January 1, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Rose Hooper and her two teenage children lost their Jamul home in a fire December 29, two years after Rose’s husband died of cancer. Now Nick Baldwin, an El Cajon business owner, has started a drive to collect donated items to help this family in need.

Story by Miriam Raftery

Photos by Kathie Wellington

December 29, 2011 (Jamul) -- Firefighters are at the scene of a one-alarm structure at Skyline Truck Trail and Lawson Valley Road. Traffic is blocked in both directions at the 15000 block of Skyline Truck Trail at Lawson Valley Road.

December 18, 2011 (Jamul) – CHP reports a head-on collision on Highway 94 at Indian Springs in Jamul. The crash now involves three vehicles, a black SUV, a small white sedan, and a black mid-sized sedan. CHP, Cal-Fire and Border Patrol are now at the scene and an ambulance has been called.

 
 
 
 By Megan McGlamery
 

Fruitful wine industry restores farmers’ dreams in rural East County
 

Story by Miriam Raftery

Photos by Mark and Miriam Raftery

July 22, 2011 (Spring Valley) – Friends and neighbors turned out to help plant 600 grapevine rootstocks from Napa Valley last weekend at the Vineyard Mansion in Spring Valley. Afterwards, guests savored a poolside tri-tip barbecue and sampled estate-bottled vintages in a stone-lined wine cellar. 

Their efforts are all part of a vision by East County vintners to establish a wine-making region along Highway 94—revitalizing the local economy with a new agricultural market to reward the fruits of their labors.

June 3, 2011 (Jamul) --There will be a free reading this Saturday of "Triangle: The Fire That Changed America"" by Joel Castellaw. The haunting story of the Triangle Shirtwaist Company Fire of March 25, 1911 is told. This horrific event changed labor laws throughout the United States, and is a powerful, historic story.

Update 2:30 p.m.:  SDG&E reports power is out to under 100 homes in this area.

April 17, 2011 (Jamul) – A vehicle that struck a power pole and caught fire has resulted in shut-down of Highway 94 in both directions at Honey Springs Road in Jamul. According to the CHP, there are live wires down across the roadway and SDG&E is en route, as of 1:47 p.m.

“CHAMBER MAIDS" TOUR ANNOUNCED

April 1, 2011 (Rancho San Diego) – A free banjo lesson taken during a Chamber-led tour of Deering Banjo factory in Spring Valley proved music to Valerie Harrison’s ears. “I never knew I had musical talent before,” said the plucky President of the Rancho San Diego-Jamul Chamber of Commerce. 

March 8, 2011 (Rancho Jamul) – Rangers at the San Diego National Wildlife Refuge in Rancho Jamul invite you to join in an easy to moderate “”Discover Wildflowers” hike with a U.S. Fish & Wildlife service ranger, featuring native plant experts from RECON Environmental Inc. The hike will be held on Saturday, March 26 from 9-10:30 a.m.

February 15, 2011 (Jamul) – A SIG ALERT has been used for an accident that has shut down eastbound Highway 94 at Rancho Jamul Road just east of Jamul Estates. The crash involves a big-rig truck and another vehicle, Incident Page Network reports.

December 17, 2010 (Jamul)-Jamul Drive was shut down this afternoon after a passerby found a dead man at 1:45 p.m. The body , which had blood on its face, was lying face-down in the 14000 block of Jamul Drive. California Highway Patrol officers responded and determined that the death did not result from a traffic accident, then summoned Sheriff’s homicide detectives.

September 29, 2010 (Jamul) 12:35 p.m. – An Ultralight glider plane has struck a pole and crashed onto the baseball field at Jamul Primary School on Lyons Valley Road, Incident Page Network reports.

Update 12:40 p.m.  “There were no kids around. The pilot is being evaluated and there is an ambulance. However he didn’t seem to be injured--he got up and walked around.” Erin Bach, administrative assistant to the Superintendent, told East County Magazine.

August 28, 2010 (Rancho San Diego) -County Supervisor Dianne Jacob and state and local tourism industry leaders will celebrate the historical designation of Highway 94 iwith a ribbon cutting ceremony at Simpson’s Nursery in Jamul at 9 a.m. on Saturday, August 28. Over a dozen businesses from Jamul to Boulevard will offer discounts and giveaways to customers who attend. The event will also feature classic car displays and a reenactment of the famed Gaskill Brothers shootout.