East County Roundup highlights stories of interest to East County featured in other media outlets.

This week’s “Roundup” stories include:
 

• SDG&E wants to charge more during peak hours
• Expert suggests quake insurance for San Diegans
• County’s home prices up 7% in May
• Horn’s non-permitted work goes beyond barn alterations
• Salinity stresses avocado trees, growers

East County Roundup features top stories impacting East County published in other media.

Roundup stories in this issue:

• Winery change goes to supervisors with no recommendation
• Final count: Mullin defeats Vaus with 104 votes (Poway Council)
• 2 more to be sentenced in 2008 SDSU stabbing
• Dubois family seeks damages from state
• Court bolsters gun rights
• Doctors test new rattlesnake antivenom
• Man accused of flashing girl, fondling others in Escondido
• Authorities deal with more bee swarms
• King family moving back to Illinois
• Unemployment rate drops in San Diego
• Ex-Helix High official acquitted of some charges
• SDG&E’s customers to pay for fire repairs

East County Roundup highlights top stories in other publications on issues of interest in East County.  This week's Roundup headlines include:
 

• Obama to send up to 1,200 troops to border
• Mexican authorities investigate migrant kidnapping ring
• Legal battle heats up over campaign contributions from political parties
• Supervisors back 14 new fire stations
• Hundreds protest proposed cuts to school funding
• County budget plan calls for big cuts

Scroll down for links and details.

 
 

 
East County Roundup highlights important stories impacting East County published in other publications.
 
Roundup stories for this month include:
 

• Jail land to be acquired by eminent domain: legal action okayed for expanded Las Colinas facility
• Streamlined zoning code proposed in El Cajon; City to hold hearing on revised rules
• Salas, Vargas financing debate turns ugly
• Crackdown curbs crime on trolley
• How a strict earthquake safety law doesn't apply to all schools
  
• Famliy, friends remember slain Poway couple
  
• New info prompts release of woman in elderly thefts
  
• King parents, Fletcher lobby for Chelsea's Law
• Santee man catches child in 30-foot mall plummet
  
• Energy: solar fire raises questions about panel safety; building code leaves firefighters unable to fully kill power
  
• Mingei Escondido latest casualty of economy
  
• Council's oversight of meeting knocked;public isn't given chance to comment (El Cajon hearing on East County Performing Arts Center)

 
 

 

East County Roundup includes top stories in other publications that impact East County or are important for our readers.

March 21, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- Top Roundup stories for the past month include:

 
• 3,500 finish route that Chelsea started
• Reagan High may not make grade in Alpine
• Card cheater sentenced to six years
• Fire kills man in brownout area
• Big plans in Borrego didn’t quite blossom
• Santana shooting survivor stabbed to death
• A positive outlook for San Diego’s economy
• Top 5 health insurers posted 59% profit gains in 2009
• A town left dry
• Saldana drops out of Supervisors race
• Rexford recall petitions certified
• Public power backers cry foul over utility
• California in crisis

 



February 1, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP features important stories impacting East County published in other media.


Top stories in this Roundup issue:

• San Diego to cut services at 13 fire stations
• Life sentence in Mount Helix abduction case
• County government resents bearing safety net burden
• The Supervisors: in their own words
• Top County official’s e-mail causes a stir
• Activist a common sight recording local meetings
• San Diego Unified teachers to take a pay cut
• State sets time limit for doctor visits
• Water source for SD region put in jeopardy (Judge throws out piece of compact for Colorado River)
• Wind farms: a damaging blow (Inspections, repairs after last month's storms)
• CA approves toughest green building code in U.S.
 
Scroll down for details and links to these hot news topics.

East County Roundup highlights the most important news stories published in other publications about East County or on issues that will impact people in East County.

Top recent stories include:

• Senate health-care reform bill clears another hurdle
• Officials: Beware of dangerous toys
• Folks line up to swap guns for groceries
• Homeowners warned of property tax scam
• Drug war surges in Tijuana: 24 dead in 2 days
• Merriam Mountains opponent accuses Horn of wrongdoing
• Merriam Mountains project turned down
• S.D. urged to look at raising fees
• Panel rips S.D. budget “gimmicks”
• City Council finalizes budget plan
• Emerald’s campaign debt could bring fine
• Prior driver of Lexus said pedal stuck
• Escondido EHS grad alleges affair with Tiger Woods
• Shameful showing a bipartisan slap at state schools’ status quo
• Regents raise college tuition in California by 32 percent

  

 
 
 
 
 
 
November 30, 2009 -- East County Roundup includes the most important stories about San Diego's eastern regions, or stories relevant to our readers, that are published by other media. Top stories from the past month include:
 
  

• Bilbray Billing Bilbray: North County Congress member pays his wife from campaign coffers
  
• SD Retailers Pleased with Early Black Friday Results
  
• 70% of Local Sex Offenders Live Too Close to Parks, Schools
  
• Thrift Store to Leave Downtown El Cajon
  
• Anderson Defends Mailer Touting Bill
  
• 'They're Looking at Impending Doom' - If California exacts the worst possible cuts on schools, San Diego Unified literally has no idea how it can balance its budget.
  
• Bankruptcy an Option, Says Mayor's Fiscal Task Force
  
• Cuyamaca College Names Its New President
  
• San Diego State Athletic Director Jeff Schemmel Resigns Amid Controversy
  
• Potrero Preschool Reopens After 2007 Harris Fire

East County Roundup Includes the Most Important Stories About East County, or relevant to our readers, published by other media. Top stories from the past month include:

• Motorist to stand trial in young mother’s death
• Obama ushers in a new era for Indian Country
• Local GOP party calls for resignation of Poway Councilmember
• Buffalo Soldiers’ base recognized
• Teen’s threats trigger arrests
• FPPC won’t investigate Duvall’s mistress
• Under-fire Helix assistant vice principal is fired
• Long-time La Mesa City Manager stepping down
• Schools, stage budget and safety topics hot at forum
• Commission gives nod to Merriam for 2,700 homes
• The long road back: two years after the wildfires,recovery for many residents has been belated

East County Roundup Includes the Most Important Stories About East County, or relevant to our readers, published by other media. Top stories from the past month include:

• MAKE THE VICTIM PAY (SDG&E wants ratepayers to pick up tab for soaring insurance costs from its negligence in wildfire prevention)
• THREE CITIES PROPOSE ONE FIRE DEPARTMENT (La Mesa, El Cajon, Lemon Grove)
• SOLAR PLAN IGNITES SOME ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
• STIMULUS FUNDS USED TO PAVE BUSY ROADS IN SANTEE
• PTSD: NEW WAR ON AN OLD FOE
  
• OFF-ROAD MOTORCYCLIST FINDS BODY IN EAST COUNTY RAVINE
  
• COUNTY CHANGE COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM RULES
  
• RTD PROGRAM WILL COMBAT OAK BORER IN THE BACK COUNTRY
  
• I-TEAM INVESTIGATES HATE GROUP GROWTH IN SAN DIEGO
  
• JOBS AND HOURS AT STAKE AS AUSD BOARED TAKES ON BUDGET WOES

Get full details...

 

East County Roundup highlights the best stories about East County issues found in other publications.
 
August 19, 2009 (San Diego's East County)
 
TOP STORIES in the past month include:

• In the Dark About SDG&E's Shutoff plan
• SDG&E Shutoff Plan to Affect 590 People on Life Support
• Borrego Plans to Sell Solar
• Fire Officials Prepare to Scale Back Operations
• Tax Sought By San Miguel Fire District Defeated
• Bioard of Supervisors Update Community Trails Master Plan
• Rancho Bernardo: Winery Ownership Dispute Delays Construction of History Museum
• Escondido: Struggles at Westfield Mall Costing City Dearly

 
 Top Stories About East County in other publications, including:
• FIRE SERVICES PARTNERSHIP EMERGING
• LAKESIDE YOUTH IS COUNTY’S 44th WITH WHOOPING COUGH
• OFFICIALS’ SUPPORT SCRIPTED BY SDG&E
• WIND FARM SET FOR CAMPO RESERVATION
• DESCANSO AREA TARGET OF USFS GRANT TO GREATER SAN DIEGO RCD
• GOVERNMENT AGENCIES’ OPENNESS ON WEB VARIES
• NEW AERIAL FIREFIGHTING AGREEMENT

East County Roundup highlights the best stories about East County issues found in other publications.

June 2009 (San Diego’s East County)

• Sycuan Wants Land Added to Reservation
• Pillars of Fire? Poway’s Twin Peaks Haven’t Burned since 1967
• Officials Warn Against Wimpy Solar Goal; SANDAG Rewriting Regional Energy Strategy
• “It’s a Nightmare” (SD Unified School District Cuts)
• Proposed Santee Cable Ski Park Draws Friends, Foes
• Couple: County Trying to Stop Home Bible Studies
• Grossmont Students Speak Out Against Calendar Cuts
• Hunter: Maintaining Defense Spending Top Priority

East County Roundup highlights the best stories about East County issues found in other publications.

MENTALLY ILL DETAINEES’ TREATMENT AT HOSPITALS WORRIES ADVOCATES

San Diego Union-Tribune (May 18, 2009)--Federal immigration officials send mentally ill detainees to a private psychiatric hospital in La Mesa, where they are shackled to beds 24 hours a day, prohibited from watching television or using the telephone, and cut off from family.

Disability-rights lawyers and advocates for the mentally ill say the conditions at Alvarado Parkway Institute in La Mesa violate state and federal laws governing treatment of mentally ill people. They also say the hospital, known as API, is one of a little-known network of private hospitals that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement uses to hold severely mentally ill detainees around the country, often out of reach of lawyers and even their families.

SUNRISE PLAN HINGES ON FOREST IMPACT

Opponents say SDG&E's new route not studied

San Diego Union-Tribune (May 9, 2009)-- San Diego Gas & Electric planners are figuring where they want to place the towers for the Sunrise Powerlink.

But a big piece of the plan to build the massive and controversial power line connecting Imperial County to San Diego has yet to fall into place: SDG&E does not yet have permission to build it across the Cleveland National Forest.

The man who will make that decision, Forest Supervisor William Metz, said yesterday he is still sifting through thousands of pages of environmental documents – and he's a long way from making up his mind.

VALLEY CENTER WATER BOARD ADOPTS VOLUNTARY 8% CUTS

Valley Roadrunner (May 13, 2009)-- It’s official. On July 6 the water district’s customers will be asked to save 8%.


Last week, after the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) took action to call for Level 2 water shortage response, and after a short public hearing, the Valley Center Municipal Water District adopted an 8% voluntary reduction program.

East County Roundup highlights the best stories about East County issues found in other publications.

JAMUL’S PLAN TO BUILD CASINO MAY NOT STAND TEST OF HISTORY

San Diego Union-Tribune (March 30, 2009)—

OVERVIEW

Background: The Jamul Indian Village partnered with Lakes Entertainment to build a casino in East County that faced significant local opposition.

What's changing: A U.S. Supreme Court ruling over tribal land in Rhode Island raises legal questions about Jamul's casino plan.

The future: In addition to any impact the ruling may have, Lakes Entertainment says the project will be delayed at least five years because of financial concerns and a suit over access to the casino site.

COUNTY ADOPTS STRATEGY FOR MANAGING BRUSH:

Local environmentalists say approach relies too much on controlled burns

North County Times (March 25, 2009)--The county on Wednesday adopted a strategy for managing the dry brush that fueled two of the region's catastrophic wildfires, but environmental regulations and a lack of funding could make it difficult to implement key pieces.

The strategy, which emphasizes controlled burns as a way to clear vegetation, was outlined in a staff report that was criticized by local environmentalists as too narrow in its scope.

"If you don't look at the full equation, you may put vegetation treatment where it's not needed," said Richard Halsey, director of the Chaparral Field Institute in Escondido. "And, in fact, you may actually increase fire hazards by converting some of this shrub land into (more fire-prone) weedy grasslands."

THE END OF MOBILE COUNSELING

San Diego Reader (March 20, 2009)-- Today, March 20, marks the final day of mobile counseling services for residents of the rural East County communities affected by the Harris Fire. The October 2007 wildfire burned 90,440 acres across Dulzura, Potrero, Tecate, and Jamul. In its wake, hundreds of homes were damaged or destroyed, 55 people were injured, and 5 were killed. Numerous recovery efforts were put in place after the fire, including a free door-to-door counseling and community outreach service.

For the past four months, the nonprofit San Diego Foundation provided the service, but because the grant money that funded the program has run out, the program must end.

East County Roundup highlights the best stories about East County issues found in other publications.

SDG&E SAYS ITS EQUIPMENT STARTED 167 FIRES IN 5½ YEARS

Union-Tribune (March 14, 2009) — Nearly 170 fires have been started by San Diego Gas & Electric Co. power lines or transformers in the past 5½ years, according to a report the utility released yesterday to bolster its proposal to shut off power to some areas during periods of high fire danger.

Of those fires, 13 occurred during strong winds, and a handful became infernos, such as the Witch Creek, Guejito and Rice Canyon fires of 2007, the report says.

The 40-page report is a response to 21 questions posed by the state Public Utilities Commission, which is examining SDG&E's plan.

GROUPS SEEK $2.7 MILLION FOR FIGHTING POWER LINES

North County Times (March 7, 2009) — Opponents of San Diego Gas & Electric Co.'s power line have petitioned the state to compensate them for $2.7 million in costs they say they incurred over three years battling the Sunrise Powerlink ---- costs that would be passed on to utility ratepayers.

The groups were "intervenors" in the Sunrise case under a program that allows opponents to take on a formal role in arguing merits of utility projects before the California Public Utilities Commission, the regulatory body that licenses electric, gas and telephone projects. The state lets intervenors recoup their costs.

SDG&E SET TO PAY AFTER MISSTATING SUNRISE INFO

Union-Tribune (March 7, 2009) — San Diego Gas & Electric Co. agreed yesterday to pay up to $1.1 million to settle accusations that it tried to mislead state regulators about the route of its proposed Sunrise Powerlink.

The company didn't admit lying to regulators, but apologized for what it said was a mistake: failing to include two documents in a public filing describing a presentation to staff members at the state Public Utilities Commission.

East County Roundup highlights the best stories about East County issues found in other publications.

CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR PROPOSES ONE-STOP PERMITTING FOR ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION

New York Times (February 24, 2009) — California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) is proposing a single-stop permitting agency for electricity transmission and renewable energy projects.

The proposed state Energy Department would consolidate permitting efforts divided among at least nine agencies.

COUNTY FORECLOSURES SLOW AS LENDERS AWAIT HOMEOWNERS' AID

San Diego Union-Tribune (Feb. 23, 2009) — After surging in December, foreclosure activity in San Diego County fell by nearly 12 percent last month, as some lenders stopped repossessing dwellings in anticipation of President Obama's plan to help distressed homeowners.

"We are seeing some lenders in self-imposed foreclosure moratoriums," said Sean O'Toole, founder of the ForeclosureRadar research firm.

January was the first month to show a year-over-year decline in county foreclosures since March 2005. There were 1,107 foreclosures, a 15 percent drop from a year earlier, the MDA DataQuick research firm reported Monday.

KOPPA WILL NOT ALLOW HEDGE ON PROPERTY

Ramona Sentinel (February 20, 2009) — Saying he does not want a convicted sexually violent predator living on his property, Ramona resident Charles J. "Poppa" Koppa wrote "Return to Sender" and "Contract Void" on an envelope containing an uncashed check for $7,350 he had received from Liberty Healthcare Corporation. The check was to hold a vacant home he owns off Highway 67 off the market until a March 13 Superior  Court hearing on the state Department of Mental Health proposal to house convicted child molester Matthew Hedge there when Hedge is released from in-hospital treatment and placed in outpatient treatment.

Links to top stories in other publications on East County issues

STATE TO SHUT DOWN FIRST AND THIRD FRIDAYS EACH MONTH

Sacramento Bee (January 9, 2009) — California will close most state offices on the first and third Fridays each month starting in February, padlocking DMV outlets and other services while reducing state worker pay to help survive a massive budget problem, according to a state Department of Personnel Administration memo.

SANTEE SCHOOL DISTRICT FACES $4.5 MILLION STATE FUNDING SHORTAGE

Union-Tribune (January 8, 2009) — The Santee School District will dip into its savings to help offset the possible reduction of $4.5 million in state funding reductions over the next 18 months.

The board Tuesday voted unanimously to use $904,102 from the district's reserves to help mitigate the impact of the projected state funding loss.

GROSSMONT HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT RELEASES REVIEW OF ALPINE AREA SITES FOR NEW SCHOOL

Union-Tribune (January 8, 2009 ) — The Grossmont Union High School District has released for public viewing a state-required review of three sites in Alpine and Blossom Valley for the construction of a new high school.

The disrict has posted the 650-page Environmental Impact Report on its web site, www.guhsd.net, under Prop H construction news. Public comment will be received through Feb. 23. The Grossmont board plans to hold a public hearing in May or June when it could decide on a site.

Links to top stories in other publications on East County issues

AUDITOR: CITY BOTCHED DEBRIS REMOVAL, At least $775,000 at issue after '07 fires, report says

San Diego Union-Tribune (December 20, 2008) — San Diego's auditor has concluded that the city was not equipped to manage the large debris removal program it developed after the wildfires of 2007, and its lack of preparation, internal controls and contract monitoring cost more than $775,000.

In a report released yesterday, City Auditor Eduardo Luna recommended the city bill two contractors for overcharges and be better prepared for future wildfire disasters.

For the auditor's full report, go to uniontrib.com/more/documents

NEARLY 30 PERCENT OF SAN DIEGO MORTGAGES UNDERWATER

Voice of San Diego (December 22, 2008) — Nearly 30 percent of homes in San Diego County with a mortgage are worth less than their owners owe on their mortgage, according to new data.

The 29.4 percent share of county homes "underwater" or "upside-down" compares to 27.4 percent for the state and 18.3 percent for the nation. The San Diego County data was prepared for voiceofsandiego.org by First American CoreLogic, and was the only county-level data of its kind released for the quarter ending Sept. 30

VANDALS RANSACK RAMONA’S FIRE RECOVERY CENTER

Ramona Sentinel (December 18, 2008) — For the fourth time in a year, Bonnie Fry has arrived at work to find Ramona Fire Recovery Center ransacked.

Opened after the Witch Fire in October 2007, the center at 1710 Montecito Road has been a resource and refuge for fire victims whose homes and property were destroyed or damaged in the wildfire.

Fry and others do not understand why someone would want to destroy a place that offers so many people comfort, counsel, information and support. This time vandals even knocked over and threw paint on the Christmas tree decorating the center. Fry had hoped to give the tree to a family in need next week.

Links to top stories in other publications on East County issues

POWERLINK GETS PUMMELED

ECM Editor’s note:  The CPUC decision leaves the door open for a southern route to be built, which would impact East County communities near the border, so stay tuned.

Voice of San Diego (November 1, 2008) — San Diego Gas & Electric's proposed $1.2 billion Sunrise Powerlink will not be built through Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

The California Public Utilities Commission, the state regulatory agency that decides whether the power line should be built or not, issued draft rulings Friday that give the five-member commission two options to consider when deciding the Sunrise Powerlink's fate in December: Don't build it at all, or build it around the park — on the condition that SDG&E guarantee it delivers renewable energy to San Diego.

DROUGHT, BEETLES KILLING FORESTS

More than 10,000 oaks in S.D. County affected

San Diego Union-Tribune (October 25, 2008 ) — Bugs and diseases are killing trees at an alarming rate across the West, from the spruce forests of Alaska to the oak woodlands near the San Diego-Tijuana border.

Several scientists said the growing threat appears linked to global warming. That means tree mortality is likely to rise in places as the continent warms, potentially altering landscapes in ways that increase erosion, fan wildfires and diminish the biodiversity of Western forests.

A SLOW STRUGGLE

Only 9 percent of homes that were destroyed in blazes have been rebuilt

San Diego Union-Tribune (October 21, 2008 ) — Mary Wagner and her family are among the lucky ones. Although they lost their home in Rancho Bernardo in the wildfires that started a year ago today, they navigated insurance claims and building permits with little trouble and will be moving into a new, bigger house before Christmas.

“We couldn’t have been more fortunate,” she said. “The house looks a lot different, but it’s beautiful.”

Links to top stories in other publications on East County issues

WATER RATIONING GROWS INCREASINGLY LIKELY

San Diego Union-Tribune (Sept. 26, 2008) --| For the first time since 1992, San Diego is facing the possibility of water rationing, a step that could happen as soon as January. The threat is expected to loom for years as Southern California readjusts to the tightest drinking water supplies it has experienced in almost two decades.

The Metropolitan Water District, the Los Angeles-based wholesaler that provides about 75 percent of San Diego County's supply, will consider as soon as January whether to cut deliveries to the 13 million people it serves -- including the San Diego County Water Authority, which provides water to the city of San Diego and 23 other local agencies.

REGION:  STILL NOT READY TO FIGHT FIRE

Move toward regional fire agency could be pivotal, some say

North County Times (September 20, 2008) -- As San Diego County moves into that scary time of year when hot, dry winds roar in from the desert and threaten to transform even the tiniest spark into an inferno, a question lingers: Could another deadly wildfire strike this fall?

The answer, experts say, is yes.

The disasters of 2003 and 2007 reduced much of the county to ashes. But two-thirds of the chaparral-carpeted backcountry remains and would provide plenty of fresh fuel for wind-fanned flames.

FARMERS PREPARE FOR TERMINATION OF WATER PROGRAM

California Farm Bureau (September 17, 2008) -- In a move that will affect crop production across much of the region, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California plans to end its discount program for agricultural irrigation water. The move, expected to be approved in October, will open the door to increased water costs for many Southland farmers…