Update: A revised warning now includes the Pacific Northwest and Canada, as well as Hawaii. The tsunami is not expected to reach San Diego.

October 27, 2012 (San Diego)—A powerful earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale struck 25 miles south of Sandspit in British Columbia at 8:04 p.m. (The quake has been upgraded from an original estimate of 7.1)

8 of 11 awards recognize ECM's in-depth coverage of energy issues in our region

By Miriam Raftery

October 23, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Continuing our proud tradition, East County Magazine was once again among the top recipients of honors at tonight’s San Diego Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards.  All entries were in the Daily Newspapers and Websites category, going up against the major print newspapers and online news sites in our region.

The majority of the honors recognized ECM's in-depth coverage of the impacts of major energy projects, including industrial wind turbines, on local rural, mountain and desert communities. ECM editor Miriam Raftery won nine awards, including a first place award in general news for Silence of the Lambs: U.S. Government authorizes killing of endangered bighorns in path of wind project.   Raftery and ECM intern Mia Myklebust shared an additional first place award in the public service/consumer advocacy category for Jacumba: A town surrounded. That story focused on the impacts of major energy projects on a small rural community.

Scroll down to see our full list of winners and read the winning entries.

October 22, 2012 (Spring Valley) San Diego County Sheriff's Department wants your help in finding a missing juvenile. William Patrick Gear Jr., age 12, left his Spring Valley home in the 8700 block of Ildica Street around 8:15 this morning. He was on his way to La Presa Middle School on his blue BMX bicycle, but never arrived on campus.

Gear has no history of running away or any medical issues. He has never missed a day in school.  He was last seen wearing a gray, purple and white plaid flannel over a black T-shirt; skinny blue jeans; black, white and gray shoes and a black backpack. He's four feet, four inches tall, 90 pounds, with hazel eyes and blond hair.

October 21, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather statement for our region. Today and tonight, gusty southwest to west winds are forecast in mountains and deserts, with patchy dense fog on I-8 in mountain areas.  Monday through Saturday, strong gusty northeast to east winds are possible in East County’s mountain passes and canyons.

Changes remove inspection specifications from license, reducing public and NRC review and clouding operator requirements, watchdog group says

October 20, 2012 (Washington D.C.) -- Citizens' Oversight, an El Cajon-based citizens watchdog group, submitted a formal request[1] to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regarding a license amendment request[2] by Southern California Edison (SCE) for the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (San Onofre).

By Miriam Raftery

October 20, 2012 (Washington D.C) – H.R. 3409 has been called the worst environmental bill ever Congress by SustainableBusiness.com. Deceptively titled the “Stop the War on Coal Act”, the bill in fact repeal major public health and environmental safeguards, even overturning Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act protections. 

Duncan Hunter and Darrell  Issa, both Republicans, voted for the bill, Congresswoman Susan Davis, a Democrat, joined with Republican Brian Bilbray in voting no. Bob Filner did not vote.

All six candidates have agreed to participate

By Miriam Raftery

October 22, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Want to learn more about  candidates running for the Grossmont Union High School District (GUHSD) board?  

The public is invited to a GUHSD candidates forum on Monday, October 22 at 6:30 p.m. in La Mesa.  The League of Women Voters will moderate the forum, which is sponsored by East County Magazine. Audience members will have the opportunity to submit questions in writing and hear candidates’ views in this important race. 

October 17, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Nearly 50 industrial-scale renewable energy projects are planned in San Diego’s East County and neighboring Imperial County.  San Diego Supervisors will vote Dec. 5 on a wind ordinance that could open vast tracts of scenic areas and rural communities to skyscraper-sized wind turbines to harness renewable power. There are costs, however, to ther environment and risks to health and safety of residents, including heightened fire danger.

On Thursday, Oct. 18, ECM editor Miriam Raftery will be the guest speaker at the East County Democratic Club, making a presentation on impacts these big energy projects pose for on our region.  The meeting is open to the public and will be held at the Coco’s Restaurant, 1025 Fletcher Parkway in El Cajon. Program starts at 7 p.m., if you wish to purchase dinner, arrive at 6 p.m. 

If you would like a presentation on wind energy issues to your organization, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org to arrange for a speaker or a Powerpoint presentation that you may use.

October 14, 2012 (La Mesa)--La Mesa is serious about eradicating graffiti thanks to an organized program and dedicated volunteers, the city’s Focus publication reports.  La Mesa participates in the countywide Graffiti Tracker program, where all graffiti is photographed and logged by area and “tag.” 

The goal is to remove all graffiti within 72 hours, though often graffiti is eliminated within 24 hours.  

October 15, 0212 (Rancho San Diegoi) -- ECM videographer Paul Kruze rescued "Pitaya" after her prior owner had to move away for a new job. This sweet, 9-year-old tortoise-shell grey kitty is very "loving and calm" says Paul.

But she needs a new home loving home immediately because Paul's other cat, also a rescue animal, is not getting along with the newcomer.  We're hoping one of our generous readers will come forward to save Pitaya!

October 15, 2012 (Alpine) – The Alpine Union School District today sent an email alert from Superintendent Tom Pellegrino warning of an older man who has twice attempted to persuade a female student to get in his car.  Below is the warning sent by the Superintendent today:

October 10, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Eastbound I-8 will be closed for an investigation until approximately 11:30 a.m., according to the CHP website.

A multi-vehicle accident has occurred involved a semi-truck and an over-turned vehicle in the center lane on I-8 near Japatul/Highway 79.  Fire and medical personnel have been dispatched along with an ASTREA heliciopter; a suspect who fled the scene has been taken into custody by an Immigration and Customs officer.

October 9, 2012 (Santee)--Santee's City Council will consider changing speed limits at its meeting on Wednesday, October 10 at 7 p.m. at Santee's City Hall, 10601 North Magnolia Avenue in Santee.

By Miriam Raftery

October 8, 2012 (La Mesa)--Russell “Gordon” Gastil, Ph.D. has made his final journey.  The San Diego State University professor emeritus known for trekking across and mapping the entire state of Baja, Mexico as well as much of the U.S. southwest died September 29, 2012 at his La Mesa home. 

“He was gifted as a geologic visionary,”  geologic science professor wrote in a memorial published at the SDSU website.  “Gastil was an internationally renowned geologist for regional geologic mapping and work on the tedtonic evolution of convergent margins." He mapped thousands of square kilometers in Arizona, Calfiornia and the entire state of Baja, California in Mexico.

Gastil hired six undergraduate students in 1963 to produce a reconnaissance geologic map of Baja. Remarkably, the feat was accomplished in an era when there were no reliable topographic maps and virtually no paved roads, making access challenging.