Don't top trees C-6
Lady Warriors win big D-1
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February 8, 2018
Teen dies from flu-related complications
D e L u z , R a i n b ow, C a m p P e ndl e t o n , Pa l a ,
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Volume 22, Issue 6
World of Watercolor found at art center
Investigation of glass doorbusting bandits continues Tom Ferrall tferrall@reedermedia.com
The investigation of burglars who use a sledgehammer to break glass doors to enter businesses for quick hit-and-run jobs has spread beyond Fallbrook, according to San Diego County Sheriff’s Department detective Steve Ashkar. “There are several detectives from several different agencies actually working this because this MO has gone around in the whole North County,” said Ashkar. “It’s much more than just Fallbrook.” Ashkar, who works out of the Sheriff’s Fallbrook substation, said an arrest was made in Escondido the weekend of Feb. 3-4, “that may or may not be related to what’s going on here. The investigation is ongoing.” Three Fallbrook restaurants – Yama Sushi, Thai Thai and Little Caesars Pizza – have been hit twice by the thieves. The businesses first had their front glass doors broken during the early morning hours of Dec. 26, 2017, a day in which the burglars also targeted Rosa’s Mexican Food and Domino’s Pizza. The thieves came away with no money from the five break-ins as they encountered empty tills and impenetrable safes inside the businesses.
Hunter Conner seen in Courtesy photo a candid shot taken April 2016. Karen Ossenfort Special to the Village News Fallbrook High School graduate of 2017, Hunter Michael Conner, died Jan. 17, 2018, from complications of the flu.
Hunter’s Memorial Service will be at 10 a.m., Feb. 10 at Rancho Community Church, 31300 Rancho Community Way, Temecula, 92592. Rose Hunter said the service is open to the community. “Hunter was only 18 when he died, but he led a meaningful and purpose-driven life, full of joy, a thirst for learning, and a heart for those who were hurting,” his parents, Troy and Rose Conner,
see TEEN, page A-11
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“Kathleen in November" by Paul Sullivan is one of 120 entries on display at the World of Watercolor Shane Gibson photo & Beyond exhibition at Fallbrook Art Center, through April 15. See more details and photos on page C-1.
Basurto, Castellanos, Gross and Lackey honored as Students of the Month
Tom Ferrall tferrall@reedermedia.com USPS Residential Customer
SANDAG approves regional tribal transportation strategy Joe Naiman Village News Correspondent
engineer and has narrowed her college choices to Purdue, University of Houston and Baylor. She said FHS will always have a special place in her heart. “My great-grandparents met at Fallbrook High School, so it’s just a really, really special place,” said Lackey. Gross was nominated by math teacher Debbie Berg, who was unable to attend the breakfast. English teacher Connie Fellios, who coaches Gross on the Academic Team, pinch hit for Berg. “Michael is one of the strongest players on the (Academic) team,” said Fellios. “What makes him stand out more than anything is his respect toward everyone.” Fellios then read comments that Berg had penned about Gross. The comments included: “Michael is one of the five students who skipped over AP
The San Diego Association of Governments approved a regional tribal transportation strategy. The 18-0 SANDAG vote Jan. 26, with no City of Lemon Grove representative present, accepts the Intraregional Tribal Transportation Strategy for submittal to the California Department of Transportation, which may provide funding assistance. SANDAG and the Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association collaborated on a draft tribal transportation strategy which was discussed at the Oct. 27 meeting of SANDAG’s Borders Committee. The draft allowed for comments, and a refined version was approved at the Dec. 19 SCTCA board meeting. T h e I n t r a r e g i o n a l Tr i b a l Transportation Strategy is the first region-wide comprehensive inventory of tribal transportation needs. In the past two Regional Transportation Plan cycles, tribal projects have been included in the addendum portion of the RTP but utilized individual tribal plans. The RTP includes a plan based on reasonably expected revenue but also includes a revenueunconstrained plan. The next Regional Transportation Plan is slated for approval in 2018, and the tribal projects can be added to the unconstrained-revenue scenario. The tribal transportation strategy includes roads providing access to reservations as well as within the reservations themselves. Many of the improvements that are needed are not on a reservation and would require County of San Diego or California Department of Transportation approval (with possible tribal funding). The draft tribal transportation
see STUDENTS, page A-11
see SANDAG, page A-10
The Students of the Month for February are, from left, Suzetty Castellanos, Michael Gross and Ashlie Lackey. Not pictured, Kenia Basurto.
Village News
see BANDITS, page A-10
Kenia Basurto of Oasis High School and Suzetty Castellanos, Michael Gross and Ashlie Lackey of Fallbrook Union High School were honored as the Students of the Month for February at a special recognition breakfast held Feb. 1 at North Coast Church. Greg Coppock emceed the event, which began with an invocation by Daniel Andrus of St. Peter’s Catholic Community. After the Pledge of Allegiance, Marines from Camp Pendleton presented the students with the Lamp Of Knowledge medal. Lackey, nominated by teacher Adriana Lopez, was the first student to be presented to the audience of family members, friends, school administrators and community leaders. “It’s a great honor to have her in my classes,” said Lopez of Lackey. “Ashlie is a successful student with a GPA of 4.6. She excels in
many AP courses and has received multiple honors and awards. She is a competitive athlete in field hockey and lacrosse with an MVP title.” Lopez said that Lackey participates in FFA, is on the FHS Academic Team, tutors youth in mathematics and has helped coach boys and girls field hockey. “She’s accomplished many great things,” said Lopez of Lackey. “She gives 120 percent in everything that she does, and it’s going to be a great honor to see where she goes.” Lackey said it was “an honor” to be nominated by Lopez, a person she sees as a role model. “She’s just been a great example to me of what being a go-getter is,” said Lackey of Lopez. “She’s been in the military and worked so hard for everything she’s got. As I prepare for my future, it’s nice knowing that if I really want something, I can go get that.” Lackey, a fourth generation FHS student, wants to be a biomedical
Courtesy photo