CIF Southern Section winter sports playoff updates, C-1
A-1
Lake Elsinore area students honored in January, C-4
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Valley News • www.myvalleynews.com • February 17, 2023
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SERVING TEMECULA , MURRIETA , L AKE E LSINOR E , M ENIFEE , WILDOMAR , H EMET, SAN JACINTO AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES February 17 – 23, 2023
VISI T myvalleynews.com
Volume 23, Issue 7
Groundbreaking signals the construction Council moves start of the French Valley Parkway to acquire last properties to Interchange Project Phase 2 widen Murrieta Local
Hot Springs Rd. Tony Ault Staf f Writer
The Murrieta City Council moved to approve the acquisition of four pieces of property along Murrieta Hot Springs Road separately as resolutions of necessity, a precursor to the use of eminent domain, to move ahead with the planned widening of the congested main road during its Feb. 7 meeting. see page A-2
Business Job fair coming to Promenade Mall TEMECULA – The Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce is proud to co-host Temecula Valley’s Premier Job Fair in partnership with the City of Temecula, Visit Temecula Valley, Promenade Temecula, Mt. San Jacinto College, and Riverside County Workforce Development Center. This bi-annual event will take place on Saturday, March 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Promenade Temecula Mall located at 40820 Winchester Road in Temecula. see page B-6
Avlin Odviar, Principal Civil Engineer with the city of Temecula discusses the French Valley Parkway Interchange Project Phase ll which will be constructed to ease miles long traffic congestion on northbound Interstate 15 in Temecula. Valley News/Shane Gibson photo Tony Ault Staf f Writer The City of Temecula’s groundbreaking ceremony for the decadelong construction startup of the
huge $138 million French Valley Parkway Interchange Project on Feb. 14 promises to relieve the traffic congestion on Interstates 15 and 215 by 2025. The groundbreaking took place
at the intersection of Ynez Road and Date Street in Temecula. Dignitaries and invited guests celebrated the historic event. The huge construction will be from the Northbound approach to the
Julie Reeder Publisher
IRS won’t tax most relief payments made by states last year David Sharp Associated Press
see page C-6
INDEX Anza Valley Outlook ......... D-1 Business ............................B-6 Business Directory .............B-6 Classifieds .........................B-8 Courts & Crimes .............. D-6 Education ..........................C-4 Entertainment ............B-1, B-4 Health ..............................B-2 Home & Garden ................B-7 Local ................................A-1 National News ...................C-6 Opinion............................ D-6 Real Estate ........................B-8 Regional News ...................C-5 Sports ................................C-1
see INTERCHANGE, A-2
Three shot, one dead; suspected shooter identified as father of surviving victim
National News
The IRS announced Friday, Feb. 10 that most relief checks issued by states last year aren’t subject to federal taxes, providing 11th hour guidance as tax returns start to pour in.
I-15/I-215 before Winchester Road where for years traffic congestion slowed traffic to a crawl almost daily, frustrating many commuters
San Diego Sheriff Kelly Martinez, right, addresses the media at a news conference staged at Crossway Church at the corner of Reche and Stagecoach. Standing with her are NCFPD Chief McReynolds, NCFPD Division Chief Brian MacMillan, Sheriff’s COPPS Deputy Jim Bennetts and Valley Center Lt. Jim Emig. Valley News/AC Investigations photo
A mass shooting was reported Friday, Feb. 10 in Fallbrook, shattering the silence in the typically safe and quiet town, known for its scenic green hills of avocado, citrus and flowers, restaurants, golf and equestrian properties. Fallbrook Sheriff’s deputies found three people shot, including one deceased, in response to a radio call of an assault with a firearm at Atkins Nursery. “All parties involved are employees of Atkins Nursery,” San Diego Sheriff Homicide Lt. Chris Steffen said during a presser later that evening. “As far as motive, we don’t know.” Lt. Steffen reported that when Fallbrook sheriffs arrived, see SHOOTING, page A-6
Temecula’s 11th Annual Jazz Festival dedicated to longtime pianist Ava Sarnowski Valley News Intern
In March, the Old Town Temecula Community Theater will be celebrating its 11th Annual Jazz Festival. A variety of Inland Empire musicians will come together for a day devoted to jazz. Before the afternoon concert on the main stage begins, the Jimmie Dykes group will play music in the theater courtyard at 1 p.m. Audience members can listen to music while socializing before the stage doors open at 2 p.m. Among the musicians returning this year is Jeff Stover on bass. Stover was born in Riverside in 1960 and he studied music at California State University, Los Angeles. “I then lived in Palm Springs for 40 years, where I was lucky to play with many of the finest musi-
cians in the Inland Empire area,” he said. “I got to play shows and concerts for many great acts that came through the area such as Bob Hope, George Burns, Susan Anton, Bobby Vinton, Rich Little, Don Rickles, Frankie Avalon, Il Divo, The Smothers Brothers and more.” Temecula’s current band, and group of musicians, started under Richard Stover’s leadership. It initially began at Performance Riverside. Across a 30 year time period, they played over 100 different Broadway shows. Following Richard’s retirement as conductor, he helped develop the shows at the Temecula Community Theater. He passed away in 2009, but the band still carries on the legacy and tradition of shows on Temecula’s stage. Stover shares that they are see JAZZ, page A-4
Pianist Keith Droste
Valley News/Courtesy photo