Hot August Music Competition draws 40+ performers, A-8
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Take Pride All-Star 2025: Highflying hoops, celebrity judges and a slam-dunk homecoming, 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 September 26 – October 2, 2025
VISI T myvalleynews.com
Volume 25, Issue 39
Southwestern League volleyball RivCo enhances 911 services heats up with innovative Health
Nurse Navigation Temecula Valley and Murrieta Mesa clash in thrilling matchups program RIVERSIDE – Riverside County’s Emergency Management Department (EMD) is taking proactive steps to enhance emergency response capabilities and better serve residents with the launch of 911 Nurse Navigation, an innovative initiative developed in partnership with Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provider American Medical Response (AMR) and program pioneer Global Medical Response (GMR). The new initiative empowers 911 dispatchers with an additional resource to manage callers determined to be experiencing non-life-threatening conditions. see page A-6
Education Menifee author and teacher wins national Parents’ Picks Award for Sweet Rescue children’s book MENIFEE – Alexander “Alex” Friedrichs, a longtime elementary school teacher in Menifee, has won a national Parents’ Picks Award for his children’s book Sweet Rescue, earning recognition as one of the best parent-tested, kid-approved books in the country. see page B-7
INDEX
VALLEY NEWS
Anza Valley Outlook ..........B-1 Business ............................B-6 Business Directory .............B-6 Calendar of Events .............A-9 Classifieds .........................B-9 Education ..........................B-7 Entertainment ...................A-7 Health ...............................A-6 Home & Garden ................B-5 Legal Notices ................... B-10 Local ................................A-1 Opinion........................... B-10 Regional News ...................B-9 Sports .............................. A-10
Airyss Celestine goes high to score, getting past Ginger Boyle, left, and Caitlyn Yulfo (right). JP Raineri Spor ts Editor The Southwestern League volleyball season is in full swing, and the competition is as fierce as ever.
On September 16, the “Impact Center” at Murrieta Mesa High School hosted a thrilling showdown between two of the league’s top teams: the Murrieta Mesa Rams and the Temecula Valley
Golden Bears. The Rams entered the match with an impressive 244-2 record, while the Golden Bears boasted an 11-2 mark. Murrieta Mesa came out strong, taking the first set 25-19. However,
Murrieta resident and firefighter Rob Hager is mourned A GoFundMe has been created to support the family
North County Fire is mourning the loss of Engineer Rob Hager, who died Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, following an unexpected medical emergency at his home in Murrieta, the department announced. Hager’s death did not occur in the line of duty, officials said. “It is with great sadness that North County Fire reports the passing of our beloved Engineer Rob Hager, due to an unexpected medical emergency,” the department posted on Instagram. “We ask for your thoughts and prayers for the Hager Family, North County Fire & Fallbrook Firefighters Association Local 1622 as we mourn this tragic loss.” A fundraiser launched by the Fallbrook Firefighters highlighted Hager’s devotion to both family and community. “Rob leaves behind his wife, Courtney, and young daughter, Sloane. Rob has
see VOLLEYBALL, page A-12
Man arrested for lewd acts with a child
Antoine Christopher Sims, 31, was arrested Sept. 18, 2025, on several counts including lewd acts with children. Valley News/Courtesy photo
Murrieta resident and firefighter Rob Hager, left, helps a future firefighter into firefighting gear. Valley News/Courtesy photo
TVUSD board votes in favor of Amicus Brief for upcoming U.S. Supreme Court case Andrew Almazan Special to the Valley News PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID HEMET, CA PERMIT #234
Temecula Valley regrouped and claimed the next three sets, 25-22, 25-23, and 25-20, to secure a 3-1 victory. Savannah Sheridan led
Julie Reeder Publisher
see HAGER, page A-4
USPS Postal Customer
Valley News/David Canales photo
The Temecula Valley Unified School District board voted Sept. 17 in closed session to authorize Advocates for Faith and Freedom
(AFF), a Southern Californiabased legal nonprofit, to prepare and submit an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in two consolidated cases that could determine the future of transgender participation in girls’ athletics nationwide.
The cases — Hecox v. Little out of Idaho and West Virginia v. B.P.J. — both challenge state laws restricting transgender individuals from competing on female see AMICUS, page A-2
In September 2024, the Riverside Sheriff’s San Jacinto Station began investigating Antoine Christopher Sims, a 31-year-old employee at a licensed residential treatment facility for minors located in the city of San Jacinto. The investigation was initiated following allegations of inappropriate contact between Sims and juvenile residents under his care. Over the course of the investigation, detectives identified multiple victims and uncovered a pattern of predatory behavior involving grooming, inappropriate communication, and unlawful sexual contact. On Thursday, September 18, 2025, Sims was located near the intersection of Sycamore Canyon Lane and Bachelor Peak Street in Winchester. He was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility on multiple felony charges, including lewd acts with see ARREST, page A-5