Property owners, campers urged to take precautions to stem spread of infestation

By Miriam Raftery

September 23, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) –A voracious new pest is gnawing its way through East County.  The gold-spotted oak borer has already killed over 21,500 trees in San Diego’s inland regions.  Infestations have been found on federal, state, private and Native American lands across 1,893 square miles.

“Has anyone driven through Japatul into Julian lately?  We did last weekend and it was a very SAD sight!  Almost all of the Oaks are BARE SKELETONS or half brown and going fast,” Jerry Williams of Deerhorn Valley wrote in an e-mail to ECM. 

By Nadin Abbott

Photos by Tom and Nadin Abbott

September 26, 2012 (Boulevard)—Around  five in the afternoon, as the sun was starting to set, the first residents of Boulevard’s Tierra del Sol neighborhood began  to come home. There was anxiety in some faces, as well as relief on others, as they learned what state their properties were in –and whether their homes had survived the devastating 2,850 acre Shockey Fire that destroyed 11 homes and claimed the life of an elderly man.

By Nadin Abbott

September 24, 2012 (San Diego)--The mood was tense as people from multiple walks of life and political views filed into San Diego City Chambers. Among them was Republican Santee Councilman Jack Dale and Democrat David Secor, candidate for U.S. Congress for the 50th district. Both Dale and Secor came to oppose the Quail Brush gas-fired power plant.

So did Massada Disenhouse, activist for the Sierra Club and Martha Sullivan, a former California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) employee, and many others.

Update 12: 52: confirmed 2 deputies & 1 suspect being transported to area trauma centers. 

September 25, 2012 (Lakeside) – Two deputies have been injured by an active shooter in Lakeside at Ashwood and Mapleview, IPN reported at 12:38 p.m. Cal Trans confirms police activity at Highway 67 and Mapleview.  Scanner traffic indicates officers calling for cover. 

One injury is reported as serious, the other minor. Medics are transporting to Sharp Hospital trauma unit. Avoid the area.

September 24, 2012 (El Cajon) – The Automobile Club of Southern California has opened a branch at 2987 Jamacha Road, El Cajon, in the Rancho San Diego Towne Center (Target shopping center).

The new 6,480-square-foot branch is adjacent to TGI Fridays restaurant near the corner of Jamacha Road and Campo Road. The branch phone number is (619) 660-6657.

September 23, 2012 (San Diego's East County) -- A Cal Fire vehicle traveling east on Highway 94 at Forrest Gate, in the vicinity of the Shockey Truck Trail fire, has been struck by shots fired.  The shots are believed to be from a pellet gun, a Cal Fire individual reported, scanner traffic indicates.  The driver's side window was broken, but no one was injured. 

September 22, 2012 (Washington, D.C.) -- The Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs on Wednesday has approved a package of bills, including legislation (S 3313) that would expand access to assisted reproductive technologies for veterans with combat-related infertility conditions and their spouses, CQ Today reports (Fuller, CQ Today, 9/12).

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide coverage for in vitro fertilization and other ART procedures. Since 2003, more than 1,830 veterans of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq sustained pelvic or genital injuries that could affect their fertility, according to Department of Defense figures released by Murray's office.

Chinese imports suspected; FDA advises avoiding jerky treats

September 15, 2012 (Washington D.C)—The FDA has issued a report revealing that thousands of pet illnesses since 2007 have been linked to consumption of jerky pet treats.  Most complaints involve chicken jerky (treats, tenders, and strips), but others include duck, sweet potato, and treats where chicken or duck jerky is wrapped around dried fruits, sweet potatoes, or yams.

Merger highlights the decline of independent media

By Miriam Raftery, Editor, East County Magazine

September 19, 2012 (San Diego)—The U-T San Diego’s purchase of the North County Times for $11.95 million dollars has sent shudders across the journalism community locally and nationally.  The deal also includes acquisition of the Californian in Riverside County(no relation to the East County Californian), which was owned by North County Times. 

Demise of one of San Diego’s largest independent media outlets highlights two growing problems: fewer voices controlling the media due to consolidation and a decline in quality including slashing investigative/watchdog reporting and abandoning journalistic standards—most importantly, impartiality.

By Nadin Abbott

Miriam Raftery also contributed to this story

September 14, 2012 (San Diego)—Former El Cajon Councilwoman Jillian Hanson-Cox appeared today before U.S. Magistrate Judge William W. Gallo.  Her voice flat and without emotion, Hanson-Cox pled guilty to one count of mail fraud and one count of failing to report income on her tax returns.  

Charges filed against her state that “beginning no later than April 2004, and continuing through at least October 2008,” Hanson- Cox devised a plan to defraud her employer, Century Design, INC. (CDI).  The plea agreement states that Hanson-Cox embezzled  over $3.5 million from her employer, where she served as Comptroller.

September 18, 2012 (Santee) --  A man is dead after jumping off a bridge over westbound State Route 52 near Mast Boulevard in Santee, CHP's webpage confirms.  The freeway is closed and the Medical Examiner has been called to the scene.

By Lori Abbott, California News Service

September 13, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--California's efforts to control the light brown apple moth will not include aerial spraying, although environmental groups say that restriction isn't enough.

Erin Tobin, an attorney with Earthjustice, says there's very little evidence to prove the non-native species causes any real harm to agriculture in California.

September 15, 2012 (Palomar) – Assembly Bill 1478, now on Governor Jerry Brown’s desk awaiting signature, would issue a moratorium on state park closures until at least 2014. It also directs that a windfall of funds found within the Department of Parks and Recreation should be used in part to keep state parks open, with priority given to those parks where citizens have shown support by raising funds through foundations or nonprofits. (For details see http://www.friendsofpalomarsp.org/legislative_update_09_10.htm.) Now supporters of Palomar Mountain State Park are asking for public help to persuade Governor Brown to sign this legislation.

September 15, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – The Naitonal Weather Service warns of elevated wildfire risk over San Diego County’s mountains and valleys, with gusts of 25-35  mph forecast for today.  Yesterday,  high temperature records were broken in several local communities, including El Cajon, where the high reached 103 degrees.

Scorching hot temperatures and low humidity will continue today, with highs up to 107 forecast for coastal mesas and inland areas expected to peak at up to 103 degrees.  “Hottest locations will be near 108 degrees along I-15,” the National Weather Service predicts.

September 13, 2012 (San Diego) – On Thursday, September 20 at 1 p.m., a motion to oppose Quail Brush power plant will be considered by the Mission Trails Task Force at the Mission Trails Regional Park Visitor Center (www.mtrp.ort/directions.asp ) 

In addition, the San Diego City Council is tentatively slated to hear an appeal of the Quail Brush decision on Tuesday, September 24 at the City Administration Building , 202 C Street, 12th floor in downtown San Diego.