The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle - January 6th, 2022

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Politics: Legislature faces difficult politics of plenty | Page B1

Weather: 75o/43o |

Volume IV

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REAL ESTATE | Page C2

Thursday, January 6 - 12, 2022

Issue I

A LOCAL NEWS

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www.HSJChronicle.com |

B POLITICS

Woman found decades ago identified through DNA

Politician dies of COVID; battle on her husband’s Facebook

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TECHNOLOGY | Page D1

| $2.00 (Tax Incl.)

B OPINION

American Thinker: Should Donald Trump run in 2024?

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MOUNTAIN CENTER, CA.

Journal entry and audio recording shed light on woman’s death at ranch near Idyllwild Family of victim found Jodi Newkirk's journal entry, recorded telephone call with Keith Harper DAVID GOTFREDSON | CONTRIBUTED

W SINGERS: The Sly, Slick & Wicked rhythm and blues band were one of the featured performers at the Soboba Elders New Year’s Eve party on Dec. 29. | Photo courtesy of Joan Fuller.

SAN JACINTO, CA.

Soboba Elders Ring in The New Year

SOBOBA BAND OF LUISEÑO INDIANS | CONTRIBUTED

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID HEMET, CA PERMIT NO. 69 92543-9998

he Soboba Casino Resort Event Center was full of music, laughter and good cheer as Soboba Elders were invited to ring in 2022 with a lavish dinner party on Dec. 29. From 3 to 7 p.m. about 100 guests were entertained by the rhythm and blues band Sly, Slick & Wicked, DJ Mike Nevarez and Aalon, a soul group formed by lead singer and guitarist Aalon Butler. Luis “Lou” Pizarro of the television show “Operation Repo” offered comedic relief as the night’s emcee. Elders and their guests were treated to a choice of chicken, roast beef or salmon accompanied by mashed potatoes, a variety of vegetables, a wide array of salads and a bottle of wine to toast the new year. There were prize raffles and a photo booth to keep everyone engaged throughout the event and each guest received a one-pound box of See’s

e are learning more about the recent death of a woman at the Bonita Vista Ranch near Idyllwild. Jodi Newkirk is the second woman lost at the ranch in the past 18 months. CBS 8 obtained a telephone recording of the man who reported to Riverside Sheriff that Jodi Newkirk had died in an accidental ATV rollover two days before Christmas. A relative of Newkirk, who does not want to be identified, recorded the audio of Keith Harper on a telephone call, a few days after Newkirk’s death. “Jodi was an amazing individual. You know, you had to just love her,” Harper said during the telephone conversation. He apparently did not know the call was being recorded. “She’s been an awesome help here, an amazing person to have on the ranch,” Harper said. Newkirk, 46, had been working at the ranch in Mountain Center since early August as a horse handler. Harper has been acting as trustee of the ranch since June

Soboba Elders were welcomed to the Soboba Casino Resort Event Center to celebrate the New Year. | Photo courtesy of Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians photo.

candy. “This has been our most well attended event all year,” Erica Schenk, who serves as coordinator for the Elders group, said. About 60 elders participated in a recent outing to a Temecula winery for dinner and games. Marian Chacon said she doesn’t usually make New Year’s resolutions but is looking for-

ward to things improving and getting together with the group again. She used to like taking the many trips the group planned but continues to enjoy the events that are closer to home. “This is nice,” Chacon said. Rachel Miranda said she’s looking forward to staying healthy in

See SOBOBA on page A4

KEITH HARPER: CBS 8 obtained a telephone recording of the man who reported to Riverside Sheriff that Jodi Newkirk had died in an accidental ATV rollover two days before Christmas. | Contributed Photo

JODI NEWKIRK, 46: Second woman lost at the Bonita Vista Ranch near Idyllwild. | Contributed Photo 2020, when the property owner – former La Jolla millionaire, Dia Abrams – mysteriously went missing. Abrams, 65, has not been found. Riverside County Sheriff is investigating the case. “I don't know if you know this, but my fiancée, she disappeared a year and a half ago,” Harper said on the recorded phone call. “She disappeared and we've been dealing with her missing.” During the telephone call, Harper claimed Newkirk rode off on a quad just after sunset on December 23, 2021, to cut down a live Christmas tree. “She wanted to go get a Christmas tree and she took the ATV up on the hill and, I don't know, I don't know if she turned the wheel wrong, or what happens. But the machine flips and when I find her, she has been under that machine probably a half-hour, I would suspect,” said Harper during the call. “The only thing I could see was her face and probably six inches of her chest, the rest of it was underneath the machine. You know, because it was on her chest she couldn't breathe. I moved the machine off. I moved it off so I could do CPR on her,” he said. Riverside County Sheriff responded to the Bonita Vista

See EVIDENCE on page C4

CALIFORNIA STATE

California Launches Program to Compensate Survivors of State-Sponsored Sterilization New law creates Forced or Involuntary Sterilization Compensation Program GOV.CA.GOV | CONTRIBUTED

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ontinuing the state’s leadership to redress historical injustices, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the launch of California’s new program to compensate survivors of state-sponsored sterilization, created as part of the 2021-22 state budget package. Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, survivors of state-sponsored sterilization can apply for compensation through California’s Forced or Involuntary Sterilization Compensation Program, which is being administered by the California Victim Compensation Board (CalVCB). “California is committed to confronting this dark chapter in

the state’s past and addressing the impacts of this shameful history still being felt by Californians,” said Governor Newsom. “While we can never fully make amends for what they’ve endured, the state will do all it can to ensure survivors of wrongful sterilization receive compensation.” The state is providing $4.5 million to be split evenly among all eligible individuals who apply, in addition to $2 million for administration and outreach for the program and $1 million to establish markers or plaques at designated sites that acknowledge the wrongful sterilization of thousands of vulnerable people. It is estimated that at least 600 survivors of forced sterilization are still alive today and eligible

for compensation. From 1909 through 1979, under state eugenics laws, thousands of people who lived in California state-run hospitals, homes and institutions were sterilized. Those laws were repealed in 1979. However, it was later found that forced or coerced sterilizations continued to be performed on people in custody at state prisons or other correctional facilities under the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles) proposed the program in AB 1007. The budget provided legislative language establishing the forced sterilization compensation program and appropriated $7.5 million to fund the program.

Survivors are encouraged to visit www.victims.ca.gov/fiscp or reach out to CalVCB at 800-7779229 or fiscp@victims.ca.gov to obtain an application. They can also send a letter to P.O. Box 591, Sacramento, CA 95812-0591. Applications will be accepted from Jan. 1, 2022 through Dec. 31, 2023. Applying is completely confidential. Compensation paid to the claimant or claimant’s trust will not impact a survivor’s Medicaid or Social Security status or benefits and will not be considered income for state tax purposes or for community property, child support, restitution or a money judgment. For more information on the program, please visit victims. ca.gov/fiscp.

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