held by the Sunrise Powerlink Fire Mitigation Group (SPFMG) at the Alpine Community Center on Sept. 19. The purpose of the open house was to educate residents about the fire mitigation grants program and the results of the 2017 grant program.

East County News Service

September 27, 2017 (Deerhorn Valley) – Folks in Deerhorn Valley in the Jamul area are clearing out their sheds, barns and back acres for a community yard sale on Saturday, September 30^th from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. 

The event will be held at McKinley’s Field at the corner of Elena Lane and Deerhorn Valley Road.

Update September 29, 2017 :  Jorgina Soto, San DIego County Library, advises that a soft ribbon cutting is now scheduled for October 16th, with a ribbon cutting slated for early December at a date to be arranged.

By Paul Kruze

Photo:  The San Diego County Library’s new and shiny library kiosk sits in the dark with a heavy cover until further notice.

September 22, 2017 (Boulevard) -- It is back to the drawing board for San Diego County Library officials, who had intended to debut a 24/7 automated library kiosk in front of the old Boulevard fire station at 39923 Ribbonwood in September. But due to unforeseen circumstances, a heavy cover will remain on the kiosk and residents are going to have to wait at least until mid-December before it will be operational.

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Story and photos by Liz Alper

September 20, 2017 (Spring Valley) - It was a showdown between two Spring Valley schools in the pool as 7-2 Steele Canyon boys water polo traveled to the other side of Spring Valley to take on the Monarchs, who are 1-2 to start the young season, but 0-1 in conference play, losing to West Hills in August.

Like our sports coverage?  Donate to help support ECM’s sports section! Type in “Sports” on the donation line!

Follow @ECMagSports on Twitter for live sports coverage and stories!

Does your son or daughter play a sport at a level other than varsity?  Comment on this story or tweet @ECMagSports to request coverage!

Story and photos by Liz Alper

September 15, 2017 (Spring Valley) - ECM Friday Night Lights stuck around Spring Valley this week to see the Matadors of Mount Miguel square off against a school we don’t get to report on often:  the Wolf Pack of West Hills High.  The kids from Santee left their blue turf this week with a 2-1 record on the young season.  The Matadors are improving, but still in the loss column at 1-2.

East County News Service

September 14, 2017 (Alpine) -- Alpine resident Carey Guthrie, a realtor and past president (2015) of the Pacific Southwest Association of Realtors (PSAR), a 2,500-member trade group for San Diego-area realtors, is again organizing PSAR’s sixth annual PSAR Un-Fashion and Variety Show.