“The County is now officially doing the bidding of a well organized industrial wind lobby…Together, the County and the industry/government cabal are also getting ready to gut the Boulevard Community Plan, and the few protections they allowed us to retain.”—Donna Tisdale, Chair, Boulevard Planning Group

By Miriam Raftery
 

November 9, 2011 (San Diego’s EastCounty) – San Diego County has issued a draft ordinance for publication review (http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/dplu/ceqa/POD1007.html. ) But critics say the plan decimates rural community planning authority and makes it easier for large wind farms to be built across broad swaths of East County.

Residents who already live near wind farms are speaking out—claiming they have suffered sleep deprivation and witnessed significant bird kills from existing turbines. They fear the impacts if multiple new wind farms are allowed to be erected across East County’s rural and scenic wilderness lands.

November 10, 2011 (Alpine) – A SIG Alert has been issued and Old Highway 80 is closed in both directions due to a fatality accident this morning just west of Dunbar Lane.

November 7, 2011 (San Diego)--On Wednesday, November 9 at  11 a.m. Pacific Standard Time,  the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in conjunction with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), will conduct the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System.

November 5, 2011 (San Diego) – The San Diego Medical Examiner seeks public help to identify a man struck and killed by an Amtrak train on October 28 at 4 a.m. at Pacific Highway and West Washington Street. His fingerprints have been run through national and local databases, but no match has been found.

 November 6, 2011 (Santee) -- The Santee Firefighters and the San Diego County Sheriff's Department  are sponsoring a the 13th Santee Breakfast in honor of Veterans Day.  All of the proceeds will benefit the Warrior Care Inititive Armed Services YMCA.

By Miriam Raftery

November 5, 2011 (San Diego's East County) - Julian receiving a dusting of snow in Friday's storm, though the slushy white had melted away by late today.  For those who missed a snow-day adventure, however, take heart.  More snow is forecast tomorrow in East County's mountain areas.

November 4, 2011 (San Diego) – Rain-slicked highways resulted in 340 collisions countywide by 10 p.m. tonight, roughly six times the number of crashes (50 to 75) on a normal “good weather” day, California Highway Patrol Officer Larry Landeros reports. 

November 4, 2011 (San Diego's East County) -- Yesterday, ECM reported that some rural residents were left without power during a red flag alert, after receiving warnings from SDG&E that the utility might shut down power due to high fire-risk conditions.

Today, however, SDG&E has denied that power shut-offs impacting an esteimated 5,200 customers was intentional.

“SDG&E exemplifies the hypocritical worst of the One Percent: higher profits, higher rates and disregard for lives.” – Kim Hamilton, Deerhorn Valley Antler editor

By Miriam Raftery

November 3, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Rural East County residents are voicing concerns over a power-shut down yesterday while a 600-acre wildfire in Mexico threatened to jump the border. The night before, some residents received a warning from SDG&E that the utility intended to shut off power due to a red flag alert signaling severe fire danger.

 Local Occupy members to meet with banking industry representatives as widespread account closures get bankers' attention

November 2, 2011 (San Diego) – The Occupy movement is now making its impact felt directly on big banks blamed for the financial meltdown.

November 1, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – The National Weather Service has issued a red flag alert from 3 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, November 2 for San Diego’s mountain areas.

Warm temperatures, high winds and low humidity will create “explosive fire growth potential,” the NWS warns.

Moderate to strong Santa Ana winds of 40-50 mph are forecast, with gusts up to 60 mph in some areas. 

Update 6:45 p.m. --  San Onofre has cancelled the alert issued earlier and now reports that its onsite emergency response team has contained the release and cleaned up hazardous material at the unit following an ammonia leak. The leak had no impact on radioactive material or cooling units.  

Plumbing union expert involved with installation of piping and ammonia monitoring system at plant speaks with ECM

November 1, 2011 (La Mesa)—Gerry Bullard, 22, and Keith Davis, 26 have been arrested on charges of car jacking and armed robbery, La Mesa Police report.  The men may be responsible for multiple robberies in La Mesa and elsewhere in the County, according to La Mesa Police.