November 8, 2012 -- The Department of Justice, the FBI, and the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) remind the public there is a potential for disaster fraud in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Suspected fraudulent activity pertaining to relief efforts should be reported to the toll-free NCDF hotline at 866-720-5721. The hotline is staffed by a live operator 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the purpose of reporting suspected scams being perpetrated by criminals in the aftermath of disasters.

November 5, 2012 (San Diego's East County) - IPN reports at 12:25 p.m. a major accident on Highway 84 at Barrett Lake Road has blocked lanes in both directions. A motorcyclist is down with serious injuries.  According to the CHP website, the injured rider will be airlifted from Barrett Cafe.

November 5, 2012 (Spring Valley) -- Spring Valley – San Miguel Firefighters responded to fire in a detached garage at 2501 Bancroft Drive yesterday shortly after 4:30 p.m. When crews arrived on scene the garage was spewing flames and thick black smoke and had already set a three-bedroom home next door on fire at 2505 Bancroft, about 12 feet from the garage where the fire reportedly started.

“There were three people in the home when it caught fire. All evacuated safely, however one resident was treated on the scene for smoke inhalation and released,” San Miguel spokesman Leonard Villareal said.

By Nadin Abbott

November 3, 2012 (San Diego) -- The East Coast has been battered by Hurricane Sandy, which caused dramatic damage. Many of us in sunny San Diego may believe our only major risks are earthquakes and wildfires. But our region is not immune to hurricanes. The first recorded major hurricane to hit San Diego County was 1858. Then in 1976, Hurricane Kathleen reduced I-8 to rubble, washed out a railway and destroyed a bridge in San Diego’s East County, causing major flooding as far east as Ocotillo in Imperial County. View photos of Hurricane Kathleen's damage from a book written by a CalTrans engineer.

Wikipedia lists several tropical storms and hurricanes that damaged Southern California and Arizona. Moreover, with climate change,storm tracks are slowly moving north from Mexico, so we are at increased risk. Regardless, you should be ready for a disaster. Government authorities have warned for years that people need to be ready to be on their own for 72 hours. This is a general civil defense recommendation not limited to the United States.

November 3, 2012 (San Diego) – Poll workers are still in demand for the Nov. 6 Presidential General Election. The Registrar of Voters needs a variety of positions filled.

A high demand remains for bilingual workers especially those who speak Chinese and Vietnamese.

November 2, 2012 (Boulevard) – Thanks to our generous readers who helped raise several thousand dollars plus supplies to benefit 11 families who lost homes in the recent Shockey fire.

“So many wonderful people are out there with wonderful caring hearts,” Lorrie Ostrander, who organized a fundraising event for fire survivors told ECM.  Some fire surivors are now placed in old trailers donated and others are on the Campo reservation. "A home is what we make of it and for now they are thankful for life,” said Ostrander, adding that items needed most now are cooking utensils, curtains, towels, bedding, dishes and toys. 

She also offered this “wish list” for the kids for Chirstmas:  a girl's bike for a 10 year old, sports items for a boy, 9, who lost his baseball bat, ball, football and basketball, and a motorized toy truck for a 2-year-old whose treasured truck was lost to the flames.

Hundreds of drugs recalled, ranging from antibiotics to blood thinners, pain prescriptions to pediatric medications recalled

Update:  “Sharp Grossmont Hospital and any other entity of Sharp HealthCare does not purchase products from Ameridose, the pharmaceutical company that is linked to the drug recall,” spokesman Bruce Hartman has informed ECM.

October 31, 2012 (Washington D.C.)--The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced today that Ameridose, LLC, based in Westborough, Mass., is voluntarily recalling all of its unexpired products due to serious sterility concerns. The move follows 54 cases of fungal meningitis linked to steroid injections.

However, the drug recall is much broader, including hundreds of drugs in oral and inhalable forms as well as injectibles. The list includes many commonly used medications such as Ibuprofin, Acetaminophen, Lidocaine, Penicillin, Vancomycin, Oxytocin, Morphine, Vancomycin and Heparin, to name just a few.

View a complete list of all products subject to this recall here with more information at www.ameridose.com. Products from Ameridose can be identified by markings that indicate Ameridose by name or by its company logo. Despite the recall, doctors and healthcare professional have NOT been urged by the FDA to followup with patients who received these drugs, so check the list carefully to see if medications you have received may be on the list. Scroll down for more information.

November 1, 2012 (San Diego) – Sempra Energy Foundation today pledged $50,000 in disaster-relief assistance funds to East Coast storm victims. In support of Sempra Energy companies’ employee giving efforts, the Foundation also will be matching up to an additional $50,000 in employee donations, bringing the total potential donation to $150,000 by the Foundation and company employees.

Sempra Energy Foundation will direct the funds through the American Red Cross National Relief Fund.

November 1, 2012 (Poway)—A hiker who collapsed on a trail on the Poway side of Mount Woodson has been declared dead, Lt. J.T. Faulkner with the San Diego Sheriff’s office informed ECM.

A friend who was hiking with the victim called for help at 11:04 a.m.  “Our unit got there at 11:14 and the Fire Department was already there,” Lt. Faulkner told ECM.  The victim was found about halfway up a trail.  Copter 12 and ASTREA were called in to assist.

Obama to Governors in path of Hurricane Sandy: "We will be there...making sure that we've got the best possible response."

By Miriam Raftery

October 28, 2012 (San Diego) – As Hurricane Sandy, one of the worst storms in memory, barrels toward the East Coast and wildfire season hits full stride here in San Diego's East County, voters should know that when asked about federal disaster relief at a debate among Republican primary presidential candidates, Mitt Romney called such spending “immoral.” 

More than 20 pieces of equipment being shipped to East Coast today

October 30, 2012 (San Diego)--San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is shipping more than 20 pieces of equipment to the East Coast Tuesday to be used by approximately 40 SDG&E employees who will be assisting New York City utility Con Edison in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Sandy. Crews will be departing on Friday.

Update: A revised warning now includes the Pacific Northwest and Canada, as well as Hawaii. The tsunami is not expected to reach San Diego.

October 27, 2012 (San Diego)—A powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale struck 25 miles south of Sandspit in British Columbia at 8:04 p.m. (The quake has been upgraded from an original estimate of 7.1)

8 of 11 awards recognize ECM's in-depth coverage of energy issues in our region

By Miriam Raftery

October 23, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Continuing our proud tradition, East County Magazine was once again among the top recipients of honors at tonight’s San Diego Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards.  All entries were in the Daily Newspapers and Websites category, going up against the major print newspapers and online news sites in our region.

The majority of the honors recognized ECM's in-depth coverage of the impacts of major energy projects, including industrial wind turbines, on local rural, mountain and desert communities. ECM editor Miriam Raftery won nine awards, including a first place award in general news for Silence of the Lambs: U.S. Government authorizes killing of endangered bighorns in path of wind project.   Raftery and ECM intern Mia Myklebust shared an additional first place award in the public service/consumer advocacy category for Jacumba: A town surrounded. That story focused on the impacts of major energy projects on a small rural community.

Scroll down to see our full list of winners and read the winning entries.

October 22, 2012 (Spring Valley) San Diego County Sheriff's Department wants your help in finding a missing juvenile. William Patrick Gear Jr., age 12, left his Spring Valley home in the 8700 block of Ildica Street around 8:15 this morning. He was on his way to La Presa Middle School on his blue BMX bicycle, but never arrived on campus.

Gear has no history of running away or any medical issues. He has never missed a day in school.  He was last seen wearing a gray, purple and white plaid flannel over a black T-shirt; skinny blue jeans; black, white and gray shoes and a black backpack. He's four feet, four inches tall, 90 pounds, with hazel eyes and blond hair.

October 21, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather statement for our region. Today and tonight, gusty southwest to west winds are forecast in mountains and deserts, with patchy dense fog on I-8 in mountain areas.  Monday through Saturday, strong gusty northeast to east winds are possible in East County’s mountain passes and canyons.