July 10, 2015 (San Diego's East County) - The County of San Diego, Department of Environmental Health (DEH) has issued a Boil Water Order and Public Notification for Oak Grove Complex located at 37560 Highway 79, Warner Springs, CA 92086 effective immediately.  The system serves potable water to 2 residences, 2 fire barracks and 80 campsites.

East County News Service

July 9, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – Over 87,000 trees in San Diego County forests have died due to drought in the past year, the U.S. Forest Service found in an aerial survey conducted in April. Bark beetles have also decimated many trees locally and in forests statewide.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: 2011 City of San Diego

July 10, 2015 (San Diego) – In an interview with KPBS, retiring San Diego Councilmember Marti Emerald said she plans one final major action.

July 10, 2015 (Poway) –CAL FIRE announces the arrest of Benjamin Cohen, 44 from Poway. He is suspected of intentionally starting 11 fires in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Chlorpyrifos linked to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and lower IQ

By Suzanne Potter, Public News Service

PHOTO:. Photo credit: Chris Jordan-Bloch/Earthjustice.

July 9, 2015 (Fresno)--Environmental and farm workers' groups are cheering this week's announcement by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that it plans to ban agricultural use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos.

July 8, 2015 (El Cajon) – From Rhinestone Grannies to Classic Cruises to a brand new Firehouse Museum, there’s a lot happening this month in El Cajon.

Volunteers needed in East County and Tierrasanta

By Milvi Chao

July 8, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--Some friendships take years to grow, but when Little Brother Juan-Antonio met his Big Brother Jay in 2012 through Big Brothers Big Sister’s Operation Big program, the pair hit it off immediately. Operation Bigs is a one-to-one mentoring program for military children ages 7-17, the first of its kind in the nation.

Safety tips for you and your pet

By Carl Person and Karen Singleton

Photo: California Fish & Game Dept.

July 9, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) --With the arrival of warm weather, we love to be outdoors and take our pets with us to explore and enjoy the beauties of nature. Trails and parks abound in southern California and offer a wide array of different habitats, from low deserts to high Alpine pine forests. Daily, people and their pet companions converge on these sites by the droves. The exhilaration of being in these pristine outdoor environments often makes us forget that, within these treasured getaways, there is a potential for disaster.

July 8, 2015 (San Diego’s Eat County) --A recall has been announced of Chewy’s Chicken Freeze-Dried Dinner Patties for dogs due to listeria, a bacteria that causes illness that was found in one of their products. The latest recall covers 15 ounce bags (lot #111-15.).

Other recent pet food recalls include Boulder Dog Food Company LLC, Nylabone puppy starter kits and Nutrish Wets Cat Food. A full list of recalls is posted at PetPlace.com (or click Pet Food Recalls)

July 9, 2015 (La Mesa) – A 17-year-old has been arrested and charged with assault involving great bodily injury for a beating that occurred at the La Mesa Trolley Station on La Mesa Boulevard on June 13^th at 8 p.m.

Photo: City of El Cajon’s first fire truck, 1924

July 8, 2015 (El Cajon)--It’s been years in the planning, but retired El Cajon Fire Chief Ed Jarrell, partnering with Parkway Plaza, is bringing a fire museum to the City of El Cajon!  It’s been a long-time dream for the former Fire Chief to provide the City with a history of firefighting in El Cajon, inspiring youth to pursue a fire career and to provide safety education to those who visit the museum.

By Leon Thompson

Photos: Mayor Voepel, left, favors lifting limits; Councilman Dale, right, opposes.

July 8, 2015 (Santee)—Candidates running for Santee City Council or Mayor can only receive campaign contribution from individuals and for no more than $650.00 dollars.  However, that may change due to a proposal that would strike the restriction to individual donors and open campaign contributions up to corporations,political action committees (PACs) and other organizations. 

City Attorney Shawn Hagerty made clear that the current law is similar to ones many other California jurisdictions have.  Despite recent court rulings on some campaign finance issues, he made clear, “local limits to individuals have not been called into question and there is no requirement to change that.” Despite that, some Council members seemed eager to allow corporate and political action company money into local races to help fund rising campaign costs.

July 9, 2015 (Pine Valley) --The Mountain Empire Men’s Club will present Pine Valley Days on July 24^th and 25^th.  This mountain town’s annual summer event includes a parade rolling out on July 25^th  at 9 a.m., plus other activities both days at the Pine Valley Park (28810 Old Highway 80, Pine Valley).

July 9, 2015 (San Diego's East County) -- East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

LOCAL

• Chariot of fire: Jeep collected debris, led to destruction of Shriners camp, says lawsuit (SD Reader)
• CA Counties find issues with GPS company monitoring criminals (KNSD)
• Desert water agency approves $1 million for grass removal (Borrego Sun)
• Free speech zone: Wobbly ghosts haunt waterfront park (Union-Tribune)
• Santee budget is looking healthy, but PERS is concern (Union-Tribune)
• Family Raises Concern About Charity WishWarriors (NBC7)
• Council takes strong stance against density-bonus bill (Coast News)
• 400 Steps for San Diegans, a Giant Leap for Commuters (Voice of SD)
• City will keep filling lake with tap water (Union-Tribune)
• Following El Cajon’s Booze-Restricting Example (Voice of SD editorial)
• Refugee Students Experience Coronado Beach In Outreach Event (KPBS)
• Democrats struggling to muster mayoral candidates (Voice of San Diego)

STATE

• Making the community college to UC transfer a little easier (Los Angeles Times)
• California bills to raise smoking age and regulate e-cigarettes stall (Los Angeles Times)
• 2 new warrants served in CPUC case (Union-Tribune)
• Californian cities hike up water rates while customers conserve amid drought (CS Monitor)
• California's farm economy "ruined" (SD Reader)
• Sending cheap water to China in midst of drought (Union-Tribune)
• California’s leaders, not voters, to blame for bad roads  (Union-Tribune)

For excerpts and links to full stories, click “read more” and scroll down.

Hear our interview online now, originally aired on KNSJ: https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

Photo: ECM editor Miriam Raftery, second from left, welcomes Philippino delegation at ECM's studio

July 9, 2015 (San Diego) –Recently, East County Magazine (ECM) sat down with visitors from the Philippines who were in town through the International Visitors Leadership Program through the U.S. State Department, welcomed locally by the San Diego Diplomacy Council. The program aims to improve accountability by public officials and enhance civic engagement, promote respect for the rule of law and human rights,  also promoting transparency and accountability in government to eliminate the culture of corruption.

The delegation spent a month traveling across the U.S., seeking potential ideas to apply in their homeland—such as legislation modeled after our Freedom of Information Act and means of holding accountable corrupt officials such as former San Diego Congressman Randy “Duke” Cunningham, who served prison time for bribery.  Their last stop was San Diego, where they met with East County Magazine’s editor, Miriam Raftery.