August 25, 2012 (El Cajon)-- Heartland Fire & Rescue crews responded to reports of a structure fire in El Cajon at 11:13 a.m.. Firefighters found the home engulfed with flames and heavy smoke coming from the windows of the house, located at 612 Alderson Street. 

August 24, 2012 (Sacramento)—A bill by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) would have made California the first state in the nation to require that public agencies provide records in searchable online formats such as Word or Excel. 

 By Miriam Raftery

August 20, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Asian Citrus Psyllids, tiny insects that can carry a disease capable of wiping out California’s citrus industry, have been found in several East County communities as well as North County and other southern California locations. 

A quarantine is in effect across most of our region.

August 22, 2012 (San Diego)--THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SAN DIEGO HAS ISSUED A FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR EAST CENTRAL SAN DIEGO COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST CALIFORNIA UNTIL 630 PM. * AT 335 PM PDT...NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED PERSISTENT THUNDERSTORMS AND HEAVY SHOWERS OVER SHELTER VALLEY...AGUA CALIENTE SPRINGS...AND CANEBRAKE WHICH WILL LIKELY PRODUCE FLASH FLOODING. * LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO OCOTILLO WELLS...SAN FELIPE CREEK...VALLECITO WASH...FISH CREEK...HARPER CANYON WASH...AND HIGHWAY 78.

Your Online Weather for San Diego on Wednesday:

http://youronlineweather.com/coasts/

http://youronlineweather.com/valleys/

http://youronlineweather.com/mountains/

http://youronlineweather.com/deserts/

August 21, 2012 (Alpine) – The San Diego Medical Examiner’s office has released the names of two men who died of injuries sustained in an accident on I-8 in Alpine on August 16.

August 21, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)—Scattered thunderstorms and heavy rains are forecast for Tuesday through Sunday in San Diego County’s mountains and desert areas.

Skywarn weather activation is requested for Tuesday.

http://youronlineweather.com/valleys/

August 19, 2012 (Alpine) – The Alpine Community Planning Group will be meeting on August 23 at the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Blvd., Alpine to vote on the Alpine Design Review Checklist.  The meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m.

The Checklist includes items such as village character, planting, Alpine Blvd., etc.  The Checklist can be viewed here.  

August 16, 2012 (La Mesa) – La Mesa resident Dorothy Stephens, 85, was walking in a crosswalk with a friend on August 13 around 7:30 p.m. when they were struck by an oncoming truck.

Despite efforts by paramedics to revive her, she died before a medical helicopter arrived. Cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries.
 

August 16, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – A thunderstorm capable of producing flash floods, deadly lightning and wind gusts to 60 mph has been spotted near Dulzura, moving south, the National Weather Service warns.  The storm is northeast of Tecate; Otay is also under a warning for the severe weather.

 “This is a dangerous storm,” the NWS warns. If you are in its path, immediately move indoors, preferably in a strong building away from windows.  Do not drive through flooded roadways. “Turn around…don’t drown,” the NWS advises.

In addition, a strong thunderstorm has been spotted 9 miles west of Palomar Mountain and 11 miles southeast of Temecula, moving west, capable of 50 mph gusts and heavy rain.

By Miriam Raftery

August 14, 2012 (Ocotillo) – Like a mirage rippling across the desert, they came.  

A caravan of vehicles rumbled into the Ocotillo Express wind construction site on Saturday, filled with area residents and tribal members from across the southwest prepared to form a blockade to halt the project that is destroying their community.  They came from as far away as Yuma, Arizona, and Los Angeles to take a stand in the sand.

But on this sweltering August morning, the bulldozers were silent—and the protesters claimed victory.

August 14, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego Sheriff’s ASTREA helicopter rescued a woman, 28, suffering from heat exhaustion near Three Sisters Falls at 4 p.m. today.  

Sgt. Mark Johnson and Deputy Warren Voth found the distressed hiker about halfway down the trail from the trailhead parking area. The helicopter landed and Deputy Voth hiked down the trail to the victim.