East County Wildfire and Emergency Alerts

Update: The fire burned approximately 10 acres, including an abandoned home on McGinty Peak.

November 16, 2022 (Spring Valley) -- Cal Fire has responded to the #Willow9Fire, a vegetation blaze that has burned 4-5 acres southeast of Steele Canyon Road and WIllow Glen Road in Spring Valley. 

The fire is in the vicinity of Steele Canyon High and Jamacha Elementary Schools. It began around 7:25 p.m.

It is burning at a moderate rate of spread. Humidity is very low and peak gusts are around 20 miles per hour.

There appears to be a structure threat. Incident commander has requested a Type 1 structure strike team and additional engines. A night-flying helicopter is also requested.

Kathleen Hedberg provided this image of McGinty Peak.

East County News Service

November 16, 2022 (La Mesa) – Charles William “Chuck” Muse, long-serving member and past president of the Helix Water District, died November 10.

"We at Helix Water District are saddened by the news of Chuck Muse’s passing," said Kathleen Coates Hedberg, current president of Helix Water District’s board of directors. "He served on the Helix Board from 2004-2016 and represented the communities of Lemon Grove and La Mesa. He was active in the community on many boards. We are grateful for his service and he will be missed."

Update November 16, 2022 – This race has tightened further, with the top three candidates in a near dead heat for the two Council seats.  Only 49 votes separate Dillard, who is in the lead, from Lothian in second, while just 31 votes separate Lothian from Afshan, who is currently in third. Countywide, 80,000 votes remain to be tallied, though the Registrar has not disclosed how many are in La  Mesa.

If Lothian squeaks out a win and Afshan fails to win a seat, it will likely be due in part to Brand, a Democrat who withdrew from the race too late to remove her name from the ballot, likely drawing votes away from fellow Democrats Afshan and Dillard, the party-endorsed candidates. Lothian was endorsed by Republicans. Though the race is officially nonpartisan, both parties sent mailers urging voters to party-backed candidates.

November 15, 2022 (La Mesa) – The latest election returns from the County Registrar of Voters show that Patricia Dillard has taken the lead over Councilmember Laura Lothian, with Mejgan Afshan a close third.  The top two vote-getters will win the seats.

East County News Service

East County News Service

November 16, 2022 (La Mesa) -- The La Mesa-El Cajon Branch of the American Association of University Women is holding their annual Speech Trek, speech contest, open to all high school students in grades 9-12. The in-person contest is open to all high schools including public, charter, home and private.

Each year a critical topic is selected and students, along with a branch/teacher coach, create, prepare, and present an original, 5–6-minute speech. This year’s topic is, “How can communities, organizations and citizens of all ages help protect and expand voting rights?”

The Aztecs outscored the Lions 18-3 in the fourth quarter

Source:  goaztecs.com

Photo courtesy goaztecs.com

November 15, 2022 (San Diego) - The Aztec women’s basketball team (3-1) outscored Southeastern Louisiana (2-2) 18-3 in the fourth quarter on their way to a 69-53 win inside Viejas Arena Tuesday evening.

By Dr. Gary Weitzman, President & CEO, San Diego Humane Society

November 15, 2022 (San Diego) - This fall, San Diego Humane Society is celebrating Project Wildlife’s 50th anniversary. For five decades, this essential program has served as our region’s safety net for wild animals in need. Since its founding, Project Wildlife has rescued and cared for hundreds of thousands of injured, orphaned or sick animals, and has transformed into one of the largest wildlife rehabilitation programs in the country.

By Chuck Westerheide, County of San Diego Communications Office

November 15, 2022 (San Diego) - During a major disaster, a county, city or state medical system may become overwhelmed with patients or, unfortunately, casualties of the disaster. The national government trains and sends out special teams such as the National Disaster Medical System Mortuary Operational Response Team, to assist in areas where their skills are needed.

By Robert Gehr

November 15, 2022 (El Cajon) -- The driver of a white compact vehicle lost control early this morning around 6 a.m. while making a left turn from West Park Avenue onto southbound Magnolia Avenue. It crashed into a sign after jumping over the curb. Consequently the tall Knox House Museum sign was knocked down from its foundation and appeared to be broken into two pieces. 

East County News Service

Photo: CC by NC via Bing

November 14, 2022 (San Diego) -- Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50) today released the following statement along with 10 committee membersafter calling on the House Foreign Affairs Committee to immediately hold a hearing on the human rights abuses occurring in Iran.

By Miriam Raftery

November 14, 2022 (Jamul) – The Jamul-Dulzura Community Planning Group will hold a special virtual meeting tonight at 7:30 p.m. The group will her a presentation by a subcommittee and vote on the proposed Jamul Casino Hotel and Event Center expansion project, which includes a 16-story hotel, new event center, multi-purpose/bingo hall and 6-story parking structure, and related infrastructure.

The vote is advisory in regards to the tribe’s environmental impact report; the project is on tribal land so the County has only limited jurisdiction.  The Jamul Indian VIllage tribe plans to begin construction in December.

To join the Virtual Meeting via the web, use the following link:

By Miriam Raftery

November 13, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service is forecasting strong Santa Ana winds Tuesday night through Wednesday in San Diego County’s mountains and deserts, along with dry conditions and below average temperatures.

Strong winds will produce difficult driving conditions for high profile vehicles. Loose or unsecured objects may be blown away. On Wednesday, peak gusts of 40-60 miles per hour are forecast, with isolated gusts up to 70 mph in windy passes and canyons.

November 13, 2022 (San Diego’s East County) - East County Magazine's World Watch helps you be an informed citizen on important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Judge vacates Biden's student debt forgiveness plan  (NPR)
• Social Security recipients get 8.7% cost-of-living increase, the highest in more than 40 years (CNN)
• After clinching Senate, Dems eye the unthinkable: Holding the House (Politico)
• How Joe Biden and the Democratic Party defied midterm history (CNN)
• Election deniers lose races for key state offices in every 2020 battleground (Washington Post)
• Making history: Record 12 women form cohort, will simultaneously serve as governors in 2023  (USA Today)
• Putin-linked businessman admits to US election tampering (AP News)
• Hawaii’s big island gets warning as huge volcano rumbles (AP)
• Jan. 6 panel subpoenas Trump, demanding historic testimony (AP)
• Emails show Trump knowingly pressed false voter fraud claims, judge says (Reuters)
• The number of Venezuelan migrants attempting to get into the U.S. is soaring  (NPR)
• U.S. Supreme Court rebuffs fetal personhood appeal  (Reuters)
• Mississippi River is near record low from drought and Gulf saltwater is a threat  (NPR)

WORLD

• Ukrainians celebrate soldiers retaking Kherson, Russia's latest defeat (Reuters)
• Analysis: World has 9 years to avoid critical climate change threshold (The Hill)
• UN votes to condemn Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian regions  (Intellinews)
• UN finds Russia responsible for 'vast majority' of potential war crimes in Ukraine (Reuters)
•  Leak exposes Mexico military corruption, including collusion with drug cartels  (NPR)
• Flooding in Nigeria claims 500 lives, displaces 1.4 million  (Washington Post)
• Leaders of democracies increasingly echo Putin in authoritarian tilt (Washington Post)
• Mexico scraps daylight saving time except along border (AP)
• China Has Opened Up Secret Police Stations in These Countries (Newsweek)
• Saudis in US targeted as kingdom cracks down on dissent (AP)

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

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

November 13, 2022 (San Diego) -- Please Pass the Safety! And can you add some manners, too?

Thanksgiving signifies the beginning of the Holiday Season. Many of you are starting your Thanksgiving plans. Most will be spending more time in the kitchen preparing for the holidays.

It’s time to serve up these cooking safety tips. After all - Thanksgiving is the single worst day for residential fires!