This week in The Alpine Sun

Lead Stories 

Horse Fire continues to burn more than 16000 acres 
PINE VALLEY — The Horse Fire, 18 percent contained at 16,445 acres, as of Wednesday afternoon, was the result of an illegal alien campfire, according to investigators with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The fire was first reported Sunday, June 23, at 6:04 a.m. in Horsethief Canyon. By Monday, aircraft and ground crews were tending the fire. The Office of the Sheriff sent out a reverse 911 precautionary voluntary evacuation notice for Guatay and Pine Valley, and Lake Morena received the same kind of call on Sunday night.

Governor offers views on energy shortage, fire
“These fires are terrible!  Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said Monday in an interview with The Alpine Sun. “The experts are on the ground. The firefighters are there, doing their job and working to get the fires under control. We hope that within the next few days they continue to make great progress,” Schwarzenegger said after a briefing by fire officials. “The coordination of all the forces is extraordinary...There are many (fires) burning all across the state." 

Families philosophical on evacuation
The American Red Cross staged quickly to offer assistance to Back Country residents during the Horse Fire on Sunday, July 23.  Joan Mac Queen Middle School served as the designated spot for the temporary evacuation point, and remained so, as of Tuesday, augmented by Steele Canyon school.

Resurgence of art in the Back Country 
In the past two years, art groups have begun forming in Alpine and the back country regions of East County.  Three such groups, Alpine Artists Association (AAA), Southern California Center for Youth, Nature and the Arts Inc., and Mountain Empire Creative Arts Council has become a force in the art of the region while developing a sisterhood of cooperation.   AAA is at work on HAG fest (Healing/Arts/Global music festival) will be held on Saturday, October 14, 2006 as part of Viejo’s Days month-long celebration.

Editorial: Vendetta should be set aside in survival crisis