By Miriam Raftery

May 31, 2018 (San Diego) — Taytulla birth control pills made by Allergan have been recalled by the manufacturer nationwide.  The sample packages distributed by doctors are supposed to include pills with hormones for 24 days, as well as four placebo pills without hormones.

By Miriam Raftery

May 30, 2018 (San Diego) – A report released May 25^th by Cal Fire concludes that four of the devastating wildfires in Butte and Nevada Counties last October (La Porte, McCourtney, Lobo and Honey fires) were caused by trees coming into contact with power lines. In three of those fires, state laws requiring clearance around power lines were violated by the utilities, Cal Fire also found, though no violations were found in the La Porte blaze.

By Ken Stone

Reprinted with permission from Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo: Jeremi Roesler, incoming Julian fire chief, spoke recently in Poway. Image via City of Poway

May 30, 2018 (Julian) - Update at 9 a.m. May 30, 2018: Unpaid Julian fire Battalion Chief Mike Van Bibber says he was placed on administrative leave Tuesday morning by outgoing Fire Chief Rick Marinelli, and fire Capt. Dave Southcott was escorted off fire station property by a sheriff’s deputy Wednesday morning, leaving a volunteer crew without supervision. “This is their trying to decimate us from the top down,” said Van Bibber said. More details to come.

Jeremi Roesler takes over as Julian fire chief Friday, succeeding five-year Chief Rick Marinelli and inheriting a firestorm.

A battalion chief with Cal Fire’s Hemet-area Battalion 5, Roesler will be dealing with lawsuits, complaints of Brown Act violations, expected protests at the Julian fire station on state Route 79 and an angry citizenry that has petitioned twice to keep its last-in-the-county volunteer force.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo: ECM news partner 10 News

May 29, 2018 (San Diego’s East County) – A plane that crashed on May 11^th on Volcan Mountain near Julian has been positively identified as a twin-engine Beechcraft Duchess reported missing by Gillespie Field, according to the FAA.

By Miriam Raftery

May 29, 2018 (Sacramento) – By a 24-11 vote, the California State Senate today passed Senate Bill 894, a bill to help wildfire survivors who were underinsured rebuild their lives after devastating disasters.  Republicans opposed the bill, while all Democrats (except one) voted in support.

East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts

Update 8:45 p.m.:   Heartland Fire and Rescue indicates the fire started in palm trees at the Lemon Grove Trolley station and spread along trolley tracks, briefly threatening about 20 homes.  The fire damaged power lines and railroad ties for the trolley, so the trolley remains shut down. There was also minor damage to eaves of some homes and a fence. Cause of the fire is under investigation by the Sheriff's Bomb and Arson squad.

Heartland Fire & Rescue units from Lemon Grove and La Mesa responded, with assistance from San Diego Fire, San Miguel Fire, and Cal Fire/SDSO to swiftly stop the blaze.

May 27, 2018 (Lemon Grove) -- A brush fire in Lemon Grove has charred about two acres, but Heartland firefighters have halted the forward spread.

The fire was reported in palm trees shortly after 5 p.m. in the 1500 block of San Altos Place. It jumped Imperial Avenue and according to CBS 8, briefly threatened structures on Angelus Avenue.

By Miriam Raftery

 May 27, 2018 (Lakeside) – The Sheriff seeks public help to locate Robert Tate Allen, 45.  He is wanted for stabbing another man last night around 10:10 p.m. during an argument in the 9600 block of Winter Gardens Blvd. in Lakeside.

 According to Sergeant John Delocht, the suspect pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim’s arm, severing an artery. The victim stumbled into a neighbor’s residence for help. Deputies quickly arrived and applied life-saving measures. The victim was taken to a hospital where he is in serious but stable condition.

 Allen is a bald-headed white man around 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 190 pounds. He drives a black four-door sedan and is known to frequent East County. He is considered armed and dangerous.

By Miriam Raftery

May 25, 2018 (El Cajon) – El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells, candidate for the 50^th Congressional district currently held by Rep. D. Duncan Hunter, sat down for an  interview with East County Magazine’s show on KNSJ radio. In his interview, he spoke about both conservative values and a need for compassion in addressing a broad range of issues, as well as how his experience heading up the city of El Cajon has prepared him for serving in Congress, if elected.

Hear the full interview by clicking the audio link and scroll down for highlights.

Asked why he decided to run, Wells says, “It really started with elected officials across the region worried about the Congressman being under criminal investigation.”  Both Wells and Hunter are conservative Republicans. 

To Wells, the race is primarily about character and integrity. In a thoughtful and in-depth interview, he also discussed some areas where his views differ, such as budget cutting priorities and restraint with nuclear weapons, as well as some initiatives of his own in healthcare and treatment of the mentally ill.

Backcountry hidden pleasures:   Our guide to unique lodging adventures in San Diego’s beautiful backcountry

By Miriam Raftery

May 24, 2018 (Sycuan) – The Sycuan Casino held a topping off ceremony on Tuesday to celebrate placement of the final beam at the 12-story, 300-room hotel and resort slated to open in March 2019.

Sycuan Tribal Chairman Cody Martinez thanked tribal elders and members, the executive team, and Swinerton builders.  “It really is a collaboration,” he said, calling the tribe’s achievement “a family effort--everybody bringing together the vision of what it is going to take to bring Sycuan to the next level.”

The hotel will create 700 new jobs for the community, Chairman Martinez said.

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office

May 22, 2018 (San Diego) - A new law allows voters who missed the voter registration deadline on May 21 to register on a later date and vote on that same day. However, San Diego County residents who want to take advantage of the Conditional Voter Registration law for the June 5 gubernatorial primary election must visit the Registrar of Voters office in Kearny Mesa to do so.

By Miriam Raftery

May 21, 2018 (Santee) – An e-mail threat that referenced a possible act of violence at an unnamed high school in Santee prompted additional law enforcement patrols today at Santana and West Hills High Schools.

According to Sgt. William Amavisca at the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, “The investigation has found no evidence to suggest the threat has any validity. There is currently no immediate threat to either campus or student thus far.”

By Miriam Raftery

May 21, 2018 (San Diego) – If you live in area code 619 or 858, you now have to dial the area code even for local calls.  If you’re calling from a land line, you’ll also need to dial 1, then the area code, followed by the seven-digit phone number.

By Miriam Raftery

May 18, 2018 (Lemon Grove) – Christopher Williams has filed a lawsuit against Lemon Grove Councilman David Arambula alleging that during a meeting at Arambula’s home on July 15, 2017  to discuss Williams’ applications for marijuana dispensaries, Arambula assaulted and injured Williams. 

The suit also names the city of Lemon Grove, claiming the city knew that Arambula conducted city business outside of city hall and “could be physically violent toward members of the public while he conducted official city business but never took any action to prevent him from acting in such a manner.” 

By Miriam Raftery

May 18, 2018 (San Diego) – What should consumers know about saving money and choosing a financial institution?  What’s the difference between credit unions and big banks?  When does a home equity line of credit make sense, and what are new options when shopping and financing a car?

These are among the questions East County Magazine asked Jonathan Zide, vice president of Cabrillo Credit Union, which has branches in La Mesa, San Diego and Carlsbad. The local company has been serving our region since 1955, starting out helping federal Border Patrol agents. Today, it’s open to everyone.

Successful litigation and Rate Stabilization Fund benefit ratepayers

Source: County Water Authority

May 17, 2018 (San Diego) -- Water rate increases proposed by the San Diego County Water Authority staff for 2019 are among the smallest in the past 15 years due to financial benefits secured through litigation against the Los Angeles-based Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the Water Authority’s planned use of its Rate Stabilization Fund.