East County News Service October 6, 2019 (San Diego) -- Photographer Henri Migala caught these action shots during the Air Show at the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station last weekend.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Borrego wildflowers, CC by SA

October 6, 2019 (Borrego Springs) -- Since moving to Borrego Springs from Santa Barbara in 1980, Bill Wright has been a “champion of all things good in Borrego Springs,” according to the Borrego Sun.  The newspaper announced that Wright passed away on October 1 at age 88.

Source:  goaztecs.com

Video courtesy goaztecs.com

October 6, 2019 (Fort Collins, Colo.) - San Diego State forced four turnovers, including three interceptions by Luq Barcoo and and used an efficient game by quarterback Ryan Agnew in a 24-10 win over Colorado State Saturday night in Fort Collins, Colo.

By Jerry Jones, Lemon Grove Councilman

“Let’s first save the city, and then deal with the leadership and trust issues.” – Councilman Jerry Jones

October 4, 2019 (Lemon Grove) -- While I am supporting a city sales tax for Lemon Grove I did oppose the one proposed for last year for a number of reasons. I was very clear in my 11-page PowerPoint that the 1/2 cent was not enough and what I felt next steps should be. At no time did I advocate for disincorporation, though I did call for a discussion on what that would look like. For some people transparency is just a word, not me. I was very clear about the steps needed to address our problem with the end result being a 1 cent tax measure placed on the 2020 ballot. Yes, one cent is a heavy lift but by my calculations and forecast that is what it will take to make us sustainable. I am not a tax kind of guy in principle. For some the word tax is an immutable principle and to be avoided at all cost. The good people of Lemon Grove expect me to protect their asset, that is the city, not force my principles on them. If the facts support a tax that will sustain, benefit the community and improve my home then I will fight as hard as I can to make that happen under the right circumstances. The Citizens initiative, circulating a petition currently, is only 3/4 versus the one cent I proposed but my calculations say that it will work. It just leaves us less to invest than I would have wanted and will require a larger reserve. 

By Miriam Raftery

October 4, 2019 (Alpine) – You’re invited to pack your camping gear for a wild and ghoulish overnight adventure at Lions, Tigers and Bears animal sanctuary in Alpine on Friday night, October 25th and Saturday morning, October 26th.

By Miriam Raftery

East County News Service

October 4, 2019 (San Diego) -- County Supervisors Dianne Jacob and Nathan Fletcher are proposing a ban on the sale and distribution of flavored tobacco made for electronic cigarettes, along with a moratorium on the sale and distribution of the e-devices in the county’s unincorporated area. They are encouraging cities in San Diego County to do the same. According to a new report by the Mayo Clinic, lung biopsies reveal damage consistent with chemical burns, leading researchers to suspect chemical additives may be to blame for over 1,000 serious lung injury cases and 18 deaths, all associated with vaping or e-cigarette use.

County public health officials and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control are also advising people to stop vaping, as investigators continue looking into what’s causing a nationwide epidemic of respiratory illnesses among those that use the e-cigarettes or vaping products.

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

October 3, 2019 (Lemon Grove) – “Kids Care Fest,” a healthcare festival for kids will be held on Saturday, Oct. 5 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Lemon Grove Recreation Center at 3131 School Lane in Lemon Grove.

By Miriam Raftery

October 3, 2019 (Lakeside) – Spooky stories and s’mores, campsite trick-or-treating, creepy crafts and a campsite decorating contest are all part of Spooky Camp-o-Ween at Lake Jennings the last two weekends in October.

October 4, 2019 (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.

Impeachment inquiry

• Trump slams impeachment probe as Democrats seek White House documents (Reuters)
• Fox News Legal Expert: Trump 'Arguably Walked Into the Area of Bribery' With Ukraine Scandal, and 'That's an Impeachable Offense' (Newsweek)
• Trump urges China to investigate Bidens, despite impeachment inquiry over a similar request to Ukraine (Washington Post)
• Giuliani’s Ukraine Work Tied to Firm Whose Website Has Vanished (Yahoo News)
• Trump suggests intel chairman should be arrested for 'treason' (Reuters)
• John Dean: When I was a whistleblower, the Justice Department protected me (CNN)
• Trump Pushed Australian Leader to Help Investigate Origins of Mueller Inquiry  (NY Times)
• Trump involved Pence in efforts to pressure Ukraine’s leader, though aides say vice president was unaware of pursuit of dirt on Bidens (Washington Post)
• Barr personally asked foreign officials to aid inquiry into CIA, FBI activities in 2016 (Washington Post)
• New Ads Call On Republicans To Stand Up For The Law Amid Ukraine Tangle (HuffPost)

Other national news

• The U.S. economy's most important sector is weakening (CBS)
• How Trump's 'Maximum Pressure' Iran Policy is Leading the U.S. Into War (Newsweek)
• A bad day for Trump administration on immigrant front as it suffers three legal defeats in one day (Los Angeles Times)
• Judge bars Trump fast-track deportation policy, saying threat to legal migrants was not assessed (Washington Post)
• Judge Blocks Trump Administration Plan to Detain Migrant Children (New York Times)
• The administration is cutting the number of refugees the U.S. will take, and that’s attracting criticism from some evangelicals (Washington Post)
• FEC chair tweets memo on foreign election activity, alleges GOP colleague tried to block her (The Hill)
• Egypt planned to arrest a New York Times reporter. The Trump administration reportedly wanted to let it happen. (Washington Post)

WORLD

• American retirees in Mexico say their life savings vanished from a Mexican bank (NBC)
• The Amazon Rain Forest Is Nearly Gone (Time)
• Kremlin says it hopes Putin’s calls with Trump won’t be made public (New York Times)
• Syria demands withdrawal of U.S., Turkish forces, warns of countermeasures (Reuters)
• China accused of harvesting tens of thousands of organs from members of religious minorities (Quartz)
• China quietly doubles troop levels in Hong Kong  (Reuters)

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

By Rebecca Person

October 2, 2019 (Jacumba Hot Springs) -- The weather’s perfect,  making October 5th a day for a great getaway.

Here’s what’s happening in Jacumba Hot Springs on San Diego's historic Old Highway 80.

Jacumba Hikers, a dedicated group of local hikers and walkers, leads an easy four mile round-trip Walkabout, covering the Chinese Castle, Natural Hot Springs, Jacumba Lake, Sand Wash, passing the old Railroad Station, the Border Fence and more. Hikers meet at 8 a.m. in front of the Jacumba Spa Resort (44500 Old Highway 80). The Spa’s restaurant opens at 7 a.m.

October 2, 2019 (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

• SANDAG passes $594 million in transportation funding (10 News)
• Homeowners with solar heated about SDG&E proposal to raise minimum bill (10 News)
• When would a city not want to be a city anymore? When it’s broke (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• El Cajon fire station to get a four-legged companion (San Diego Union-Tribune)
• Tijuana’s call centers offer a lifeline to deportees struggling to live in Mexico (San Diego Union-Tribune) 

STATE

• California governor signs bills to speed homeless shelters (Associated Press)
• Rare California trout species returns to native habitat  (Associated Press)
• Drinking water serving 7.5 million Californians has been contaminated with toxic PFAS, new report says (CNN)
• Defying environmentalists, Newsom vetoes bill to block Trump’s Endangered Species Act rollback (San Francisco Chronicle)
• California may ban private prisons. What would that mean for ICE detainees? (San Francisco Chronicle)

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

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Sanders during 2016 campaign stop in San Diego

Update Oct. 4:  Sanders has been released from the hospital. His doctors released a statement, along with the Sanders campaign, confirming the Senator had a heart attack but has "good expected progress."  Senator Sanders issued a statement indicating "I feel great, and after taking a short time off, I look forward to getting back to work.”

Update Oct. 3:  Jane Sanders released a statement which reads in part: "Bernie is up and about. Yesterday, he spent much of the day talking with staff about policies, cracking jokes with the nurses and doctors, and speaking with his family on the phone. His doctors are pleased with his progress, and there has been no need for any additional procedures. We expect Bernie will be discharged and on a plane back to Burlington before the end of the weekend. He'll take a few days to rest, but he's ready to get back out there and is looking forward to the October debate.”

October 2, 2019 (San Diego) – Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who has consistently polled among the top three Democratic presidential contenders, has been hospitalized after experiencing chest pain Tuesday evening at a campaign event. Testing revealed a blocked artery and Sanders underwent surgery to insert two stents.

By Miriam Raftery

October 1, 2019 (Lakeside) – Bob Turner, owner of a sand mine located on Moreno Ave. at State Route 67 in Lakeside, has applied to expand the sand mine. The issue will be heard on Wednesday, Oct. 2 at 6:30 p.m. by the Lakeside Community Planning Group (LCPG) in the Lakeside Community Center. View agenda.

The documents on the specific expansion details are not available online. However journalist and Lakeside environmental activist Ana Nita states in an e-mail to ECM tonight,  “Turner is applying to expand the mine below the aquifer level at 80 ft.” The sand mine was reportedly approved in 2017 at a depth of 25 feet.