Four-year-old girl makes recovery, A-12
VALLEY
12-year-old boy donates toys to Rady Children’s Hospital, B-12
Winter Sports preview for local high schools, B-1
A
Section
NEWS
December 26, 2014 – January 1, 2015
Local
Our Nicholas Foundation names Rebecca Clossick Volunteer of the Year
www.myvalleynews.com
Volume 14, Issue 52
Woman combines love of dogs and compassion for others in volunteer job
Ashley Ludwig Staff Writer Our Nicholas Foundation founders Mark and Kathy Anselmo named Rebecca Clossick, Great Oak High School Senior and Game Day Cheerleader, as their autism organization’s Volunteer of the Year for 2014. see page A-3
Local
Senator continues fight to restore funding to newly incorporated cities Michelle Mears-Gerst Writer
Canine Support Teams members and their dogs. Pictured left to right, Carol Roquemore and Ranger, Randy Poulson and Bishop, Ashely Wood with Rafe, John Giboney and Beamer, Dana Iniguez and Banko (front) Isela Gonzalez with Royce. JP Raineri photos
Government officials in Wildomar, Menifee, Eastvale and Jurupa Valley were disappointed in September when Governor Jerry Brown vetoed Senate Bill 69, which would have restored millions of dollars in Vehicle License Fee revenue to their cities. see page A-10
Education
Temecula Valley Unified School District welcomes new school board members Ashley Ludwig Staff Writer
Kim Harris Staff Writer Sally Wing was a little girl when she first read a book called “Follow My Leader.” In the book, a young boy who had been blinded by firecrackers was introduced to a seeing eye dog. While the boy was resistant to the situation, eventually love, affection and companionship evolved between the two. That was the point where she told her parents she knew that she wanted to train seeing eye dogs
when she grew up. “I told my parents, ‘I want to raise dogs to be seeing eye dogs; that is going to be the coolest job in the world,’” Wing said. Sometimes life gets in the way of a little girl’s dream, though. Wing never did get to train seeing eye dogs. Instead she grew up, raised a family and found a way to incorporate helping dogs and people at the same time. “My circumstances just never
see DOGS, page A-10
‘If it were up to me, I’d never leave’ Murrieta Fire Chief Matt Shobert hangs up his boots to focus on recovery
Parents and teachers, get ready for a change in the Temecula Valley Unified School District school board in the coming months. New members Kevin Hill, Sandy Hinkson, and Julie Farnbach joined current School Board President Allen Pulsipher and Clerk, Dr. Kristi Rutz-Robbins. The three new members’ term of office will run until December, 2018.
Ashley Ludwig Staff Writer
see page B-11
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Murrieta Fire Chief Matt Shobert speaks to a crowd about his Daniel Lane photo retirement.
VALLEY NEWS
Sally Wing from Canine Support Teams takes a photo of Murrieta Mesa High School student Joseph Aguilar after he made a donation to help support the program at the Promenade Mall on Dec. 18.
The City of Murrieta’s Fire Chief Matt Shobert is officially stepping down on Dec.31 to continue his recovery from a freak accident he suffered on July 2. While attending an Equine Immersion Workshop outside of Tucson, Ariz., Shobert discussed his accident, recovery and impending retirement. “The workshop is designed for victims of post-traumatic stress,” he said. “The horses have a sense about them, a sensitivity that almost understands what you’ve gone through.”
The Equine Immersion facility is near the Northwest Fire District where he began his career. Next week, Shobert, 52, is returning to Murrieta for his official retirement from the fire service. “My team of doctors came to the conclusion that due to the severity of my injury, suffering a mild traumatic brain injury, short term memory loss, and post-traumatic stress due to self-rescue, it’s time to retire,” he said. “If it were up to me, I’d never leave.” Shobert has at least six surgeries remaining and the next one will be to reconstruct his jaw. He knows
see SHOBERT, page A-9
Soccer phenom Ariel Lassiter signs with LA Galaxy Great Oak graduate following in father’s footsteps Paul Bandong Staff Writer “It’s official. I am now part of the LA Galaxy,” announced Ariel Lassiter on Instagram. Lassiter, a 2013 graduate of Great Oak High School, led the Wolfpack to three straight Southwestern League Championships and was selected All-Area and All-CIF. Lassiter was also named HS Gametime Boys Soccer Player of the Year and CBAADA Athlete of the Year. He trained with San Diego’s Albion SC where he won three national titles and was awarded the U16 Golden Boot Award at the 2011 US Youth Soccer National Championships. In the fall of 2013, Lassiter joined the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Mustangs on a soccer scholarship. He started 21 matches as a freshman and was the team’s
see LASSITER, page B-2
Ariel Lassiter, a 2013 graduate of Great Oak High School, passes during the Wolfpack's Paul Gallaher photo 1-1 tie with the Nighthawks, Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012.