February 20, 2015 (Valley Center)-- Bo Mazzetti, chairman of the Rincon Band of Luiseño Indians, was presented with the Fifth Annual Anna Sandoval Leadership Award at the Western Indian Gaming Conference’s Tribal Leaders’ luncheon, February 11, 2015, at Harrah’s Resort Southern California, in Valley Center, Ca.

East County News Service

December 5, 2014 (Valley Center) – A bomb threat e-mailed to an NBC news station threatened to place explosives targeting San Diego Gas & Electric Company work trucks over a land use dispute in Valley Center. 

Sheriff’s Bomb and Arson investigators shut down the Spearhead Trail area for two hours yesterday afternoon to assure that it was safe.

Subsequently, deputies arrested Frits Versteegh, a nearby resident who sent the threatening email, said Sergeant Jeff Lauhon.

June 29, 2014 (Valley Center) – With the scent of lavender in the air, a golden sunset and colorful fields of lavender as a backdrop, Gregory Page  will perform at the Keys Creek Lavender Farm in Valley Center. The concert will be held on Saturday, July 12 from 7-9:30 p.m. 

Page performs melodies and lyrics reminiscent of the 1920s sweet jazz era as a “super full moon” rises to illuminate the night sky,  promising to be a magical night.

By Miriam Raftery

June 16, 2013 (Palomar) –Palomar Mountain Volunteer Fire Department has hired an attorney in an effort to stave off strong-arm efforts by the County, which seeks to force the tiny department to join the County Fire Authority or lose funds.  Joining would mean handing over control to Cal-Fire, which runs rural stations under the CFA.

“Our closest mutual aid is 45 minutes down the hill,” Chief George Lucia said at a packed public meeting in late May, the U-T San Diego reported. “They’re telling me  I can’t hire local community volunteers. I say to them that without my local community volunteers that live here, sleep here and have a stakeholder’s interest in the community, I can’t guarantee that I can cover a call.”

By Miriam Raftery

April 18, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) yesterday announced it has signed five new renewable power purchase agreements including two in San Diego County.  But oddly, a local planner and a news editor in these rural communities have told ECM they were unaware of these projects.

SDG&E’s release did not state where in San Diego County the projects would be located. Jennifer Ramp with SDG&E has informed ECM that the two local projects are Silverado Power, LLC’s Zodiac Solar (20 Megawatts) in Potrero and Northlight Power’s C908 Solar project (7 MW) in Valley Center.  Both projects are newly executed and have not yet been approved by the California Public Utilities Commission, Ramp said.

November 25, 2012 (Valley Center) – Keys Creek Lavender Farm is holding its first ever holiday celebration on December 8 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at 12460 Keys Creek Rd., Valley Center.  The event will feature live music, vendors, booths, holiday lights, food, drinks, gift wrapping and lavender goodies.

September 24, 2012 (Valley Center) – Collin Barnes, a 21-year-old college student and church preschool teacher who lived with his parents in Valley Center, told his parents he was going for a run up Flat Top Mountain near their home to photograph the sunset on September 13.  When he failed to return, his family called the Sheriff’s Department.

June 17,2012 (Valley Center) – A fire that began in the 15000 block of Woods Valley Road is now 100% contained, the San Diego Sheriff reports. The fire, which began around 4 pm near North Lake Wohlford Road and Woods Valley Road, prompted evacuations late this afternoon.

The blaze burned approximately 25 acres, according to Cal-Fire.

March 18, 2012 (Valley Center) – Valley Center Area Investigators were called to Harrah’s Rincon Casino on the afternoon of March 15 for a report of a stolen vehicle in the parking lot.  As investigators were watching the vehicle, a subject, later identified as Joe Hernandez (07/10/86), approached and entered the vehicle.  Investigators attempted to detain Hernandez, who failed to comply with orders and attempted to flee in the vehicle.

 November 21, 2011 (Valley Center)   The South Coast Jack Russell Terrier Club will host the 2011 Winter Sol Terrier Trial I & II 2011 at the Bates Nut Farm, Saturday and Sunday, December 3 – 4, from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

May 2, 2011 (Valley Center) – Two of four suspects in a pair of school burglaries in Valley Center have been arrested. Two other suspects remain at large, including one who has been identified.

The suspects are all documented “Dorner Block Crip” street gang members from Moreno Valley in Riverside, according to Sgt. Bob Bishop with the San Diego Sheriff’s Department.

April 15, 2011 (Valley Center)--Heartbeat Classics Chevy Club hosts its 13th annual classic car show, the Heartbeat Happening XIII, on April 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Bates Nut Farm, 15954 Woods Valley Road in Valley Center. Activities include a craft fair with over 50 vendors, Lion's Club pancake breakfast, barbecue, car painting and petting zoo for the kids. The show and other events are free to the public.

March 20, 2011 (Valley Center) – An electrical fire that started in the basement has severely damaged Saint Stephens Roman Catholic Church in Valley Center, causing an estimated $150,000 in damage. County building inspectors have found the structure to be unsafe, requiring immediate stabilization before salvage and repair can begin.