March 21, 2013 (Descanso) -- Descanso will soon be the home of a new non-commercial community radio station, KNSJ, which will broadcast on 89.1 FM from Monument Peak, Mt. Laguna.  The station aims to begin broadcasting in April, once a transmitter is built.

The station is actively soliciting community members to broadcast their own shows, stories, events listings and items of local information, and to join with and guide the station as it grows into a real 24/7 media outlet by and for the people.

By Miriam Raftery

February 9, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) ---Heavy snowfall has transformed our local mountains into winter wonderlands.  Mount Laguna received 10 inches of snowfall in the past 24 hours, followed by Palomar Mountain with 7 to 8 inches.  Cuyamaca also received significant snowfall, as this image sent in by reader Grace Schlesier shows. Frost and freezing temperatures are expected through Monday in inland valleys.

Other areas dusted in white include Julian (3-6 inches), Ranchita (5 inches), Santa  Ysabel (2 inches) and Pine Valley (2 inches) .  Snow even dipped down to Descanso and Campo, which received less than a half inch each.

December 31, 2012 (San Diego's East County) -- A blanket of snow envelops our local mountains and rural areas this New Year's Eve. Melody Ponchot arose early to snap sunrise photos as the morning's first rays illuminate snow dusting trees across her ranch in Boulevard (left, right, and below, right)

Julie Salmons also sent in an image of the Laguna mountains (below, left), viewed from Descanso, wearing a crown of winter white.

By Miriam Raftery

September 30, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – A 27-year-old Coronado man collapsed and died yesterday on the return hike from Three Sisters Falls.  According to the San Diego Medical Examiner’s office, the man was hiking with three friends on the trail in the Descanso/Julian area when he collapsed.

“It was a hot day and the falls apparently were dried up,” the Medical Examiner’s website reports.  Temperatures were in the 80s, with an excessive heat warning from the National Weather Service in effect.

July 5, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)—Brew Ha HA comedians will host two live comedy events aimed at raising money to help a new radio station get on the air in East County.  KNSJ Radio, FM 89.1, has been approved for an FM license to broadcast from Descanso and also streaming live broadcasts online.  The network will focus on social justice issues while also providing an on-air forum to showcase community news, highlight local musicians’ works, and air local emergency alerts.   

March 19, 2012 (Descanso) - Nancy Manning shot this picturesque night time image of snow falling along a country bridge in Descanso, where four inches have blanketed the ground thus far. 

Doesn't it resemble a scene straight out of a fairy tale?

Story by Miriam Raftery, photos by Billy Ortiz

February 14, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – A late season storm left a dusting of snow across rural and mountain areas in East County, dipping as low as Descanso along I-8. 

December 11, 2011 (Descanso) – Firefighters have found a body inside a residence in the 24000 block of Los Terrinitos Road, after dousing a fire that engulfed the structure.  According to the San Diego Medical Examiner’s office, the deceased man is believed to be the 53-year-old resident of the home.

November 11, 2011 (Descanso)  -- Want to start your holiday shopping early?  Check out one the many unique gift items while welcoming in the winter season at the Descanso Arts and Crafts Fair. The event takes place Saturday, November 19 at the Descanso Town Hall, 24536 Viejas Grade, in the mountain town of Descanso from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

April 13, 2011 (San Diego’s East County) – Craig Peterson, 52, was shot and killed this afternoon by a San Diego Sheriff’s sergeant at a rest stop near Interstate 8 and Highway 79. Peterson was a “person of interest” in the stabbing death this morning of a 72-year-old man in Borrego Springs.

Update:  The San Diego Medical Examiner has identified the driver as Mark Pasquale Gullaci, 18.  The passenger was Malu Ako, 22.  Both men were single and lived in San Diego.  The Medical Examiner has also clarified that the accident occurred in Guatay.  

December 24, 2010 (Descanso) – It will be a grim holiday season for families of two young men who died in a fiery single-car crash on Old Highway 80 last night. According to Brian Pennings with the California Highway Patrol, an 18-year-old man was driving a Volkswagon westbound on old Highway 80  east of State Route 79 near Descanso at a high rate of speed arou 10:15 p.m.. “He failed to maintain control of his vehicle and it overturned,” said Pennings.

By: Lisa Lightfoot
 

November 16, 2010 (Descanso) -- Looking for something different to do this weekend? Join local artists in Descanso for an Arts Fair this Saturday, November 20t. Enjoy some free refreshments, listen to some wonderful live music, all while doing holiday shopping as you take in the fresh mountain air along with a little backcountry hospitality.

September 25, 2010 (Descanso) – A two-story structure, one vehicle and a boat were destroyed in a 2- to 5-acre brush fire in Descanso this afternoon. A second structure was saved thanks to efforts by firefighters, suffering 10% loss. One civilian suffered smoke exhaustion and two firefighters also suffered heat exhaustion, according to Cal-Fire.

May 23, 2010 (Descanso) – Three-year-old Noah Hale was found by his mother floating face-down and unresponsive in the family’s backyard pool on Friday. Following a 9-1-1 call, the toddler was air-lifted to Rady Children’s Hospital, but emergency room medical personnel were unable to save him.