David Ross

California

Writer and Editor at Valley Roadrunner

Editor-in-Chief at Escondido Times-Advocate

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Articles

Realtor’s business hit 6 times by cars: ‘someone is going to get killed’

1 week ago | valleycenter.com | David Ross

We will have a more complete report on Monday night’s planning group meeting in next week’s paper. Look for it. When six cars crash into your office building within the space of four years, you take notice. When your granddaughter has been known to play in a section of the office that was wrecked by the last accident at the end of March, you take notice.
Community all shook up—but stays calm - Valley Roadrunner

1 week ago | valleycenter.com | David Ross

I bet you know what you were doing at exactly 10:08 a.m. on Monday, April 14. I know what I was doing: interviewing Fire Chief Joe Napier in my office, when suddenly “What the . . . !”The chief looked about him with remarkable sang froid. I glanced up at the ceiling to see if anything was going to go fall on us. Then my fingers resumed their keyboard clicking. We continued our interview.
Planning group to hear about BESS safety bill

2 weeks ago | valleycenter.com | David Ross

The April meeting of the Valley Center Community Planning Group will feature reports on VC Trails, an update on a bill in Sacramento to limit the siting of BESS battery storage facilities, and a proposed equestrian staging area. Planning member LaVonne Norwood will present the information on Valley Center Trails and Friends of Hellhole Canyon. Norwood will also present information about the proposed equestrian staging area on West Lilac Road.
Open House at History Museum May 3

2 weeks ago | valleycenter.com | David Ross

The Valley Center History Museum will present a free community event “Night at the Museum,” Saturday, May 3, 5-7 p.m. The event will highlight Western Days’ 75th anniversary. According to Museum Board President Faith Much, “The Open House will be a lively event with exhibits, food and lots of fun. We are highlighting our heritage with Native Americans and early settlers. We are bringing our history to life in an exciting and educational event for the community.
Revite Meeting - Valley Roadrunner

2 weeks ago | valleycenter.com | David Ross

Part II of a series. Recently, 5th District Supervisor Jim Desmond held his quarterly Zoom “Revitalization Committee” meetings. This is the second article on that meeting, which covered a wide variety of topics. Participating in the meeting were an impressive collection of county and staff members, representing the Dept. of Public Works, Dept. of Parks & Rec, Animals Services, and the Dept. of Planning and Development Services, plus San Diego Gas & Electric.
DeMaio tells constituents about Voter ID effort

2 weeks ago | valleycenter.com | David Ross

Saturday morning, March 29, Carl DeMaio, assemblyman for the 75th District, held a Town Hall at the Country Trader where he talked about his Reform California movement’s efforts to put a voter ID initiative on the November 2026 ballot. The meeting was more a report by DeMaio on his political movement, Reform California, than an actual town hall in the normal sense—however he did take questions from constituents at the end of his talk—and later met one-on-one with anyone who wanted to engage him.
SDG&E revises plan for safety shut-offs

3 weeks ago | valleycenter.com | David Ross

San Diego Gas & Electric Co. has announced a new plan for determining which areas are included in the Public Safety Power Shutoffs. A matrix grid has been developed that customers can use to figure out whether their homes will have power when the high winds rise amidst low humidity, which lead to increased chances of wildfire. The grid incorporatesSDG&E and County policies of social equity, justice and inclusion. And adds a slight element of chance.
Community members get details on County’s cannabis proposals

3 weeks ago | valleycenter.com | David Ross

Saturday morning Dr. Matt Matthews, a local veterinarian, made an impassioned appeal for the County not to export the problems of cannabis-culture and retail to the unincorporated areas: “There is no shortage of cannabis. No one is being denied cannabis. I don’t see a need to expand the use of it.”He added, “Cannabis is a toxic plant,” that will put a toxic substance into the soil.
Lin Werkheiser appointed to new term on fire board

1 month ago | valleycenter.com | David Ross

At the February Valley Center Fire Protection District board meeting Lin Werkheiser was appointed to another term as a director. It was almost exactly a month’s gap since his first term ran out and his next term began. This set of circumstances came about because of the weirdness of redistricting that happens once every ten years. Werkheiser, who was originally appointed on May 2024, found himself in the same electoral district as Ron Duff, who had also been appointed around the same time.
Planning group gets report on VC’s smoky future under cannabis proposal

1 month ago | valleycenter.com | David Ross

The Valley Center Community Planning Group at Monday’s meeting heard an alarming report on the impending county policy toward pot cultivation in the backcountry from a reliable, trusted source—and got properly alarmed about it. The County is in the midst of assembling an environmental impact report on its Socially Equitable Cannabis Program. You have until March 31 to comment.