By Miriam Raftery

September 12, 2018 (El Cajon) - Jon Christopher Clark has been charged with first degree murder after the body of his girlfriend, 19-year-old Kiera Bergman from El Cajon, was found beside a desert highway near Phoenix, Arizona last week.

Battle to save the county's last volunteer fire district now hinges on a protest process that could give voters the final say

By Paul Kruze, Contributing Editor

Miriam Raftery, Editor, also contributed to this report.

 

Photo:  Battalion Chief Mike Van Bibber, Julian-Cuyamaca Fire Protection District

September 11, 2018 (Julian) -- A group of Julian area residents fighting fire axes-and-hoses against a county takeover of fire and medical first responder services won a firm victory last Thursday in Superior Court. Judge Timothy Taylor ruled to allow a ballot measure to fund future operations for the Julian Cuyamaca Fire Protection District (JCFPD).

Backers of the initiative hoped the ruling would curtail the County of San Diego’s efforts to terminate the JCFPD, the region’s last all-volunteer fire department, and shift fire and ambulance services to the County Fire Authority (CFA) in conjunction with Cal Fire.

But despite Judge Taylor’s ruling, yesterday the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) voted 7-0 to dissolve the district. Residents could still block the takeover through a protest process that’s now been triggered.  Determined opponents of the takeover are gearing up for the fight, arguing that eliminating volunteer firefighters who live in the community will make the area less safe, not safer has had been promised by the CFA.

By Jan Hedlun

Photo by Miriam Raftery: 2007 Harris Fire

September 11, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) - Living in a rural backcountry is a blessing and a curse. The blessing is seeing an abundance of stars at night, wildlife, and the relative peace and quiet the city can't offer. The curse: some of that wildlife bites, and wildfires are a constant threat for most of the year.

Members needed for new East County working group to study local airport noise

By Kendra Sitton

September 8, 2018 (Spring Valley) -- A working group is being formed to study the issue of airport noise in East County and provide recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in response. According to Susan Nichols, the group comprised of 15 members will look for feasible ways to reduce noise.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Sunrise Powerlink tower dwarfs mountain ridges in McCain Valley

September 7, 2018 (Boulevard) -- Boulder Brush LLC (Terra-Gen) is seeking a major use permit to construct and operate a gen-tie line and substation/switchyard facilities on 110 acres of private land in McCain Valley south of I-8. The gen-time line would carry energy from the Terra-Gen Wind project proposed on Campo Kumeyaay tribal lands.

Pregnant Women in Custody Act of 2018 will create a national standard for care of pregnant women in all federal prisons and require Dept. of Justice to collect data on mental and physical health of pregnant women in custody

East County News Service

September 13, 2018 (Washington D..C.) - Today, Representatives Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Mia Love (R-Utah) and Catherine Clark (D-Mass.) led the majority of women in both the Democratic and Republican House Caucuses in introducing legislation to provide a national standard of care to address pregnancy-related needs of incarcerated women during pregnancy, labor, delivery and post-partum periods. San Diego Congresswoman Susan Davis is among the cosponsors.

East County News Service 

September 13, 2018 (Ramona) - The Ramona Art and Wine Festival selected a painting by Jamie Dougherty, a local artist, for the first commemorative poster to promote the Festival, area artists, and Ramona wine. Jamie, along with Patrick Korch, a painter and sculptor from Poway, was one of two semi-finalists chosen from submissions by participating Festival artists. 

By Miriam Raftery

September 9, 2018 (Lemon Grove) – Christopher Truax Jr., a 21-year-old Marine Corps Sergeant, has been identified as the victim fatally shot early Friday in Lemon Grove.  The Sheriff has asked for public help to solve the crime.

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Story and photos by Liz Alper

September 9, 2018 (San Diego) - On the last day of the San Diego Central Tournament, Aztecs men’s soccer hosted UC Irvine. Redshirt junior Pablo Pelaez scored the game winner in Friday night’s tournament matchup against LIU Brooklyn that gave the Aztecs a 2-1 win.

By José Eli Villanueva, County of San Diego Communications Office

September 8, 2018 (Julian) - Get motivated to do the 3-mile hike to Volcan Mountain Summit near Julian by watching this 360-degree video.

Visit sdparks.org for information on all our County trails.

To watch 360-degree videos, you’ll need the latest version of Chrome, Opera, Firefox or MS Edge on your computer. For mobile devices, use the latest version of the YouTube app.

East County News Service 

September 8, 2018 (Lemon Grove) — Following numerous hit and run collisions where drivers fled the scene and evidence of drinking and driving was found, the Sheriff’s department conducted a checkpoint on September 7th in the 8000 block of Broadway.