April 22, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – For years, the tobacco industry claimed that cigarettes don’t cause cancer—long after compelling medical evidence proved otherwise.  A similar scenario is now happening with the wind industry, which has put forth various “experts” funded by the wind industry to claim that no evidence exists of negative health impacts caused by wind turbines.

Those are dubious claims that ignore mounting medical and anecdotal evidence around the world indicating that living near wind turbines can harm human health. View a video made by residents living near wind turbines in Wisconsin, discussing health problems they are experiencing which are consistent with symptoms found at many other wind sites around the world: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71DxuicwCXw&feature=player_embedded

Family vehicle breaks down on way to hospital; officials offer tips for what to do if  bitten

April 21, 2012 (Deerhorn Valley) –San Miguel Fire has issued a reminder to the public about the importance of calling 9-1-1 if you or a family member is bitten by a rattlesnake. The warning comes after a two-year-old boy was struck by a rattler while playing in the yard at his Deerhorn Valley home today.

His parents put the boy in their car and his mother dialed 9-1-1 on her cell phone while heading to a hospital. But a flat tire en route could have ended in tragedy. 

Triple-digit temperatures forecast for local deserts

April 21, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a  Fire Weather forecast indicating a chance of thunderstorms as well as dry lightning over East County mountains Monday afternoon and early evening. 

Dry lightning, which occurs without rainfall, poses a greater risk of sparking wildfires than lightning during a rainstorm. However, the potential for a large fire remains low locally due to lack of strong winds. 

April 20, 2012 (San Diego) – The County Medical Examiner has identified Barzeen Barzanji, 20, a student from Santee as the man found dead this morning at a San Diego State University fraternity house. 

A 2009 graduate of West Hills High School, Barzanji planned to graduate next year from SDSU and worked as a waiter at P.F. Chang's restaurant, according to his Facebook page.

 Update: View video of protest: 

Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vW2udw6iCG8

April 20, 2012 (Lakeside)—“Animals suffer both physically and mentally throughout these barbaric, violent, `entertaining’ practices,” the Animal Rights Protection and Rescue League of San Diego has posted on its Facebook page, urging a boycott of the Lakeside Rodeo.  “They are incredibly scared, stressed, and uncomfortable.”

The group plans to stage protests tonight from 5-7:30 p.m. and again tomorrow from 12-2 p.m. and from 5:30-7:30 p.m. 

April 19, 2012 (Ramona)--The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has issued a Boil Water Order and Public Notification for Sutherland Reservoir Recreation Area Water System located at 22850 Sutherland Dam Road, Ramona, effective immediately.

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

 April 16, 2012 (Rancho San Diego) – Firefighters with San Miguel Fire District dispatched units to a fully engulfed house fire in  the 1800 Block of Vista Grande at 4:40 p.m. today. On arrival, crews witnessed large flames shooting out of all of the home’s front windows, said Leonard Villareal, public information officer for San Miguel Fire. 

What can be done to make Highway 94 safer? April 19 meeting set at Barrett Junction Cafe

 
“Pray for me, I drive Highway 94”

April 16, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--That’s a bumper sticker spotted now and again on cars, SUVs and trucks traversing State Route 94 as it departs suburban San Diego out past Rancho San Diego and Jamul and enters a world quite different.  

The people who live along SR 94 “out east” toward Dulzura and Barratt Junction, Potrero and Campo are a different breed — a blend of distinctly Mid-Western American values of land and open space with a spirit of entrepreneurship to raise horses and sheep and to plant vineyards and bottle and brand their own wines.

By Miriam Raftery

“We are requesting a moratorium on industrial wind turbine projects and initiation of unbiased, science-based peer-reviewed studies on health…They are subjecting rural residents to be guinea pigs or lab rats on a mass scale that has never been seen anywhere.” –Donna Tisdale, Boulevard Planning Group Chair

“Tapping into sources of renewable energy is critical for a number of reasons…We applaud the County’s commitment to achieving these goals by updating and streamling requirements for small and large wind energy systems.” – Jennifer Purczynski Enel Green Power/Padoma Wind Power LLC

By Miriam Raftery

April 12, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Tomorrow (Friday) morning at 9 a.m., the San Diego County Planning Commission will consider a proposed wind ordinance that would make it easier for industrial-scale wind facilities as well as smaller turbines to be built in unincorporated areas—primarily in East County communities. 

Major fault line runs under proposed Ocotillo wind site slated to provide energy for San Diego, ECM investigation finds

An Open House at the El Cajon Transit Center will be held April 14 with others around the county throughout the month.

April 10, 2012 (San Diego) -- For the first time since the economic downturn began in 2008, the Metropolitan Transit System is planning to add Bus and Trolley services. MTS will hold several open houses at transit centers to get rider input on planned service improvements and the opportunity to learn about proposed changes and ask questions in an informal setting.