Air quality explored at Soboba, A-6
A-1
Murrieta Valley dominates All Southwestern League Girls Water Polo Team, B-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 14 – 20, 2025
VISI T myvalleynews.com
Volume 25, Issue 11
Great Oak High hosts Special Menifee Council reviews paving or Games, fostering fun and inclusion maintaining its
Local News
dirt roads in the future Tony Ault Staf f Writer
The Menifee City Council discussed the possibility of paving some of the city’s many dirt roads during its regular March 5 meeting. see page A-2
Home & Garden Rancho Water’s Fix a Leak Week: Free kits, workshops, and fun for children Kimy Wall Rancho Water The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated March 17-23, 2025, as the annual Fix a Leak Week, a nationwide campaign aimed at promoting water conservation by addressing household leaks. According to the EPA, household leaks can waste more than 1 trillion gallons of water annually nationwide. see page A-9
INDEX
Participants in the annual Temecula Special Games at Great Oak High School parade around the track during the event’s opening ceremony, March 8. Valley News/Shane Gibson photo TEMECULA – Athletes of all ages took part in non-competitive games with the company of superheroes and volunteers at the 17th annual Temecula Special Games at
Great Oak High School stadium on Saturday, March 8. Each athlete was paired up with a high school volunteer to act as their buddy during the event
and participate alongside them. Adult volunteers assisted with the various games and activities. All athletes were presented with a participation medal and all volunteers
received community service hours. Temecula Special Games is a free event that allows athletes to see GAMES, page A-4
former Girls’ field hockey faces an uncertain TVUSD official alleges misconduct by future at Temecula’s high schools the Assistant
Superintendent responsible for district finance oversight
Anza Valley Outlook ..........B-1 Business .......................... B-12 Business Directory ........... B-12 Calendar of Events .............A-8
Julie Reeder Publisher
Education ..........................B-6
A former school district official has accused Nicole Lash, the Assistant Superintendent of Business Services at the Temecula Valley Unified School District (TVUSD), of misconduct alleging unethical behavior, intimidation, and improper and fraudulent financial practices, according to a statement provided to the district and obtained by Valley News. A uniform complaint was filed against Lash on February 28. The complainant who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, was placed on administrative leave. The complainant claims that their placement on administrative leave was a retaliatory measure designed to obstruct access to district communications that could corroborate allegations against Lash, the senior administrator. “I believe the Assistant Superintendent of Business Services had me placed on administrative leave in order to protect information that would be incriminating to her, under the guise of protecting the district’s interests,” the statement reads. The complainant also accuses the administrator of inappropriate workplace behavior, including a comment condoning intra-departmental relationships, saying, “It’s okay to f*** anyone in the department as long as you don’t do their eval.” Lash later allegedly used a discussion about a flirtatious vendor as justification for the complainant’s administrative leave. Allegations of discrimination and retaliation The statement also details
Classifieds ....................... B-10 Entertainment ...................A-7 Health ...............................A-5 Home & Garden ................A-5 Legal Notices ................... B-10 Local ................................A-1 National News ................. B-11 Opinion........................... B-10
Regional News ...................B-8 Sports .............................. A-10
VALLEY NEWS
Great Oak High School’s field hockey team has high hopes that their program will not be phased out. Valley News/Courtesy photo JP Raineri Spor ts Editor TEMECULA – The Temecula Valley Unified School District (TVUSD) is facing fierce op-
position in response to a recent decision made by school administration to phase out girls’ field hockey programs at its three local high schools. The announcement, made earlier this year, cited fac-
tors such as high travel costs, field space limitations, and a shifting athletic landscape as motivations for eliminating the program. see HOCKEY, page A-11
Big rig fire blocks SB I-15 near SR 76
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USPS Postal Customer
Julie Reeder & Brian Briggs Valley News A semi-truck caught fire and blocked multiple lanes of traffic on southbound Interstate 15 near Highway 76 on Wednesday evening, March 5, according to the California Highway Patrol. The crash was reported at 7:58 p.m. just south of the Highway 76 exit, near Dulin Road. Initial reports indicated that the big rig, which suffered major damage, was involved in a collision with at least two other vehicles before catching fire. Flames spread as the truck came to a stop, obstructing see TRUCK, page A-5
A big rig is stretched across lanes of the SB I-15 near SR 76. Valley News/Brian Briggs photo
see TVUSD, page A-2