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Woman who said she wanted to shoot Pelosi pleads guilty | Page B1
Weather: 32o/14o Volume III | Issue XXXIX
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REAL ESTATE | Page C2
September 30 - October 6, 2021
A FAITH
CLERGY CORNER Choose Your Dictator
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B POLITICS
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ECONOMICS | Page D1
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B OPINION
Newsom Signs Landmark Elections Legislation
Hollywood’s Recovery, Events in the Covid Era and Microsoft
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HEMET, CA.
Always Willing to Contribute to The Community RUSTY STRAIT | SENIOR WRITER
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olden Era Productions once again said “yes,” when approached by The Friends of Valley Restart to offer their services in assisting Valley Restart Shelter. The event was the first annual fundraising classic golf tournament at their lush Soboba Golf course. The event took place on Saturday, September 25th. Funds raised go to Valley Restart Shelter in their ongoing effort to help more families who find themselves on the short end of our economic stick - out of home and job. It is not a sometimes situation - it could happen to most of us anytime without notice. The program is designed to give a family 90 days to get back on their feet and into the mainstream of the community. Hope for the future is one of the most important aspects of overcoming homelessness. The event was a sell-out, with more than 130 golfers on hand, along with several local politicos and other community representatives on hand. Included among them: Isaiah Vivanco, Tribal Chairman from Soboba Reservation, County Supervisor Chuck Washington’s representative, Sarah Ro-
FRIENDS: John Bunge, Vice President Valley Restart Board, Dale Jones, Hemet Councilman Russ Brown and Hemet City Manager Chris Lopez. | Photo by Rusty Strait driguez, Hemet City Councilman Russ Brown, and Sharon Durban from the San Jacinto Chamber of Commerce representing the City of San Jacinto. Linda Rogers, Executive Director of Valley Restart for the past 18 years, retired last month and was honored at the event with certificates of recognition for her long-
time dedication to Valley Restart and its work. Over that period, she has helped raise thousands of families and individuals out of homelessness and poverty back into successful lives. During the fiscal year of July 2019 - June 2020, the Shelter assisted 219 people find homes; 38 of them were families consisting of 82
children and 47 parents. Abodes for 44 single males and 46 single males were also helped off the streets into homes. Always ready to pitch in were the faith-based and service groups plus families with a passion for cooking and serving others. More than 38,000 meals were served at the Shelter during the past period.
The Homeless Navigation and Outreach team reached out to 150 homeless souls who were roaming the valley’s streets, engaging 113 of them with services, thus ensuring permanent placement for more than an additional 50. Third District County Supervisor Washington stated that Valley Restart had been a viable and integral part of the San Jacinto Valley for a long time, having assisted individuals, as well as families, achieve independence and economic stability. Although not specifically pointed out, it is well understood that the COVID syndrome threw a monkey wrench into all plans to progress during a period of time due to the economic impact brought about by the virus. While others might be distracted by local and international struggles due to the dread pandemic, Brian Hawkins, San Jacinto City Councilman was forth worth in his comment that “Valley Restart is the only place willing to give shelter to a problem, most people look the other way.” Lt. Eric Dickson of the Hemet Police Department, always on hand when help is needed, opined that “... over the last 20 years...it is impossi-
See VALLEY RESTART on page A4
SAN JACINTO, CA.
SJ Valley students honored in September DIANE A. RHODES | CONTRIBUTOR
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID HEMET, CA PERMIT NO. 69 92543-9998
he Hemet/San Jacinto Student of the Month program held its first recognition event of the new school year with a few changes. Seven local high school seniors were honored for demonstrating character, integrity, love of learning, involvement in school activities, athletics, and community service. Students were nominated by teachers or other school personnel for making a difference in their homes, schools, and community. The most notable and appreciated difference from this time last year was that the event was held in person and not via comput-
STUDENT OF THE MONTH: Recipients of the Hemet/San Jacinto Student of the Month for September, pictured from left, are Cecilia Aguila, Kyron Penn, Micaiah Cox, Saige Zinck, Ivonne Juarez and Melany Hernandez. Not pictured, Hailey Houser. | Courtesy photo. er screens as has been the case for more than a year. Another change for the nearly 90 attendees was The
Maze Stone at Soboba Springs Golf
See STUDENTS on page D4
CONTENDER: Marc Searl is currently running for the vacant seat in District 4 of Hemet. | Photo by Rusty Strait.
HEMET, CA.
The Second Time Around
HEMET, CA.
RUSTY STRAIT | SENIOR WRITER
People Caught on Camera Shoplifting from Marshalls Store in Hemet
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Lindsey Rodriguez shot a video of a man Saturday evening casually walking out of a Marshalls in Hemet, with his arms full of clothing he did not pay for TONY SHIN | CONTRIBUTED
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ideo footage shows some brazen thieves in action at a popular retail store in Riverside County. A witness says the shoplifters calmly walked inside and took anything they wanted. One even used a wire cutter to carefully cut off security leashes on some expensive purses. Saturday evening, Lindsey Rodriguez shot a video of a man casually walking out of a Marshalls
in Hemet, with his arms full of clothing that Rodriguez says he did not pay for. “I worked every single day, 40 hours a week during this whole pandemic, and then I go in and see that, and it's disheartening. It's not Hemet," she says. Within a 10-minute span, Rodriguez says she spotted three people stealing, including a woman. Footage shows her using a wire
See SHOPLIFTERS on page C4
hen Marc Searl decided several years ago not to run for re-election to the Hemet City Council, he told this reporter, “I’ve had enough. I don’t need this in my life.” Remember the old song? “Never Say Never Again?” Well - Marc is back. He has filed for the vacant seat in District 4, which the courts vacated and now remains unfilled. Joe Males, the vacated councilman, is also running again for the seat in District 4. Why did Searl decide to run again? I sat down with him recently. Q: What are you up to? A: I filed papers for city council. Q: Why? You said you were through with it the last time. A: I did a lot of thinking about it. I wasn’t sure I wanted to run again, but I was pressured by friends - old friends and new friends. People I grew up with and some behind me, that I was associated with. Q: Was it your decision or someone else’s?
A: I grew up in this town, was born here over 70 years ago. I’ve seen where the city has gone and what it has or hasn’t done. We were probably first in line to defund the police. When I left the Council, we had a police force of 909. Now we have 70. Sounds like we’ve been going backwards instead of forward. Q: And Republicans have been running this town for a long time. A: I wouldn’t say it is the Republicans. I would say most people who were here when I was growing up were retirees. It was a retirement community. Q: Let me ask you, in the past 25 years, how many Democrats have been on the Council? A: I don’t ask their politics. I’m an independent. So it doesn’t matter. Q: What do you think should be changed? A: I think there are a lot of things that need to be done, but it will take time. I think we need
See SEARL on page A4