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POLITICS: Capitol defenders blame bad intelligence for deadly breach | Page B1
Weather: 72o/40o | Volume III | Issue VIII
REAL ESTATE | Page C2
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February 25 - March 3, 2021
B POLITICS
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D VETERANS
California governor signs $7.6 billion stimulus package
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D OPINION
LOWRY: Biden Is Too Timid
VA launches public guidance to protect Veterans’ information
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on School Reopening
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HEMET CITY COUNCIL
CALIFORNIA
City Residents Have Their Say
New vaccine delivery system launches in parts of California, including Riverside County
ANN SMITH | CONTRIBUTOR
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n Tuesday, February 23, City Council convened, minus one council member. Linda Krupa was excused, but there were enough council members present to meet a quorum. There were many items on the agenda. Although it was originally planned, the vote on Measure U appointees was delayed due to Ms. Krupa’s absence. There are a number of people interested in participating in the oversight of Measure U funds. It’s heartwarming to see the interest of Hemet citizens and their desire to serve. That’s how things get done! There is a closed session just prior to the public meeting. The closed session involves sensitive legal issues and for the most part, are not available for public review until the matters are resolved. There was one item of interest that we have reported on previously. You may recall that during the 2020 election, there was a particularly contentious race for Council District 4, the Seven Hills area of Hemet. Ken Graff ’s candidate, Miguel “Mike” Madrid was out-voted by Mayor Pro Tem Joe Males. According to court documents filed on behalf of Madrid, Males wasn’t living in District 4 when he filed his papers and he also filed outside the time limit. The city of Hemet posted an announcement on its website, stating the city was giving some additional time to file and Males took that opportunity. He was able to verify his residency despite allegations made by Graff. You will note the attorney arguing on behalf of Graff and Madrid is Patricia Madrid! This has been an ongoing dispute on the part of Graff and it’s anyone’s guess as to why. This lawsuit is a waste of city time and resources. Mayor Pro Tem Males has stepped confidently into his new role and it appears he will be a productive council member. The court is not disposed to revisiting this now stale event. If Hemet is to move forward, all former candidates must also move on,
JANIE HAR, AMY TAXIN AND KATHLEEN RONAYNE | AP NEWS
C PRESENTATION BY MALCOLM LILIENTHAL | Courtesy photo by Ann Smith, screenshot of the City Hemet Council .
for the good of the city. As City Council meetings are a matter of public record, anyone wishing to do so, can make comments, with a 3-minute limit. Anyone sitting in the council chambers can hear comments. There are no secrets. There were several comments addressing items not on the agenda. Roy McDaniels spoke passionately on behalf of the Diamond Kings Baseball Team. McDaniels, a Hemet resident, is head coach of the Diamond Kings. According to the team’s Facebook page, McDaniels has an impressive resume, including being a retired Marine, MCMAP black belt martial arts instructor, minor league/ college baseball background and a BA/MBA in business administration. He is a middle school teacher. You know the Diamond Kings have to be successful with that kind of leadership. He spoke of developing the team and working with the city to correct some issues resulting from past poor management. Hemet parent Ken Prado shared with the council the problems being encountered with Hemet Unified School District and the fact that the ACLU has joined in a fight to protect the rights of parents. In addition to being in violation of what’s known as the Brown Act, HUSD has defamed some of the parents who are acting on behalf of their
children. The Brown Act requires local government business to be conducted at open and public meetings, except in certain limited situations. According to Prado, “If the ACLU is involved, then there has to be something going on (or not going on) that requires legal remedy.” Prado has been active in many areas of city affairs and Mayor Meyer thanked him for his bold efforts. Food truck owner, Matt Gordon, expressed his frustration with the city for lagging in issuing him the necessary permit to conduct his business (grilled cheese sandwiches!). He can be found Saturdays at the Hemet Farmer’s Market. Gordon has all the necessary permits for the entire county of Riverside but as has been the case for years, Hemet is dragging its feet on issuing a permit. Why is that? Over the years, there have been multiple complaints by entrepreneurs about the lengthy wait time when it comes to permitting. Are employees simply dragging their feet or is this a management issue? Gordon will be doing a monthly giveaway at Valley Restart. Food trucks are a favorite in Hemet. As promised, when she was running for the office of City Treasurer, Sue Savage gave an impassioned report on the state
See CITY COUNCIL on page A3
Nurse charged in neglect death AP NEWS | CONTRIBUTED
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registered nurse who worked at a Southern California assisted living facility has been charged with abuse by neglect of a 69-year-old woman who died after she developed gangrene, authorities said Wednesday. Emily Jones, 40, of Riverside pleaded not guilty to elder abuse that caused great bodily injury and
MOMENTS IN TIME
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID HEMET, CA PERMIT NO. 69 92543-9998
RIVERSIDE, CA
remains free on $50,000 bail, the state attorney general’s office said. She could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Jones was a case manager for a resident at Brookdale Senior Living in Riverside, east of Los Angeles, in 2017 when she failed to properly assess an ulcer on the woman’s right heel, prosecutors said.
See NEGLECT DEATH on page A4
On Feb. 25, 1862
The U.S. Congress passes the Legal Tender Act, authorizing paper notes to pay the government's bills. It ended the long-standing policy of using only gold or silver in transactions.
On Feb. 26, 1919
The Grand Canyon National Park is established. The chasm, home to more than 1,500 plant and 500 animal species, is more than a mile deep, and 15 miles across at its widest point.
On Feb. 27, 1964 The Italian government begins accepting suggestions on how to save the Leaning Tower of Pisa from collapse. The top of the 180-foot tower was hanging 17
alifornia’s new system of delivering, tracking and scheduling coronavirus vaccines is being rolled out in select counties — including Riverside County — a first step in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to smooth out what has been a confusing and disjointed rollout hampered by limited national supply. Newsom announced last month that his administration had tapped insurer Blue Shield to design and manage a centralized system to get doses out quickly and equitably. He said the state also needs robust data to ensure vaccines are distributed equitably and reach low-income communities, largely Latino and Black, disproportionately affected by the pandemic. An initial list provided by the state showed 10 counties in the inland sections of central and Southern California chosen to be the first to make the transition to the Blue Shield system this week, although one county said Friday it would
VACCINE: Governor Gavin Newsom on Wednesday morning provided an update on the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine distribution. | Screenshot via HSJC from abc7news
shift later. While the counties understand the goals, there’s confusion about what changes will occur. Counties in the initial group include Riverside, Fresno, Kern, Kings, Imperial, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin and Stanislaus. Starting March 3, another group that includes Los Angeles, which has 10
See NEW VACCINE on page A3
HEMET, CA.
CalRTA Div. 33 selects $100 grant winners Local Teachers Receive Grants as a Valentine’s Day Surprise SUE BREYER | CONTRIBUTOR
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hree local area teachers beat the odds when they were randomly selected from over 100 applicants to receive CalRTA Division 33’s $100 Teacher Grants for February. It was an especially sweet Valentine’s Day gift in this stressful time of instructional challenges for our nation’s educators. Paul Kobayashi of Dartmouth Middle School in Hemet, Ofelia Cordero-Chemidlin of Southshore Elementary School in Menifee, and Rachel Maryanski from San Jacinto High School in San Jacinto have each received $100 to help them meet their classroom needs, even in this time of virtual instruction. Kobayashi, an English teacher, plans to use the money to build his class library. “I have some books, but I really need to up my variety of books that kids can read so I want to focus on non-fiction, fiction, anime books, and other genres,” Kobayashi said. Elementary school
feet south of the base. The tower's lean is caused by the remains of an ancient river estuary under the building.
On Feb. 28, 1993
In Waco, Texas, federal agents launch an unsuccessful raid against the Branch Davidian compound as part of an investigation into illegal possession of firearms and explosives by the Christian cult. On April 18, U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno approved a tear-gas grenade assault on the compound. A fire erupted and at least 80 people died.
On March 1, 1966
Venera 3, an unmanned Soviet probe launched from Kazakhstan, collides with Venus, the second planet from the sun. It was the first spacecraft to
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OFELIA CORDERO CHEMIDLIN: Southshore Elementary School Menifee. | Courtesy Photo. teacher Ofelia Cordero-Chemidlin heard about CalRTA’s teacher grant program from her principal. “I was motivated to apply because of the amount of extra work we’re doing for distance learning and thought it would be helpful to get some fun resources for my class,” Cordero-Chemidlin explained. “I
See GRANTS on page D4
reach the surface of another planet.
On March 2, 1904 Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, the author and illustrator of such beloved children's books as "The Cat in the Hat," is born in Springfield, Massachusetts. Geisel used his middle name (which was also his mother's maiden name) as his pen name.
On March 3, 1865
President Abraham Lincoln signs a bill creating the Freedman's Bureau. The federal agency oversaw the transition of African Americans from slavery to freedom. The bureau was given power to dispense relief in the South, provide medical care and education, and redistribute "abandoned" lands to former slaves.