Author to hold booksigning Sept. 3 locally

Novel by Ken Schafer

Reviewed by Pennell Paugh

August 21, 2023 (San Diego)-- Ken Schafer, a San Diego resident, started his professional writing career as a screenwriter, working for companies as diverse as Disney, Paramount and ABC, and on projects ranging from a prequel to "Sleeping Beauty" to "Star Trek: The Next Generation," and “ABC Night at the Movies.”

By UM News

Photos by Mike DuBose

August 22, 2023 (Nashville, Tenn.) -- Gun reform supporters, including United Methodist clergy and church members, gathered for an early morning prayer vigil at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville, yesterday. The gathering came as lawmakers begin a special legislative session focused on public safety and mental health following a mass shooting at the Covenant School here in March. The Rev. Ingrid McIntyre, a United Methodist pastor, helped organize the vigil.

Farm fresh veggies are harvested daily

East County News Service

August 21, 2023 (Alpine) - San Diego Animal Sanctuary & Farm (SDASF), a 20-acre animal sanctuary in Alpine, announces the first harvest of its new, organic garden, which is available for sale. Funds earned from garden sales will go directly to the animals and sanctuary. Produce includes lettuce, carrots, radishes, kale, squash, zucchini, chard and more, harvested daily. In the growing stage, the farm also has a variety of tomatoes, spinach, fruits, bell peppers, corn and more. 

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Michael Adam Cohen, award-winning entertainment reporter and photographer: taken near I-8 near Del Cerro

August 21, 2023 (San Diego) – Tropical Storm Hilary has moved northeast out of San Diego County.  The storm brought high winds and heavy drenching in many local communities, while others had only moderate rainfall. The storm  sparked spectacular lightning storms over East County’s mountains and even prompted a tornado warning for Alpine, Descanso, and other areas.

Though no tornados are known to have touched down, Michael Cohen photographed a funnel cloud near I-8 from his Del Cerro home.

August 20, 2023 (San Diego's East County) --The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood warning now through 5 p.m. for El Cajon, La Mesa, Poway, Ramona, Alpine, Tierrasanta, Escondido, Santee, Lakeside and San Diego Country Estates. This is due to heavy rainfall capable of producing life-threatening flash floods.

Update:  The freeway has now reopened, after Cal Trans removed boulders from road and unstable rocks above.

By Miriam Raftery

August 20, 2023 (San DIego’s East County) – The California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) reports that Interstate-8 is closed at In-Ko-Pah, due to massive rock slide.

The rockslide is blocking the primary highway connecting San Diego and Imperial Counties.  Ava Thatsme on Facebook posted a photo of a boulder she said was on the I-8 grade.(photo, left)

By Miriam Raftery

By Miriam Raftery

File photo of past spillover at Loveland Dam, via Sweetwater Water Authority

August 20, 2023 (Alpine) – Warning letters have been sent by Sweetwater Water Authority to residents downstream from Loveland Reservoir, in anticipation of “unplanned water release, or spills”  due to anticipated heavy rains from tropical storm Hilary. “These potential unplanned water release, together with expected abundant storm runoff, could cause flooding in areas downstream,” the district’s website cautions.

Residents downstream are urged to relocate livestock, equipment and materials out of the floodway, to inspect their properties, and clear critical culverts as soon as possible to reduce potential property damage.

Flooding could continue even after Monday, when rains are forecast to end, due to storm runoff into the river.

County Supervisors declare emergency as Hilary heads to San Diego

By Miriam Raftery

August 19, 2023 (San Diego) – The County of San Diego tonight issued an emergency declaration to deploy all available resources, following a state emergency declaration earlier today. Now a category one hurricane, Hilary is still on track to hit San Diego as a tropical storm Sunday in the late afternoon and early evening.

A flood watch and tropical storm warning are now in effect for all of San Diego County. A tropical storm, also known as a tropical cyclone, has sustained winds of 39 to 73 miles per hour; a hurricane has sustained winds of 74 mph or higher. 

The danger has prompted cancellation of everything from airline flights to a Padre game on Sunday, as well as closures of parks and beaches across the region.

Airlines have cancelled 73 flights Sunday that were scheduled at San Diego International airport, according to the tracking site  FlightAware.

By Miriam Raftery

August 19, 2023 (Ocotillo, CA) – An evacuation warning has been issued for the entire towns of Ocotillo as flash flooding has begun. Flooding is expected to worsen as Hurricane Hilary roars up from Mexico and is forecast to become a tropical storm when the eye hits our region late tomorrow.

Imperial County issued the warning due to heavy rain, flash flooding, high winds forecast to reach 82 miles per hour in the small desert town of Ocotillo, just over the county line. 

The Red Cross has set up an emergency shelter at the Imperial County Community Center,375 S. 1^st Street, El Centro.

By Miriam Raftery

August 19, 2023 (San Diego’s East County)— “We’re gearing up for widespread prolonged power outages,” Alex Welling with SDG&E told ECM today. The utility company is beefing up its preparations amid a countywide tropical storm warning. But he adds,  “We really want our customers prepared.”

He confirmed that SDG&E is not planning any proactive power shutoffs outages over fire concerns,since moisture levels arehigh.  But with Hurricane Hilary  slated to bring powerful tropical storm winds and rains across San Diego County, particularly Sunday and Monday, crews won’t be able to respond promptly to every downed power line or pole.

“We can’t even put a bucket up in the air when the winds are 35 miles per hour or more, because the entire bucket truck will tip over,” he explained.

With the safety of its customers, employees and local communities as its top priority, San Diego Gas & Electric has undertaken extensive preparations to respond to Hurricane Hilary, which will begin to impact our area tonight, with the heaviest rains and high winds Sunday afternoon through Monday.

Mountain areas could get up to 10 inches of rain

UPDATE -- 4:33 a.m. Saturday-- Hurricane Hilary has sped up, with the bulk of the storm occuring on Sunday, reports @NWSSanDiego

Wind and Monday now look less severe

By Miriam Raftery

August 18, 2023 (San Diego) – For the first time ever, the National Weather Service has issued a tropical storm warning for San Diego County and neighboring counties,upgraded from a watch issued earlier today. 

Hurricane Hilary has been upgraded to a category 4 hurricane with 145 mile an hour winds off the Mexican coast, and is expected to impact our region as a tropical storm bringing dangerously heavy rains, high winds, flash flooding, and conditions conducive to tornados. Flash flood watches have also been issued for Borrego Springs, El Cajon, Escondido, Julian, Lakeside, Pine Valley Poway, and coastal communities. The storm could shift, so be sure to check for updates.

Rainfall is forecast to begin Saturday, with the heaviest rains Sunday afternoon when the tropical storm reaches San Diego County. The eye of the hurricane could come within 100 miles of San Diego. The National Weather Service warns that the storm will be powerful enough to potentially weaken or wash out bridges, flood structures,  close roads, cause power outages, uproot trees, and cause damage to porches, awnings, and unsecured mobile homes.

Below are highlights of warnings from the NWS for our region (the link also has details for neighboring counties):

By Ken Stone, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Janessa Goildbeck campaign photo

August 18, 2023 (San Diego) - Democrat Janessa Goldbeck on Thursday conceded her loss in Tuesday’s county supervisor election, saying in a statement: “It appears that our campaign does not have a path to victory.”

By Branda Gorgies

Photos by Eric Brehm and Ivan Bandura on Unsplash and Creative Commons via Bing

August 16, 2023 (California) – The “Justice for Renters” Act is officially on the November 2024 ballot. If approved by voters, it would repeal a law that bans rent control statewide on most housing, allowing local governments to enact ordinances to limit rent hikes.