By Miriam Raftery, East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

October 9, 2017 (San Diego ) – Governor Jerry Brown has declared states of emergency in Napa, Sonoma and Yuba Counties due to wildfires that have burned at least 1,500 homes and commercial buildings and killed at least one person, Cal Fire director Ken Pimlott said at a press conference today. There is zero percent containment as of late morning.  At least 16 major fires are burning statewide.

An estimated 20,000 people have been evacuated as fires blacken skies even in Bay Area cities, forced evacuations of hospitals, shut down schools and  threaten thousands more structures in California’s wine region, gold rush towns and even coastal counties.  Many residents fled for their lives during the night as fast-moving flames destroyed wineries, vineyards, major stores and homes, dousing dreams with despair.

By Paul Kruze

October 7, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) -- Residents from San Diego's East County testified during the open comment period at last Thursday’s California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) meeting in Chula Vista.

Earlier in the day, the CPUC held a hearing on whether or not to approve a recommendation made by two CPUC administrative law judges to reject SDG&E’s application seeking to charge ratepayers for its uninsured losses in three of the 2007 wildfires. That hearing consisted largely of technical arguments. Afterward, a second meeting in Chula Vista was held for all parties involved, and public testimony was also taken. 

By Kendra Sitton

October 6, 2017 (Spring Valley) — The Otay Water Board approved the rates and charges for the 2017-2018 fiscal year, as well as a five-year authorization of cost-increases up to 10 percent. The board passed the rate changes in a 4-1 vote on Wednesday, Oct. 4 following a public hearing at its headquarters in Spring Valley.

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.

 Residents Eligible for Mental Health Treatment, Medical Expenses, Funeral and Burial and More

 The California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB) is encouraging residents impacted by the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival on Sunday, October 1 in Las Vegas to contact them at 1-800-777- 9229 for assistance, guidance and aid.  

The massacre killed 58 people and injured over 500 victims.  San Diego attorney Jennifer Irvine was among those killed; several other San Diego County residents were injured, NBC 7 reports.

Help is available for survivors of those who were killed, anyone who was injured and those in attendance at the concert, as well as their immediate family members.

Meanwhile, Congress weighs bill to ban abortions after 20 weeks, but robs babies of healthcare at birth

By Miriam Raftery

October 3, 2017 (Washington D.C. ) – Nine million children in low-income families and poor  pregnant mothers are losing healthcare nationwide due to the Republican-led Congress failing to allow a vote on renewing the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), letting  it expire on September 30^th, the Washington Post reports.

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:

Residents in La Mesa, Mount Helix, and other local neighborhoods complain of swarms biting during daylight hours

By Miriam Raftery

October 2, 2017 (Mt. Helix) – After numerous residents on the Mt. Helix Next Door forum complained of swarms of small, aggressive mosquitoes biting during daylight hours and often, indoors, East County Magazine contacted County Vector Control. We learned that the invasive Aedes mosquitoes have been found in 273 traps at 23 different locations between January 1^st and September 21^st this year.  View map.

East County News Service

October 2, 2017 (Ramona) -- Caltrans has announced lane closures on State Route 67 at Dye Road and Highland Valley Road on Monday and again this Wednesday and Thursday night from 7 p.m.to 5 a.m. each night.

By Miriam Raftery

October 1, 2017 (Campo) – Backcountry residents in San Diego’s East County are baffled as to why, after they signed up for Dish TV satellite service, Dish has inexplicably dropped carrying CW San Diego programming. 

“I think it probably that local fans don’t even know that they will be unable to watch the new fall line-up, including the new season of Supernatural," a popular program aired on CW, says Billie Jo Jannen, chair of the Campo-Lake Morena Community Planning Group.

Jannen, a Dish subscriber, says Dish “still charges us the same for local channels” even after dropping CW San Diego.   She points out the rural residents rely on satellite and don’t have a wide range of other options.  “We have no access to cable and most don’t have the bandwidth to use a firestick or the like.”

By Miriam Raftery

October 1, 2017 (Puerto Rico) – Nearly two weeks after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, a military hospital ship has not yet arrived while the death toll continues to mount.  Only 10,000 National Guard members have been deployed, compared to 31,000 swiftly sent after Hurricanes Irma and Harvey struck Florida and Texas. There are also far fewer FEMA personnel, CNN reports. 

By Miriam Raftery

Rally and march photos by Robert Gehr

Cover photo:  Alfred Olango's father, Richard Olango Abuka

September 29, 2017 (El Cajon) – A one-year anniversary event commemorating the death of Alfred Olango, an African-American man shot and killed by an El Cajon Policeman, was held Thursday on Civic Center Way in downtown El Cajon, followed by a march to city hall and the police station.

By Miriam Raftery

September 28, 2017 (San Diego) – Six of East County Magazine’s reporters are on the winners’ list in the San Diego Press Club’s  Excellence in Journalism awards.  Congratulations to our reporters Jonathan Goetz,  Rebecca Jefferis-Williamson, Paul Kruze, Mimi Pollack,  Rachel Williams, and editor Miriam Raftery.

By Miriam Raftery

September 27, 2017 (San Diego) – Today the California Supreme Court denied a request by the San Diego County Water Authority (CWA) to reverse a Court of Appeals decision in June that allows the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) to include its State Water Project costs in rates it charges to transport CWA’s independent Colorado River supplies through MWD’s pipeline and aqueduct.

See below for statements in full from the CWA and MWD.