Fundraiser a success, but more help is needed:  “wish list” provided for families who lost homes

By Miriam Raftery

October 17, 2012 (Jacumba/Boulevard)—Ray Ritter, 2, and his parents are among nine families who lost everything in the Shockey Fire last month.  The home they were renting burned to the ground and they had no insurance.  But that’s just the latest in a string of tragedies for the Ritters.

“Dad died September 14,” Monica Ritter told ECM.  “His memorial service was Sept. 20 and on the 21st, our house burned down.”

ECM met the Ritter family at a fundraiser for Shockey Fire victims held last Friday at the Jacumba community center, where firefighters and community members turned out to raise $1,378.59.  The Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation had already given over $3500 to the families during recovery after the fire—but now fire victims need additional help to rebuild their lives as the cold season draws near.

October 17, 2012 (Vallecito)--The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has issued a Boil Water Order and Public Notification for the Vallecito County Park Water System located at 37349 Great Southern Overland, Julian, CA, 92036 effective immediately.

The drinking water system has tested present for total coliform bacteria and absent for E. coli.

By Miriam Raftery

An ECM  Special Report

October 13, 2012 (El Cajon)—The San Diego Grand Jury has launched an investigation into possible misuse of bond funds by the Grossmont Union High School District’s board majority, muliple sources have confirmed to East County Magazine.  

“We’re in a Grand Jury investigation about Alpine,” GUHSD board trustee Priscilla Schreiber told ECM. Schreiber said she learned of the probe “by accident” while in the District’s office.  Schreiber has been a vocal critic of the Board majority (Trustees Gary Woods, Jim Kelly, and Robert Shields) for blocking construction of a high school for Alpine while allowing diversion of school bond funds for costly new projects not mandated in two bond measures, Prop H and Prop U. Both measures were approved by voters and specifically called for a new high school in Alpine.

October 13, 2012 (Lemon Grove) – A four-vehicle accident that has injured six patients is blocking lanes on eastbound State Route 94 this evening, IPN reports. A SIG alert has been issued and the highway is shut down at Federal in Lemon Grove.

According to the CHP website, a wrong-way driver was reported at the scene shortly before the crash was reported. Victims include children and elderly; a medical helicopter has been requested.

October 11, 2012 (El Cajon) – The California Energy Commission's staff will hold a workshop on October 19 at 1 p.m. regarding Quail Brush, a natural gas peaker power plant proposed adjacent to Mission Trails Regional Park.

The workshop will be held at the Grossmont College Griffin Center building in the Grffin Gate Room, 8800 Grossmont College Drive, EI Cajon, CA 92020.

Update: Louis Lake has been located.

October 10, 2012 (Lemon Grove) – San Diego Sheriff’s Department seeks public help to find a 72-year-old missing man considered at risk.  Louis Lake Sr. was last seen by his daughter on October 9 at 1:30 p.m. in their resident in the 7000 block of Central Avenue in Lemon Grove.

Lake is black, 6 feet four inches tall and weighs 240 pounds with short black/gray hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black leather jacket, khaki pants and a brown shirt. He walks with a cane and often wears a baseball or cowboy hat.

October 8, 2012 (Alpine) – A three-mile stretch of Interstate 8 will be closed tonight for a continuing investigation into a fatal crash on June 11 that killed two people.  All eastbound lanes will be closed between Dunbar Lane/Harbison Canyon Road and Tavern Road from 11 p.m. tonight until 4 a.m. tomorrow, according to the California Highway Patrol.

October 8, 2012 (San Diego) – San Diego County residents have until a week from today to fill out an important public participation survey. SANDAG has extended the survey deadline to Oct. 15. The online survey, available in both English and Spanish, asks residents how SANDAG could best provide information and get input from them about significant regional issues, such as transportation, growth, housing, energy, sustainability, and regional planning.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Spark Photography / Provided by KPBS

October 6, 2012 (San Diego) – Broadcast journalist Gloria Penner, a pioneer in local broadcasting and a leading voice at KPBS radio/TV station on the San Diego State University campus for more than half a century, died today of pancreatic cancer. She was 81. 

Her death comes just days before the Women’s History Museum was slated to hold a special tribute to Penner at an October 13 “Broads in Broadcasting” celebration of women who broke through the barriers in the broadcast world.

October 5, 2012 (San Diego) – The California Public Utilities Commission will hold a public hearing on SDG&E profits on October 5 at 7 p.m. in the Al Bahr Shriners Hall, 5440 Kearny Mesa Road.

The utility has repeatedly sought rate hikes. But SDG&E already has among the highest profit rates in the United States at 11.1%. Further, a recent study by The Utility Reform Network (TURN) indicates a 9.4% profit would be a fairer rate that would enable energy bills to be reduced by $50 a year for the average family. The public is invited to testify at the hearing.

Richard K. Smith elected vice chair; Michael T. Hogan elected secretary



October 4, 2012 (San Diego) -- The San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors on Thursday, September 27 elected new officers to lead the agency’s board for the next two years.

October 3, 2012 (Alpine)—The Alpine Planning Group will hold a special meeting on Monday, October 8 at 5:30 p.m. in the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Boulevard.  County of San Diego representative Michael Long will be making a presentation on why the County seeks to repave Alpine Boulevard between Tavern and South Grade Roads now rather than later.  Drainage issues will also be discussed.

“Alpine Boulevard will be torn up again, by the County, to an even greater degree than Sunrise Powerlink,” says planner Lou Russo, who urges the public to attend.  “There are options as to when and input is needed.”

October 2, 2012  (Carlsbad) -- The San Diego County Water Authority released a proposed Water Purchase Agreement with Poseidon Resources, the private developer of the planned seawater desalination plant in Carlsbad. The release opens a public review period that includes two special evening public meetings to share information on the agreement and to receive public comment.

The agreement specifies the proposed commercial and financial terms for the production and delivery of water from the planned desalination plant to the Water Authority’s regional water delivery and treatment system.  It also includes terms for the potential purchase of the plant by the Water Authority. 

By Miriam Raftery

September 30, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – A 27-year-old Coronado man collapsed and died yesterday on the return hike from Three Sisters Falls.  According to the San Diego Medical Examiner’s office, the man was hiking with three friends on the trail in the Descanso/Julian area when he collapsed.

“It was a hot day and the falls apparently were dried up,” the Medical Examiner’s website reports.  Temperatures were in the 80s, with an excessive heat warning from the National Weather Service in effect.