Week of January 16, 2025
Week of January 16, 2025
UPDATE: 8 pm: All evacuation orders have been lifted as per the Sheriff's Department. The Lilac Fire remains at 85 acres and is still 50% contained. Fire crews continue to extinguish hotspots within the fire's perimeter. _____________________________________________ UPDATE 5:30 PM Cal Fire reports that 85 acres have burned. The containment is now at 50%. ______________________________________________ UPDATE 11 am According to CalFire, the Lilac Fire is 30% contained.... Full story
SDGE has put out a map showing the areas that may have their power shut off for wind. There are 82,000 customers throughout San Diego County who are in the "possible shut off" area. Some areas, including Boulevard, Campo Reservation, Descanso, and Warner Springs are without power as of 5:30 pm January 20, 2025. 1086 customers are without power now, according to SDGE. Tuesday and Wednesday are a PSPS Warning: A Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) is likely in the region.... Full story
FALLBROOK - A traffic collision involving a white vehicle that ran into the back of a fuel tanker semi-truck occurred late Sunday night on northbound Interstate 15 north of Mission Road, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) log. The incident was reported at 11:24 p.m. to NCFPD and the CHP when a white vehicle reportedly rear-ended a semi-truck, blocking the slow lane. A separate vehicle, described as a white Toyota hatchback, was possibly involved and may have... Full story
Northern San Diego County continues to face a historically dry winter, with persistent Santa Ana winds exacerbating the ongoing drought. Our thoughts are with the residents of Los Angeles, who are grappling with one of the most significant natural disasters in recent California history. As weather conditions remain unsettled, Fallbrook, Bonsall, Rainbow, and the greater Southern California region remain at an elevated risk for wildfires. In response to this threat, your North County Fire Protection District (NCFPD), in...
A pedestrian was struck by a vehicle while reported by a bystander to have been walking in the crosswalk at the intersection of North Main Avenue and East Alvarado Street late Sunday afternoon, according to the CHP. The collision occurred at approximately 5:46 p.m. and involved a silver Nissan sedan, according to initial reports from the California Highway Patrol. Emergency responders were dispatched to the scene shortly after the incident was reported. The condition of the... Full story
A motorcyclist's foot was severed during a vehicle vs. motorcycle accident Monday evening at the intersection of South Main Avenue and East Aviation Road, authorities said. The severed foot was transported with the rider and taken to a local hospital. The incident occurred around 4:05 pm., when a white Chevrolet Suburban collided with a motorcycle, leaving the rider down in the roadway, according to California Highway Patrol dispatch logs. Emergency responders were alerted to... Full story
Videos of the suspect being taken into custody. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45OE-1qj9Bw. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QU9iqlVYqE A 30-year-old Fallbrook man was taken into custody Friday morning after leading authorities on a vehicle chase and foot pursuit. He was found hiding in a shed. The suspect, Alexis Anduaga, was apprehended at 11:01 a.m. on Linmar Lane near Via Lima and Stagecoach Lane following an extensive search involving deputies, a helicopter, a drone,... Full story
SACRAMENTO – In response to a forecast of critical fire weather conditions, Cal Fire has increased firefighter staffing and pre-positioned resources throughout Southern California. The National Weather Service predicted strong offshore winds, low humidity, and high fire risk from Tuesday through Thursday. Key actions by Cal Fire: · Cal Fire is strategically moving firefighting resources from Northern California into Southern California including 45 additional fire engines and six additional hand crews to Los Angeles,...
I’m in Fallbrook, an area where I learned after moving here, it is such a fire concern that some insurance companies don’t want to insure homes here. I’m not typically a big news watcher, but I’ve been riveted watching the fire that started in Palisades spread from one to now four locations, thousands of acres, and growing. I can’t bring myself to critique or criticize the fire department’s preparedness or response because I don’t know how you prepare for a historically horrific fire fueled by...
BONSALL – Bonsall Unified School District wishes to inform the community about the recent closures of Bonsall High School (BHS) and Sullivan Middle School (SMS) on Wednesday, Jan. 8, and Thursday, Jan. 9. The closures were due to a Public Safety Power Shutdown (PSPS) initiated by SDG&E, which left both campuses without power. These sites were placed on the county’s school closure list due to safety concerns associated with the PSPS. The District received a four hour notification of a possible shutdown at 4:55 a.m. The...
SAN DIEGO – The San Diego County Sheriff's Office Regional Crime Laboratory received more than half a million dollars from the California Office of Traffic Safety to help in its continuing efforts to combat impaired driving. The $542,981 grant will be used to pay for two full-time Crime Lab Criminalist positions specializing in the analysis of biological samples for the presence of drugs and alcohol. The grant will also fund overtime for Criminalists to assist in...
At 33 years old, Dominic Trent has become a cherished member of the Fallbrook community, known for his unwavering dedication to keeping the parking lot area around Dollar Tree and Grocery Outlet organized and safe. Everyone needs to have a purpose, and keeping the cars and people safe in this local busy parking lot seems to be his. He serves the community with enthusiasm and a kind heart. This is what earned him the Village News Worker of the Week. Dom's life has been shaped... Full story
FALLBROOK – The Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce has several events line up for this month, including the following: Thursday, Jan. 9 – SunUpper hosted by Moonlite Chic at Chamber office, 9 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15 – SunDowner hosted by Mountain Mike’s Pizza, 5:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17 – Business Breakfast Club at the chamber office for members only/Goal Setting by David Zumaya, 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 20 – MLK Day – office closed Friday, Jan. 24 – Lunch Mob at Bakin’ it Up Collective, Noon Wednesday, Jan. 29 ... Full story
BONSALL – The Bonsall Unified School District remains deeply grateful to the North County Fire Protection District, Cal Fire, and Fire Chief McReynolds for their rapid response, ongoing support, and clear communication during this fire emergency. Their leadership has once again been instrumental in ensuring the safety of our students, staff, and families. Today, Jan. 21, all Bonsall schools are closed due to an active fire, ongoing evacuation zones, and the additional threat of Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). The... Full story
In the small town of Bonsall, a remarkable coincidence has linked three generations of San Diego educators and students, sparking a heartfelt and unexpected reunion. John Leung, a bright and introspective junior at Bonsall High School, is not your typical teenager. Instead of engaging in the usual high school activities, Leung often spends his lunch periods delving into deep philosophical debates with his favorite teacher, Scott Rodarte. Rodarte, a beloved science teacher at...
Linda Bezzant Miller was born Dec. 5, 1948, in American Fork, Utah, and shortly after, moved with her parents to Fallbrook. She spent her whole life in the friendly village. Linda graduated from Fallbrook High School and completed some nursing college in San Jose and at Palomar before marrying Gordon Lee Miller in 1973. Together, they opened and ran Miller Irrigation for 40 years, helping hundreds of grove and homeowners bring their citrus, avocado, and gardening dreams to... Full story
SACRAMENTO – In case you missed it, last month in Redding, Governor Gavin Newsom unveiled the final framework for the Master Plan for Career Education to strengthen career pathways, prioritize hands-on learning and real-life skills, and advance educational access and affordability. As part of a $100 million budget investment to implement key components of the Master Plan, Governor Newsom proposed the scaling of the state’s Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) effort to fund a new initiative to make it easier for Californians...
SAN MARCOS – The Palomar College Police Academy has been chosen for a pilot program that will give greater emphasis to physical and mental fitness in training the state’s future law enforcement officers. The California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST), which sets training standards for police academies in the state, approved having the Palomar College Police Academy as part of a pilot program to teach lifetime fitness throughout the yearlong academy training. Police Academy Coordinator Juliette...
FALLBROOK – Lisa Bellora will be speaking about good design with sustainability in mind at the Jan. 28 Fallbrook Garden Club's general meeting. Bellora is a residential landscape designer who focuses on regenerating landscapes. Her designs feature low water, low maintenance, environmentally friendly landscapes. Bellora's passion is giving back to the earth and all of its creatures, people, animals and insects alike, by establishing gardens that will be used, enjoyed and... Full story
FALLBROOK – The Fallbrook Vintage Car Club announces that online registration, at www.fallbrookvintagecarclub.org, for this year's 58th version of the Fallbrook Vintage Car Show will be open on Monday, Feb. 3. It will be held again in downtown Fallbrook, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the public on Sunday, May 25. There will not be any swap meet vendors this year. Watch the car club’s website as it has been updated with news about the show. Porsche will be the featured car which will be located in the lower library parking lot... Full story
FALLBROOK – Fallbrook Girls Softball Spring 2025 registration is open. Parents can register their daughters in person at the upcoming walk-up registrations. The first one will be this Saturday, Jan. 18 from 9-10:30 a.m. at Ingold Sports Park. The second and last walk up registration will be on Thursday, Jan. 23, from 5:30-7 p.m., also at Ingold Sports Park, 2551 Olive Hill Road. Registration can also be done online at www.FallbrookGirlsSoftball.com. Age divisions range from 4-14 years old. Visit their website for more... Full story
The 2023 Bonsall High School girls volleyball team had an overall season record of 2-16 including a forfeit win which was the only Sierra League victory in the Legionnaires’ 1-7 league mark. Bonsall was in the Pioneer League for 2024, and the Legionnaires were 6-4 in league competition which was worth third place in the standings. All of those wins were on the court, and Bonsall was 6‑13 overall. “It takes a few years to build a program, and I feel like this was an improvement from last year,” said Bonsall coach...
The Fallbrook High School tandem of senior Natalie Guadalupe and sophomore Emily Carroll reached the finals of the 2024 Valley League girls tennis tournament. The tournament took place Oct. 21-23 at San Pasqual High School. Fallbrook sophomore Ashlyn Trujillo placed fourth in the singles competition. “It went almost perfectly to script,” said Fallbrook coach Bill Lenaway. “There weren’t really any surprises.” The league coaches had seeded the singles players and doubles teams. Each school was allowed up to four...
Bonsall High School lost the Legionnaires’ first girls basketball game of the 2024-25 season, but the 30 points Bonsall scored were the most since girls basketball was reinstated in 2023 and the 14-point margin was the closest game the Legionnaires have had since resuming the program after a four-year lapse. “I feel they performed excellently. We only had about two practices prior to that game,” said Bonsall coach Jessica Kaller. Bonsall had girls basketball in the 2018-19 season but not during any of the next four...
The Dec. 11 San Diego County Board of Supervisors meeting included approval of mid-year budget adjustments, and the county supervisors appropriated an additional $2,030,000 for the Rainbow Water Quality Improvement Project. The supervisors’ 4-0 vote, with Joel Anderson absent, approved the additional appropriations for the project. The budget adjustments utilized balances at the end of the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2024‑25. Mid-year budget adjustments reflect revenue received since the annual budget was adopted,...
Creamy, soft, white, and ripe……cottage cheese aims to please both taste buds and your health. Cottage cheese is fresh, not aged or ripened over time like other cheeses. It is made from curds from pasteurized cow’s milk, which can be or combine regular milk, non-fat, or reduced fat types. Therefore, cottage cheese comes in different varieties, so buyers might prefer or need one type versus the other depending on how the cheese will be used (e.g., eaten raw or in a...
FALLBROOK – This month’s Wellness Wednesday Educational Workshop at the Fallbrook Regional Health District’s Community Health & Wellness Center is on Preventing Glaucoma & Protecting Your Vision, Wednesday, Jan. 29, in English at 1:30 p.m. and in Spanish at 2:30 p.m. The free workshop is dedicated to promoting eye health and preventing glaucoma. Learn about the risk factors, early warning signs, and the latest strategies for maintaining healthy vision. Presented by Fallbrook Family Health Center, there will also be...
It can be scary when attending an addiction facility for the first time to overcome your addictions and other mental health issues. Many people may wonder what they should and should not do when they attend these places. As a result, here are six suggestions on how to get the most from going to rehab. 1. Follow the rules: The most important thing a person should do is to follow the rules when entering rehab. Focus your energies on getting better and don’t do anything that could get you into trouble. Your main goal should...
Today, I had the opportunity to interview NCFPD Chief Keith McReynolds in the wake of the devastating fires in Los Angeles. While I’m not an expert on fire preparedness or infrastructure, the situation in Los Angeles appears to be a perfect storm of inadequate infrastructure planning, poor coordination in preparedness efforts, and a concerning tendency to prioritize ideology over capability when hiring or electing leaders. Based on media coverage, these factors seem to...
Large parts of the Los Angeles basin are on fire, and you can help with some vital donations now. The wildfires to the north of us have caused historic fire storms, driven by those Santa Ana winds, and it is not over yet. Thousands of homes and lives have been lost, altered, and torn apart. These various fires have disrupted one of America’s iconic cities and your heartfelt help is needed now for all and new fires are erupting as I write. Donations from around the world are on their way for those in need. I propose that... Full story
SAN DIEGO – Assemblyman Carl DeMaio (R-San Diego) sent a letter Jan. 14 to the Director of the San Diego County Office of Emergency Services (OES) asking for a situation assessment of water storage and fire hydrant systems within San Diego County. In the wake of the LA fires, allegations have been made that the lack of water in reservoirs and the hydrant system were a major reason the fires grew so quickly. “After discovering that the Pacific Palisades Reservoir was bone dry and the fire hydrant systems had run out of... Full story
This has been a tragic week for Southern California as wildfires have devastated communities. Our hearts go out to those affected, and we are profoundly grateful for the bravery of our firefighters, including many from San Diego who have gone above and beyond to assist. I’ve received many questions this week regarding San Diego County’s preparedness for a similar incident. I want to assure you that we have taken significant steps to ensure we are ready to protect our... Full story
FALLBROOK – Area residents are in for a special treat when Fallbrook Music Society presents the internationally acclaimed Acoustic Eidolon at Fallbrook's Mission Theater on Sunday, Jan. 19 at 2 p.m. The married couple who hails from Colorado consists of Joe Scott on his custom 14-string guitjos and acoustic guitars, along with classically trained cellist Hannah Alkire, present some of the most intriguing sounds on the music scene today. With a repertoire that defies...
FALLBROOK – On Jan. 18, the Fallbrook Artists Association will host Julia Gravois as the Demonstration Artist and Workshop Instructor. Gravois has been painting since her 20's. While living in Southern Louisiana, she began the study of painting under the guidance of artists/teachers: Dottie Billiu-Hensche, Sammy Britt, and Dianne Trevino. Since then, she spent more than 25 years on an exciting path of artistic self-discovery. Two years ago, Gravois moved from New Orleans,...
SACRAMENTO – Following two major earthquakes that shook California in December, the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and UC Berkeley Seismology Lab announce that the first-in-the-nation statewide earthquake early warning phone app, known as “MyShake,” is now available for download at no cost for Chromebooks and MacOS. “The technology that fuels the California Earthquake Early Warning System continues to make advances, giving communities critical seconds to drop, cover and hold on when...
