East County News Service

Updated June 24 with information from the CHP

June 22, 2016 (Alpine) — A 64-year-old woman walking her dog was struck and killed by a car this morning at South Grade and Calle de Compadres near Wright’s Field in Alpine.  The accident caused temporary closure of South Grade Road.

According to the California Highway Patrol spokesman Kevin Pearlstein, the driver, a 57 year old man from alpine was driving 2004 Honda Civic southbound at 35 to 40 miles per hour when he struck the pedestrian, who apepared to be crossing the road toward her parked vehicle

"Due to the change in elevation of the roadway,the drive of theHonda was unable to avoid the pedestrian who had appeared directly in his path of travel," Pearlstein said,adding that the driver did apply his brakes but could not avoid the collision. The driver was not injured and was not cited.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

June 22, 2016 (Potrero) --CAL FIRE reports that an evacuation order has been lifted for the following areas for some Potrero residents at 4 p.m. and for the general public at 6 p.m.:

• West of Potrero Valley Road at Potrero Valley
• West of Potrero General Store at 25125 State Route 94, including the north and south sides of State Route 94
• Potrero County Park

Residents who live in this area will be allowed back in with photo identification. ll other evacuation orders and warnings remain in effect.

CAL FIRE also reported the following road closures:

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy County Animal Services:  Dog rescued from Border Fire by reporter Joe Little from ECM news partner 10 News on Highway 94 in Potrero.  The County is seeking the owner of the dog, which suffered four burned paws.

June 22,2016 (Potrero) – A humanitarian crisis is occurring in Potrero, where fire and law enforcement authorities continue to deny access to residents seeking to bring in feed and water for pets and livestock that are dying  of neglect in triple-digit heat within the evacuation area for the Border Fire.

Within the past hour, Colin Richard posted this message on the Potrero Town Feed on Facebook:

By Miriam Raftery

June 22,2016 (San Diego’s East County) – If you’re evacuating from the Border Fire, be aware that the Circle T Ranch is filled to capacity. The County  advises that large animal shelters are available at the Boulevard Customs and Border Protection station on 2463 Ribbonwood Rd. in Boulevard and has provided contact numbers for help to evacuate pets and livestock.

In addition, several private ranch owners have notified East County Magazine that they have facilities to take in large animals.

The San Diego Humane Society has worked with the Red Cross to set up a pet-friendly shelter in conjunction with the family evacuation shelter at Los Coches Middle School on 9669 Dunbar Lane in El Cajon.

Thursdays June 16-August 25

East County News Service

June 22, 2016 (Santee) - In Santee, summertime means it’s time to grab a beach chair or blanket and head down to the outdoor performance stage to hear live music at Town Center Community Park East, 550 Park Center Drive.

East County News Service

June 22, 2016 (San Diego's East County -- Due to the Border Fire,the Mountain Empre school district has posted the following information on rescheduling graduations to El Capitan High School for high school and middle school students, as well as cancellation of classes:

Answering your questions about writing, publishing, and marketing books

By Sarka-Jonae Miller, author of the free book Between Boyfriends

At almost every author talk, panel, and book-related event, people ask why authors make their books perma-free, or permanently free. I've heard many authors say they participate in giveaways but would never consider making the actual price of a book $0. It's easy to understand their point of view given the amount of months, if not years, it takes to write a book. Would you work for six months without compensation? Setting aside the reality that unless you have an advance you're effectively doing that every time you write a book, it's still reasonable to do so in hopes of getting paid eventually.

East County News Service

June 21, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Rick Alexander, a prominent East County realtor, long-time member of the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District Board, and active member in community organizations passed away June 13^th.  A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, July 9^th at 10 a.m. in the Performing Arts Theatre at Cuyamaca College. All are welcome to attend.

East County News Service

June 21, 2016 (Rancho San Diego) -- Author James Thomas will be at the Heritage of the Americas Museum (12110 Cuyamaca College Drive West, El Cajon) will give a presentation and book signing on Saturday, July 16 from 1-3 p.m.  He will be discussing his book, Corps of Discovery, about the Lewis and Clark Expedition.  Thomas is an expert on Lewis and Clark, so the facts are all there.  But he novelized the story, so his book is filled with conversation and you really feel like you get to know each person on the expedition.  We also sell his book in the Museum Store.   This presentation is fun for all ages. Thomas dresses up as an explorer from the period and brings artifacts like those used on the Lewis and Clark expedition.  So bring the family and come to the museum for this educational and entertaining event.

Source: County of San Diego

June 21, 2016 (San Diego's East County) --The County of San Diego Office of Emergency Services announced this afternoon that large animal shelters are  available at the Boulevard Customs and Border Protection station located at 2463 Ribbonwood Rd., Boulevard, and Circle T Ranch at 24215 Viejas Grade Rd., Descanso.

If you need emergency assistance evacuating, call 9-1-1. If you need additional information, visit sdcountyemergency.com or call 2-1-1.

For assistance evacuating animals, call County Animal Services dispatch at 619-236-2341.

By Jose A. Alvarez, County of San Diego Communications Office, courtesy County News Center

June 21, 2016 (San Diego) - The San Diego County Board of Supervisors today accepted the Project One for All implementation plan that will provide people who are homeless and have serious mental illness access to a coordinated range of services, including housing and health care.

Update 3:10 p.m.  The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office has issued an additional evacuation order for the following area. The area of the evacuation order is within the following boundaries; Pacific Crest Trail to the south, Buckman Springs Road to the east from Lake Morena Dr. to Morena Valley Road, Moreno Stokes Valley Road (Corral Canyon) at Sky Ranch (Sky Valley Road) to the west and Moreno Stokes Valley Road (Corral Canyon) at Buckman Springs Road  to the east.

New road closure is located at Buckman Springs Road at Old Buckman Springs.

Additional public information regarding the Border Fire can be obtained by calling 2-1-1. Continue to follow updates of the incident on the twitter account  @calfiresandiego.

East County News Service

June 21, 2016 (San Diego's East County) - An update about the Border Fire has been issued.  Lake Morena residents on the Campo/Lake Morena Neighborhood Watch Facebook page have posted that they have received calls and text alerts that a mandatory evacuation has been issued for Lake Morena.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Border Fire, Day 1, by Leon Thompson

June 21,2016 (Lake Morena/Campo) 1:30 p.m. – An evacuation warning has been issued for Lake Morena and Campo, Cal Fire has announced.  Mandatory evacuations remain in effect for Potrero,Forrest Gate, Star Ranch, Cowboy Ranch,Dog Patch and Canyon City.

800 structures remain threatened and 4 outbuildings have been destroyed. Highway 94 is closed west of Buckman Springs to state route 188. The Pacific Coast Trail is also closed to hikers. 

“The fire continues to move to the north and northeast,threatening portions of the Pacific Crest National Scenic trail as well as surrounding communities,” a Border 3 Fire Update issued by Cal Fire states.

By Miriam Raftery

June 21, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Cal Fire has issued an update at 11:32 a.m. advising the Border Fire is holding at 7500 acres, but still only 5% contained. Evacuation orders remain in place for Forest Gate, Star Ranch, Cowboy Ranch, Dog Patch and Canyon City.  The Red Cross has an evacuation shelter set up at Los Coches Creek Middle School at 9669 Dunbar Lane in El Cajon.

By Elizabeth Lou

June 20, 2016 (San Diego) -- With all the cataclysmic incidences happening around the world, the refugee crisis is one of chief concerns in recent history. Refugees are a population of concern because they are displaced due to unwarranted circumstances including armed conflict and political or religious persecution. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there are more than 65 million displaced people in the world. That is approximately the populations of two U.S. states, California and Texas combined. Every year during the month of June, the international community commemorates the plight of refugees, as well as their contributions to their respective host countries.