By Miriam Raftery

Photo:  Otay fire caused by target shooting on BLM land

Effective immediately, the U.S.  Bureau of Land Management has banned recreational shooting g on all BLM lands in San Diego’s East County and the South Coast areas for the remainder of fire season.

“Collectively our staffs have discussed our emerging potentially very dangerous fire season given the prolonged drought,” Clayton R. Howe, Battalion Chief with the BLM, wrote in an email sent to County Fire Authority Acting Chief Greg Griswold on May 23. “We have also sought to reduce the threat of wildfires related to recreational shooting on BLM Administered Public Lands located within your Units.”

Cal Fire Chief John Francois, in an e-mail sent to fire officials and community leaders across our region, stated that fire agencies now have the authority to enforce the restriction on shooting.  “If you see anyone shooting, please contact your local law enforcement agency,” Chief Francois urged.

An analysis on the impacts of energy policies and projects on the future of East County

By Jessica Richmond and Miriam Raftery

May 29, 2014 (San Diego’s East County) – A growing number of East County residents, fire chiefs, environmentalists and elected officials are voicing alarm over the proposed large-scale destruction of natural and scenic resources for numerous industrial-scale “renewable” wind and solar energy projects and related powerlines, substations and more.  A map reveals that East County is targeted for a disproportionate share of these projects, pushed forward by energy companies and politicians who contend such development is needed to disrupt disastrous effects of global warming and fill the regional energy gap left by closing San Onofre nuclear generation stations.

But opponents say these projects are not green or sustainable, instead setting up our region for an ecological disaster in the making. They raise some crucial questions:

How did San Diego’s East County come to be targeted for fast-tracking by federal, state and county governments to facilitate construction of so many massive-scale solar and wind projects and related transmission lines in rural, mountain and desert areas instead of urban locations where demand for power is highest? 

Why isn’t preference given to incentivize less destructive renewable options, such as rooftop and parking lot solar or small-scale wind turbines for use by residents, schools, municipal governments and businesses?

May 29, 2014 (Santee)--The Santee chamber of Commerce invites you to join more than 60,000 visitors at the Santee Street Fair and Craft Beer Festival on Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. for two-action packed days great for the whole family to enjoy. This free event will be held at Riverview Parkway and Town Center Parkway in Santee.

Celebrating its sixth year, the Street Fair will host its first annual beer festival featuring five local breweries; Twisted Manzanita Ales & Spirits, BNS Brewing & Distilling Co, Butcher’s Brewing, Pacific Islander Brewing Company and Oggi’s Pizza and Brewing Company. There will also be more than 300 various food and vendor booths, live entertainment, a family-friendly fun zone with games and attractions and more than a dozen carnival rides. Admission to the event is free and parking will be available adjacent to the event.

Missed the show? Listen to podcast now posted here:  https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

By Miriam Raftery

May 26, 2014 (San Diego) – Terri Wyatt has been a Deputy District Attorney for 26 years. Now she’s running  for the top slot: District Attorney. 

Wyatt believes incumbent Bonnie Dumanis has politicized the office. She  also fears that the third candidate in the race, attorney Bob Brewer, would be unsuited for the job because he has made his living defending corporate clients such as SDG&E and defending high-profile criminals” such as Nancy Hoover, who was convicted in the J. David Dominelli Ponzi scheme.  Wyatt asks why Brewer has made friends with his convicted client and even taken campaign money from Hoover.

For more on her candidacy, visit http://www.terriwyattforda.com/2014/

ECM has also invited Dumanis and Brewer to be interviewed.

May 28, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)--ECM World Watch helps you be an informed citizen about important issues globally and nationally. As part of our commitment to reflect all voices and views, we include links to a wide variety of news sources representing a broad spectrum of political, religious, and social views. Top world and U.S. headlines include:

U.S.

• Schumer: Obama will act on immigration reform if GOP doesn’t (The Hill)
• Deep problems at Veterans Affairs - Books-cooking is just a symptom (SD City Beat)
• Head of House Veterans Affairs Committee calls for Eric Shinseki’s resignation (Washington Post)
• Killing spree in college community brings back memories of similar crime 12 years ago(Fox News)
• Maya Angelou ‘the brightest light,’ says Obama  (BBC)

WORLD

• Obama lays out new approach to foreign policy in second term (Washington Post)
• Leaders agree to review EU agenda at Brussels summit (BBC)
• Chechen leader Kadyrov denies sending troops to Ukraine (BBC)
• Where's the Dream Act for Meriam Ibrahim? (Jewish World Review)
• Nigerian defense chief says abducted girls located (10 News)
• Battle at Donetsk airport; new Ukraine leader says no talks with 'terrorists'(Reuters)
• Flemish separatists are big winners in Belgian election  (Reuters)

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

May 28, 2014 (Santee Lakes) - If you’re angling for a fish dinner—or just enjoy catch and release, you may want to check out Santee Lakes, where night fishing kicks off on June 12^th.   There are a total of six night fishing dates coming up: June 12^th and 26th, July 20^th and 24^th, and August 7^th from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Lakes 1, 2, 3 and 4.

May 24, 2014 (Santee) – Musician Levi Dean will perform Friday, June 6 at 7 p.m. at the Kafee Meister coffee house, 9225 Carlton Hills Blvd. in Santee.

Source: County News Service

May 27, 2014 (San Diego)--The shift of felons from state parole supervision to County Probation supervision did not result in a spike in crime, as measured by arrests, said Probation Chief Mack Jenkins, citing a San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) study released late last week.

May 27, 2014 (San Diego)--Tuesday, May 27^th is the deadline to request a mail-in ballot for the June 3^rd election.  You can download an application from the Registrar of Voters site and e-mail or fax it in.  Your request must include your name, registered address and date of the election, the address where your ballot should be mailed, and your signature.  You can email your request to ROVmail@sdcounty.ca.gov.

May 24,  2014 (San Diego’s East County)-- Our Health and Science Highlights provide cutting edge news that could impact your health and our future.

“How we can affect our environment” is topic of session

May 24, 2014 (La Mesa)--San Diego Planning Commissioner Anthony Wagner will headline the June 4th meeting of the La Mesa Foothills Democratic Club at the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Drive in La Mesa.  Wagner, an area native, also heads up the Allied Gardens Town Council and was recently Chair of Navajo Community Planners.  He’ll discuss the results of the June 3rd primary election, as well as the importance of the updated Grantville Community Plan.  As a board member of the San Diego River Park Foundation, Anthony will discuss the balance planners must reach in protecting our open spaces and valuable natural resources with the plans proposed for high-density development of the Grantville area.

By Miriam Raftery

May 26, 2014 (Julian)--Julian celebrates its Gold Rush Days next weekend, May 31st and June 1^st, bringing to life the community’s colorful past.

May 25, 2014 (Alpine) – Bruce Cochrane has been named the new Superintendent of the Alpine Union School District, replacing Tom Pellegrino. Pellegrino resigned to move with his family to Costa Rica.

By Miriam Raftery

May 25, 2014 (San Diego) Campaign signs posted by Ken Gosselin’s judicial campaign  are raising ethical questions In large letters, the words Judge Gosselin are displayed.  Nearly invisible to motorists and passersby, the word “for” in small italics is also present on the signs.

Gosselin, a candidate for Superior Court Judge seat 25, has previously worked as a temporary judge pro tem handling traffic and small claims court cases. He is currently not listed on the Superior Court’s roster of judges pro tem and has stated he is on leave due to the campaign. However, judicial candidates by law are not allowed to call themselves judges, even if  the candidate is currently serving as a judge pro tem.