SO HOW WAS YOUR (MONGOL) WEEKEND?

With all the law enforcement stationed along SR 94 and Lyons Valley Rd, it may not be surprising that locals have apparently been pulled over more frequently for speeding or other infractions:
One caller received a speeding ticket for exceeding the 55 mph limit going down the Skyline Truck Trail downgrade.  She was  applying brakes and had two cars in front of her.  She was cited for 65 mph.
A second driver reported being pulled over on 94 Saturday night while returning from his work at a nearby restaurant.  He was informed there was no light on his rear license plate.  Upon inspection it was simply dimmed by its cover of road dust (this IS Jamul), and he was not cited.
A local grandmother (toddlers in the car) approached the intersection at Hwy 94 from Lyons Valley Rd.  She was startled to see numerous (~15) police officers out of their cars on both sides of the road, including two with guns drawn.  When she hesitated going through what appeared to be a dangerous situation one officer motioned her to move through in the middle of the road so she could turn west onto 94.  She seemed quite shaken by the incident.
It appears many Jamul residents were caught off guard by the Mongols arrival, along with the heavy police presence in Jamul.  Here are some of the questions I've been asked (and have no answers for at this point):

• Why was so little notice given to residents before police began taking up their positions along 94 and Skyline. We were concerned and worried.  (The only news sources I was aware of that circulated information were Ch 8 or 10 News.)

• Why did Diamond Jack's, a rural RV park, permit a Mongol Motorcycle Club Rally in our community? (A good question for the management/owners.  A check of reviews by various camping websites shows 35 available RV sites, pool, and other amenities.  Reviews are mostly positive: peaceful.. quiet.. clean.. friendly.. etc.  Was they even aware of what was coming?

• How much has this police response cost-- and from whose budget?  (Chula Vista, El Cajon, La Mesa, County, Vista, ?)  

• To what extent did our local businesses benefit... or did they?  (We avoided going into Jamul for dinner with overnight guests, opting instead for Eastlake.) 

• Is this something we should expect again next year? 

The Deerhorn Valley Antler is interested in knowing your opinion or experience of this weekend's Mongol Invasion and Police Presence.  We'd especially love to hear from residents who live or pass by Diamond Jack's.
The Summer Antler is being assembled and edited now; we'd definitely like to include your perspective.  Just email theantler@deerhornvalley.net  You can even be anonymous if you wish.

Many thanks,
Kim, Ariele, & Leslie
The Antler Editors

MONGOL INVASION...

Photo from Channel 8 video link: 

We were perplexed driving up the hill from Rancho San Diego yesterday.  At every intersection or open driveway along Hwy 94 there was a parked black-and-white police unit: SD Sheriffs, Vista, El Cajon, La Mesa, Chula Vista...  Multiple units were even covering Four Corners intersection of Honey Springs an Lyons Valley Rd.  All sorts of things ran through my mind: Drill?  Terrorism? Manhunt?  When the phone started ringing and others were asking ME what was happening, I sent out the first Antler Alert with the question.  Within minutes came the answer from those who'd been paying closer attention to local news:  The Mongols were coming... and nearly 300 were already here.

Marcia Spurgeon gave the details:

The sheriff and Police presence started early this morning. There are units
from San Diego, La Mesa, El Cajon, Vista, Oceanside. The units are all manned
with two officers. There are also multiple undercover units. They are positioned
from the corner of Jamacha & 94 all the way past the post office and up Lyons
Valley and Skyline. Mostly parked in driveways.
They are in Jamul because a motorcycle gang, the Mongols are camping out at
Diamond Jack's and maybe Skyline Ranch Campground. A sheriff went and
talked with Nadine Bennett at the school district office at about 4pm. Apparently,
the Monguls are in the Hell's Angels territory. The sheriff said they would be here
all weekend, monitoring the gang, until they leave Jamul. I was told there was
about 300 bikes altogether going up Lyons Valley road.   –Marcia Spurgeon

In 2002 three people were killed and more than a dozen were injured in a brawl between Hells Angels and Mongols at Harrah's Laughlin casino.

Here are links to some of the media coverage:

CHANNEL 10 NEWS: http://www.10news.com/news/28644582/detail.htmlCHANNEL 8 NEWS: http://www.cbs8.com/story/15133559/mongols-biker-gang-converging-on-jamulLA TIMES: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/07/mongols-ride-into-small-town-in-east-san-diego-county-met-by-law-enforcement.html

SOCKED IN....

Thursday morning 8: AM (east view) from Lyons Peak. Check out the other three views here:
http://hpwren.ucsd.edu/cameras/LyonsPeak.html 

DEERHORN FIRE STATION OPEN HOUSE & REUNION

The Community Reunion & Fire Station Open House held on June 26th was a great community event.  Tables of neighbors, old and new, lined the bay (I counted some 40 parked cars, so estimating the turnout at around 80!)   There was a lot of "Oh my gosh... look who's here!" and plenty of waves to friends across the tables.  Rob and I had to leave early (grandkids arriving), but Sharon Rich... long time Deerhorn resident... gives us a sense of what it was to be there:

We went to the Deerhorn Fire Dept. meeting June 26th 2011. There was a greeting table and we were all given raffle tickets. The volunteer firefighters stood tall and proud in the background. One of the purposes of the meeting was the vote for the committee. The speakers filled us in from past to present and giving the direction of the future and included a  slide show of many of those in the community who have helped along the way these years.
We were served a delicious 5 star lunch and dessert.
I would like to say to all taking part that it was a fine community effort, and those there were proud to be part of the Deerhorn community.  We thank those taking part and making it happen.
Speaking for those of us who were shy of information I would have liked to have been introduced to those seeking election as part of the meeting.  Importantly...a 'sort of' roll call of the volunteer firemen would have been nice. Yes, we were given a chance to applaud them.  –Sharon Rich

Marcia Spurgeon was the Mistress of Ceremony, and Paul and Dianne Jacob were there and honored for their donation of land.  It was a real salute to the community folks of Deerhorn Valley (1975-1993) who raised more than $40,000 to construct the fire station and then passed a Benefit Fee to make sure it would be maintained.  A plaque now rests at the foot of the flagpole, on a large native rock that Paul Jacob managed to haul over with his tractor!

The Annual Election of CSZ Board Members was also held.  It says something about the vitality and spirit of a community when there were actually more candidates than there were seats!  Congratulations to our newly-elected CSZ Board Members, and those continuing their service to the community:  

Ruth Brewer, Sandra Ignosci, Susie Norton, Mike Sandvig, Karen Thomason

Kudos and thanks to Batallion Chief John Kremensky and all our firefighters who "stood proud." Chief K collected numerous photographs of fundraising and community events from 1975 on and created a slide show with them. There were a lot of moist eyes watching the efforts of so many to create a community center and fire station. And no... we didn't even ask what was in those cups everyone was holding!

Phyllis D. was there with her camera... (thank heavens!)  You can see more of pictures on our Facebook Page:

 http://www.facebook.com/DeerhornValley.