The Coast Guard offloaded more than 22,000 pounds of cocaine Wednesday, with an estimated worth of over $300 million.

The drugs were seized in late August until the middle of September.

Three Coast Guard ships, Stratton, Seneca, and Active, intercepted eight suspected smuggling vessels.

Stratton cased more than 16,400 pounds of cocaine, Seneca nearly 3,000 pounds, and Active about 2,600 pounds, the military branch announced Wednesday.

“We’re trying to keep the drugs off the streets,” said USCG Culinary Specialist Francys Blodgett. “When we get that call and we got those 7 boardings, it was just – we don't even feel exhausted or anything. It was just rewarding.”

The alleged smuggling vessels were found off the coasts of Mexico, Central America, and South America, according to the Coast Guard.

"These interdiction results take hundreds of millions of dollars away from these criminal networks that work to undermine the rule of law in South and Central America,” said Captain Craig Wieschhorster, commanding officer of Coast Guard Cutter Stratton.

The Coast Guard detained 23 suspected smugglers during these operations.

The 11 tons of cocaine was offloaded around 9:30 a.m.

Surveillance footage showed a suspect throwing a rock and breaking a window at the San Diego Police Museum Tuesday morning.

Just before 9 a.m., the suspect can be seen wearing a hooded sweatshirt breaking one of the museum’s front windows.

The museum is located on College Avenue, next to a busy intersection on El Cajon Boulevard in the San Diego State University area.

The window now appears to be boarded up.

The suspect was taken into custody shortly after, according to San Diego police.

No other information was reported at this time.

A woman was shot in the face with a BB gun during a strong armed robbery in El Cajon Wednesday, according to the San Diego Sheriff’s Department.

A person called deputies around 1:20 p.m. saying their daughter was shot, said SDSO.

This all happened on East Bradley Street.

The suspects are no longer there, and deputies are now searching for them, according to SDSO.

The extent of the woman’s injuries is not known.

No other information was reported at this time.

Please refresh this page for updates on this story. Details may change as more information becomes available.

Facebook Marketplace is celebrating its second anniversary Wednesday, and announcing new technology to propel its growth and empower Facebook’s 2.23 billion monthly users to buy and sell goods.

Los Angeles-based lifestyle blogger Meredith Greenberg makes about $500 per month flipping goods she purchases on Facebook Marketplace. She takes old items and turns them from shabby to chic. 

“I use Marketplace to help me find and sell items that I restore and flip – from wine coolers, to coffee tables, to chairs and more,” said Greenberg. “Meeting people through Marketplace has also led to more custom work for me. For example, I connected with a couple on Marketplace who bought a coffee table from me. They loved it so much, we stayed in touch so I could share other pieces with them!”

Facebook says "more than one in three people on Facebook in the U.S. shop on Marketplace every month for everything from new shoes to baby gear to cars and apartments."

Furniture and electronics are top sellers on Facebook Marketplace, but it’s vehicle purchases that are emerging as one of the most popular categories worldwide, according to Facebook spokesperson Erin Landers.

Car listings from local car dealerships were introduced on the platform one year ago and have helped propel interest.

Facebook is bringing more technology to the platform.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is helping consumers buy and sell faster by improving the quality of photos and Messenger conversations. Some of the new features help with price range suggestions and auto-categorization.

Using AI, the Facebook Marketplace automatically categorizes an item based on the photo and description so that the user does not have to.

Facebook is also testing technology and camera features that will recognize products and similar listings of interest.

Reporting tools and a ratings system have helped make buying and selling safer online, such as badges that were introduced for sellers to confirm their identify.

The presidency has been bad for Donald Trump's finances, with his personal net worth falling from $4.5 billion to $3.1 billion over the past two years, according to the latest Forbes billionaires list.

Trump dropped 138 spots to 259 on the Forbes 400, an annual measure of the richest people in the U.S. During that same period, Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos rose to the top spot, with an estimated fortune 52 times greater than that of the president, at $160 billion.

Forbes attributed the decline of Trump's fortune to three main factors: e-commerce eating into the value of Trump's real estate holdings, the intrusion of heightened security at Trump's resorts, and Trump's own over-reporting of the size of his penthouse, NBC News reported.

Occupational safety inspectors were investigating a deadly accident at an iron company in Spring Valley Wednesday. 

An employee of West Coast Iron was struck by iron beams that fell off a truck at the construction site on Jamacha Road just before 10:20 a.m., a spokesperson for the  California Occupational Safety and Health Administration said.

The worker was transported to a nearby hospital but did not survive, Cal/OSHA said. 

The agency is investigating the incident and did not provide any other information. 

Please refresh this page for updates on this story. Details may change as more information becomes available.

The former Chief Executive Officer of a nonprofit that advocates for “constitutionally limited government” pleaded guilty Monday to federal gun trafficking charges. 

Chad Clay Kipper, the former CEO of the Freedom Fighters Foundation, pleaded guilty to the “unlicensed purchase and transportation of firearms”, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. 

The Freedom Fighters Foundation owns a firing range north of Escondido, near San Pasqual, according to property records reviewed by NBC 7 Investigates. 

In January, San Pasqual residents first told NBC 7 Investigates that the range has caused “chaos” in their lives, with the constant shooting and risk of a potential fire hazard for the community. Today, those residents have said the shooting hasn’t stopped. San Diego County officials have ruled the range can legally operate.

According to the criminal complaint, investigators "became aware" of the private firing range following NBC 7 Investigates’ reporting. The day after NBC 7 Investigates’ initial story aired, ATF investigators were already in the neighborhood, talking to residents in the area. 

According to the nonprofit’s website, the Freedom Fighters Foundation mission statement is to ”enlighten the participants to the misinformation and indoctrination they have received through the public education system and the media.” 

In the criminal complaint, investigators found Kipper “falsely claimed” to be an Arizona resident when he purchased 14 firearms in 2016. Kipper then “resold several of [the firearms] in California for a profit.” 

It is a federal crime for a person to misrepresent themselves or to purchase and transport firearms from one state to another unless the person is a licensed firearm dealer. Kipper was not licensed to sell firearms, nor had he registered any fully automatic weapons with the state, according to the criminal complaint. 

As part of a plea agreement, Kipper admitted to transporting firearms across state lines without a license to do so and agreed to forfeit sixteen “unlawfully obtained or possessed” firearms that ATF Agents seized during a warrant search of his Carlsbad home. Kipper is now a convicted felon and can never legally own a firearm. 

Kipper was sentenced to three years’ probation. 

NBC 7 Investigates contacted Robert Wright, the attorney representing the Freedom Fighters Foundation, who said a comment on the charges would be forthcoming. 

In April, San Diego County officials told the Freedom Fighters Foundation they had to make changes to the firing range property.

NBC 7 Investigates wanted to see what changes were made to the property. The team’s full story will be published Wednesday afternoon and will air on NBC 7 at 11 p.m.

A San Diego County sheriff's deputy accused of sexually assaulting more than a dozen women while on duty will be tried on five new charges, including one charge of oral copulation by force, a judge ruled Wednesday. 

Deputy Richard Fischer pleaded not guilty on August 20 to three charges of assault and battery by an officer, one charge of oral copulation by force and one charge of burglary. All five are felony counts.

During a three-day preliminary hearing for Fischer, three women described interactions with the sheriff's deputy where he inappropriately touched them while he was in uniform.

Fischer's attorney Manny Medrano said the accusations were nothing more than a money grab. 

"An overarching theme that pervades every aspect of this preliminary hearing and these three alleged victims is that the extreme and powerful motivation by these alleged victims to try to win as much money as they can from the county of San Diego," Medrano said. 

Despite, a judge ruled Wednesday there was enough evidence presented during the testimonies to hold Fischer over for trial. He had already been ordered to stand trial on another 15 counts involving 13 other women.

On Monday, the first woman took the stand on one of the most egregious charges against the deputy. 

Tatjana T., 51, described a time in late March 2017 or early April 2017 when she saw a light flash through her window and heard Deputy Fischer's voice.

She thought something was wrong so she opened the garage and he walked into her apartment, Tatjana T. said.

Fighting back tears, she described Deputy Fischer kissing and groping her and then forcing her to perform oral sex on him.

On Tuesday, a woman who said she was 24-year-old years old when she encountered deputy Fischer, testified the deputy began touching her inappropriately and breathing heavily on her while she was in his patrol car. 

"[He] asked me if I got a birthday kiss. I said what? and asked me if I wanted a birthday kiss," she said. 

Next, a third woman with allegations of sexual misconduct by the deputy took the stand. 

Deputy Fischer has denied all allegations against him, including the one presented by Tatjana T. in court on Monday. 

To see a full timeline of the criminal case against Fischer, click here.

Five officers were shot Wednesday as officials responded to an active shooter situation in South Carolina, according to a report by WMBF.  

Three Florence County deputies and two city officers were shot in Florence County, according to sheriff’s deputy Chief Glenn Kirby, the website reported.

"There is an active shooter incident in progress at this time," Florence County officials tweeted just before 5 p.m. ET.

This is a developing story

People in San Carlos have noticed a change to their water and they’re worried it could make them sick.

Early this week the Next Door App was flooded with inquiries and complaints about the tap water in San Carlos. People describing the water as tasting “moldy” and “dirty.”

The water change appears to be limited to areas surrounding Cowles Mountain.

Stacey Poon-Kinney, the owner of The Trails Eatery near Navajo and Jackson, called the water “atrocious.” Poon-Kinney said the dirty tasting water is bad for her restaurant business.

“We actually got a Yelp review this morning about the water,” she explained, “they were so upset the water tasted so terribly they gave us a one-star review.”

According to the City of San Diego, the “earthiness” is caused by the organic compound Geosmin. Geosmin is found in surface water and is not toxic or harmful.

See the full statement from the city here:

“San Diego drinking water is safe to drink. The city’s water continues to meet all state and federal water quality standards, but we have been experiencing a temporary change in the taste and odor of the water being produced at our Alvarado Drinking Water Treatment Plant. The primary taste and odor variant is caused by an organic compound called Geosmin (from the Greek for “earth odor”). Geosmin is a naturally occurring compound in soil and algae found in surface water. While the taste and odor can be unpleasant to some, geosmin is NOT toxic or harmful. Regular ongoing water quality testing continues to show our drinking water meets all state and federal standards for the protection of human health. Computers at the treatment plant monitor the water 24 hours a day and manual tests are performed by plant operators and the water quality lab.

During normal water system operations, the department uses a variety of water sources including imported and local water supply. Recently we have been using a higher percentage of local water from our existing reservoir system. This change in water supply has contributed to increases in the amount of geosmin in the water which changes the taste and odor of the water currently being delivered.

Of note, humans are particularly adept at detecting geosmin with a wide range of sensitivity between individuals. Some customers may note the difference in taste and odor, while many may not. Also, the warmer the water, the more evident the odor and taste may be so it is very common to notice when in the shower or heating up water for cooking.

Geosmin is common in many jurisdictions across the United States, Canada and elsewhere in the world.

The Alvarado Drinking Water Treatment Plant distributes generally to the areas of the City bounded by Hwy 52 on the north, city limits to the east and Hwy 54 to the south. It is possible over the next few days that customers throughout this distribution area may notice this temporary change in taste and odor, but it should end soon.”

Amazing machines, futuristic ideas, a beautiful venue and food will bring “makers” from across the country to San Diego’s own 2018 Maker Faire this weekend.

A “maker” is a name given to inventors, DIYers, artisans, and anyone who likes to create or teach, according to the Maker Faire website.

Over 200 local and regional makers will display their creations at this year's faire at Balboa Park.

There will be 12 exhibits in Balboa Park throughout the weekend. These areas will showcase creativity in science and technology, engineering, and arts and crafts.

Most exhibits will be inside nearby museums, including the Museum of Man, the Natural History Museum, and the Fleet Science Center. There will be workshops, guest speakers and hands-on activities like soldering.

Admission into the Maker Faire will give full admission to all participating museums.

Comic-Con will host MAKE the Museum. Fans can help create what they think the Comic-Con Museum should look like.

The new museum will be in the 1935 Federal Building. Comic-Con Museum plans to host a museum by day and a very unique fan community venue by night.

But this faire won’t just be inventions, machines, and drones, there will also be food trucks, music, beer and more. To view a complete map or to plan your day, visit its website.

Single day passes start at $21, and weekend passes start at $31. Active-duty military, student and child discounts are available. To see all ticket prices, see the event’s ticket page.

The event will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The Maker Faire recommended guests to carpool or parking at Inspiration Point, then taking the green tram into the heart of the event. Tram hours of operations are from 9:00 a.m. to 8 p.m.

To see all the makers being featured, view the faire’s Meet the Makers site.

The shark that bit a 13-year-old boy, sending him to the hospital was most likely a Great White Shark, experts said. 

Doctor Chris Lowe with the Shark Lab of California State University, Long Beach said they are genetically testing the wetsuit the boy was wearing at the time. 

Dr. Lowe is using this new technique to look at the DNA of the shark. The test is currently being sent to labs in Michigan for analysis. 

Andrew Nosal, a marine biologist with the University of San Diego, said based on the severity of the wounds and location of the bite it is consistent with that of a Great White Shark. 

Nosal added it is extremely rare for anyone in the world to be bitten by a shark, let alone along the coast of California. 

"Great white populations are increasing in Southern California and that's because they've been legally protected for the last couple of decades," said Nosal. "That's a good thing for our local ecosystem. At the same time, the human population has also grown here. That means more sharks at the beach but also more people at the beach." 

Nosal said it is important to listen to lifeguards at the beach. If they tell people not to go into the water, stay away. 

"Southern California is a known nursery ground for white sharks," added Nosal. "The juveniles will move into our waters from the south as our waters get warmer. This will happen in the spring, summer and into early fall." 

Dr. Lowe added the DNA tests to determine the type of shark will most likely be completed by Friday evening. 

A former San Diego County sheriff's deputy pleaded guilty Wednesday to groping a teenage girl in a Vista Panda Express earlier this year and will spend a year in jail.

Security cameras at the restaurant caught Timothy Wilson Jr., 32, as he reached out and touched the teenager inappropriately while she waited in line the evening of March 21.

The victim told investigators by the time she turned around Wilson was nearly out of the building. She said he ran to a black sedan parked in front of the store and drove off.

Wilson allegedly used his login credentials for the sheriff’s database to access information on the investigation, prosecutors said.

“He did so on repeated occasions numbering 44 times between March 22, 2018, and May 9, 2018, when the search was conducted on the database itself,” the prosecutor said.

On the first page of the department-issued notepad, he had written the case number, the charge and the home address of the victim, prosecutors said.

Wilson also went so far as to download photos of the victim onto his personal cell phone and labeled them with the file name “white pants” and emailed them to himself. 

A sheriff’s employee alerted supervisors on May 9 that he believed the suspect to be Wilson, Sheriff Bill Gore said.

Wilson was taken into custody May 18 at work at the Vista Detention Facility and was booked into the San Diego Central Jail.

When asked why it took a month for the department to find the suspect in its own ranks, Gore said the employee reported his suspicions on the same day he saw the video.

Wilson pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count of committing a lewd act on a minor and another count of unlawfully taking computer data, according to the District Attorney's Office. He'll spend 365 days in jail and another five years on probation and will be required to register as a sex offender for life, the DA's office said.

Both the victim and her mother, who talked to NBC 7 after the incident and during the investigation, were in court for the plea hearing.

The victim shared her story with NBC 7 the day after the incident with hopes that it would give others the courage to speak up in similar situations, though she didn't want to at first.

"I was kind of not sure about it because I am shy and it was like weird," she said. "But I was thinking how it can help a lot of people and so I was like, 'Ya, I need to say it.'"

When he mother found out it was a sworn deputy who was arrested for the crime she couldn't believe it.

"It is very disappointing we are still in shock," said Jenna Tanais, the victim's mother said after Wilson's arrest. "That someone in his position would betray the community's trust like that."

Wilson was a 10-year veteran of the department. His defense attorney said he is a father to a 12-year-old girl. He attended SDSU and worked his way through school with a degree in criminal justice.

After President Trump seemed to mock the testimony of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford at a rally Tuesday, there was mutual condemnation across the aisle and across the country, including San Diego.

“’How did you get home?’ ‘I don’t remember.’ ‘How’d you get there?’ ‘I don’t remember.’ ‘Where is the place?’ ‘I don’t remember.’ ‘How many years ago was it?’ ‘I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know,” the president said mockingly to a cheering crowd in Mississippi Tuesday night.

NBC 7 spoke with a counselor in San Diego who specializes in treating victims of emotional trauma. Rebecca Ching estimates 75 percent of her clients are dealing with sexual assaults from their past.

Last week, Ford testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the alleged assault by Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh more than 30 years ago. She testified he pinned her down on a bed at a party and covered her mouth to keep her from screaming.

Ching is concerned Trump's comments may keep other women from coming forward with their stories of assault.

"Hearing someone with as much power as our president has mock or criticize or say I don't believe, kind of repeats inner narratives many people I've worked with or known who are survivors say: ‘Maybe I did something to deserve this, it's my fault.’”

She urges people, despite the political polarization, to not dehumanize either Dr. Ford or Judge Kavanaugh, which is what President Trump did Tuesday, she says.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Wednesday, "The president is simply putting out the facts of the matter."

It’s the most wonderful time of the year -- for kids at least. October is Kids Free month in San Diego at more than 100 participating restaurants, attractions and hotels. That means free gifts, meals, and free admission to theme parks, museums and more.

Legoland California

Receive one free child hopper ticket with the purchase of an adult hopper ticket to Legoland California. Also, included is your choice to visit Sea Life Aquarium or Legoland Water Park. For more information visit their website.

San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Kids, 11 and younger, receive free admission with a paid adult at both San Diego Zoo and San Diego Safari parks. Kids’ free admission includes the Skyfari Tram Ride and they can ride the Guided Bus or Kangaroo Bus for $5.

Belmont Park

Kids, 13 and younger, can ride, play and eat for free at Belmont Park. Just download and print the free kids’ deals. The coupons are valid 7 days a week.

San Diego Museums

More than 40 museums across San Diego County will be free for kids 12 and under. Some participating museums include Japanese Friendship Garden, Birch Aquarium at Scripps, and the USS Midway Museum. Visit their website to receive a coupon for free admission.

SeaWorld San Diego and Aquatica San Diego

Children, aged three to nine, will receive free admission to both parks with an adult single-day ticket. Seaworld is offering kids free reservations for Breakfast with killer whales, Dine with killer whales, and Dolphin interaction with an accompanied paid adult. To reserve your spot or to learn more visit their website.

Kids eat for free

Participating restaurants will allow kids to eat for free with a paying adult. Casa Guadalajara in Old Town offers free food for kids 12 and younger up to $6.95 with a purchase of an adult entrée. Loews Coronado Bay Resort will offer one free kid’s meal with each adult meal purchased. To see a full list of participating restaurants, click here.

Hotels

A number of hotels are offering kids free meals plus a gift when they check-in with their parents. Hotel Karlan is offering kids free breakfast, lunch or dinner with a free kite at check-in. Homewood Suites Hotel Circle is offering kids a free meal with a free plush toy upon arrival. To see what other hotels are offering kids this month click here.

To see a full list of deals for kids this month visit the San Diego tourism website.

San Diego County officials say they are continuing to investigate whether or not a 22-acre firing range north of Escondido can operate without a major-use permit, despite complaints filed by the range’s neighbors for more than a year. 

In February, NBC 7 Investigates first reported on the gun range near San Pasqual that is owned by a nonprofit called the Freedom Fighters Foundation.

Residents living in the area told NBC 7 Investigates they were worried over the excessive amount of gunfire, lasting for long stretches of time and occurring during times of the day when fire risk was high. 

“There is really only one road in and out of the San Pasqual neighborhood,” said John Carroll, a former FBI agent who lives in the neighborhood. “It could very easily turn into a tremendous disaster.” 

Last year, Carroll said he and his neighbors complained to the Sheriff’s Department and other county authorities about the fire danger and noise but their complaints never resulted in any meaningful action. 

Still, in September, Carroll said the risk behind firing automatic weapons in the area hasn’t diminished. “They're shooting over 25 to 30 thousand rounds of ammunition every single Saturday and every single Sunday.” 

NBC 7 Investigates found the gun range had acquired no permits prior to operating. 

The land the range sits on was purchased on November 18, 2016, by members of the Freedom Fighters Foundation, including a Border Patrol Agent named Alex Djokich. The Freedom Fighters Foundation is a nonprofit created by Djokich and his wife. 

According to the nonprofit’s website, the foundation’s mission statement is to ”enlighten the participants to the misinformation and indoctrination they have received through the public education system and the media.” 

On Monday, the nonprofit’s former Chief Executive Officer Chad Kipper pleaded guilty to felony gun trafficking charges. To read more about that, click here.  

According to Congressman Scott Peters’ office, the Department of Homeland Security Office of the Inspector General is now investigating what role Border Patrol agents have had with the firing range. 

Changes to Property 

In a warning letter sent in April, San Diego County officials told the Freedom Fighters Foundation they had until May to make changes on the property. Those changes included addressing unpermitted structures, illegal grading and the removal of hazardous materials. 

The county also requested a meeting with its engineers to discuss the appropriate zoning for the property. The owners agreed to the county's demands to make changes to the property. 

NBC 7 Investigates launched DroneRanger7 this month to see what changes, if any, were made to the property. From an aerial view, we could see some metal targets and cargo containers had been removed. Also, a long bridge walkway that we had seen in February is now gone. 

Through a public records request, NBC 7 Investigates obtained notes from the county’s meetings with the Freedom Fighters Foundation to discuss the property, starting in May. 

Regarding the “unpermitted grading” on the property, Alex Djokich told the county in May the work was done prior to the purchasing of the land. 

Satellite images though, appear to show otherwise. 

Looking at Google Earth images archived from March 2016, NBC 7 Investigates found there is no grading on the property. Comparing the image to one taken in November 2016, the grading work begins. This was the month, according to property's records, that the Freedom Fighters Foundation purchased the land. 

NBC 7 Investigates sent the satellite images to both the county and the Robert Wright, the attorney representing the Freedom Fighters Foundation, but neither has commented. 

Also at the May meeting, the firing range's owners said they don't need a permit to operate the range because only “friends and family” are invited to shoot. 

On Wednesday, Michael Workman, a spokesperson for the county said officials were still investigating whether or not the property requires a major-use permit, as other firing ranges have acquired.

New video shows a small group of Camp Pendleton Marines along with Marines from 29 Palms in eastern Syria. The video comes as tensions have increased over bombing by Russia and the recent missile attack by Iran.

The video shows Marines from the Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force, Crisis Response-Central Command conducting a live-fire demonstration in eastern Syria.

A Marine spokesperson tells NBC 7 SPMAGTF-CRCC consists of a small group of Marines from Camp Pendleton and Marines from the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment from 29 Palms.

The live-fire demonstration came after Russian and Syrian forces protecting the Assad regime planned to carry out counterterrorism operations inside the de-confliction zone.

We showed the video to decorated Combat Veteran Povas Miknaitis who told NBC 7, “Just from that video, in particular, it seems like we have like we’ve got troops on the ground a little bit more than people necessarily think.”

Citing security reasons the local military would not give the exact numbers of troops. Adding to the complexity in Syria - there remains a mix of fighters including Iran. Miknaitis says rules of engagement are in pace, “So even though the situation is very dynamic I'm sure it's very clear in those Marine's mindset as to who they're going to be firing upon and who they're fighting in that region.”

And while the U.S. military may have clarity this week Iran's ballistic missile attack that killed 24 people in eastern Syria in retaliation for the recent attack on an Iranian military parade adds to the complexity.

In a briefing, the U.S Military says the missiles hit about three miles from where US troops were positioned and that troops were not in any danger.

Miknaitis told NBC 7 says in his experience in the middle east, “ You'd have airstrikes much closer than three miles,” that three miles would be a safe distance.

According to a Marine Corps Spokesperson before the end of the year Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit will deploy to Syria and train with the SPMAGTF already there and eventually replace the group. And they are doing it without the ships or amphibious support they usually have, which could signal a new kind of force will be in this extremely complex battle space.

It’s not Halloween without a jack-o-lantern and what’s fall without the traditional brisk (OK in San Diego it may be hot) walk through the pumpkin patch with a cup of cider looking for the perfect one to place on the porch? From North County to the South Bay and the mountains to the beach there’s more than enough hayrides, corn mazes and, of course, pumpkins to put a smile on anyone’s face. Here are the top locations to find the perfect pumpkin.

Bates Nut Farm

15954 Woods Valley Rd., Valley Center; (760) 749-3333

Five generations of the Bates family have been taking care of the 5,000-acre farm in Valley Center for nearly 90 years, and their pumpkin patch has become somewhat of a tradition for many families over the last 50 years. The farm includes 5,000 square feet of retail space where you can buy nuts, fudge, candies, dried fruits and chocolates, hayrides, straw maze, petting zoo and pony rides. Weekend activities include rock climbing, face painting and food trucks. The pumpkin patch is open every day in October and parking is $5 on weekends. The farm is open weekdays from 9 to 5:30 p.m., weekends from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the last three Fridays in October from 3 to 8 p.m.

Mountain Valley Ranch Pumpkin Patch

842 Highway 78, Ramona; (760) 788-8703

Nestled in the rural serenity of Ramona is the Mountain Valley Ranch pumpkin patch, which also has a corn maze, corn cannon, petting zoo and hay and pony rides. The patch, which is celebrating 21 years, is open all day on weekends and 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Admission is free.

Oma’s Pumpkin Patch

14950 El Monte Rd., Lakeside; (619) 390-2929

Oma’s Pumpkin Patch in Lakeside is guaranteed fun for your little one. A child admission includes a Jack Patch Pumpkin, a bottle of water, playground equipment, a climb on Cottonseed Mountain, sand pile with toys trucks, covered hayrides around the farm, hay bale maze, petting corral and the pedal cart/tricycle race track. Admission is $12 per child and the farm is open Tuesdays through Saturdays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Pumpkin Stations

Various locations; (858) 566-7466

The pumpkin stations in Del Mar, Mission Valley, National City and El Cajon all have rides and some locations have petting zoos for family fun. The Rancho Bernardo Farm and the Bonita Pumpkin Farm both have farm animals, hayrides and a corn maze.

Great Annual Pumpkin Festival

5178 Japatul Spur Alpine, CA 91901; (619) 320-4942

The Great Annual Pumpkin Festival in Alpine is at the Children’s Nature Retreat located on 20 acres harboring farm and exotic animals from around the world. There is a 6-foot hay maze and kids can “rock the hunt” to win a prize. The retreat is $15 for children and $25 for adults and is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

Farm Stand West

2115 Miller Ave. & 1980 Summit Dr., Escondido; (760) 738-9014

Farm Stand West and Fran’s Original Farm Stand both have a you-pick pumpkin patch. The patches are open daily and admission is free.

PB Pumpkin Patch

870 Garnet Ave. San Diego, CA 92109; (858) 483-0329

With your free cup of cider, you can stroll through the pumpkin patch and also look for Halloween decorations. There’s also a free pumpkin carving and painting area. The patch is open daily and is free of charge.

Mr. Jack ‘O’ Lantern’s Pumpkin Patch

6710 La Jolla Blvd. San Diego, CA 92037; (844) 452-2567

Mr. Jack ‘O’ Lantern’s Pumpkin Patch in La Jolla is an entire carnival. There’s a photo station, tumbling tombstones, ping pong toss, “animal kingdom,” candy corn hole, pumpkin bowling and many more games. An all-day pass is $15 or tickets for games are $1 each. The patch is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

Julian Mining Company

4444 State Hwy 78, Wynola/Julian; (951) 313-0166

At the Julian Mining Company, you can get a pumpkin, pick apples and mine for gold all while enjoying the seasonal briskness of the mountains.

Summers Past Farms

15602 Olde Highway 80, El Cajon; (619) 390-1523

Just off historic Old Highway 80, Summers Past Farms not only has pumpkins but flower gardens and a certified wildlife habitat. The farm is family owned and open Thursday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

A Mira Mesa high school launched an investigation into an alleged hazing incident involving its junior varsity football team Wednesday.

Two letters were sent out to parents about the reported incident by Mira Mesa High School Principal Jeff Sabins.

The first outlined the allegations, though didn’t have many details due to the school’s privacy laws.

“I have just learned about an alleged incident involving several of our JV football players,” Sabins said. “As a result of this incident, I have canceled the combined freshman and JV game scheduled for tomorrow, October 4th at University City High School.”

The JV football team’s practice was also cancelled, according to the principal.

“I don’t take the decision to cancel a game lightly,” said Sabins. “I need to be confident that we have an understanding that hazing will not be tolerated and develop a plan to ensure that all students are safe at all times.”

The second letter offered a time for students’ families to learn more about the reported abuse.

Mira Mesa High School will hold a forum Thursday at 6 p.m. in its media center to further discuss the hazing concerns, according to a letter sent out to students’ parents.

The JV and freshmen football coaches are expected to attend.

Read Sabins' full statement to NBC 7:

“The Mira Mesa High School administration learned of alleged hazing occurring among some members of the Junior Varsity football team. In response, the school: launched an investigation into the allegations, which continues; canceled a JV football practice and game scheduled for Thursday; and notified the entire school community of the reports of alleged hazing.

I have directed football staff to increase off-field supervision of football team members. Tomorrow night, I will meet with football families to review our commitment to keep students safe on and off the field.”

No other information was available at this time.

There was a lot of love shown Wednesday night at a ceremonial paddle out for Carlsbad surfer Adam “Biff” Esposito, who was found dead September 9 in Mexico.

“He had a passion for life. He was always scheming some way to get at the next wave. He was a true surfer. We chase the waves, we chase the ocean," Adam's sister Briana said.

She and her sister Mary paddled Adam's board past the wave break at Carlsbad State Beach and joined hundreds of other surfers mourning the loss of Adam.

Surfers locked hands forming what looked like a drifting wreath around Adam's father's boat in the same waters Adam learned to surf in as a child.

After sharing stories, they tossed flowers into the water to remember the 39-year-old father. His 6-year-old daughter Annabelle was there to witness the love.

“I felt like that was really special that we could bring his daughter to where he learned how to surf and she could feel the power of all of his friends and where he grew up and know his spirit lives on," Adam's sister Mary said.

“The energy of everyone being there was something outside of ourselves. You could feel the spirit,” Briana said.

Adam's sisters told NBC 7 last week that he died of an apparent drowning south of Baja Malibu near Rosarito.

"Since my brother is a big wave surfer, spending the better part of the last 20 years in Tahiti surfing some of the most dangerous waves in the world. It’s very hard for us and many of his friends to believe he would just drown. It seems like there has to be some more to the story that led him to that point,” Mary told NBC 7 after first learning of his death.

The 39-year-old father went to Mexico Sept. 2 for a surfing vacation and to see his dad. He borrowed his dad's car Sept. 6 and never returned.

Two days later, a surf shop owner said he saw Adam shoeless and shirtless, acting agitated, like someone was following him.

Adam's sisters say he'd recently been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Despite authorities saying there's no foul play, his family is keeping their investigation open.

"With various sightings, the condition he was in, the paranoia, the fear he had, I feel we owe it to him to put together that timeline. And right now the timeline doesn’t make sense," said sister Briana.

Adam’s sister says Mexican authorities found him dead, without identification on Sunday, Sept. 9, but didn’t notify them until nearly two weeks after despite their contact with multiple U.S. and Mexican agencies amid the search for Adam.

The family has set up a Gofundme page to help support Adam’s daughter Annabelle.