Human Relations Council celebrates essay contest winners, A-6
A-1
Historic season for local prep water polo teams ends with All-CIF accolades, A-11
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SERVING TEMECULA , MURRIETA , L AKE E LSINOR E , M ENIFEE , WILDOMAR , H EMET, SAN JACINTO AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES March 28 – April 3, 2025
Local News Murrieta City Council receives update on traffic congestion pilot program
VISI T myvalleynews.com
Volume 25, Issue 13
Run & Walk for Life 5K brings families together for fitness and fun
Tony Ault Staf f Writer
The Murrieta City Council received an update on the Los Alamos Road Pilot Program studying ways to reduce the citywide problem of traffic congestion at the March 18 regular city council meeting. see page A-2
Business ERC provides free vendor booths
TEMECULA – Have you ever dreamed of starting your own business? Now is your chance. The Entrepreneurial Resource Center (ERC) Marketplace Made Program is helping new entrepreneurs take their first steps toward success. The Marketplace Made Program has already supported over 40 small business owners, and two major events—Small Business Saturday in Temecula and Foodie Friday in Menifee— have demonstrated the power of hands-on entrepreneurship. Now, the next big event is coming up, and they are looking for budding entrepreneurs to be a part of it. see page B-12
INDEX Anza Valley Outlook ..........B-1 Business .......................... B-12
Participants in the Run & Walk for Life event, which raised funds for Birth Choice of Temecula, take off at the starting line. Julie Reeder Publisher More than 350 community members gathered Saturday, March 22 for the Run & Walk
for Life 5K at Linfield Christian School, participating in a day of walking, running, fellowship and family fun to support Birth Choice of Temecula’s life-affirming mission.
The event featured a 5K course, a kiddie fun run, face painting, games, and live worship music provided by local church bands. Participants enjoyed the sunshine and a festive atmosphere as they
An unusually small 18-foot-long bridge in Murrieta could cause a major disaster for residents living in the western area of the city in the event of a fire or earthquake. The issue brought quick action by the city council at its March 18 regular meeting with the rare “emergency declaration” to alleviate it. The issue surrounds the very old wood-structured Hayes Avenue Bridge over Murrieta’s Miller Creek which is collapsing with a gaping hole showing the creek below. The damage to the small 18-foot long 24-foot wide has been caused by the recent strong winter storms that hit the city in the last two months and perhaps years of neglect because of its extremely small size. Yet now the gapping hole and collapsed wooden beans showing below will not allow a regular 20-ton fire engine to safely cross in the event of a residential
Classifieds ....................... B-12 Education ..........................B-6 Entertainment ...................A-9 Faith..................................B-9
Health ...............................B-5 Home & Garden .............. A-10 Legal Notices ................... B-10 Local ................................A-1 National News ...................B-9 Opinion........................... B-10
Regional News ...................B-8 Sports .............................. A-11
VALLEY NEWS
see 5K, page A-7
Tony Ault Staf f Writer
Calendar of Events .............A-8
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made their way through the course lined with educational signs about parenting, reproductive health, and the nonprofit’s services.
Collapsing Hayes Avenue Bridge brings rare ‘Emergency Declaration’ by Murrieta City Council
Business Directory ........... B-12
USPS Postal Customer
Valley News/Shane Gibson photo
Recent storm damage caused a hole to appear in the Hayes Avenue bridge, which has been blocked off to traffic. Valley News/Shane Gibson photo
see BRIDGE, page A-2
Helicopter crash near French Valley Airport sparks Hazmat response FRENCH VALLEY — A small helicopter crashed Thursday, March 20, while maneuvering near French Valley Airport, leaving the pilot with minor injuries and causing a fuel spill that activated a hazardous materials response, authorities said. The crash was reported around 1 p.m. in the area of Auld and Briggs roads, at the north end of the airport’s perimeter, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department. Emergency crews and sheriff’s deputies found the helicopter in a vacant area with
damage described as “moderate.” There was no fire reported following the crash. The pilot, the sole occupant of the rotorcraft, sustained minor injuries. Paramedics on the scene treated him, but he declined transportation to a hospital. Officials did not release his identity. Approximately 10 gallons of aviation fuel spilled from the helicopter’s 26-gallon tank, triggering a hazmat team response. Crews worked to clean up the spill and see HELICOPTER, page A-4
A small helicopter crashed near French Valley Airport around 1 p.m. March 20. Valley News/Courtesy photo