Menifee 24/7 newspaper June 21 2019 by Doug Spoon

Menifee 24/7

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JUNE 21, 2019

VOL. 3, NO. 15

DUI: Citizens vow to take action Group meets to find ways to mobilize

Menifee 24/7 Staff

a Hemet man who pleaded guilty to DUI gross vehicular manslaughter charges. Police said

Words of tribute poured into social media sites in memory of a Menifee man who was shot to death in front of his home June 1. Claudell Walter is being remembered as a family man who was devoted to his community and his passion for coaching young athletes in a wellknown travel ball league. The 38-year-old husband and father of two “spent a lot of his time dedicated to sports activities with his kids and other kids in the community,” said a representative of DTermined Athletics, a regional sports organization Walter helped to create. “He would work with kids around the country who are trying to pursue their dreams with sports,” a source, who asked that his name not be used,

See DUI / A5

SEE MURDER / A5

By DOUG SPOON Editor A problem with no easy solution is being tackled head-on by a group of local residents who are committed to addressing the growing number of DUI-related traffic accidents. Karen Kools-Mclaughlin is one of the organizers of a group calling itself the DUI Termination Team. The group held its first meeting in Murrieta June 13 and more than 100 people attended, including law enforcement officials. The group also plans to form a Southwest Inland Empire chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. “It has become very apparent we have to start somewhere and do something,” Kools-Mc-

Popular coach murdered

Menifee 24/7 photo by Doug Spoon Menifee resident Frank Dominguez was killed in this accident being investigated as a possible DUI. laughlin said. “Before people say this is a lost cause, let’s educate the community on the laws, see how we got here and what we can do about it.

“Nothing will change if somebody doesn’t try to do something.” Kools-Mclaughlin has been concerned about this issue at least since Sept. 6,

2017, when she witnessed the death of Joan Lehmer in a horrific crash on Winchester Road in Murrieta. Lehmer was killed instantly by a vehicle driven by

Owls are safe, but there’s a war on gophers Completion of the burrowing owl study has concluded that the Krikorian Theater project can move forward without impacting any birds. Meanwhile, the uncertain status of the North Golf Course is now complicated by an army of gophers that are tunneling into the vacant land there. So besides the animal aspect, what’s the latest with the theater and golf course? Doug Spoon tries to sort it out in his column below.

Forget critters; what’s the real news? The Good News: There are no burrowing owls hunkered down on the site of the “coming soon” Krikorian Theater and entertainment complex in the Menifee Town Center on Newport Road. Either the owls got tired of waiting for the theater – like the rest of us – and found suitable housing elsewhere, or they were never there in the first place. All we know for sure is that the state-mandated burrowing owl study is completed, and au-

thorities found no owls that had to be relocated. The Bad News: There are gophers everywhere on the Cherry Hills Golf Course and the closed North Golf Course, adding yet another twist to uncertain status of that property in the Sun City retirement community in Menifee. So while the golf course grounds crew battles the gophers like Bill Murray in the movie “Caddyshack” and the owls hide from the next commercial project, the residents

Doug Spoon Menifee 24/7 Editor of Menifee continue to seek answers from the humans involved in these two major projects: When will they actually start building the theater? What is going to happen to the North

Golf Course property? Trying to get specifics about the theater project out of city officials is like trying to cross Salt Creek on Bradley Road during a rainstorm. It appears that’s because city staff knows

they have done virtually everything on their end, and they don’t want to say anything negative about George Krikorian and his plans for the entertainment complex. Multiple sources at the City of Menifee have indicated that the only remaining tasks to be completed are the responsibility of Krikorian. These are described as compliance with “outside agencies” – signoffs by utility companies and other entities on Krikorian’s final plans. Quietly, city officials

suggest that groundbreaking for the project should begin in about a month. If Krikorian waits too long, he has to pay for another study of potential impact on burrowing owls, nesting birds and other creatures. Those things move around, you know. But don’t hold your breath. Krikorian did not respond to an interview request from Menifee 24/7 this week. He has been having weekly conference calls with See SPOON / A4

Night market a success at Wickerd Farm site By TOMMIE BROWN Staff Writer

With the summer season knocking on our front doors, you might find yourselves itching to get out of air conditioned buildings in dire need of some fresh air, while still beating the heat. If that’s the case, the new Wickerd Farm “Under the Oaks” artisan night market could be the place for you. Started by longtime Menifee resident Jack

‘Under the Oaks’ Artisans Market 26852 Scott Road Fridays, 5-9 p.m. Wickerd and event extraordinaire Paul Gross, the market takes place every Friday evening the summer at the wellknown Wickerd Farm location under the string lights and old Oak trees at 26852 Scott Road. If you head over to

Wickerd Farm any Friday night between 5-9 p.m., you’ll find yourselves in the midst of two live bands featuring R&B soul music and rock, a huge drum circle featuring Sunshine drumming, pony rides, face painting, tacos, churros, kettle corn, BBQ, giveaways, henna tattoos, and most importantly, 50 unique vendors ranging anywhere from homemade beef jerky to haircuts See MARKET / A4

Menifee 24/7 photo by Tommie Brown Crowds enjoy the variety of vendors at the new artisans market in Menifee.

June 21, 2019

MENIFEE 24/7

WWI soldier buried here -- 75 years later Rogers found at site where he died in 1944 By DOUG SPOON Editor Every once in a while, a story comes along to prove that while people die, their memories live on. This is a story that shows you can come home again, no matter how long it has been. On Jan. 22, 1944, Army Staff Sgt. Vincent Rogers Jr. was one of seven airmen killed when their B-24 bomber crashed shortly after takeoff from the Pacific atoll of Tarawa in the Central Pacific Ocean. Searches in the years following World War II failed to locate his body. In 1950, Army officials informed the family that they were unable to recover his remains. For 75 years, Rogers was listed as MIA. He had no known final resting place – until this month. Rogers was honored in a memorial service at Evans-Brown Mortuary, then buried with full military honors at Riverside National Cemetery. Two of his cousins – including Menifee resident Wayne Rogers – were in attendance. Three-quarters of a century after “Buddy” Rogers died on that faraway island, he has a home. It was a long journey to Menifee, in more ways than time and distance. As Wayne Rogers (right) shared with guests at Wednesday’s ceremony, he was just 2 ½ years old when the cousin he never met died. He recalled fondly hearing stories about Vincent, however, and for years practiced on a family piano that displayed a photo of Buddy.

Menifee 24/7 photo by Doug Spoon The remains of World War II soldier Vincent Rogers Jr. was laid to rest with full military honors at Riverside National Cemetery. Wayne Rogers said that after the 1944 plane crash, the bodies were recovered from the water and placed in coffins made out of crates found on the military site. They were among approximately 1,100 U.S. military personnel killed in the 76-hour Battle of Tarawa and ensuing fighting. Many were hastily buried in trenches and individual graves. Crosses were placed on the seven coffins of Vincent Rogers’ crew. They remained above ground for a period of time. When U.S. military officials returned after the war to recover the remains of soldiers from a cemetery on the island, those seven coffins could not be found. Without a body for burial, a headstone for Vincent Rogers was erected

Wayne Rogers of Menifee persisted in the search for his distant cousin. over an empty grave in a cemetery in his home state of New York. His parents and other ancestors are buried there, but there are no family members remaining in that area. Then, more than 70

years later, Wayne Rogers picked up the phone in Menifee to take a call from another cousin, Tom Rogers, who lives in Texas. In a storage area of his garage, Tom Rogers had found 230 letters Vincent

had written to his mother while in the service. Part of Vincent’s training had taken place at March Field in Riverside. Tom sent the letters to Wayne, who donated them to the March Field Air Museum, where a display in recent years has honored Vincent Rogers as an “every man” airman who never came home. Enter an organization called History Flight, which searches for and recovers remains of military personnel. As Wayne Rogers’ interest in genealogy and the story of Vincent grew, he persisted in the efforts to locate and identify Vincent Rogers’ remains. Archeologists for History Flight determined in 2014 that some of the soldiers placed in the Tarawa

cemetery were buried outside of the current cemetery boundaries. Searching for a reported area near the military runway, they identified a house as likely to be sitting over the unmarked graves. They received permission to have the house moved, and excavators recovered the seven coffins. A painstaking process to identify the remains through DNA testing and dental records continued until this March, when Vincent Jerome Rogers Jr. was the last of the seven soldiers to be identified. A movement to bring the remains to Riverside for burial in the national cemetery was supported by 15,000 signatures. This month, that plan came to fruition.

MSJC awards 3,314 degrees MSJC Info Office

Menifee 24/7 photo by Doug Spoon Mayor Pro Tem Greg August addresses the crowd at Menifee’s annual Memorial Day recognition ceremony May 27 at Wheatfield Park. Below, Senator Mike Morrell speaks to the crowd.

City recognizes Memorial Day Menifee 24/7 Staff Emotional messages about fallen soldiers in the line of duty were delivered Monday morning in the City of Menifee’s annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Veterans Memorial in Wheatfield Park. Mayor Pro Tem and Air Force veteran Greg August and Marine Staff Sgt. Earl Jackson gave passionate and inspiring messages about comrades who died in military service. Some local veterans were recognized,

but the emphasis was on honoring those who didn’t return from action. Senator Mike Morrell and Menifee Mayor Bill Zimmerman also addressed the crowd, while council member Dean Deines presented certificates to some of the veterans in attendance. At the end of the ceremony, guests placed roses on the Veterans Memorial while “Taps” was played and then “Good Bless America” sung by Anahi Rodriguez.

Shelby Walker, her husband and their two children were homeless just a few years ago. The San Jacinto resident was tired of relying on government aid and realized something needed to change. “So I decided to come back to school, and I’m now graduating from MSJC after only two years and was accepted to everywhere I applied,” said Walker, a 25-yearold Communications major who next plans to get her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees and return to MSJC to teach someday.”Words cannot express how I’m feeling. I am so excited and cannot wait to move my tassel when I cross that stage.” On May 23, Walker joined the largest graduating class in Mt. San Jacinto College history. She was one of four graduates who served as student speakers at the two commencement ceremonies held at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula. MSJC awarded a record-breaking 3,314 degrees and certificates to 1,707 graduates. That’s nearly 800 more degrees and certificates than last year. The graduates earned a total of 2,985

associate degrees and 329 career certificates, as some students earn more than one degree, certificate or a combination. The number of graduates rose by about 200 compared to last year’s total. The large increases are attributed to a concerted MSJC outreach effort to alert students when they’re eligible to graduate. This was the first year the college hosted two ceremonies in order to accommodate the growing number of graduates and their guests. It was the second year that commencement was held at Pechanga. Mt. San Jacinto College serves about 26,000 students in a district covering 1,700 square miles from the San Gorgonio Pass to Temecula. Like Walker, MSJC nursing graduate Tichona White also illustrated this year’s commencement theme: “MSJC Eagles Rise: Transforming the Future.” “It’s overwhelming ... I can’t believe I made it,” said White, a 28-year-old Hemet resident. The honors student earned an Associate of Science in Nursing (ADN) while raising children and being homeless at one point. “I didn’t think this would happen.”

MENIFEE 24/7

June 21, 2019

High schools celebrate commencement

Menifee 24/7 photos by Doug Spoon Paloma Valley High students graduated on June 6 (left) and Heritage ceremonies were June 7 (right). Santa Rosa Academy students graduated May 30.

Students receive health care scholarships

Menifee 24/7 photo by Doug Spoon Students seeking careers in health care received scholarships from the Medical Center Auxiliary.

Soldier from Menifee found dead at border Menifee 24/7 Staff An Army soldier who died while providing patrol at the U.S.-Mexico border has been identified as a Menifee man, according to Army officials. Pfc. Steven Hodges, 20, was found dead near Nogales, Arizona, on June 1, according to armytimes. com. The Army has not released information about how he died, and an investigation is ongoing. Hodges served as a grenadier with the 1st Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, according to Army spokesman Lt. Col. Roger Cabiness. He was deployed as part of the Pen-

tagon’s mission to support U.S. border protection. Hodges, who enlisted in 2017, had been at his current duty station since February 2018. “Every Soldier in the Tomahawk Battalion is an essential member of our team. The loss of any Soldier is deeply felt. Private First Class Steven Hodges is sorely missed by his teammates and the entire Tomahawk family. Every Soldier is a national treasure.” said Lt. Col. Sean Lyons, Hodges’ battalion commander, in a statement.

Twenty-five students planning careers in the health care industry received scholarship awards Thursday from the Menifee Valley Medical Center Auxiliary. The ceremony was held at the Medical Center, located on McCall Boulevard in Menifee. Funded by grants and donations, the Auxiliary has awarded 330 scholarships totalling $510,000 since 1992. Applicants are screened and interviewed to determine their commitment to the health care industry. The group of honorees included Donica Loney (left), an alumna of Santa Rosa Academy who is graduating from Cal Baptist in three years. Donica received the Darlene Bull-

ock Award, which honors a former Medical Center Foundation administrator. Here is the list of scholarship winners honored on Thursday: Teresa Ayers; Victoria Bosi; Nathan Brown; Presten Christensen; Katie Denny; Connie Duncan Moses; Kaleigh Dyer; Juliet Griffin; Maria Gurrola; Raul Gurrola. Fiorze Hossainzada; Nathan Hughes; Chelsea Kennedy; Julianne Kulick; Donica Loney; Alexis Munoz; Laryssa Ortiz; Katie Pacheco. Briany Padilla; Kathleen Phan; Leslie Pineda; Brianna Rios; Andrea Serrato; Jacob Torres; Kassidy Vogel.

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June 21, 2019

MENIFEE 24/7

MARKET From Page A1

to woodwork, to candles, soap, and baked goods. There also are vendors supplying art activities for the kids and Wickerd Farm’s own activities, such as the tire swings and hay castle. “This idea came because it’s something that has never really been done before,” said Gross, “yet it’s something the town is in need of. Menifee is a very artistic community and there hasn’t ever really been this open call for the artists and community to sort of commune all at once.”  The Grand Opening was June 14, but the market has actually been in near full swing for a few weeks now. Gathering over 40 art vendors, five food vendors, and consistent weekly live bands, it’s clear that local artists jumped at the chance to have a weekly booth to display their works. “My phone never stops ringing,” laughs Gross. “I thought maybe we would gather 20 or so vendors over time, but before I even started advertising this, my cell was ringing off the hook. We are over 40 now and I’m still turning people away.” In the few weeks previous to the Grand

Menifee 24/7 photo by Tommie Brown At his PTSD Bottles booth, Ray Lopez sells “Post Traumatic Smooth Designs” bottles. Opening, some vendors such as Madam Confection, delictable desserts maker, have even had to pack up shop early after selling out. And vendors like Ozzy Alcin with her light-up balloons of wonder were selling products before they ever stepped out of their vehicles. Between Wickerd’s ideal location, Gross’ seasoned experience with coordinating events, and their love for the community, the summer market felt like some-

thing the two men had to at least give a try. While Wickerd is known for his annual pumpkin patches and Christmas tree farms, as well as other events on the property seen in previous years, Gross has had a large hand in the manifestation of the Wickerd town favorites. However, the Farm isn’t even remotely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Gross’ event experience. The extent of his career is far too extensive

to dive into, but to give a quick look, Gross laid the groundwork for the first-ever Coachella, Stage Coach, Balloon and Wine Festival in Temecula, U.S Presidential events, and has coordinated with bands as famous as The Red Hot Chili Peppers.   “This market wasn’t something that we needed to do,” Gross explains. “There isn’t much profit for us, but what really drew me to this was the Farm. This area is such a special place that doesn’t really

exist anymore in Southern California. Where kids can just run and play under trees in open spaces. Where people can listen to live bands in this naturally rural environment. It’s pretty magical.” With most of Menifee going up under construction or bought out for future building plans, the rural farmstead land the community once sat on is progressively vanishing. “This land around here isn’t going to be here five, 10 years from now,” says

SPOON From Page A1

city officials, however, and sources say every minor detail is being discussed in trying to move this along. Why doesn’t Krikorian just sell to someone else who wants to build a theater now, you ask? Because he’s sitting on a gold mine. Just like all the other developers in town, they own the land and they will build when they’re good and ready. In other words, when it makes the most financial sense for them. For Krikorian, that time is arriving soon, now that he has invested in so many steps to approach the finish line. Shovels will be in the ground before the fall. Really. Well, maybe. Now to the golf course. Residents of the Sun City community have complained about the condition of the North Golf Course ever since it was closed more than two years ago by Korean-based Golf and Art LLC, which claimed it was no longer profitable. That didn’t sit well with seniors who live adjacent to the course in hous-

Photos courtesy of Charlene Albert The parkway along the vacant North Golf Course on Northwood Drive is a minefield of gopher holes. es whose property value they claim is dropping. It has taken multiple code violations by the City of Menifee to force the ownership to turn the water back on, trim trees, cut weeds and generally maintain the closed property. Meanwhile, the ownership group is trying to maintain the adjacent Cherry Hills Golf Course as well. Last we talked to local management of the golf

course, discussions were taking place about some form of re-development of the North Course property that would be more profitable and still comply with county regulations of the area as a water flood channel. Charlie Kong, who had recently taken over as course manager, talked about the positive environment he was creating in discussions with local residents. Now we learn that

Kong left the company at the end of April. And according to multiple sources, at least one real estate investor has had serious discussions about buying the property. For what purpose, we don’t know. City Manager Armando Villa would not comment on the rumors of a sale, saying he could only address issues of code enforcement. Meanwhile, new course manager Mike Matheny said

the course “has been for sale for two years.” Hmm. That’s not how Kong characterized the company’s commitment to revitalize the area under its current ownership. Matheny said he has also heard rumors that a buyer is lined up, but “I haven’t heard it from the people around here.” Ownership has never made public details about a proposed re-development, other than posing

Gross. “It’s going to be housing tracts and department stores in a blink of an eye. We will only have parks to act as nature, so we just wanted to celebrate this town’s roots while we still can. We can’t stop the construction, but we can enjoy what we still have, while we have it. If there’s any shot at preserving Menifee, it’s by things like this market.” But not only is the ambiance ideal, the company kept is what keeps visitors going back. Each vendor shares a personality and artistry all their own, making a warm melting pot of styles and stories. You’ll run into people you know, as well as meet new people you otherwise would never have crossed paths with. The vendors themselves enjoy the mix and mingle of the night. Leaving one person to man their tents, vendors wander around the grounds, picking up trinkets from one another, sharing their own creations, and making a family within their next two-month home. “The best part about this are the people [vendors],” beams Gross. “These are people with full-time jobs who are still creating and still showing up here. These are the people who aren’t giving up on their dreams.” the idea of limited residential space and perhaps a golf school on the North Course property. “I’ve seen the plans about the proposed re-development,” Matheny said. “They’re pretty aggressive. But I don’t know where the money would come from for that.” As far as an ownership changes, stay tuned. That appears to be on the theater-like “fast track”. Then there are those pesky gophers. Charlene Albert lives across the street from a vacant North Course fairway on Northwood Drive. She has submitted photos of the maze of gopher holes on the course and claims the infestation has spread to her property and neighboring homes. “We are trying our best to control the gopher situation that has spilled into the surrounding area,” Albert wrote in a letter to Menifee 24/7. “Unless the golf course management does their share on the property, we will never get the gophers under control. Every single exterminator we’ve talked to says the same thing.

See SPOON / A6

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June 21, 2019

Man dead in officer-involved shooting Incident ends police chase of suspect By DOUG SPOON Editor An adult male was killed in an officer-involved shooting June 9 in a rural area of southeast Menifee following a police pursuit of the suspect in a stolen vehicle, authorities said. The suspect was identified as 32-year-old Ysidro Osornio-Velasquez of Menifee, according to a Sheriff’s Department news release. He was pronounced dead at the scene where the chase ended -- the 32000 block of Garland Lane, a dirt road heading east off Menifee Road. A stretch of Menifee Road from Merjanian Road to Wickerd remained closed at 6:30 p.m. The incident began about 3:50 a.m., when the suspect attempted a carjacking near Scott Road and Haun Road in southern Menifee, just west of the 215 Freeway. When the suspect brandished a weapon and attempted to take the vehicle, the victim fled the scene. As he left, the suspect shot at him. The victim was treated at a local hospital for his injuries. At 4:48 a.m., deputies received a second carjacking report in the same area. In this incident, the suspect fled the location in the victim’s white BMW

Menifee 24/7 photo by Doug Spoon Law enforcement vehicles gather at the scene of a fatal shooting at Menifee Road and Garland Lane. sedan. The vehicle was later located in the city of Lake Elsinore. When deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, a pursuit began. Sheriff’s deputies received assistance from the Murrieta Police Department. Witnesses described seeing the chase head east on Scott Road back into Menifee. After turning north on Menifee Road, the suspect turned onto Garland Lane, where the shooting occurred. Garland Lane is a dirt road that leads to just three residences east of Menifee Road before ending at an open field. After the suspect stopped the stolen vehicle, he produced

a firearm and a deputy / officer-involved shooting occurred. No deputies, officers or citizens were injured. A K-9 from the Murrieta Police Deparment received a gunshot wound that is not considered life-threatening. Theresa Sester, who lives in one of the residences on Garland Lane, told Menifee 24/7 she was awakened by sirens about 6:30 a.m. “I heard multiple sirens racing somewhere, and then I heard the sirens cut short near my house,” Sester said. “By 6:33, they had the suspect stopped on Garland. They were yelling for

him to put his hands outside the car. There was a lot of commotion. They were yelling, ‘We don’t want to shoot you.’” Sester said she could see part of the confrontation from her window but wasn’t sure whether the suspect shouted anything back or had a weapon in his hand. “About 6:35, the officers opened fire,” Sester said. “I knew the driver wasn’t getting up.” Sester spoke with deputies after the incident and spoke with her neighbor as well. She said she believes the suspect turned onto Garland Lane in an attempt

to hide from officers. “That person has nothing to do with this area,” she said. Sester said at 6:30 p.m. that she and her neighbors were not allowed to leave the property and no one was allowed in. The body remained on the ground near the vehicle. The deputies and officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave, according to the news release. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call Investigator Paz at 951-9552777 or Perris Sheriff’s Station Investigator Salisbury at 951-210-1000.

was well known in the area and that everyone is in shock, trying to figure out why such a thing would happen to him. “A lot of it is trying to figure out how and why,” the source said. “For a person like him ... when it happened, there were rumors that he died in his sleep, just because of the kind of person he is. No one ever thought he would get shot. There were rumors, but the truth has to be told. It’s important people understand the kind of life that was taken.” Walter’s family has lived in Menifee for about 12 years. He was personally responsible for about a dozen youths from the area who competed in the regional league. “It makes no sense,” the mother of a player on Walter’s team told Menifee 24/7. “His coaching had an impact on the kids, not just in sports, but in other aspects of life. He was extremely supportive, and he understood the emotional balance between sports and one’s family.” An Instagram post by

DTermined Basketball stated that “We lost the anchor of our program ... We are very saddened by this, because of his impact on our program, and athletes from all over the world. He was very passionate and always had a smile on his face. At this point, this process is under investigation and we ask any and everyone to help in bringing justice to our family. “It’s so sad that something so cruel can happen to such a great person. To our basketball community, we are so grateful of the respect and support you guys are overflowing at this difficult time.” “Please everyone keep this family in your prayers,” wrote another parent on a Menifee 24/7 Facebook thread. “Genuinely a good family and an even better basketball coach for my son’s team. We are all beyond devastated and heartbroken.” The Sheriff’s Department asks that anyone with any information that could be helpful in the murder investigation call 951-955-2777.

Claudell Walter was a dedicated basketball coach and had a positive impact on young lives.Hit

MURDER From Page A1

told Menifee 24/7. “He was a great guy. The only time he was out and about, being social, was when he was coaching and helping others.” Walter had just arrived at his home on Light Sails Court about 9:50 p.m. According to the parent of one of his players, his basketball team had played two games in Orange County that afternoon and evening. Witnesses said Walter was getting out of his car when a suspect approached and shot him twice. Walter was pronounced dead at a local hospital, according to a Sheriff’s Department report. Deputy Mike Vasquez said the Sheriff’s Homicide Department is investigating the case and attempting to identify and locate the suspect. Officers interviewed neighbors that night and have viewed surveillance video, but no other information has been released at this time. The representative who spoke directly with Menifee 24/7 said Walter

Suspect sought in hit and run The Sheriff’s Department has no leads on the suspect in a hit-andrun collision in Menifee June 13, authorities said. The incident happened at 8:37 p.m. in the 31600 block of Haun Road, according to a Sheriff’s Department report. The driver of a vehicle that rear-ended a car driven by a 17-year-old female fled the scene before deputies

arrived. No other information has been released. Anyone with information should call 951-210-1000. The accident victim has been identified by her mother as Hannah Crisostomo. Rebecca Mills Avila said that her daughter is recovering well, although she received several staples for a wound on the top of her head.

DUI

From Page A1 Christopher Patrick Barbara, 52, was under the influence of drugs when his vehicle crossed the center median and struck Lehmer’s vehicle head-on. “I was behind the crash when it happened,” Kools-Mclaughlin said. I ran right over to her, but she was gone. It was just really graphic, the things I saw.” A movement to publicly address the issue intensified in recent weeks, when three people were killed in traffic collisions where DUI has been proven or suspected. On May 25, 63-yearold Frank Dominguez of Menifee died at the intersection of Newport Road and Menifee Road when his BMW coupe was struck by a driver speeding through the intersection. The other driver, who has not been identified by police, remains in a hospital with injuries from the collision. A Sheriff’s Department spokesperson said this week that charges have not been filed but that the case remains under investigation as a possible DUI. On June 2, a 15-year-old Murrieta girl was killed when the car she was riding in was struck by a vehicle driving at a high rate of speed on a winding stretch of Rancho California Road near Temecula, police said. Jose A. Zazueta, 19, of Fallbrook was determined to be under the influence of alcohol and faces three felony charges, including gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. Two days later, 44-yearold Janet Genao of Murrieta was killed in a six-vehicle collision caused by a man who faces seven charges – including murder – for driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Javier Caldera, 25, is being held without bail in Riverside. Those in attendance at the June 13 public meeting listened to representatives of the CHP, Sheriff’s Department, Murrieta Police Department and District Attorney’s Office. Most noteworthy to Kools-Mclaughlin was the misunderstanding among residents about current laws regarding DUI. Under California law, DUI is only a misdemeanor. It can only become a felony charge if a collision causes injury or death; if the suspect has three or more prior DUI convictions; or if the suspect has at least one prior felony DUI conviction. “People don’t realize this,” Kools-Mclaughlin said. “We want vehicular manslaughter to be a violent felony. And it shouldn’t take four DUIs before it’s a felony. “Right now, there is zero organized effort in our area to do anything. We’ve got to have a layered approach. We can start by being visible in the community, come up with local programs to get people home safely. Then we should try to leverage local businesses to support this. None of that is happening now.” Kools-Mclaughlin plans to reach out to local legislators, including Senators Jeff Stone and Mike Morrell and See DUI / A6

MENIFEE 24/7

June 21, 2019

SPOON From Page A4

“After eight months,

our first exterminator threw his hands in the air and gave up. We have no hired Gopher Wars.” Sounds ominous. Meanwhile, Matheny acknowledges the gopher infestation and said the ground crew is catching as many of the creatures as it can with wire traps that kill them. “It’s always been a problem here,” Matheny said. “I played this course 10 years ago and they had gophers then. I don’t know if it’s worse because the land is undisturbed and there’s less grass or what. I have received complaints and have answered letters and emails about this.” In a letter to golf course management, Albert described how the gopher problems are becoming personal. “Gophers, besides being destructive, are a health and safety problem,” she wrote. “Gophers are rodents and carry disease, just like rats do. Our yards and the North Course are riddled with gopher holes and tunnels. A broken leg, ankle or hip followed by a lawsuit is not unlikely. “This has been an ongoing issue for homeowners since the North Course was closed and everything was allowed to die.” So there you have the latest – at least what people are saying on the record and tidbits we have received from reliable sources. Perhaps by next summer, you will be able to watch the latest action flick on the big screen at Krikorian’s theater. Maybe you’ll even be able to bowl a few games. But get your golf in now, because who knows what will happen over there in gopher land.

Photo by Starr Washington A major intersection of Newport Road and Menifee Road was closed for hours following the May 25 traffic fatality.

DUI

From Page A5 Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez, who had a representative at the June 13 meeting. “If we are going to get any movement on this and involve local businesses, we need help from legislators. It’s going to be ‘who you know’. If anything, we need to increase awareness among the public. People don’t even know who their reps are. “At our meeting, someone asked where the business owners are. It never occurred to me to leverage the business owners. Establishments who serve customers need to be responsible in addressing this issue.”

Map shows the location of the six-car traffic accident June 4 on the freeway in Temecula.

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Menifee Boys & Girls Club turns 5 By TOMMIE BROWN Staff Writer

The U.S Census Bureau has found that nearly 50 percent of all non-profit organizations fail within the first five years of existence. In 2020, it is projected that the percentage of failures will raise even above that. Which is why the Boys & Girls Club of Menifee Valley’s celebration of their fifth birthday on June 14 is no party that should be taken lightly. Often mistakenly considered to be federally and/or state -funded, the Boys & Girls Club is completely non-profit based, relying solely on donations and grants to supply services to local youth.   Those services go far beyond those of the average first-year, non-profit start-up.   The club currently offers yearround sports leagues, dance and tumbling, music lessons including drums, guitar, vocal, flute, piano and ukulele, self-defense classes including taekwondo and American Kenpo, STEM classes, theater classes, Spanish classes, tutoring and painting classes. The club has also added adult classes for parents and children to participate in together, such as painting classes, American Kenpo, and Hit Fit classes. But arguably most importantly, the club provides financial assistance on all programs. That means the club will supplement the fees up to 70 percent,

Menifee 24/7 photo by Tommie Brown Sam Handley, unit director of the Boys & Girls Club of Menifee Valley, speaks to club members at the June 14 event. based on HUD requirements. That totals somewhere close to $100,000 of assistance provided to children each year. Starting off with only 127 children in total, and roughly 44 children in attendance per day, five years later the club has served over 5,000 children and cares for an average of 404 children daily. Entirely under its non-profit title, the club also provides both snacks and dinner to children, as well as transportation to students since 2014. It leaves its doors open for all-day summer care with fun summer activities for all children,

kicking off this week. This has given parents and guardians the security of knowing their child is safe, productive, fed, and socializing while they fulfill their own obligations at work or school.   The children and staff celebrated their five-year success with a Happy Birthday Boys and Girls Club party of their own. Huddled around birthday cakes, the children sang in their best voices “Happy Birthday” to their facility. Staff also got together a “candy store” for the kids, including a candy station and chocolate fondue fountain. According to statistics

and opinions of experts, the Boys & Girls Club of Menifee Valley was not expected to succeed in the vast way they have. The club was under the radar altogether and expected by some to collapse. “I’ve been a part of the Boys & Girls Club since 1984,” says Sam Handley, the club’s unit director and lovingly referred to as “Mr. Sam” by the children. “I’ve seen a lot of Boys & Girls Clubs fail within the first four or five years. It is because Mr. John (Executive Director John Whann) has brought in so many diverse programs that these kids want to come,

and this is succeeding.” During the month of June, the club’s birthday month, it is celebrating with the “$5 for 5 Fundraising Event.” With hopes of reaching $5,000 within the month, club officials are asking for $5 donations from everyone and anyone willing and eager to lend a helping hand in the continuing growth of the youth center. “This could not have been accomplished without the assistance of a dedicated Board of Directors, the Menifee School District supporting staff and School Board, the local and surrounding business community, our

wonderful families and children in Menifee and the surrounding areas and a dedicated team of staff that truly care for children and place the children first,” says Whann. “And this [$5,000 fundraiser] is a very lofty goal, but what is lost in everything we do is the return in investment. Every dollar is invested in the club.” To donate, visit the Boys & Girls Club of Menifee’s Facebook page or send in checks to P.O. Box 2423, Menifee, CA 92584. For more information about donating, you can also contact Julia Burch at 951-246-8845.

Villa honored by Hispanic Lifestyle company City of Menifee News Release Menifee City Manager Armando Villa was honored as an Executive of Influence by Hispanic Lifestyle at the media company’s annual business conference on June 12 at the Ontario Airport Hotel & Conference Center. The conference convened regional business leaders and entrepreneurs to recognize thriving Hispanic-owned businesses and honor executives

who have made a positive impact on their local Hispanic communities. “It is an honor to be recognized for this distinction with my colleagues today,” said Villa upon accepting the award. “It is one of my goals over the next five years to ensure that Menifee is an inclusive community that focuses on fostering success for local businesses. The Hispanic business community in Menifee is an important ally in the execution of that goal.”

Villa has been city manager in Menifee since 2017, after having served in the same capacity in Calexico for nearly three years. He has previously served as assistant county executive officer and planning director for Imperial County as well as community development director for Temecula. He has led Menifee during a period of tremendous growth, as it is currently the second fastest growing city in Riverside County and the seventh fastest grow-

ing city in California. “As a community member, I’m proud to see that our city leadership is invested in fostering a diverse, inclusive community,” said District 3 City Council member Lesa Sobek, who also attended the event. “As a member of the council, I’m confident that we have a city manager who is helping to build a community that meets the needs of all of our residents.” “It’s a great personal honor for Armando to be

recognized for his hard work and dedication to this community,” said District 2 City Council member Matt Liesemeyer. “But it’s also an honor for the city to have his leadership recognized on a regional level.” Hispanic Lifestyle is a multimedia company that holds business conferences that attract business owners, professionals and community leaders from throughout the country. ARMANDO VILLA

Cynthia Nemelka named Citizen of Month

Photo /City of Menifee Community volunteer and businesswoman Cynthia Nemelka is the Outsanding Citizen of the Month.

Menifee resident, businesswoman and community volunteer Cynthia Nemelka was honored by the City Council June 5 as the city’s Outstanding Citizen of the Month. Nemelka, broker-owner of RE/MAX Generations Team Nemelka, has contributed volunteer service to Menifee in several ways. As a board member with the Menifee Valley Community Cupboard, she donates backpacks that are filled with food and supplies for students in need. She is a former board member of the Menifee Chamber of Commerce and hosts a booth at virtually all city festivals and major events. Showing her love for special events, Nemelka annually sponsors tro-

phies for the Halloween costume contest at the Fall Festival, sponsors a Golden Egg Hunt at the Easter Festival, gives out popcorn at the city’s Movies in the Park events, and sponsors a Relay for Life team. Nemelka has also received a Women of Distinction Award from Sen. Mike Morrell’s office and Power to the People Award from Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez’s office. In addition, Nemelka recently coached a Valley-Wide Recreation girls volleyball team to the championship in the 1114 age group with a 12-1 record. Nemelka plays sports herself, competing in a local women’s senior softball team she sponsors.

June 21, 2019

MENIFEE 24/7

Menifee Night Menifee Crossword Puzzle at SoCal Fair For the first time, there will be a “Menifee Night” at the Southern California Fair in Perris this October. The special day will be Oct. 11, a Friday. Menifee residents will receive free admission to the fairgrounds, located at 18700 Lake Perris Drive. There will be many city-related booths, performers and other ways of celebrating the City of Menifee that day, according to Mayor Bill Zimmerman. The idea was brought to Zimmerman’s attention by Michael Vargas, mayor of Perris. There is a Per-

ris Day at the fair each year and it is very successful, Zimmerman said. The fair will run from Oct. 3-15 and the theme is “Go Hog Wild”. ”. It will include livestock exhibits, a junior culinary cooking contest, arts displays, a hay bucking contest and more. In addition to a variety of live music acts, there will be many contests local residents can enter and be judged in. For more information about the Southern California Fair, visit www.socalfair.com

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Try your luck at today’s Menifee Crossword Puzzle. The theme is “4th of July.’ Clues with an asterisk refer to the theme. Answers, Page B6 ACROSS

DOWN

1. Reproductive cell 5. Tai’s partner 8. At the stern 11. Do like phoenix 12. Person of French descent 13. It can’t be refused? 15. Hand-to-hand combat weapon 16. Sty sound 17. Justin Bieber’s 2015 hit 18. *Pyrotechnic display 20. De-wrinkler 21. Expression of delight 22. *”O say can you ____” 23. *One of three presidents who died on July 4 26. Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will ____” 30. Turkish military leader 31. With complex decorations 34. Biblical place of bliss 35. Economic crisis 37. South American tuber 38. Gladiator’s turf 39. Serum, pl. 40. Stellar 42. Humpty Dumpty did this 43. “Jeopardy” competitor, e.g. 45. Blotch or dapple 47. 34th Pres. 48. Unmanned flyer 50. MXN, as in currency 52. *British monarch 56. *____ Burr, officer in Revolutionary War and VP 57. Aquarium dweller 58. Of two minds 59. *Puts John Hancock down 60. Log splitter 61. Arrival times 62. Plays for pay 63. Ball in a socket 64. “____ and rave”

1. ____ Approach in music education 2. The last Henry Tudor 3. Soviet acronym 4. Shooting star 5. Capital of Egypt 6. ____-dory 7. Varieties 8. ‘70s hairdo 9. “Where the Red ____ Grows” 10. “Don’t ____ this at home!” 12. Pyle of “The Andy Griffith Show” 13. Willow twig 14. *”The Stars and Stripes ____” 19. What pertussis patients do 22. Johnny Cash’s boy with unfortunate name 23. En ___, or all together 24. Watcher 25. a.k.a. Pleasant Island 26. *State on Old Glory 27. “That is,” Latin 28. Like bribe-taking politician 29. Related on mother’s side 32. Narrow margin of victory 33. *Stamp ____, imposed tax on American colonies 36. *One of two Presidents to sign the Constitution 38. “____ came a spider...” 40. Gobbled up 41. Like libertine 44. Venerated paintings in Orthodox church 46. ____-totter 48. Unpleasant airport news 49. One in Pinkerton’s gallery 50. Twosome 51. René Descartes’ “therefore” 52. Hunted animal 53. Itty-bitty bit 54. Persian Gulf country 55. Research facil. 56. Pharaoh’s cobra

MENIFEE 24/7

June 21, 2019

Little Menifee boy chases a big dream 7-year-old biker headed to nationals

By TOMMIE BROWN Staff Writer Sometimes a tiny person can do great big things, and Menifee’s own Chase Brennan is proof of that. This month, 7-year-old Chase took the win for the motocross regional championship. Having just turned 7, Chase won the title for the 4-6 age group. It’s a feat that no motocross athlete should take lightly. With this win, Chase will head to the national championship at the end of July to compete against other regional winners nationwide for the big prize. Beginning his career at just 3 years of age on a PW50 bike, Chase has been a natural at the sport since he was able to ride. “I remember the first time he rode,” says Alissa Brennan, Chase’s mother. “He hopped on a PW bike, which usually need and come with training wheels. But not Chase. He jumped on that bike, took off, and never looked back.” In a family of five

Photos courtesy of Alissa Brennan 7-year-old Chase Brennan of Menifee won the regional motocross championship this month and will head to the nationals. siblings, only one other sibling, older brother Hunter, has taken to the sport. While both parents dabbled in motocross, neither have had the same experience or success their young son has. “We’ve never pushed anything on him,” says Alissa Brennan. “He’s respectful and kind of quiet; he always wins the character awards at school. His attitude is awesome towards it, and he’s a natural for sure.” As Chase heads into the Loretta Lynn Na-

tional Championship in Tennessee, he will be facing 40 other racers in his division. While 40 small motocross riders racing on one track may seem like a lot, only 40 racers in the entire country win this opportunity. “When you’re in this world, Nationals is a huge deal,” explained Alissa. “This is a very difficult sport to become something in. A lot of good kids get overlooked. But this is their shot at making something of themselves in this sport. This is where the

Menifee Flyers are back in the air The Menifee Valley Flyers radio-controlled airplane club is finally back at its old location on the west side of Menifee Road near Coastline Avenue. For months, the club was displaced while county work crews brought in additional dirt and packed down the landscape -- an activity

necessary every few years on land that was long ago a dump for burn waste. This time, the Flyers actually got an upgrade, with a paved road leading from Menifee Road up the hill to their takeoff and landing strip. The shelter has been replaced and area surrounding the landing strip

has been hydroseeded. According to the Flyers website, mvfclub.com, the club has used that property since about 1982, through an agreement with Riverside County Waste Management. For more information about the club, visit their website.

sponsors find you, where you get to start racing seriously. It’s a big deal.” However, with a big opportunity and a big family comes a big cost. “We were all so excited about it, and then I realized, wait ... I have to send a family to Tennessee for this,” says Alissa. “This is important to him, it’s his dream. And it’s also important as a racer. It’s amazing what he can already do, I can’t imagine what he’s going to be doing at say 12 years old and older. So

we just really want him to have this experience.” In hopes that if all the stops are pulled, finances can come together for this trip, the family has started their own donation page online. But the long-time community members and military family aren’t just expecting hand-outs to get Chase to where he wants to be. “Of course we welcome anyone who wants to help, but we also want him to work for this,” says Alissa. “We want him to be a part of making this

possible. So if anyone has any fundraisers or things like weeds needing to be pulled, things a 7-year-old boy could do, just let us know.” To donate to the Brennan family’s race to Nationals, visit the Chase Brennan GoFundMe site, email them at alissab32@ gmail.com, and follow along with Chase’s journey at their Instagram page, @brennan_boys2. The Loretta Lynn National Championship takes place from July 29 - Aug. 3 in Tennessee.

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MENIFEE 24/7

June 21, 2019

Summer heat has hardly begun ...

June 21, 2019

MENIFEE 24/7

... but Menifee folks are ready for it

MENIFEE 24/7

June 21, 2019

Photos from local residents...

Beauty of Menifee displayed in photos

Photo by Elisabeth Kubes

Photo by Patricia Halaas

Photo by Robert Layton

Menifee 24/7 EDITOR Doug Spoon ASSOCIATE EDITOR Kristen Spoon Editorial phone: 951-729-9865 Advertising phone: 951-729-9875 Website: www.menifee247.com Facebook page: Menifee 24/7 General info: info@menifee247.com Menifee 24/7 Print Edition is distributed twice a month by Premier Media Group. For a list of distribution sites, see menifee247.com. All content in this publication is Copyright 2018, Menifee 24/7. To subscribe for home delivery, mail a check for $25 for a year’s subscription to Menifee 24/7, 27070 Sun City Blvd., Menifee CA 92586. You may also pay for a subscription online by using the Print Edition tab on menifee247.com

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The Menifee 24/7 office has a new mailing address. You can now mail items to us at 27070 Sun City Blvd., Menifee CA 92586. This is where you would mail us any kind of correspondence, including a check to pay for your annual subscription. The Menifee 24/7 newspaper is published twice a month,. You’ll receive all the news the way you want it, without having to search local businesses for copies before they run ou To sign up for a year’s subscription, mail a check for $25 to us at this address. The cost for two years is $40. Be sure to include the address for your home delivery.