May 20, 2012 (San Diego) -- The League of Women Voters, San Diego this week presented East County Magazine with its Media Award 2012.  The honor was bestowed in recognition of ECM's coverage of developer's efforts to abolish community planning efforts.

By Miriam Raftery

May 19, 2012 (Ocotillo) -- In a precedent that has horrified wildlife experts, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has authorized the “take” (meaning harassment, displacement or even death) of 10 endangered Peninsular Bighorn Sheep – five ewes and five lambs. 

The decision comes after federal wildlife officials were provided photographic evidence by ECM  that the endangered animals were seen in recent weeks on the site of the just-approved Ocotillo Express wind energy facility—a presence federal officials and the project developer have long denied.

May 19, 2012 (San Diego’s East County Magazine)—Two motorcyclists are down in the roadway  in a serious injury accident on Highway 78 at Banner Grade in the Julian/Wynola area, Incident Page Network reports.  According to the CHP website, a citizen is attempting CPR on an injured rider while CHP is en route.

The accident is near a twist in the road approximately 1 mile north of a campground at the horse shoe curve. 

May 17, 2012 (San Diego) -- San Diego County's Planning Commission will consider several major issues on its Friday agenda, including the Tule Wind Energy major use permit for McCain Valley, as well as the related General Plan Amendment and Zoning Reclassification for the Mountain Empire and Boulevard subregional plan areas.

Planners will also hear staff responses to concerns raised by planners in last week's Wind Energy Ordinance Amendments workshop. The meeting beginas at 9 a.m. at 5201 Ruffing Rd., Suite B in San Diego.

By Miriam Raftery

May 16, 2012 (San Diego) – On Friday at 2 p.m., a federal judge will consider a temporary restraining order motion filed by the Quechan Indian tribe seeking to halt construction at the Ocotillo Express wind facility site on federal land.

Despite discovery of six more cremation sites with what are believed to be human remains (12 sites total) that federal law requires be preserved, Pattern Energy is moving forward with heavy equipment, destroying vast acreage in the fragile Yuha desert near Ocotillo.

Suspects drove black Volkswagen and tan minivan 

May 14, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)—Two different men approached female students walking to Grossmont High School last week, offering rides. A letter sent by principal Dan Barnes today warns parents to “make sure your child does not travel to school alone. It’s always best to walk with a buddy or group of friends.”

Family criticizes search after private investigator locates body; Sheriff defends efforts

May 14, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) –A vigil is set for this afternoon, with a mass service tomorrow morning for Guillermo Pino Jr., 24.  Pino’s body has been recovered from a 60-foot-deep chasm near where he disappeared April 8 in the Arroyo Tapaido “badlands” area in the Anza-Borrego Desert.

Updated May 14, 2012

May 13, 2012 (Spring Valley) --Just four days before his retirement from San Miguel Fire Department, Chief August “Augie” Ghio has been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident. The crash occurred this morning in Ocotillo Wells on State Route 78 east.

By Miriam Raftery

May 12, 2012 (La Mesa) – A plucky group of La Mesa residents turned out at last week’s Council hearing to ask that smaller property owners be granted the right to raise chickens and savor fresh eggs.

Councilwoman Ruth Sterling asked to add consideration of chicken ownership to this Tuesday’s agenda for a discussion by Council. 

“We are the canaries in the coal mine. If this is not stopped here, destruction of millions of acres of public lands across the southwest will likely soon follow.” -- Terry Weiner, Desert Protective Council

By Miriam Raftery

May 11, 2012 (Ocotillo) -- Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today signed the Record of Decision, giving a go-ahead for the contentious Ocotillo Express wind project. 

The announcement came just hours after a coalition of environmental leaders, tribal representatives, off-road vehicle users, outdoor enthusiasts, residents and legal spokespersons called for a national moratorium on the "fast tracking" of massive energy projects on federal public lands.

"I thought wind energy was something I could believe in. This film suggests it's just another corporate flim-flam game. - Film critic Rogert Ebert

May 10, 2012 (San Diego)  A special free showing of the award-winning documentary ‘Windfall,’ an exploration of industrial wind impacts on a rural community, will lbe held tonight at 7 p.m. at the Landmark Theater in Hillcrest. The showing is cosponsored by Backcountry Against Dumps and The Protect Our Communities Foundation.

Hundreds of industrial wind turbines are currently proposed for public, private and tribal lands in East County with 400-800 thousand acres of Wind Resource Area proposed for designation in the County's Wind Energy Ordinance & Plan Amendment DEIR.