HS Football: Week Four is a wrap, one to go as teams prepare for league match-ups, B-1
Plato’s Closet offers shoppers a chance to save big on trendy clothes for teens, D-1
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Serving Temecula , Murrieta , L ake E lsinore , M enifee , Wildomar , H emet, San Jacinto and the surrounding communities September 30 – October 6, 2016
Local
Governor’s veto of SB817 leaves cities holding the bag
www.myvalleynews.com
Volume 16, Issue 39
Thousands travel to Murrieta for top west coast Irish music festival
Kim Harris VALLEYEDITOR@REEDERMEDIA.COM
Governor Jerry Brown decided against signing SB817 into law last week. The bill would have restored Vehicle License Fees in the form of millions of dollars to Riverside County’s four newest cities, Menifee, Wildomar, Jurupa Valley and Eastvale. see page A-3
Local
Supervisors approve Soboba Hot Springs resurfacing contract Joe Naiman JNAIMAN@REEDERMEDIA.COM
All American Asphalt was the successful bidder for the county of Riverside’s contract to resurface 3,644 feet of roadway in the Soboba Hot Springs area. see page A-6
Chelsea Joy, bagpiper for the Celtic rock band The Angry Brians performs during the Get Shamrocked Irish Music Festival at Town Square Park in Murrieta, Sept. 24. See more photos on C-1! Shane Gibson photo
Entertainment
Third annual ‘Concert for Heroes’ organization underway Jill Roberts SPECIAL TO VALLEY NEWS
The Third Annual Concert for Heroes will again be held on Veterans Day at Galway Downs Friday, Nov. 11. Twenty-three volunteers began meeting several weeks ago to plan and execute the concert.
Hemet/ San Jacinto Republican women’s groups sponsor candidate forum at Simpson Center Tony Ault TAULT@REEDERMEDIA.COM
Hemet’s Simpson Center became the location for a local Republican election forum with 10 Republican candidates for various elected offices in San Jacinto and Hemet including the two cities, Valley Wide Recreation District and the two city school boards. Republican voters and other area residents had an opportunity to question each of the candidates’ reasons for running for their respective offices under the auspices of the Hemet/San Jacinto Valley Republican Women’s Club
see page C-2
see REPUBLICANS, page A-3
Wine Country
Cougar Vineyard & Winery where winemaking is a passion Kim Harris VALLEYEDITOR@REEDERMEDIA.COM
On a cool September morning, while most people were at home snuggled in bed, Cougar Vineyard &Winery’s Winemaker Rick Buffington and his crew were wideawake. The group stood drinking hot coffee as a team of workers efficiently made their way through the vineyard harvesting grapes. see page C-6
Appearing in a partisan Republican candidate forum Sept. 21, at Hemet’s Simpson Center were Republican Hemet City Council candidates from left: Bonnie Wright, Hemet mayor and District 4 incumbent; Michael Perciful, Hemet District 3 candidate; Karlee Meyer and Chuck Moore both candidates for the open District 1 council seat. The forum was sponsored by two Republican women’s groups. Other Republican candidates from San Jacinto and Hemet school districts and Valley Wide Recreation also appeared at the forum. Tony Ault photo
Hemet State of the City
Mayor promises city staff will strive to keep ‘Hemet Strong!’ Tony Ault TAULT@REEDERMEDIA.COM
“We are Hemet Strong,” declared Hemet Mayor Bonnie Wright during the annual State of the City breakfast at the Lodge at Four Seasons, Thursday, Sept. 22, attended by state, county and city officials and guests. She told those attending there have been many positive changes in the city since the recession left it “at risk” in the public safety area in a requested state auditor’s report. “Hemet is growing. Business is on the move,” Wright said following a video report from the city’s fire and police chiefs and department managers. A key factor in the city’s eco-
nomic improvement and the council’s work toward balancing the budget is the repayment of most of the city’s $5 million in reserves as reported by City Manager Alex Meyerhoff who noted the city’s reserve deficit is now under $300,000. The announcement brought applause from those in the audience. Wright cited almost 30 new businesses and projects this year that are improving the economic development of the city. Among those were Hemet Valley Medical Center Skilled Nursing Facility bringing 120 new jobs to the city and the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market bringing another 100 jobs.
see HEMET, page A-6
The West Valley High School band entertained the guests at the 2016 State of the City address held at The Four Seasons Sept. 22. Tony Ault photo