FREE
Duo accused in fatal fentanyl poisoning of Riverside man arraigned
Annual Riverside County Fair, National Date Festival begins in Indio
PG 02
PG 23
VISIT VISIT CORONANEWSPRESS.COM ONTARIONEWSPRESS.COM
MONDAY, FEBRUARYY 19- FEBRUARYY 25, 2024
County Office of Education names 2 more Educators of the Year
T
wo more Riverside County school employees have received Educator of the Year honors, the Office of Education announced. On Tuesday in a meeting room at the Hemet Unified School District’s main office, Riverside County Superintendent of Schools Edwin Gomez, school district officials and HUSD Director of Facilities Services Michael Sattley’s wife surprised him during what he thought was going to be a routine cabinet meeting. “Little did he know, they were about to announce that he had been named 2024 Riverside County Classified Administrator of the Year,” Office of Education spokesman Craig Petinak wrote in a statement. “Michael’s dedication to improving schools at HUSD reflects a profound commitment to creating an optimal learning environment for all students,” Gomez said in a statement. “He actively involves students, staff, and community members, in the improvement process fostering a sense of ownership and pride in school facilities.” Immediately following the surprise announcement, Sattley remarked, “I can’t do what I do without the support of an amazing team. The support here and the amazing support I have at home allow me to do this important work.” Sattley’s focus as the director of facilities services at HUSD has been on transforming and upgrading facilities at older schools to align more equitably with newer campuses, according to the Office of Education. “Sattley believes that students who are comfortable at school can be inspired to learn, collaborate, participate, share, grow, develop their talents,
Michelle Forcina displays her classified employee of the year certificate. | Photo courtesy of the Riverside County Office of Education
of modernization projects throughout the school district. On those campus visits during which he interacts with members of the school
projects as more than a noisy inconvenience, but, instead, as real-world STEM
Report: Area inflation about 3% higher than a year ago
I
Administrator of the year Michael Sattley accepts his honor alongside Superintendent of Schools Edwin Gomez and Hemet USD Superintendent Christi Barrett. | Photo courtesy of the Riverside County Office of Education
community, Sattley “seeks to help students and staff experience construction
NO. 160
By City News Service
By Staff
and expand into their fullest potential,” Petinak wrote. Sattley oversees a variety
VOL. 8,
examples and a beacon of hope,” according to Petinak. Colleagues describe him as “true educator” with a versatile vision for developing educational facilities “from farms to water distribution simulations, theater modernization, medical clinics, automotive shops, makerspaces, and a cuttingedge welding facility.” Classified Employee of the Year On Feb. 9, “the atmosphere in the Canyon Springs High School multipurpose room was buzzing with nervous excitement,” Petinak wrote in a statement. “The pep band and the cheerleaders were warming up while family, friends, and colleagues, gathered in anticipation. When Michelle Forcina walked in, the whole room erupted in congratulatory applause as the beloved school secretary was surprised to learn that she was being named the 2024 Riverside County Classified Employee of the Year.” Gomez commented after his surprise visit, “She
See Educators of the Year Page 23
nflation in the Riverside metropolitan area ended 2023 2.9% higher than a year earlier, according to metrics released Tuesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The agency’s bimonthly report, which covers northwestern Riverside County, as well as the cities of Ontario and San Bernardino, indicated that the metro area’s Consumer Price Index fell just shy of 3% from January 2023 to January 2024 based on data encompassing shelter, food, energy and a range of other costs. Officials said that over the previous 12 months, property rents in the Riverside area were up 8.1%, but energy prices were down 10.4%, due largely to a sharp drop in natural gas costs. Similarly, grocery expenses were 2.8% higher yearover-year, fueled by bigger price tags on cereals and bakery products. At the same time, prices on household furnishings were 6% lower, and costs for new and used motor vehicles were 4.4% below year-ago levels, according to the BLS. Shorter term, the report found that since the last data analysis and release on Dec. 12, the CPI had not changed measurably due to differential price swings. Over the two-month period covering December and January, the energy index was down 6.3%, and food prices declined 0.3%. However, the BLS said that area rents were up 0.3% and electricity costs were 0.8% higher over the See Inflation Page 23
Case against deputy accused of transporting fentanyl pills advances By City News Service
A
former sheriff’s correctional deputy who was allegedly caught carrying more than 100 pounds of fentanyl on Interstate 10 waived his preliminary hearing Tuesday, advancing his case on the docket without the prosecution having to present any evidence. Jorge Alberto Oceguera Rocha, 25, of Banning, is charged with transportation of controlled substances, possession of controlled substances for sale and sentence-enhancing allegations of perpetrating a drug-related offense while armed. Rocha appeared Tuesday with his attorney at the Riverside Hall of Justice for what was scheduled as a status conference, but instead the defense notified the prosecution and Riverside County Superior Court Judge Gary Polk that Rocha intended to waive his right to a preliminary hearing, which would determine whether the government had sufficient evidence to warrant a trial. See Fentanyl pills Page 24