There may be as many as four egg ranches in Valley Center that have been infected with Exotic Newcastle Disease, a disease that is almost invariably fatal to birds, but doesn’t affect humans.
It is difficult to determine how many ranches in VC have been infected because the state Dept. of Food & Agriculture’s Exotic Newcastle Disease Task Force won’t reveal this information. Their policy is to state only how many infected ranches there are in the County.
According to the latest from the department, this number is five.
We are aware of two infested ranches, one on Cole Grade Road and the other on Fruitvale. The latest seems to be a ranch on Cole Grade owned by Armstrong Egg Ranches.
The most recently infested ranch has 55,000 birds. It was discovered last Saturday, according to the state’s “information” line.
A ranch with 95,000 birds on it was discovered Feb. 17.
The original discovery of Newcastle Disease occurred in Ramona, at a ranch that had 139,000 birds.
There is apparently one other egg ranch with 69,000 birds that is also infected.
And one in San Diego one with 69,000.
Eric Larson, executive director of the San Diego County Farm Bureau, expressed frustration with the state’s clampdown on information regarding the ranches infested.
“I can’t even get their daily news release at the Farm Bureau,” he said. “For seem reason they are keeping information from the public. What they don’t understand is that the public can be a partner is discovering and eradicating the disease.
“Don’t give me an address, but give me a general area. The industry deserves to know that as well.”
This can be contrasted with the department’s information regarding the Mexican Fruit Fly, in which the location, although not the actual addresses of the infestations were quickly provided to the public.
The Roadrunner has heard reports that one or more daily newspaper has filed Freedom of Information Act requests with the state to get the locations of the ranches. The Roadrunner plans to file a similar request.
Since the disease was first discovered in Compton, over 2 million birds have been killed in California, with about 500,000 killed in San Diego County.
Persons who want more “information” can visit the state’s website at www.sdfa.ca.gov or call 800-491-1899.
Although most of the big news about the Exotic Newcastle Disease affects large local egg ranches, people who have just a few chickens for their own use are also at risk.
At a public information meeting for people interested in what they can do to combat the disease will be held March 3, 7 p.m., VC Middle School auditorium.
According to Mike Davidson, with public outreach for the Exotic Newcastle Disease Task Force, “The target audience is anyone who owns birds who is concerned about the spread of the disease.”
Davidson and his associates will have a Powerpoint presentation in which they will discuss bio security measures. A question and answer period, which can be lengthy, will follow.
“We’re going to talk about the disease, what it’s doing and what people can do to protect their own pets from the disease.”
Newcastle Disease is spread from bird to bird contact. According to Davidson “you can carry it on your foot. You can step in feces of an infected bird and take it to healthy birds. We preach bio security, foot baths, disinfecting bird and caging birds until the infestation is past.”
Davidson told The Roadrunner, “I was up in your area driving and saw that we had quite a few free-roaming birds.
Such free-roaming birds could help spread the disease,” he said.
Even wild birds can carry the disease, although not a large percentage of them have been found to be infected, he said. “If wild birds catch the disease they go off and die by themselves without threatening other birds. So we are concentrating on the domestic birds.”
Anyone who has birds should be concerned about Newcastle Disease, he said.
“We do have a caged bird policy that allows us to test birds,” he said.
For more information on Newcastle Disease, visit www.cdfa.ca.gov
The VC Municipal Water District is asking its customers to cut usage from March 8-18.
The water district has been advised by its supplier, the Metropolitan Water District, that from 8 a.m., March 8 through 4 p.m, March 18, all treated water aqueducts that deliver water to the district will be shut down to allow MWD to perform work at the Skinner Treatment Plant and to perform an inspection on the Pipeline.
Because of this shutdown, water flow to customers of VCMWD will be severely restricted beginning march 8, 2003 at 8 a.m. The water that remains in storage will be available only for domestic use and fire protection.
During the shutdown the district will be implementing the Emergency Water Management Plan and the following conservation provisions are mandatory:
• Use of water for all agricultural purposes, except for livestock watering, is prohibited.
• All outdoor landscape irrigation is prohibited.
• All unnecessary domestic use such as spraying driveways, washing vehicles and filling fountains or ponds is prohibited.
According to the water district, normal service will resume March 18 at 4 p.m., subject to renewal of service from its supplier.
Such shutdowns are fairly routine and have become something of an annual event with the MWD, which performed a similar shutdown last year about this time.
Questions? Call 749-1600 Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. or visit the district’s website at www.vcmwd.org
Noah Van Cleeve, 27 of VC barely escaped with his life Friday about 8 p.m. when he was shot in the side with a .22 handgun.
Although initially reported as a carjacking, on Tuesday Escondido police were saying that the suspect in the case, John “Bubba” Peart of VC, was actually voluntarily given a ride by the victim.
Peart was arrested Monday night, charged with attempted murder and felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the police report, Van Cleeve told the police that he had been driving with Peart, whom he was acquainted with, when he suddenly became angry and shot him.
This disagrees with Peart’s statement, which was apparently that the firearm went off accidentally.
The shooting took place on East Valley Parkway, and according to police, the suspect drove the victim’s vehicle to Belknap Way in Escondido and then drove off.
Van Cleeve was later found a few houses down, and transported to Palomar Medical Center.
According to Van Cleeve’s mother, Merle, the bullet entered his lung, spleen, intestines and bowel. Doctors removed the spleen and some intestines. At the time of this writing the bullet remained lodged in muscle tissue and the victim was still in critical condition at Palomar Medical Center.
“Thank God he’s all right!” his mother told The Roadrunner. She added, “This guy has gotten away with a lot of things in the past. It’s about time someone got him.”
Mrs. Van Cleeve told The Roadrunner that Peart had attempted to get the victim back into the car after shooting him and that Van Cleeve ran away because he feared for his life.
Police said they had no information whether Peart attempted to shoot Van Cleeve again.
“Lindsey Cannon, Miss Valley Center 2002, has had a year to be proud of. As Miss Valley Center she has been our queen for Valley Center for a year.
“From the Just Say No Dinner Dance as one of her first functions, to working with all the new contestants now, we hope she has enjoyed her year as much as we enjoyed helping her throughout her reign. I think we had a great time attending all the events here and all over San Diego. I have enjoyed watching Lindsey grow and change throughout her year. She may be giving her reign to a new young woman but she will always have a place in our community.” Karen Greene, Director of the pageant said this week.
You can join the crowd on Saturday, March 1, at VC Middle School auditorium to see who will wear the crown.
The doors open at 6:30 p.m. for seating and the curtain will open at 7 p.m.
The theme for this year is Surfin’ USA. Tickets are available now for $10 from the contestants, Chamber of Commerce or call Karen Greene at 749-1863 Wk/Hm.
Tickets at the door the night of the pageant are $15. Buy tickets early as seating is limited.
Farewell from Miss Valley Center 2002, Lindsey Cannon: “On the night of March 2, 2002, in a matter of just a few moments, my life was changed. I was crowned Miss Valley Center and began the most remarkable year of my life.
“This experience has given me a million things I have done that now fill me with so much pride. This eventful year has brought great changes to my life. I am full of self-confidence now and I know that I am capable of anything. I reach my highest standard every time I am called Miss Valley Center.
“Looking back on all the memories made this year I began to realize the lessons I have learned and how much the people in my life have helped me. The biggest lesson that I have learned is how to be a role model. When I was a young girl and saw Miss Valley Center riding in a convertible with her diamond crown I knew that someday I would be Miss Valley Center.
“It’s more than wearing gowns and going to functions; it’s being the ‘one’ the little girls look up to. Setting the example of being a successful young woman who can achieve any goal she sets for herself, even if it is only for a few moments. I hope they will still remember me and that I will make a difference in their lives.
“Thank You, Miss Valley Center 2001, Amber Bauer, now we are both Miss Valley Center Veterans. Karen and Dianna Greene: The confidence, experiences, courage and support you gave me last year will stay with me forever. Thank you for making a little girl’s dream come true.
“Last but not least, Thank You Valley Center for letting me be your Queen and even though these are my last moments as Miss Valley Center, I hope I will always stay Miss Valley Center 2002 in your hearts.” Lindsey Cannon, Miss Valley Center 2002.
The pageant is sponsored by the Valley Center Chamber of Commerce and the Valley Center Pageant Association. It is a non-profit 501c(4) association. The event is an educational scholarship pageant. Anyone who would like to add to the scholarship amounts or prizes awarded for the queen and court or essay award can call any board member: Dianna Greene at 760-740-1020 wk, Karen Greene at 749-1863, Debra Jockinsen at 751-1051 or Kelly Bauer at 749-6502. You can also email them at vcpagassoc@aol.com. You can also become a member of the Valley Center Pageant Assn., it is open to anyone who is interested.
Last week’s article misspelled the name of Malinda Lasley, contestant #4.
The Valley Roadrunner
P.O.B. 1529, Valley Center, CA 92082
Tel. 760.749.1112 Fax 760.749.1688
Website: www.valleycenter.com
Email: editor@valleycenter.com
Copyright © 2002, Palomar Community Newspapers, dba Valley Roadrunner. All rights reserved. This content may not be archived, retransmitted, saved in a database, or used for any commercial purpose without the express written permission of the Valley Roadrunner.