December 5, 2015 (Campo)--The famous North Pole Limited returns to celebrate the holiday season at the Pacific southwest Railway Museum in Campo. This special holiday production is offered with the help of the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum Association’s volunteers in cooperation with Mountain Empire and Bonita Vista Valley High Schools.

By Janis Russell

August 22, 2015 (Campo)- Mountain Health hosted its second back to school night for this year in Campo earlier this month. (Others were held in Escondido and Sherman Heights.). The goal of these back to school nights is to provide backpacks and school supplies to K-12 students served by its Mountain Empire family medicine location.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Miriam Raftery: Trestle over Carrizo Gorge

July 8, 2015 (Campo) – Plans to revive the long-closed Desert Line freight railway from Campo to Imperial County appeared to be in danger of derailing after the Pacific Imperial Railroad fell behind in payments to the Metropolitan Transit System. But now the company has made its latest  half-million dollar payment to the Metropolitan Transit, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.The 99-year-lease requires two such payments annually.

Hikers find belongings 13 miles off Highway 79, north of Warner Springs

East County News Service

February 24, 2015 (San Diego) updated February 26, 2015—San Diego Search and Rescue Crews are hunting for a 28-year-old hiker, Chris Sylvia, who left Anza, California on Thursday, February 12^th to hike south on the Pacific Crest Trail for a week or more. He called a friend February 16th to meet him near Warner Springs to pickup supplies on February 17^th, but never arrived.   

His friend told authorities he assumed Sylvia had continued his hike without stopping. But when he failed to reach his final destination, Campo, Sylvia’s friend became concerned and contacted the Sheriff on February 24.

Also on the 24th, other hikers found gear including a sleeping bag, sleeping pad and backpack that appear to belong to Sylvia. His identification was also found at this site approximately 13 miles off Highgway 79, north of Warner Springs.

East County News Service

January 24, 2016 (Campo)—The Campo Lake Morena Planning Group meets Monday evening at 7 p.m.  The agenda includes a staff update and vote on the latest version of the Star Ranch plan.  Officers will be elected and vacancies on the board filled.  In addition planners will discuss concerns raised by Boulevard and Jacumba planners over the addition of large battery storage facilities at the proposed Soitec Solar project.

To view the full agenda, click “read more” and scroll down.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: Wind turbines at Kumeyaay Wind  facility in Campo

September 23, 2014 (Campo, California) – “Looks like we dodged another wind project bullet when the Campo tribe voted down Invenergy's Shu'luuk Wind project,” Boulevard Planning Group Chair Donna Tisdale wrote in an e-mail to East County Magazine.

She forwarded a link to an article on a $40 million lawsuit filed against Invenergy by 60 neighbors of the company’s Orangeville Wind project in New York. Neighbors allege that the facility has violated noise limits and caused significant harm to health and property values: http://www.windaction.org/posts/41275-lawsuit-filed-against-invenergy-in-relation-to-orangeville-wind-farm#.VB83JPldV8E.

The suit alleges that the project has created a nuisance that has caused residents to suffer a loss in their quality of life and property value due to the wind energy project.  According to the complaint, wind turbines were built within 800 to 1500 feet of the plaintiffs’ properties. Plaintiffs contend that the project has caused “constant noise, vibrations, and flicker to enter Plaintiffs’ property, significantly impacting the health and wellbeing of the Plaintiffs and causing them to become sick, sore, lame and disabled.”  The projects also destroyed rural views, the suit states.

September 1, 2014 (San Diego’s East County)—San Diego Supervisors meet Tuesday and Wednesday this week, with many important items on the agendas impacting East County and our region overall.

August 23, 2014 (Campo)—The Pumpkin Express train ride will be running once again this fall to the Great Pumpkin Patch. The train departs from the historic Campo Depot at the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum and includes a “Haunted Train” tour.   The one-hour train ride departs three times daily on October 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26, with departures at 10 a.m, 12:15 p.m and 2:30 p.m.

August 2, 2014 (Campo) – Following testimony by Campo residents and Supervisor Dianne Jacob objecting to proposed placement of sexually violent predator Allen Fields in this rural community, Judge Margi Woods postponed action.  She indicated she will visit the site and talk with law enforcement about response times before a new hearing set for August 22.

East County News Service

June 22, 2014 (Campo)—Kids of all ages are invited to join the fun and showcase pets at the first annual Pet Parade and St. Adelaide Parish Family Festival On July 12 at the Campo baseball field.  The parade begins at 11 a.m. and the festival runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Prizes will be awarded for the most creative and most entertaining costumes, as well as the pastor’s choice.  Drawings will also be held for prizes including a 50/50 raffle plus two chances to fill your freezer by winning half a steer, donated by Wright Ranch of Potrero.  The festival also includes vendor booths, inflatable slide and water combo with all-day jumper tickets for $10. Other activities will include face painting and refreshments.

By Miriam Raftery

June 15, 2014 (Campo) –A Campo man has been arrested and charged with the murder of his nephew.

The victim was Teddy Iouwqe Pablo, a 23-year-old resident of the Campo Indian reservation.  He suffered traumatic injuries at a home on Highway 94 on the reservation, according to Sheriff’s Homicide Lieutenant Glenn Giannantonio.

By Miriam Raftery

May 16, 2014 (Campo)—Jerry Weber lost everything in a fire that destroyed his trailer and all his belongings on May 13 in Campo. He has no fire insurance, relies on his Social Security income, and has both diabetes and a heart condition, according to Maria Amaya.

“He’s been my customer for many years,” said Amaya, who is accepting donated items for Weber at Angelous Barber Shop and Beauty Salon in Campo.  The greatest need, however, is a trailer for him to live in.

Weber is presently living in his car despite 100 degree temperatures, determined to remain on his property, Amaya said. He has no water on site, nor electrictiy.

In addition, a fundraiser to benefit Weber will be held on Monday, May 26 at the Bucking DeLorian restaurant in Lakeside. The restaurant will donate 15% of proceeds and is also encouraging the public to bring donations of food, clothing, household goods, toiletries and funds. For details on how you can help, click "read more" and scroll down.

April 19, 2014 (San Diego's East County) --Listen to a tape of the fire whistleblower interview here, which originally aired on the East County Magazine Radio Show on KNSJ 89.1 FM on April 18, 2014: 

https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/sites/eastcountymagazine.org/files/au...

Just how effective is the new County Fire Authority at fire protection?  While some areas have improved since the 2003 and 2007 wildfires,Craig Williams, an information technology specialist with Campo Fire Department shares shocking details on fire stations unmanned across our backcountry—and what could be done to keep rural residents safe. 

March 22, 2014 (Campo) – What could be more romantic than a trail ride with wine and cheese tasting awaiting you at the trail’s end? 

On Saturday, April 12, a wine and cheese ride will begin at the Camp Lockett Event & Equestrian Facility at 799 Forrest Gate Road in Campo.  The trail ride includes a tour of Gloriosa Vineyard, heavy hors d’heuvres and wine tasting.