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M O N D AY, M AY 22- M AY 28, 2023
V O L U M E 7,
School superintendent names 1st 2024 Riverside County Teacher of the Year
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orena Morales, a mathematics and AVID teacher in the Alvord Unified School District, was named the first of four 2024 Riverside County Teachers of the Year, officials announced Thursday. As Superintendent of Schools Edwin Gomez’s standard procedure goes, he made a surprise visit to Morales’ training session with fellow math teachers to deliver the good news. “Ms. Morales works tirelessly to support all of her students and is especially proud to be the instructional leader for the schools’ national AVID demonstration program,” Gomez said in a statement. Morales, who chairs La Sierra High’s math department, will represent Riverside County in the 2024 California State Teacher of the Year competition in September. The remaining three 2024 Riverside County Teachers of the Year will be announced in upcoming surprise visits. “I take pride in what I do and in my journey,” Morales said after receiving her award. “I believe in the power of the leadership that takes place in the classroom, it makes a difference for our students.” Morales began teaching in 2007 as an intern at La Sierra High School, which is the school she graduated from as valedictorian just three years prior, according to the Riverside County Office of Education. Her decision to become a professional educator was inspired by a desire impact the lives of the students much like teachers made a difference in her life as the first in her family to graduate with a four-year college degree. In addition to math teaching and department leadership, Morales is as
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Jury deliberations begin in man’s retrial in 2008 Palm Springs murder
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By Kristy Ramirez, City News Service
ury deliberations began Thursday in the retrial of a 40-year-old man accused of killing a Palm Springs retiree in a financial-enrichment scheme and dumping his body by Interstate 5 while en route to Daly City. Miguel Bustamante is charged with one felony count each of murder, using personal identity information of another to obtain credit, forged instrument, and conspiracy to commit a crime; two felony counts of grand theft over $950; three felony counts of burglary; and one misdemeanor count of unlawfully receiving stolen property, according to court records. Bustamante was convicted in 2011 with David Replogle, 74, for the Palm Springs killing of Clifford Lambert, resulting in sentences of life in prison without the possibility of parole. However, they appealed their verdicts based on appeals successfully lodged by co-defendants Daniel Carlos Garcia, 40, and Kaushal Niroula, 41, who were convicted in See Palm Springs murder Page 28
Wastewater testing in Palm Springs shows presence of mpox, formerly monkeypox By City News Service
W Lorena Morales. | Photo courtesy of the Riverside County Office of Education
part of the program called “AVID” — Advancement Via Individual Determination, officials said. The program “prepares students for success beyond the high school campus with everything from lunchtime tutoring to scholarship searches and college application support.” Via the AVID program Morales has coordinated community partnerships and projects, such as La Sierra High School’s Big Brothers Sisters connection with next-door
Collett Elementary School. Morales has been a teacher at La Sierra her entire career, since graduating from California State University, San Bernardino, with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. She also earned her teaching credential, master’s degree in educational leadership and administration and preliminary administrative service
See Teacher of the Year Page 27
credential from Chapman University. Once all four of Riverside County’s teachers of the year are announced, the honorees will represent the county in the 2024 California Teacher of the Year competition. At least one teacher from Riverside County has been selected as a California Teacher of the Year in eight
astewater testing in Palm Springs shows the presence of mpox for the first time in months though no new cases have been reported, officials said Thursday. Riverside County has reported a total of 316 probable or confirmed cases of mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, with nearly half in Palm Springs and the last case reported Jan. 9, according to the latest Riverside University Health System data. Additional data can be found at https://www. ruhealth.org/mpx-data. “While no new cases have been reported, wastewater testing in Palm Springs shows the presence of (mpox) for the first time in months,” Riverside University Health System spokesman Jose Arballo said Thursday. Public Health Officer Dr. Geoffrey Leung said that officials will work with community partners to protect county residents. Vaccines and testing for mpox are available in various areas including DAP Health, Palm Springs Community Health Center, Eisenhower Health and Indio Family Care Center, all located in eastern Riverside County. More information about upcoming vaccine clinics in Riverside County See Monkeypox Page 02