By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy of ECM news partner 10 News

November 25, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – The youngest survivors of Syria’s civil war are a traumatized generation.  In the U.S., 80% of the 10,000 Syrian refugees admitted in 2016 are children—and nearly all have suffered unspeakable trauma. 

East County News Service

November 24, 2016 (San Diego) -- The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California is expanding its initiative to assist private forestland owners in addressing tree mortality and other drought-related damage to improve forest health.  NRCS will provide financial assistance for landowners with dead and dying conifer forest trees in certain counties, including San Diego County.

By Jonathan Goetz

Photo, left to right: Councilman Gary Kendrick with his son, TJ, and two formerly homeless men they have taken into their home, Tony and Michael

November 24, 2016 (El Cajon) -- It’s rare to find elected officials willing to stand up to special interests or cast votes unpopular with vocal constituents, doing what he or she believes is right for the community and for people in need.

Part II in our series on the Ocotillo wind turbine collapse

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Jim Pelley

November 22, 2016 (Ocotillo) – Ocotillo Wind Energy has issued a statement on its website after collapse of a massive wind turbine Monday at its Ocotillo, California energy project site.  The statement indicates the turbine fell within the designed setback zone and no one was injured. Officials say they are working closely with Siemens, the manufacturer of the collapsed turbine, to identify the cause of the failure, with a “full investigation” underway.   The company said safety is its “first priority” and that more information will be released as it becomes available, KYMA TV reports.

Both this project and Siemens have a history of serious problems, however, leading to questions of whether federal or state oversight is needed to protect public safety.

East County News Service

November 22, 2016 (El Cajon) -- Drum Macomber sent in this photo of Senior Patrol Leader Kyle Jackson and Patrol Leader Alex Horn, Boy Scouts from Troop 362, with the El Cajon Main Street Flag Committee.

"This photo was not staged; it just happened when we decided that we should have the Pledge of Allegiance at the Work Party," Macomber says. "This is a Norman Rockwell Moment if ever."

For more sports coverage, visit ECM's Sports section

Source: NASCAR.com

Cover photo:  Creative Commons under Nascarking (Wikipedia).  Newsflasher photo:  Creative Commons under Flickr upload bot

November 20, 2016 (Miami) - Jimmie Johnson today won his seventh Sprint Cup championship and his first in three years at the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Miami.  The 41-year-old and El Cajon native is now tied with Dale Earnardt and Richard Petty as a seven-time premiere series champion.

East County News Service

November 18, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Help is needed to recover two golf carts stolen overnight from the Tir Na Nog horse rescue center east of Alpine or purchase replacements.

The owner posted this message on Facebook:

Horses of Tir Na Nog

Source: County of San Diego

November 18, 2016 (Campo) - The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has issued a Boil Water Order and Public Notification for the Lake Morena County Park water system located at 2550 Lake Morena Drive in Campo, CA 91906, effective immediately. The water system is designed to provide potable water for a campground with 86 camper sites, ranger office, 4 fulltime residents, 7 volunteer RV pads and 2 public restrooms.

East County News Service

November 17, 2016 (Alpine) - Join Lions, Tigers & Bears, San Diego's only big cat and exotic animal rescue, for the 2016 Christmas fundraiser on Saturday, December 3 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  There will be a VIP reception from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.  You can do holiday shopping and watch your furry friends open Christmas presents!

Also enjoy a visit with Santa,food trucks and plenty of festive fun.

Current Sage Project partner Lemon Grove will be first in North America to use new toolkit

Source: SAGE Project

November. 16, 2016  (Lemon Grove) – California cities have long been tasked with developing a plan to reduce carbon emissions and create more sustainable, environmentally friendly communities. The City of San Diego approved its Climate Action Plan last year and other nearby cities have followed suit as a result of the state mandate. But for smaller cities the task can be overwhelming.

Update: Hear our interview with Paige Rogowski, Executive Director of the Anza Borrego Foundation and Diana Lindsey,  past president of the Foundation and historian for Anza Borrego Desert State Park. Listen now by clicking the audio link.

Guided hikes are also available

East County News Service

November 16, 2016 (Anza-Borrego) – In celebration of Anza-Borrego Foundation’s 50th Anniversary, Anza-Borrego Foundation and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park are inviting visitors to complete two five-hike challenges on some of the most famous (and infamous) peaks and trails in the region.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Robin Norris Kendall, Miriam Raftery, and Mike Uhrhammer

November 15, 2016 (Lakeside) – If you love camping but don’t want to lug around camping gear, now there’s a fun new camping experience at Lake Jennings in San Diego’s East County:  tipis!

They’re spacious – each measures 20 feet in diameter, made of canvas from Colorado and pine wood poles from Montana.  Tipi (also spelled tee-pee) is a Lakota Sioux Indian word meaning “living in.” The Native Americans used buffalo hides to make their tipis, which were toted on horseback from site to site across the Great Plains. 

East County News Service

November 15, 2016 (La Mesa) – Friends of Angie Andrus are asking for public help to locate her.  According to Esther McElroy Beish, a family friend, Andrus suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, diabetes and high blood pressure. 

She was last seen in the Lake Murray area on October 24, when her vehicle was towed.   She could be living on the streets and confused.  “We have no idea where she is or if she is okay,” says Beish.

Update 8 p.m.:   Todd Perkins has been found safe in Lemon Grove.

East County News Service

November 14, 2016 (Lakeside)—The  Sheriff has issued a be-on-the-lookout bulletin for Todd Randolph Perkins,48.  He has been missing since 2:30 p.m.  His caretaker says he may have walked away from his home on Dorsal Drive in Lakeside.

He suffers from a medical condition that causes him to limp.  He has green tattooso on both arms. He is white with brown hair and brown eyes, 5 feet 6 inches tall, and weighs 130 pounds.  He has told his caretaker that he would like to return to his former home on the 7100 block of Broadway in Lemon Grove,though he does not drive.