December 19, 2013 (Jamul) – Father Victor Mariestela, pastor at St. Pius X Church in Jamul, was struck head-on Tuesday night by a Ford Ranger while driving his SUV on Highway 94 west of Honey Springs Road.  He was flown by medical helicopter to Sharp Memorial hospital, suffering serious injuries including two broken legs, a broken hip and broken wrist.

By Leon Thompson

November is the 2013 American Indian heritage month and Union Bank and KPBS have honored two very special Native American women with Local Heroes awards: Jane Dumas, an elder with the Jamul band of Kumeyaay Indians, and San Diego State University's Rose Margaret Orrantia.

Photos by Vernon Fry:  Highway 94 and Lyons Valley Road

October 31, 2013 (Jamul) – On October 28, ECM published a story citing numerous complaints from residents of near-miss crashes on Highway 94 that drivers believed were caused by lack of roadway striping during a months-long CalTrans roadway repaving project.  The story also noted a fatality accident on Highway 94, though CHP has said alcohol may have been a factor in that crash. http://www.eastcountymagazine.org/fatality-crash-raises-concerns-over-ro...

On October 20, Marcia Spurgeon with the Jamul Action Committee wrote to ECM and our news partner, 10 News, with an update:

I cannot thank you both enough for writing (East County Magazine) and airing (Channel 10 News) the serious and dangerous situation on Highway 94 in Jamul. Today at approximately noon, a large truck parked in our office driveway. Within a 1/2 hour we had not one or two but three large white arrows in the west bound turn lane. The east bound turn lane has two. The intersection at Proctor Valley and 94 also has painted arrows in the turn lanes….Bravo to both of you. I honestly believe you have saved lives by bringing this to the public's attention and obviously Granite Construction and Caltrans.

By Miriam Raftery

October 19, 2013 (Jamul) – SoCal Parrot, the only local nonprofit which rescues wild parrots in our region, invites the public to  “Picnic with the Parrots” on October 27 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The event will be held at the SoCal Parrot Sanctuary and Garden, 3621 Hidden Ridge Road in Jamul.

Activities include tours, wild parrot aviary viewing,  meet the SoCal parrot ambassadors, a petting zoo, koi pond feeding,  harvest festival and pumpkin carving.  A silent auction and raffles will also be held.  The event also features guest speakers.  Box lunches can be purchased or bring your own picnic. The event costs $15 per adult, $10 per child, or $40 per family.

Concerns remain among residents over traffic impacts from proposed casino at Jamul Indian Village

September 12, 2013 (Jamul) – The Jamul/Dulzura Community Planning Gorup has received a Notice of Preparation of a Draft Environmental Impact Report for roadway improvements to Highway 94.   These would include widening of the highway to provide access to the Jamul Indian Reservation, where a casino is proposed, as well as improvements to intersections of Highway 94 and Jamacha Boulevard, Jamacha Road, Steel Canyon Road, Lyons Valley Road, and Maxfield Road.  deerhornvalley.net/CaltransNOP.pdf

“These improvements would be necessary to help handle the 10,000 extra casino-bound vehicles daily,”  Deerhorn Valley Antler editor Kim Hamilton said in an e-mail.

Cal Trans will hold a meeting on Tuesday, September 17 from 5-8 p.m. at  Cottonwood Golf Club, 3121 Willow Glen Drive in EL Cajon.

July 1, 2013 (Jamul) – Debbie Ekhaml captured these close-up images of a Cooper's Hawk family in Jamul, as the fledgling hawks learn how to successfully hunt a sparrow.  Cooper’s Hawks prey on birds and small mammals, even taking on prey larger than themselves such as ducks and chickens.  They have sometimes been known to lose their lives for taking on the wrong prey, such as a large owl.

By George Dominguez

April 13, 2013 (Jamul) -- Saturday marked the first Jamul Hot Rod and Chili Cook Off  held at Pio Pico / Thousand Trails Family Camping Resort this year. This annual event had been previously held at Simpsons Nursery for the last several years but was moved to Pio Pico because of closure of the nursery.

The Jamul Hot Rod and Chili Cook Off is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club to benefit the “Serving the Children of the World” charity.  Pio Pico Thousand Trails donated their campground for the one day event.   This year’s Hot Rod and Chili Cook Off was highly successful, with an estimated 60 hot rods and 32 vendors participating, according to Myrna Thornton, Pio Pico event Vendor Coordinator.

April 3, 2013 (Otay) – The Deerhorn Valley Antler reports that a contractor awarded a grant to restore a section of Jamul Creek was mowing vegetation yesterday when the mower hit a rock, sparking a flame that started a brush fire.

“The grass was still green, so it was a bit surprising that it would burn,” Tracie Nelson of California Fish & Game told the Antler. The fire was doused quickly thanks to the swift actions of the worker and responding fire crews, with no damage to property.

March 13, 2013 (Jamul) -- Debbie Ekhaml caught the action as twin fawns leaped across a meadow in an ecological preserve in Jamul.  Who knew that Bambi could jump so high--nearly resembling a kangaroo at times?

"I have many pictures of them with the doe, but like them jumping the best," wrote Ekhaml, who declined to disclose the precise location in order to protect the deer from hunters.

December 19, 2012 (Jamul) -- U.S. Border Patrol agents intercepted a smuggling attempt on State Route (SR) 94 in Jamul yesterday, resulting in seizure of nearly 26 pounds of methamphetamine.

Agents encountered a U.S. citizen, 49, driving a 2000 BMW at the SR 94 checkpoint near Jamul at 2:45 p.m..  Agents became suspicious of the man’s nervous demeanor and referred him for secondary inspection.  A Border Patrol K-9 performed a cursory inspection of the vehicle resulting in an alert.

November 6, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)--CAL FIRE/San Diego County Fire Authority in cooperation with State Fish and Wildlife, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service resources will conduct a prescribed burn in the area of the Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve in East county near the community of Jamul. This burn is scheduled to take place during daylight hours on November 6.

By Cass Crain

September 21, 2012 (Jamul)--The water saving garden at Jamul Primary School was bursting with lush plants, colorful sunflowers, ripe tomatoes and peppers, tall corn, enormous pumpkins, and an excited community participating in celebration of the first harvest season at the new garden. Second and third grade students gave visitors tours of the garden and answered questions about its water saving features. Other activities for families included a garden mosaic group project, and seed planting. Refreshments were served, and a young student addressed the crowd about the importance of composting all the watermelon rinds and paper products, in order to reduce impact on landfills.

July 31, 2012 (Jamul) -- Reno’s Pub & Grub is hosting its 2nd Annual “Summer in Jamul” Party August 18, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 14019 Campo Rd., Jamul.  The afternoon will include music and craft booths on the patio.  Featured food will be Ivan’s “Smoking Hole” BBQ, burgers and more.  Beer and wine will be available.

For more information call 619-303-0127 or visit www.renospubandgrub.com.  

 

April 5, 2012 -- Miss Rancho Jamul, Stephanie Grecco and Miss Teen Rancho Jamul, Gigi Gauthier we crowned Saturday, March 31 at the pageant held at the Steele Canyon High School Theater.

Stephanie Grecco is a 21 year old student at Cuyamaca College, and is currently working toward her Associates Degree in Music Industry Studies. She plans to attain her Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance. Stephanie enjoys singing, song writing, playing piano and guitar, and hopes to one day impact lives with the music she creates.