By Yvette Urrea Moe, County of San Diego Communications Office

Photo:  A Probation Officer administers a test that checks for alcohol on an offender.

November 1, 2017 (San Diego) - The San Diego County Probation Department will use a half-million dollar grant to keep high-risk DUI offenders from getting behind the wheel again.

Nationally, nearly one-third of all drivers arrested or convicted of drunk driving are repeat offenders and 50 to 75 percent of convicted drivers continue to drive on a suspended license, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

By Miriam Raftery

November 1, 2017 (El Cajon) – El Cajon resident Darius Demon Lake, 27, is under arrest for suspicion of committing eight bank robberies in San Diego County and one in Temecula, Walt Miller with the El Cajon Police Department reports.  A second suspect, Brian Lee Barkley, also of El Cajon, was arrested for participating in one of three El Cajon bank heists.  “During that robbery, physical evidence was left by both suspects linking them to the robberies,” Miller says.

Backcountry hidden pleasures:   Our guide to unique lodging adventures in San Diego’s beautiful backcountry

By Jack Riordan

Photo, left: The Desert View Trail at the Burnt Rancheria Campground is a very easy and dog-friendly one mile scenic loop through the campground to a rewarding view of the desert floor below.  Photo by Jack Riordan.

November 1, 2017 (Mount Laguna) -- Nestled in the pines, beneath a blanket of starlight, you’ll find Burnt Rancheria.  As part of the Laguna Mountain Recreation Area in the Cleveland National Forest, this lush east county campground sits at 6000 feet above sea level, offering dream-like mountain scenery, as well as an easy escape from the day to day life in the city.

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Story by Liz Alper

Videos courtesy goaztecs.com

For Christian Chapman's and Ron Smith's portion of the press conference, click "read more" and scroll down.

October 31, 2017 (San Diego) - Winning after two weeks of losing is spooky indeed, and on this Halloween, Aztecs football head coach Rocky Long, junior quarterback Christian Chapman and sophomore cornerback Ron Smith sat down with the media at this week's press conference.

East County News Service

October 31, 2017 (Boulevard) – The November 2^nd meeting of the Boulevard Planning Group wil include action items on Invenergy’s proposed 600 megawatt Boulevard Solar Energy Storage projects as well as Clean Focus’s 80 megawatt Rugged Solar project.  Items related to Tule Wind and the County’s Climate Action Plan are also on the agenda.

East County News Service

October 29, 2017 (San Diego) – Mission Trails Regional Park announces a series of fall activities.  These include concerts and a Native American flute circle, a star viewing party, live hawk demonstration, bird watching and wildlife walks, an art show and more.

For a full schedule of events, scroll down.  For details on all of these activities, visit http://www.MTRP.org.

East County News Service

October 29, 2017 (San Diego) – Weary of warm weather? Relief is on the horizon.  The National Weather Service predicts much cooler weather this week through next weekend, with temperatures several degrees below normal.

East County News Service

October 29, 2017 (Jamul) – The Sheriff’s Department is seeking public help to find a man who burglarized a residence on Lyons Valley Road late Friday night.  When the 78-year-old resident came home to find the burglar in his home, the intruder wrestled the elderly man to the ground and escaped, taking cash and jewelry, says Detective Michael Moore.

Aztecs earn No. 2 seed at MW Championship

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

October 28, 2017 (Alberquerque) - Freshman Mia Root provided the game-winning goal in double overtime to push San Diego State past New Mexico on the road Friday night 4-3 at UNM Soccer Complex. The victory helped the Aztecs secure the No. 2 seed and a quarterfinal bye into the semifinal round of next week’s MW Championship.

Update:  The fire has grown to over 800 acres and 450 homes are evacuated, however it is now 50% contained.

By Miriam Raftery

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alert Service

Photo credit: ECM news partner 10 News

October 27, 2017 (San Diego) – The #WildomarFire has charred 700 acres in the Wildomar  are of Cleveland National Forest, which is located near Lake Elsinore in Riverside County, just over the San Diego-Riverside County line.

Two hundred homes have been evacuated. The fire is currently 15 percent contained, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Find details on evacuations here: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5652/

Smoke from fires in Mexico including a large forest fire near Rosarito also continue to impact air quality in San Diego County, prompting the county's smoke advisory cautioning residents to avoid outdoor activities in areas with smoke.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: the Hope Rally in El Cajon drew attention to domestic abuse

October 27, 2017 (San Diego’s East County) – Domestic abuse impacts over 16,000 victims a year in our region, scarring families and sometimes, claiming lives. The San Diego District Attorney’s Office has provided statistics on domestic violence incidents locally from 2012 through 2016.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left:  Greg Maness, founder of the Trail Blazer awards, receives a surprise award of his own, presented by his wife, P.J.

October 27, 2017 (El Cajon) — At this year’s Toast of East County held at the Elks Club Lodge in El Cajon, the 2017 Trail Blazer Awards were presented to three pioneers in the local wine industry:  Ric Bonnoront of Red Wagon Vineyards in Jamul, Tim Peterson of Rock Canyon Winery in Alpine, Micole Moore of Ramona Ranch Winery, and Greg Maness of Casi Cielo Winery in Jamul. 

By Miriam Raftery

October 26, 2017 (Spring Valley) – The AM/PM gas station at 9065 Campo Road was robbed at gunpoint yesterday at 5:29 p.m. According to Sheriff’s Sergeant Michael Hettinger, the suspect pointed a handgun at a cashier and a second employee, ordering them not to move. He took an undisclosed amount of money and is believed to have fled in a black Ford Explorer driven by an accomplice.

By Miriam Raftery

October 25, 2017 (San Diego) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has announced a massive recall of processed vegetable products due to possible Listeria contamination.  The products were packaged by Mann Packing of Salinas, California and sold through multiple brands at major retailers in the U.S. and Canada including Trader Joe’s and Walmart.