East County News Service

December 22, 2016 (Lakeside) – A 23-year-old San Diego woman driving a Toyota Solara eastbound on I-8 east of Los Coches Road last night at 11:50 p.m. lost control of her vehicle while changing lanes on the rain-slicked highway.  Her vehicle struck a metal guard rail, then overturned.

East County News Service

December 21, 2016 (San Diego's East County) --This holiday season, if you’re looking for some safe conversation topics to liven up your next gathering with friends and family,  here are some fascinating holiday trivia facts to share:

Beware of gift card scammers and fake WIFI

By Veronica Carter, Public News Service

Photo: Thieves are watching and waiting for a chance to be a Grinch during the holidays. (aarp.org)

December 20, 2016 (San Diego's East County) - At this time of year, most of us are getting our credit and debit cards out more often than normal. That means the chance that a cyber thief will try to steal your money or your identity increases as well. Shopping online can be a risk, but it's also easy to fall victim to scammers when using public WiFi.

By Miriam Raftery

December 19, 2016 (Sacramento) -- Scientists have voiced alarm that the Trump administration might discontinue scientific research into climate science or even destroy decades of data amassed by the government.   But now, scientists and California’s Governor Jerry Brown are pledging a fight to assure that climate science facts don’t disappear into a black hole.

By Miriam Raftery

December 16, 2016 (Descanso) — This morning, the body of a 23-year-old woman was found near a Lexus vehicle that had plummeted off I-8 east of State Route 79 in Descanso.  The woman had been ejected from the vehicle and died of her injuries at the scene.

By Miriam Raftery

Next up: Alpine General Plan amendments to be considered in 2017

December 16, 2016 (San Diego’s East County)—By a  4 to 1 vote with Supervisor Dave Roberts opposed,  San Diego Supervisors on Wednesday voted to approve a Forest Conservation Initiative Lands General Plan Amendment, along with community plan amendments, rezoning and  certification of a supplemental environmental review. The action paves the way for development of parcels  in the Alpine and Descanso areas that were formerly protected under the Forest Conservation Initiative passed by voters, but that has since expired due to a sunset provision in 2010.

Travis Lyon, chair of the Alpine Community Planning Group, reports that the Supervisors “took all the recommendations ACPG made at the last meeting.” 

Jack Shu, president of the Cleveland National Forest Foundation,  said after the hearing, “The bottom line is that the County has moved to do away with what the voters – two thirds of them—wanted in 1993 to protect our local Forest."

By Tracy DeFore, County of San Diego Communications Office

December 15, 2016 (San Diego) - With heavy rains expected, the County Department of Public Works is once again offering free sand and bags to residents in the unincorporated areas to help protect homes, neighborhoods and streets from flooding and erosion.

East County News Service

December 13, 2016 (San Diego) — California Highway Patrol seeks public help to identify a pedestrian struck at 11:17 p.m. Saturday night while walking in lanes of Interstate northbound, south of Friars Road.  The victim suffered major head and chest trauma after being struck by a maroon Subaru station wagon.

East County News Service

December 12, 2016 (San Diego) – Some immigration lawyers are warning “dreamers,” children brought to the U.S. by undocumented immigrant parents, not to travel overseas on or after January 20^th. 

That’s the date that Donald Trump is slated to be inaugurated as President.  Trump said during the campaign that he would rescind executive orders by President Obama that provided protection from deportation to young immigrants under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which also gave them rights to work and travel for humanitarian, educational or employment purposes. He called for the deportation of all undocumented immigrants.

Part III in our series on the Ocotillo wind turbine collapse

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Jim Pelley

December  11, 2016 (Ocotillo) – State Senator Ben Hueso (D-40^th district) wants to know why a massive wind turbine collapsed on November 21^st  in Ocotillo on public land—and what will be done to prevent future such disasters.

In a letter to Beth O’Brien,  Pattern Energy’s manager of external affairs,  Senator Hueso notes that this is the third serious incident that has occurred at the Ocotillo Wind Energy Facilitiy since it opened approximately four years ago.  Prior problems include a wind turbine that burst into flames and another that hurled a multi-ton blade onto a public trail.

He indicated that residents have contacted him with concerns and asked him to look into the matter.  East County Magazine also contacted the Senator to ask what steps will be taken to protect public safety.

East County News Service

December 9, 2016 (Ocotillo) - Border Patrol agents rescued a 39-year-old illegal immigrant, whose identity is being withheld, in the mountains west of Ocotillo on Friday around 12:40 p.m., NBC 7 reports.

California Highway Patrol agents were able to find the man, a native of El Salvador, after a report filed that he was lost about half a mile north of the Mexican border.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Elizabeth Hull, Helix Water District

December 7, 2016 (La Mesa) — Control of the Helix Water District board has shifted from a majority that voted to sharply increase water rates to a new majority that has pledged to resist new price hikes and if possible, roll back part of a five-year rate hike approved by outgoing board members. 

By Miriam Raftery

December 8, 2016 (San Diego) – A Santee chiropractor’s office has alerted us to a scam in which a caller posing as a San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) representatives tells the business that a utility bill is past due and tricks them into paying money. The scammers even set up a call-back phone number that they answer as SDG&E, but it’s a hoax, the company warns.

By Miriam Raftery

Photo courtesy ECM news partner 10 News

December 6, 2016 (Poway) — The driver of a black Ford Mustang made an illegal U-turn on State Route 67 near Iron Mountain Road and was struck by two northbound vehicles, a Ford Fusion and a Toyota Highlander,  yesterday at 5:24 p.m. , California Highway Patrol reports.  The Mustang caught fire and a passerby pulled the driver from the flaming vehicle.

Source: Heartland Fire & Rescue

December 5, 2015 (El Cajon) — Two people suffered burns in a warehouse fire today in the 800 block of West Bradley Avenue in El Cajon.

Heartland Fire & Rescue crews dispatched shortly before noon found heavy smoke coming from the single-story structure.  Fire officials called for a second alarm and two ambulances.