The county Board of Supervisors has voted unanimously to continue a local emergency declaration due to U.S.-Mexico transboundary pollution, but not without first hearing from South Bay residents who pressed for more action.

The board first approved an emergency proclamation in June 2023 in response pollution and sewage flowing across the U.S.-Mexico border.

“We’re doing everything possible as a public health care agency to protect the wellness and safety of our residents,” board Chairwoman Nora Vargas said during the board’s meeting Wednesday.

Dr. Ankita Kadakia, interim county public health officer, said her office has asked the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state Department of Public Health to investigate the impacts of cross-border pollution. Kadakia said the county immediately deployed its hazardous response team in response to reports hydrogen cyanide in the air.

Kadakia said she couldn’t emphasize enough how concerned both the county and state are about the quality of life for South County residents.

“No one should be living in those conditions,” Kadakia said.

The board’s vote followed a Tuesday news conference in which Vargas said the air quality in the area does not pose a public health threat, despite foul odors from the Tijuana River Valley and elevated levels of gases.

“I want to reassure everyone that this is not an imminent threat, and it’s safe to be outside and attend school,” Vargas said. “Our county experts are actively gathering public health data and conducting research to provide the most accurate information.

“It’s unacceptable that South County residents have to worry about whether it’s safe to go outside,” she added. “I’m fighting every day to address the root of this issue, but for now, you can trust the data — we’ve got your back.”

During a public comment period Wednesday, supervisors heard from South County residents, some of whom said environmental conditions had caused them and family members to become ill.

Bethany Case, who lives in Imperial Beach, said she and her husband have discussed moving. Case said she often suffers headaches and gastrointestinal problems, with no known cause.

She said Vargas’ news conference Tuesday disgusted residents, and was in opposition to detailed studies by other institutions.

“We’re drowning, and you’re worried about your career, and I can’t wrap my head around that,” Case told her.

One man, who lives in Imperial Beach, said the county has not demonstrated that the air is safe to breathe for children, the elderly, or immunocompromised people.

“First, we are told not to go into the water, then we are told not breathe, and then yesterday, we’re told to breathe,” he said.

Another Imperial Beach resident, who said he has brain cancer, said the air quality is harming his children.

“I’m a worried dad, you guys,” the man said. “I don’t what to do, except to advocate.”

The man suggested the Federal Emergency Management Association also get involved.

“You can’t just test once, and say it’s OK,” he added.

Sarah Davidson, an official with the Surfrider Foundation, said there are dangerous levels of hydrogen sulfide in the air.

“This is the single-most public health and environmental justice emergency in the county right now,” said Davidson, who added an urgent response from the county is needed. “We implore all of you on the board and all of us in this room to find the courage to ask ourselves what more we can do, and then to do it.”

Vargas said that had the county not declared an emergency last year, no funding would be available to tackle pollution problems in the border region. She added the issue probably wouldn’t have happened if the affected area were north of Interstate 8, saying the South Bay community doesn’t have all the resources it should.

Vargas said the county wants to work with UC San Diego and San Diego State University on pollution research, and that’s why she and Vice Chair Terra Lawson-Remer established a committee to share information.

Vargas added that the county is trying to find more money for air filters, and she’ll keep fighting for other resources.

“You can keep coming up here and telling me I’m not doing enough,” she told audience members. “I get it.”

Lawson-Remer thanked people for showing up and speaking out.

“You’re right to be mad,” she said. “I’m mad, and we just have to keep fighting.”

A key to improving environmental conditions is to fix the Punta Bandera wastewater treatment plant, located in Tijuana, said Lawson-Remer, who added she was recently in Washington, D.C., to ask for more resources. Lawson- Remer said she’s happy there has been progress on the Mexican side in terms of fixing the wastewater plant, and hopes it can operational by December or January.

Supervisor Jim Desmond said while he appreciates the local task force, it’s the county’s congressional delegation that needs to push for federal help “and give us the funding so we can open our beaches up.”

It’s a travesty that some beach areas have been closed for over three years, Desmond added.

On Monday, San Diego’s congressional contingent reiterated their call for a declaration of a state of emergency after high levels of hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen cyanide —which can have a rotten egg smell — were reported by researchers in the watershed.

In response, the San Diego County Hazardous Incident Response Team and researchers from San Diego State University tested the gas levels on Monday, after which they determined “the data does not indicate any immediate public safety concerns,” according to Vargas’ statement.

Here’s a look at how the top high school football recruits in California fared during the third week of the 2024 season.

Class of 2027 wide receiver Skylar Robinson made the move to Serra (Gardena) prior to this season alongside his older brother Jadyn (2025 WR). In the final game of this past weekend’s Honor Bowl game in San Diego against Long Beach Poly, the younger Robinson showed off his skillset in all three phases of the game.

Robinson caught two passes for 66 yards, grabbed an interception late in the fourth quarter and even blocked an extra point attempt by Long Beach Poly in the 27-21 Serra victory. Robinson received several offers this past summer, most recently from Western Michigan.

“I want to get to Cal and Arizona State and I just got my offer from Western Michigan so I want to try and get there too,” Robinson said.

The transition in to Serra after playing last season at San Juan Hills has been a smooth one for Robinson.

“What I love about it is the tradition and how when I came in they all took me in as a brother and loved me since day one,” Robinson added.

San Clemente linebacker Matai Tagoa’i is USC’s top rated recruit from California in their 2025 recruiting class. Following last week’s game, Tagoa’i discussed his thoughts on USC’s revamped defense in 2024 as well as other recruits that have taken notice.

St. John Bosco four-star junior wide receiver posted one of the best statlines we’ll see this seasoon in Saturday’s 38-28 win at Sierra Canyon. He finished the night with 10 catches for 252 yards and three touchdowns, helping the Braves pull away late for the victory. His most recent scholarship offers have come from Texas A&M, Louisville and Wisconsin.

Madden Iamaleava and Jace Brown, four-star prospects in the class of 2025 who have both committed to UCLA, have checked out of Warren High School and are headed to Long Beach Poly for the remainder of their senior seasons. The duo played in their season opener before a disagreement led to the transfer.

Honor Fa’alave-Johnson, who had a breakout season as a freshman in 2023, has become a highly sought after prospect. Fa’alave-Johnson was at USC this past weekend and will see Oklahoma and Oregon in the upcoming weeks. After playing his freshman season at St. Augustine High School, he’s now at Cathedral Catholic High School and will be able to play once the sitout period ends on September 26.

Gavin Garretson, 2025 DL, Pleasant Valley: San Diego State

Christopher Williams, 2025 DB, San Juan Hills: Northern Arizona

Vander Ploog, 2025 TE, Troy: Alabama

Taurian Nash, 2025 LB, Crean Lutheran: Bethune Cookman

Javari Nash, 2026 DB, Crean Lutheran: Bethune Cookman

Ryder Barnes, 2026 DL, Crean Lutheran: Portland State, Bethune Cookman

Dash Fifita, 2026 LB, Santa Margarita: Arizona

Tristan Phillips, 2026 LB, Ventura: Oregon

Israel Briggs, 2026 TE,Mt. Whitney: Oregon, Utah

Isaiah Williams, 2026 WR, Folsom: Nevada

Havon Finney, 2027 DB, Sierra Canyon: UCLA

Taven Epps, 2027 LB, Tustin: UCLA

Caleb Bey, 2027 RB, Crean Lutheran: Portland State

— Bodie De Silva | bodie@scorebooklive.com | @sbliveca

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An 11-year-old in Ramona has learned a hard lesson about running a roadside business. His family says his lemonade stand was stolen over the weekend, and it was all caught on camera.

The thief got away after stealing the boy’s lemonade stand on Sunday evening.

You may not know when to teach your kids the good guys from the bad, but for Kery Rader, it was eight days after her son Liam’s 11th birthday.

“That’s wrong. You know it’s not yours. Its not free. It belongs to somebody,” Rader said.

In the security video, you see Liam leaning his head against the utility pole, expressing his profound sadness. But Liam wasn’t the only one recorded on the Diamond D Feed and Supply security camera. The moment before this heartbreak was the reason for it.

“Why would this happen? Why would he do that? Take from a kid that is just trying to sell lemonade,“ Liam said.

On the video, you see a man in a silver pickup, passing through a busy intersection when it caught his eye. With little hesitation, he turned the truck around and pulled alongside Liam’s lemonade stand.

“About halfway through the video, you can see he picks the sign up, and he reads it,“ Rader said.

“In really big letters, it said ‘Lemonade.’ Below it, said, ‘Small $1, large is $3. Saving for a dirt bike. Anything helps. Thank you’ with a smiley face at the end,” Liam said.

The man tossed the sign, took a quick look around, then loaded the lemonade stand in the back of his truck.

Liam had paid the hundred dollars for the table and chairs from his earnings. He has been selling lemonade at the corner of D and Fifth Street for about a year and a half. Everybody who lives in the homes nearby know who he is. But no one seems to know who stole his stand.

“Someone who is rude and selfish and has no feelings for other people and only cares about himself,“ Liam said.

The lemonade stand disappeared down the road in the bed of the pickup. Liam waved, but it was no use. In the time it took to run home and get more cups, about two minutes, his business was gone.

“Ultimately, I hope that he doesn’t use this experience to think all people are like that and there’s not good people in this world,” Rader said.

The sadness of Liam’s misfortune spread through the neighborhood. It was met with support he wasn’t expecting. A fellow business owner sent him $100 and a card that read: “Keep smiling. Don’t let this that happened let you down.”

So keep your eyes peeled for Liam’s new lemonade stand and the person behind the wheel of the silver pickup. The security video was turned over to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. So far, there have been no arrests or leads.