Updated May 27, 2012, 10 a.m. -- The Banner Fire was held at 4,100 acres through the night and remains 65% contained. Fire suppression cost has reached $2 million. Excess resources are now being dismissed, according to Roxanne Provaznik with Cal-Fire.

May 19, 2012 (San Diego’s East County Magazine)—Two motorcyclists are down in the roadway  in a serious injury accident on Highway 78 at Banner Grade in the Julian/Wynola area, Incident Page Network reports.  According to the CHP website, a citizen is attempting CPR on an injured rider while CHP is en route.

The accident is near a twist in the road approximately 1 mile north of a campground at the horse shoe curve. 

May 4, 2012 (Julian) – Through the beauty of films celebrating the environment, the Julian Wild & Scenic Film Festival promises to inspire activism and appreciation for the natural word. 

This weekend's May 5-6 festival in Julian, a historic gold rush mountain town, brings touring films from the famed Nevada City Wild and Scenic Film Festival. The fun debuts with a party tonight and another Saturday featuring lively tunes of Grand Canyon Sundown. Hikes on Volcan Mountain and in Santa Ysabel Preserve are also planned, as well as award-winning films, a non-fiction filmmakers workshop, and guest speakers.

Film highlights include Connecting the Gems, which tracks two National Geographic Adventures of the Year on a 520 mile trek through the Rockies’ premier wildlife corridors.  Chasing Water, winner of  Best Environmental Film and Best Documentary at other film fests, traces a Colorado watershed from river to the sea. 

February 27, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – Accidents have been reported on both eastbound and westbound I-8 in Alpine near Willows Road due to ice on the highway this evening. Due to snowfall, chains are required on Sunrise Highway, in Julian, and on old highway 80 in Jacumba.

 
December 1, 2011, (Julian) -- The Pig and the Dragon, a fantasy novel by La Mesa author Cindy Schuricht, is available for purchase at Julianʼs Quilts Plus, 2125 Main St., Julian. Come meet Cindy, have her sign your copy, and have a cup of hot apple cider on Sat. Dec. 3 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

East County Magazine News Service

October 9 2011 (Julian) – Rogelio Malihan, 53, died at the scene of a three-motorcycle accident shortly after noon today while riding with his son and a close friend on southbound Highway 79.

October 3, 2011 (Julian) 1:25 p.m. – All evacuation advisories have been lifted in the Julian area, where the Great Fire is 40% contained. Road closures have also been lifted, however the Pacific Crest Trail in the fire affected areas remains closed, as well as Rodriguez Truck Trail.

 Update October 2, 2011 6:45 p.m. --The Great Fire is 20 percent contained and holding at 2,000 acres. Currently there are 119 engines, 52 fire crews, eight bulldozers, and 21 water tenders at the scene, a total of 1,486 firefighters. Fire crews have four miles of containment line to construct; cost to fight the fire is estimated at $650,000, said Roxanne Provaznik at Cal-Fire. 

By Miriam Raftery

September 30, 2011 (Julian)—Autumn means apple season in historic Julian, where you can sample fresh apple cider or bring the family and pick your own apples at roadside orchards.

September 19, 2011 – 1:50 p.m. – ECM has received reports of at least 6 serious incidents across our region:

September 14, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Lightning strikes have ignited two small brush fires in Shelter Valley, between Julian and Borrego Springs, Cal Fire confirms.

August 30, 2011 (Julian) -- Every September, the Julian Chamber of Commerce celebrates the harvest of the town’s grapes with a real, Old World-style grape stomp and festa at the Menghini Winery September 3 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. This grape stomp provides two barrels for stomping--one for adults and one for children.

Story, photos and video by Elena Peña

June 29, 2011 (San Diego’s East County)--Nestled in between slopes in the Cleveland National Forest lies a gem known as Cedar Creek Falls, often referred to as The Devil’s Punch Bowl. A wondrous waterfall is the picturesque background to the swimming hole at the end of this approximately four-mile hike.  The location used to be accessed mainly from Julian.  But due to a newly revamped trail out of Ramona, it’s now more accessible than ever before--and more populated, especially on weekends and holidays.