June 29, 2010 (Lakeside) – An accident  has claimed two lives on Highway 67 near Slaughterhouse Canyon Road in Lakeside. According to the California Highway Patrol, a dark blue vehicle plummeted 200 to 300 feet down an embankment before landing upside down.

“Many have difficulty traveling very far, and to make someone travel 10, 15, 20 miles or more to get their medicine is inhumane. For some who are forced to take public transportation, such a trek could easily take up to half of a day.” – Charlie Imes

An Open Letter to the San Diego Board of Supervisors

By Charlie Imes

June 29, 2010 (San Diego) – I am a medical marijuana patient. I wasn't using marijuana prior to my diagnosis and emergency surgery in 2001 for stage 3 colon cancer. I had complications. I almost died a few times; the chemo almost killed me, too. I've had subsequent abdominal surgeries for diverticulitis, then later for a ruptured spleen, and finally for a severe abdominal hernia related to the previous surgeries.

"Now you are finally considering zoning and operational ordinances regarding medical marijuana, which you will vote on tomorrow, and what are you proposing to adopt? A de facto ban that would effectively eliminate all medical marijuana facilities from operating in the unincorporated areas of San Diego County." -- Martha Sullivan

By Martha Sullivan

June 29, 2010 (San Diego)--As someone who is not a medical marijuana patient nor dispensary operator, but simply a taxpayer, voter and small business owner, I find the continuing opposition by my County Board of Supervisors to the Compassionate Use Act passed by California voters 14 years ago an affront to voters and taxpayers.

Conservation and Demand-response Programs Still Important

East County News Service

June 28, 2010 (San Diego) – Summer is here, and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) says it has lined up adequate electricity supplies and required reserves to meet customers’ expected energy needs this summer, barring extreme weather conditions

Parks and Recreation to Hold Community Meetings to Hear What Residents Want

June 28, 2010 (San Diego) -- The County of San Diego’s Department of Parks and Recreation plans to hold community meetings starting this week in Lakeside, Fallbrook, Pine Valley, Ramona and San Diego to hear from residents about what kind of county parks they want.

East County News Service

June 28, 2010 (Escondido) - San Diego Sheriff’s Department has issued details on the freak injury of a nine-year-old boy in Escondido. On Thursday, a Sheriff’s deputy, along with Escondido Police, responded to a call on San Pasqual Road in the unincorporated portion of Escondido. “

"The deputy learned that the nine year old, who had been shot with the arrow, had previously told his brother to shoot an arrow at him so he could catch it. He missed catching the arrow and was subsequently struck in the head, right above the eye,” a Sheriff’s media release stated.

June 28, 2010 (Alpine) - A brush fire burning east of Palo Verde Lake in Alpine is now five to seven acres.  "The forward spread is stopped," Chief Don Butz of Viejas Fire informed East County Magazine at 6:40 p.m. this evening.  

East County News Service

June 28, 2010 (Lake Murray) -- The Lake Murray Kiwanis Foundation needs to raise $8,000 more in donations and advertising sponsorships to hold the annual 4th of July event, which customarily features bands, fireworks, and family-friendly activities.

East County News Service

June 28, 2010 (San Diego) -- The San Diego Better Business Bureau (BBB) invites all local businesses, both large and small firms, to enter the 2010 Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics. The BBB's annual awards program honors companies that demonstrate ethical business practices. Both BBB members and non members, including for profits and non profits, are encouraged to enter the 13th annual Torch Awards competition, which matches businesses in similar size categories based on number of employees.

This is the latest in a series on homeless persons in East County based on first-person accounts. Because voices of the homeless are seldom heard in the media, this provides an ongoing platform for the homeless to relay their unfiltered stories. If you are homeless, or know of a homeless individual willing to be interviewed, please contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org.

By Richard Darvas

June 28, 2010 (El Cajon) -- Lucy has lived a rootless life. In a recent interview with East County Magazine, the 46-year-old homeless woman detailed how she lost her way. (To shield her children from untoward attention, she is using a pseudonym for this article.)

June 25, 2010 (El Cajon) – An undercover operation by the El Cajon Police Department yesterday targeted males soliciting acts of prostitution from women on the streets of El Cajon. With assistance from the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, 14 individuals were arrested yesterday during the six-hour operation.

June 25, 2010 (San Diego) – It doesn’t get much closer than this. Yesterday, Mary Salas' lead over Juan Vargas had evaporated to a single vote.  Today, in the hotly contested Democratic primary for the 40th State Senate District,Vargas pulled into the lead by a six vote margin with 24,079 votes to Salas' 24,073. But this horse race isn’t over yet, with thousands of votes yet to be tallied in a race spanning three separate counties.
 

Update 5:15 p.m.: Cal-Fire confirms this fire was started by a weed whacker with a metal blade. Residents are reminded not to trim brush after 10 a.m. and avoid metal blades, where possible.

Update 4 p.m.:  This fire has been contained at three acres.  
 

June 25, 2010 (Escondido) A brush fire at Harmony Grove and Country Club in Escondido is threatening a mobile home and has potential to reach five acres, Incident Page Network reports. The blaze is currently a half acre burning in light flashy fuel and spreading at a moderate rate.
 

View a map of the location here.

Local legislators split on support, opposition to measure

June 25, 2010 (Sacramento) – On Wednesday, the State Senate Health Committee passed AB 2578, the Healthcare Accountability Act. The measure aims to protect California consumers from excessive health insurance rate hikes, such as the 39% rate increase announced by Anthem Blue Cross earlier this year and an up to 75% increase imposed on businesses by Blue Shield.