Eagles dominate Brentwood to clinch Division 1 CIF-SS championship, A-8
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Anza Valley residents turn to hens amid soaring egg prices, B-3
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SERVING TEMECULA , MURRIETA , L AKE E LSINOR E , M ENIFEE , WILDOMAR , H EMET, SAN JACINTO AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES March 7 – 13, 2025
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Volume 25, Issue 10
Menifee Central Park Amphitheater Bundy Canyon Christian School construction well underway seeking facility
Local News
improvement help Completion expected in June or July The Bundy Canyon Christian School in Wildomar, founded in 1981 and serving approximately 175 students from grades K through 8th, recently launched a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe and Facebook. The school is seeking financial support to upgrade its facilities and school grounds at 23411 Bundy Canyon Road. see page A-2
Entertainment Ramona Play artistic director appearing at the Hemet Heritage Foundation Tony Ault Staf f Writer This year’s Ramona Outdoor Play Artistic Director Duane Minard will appear in a special presentation by the Hemet Heritage Foundation in Hemet on Monday, March 10. Duane Minard will lead the presentation with “Ramona 2025” and what is happening at the Ramona Bowl Amphitheater in Hemet and will look ahead in transitioning into the “Next One Hundred Years.” see page A-7
Education Mountain View High School recognized as a 2025 Model Continuation High School San Jacinto Unified School District announced that Mountain View High School (MVHS) has been named a 2025 Model Continuation High School. The announcement was made in a California Department of Education News Release on Feb. 19 in which State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond announced 74 schools throughout the state. Mountain View High was one of only four schools in Riverside County to receive the recognition. see page B-7
Construction of the new amphitheater at Central Park is underway in the city of Menifee. Tony Ault Staf f Writer Construction is well underway for a new outdoor amphitheater in Menifee Central Park with part of the rounded structure currently under construction at 30268 Civic Plaza Drive in Menifee.
Anza Valley Outlook ..........B-1 Business ............................B-5 Business Directory .............B-5 Calendar of Events .............A-6
Classifieds .........................B-8 Education ..........................B-6 Entertainment ...................A-7 Health ...............................A-5 Home & Garden ................A-5 Legal Notices ..............B-8, B-9 Local ................................A-1 Opinion.............................B-8
Regional News ................. B-10 Sports ................................A-8
weather and material availability. The design of the new amphitheater will include space for entertainers and lighting for evening and nighttime events. The city of Menifee is currently asking community members what they would like to see on stage in the new amphitheater in the
Black excellence takes center stage
years to come. Comments on the Amphitheater’s future venues can be made on the Menifee City website at https://www. cityofmenifee.us/1014/CentralPark-Amphitheater-Project. Tony Ault can be reached at tault@reedermedia.com
Suspected serial arsonist arrested in De Luz Julie Reeder Publisher
SJLA since she was in sixth grade and said it is a place where she not only grew academically but found her voice as an advocate. Kaylin is in the top 10 percent of her graduating class with a 4.4 GPA and has already been accepted into her two dream schools: Howard University and UC, Berkeley. She plans to major in political science with an emphasis on African American studies. “My heart is set on becoming a civil rights attorney, using my voice to champion justice and ensure that every story, especially those often silenced, is heard,” she said. “Creating my school’s first Black Student Union taught me that advocacy is born from love — love for community, culture, and progress. I learned that even
A 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson and possession of explosive devices after allegedly setting a brush fire and threatening a park ranger in DeLuz, authorities said. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department reported that deputies from the Fallbrook Sheriff’s Substation responded to a brush fire near the Santa Margarita River Trail Preserve in De Luz just before 11:30 a.m. on Friday, February 28. Upon arrival, a park ranger identified a man who had allegedly started the fire and threatened the ranger with a knife. Deputies confronted the suspect, later identified as Neema Ahmadpour, who was reportedly uncooperative and combative. Authorities said force was used to take him into custody. Firefighters from Calfire/San Diego County Fire and the North County Fire Protection District arrived on the scene to contain the blaze. According to Calfire, the fire burned approximately half an acre before being extinguished. According to the Sheriff’s Dept. it was contained at about one acre. No structures were threatened. Sheriff deputies also used fire extinguishers to attempt to contain the fire before fire personnel arrived. During a search of Ahmadpour’s vehicle, deputies discovered several Molotov cocktails that were ready for use. Calfire arson investigators joined the case and, after collecting evidence, determined Ahmadpour was possibly linked to at least two prior brush fires in San Diego County.
see EXCELLENCE, page A-2
see ARSONIST, page A-4
Scholarship recipients are congratulated by Black Voices of the Valley board members, State Assemblyman Corey Jackson and members of the Hemet and San Jacinto city councils at the 4th annual Night of Black Excellence, Feb. 22. Valley News/Vaniety Tenorio/V6 Photography Diane A. Rhodes Contributor
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Designed by T.Y. Lin International, the amphitheater is being constructed by Optima RPM Inc. and Southstar Engineering. The $7,171,702 project was approved by the Menifee City Council last year and is expected to be completed sometime in June or July of this year. depending on the
Valley News/Shane Gibson photo
Black Voices of the Valley hosted its 4th annual Night of Black Excellence with a gala at the Soboba Casino Resort Event Center in San Jacinto on Feb. 22. Guests included representatives from Hemet and San Jacinto city council offices as well as local dignitaries. But the stars of the night were the recipients of this year’s awards. BVOV Director Stephanie Bruce welcomed the sold-out crowd to the event which also serves as a Black History Month celebration and fundraiser. High school seniors were recognized for their hard work and academic excellence. Those receiving scholarships were Daijha Williams, Kailei Burnet, Zoe Dagen, Kaycia
Carrida, and Essence Herd. San Jacinto Leadership Academy senior Kaylin McWhorter was honored with the Youth Leadership Award. Bruce said this award honors an exceptional young individual who demonstrates outstanding leadership, initiative, and a commitment to making a positive impact in their community. “It celebrates the next generation of leaders who inspire change and exemplify the values of service, innovation, and resilience,” she said. Kaylin accepted the award with a powerful speech that began, “Tonight feels like a dream. Not long ago, I wasn’t sure this moment would come. The world doesn’t always make space for girls like me — girls with deep brown skin and big dreams. Girls who fight not just to succeed, but to be seen.” The 18-year-old has attended