Eddie Lopez

Imperial County Free Libraries will be closed to the public from Monday, August 3 through Friday, August 14 while staff complete annual inventory. All library locations will reopen on Monday, August 17.

Before the temporary closure, patrons are encouraged to return overdue library materials during the Fine Forgiveness Period, taking place Monday, July 20 through Friday, July 31. Fines associated with returned overdue books will be waived, and fees for damaged returned items may also be forgiven when the total does not exceed $25. The program does not apply to previously assessed fines or lost books.

For more information, visit library.imperialcounty.org or email imperialcountylibrary@co.imperial.ca.us.

El Centro, CA – Imperial County Registrar of Voters Linsey Dale announced that the candidate filing period is now open for local offices that will appear on the ballot for the November 3, 2026 California Statewide General Election.

Individuals interested in serving their communities through elected office may obtain nomination documents beginning Monday, July 13, 2026. Candidate filing closes at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, August 7, 2026.

If an incumbent officeholder does not file by the August 7, 2026 deadline, the nomination period for that office will be extended until 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, for all eligible candidates other than the incumbent.

Voters will elect representatives for numerous local jurisdictions throughout Imperial County, including:

• Imperial County Board of Education – Areas I and II
• Imperial Community College District – Areas 2, 5 and 7
• Calexico Unified School District
• Calipatria Unified School District
• Coachella Valley Unified School District – Areas 1 and 2
• Holtville Unified School District
• Imperial Unified School District
• San Pasqual Valley Unified School District
• Brawley Union High School District
• Central Union High School District
• Brawley Elementary School District
• El Centro Elementary School District
• Heber Elementary School District
• Magnolia Union Elementary School District
• McCabe Union Elementary School District
• Meadows Union Elementary School District
• Mulberry Union Elementary School District
• Seeley Union Elementary School District
• Westmorland Union Elementary School District
• Bombay Beach Community Services District
• Coachella Valley Water District – District 5
• Heber Public Utility District
• Imperial Valley Healthcare District – Districts 1, 2, 3 and 7
• Palo Verde County Water District
• Salton Community Services District
• Seeley County Water District
• Winterhaven Water District
• City Council seats in Brawley, Calexico, Calipatria, El Centro, Holtville, Imperial, and Westmorland
• City Clerk for the City of Imperial

Several jurisdictions include offices with both four-year and two-year terms. A complete list of offices and terms is available from the Imperial County Registrar of Voters.

Candidates must meet the qualifications established under the principal act governing their respective district or jurisdiction, including being a registered voter residing within the district or applicable division they seek to represent.

Candidates for school, county, and special district offices may obtain and file nomination documents at the Imperial County Registrar of Voters located at 940 W. Main Street, Suite 206, El Centro. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Candidates seeking office in the cities of Brawley, Calexico, Calipatria, El Centro, Holtville, Imperial, and Westmorland should contact their respective city clerk’s office for filing procedures and deadlines.

For additional information regarding candidate filing or the November 3, 2026 General Election, contact the Imperial County Registrar of Voters Office at (442) 265-1060 or visit the Registrar of Voters website at www.Elections.ImperialCounty.org.

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Thermal, CA – The County of Imperial, in partnership with the Salton Community Services District and the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District, celebrated the completion of the Desert Shores Soccer Park Phase II Urban Greening Project with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, July 10, 2026, at Desert Shores Community Park. 

The project represents a $250,000 investment in the creation and enhancement of approximately 25,557 square feet of green space, providing new opportunities for community recreation, engagement, and environmental improvements in the Desert Shores and Salton City area. 

Imperial County Supervisor Ryan Kelley welcomed residents and community partners to the ceremony and spent time engaging with community members and families throughout the event. The celebration brought residents, community partners, and local leaders together to recognize a project centered on collaboration, recreation, and continued investment in the community. 

The ceremony also included remarks from Salton Community Services District General Manager Emmanuel Ramos; community members Graciela Mendivil Ramos and Carlene Ness; and Imperial County Air Pollution Control Officer Belen Leon-Lopez. 

“This project is a great example of what can be accomplished when agencies and the community work together toward a shared goal,” said Belen Leon-Lopez, Imperial County Air Pollution Control Officer. “Creating and enhancing green spaces not only supports our environmental goals, but also provides families with a welcoming space to gather, connect, and enjoy their community.” 

The Desert Shores Soccer Park Phase II Urban Greening Project is designed to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions through carbon sequestration while expanding green space and creating a safer, more welcoming environment for local families. 

Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, the Salton Community Services District hosted a community event where residents and families gathered to celebrate the newly improved space. 

The completion of the project highlights the ongoing collaboration between Imperial County, the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District, the Salton Community Services District, and the residents who continue to advocate for investments and improvements in their community. 

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Imperial County, CA — The Imperial County Board of Supervisors is proud to recognize Supervisor Martha Cardenas-Singh for successfully completing the National Association of Counties (NACo) High Performance Leadership Academy, a 12-week professional development program designed to strengthen leadership among county officials and public servants across the nation.

The NACo High Performance Leadership Academy provides county leaders with practical tools to better serve their communities, navigate complex challenges, strengthen organizational effectiveness, and lead with purpose in a changing public service environment. Through the program, participants focus on areas such as leadership development, communication, collaboration, innovation, and strategic decision-making.

“I am honored to have completed the NACo High Performance Leadership Academy,” said Supervisor Martha Cardenas-Singh. “This experience strengthened my leadership skills and reinforced my commitment to putting residents first, making informed policy decisions, and building strong partnerships that improve the quality of life in our communities. I look forward to applying these lessons to advance thoughtful, people-centered solutions for Imperial County.”

Supervisor Cardenas-Singh’s completion of the academy reflects her continued commitment to professional growth, responsive governance, and service to the residents of Imperial County. As a member of the Board of Supervisors, she has remained focused on supporting policies and initiatives that address local needs, improve public service delivery, and strengthen the County’s ability to serve its communities.

The NACo High Performance Leadership Academy, developed in partnership with the Professional Development Academy, connects county leaders from across the country and equips them with skills to lead more effectively within local government. Supervisor Cardenas-Singh now joins a national network of county leaders who have completed the program and are applying its lessons to enhance local governance and community outcomes.

For more information about the NACo High Performance Leadership Academy, visit www.naco.org.

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OCOTILLO, Calif. – On July 9, 2026, at approximately 2:59 p.m., the Imperial County Fire Department (ICFD)
responded to a structure fire in the area of Sierra Vista Avenue and Agate Road in Ocotillo. The incident, designated
CAD #2026003701, rapidly escalated under extreme conditions, with ambient temperatures near 115°F and strong
winds that turned the fire into a fast-moving, wind-driven blaze, and was upgraded to a fourth-alarm assignment.

Engine 4 (Ocotillo) arrived within minutes and found a rapidly spreading fire involving multiple structures and large
LPG tanks. As the fire intensified, incident command ordered a tactical retreat after ammunition began cooking off,
creating an immediate life-safety hazard for firefighters. At the height of the incident, four structures and
outbuildings were fully involved. Firefighters faced the immediate threat of nine additional residences and the
potential involvement of up to 16 more structures.

ICFD requested mutual aid from multiple neighboring agencies. Assistance was received from the Calexico Fire
Department, the City of Yuma Fire Department, the El Centro Fire Department, the Holtville Fire Department, the
Westmorland Fire Department, the Naval Air Facility El Centro Fire Department, the Imperial County Sheriff’s
Office, American Medical Response (ambulance), CalOES Fire & Rescue, and the United States Border Patrol.
Mutual-aid support was limited due to multiple-alarm incidents occurring simultaneously across the region. A
reverse-911 notification was issued to Ocotillo residents, advising them to evacuate the area. The American Red
Cross was notified, and Imperial Irrigation District (IID) was requested to shut off power to the Sage Brush, Sierra
Vista, and Imperial Highway corridors to enhance firefighter safety.

Additional resources, including engines and command staff, were dispatched to support firefighting operations and
water supply. Firefighters successfully protected most threatened homes and brought the fire under control. No
civilian or firefighter injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Imperial County Fire Department extends its sincere appreciation to all mutual-aid partners, Imperial Irrigation
District, ICSO Dispatch Center, and the residents of Ocotillo for their cooperation during this complex and
hazardous incident.

About Imperial County Fire Department / Office of Emergency Services

The Imperial County Fire Department provides all-risk fire, rescue, and emergency medical services to the
unincorporated areas of Imperial County and supports mutual-aid operations throughout the region.

Media Inquiries: Please contact: Deputy Chief Cedric Ceseña at cedriccesena@co.imperial.ca.us or by calling (442) 265-6000.

Imperial County, ICAPCD, and the Salton Community Services District invite the community to celebrate the Desert Shores Soccer Park Phase II Urban Greening Project and the transformation of Desert Shores Community Park.

📅 Friday, July 10, 2026
⏰ 8:00 a.m.
📍 57 Palm Dr., Thermal, CA 92274
🎊 Ceremony followed by a community event hosted by SCSD

Come celebrate this exciting improvement for the Desert Shores community!

The Imperial County Board of Supervisors has extended the application deadline for individuals interested in serving on the Data Center Advisory Committee.

The committee will provide input and recommendations to the Board regarding potential land use and zoning options related to data center development within the unincorporated areas of Imperial County. The committee will serve in an advisory capacity, with all final policy and land use decisions remaining with the Board of Supervisors.

The Data Center Advisory Committee will consist of 19 members representing a variety of local agencies, sectors, and community perspectives, including local government, community interests, environmental expertise, organized labor, healthcare, education, nonprofit organizations, business, and the energy industry sector. Individuals interested in applying may request an application through the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors by visiting 940 W. Main Street, Suite 209, El Centro, CA, or by calling 442-265-1020.Applications may also be obtained through the Clerk of the Board’s website.

Completed applications must now be submitted to the Clerk of the Board’s Office no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2026. Applications may also be submitted by email to cynthiamedina@co.imperial.ca.us.

For additional information, please contact the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors at 442-265-1020

Imperial County, CA – The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office is proud to announce the launch of its new smartphone application, providing residents, visitors, and community members with a convenient and accessible way to stay connected with the Sheriff’s Office directly from their mobile devices.

The new app is designed to serve as an additional communication tool for the Sheriff’s Office, offering quick access to public safety information, important updates, resources, and services. Through the app, users can access features such as contact information, notification history, tip submission, forms, recruitment information, corrections and jail resources, concealed carry weapon information, sex offender information, and other public safety-related services.

“This app gives our office another valuable tool to connect with the community and share information in a timely and accessible way,” said Imperial County Sheriff Fred Miramontes. “We are always looking for ways to improve communication, increase transparency, and better serve the residents and visitors of Imperial County.”

The Imperial County Sheriff’s Office app was developed by TheSheriffApp.com, a brand of OCV, LLC., which specializes in mobile app development for sheriffs’ offices and public safety organizations across the country. The app was created to provide a user-friendly platform that helps public safety agencies share information quickly, efficiently, and directly with the public.

“Over 80 percent of people in the United States own and use smartphones as their primary means of communication,” said Kevin Cummings, OCV Partner and Chief Revenue Officer. “Mobile apps offer agencies a better way to alert, inform and prepare the public. Apps allow public safety agencies the ability to reach and serve their citizens where they are: their smartphones.”

As part of the launch, the Sheriff’s Office has also released a companion promotional flyer with a QR code to make downloading the app easier for the public. The flyer highlights the app’s availability, provides a preview of the app interface, and directs users to download it from the App Store or Google Play.

The app is available to download for free by searching “Imperial County Sheriff, CA” in the App Store or Google Play. Residents and visitors are encouraged to download the app to stay informed, access Sheriff’s Office resources, and receive public safety information from the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office.

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The Imperial County Board of Supervisors is seeking interested individuals to serve on the Data Center Advisory Committee.

The committee will provide input and recommendations to the Board regarding potential land use and zoning options related to data center development within the unincorporated areas of Imperial County. The committee will serve in an advisory capacity, with all final policy and land use decisions remaining with the Board of Supervisors.

The Data Center Advisory Committee will consist of 19 members, representing a variety of local agencies, sectors, and community perspectives. Committee membership will include:

• Two members of the Board of Supervisors;
• Seven members appointed by the incorporated cities within Imperial County, with each city having one appointment;
• One representative from local government that is not an incorporated city;
• Two representatives of community interests;
• One representative with an environmental background or expertise;
• One representative from organized labor;
• One representative from the healthcare community;
• One representative from the education community;
• One representative from a nonprofit organization;
• One representative from the business community; and
• One representative from the energy industry sector.

Individuals interested in applying may request an application through the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors by visiting 940 W. Main Street, Suite 209, El Centro, CA, or by calling 442-265-1020. Applications may also be obtained through the Clerk of the Board’s website.

Completed applications must be submitted to the Clerk of the Board’s Office no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 2, 2026. Applications may also be submitted by email to cynthiamedina@co.imperial.ca.us.

For additional information, please contact the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors at 442-265-1020.