e e k l y W EL CHICANo Vol 56, NO. 41
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October 4, 2018
Las Vegas shooting sur vivors and Inland Empire natives share their thoughts on one-year anniversar y By Manny B. Sandoval
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THIS WEEK Gloria’s Cor ner Pg. 3
Alejandre delivers State of Education Address
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MANNY B.SANDOVAL
Las Vegas shooting victim and survivor Kaila Morales attended Lisa Vanderpump’s fundraiser in West Hollywood on the one-year anniversary of the Las Vegas tragedy on Monday.
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ctober 1 marked the one-year anniversary of the Las Vegas shooting that took the lives of 58 concert goers and wounded 527. The Route 91 Harvest Music Festival shooting has been noted as one of the nation’s deadliest mass shootings in history. A large portion of the victims are from Southern California and many in the Inland Empire experienced the tragedy, including Inland Empire residents Kaila Morales and Katie Boardman. “I can’t believe it’s already been a full year, sometimes it feels like it was just yesterday. Since then, I’m very on edge and when I hear certain sounds…I find myself jumping up. I realized that we’re not promised tomorrow, so you should live life to the fullest and always tell your loved ones ‘I love you,’” said Morales. A year ago Morales stated, “As Jason Aldean started performing I stood and recorded a video. My
friend and I were in the middle, toward the back and we decided to try to make our way into the crowd going closer to the stage to meet up with another friend. As we were already holding onto each other, making our way through the crowd, we heard what sounded like fireworks. I‘ve seen Jason Aldean before and at every concert he has fireworks, so my initial thought was, ‘what was that…fireworks?’” Morales said she and her friend stood there confused noticing there was nothing in the sky and they continued to hear the shots go off. Morales recalled that it all happened so quickly, but it felt like a long time because of the shots continuing to fire. Morales and her friend, hand in hand, ran for their lives and survived the attack. Boardman, who was at the festival all three days, but luckily absent during the time of the shooting, said, “I can’t even believe it’s been a year already… Shooting, cont. on next pg.
‘Recover y Happens’ celebrates sobriety
By Maryjoy Duncan
San Manuel grants CSUSB $960K to increase Native American enr ollment Pg. 11
INSIDE Gloria’s Corner
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Words To Think About 6 Opinion
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Legal Notices
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Classified
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H OW TO R E AC H US
Inland Empir e Co mmunity Newspaper s Of fice: (909) 381- 9898 Fax: (909) 384-0406 Editorial: ie cn1@ mac .com Adve r tising: sales@ iec n.c om
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I didn’t think I had a problem, I used marijuana and alcohol to cope with life as I knew. Where I grew up, everyone smoked marijuana. It was the norm and alcohol went hand in hand with it. I was always smart but could not find viable employment out of fear that I would be drug tested.” March G., a college graduate whose son was in her care, sought public assistance, and was ordered by the same social services agency to seek treatment. She was 26 when she committed herself to an outpatient program. “I had no clue why I needed (treatment), I was not how a specific addict was characterized.” March completed the Narcotics Anonymous program in two years, and today, almost 14 years later, she is gainfully employed and working on her Doctorate degree. “I realize that drugs were just a symptom to a bigger life problem. I am living the best life possible and look forward to what recovery should offer from this point forward.”
March’s is just one of the thousands of success stories celebrated each September during National Recovery Month, now in its 28th year, that highlights the achievements of individuals who have reclaimed their lives in long-term recovery, and honors the treatment and recovery service providers who make recovery possible. On Saturday, Sept. 29 the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health and its partners presented the 15th Annual Recovery Happens event at the National Orange Show in San Bernardino where over 600 people from around the Inland Empire converged to celebrate the successes of those in recovery as well as enjoy free food, entertainment and resources. Nearly 60 vendors and service providers were also on-hand to distribute information and available resources. “Your current situation is not your final destination,” exclaimed Sue Abito, sober for 25 years, who shared her experience of overcoming addiction with the crowd during opening Recovery, cont. on next pg.
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MARYJOY DUNCAN
3rd District County Supervisor James Ramos spent time speaking with those in recovery, giving hugs and offering words of encouragement during the 15th Annual Recovery Happens event at the National Orange Show on Saturday, Sept. 29.