By Miriam Raftery

September 22, 2010 (Santee)—Outside Walgreens pharmacy in Santee today, local carpenters held a banner reading “Shame on Walgreens.”

“This is a nationwide campaign,” Ian Law, a representative of Carpenters Union Local 1506, told East County Magazine. “Walgreens has decided to use non-union contractors and sub-contractors to do remodeling and construction of Walgreens stores around the nation,” he said.  Non-union contractors may avoid paying healthcare and pension benefits to workers, also paying lower wages that threaten the quality of life for workers and their families, Law added.

Updated September 21, 2010.

By Miriam Raftery

September 20, 2010 (Alpine) – A man driving near the intersection of Dehesa Road and Dehesa Ranch Road in Alpine around 11 p.m. last night told officials that he pulled over after seeing a flashing red light and a white spotlight behind him, Channel 10 News reports. Sheriff’s Lieutenant. Jim Duffy said the motorist claims that he was robbed at gunpoint after pulling over, believing he had been stopped by law enforcement.

September 21, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego Police are searching for John Sudds, 20, who fled eastbound on Skyline Drive near the La Presa area after stabbing his two brothers around 2:21 this morning.

By Lola Sherman

September 19, 2010 (Santee) - They call it a race when candidates compete for election, and in the case of the contest for city Council here, the word “race” seems appropriate.

September 20, 2010 (San Diego) – San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) today announced that it will be providing additional customer safety communications for its natural gas customers who are located near natural gas transmission facilities.

Update 6:40 p.m.  The Border Fire has been halted at 120 acres, Cal Fire's Nich Schuler said.  Firefighters will remain on scene through the night mopping up hot spots.

Update 2:40 p.m. Forward spread has been stopped, Nick Schuler of Cal-Fire reports.  He added that Cal-Fire was incorrect in its earlier report; after further mapping officials have concluded that the fire did not cross the border.
September 19, 2010 (San Diego) – 1:15 p.m. -- A fire that began this morning in Mexico has now crossed over into the U.S.

“It is still very active and we are sending five engines into Mexico south of Boulevard due to the continued threat,” Cal-Fire battalion chief Nick Schuler told East County Magazine. Winds are now blowing to the north, he added.

September 16, 2010 (Poway) – Poway Community Association invites the public to dress up in old-fashioned or Western wear and head ‘em on out to Old-Fashioned Poway Days this weekend, where activities include a parade, picnic, battle of the bands/dance, a trail ride (bring your own horse!) and the Poway Days Festival.

September 19, 2010 (Poway) – A Poway woman, 50, was killed today while riding her bicycle in Carlsbad, the San Diego Medical Examiner’s office reports.

September 20, 2010 (La Mesa) – Firefighters from La Mesa and San Diego Fire departments swiftly halted a brush fire that began at Connecticut Avenue and Delaware Avenue in La Mesa this afternoon, spreading onto a hillside at Del Cerro Boulevard and Elaine Way. The two-acre fire was extinguished with no homes damaged and no injuries.

September 20, 2010 (Lakeside) – A San Diego Sheriff’’s deputy shot a 100-pound dog that reportedly charged at him, growling with teeth bared. The shooting occurred on a driveway of a residence across the street from Lakeview Elementary School at 7:40 a.m., about an hour before classes began.

September 18, 2010 (San Diego) – A male driver looking for a party was stabbed near San Diego State University shortly after 3 a.m.

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Dennis Richardson

September 18, 2010 (Spring Valley) 8 p.m. – A team of approximately 90 firefighters saved dozens of homes that were threatened by a fast-moving brush fire burning in flashy fuels in Spring Valley this afternoon. One home suffered an estimated $60,000 in damage after an ember blew onto a tinder-dry wood shake roof.

About 150 people were evacuated from the Lamplighter Village mobilehome park and additional evacuations were ordered for residents of the Carriage Hills neighborhood, where flames burned to within 30 yards of some homes.

Update 3:25 p.m.  Aircraft have been released and firefighters remain on hand mopping up hotspots at the scene of the fire, which is now contained.

September 18, 2010 (Spring Valley) 2:10 p.m. - The Jamacha Fire is now 50 acres and forward spread is halted, Chief August Ghio of San Miguel Fire confirms.  The fire is under joing command of Cal-Fire, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and San Miguel Fire.

Anxious residents poured into the streets to watch the fire at the Lamplighter Village mobile home park, where flames encroached just behind the complex. Smoke is visible from throughout East County and an evacuation center has been set up at Skyline Church.