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.
Photo: A model demonstrates an e-cigarette. Credit: Michael Dorausch Wikimedia Commons.
October 15, 2019 (San Diego) - The Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 Tuesday to impose a one-year ban on the sale and distribution of all electronic smoking devices within unincorporated areas of San Diego County.
Photo: County Supervisor Dianne Jacob renewed her call for the program in her State of the County speech early this year. Photo by Ken Stone
October 15, 2019 (San Diego) - Joining San Diego and cities around the region, the Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 Tuesday to establish a community choice energy program in the county’s unincorporated areas.
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.
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.
Update: Per SDPD, all evacuation orders and warnings associated with this incident have been lifted. The temporary evacuation point has been suspended and evacuees can return to their homes.
East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts
October 15, 2019 (San Diego) – A brush fire named the “#FairmountFire” in San Diego’s Talmadge area has shut down the I-8 east ramp to Fairmount Avenue and Fairmount Ave. from Montezuma to Mead. Motorists are asked to avoid the area.
San Diego Police is evacuating homes on Norma, Constance and Natalie Drives. A temporary evacuation center has been set up at Hoover High School.
Temporary evacuation center at Hoover HS for those affected. Firefighters are in the canyon areas working with on containment and watching hot spots.
More than 4,000 customers are without power; SDG&E estimates power will be restored by 9:30 p.m.
In an alarming trend, there have been 86 injury collisions in La Mesa between January 2013 and December 2015 involving pedestrians, resulting in 61 injuries and 4 fatalities. “This is a significant increase in serious pedestrian related collisions.” -- LMPD
October 15, 2019 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa Police Department received a $25,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to fund a year-long program aimed at improving the safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.
October 15, 2019 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa Police Department has been awarded a $95,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a year-long enforcement and public awareness program. The program will include a variety of outreach to educate the public, as well as enforcement actions ranging from DUI patrols to seat belt and child safety seat compliance.
October 15, 2019 (San Diego) - Rep. Duncan D. Hunter, under criminal indictment and facing three GOP rivals, took another hit Monday when the San Diego County Republican Party failed to endorse him for a seventh term.
October 15, 2019 (San Diego) – Today, County Supervisors will vote on a recommendation by Supervisors Dianne Jacob and Nathan Fletcher that would ask the Chief Administrative Officer to draft a recommended ordinance within 60 days aimed at protecting the public from a “public health crisis” linked to smoking including vaping products and more. The recommendations include restrictions on smoking and e-cigarettes or vaping products that would apply to all unincorporated parts of San Diego County.
Photo: Citrus growers and other farmers in Borrego use 75% of the area’s groundwater. A new plan proposes allowing large water users to buy or trade water use credits.
October 14, 2019 (Borrego Springs) – Faced with a state mandate to reduce water use by 75 percent after years over over-pumping groundwater, major water users in Borrego Springs have submitted a stipulated agreement for reducing the desert community’s water use by an estimated 75 percent. On Wednesday, San Diego County Supervisors will vote on withdrawing as a groundwater sustainability agency for the Borrego Valley Groundwater Basin, with a goal toward transitioning into water management.
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.
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.
October 14, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) –Middle and high school students in urban and surburban areas will soon get to sleep in later due toSenate Bill 328 signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. The bill requires that middle schools start no earlier than 8 a.m. and high school at 8:30 a.m. or later, but rural districts are exempted.
October 14, 2019 (San Diego) - Have you done business with the Navy, or would you like for your company to work with the Navy? If so, you’re encouraged to fill out a survey by using this survey link before October 25.
October 14, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – Just in time for Halloween, Rebecca Jefferis-Williamson sent in these pics of “super-trendy pumpkins” spotted at Sprouts market. Why settle for a mundane round orange pumpkin when you can liven up your holiday décor with choices such as a Fairytale or Cinderella pumpkin that looks like a princess’s coach? Or a knobby Knucklehead variety to add texture to your pumpkin patch display. How about a ghostly white Jarradale pumpkin to add a spooky effect?
Dandy Daddy Long Legs, by Anat Tour (Anat Tour, San Diego, 2019).
Book Review by Dennis Moore
October 14, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) - Anat Tour, East County (San Diego) resident and high school math teacher, has written another of her many children’s book which is inspired and sparked by her kids, friends, and animals she meets; Dandy Daddy Long Legs. As a matter of fact, one of the characters in this fanciful book, “Jeanne on a Bike”, is actually inspired by one of her friends; Jeanne (her daughter named her that).
October 13, 2019 (Valley Center) – Readers of East County Magazine have seen our stories through the years on the beautiful and fragrant fields of lavender blooms and events such as high teas held at Keys Creek Lavender Farm in northeast San Diego County. But now, the farm is up for sale – and owner Alicia Wolff is seeking “the perfect buyer – one who may continue my dream…while living their own dream.”
New law will protect kids, help survivors healand hold institutions accountable
East County News Service
October 14, 2019 (Sacramento) -- California took a gigantic step for child protection last week when Governor Gavin Newsom signed the California Child Victims Act, Assembly Bill 218. The bill passed the state Senate unanimously and the Assembly by a 64 to 3 vote, with local Assemblyman Randy Voepel casting one of the few votes against the measure.
The new law goes into effect January 1, 2020. The law provides a three-year window for sexual abuse survivors to bring lawsuits against perpetrators and institutions that protected them in cases that were previously barred by the statute of limitations, no matter when the abuse occurred. Aside from the window, the bill also changes the statute of limitations and raises the age limit to file a sexual abuse lawsuit from age 26 to age 40, or within five years of the date a survivor discovers the psychological injury or illness caused by the abuse (whichever comes later).
October 14, 2019 (Sacramento) – Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 800, which will protect the identity of survivors of domestic and other violent crimes who participate in the Secretary of State’s Safe at Home Program when filing civil court documents. The bill was authored by Assemblymember Kansen Chu (D-San Jose) based on a proposal written by Dian Black with Callegislation, a former San Diegan who has written a dozen proposals since 1996 that have become law in California to protect victims’ rights.
October 13, 2019 (San Diego’s East County) – Elevated fire concerns continue this week due to low relative humidity and dry vegetation, with gusty winds starting Tuesday and increasing through Friday. Next weekend could see a return of dangerous Santa Ana conditions.
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.
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.
October 13, 2019 (San Diego) - SDSU kicked off their fifth game of the season against the Wyoming Cowboys at SDCCU stadium. Ryan Agnew had a career-high passing yardage of 209 with two passing touchdowns.
The Aztecs started slow and were down 14-3 in the first half. SDSU rallied behind Ryan Agnew, who passed to Daniel Bellinger for the game-winning touchdown with 2:09 left in the fourth quarter. Running back Juwan Washington ran for 100 yards and had both a receiving and rushing touchdown.
CALmatters is an independent public interest journalism venture covering California state politics and government.
Photo: Mountain lion P-61 was struck and killed on the 405 Freeway in the Sepulveda Pass after being chased by another male cougar on Sept. 7, 2019. National Park Service photo
October 12, 2019 (San Diego's East County) - These are deadly times for California mountain lions.
October 12, 2019 (Sacramento) – Before the gold rush of 1849, the fur trade lured trappers and hunters to California. But times have changed. Now, opponents of animal cruelty have succeeded in passing a bill signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom that makes California the first state in the U.S. to outlaw the sale, trade, gifting or manufacturing of most animal furs and fur products starting in 2023.
The ban does not apply to used furs, nor to leather, cow hides, sheepskins, deer or goat hides. Animals stuffed and preserved through taxidermy are also exempt.
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.
October 12, 2019 (Sacramento) – A trio of new election reform laws signed by Governor Gavin Newsom set campaign contribution limits for local races, allow voters to register on Election Day at polling places and ban partisan gerrymandering of local districts.
East County News Service
By Ken Stone, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association
East County News Service
East County News Service
October 15, 2019 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa Police Department received a $25,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to fund a year-long program aimed at improving the safety for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Source: La Mesa Police
By Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
By Miriam Raftery
East County News Service
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
New law will protect kids, help survivors heal
By Maryanne Jackson 
East County News Service
East County News Service
By Miriam Raftery
By Mike Allen
Story and photos by Cris Rangel
By J.P. Ross and Tiffany Yap | CALmatters
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
By Miriam Raftery
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