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Lake Elsinore area students honored in December, A-9
Local riders compete in AMA Monster Energy Supercross in Anaheim, A-10
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SERVING TEMECULA , MURRIETA , L AKE E LSINOR E , M ENIFEE , WILDOMAR , H EMET, SAN JACINTO AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES January 17 – 23, 2025
VISI T myvalleynews.com
Volume 25, Issue 3
San Jacinto City Council fi nally approves SCE crews working to restore new mayor and mayor pro tem appointments power in the
Local
Valley areas after Santa Ana winds
Following weeks of sometimes aggressive debate
Tony Ault Staf f Writer Southern California Edison crews are struggling to restore power to thousands of homes and businesses in the Valley following the extended record breaking Santa Ana wind events during the last week. The Valley area most affected by the outages last week appeared to be in the East Hemet and Menifee Valley areas near the foothills where winds sometimes gusted to 70 to 80 mph. see page A-2
Business Pins N’ Pockets honored as Lake Elsinore’s December 2024 Business in Action Spotlight
Council member Valerie Vandever was appointed as 2025 mayor for San Jacinto.
Council member Alonso Ledezma was appointed as 2025 mayor pro tem for San Jacinto. Valley News/sanjacintoca.gov photos
Tony Ault Staf f Writer
2025 calendar year with council member Alonso Ledezma as the city’s Mayor Pro-Tem. The mayoral appointment followed an announcement by Mayor Phil Ayala who told residents attending the meeting that new
LAKE ELSINORE – Pins N’ Pockets, a family-friendly entertainment center, has been named the City of Lake Elsinore’s December 2024 Business in Action Spotlight. This recognition, part of the city’s Building Better Businesses (B3) program, celebrates the contributions of outstanding local businesses.
Authorities investigate suspected homicide in San Jacinto
After weeks of contentious discussion, the San Jacinto City Council majority appointed one of their members as the new 2025
mayor of the city at its Jan. 7 meeting. Voting in a new method to appoint the yearly city mayor, the council in a 4 to 1 vote moved to appoint council member Valerie Vandever as its new mayor for the
Authorities are investigating a suspected homicide after a shooting early Sunday morning in a residential neighborhood near Capet Street and the 1000 block of Normandy Court East in San Jacinto. Deputies were dispatched to the scene at 1:11 a.m. following a report of an assault with a deadly weapon, according to Lt. Deirdre Vickers, Public Information Officer for the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office. “Upon arrival, deputies identified two individuals with injuries consistent with gunshot wounds. One subject was pronounced deceased at the scene, and the second was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening
Regional News Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz celebrates the designation of Chuckwalla National Monument
see page B-4
INDEX Anza Valley Outlook ..........B-1 Business ............................A-8 Business Directory .............A-8 Calendar of Events .............A-7
Classifieds .........................A-6 Education ..........................A-9 Entertainment ...................A-6 Health ...............................A-5 Legal Notices .....................B-6 Local ................................A-1 Opinion.............................B-5
Regional News ...................B-4 Sports .............................. A-10
see COUNCIL, page A-2
Julie Reeder and Brian Briggs Valley News Staf f
see page A-8
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-25) applauds the Biden administration for designating over 600,000 acres in California’s 25th District as Chuckwalla National Monument on Tuesday, Jan. 7. Chuckwalla National Monument and its breathtaking desert landscapes will expand tourism and outdoor recreation in the Coachella Valley.
security measures at the council meetings have been put in place. He read, “For the safety of everyone who attends or participates in our city council meetings, it is
Authorities respond to a home where a person was reported to have possibly been shot and killed early Sunday morning Jan. 12. Valley News/Brian Briggs photo
see HOMICIDE, page A-5
Temecula Valley Art League acquires Mighty Minis fundraiser program TEMECULA – The Temecula Valley Art League (TVAL) announces its acquisition of the Mighty Minis fundraiser program, originally founded by Bobbi Boes, the founder of the Temecula Theater Foundation. The acquisition marks a significant milestone in the continued growth of the local arts community as TVAL takes on the responsibility of carrying forward Bobbi’s legacy of supporting the arts in the Temecula Valley. TVAL President Ines Miller and Treasurer Raj Lycan have finalized an agreement to continue the Mighty Minis program, which will directly benefit local youth and the broader community. Through this initiative, TVAL will be able to provide free outreach programs for local youth and offer affordable art see TVAL, page A-2
The Mighty Minis fundraiser takes place throughout March at the Merc in Temecula.
Valley News/Courtesy photo