October 27, 2011
VOL. 125, ISSUE 48
50¢
Ramona Sentinel
1
THURSDAY, JANUARY 19, 2012
Inside
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HawkWatch Hundreds are coming to view raptors at the Wildlife Research Institute’s HawkWatch every Satuday morning this month.................6
Chamber’s Choice Awards
Rural fire fee faces challenge Bill calls for repeal of tax By KAREN BRAINARD
Antique bottles The late John English had a passion for antique bottles and his collection is on display in the Guy B. Woodward Museum.........10
Index
P.O. Box 367 Ramona, CA 92065
Presorted Standard US Postage PAID Ramona CA Permit No 136
Our Town....................7 Worship Directory.....10 Business Marketplace.11 Backcountry News....19 Sports........................23 Classified...................25 Obituaries...........21&32
Above, Assemblyman Brian Jones and Supervisor Dianne Jacob congratulate 91-year-old Don Owen for being Ramona Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year at the chamber dinner at the San Vicente Golf Resort on Sunday. At left, Ralph Mittman, master of ceremonies and chamber director, presents Simone McCune of the Ramona Boys & Girls Club with the Nonprofit Organization of the Year plaque. Business of the Year honors went to Sludgebusters European Portable Septic Service, and Susan MacWilliams accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award for her late husband, Nelson “Mac” MacWilliams, former chamber executive director who Sentinel photos/Jeff Mitchell died in an accident on Dec. 20.
A group of legislators have authored a bill to repeal California’s rural fire fee. The introduction of the bill, AB 1506, on Jan. 12 followed California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection’s approval of the annual fire prevention fee. It was the third time the fee went before the board since it was signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown in July 2011. Local lawmakers are pushing for the repeal. Among co-authors of AB 1506 are District 77 Assemblyman Brian Jones and District 36 Sen. Joel Anderson, who both represent Ramona and have voiced their opposition to the fee. The bill was introduced by Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries, whose 66th District includes Julian, and As-
Views differ on plans for Grasslands trails By KAREN BRAINARD San Diego County Department of Parks and Recreation’s proposal for new trails and infrastructure in the Ramona Grasslands has created controversy between those who believe the county-owned land should be available for public use and those
who are concerned for the golden eagles that live there. The public comment period for the draft mitigated negative declaration (MND) and initial study of the proposal ended on Tuesday, Jan. 17. The project proposes 8.6 miles of non-motorized, multi-use trails, including 6.5 miles of existing trails
and ranch roads, and 2.1 miles of new trails within the 3,490-acre Ramona Grasslands Preserve. In addition, 2 miles of pathways are proposed along Highland Valley and Rangeland Roads. New infrastructure proposed for See GRASSLANDS TRAILS on page 20
semblyman Paul Cook of the 65th District. The law affects property owners living in state responsibility areas (SRAs) protected by Cal Fire, which include areas around Ramona and the 125 square miles of the Intermountain Fire Department. Property owners will be charged $150 per habitable structure. A $35 credit will be applied if the property owner already pays into a local fire protection district, such as the Ramona Municipal Water District. The fee is estimated to affect 73,000 homes in San Diego County. After the forestry board’s recent action, District 2 County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, who represents Ramona and has opposed the fee from the beginning, said in a prepared statement: “I question the motives of the fire board and the governor for trying to triple tax rural property owners who already pay for fire protection with property taxes and special assessments. “There are fewer rural residents than urban residents so this is a politically convenient way for the state to try to pawn off its budget mess on people in rural areas,” she continued. “The triple tax is unfair, legally questionable and does zip to address the state’s real problem: bureaucratic bloat.”