Ritchie resigns from council
OVEREXTENDED: San Jacinto councilman cites work, family commitments as reason.

Valley Chronicle honored as Small Business of the Year
RECOGNITION: Hemet/San Jacinto Valley Chamber of Commerce hosts annual Olympus Awards ceremony.

Tow truck firms face fees
HEMET: Companies say Police Department plan is form of double dipping.

Firefighters propose new fees
HEMET: Chief suggests billing nursing homes for services they could have provided themselves.

Public safety
Police: Man struck woman, tried to drag her into alley

Sobobas mark anniversary
The res may not always have been an easy place to live, but it has always been home.

Red light cameras eyed for Hemet
ENFORCEMENT: A trial run captured 2,100 violations in 16 hours.

Hemet to again consider public safety tax
The possibility of asking Hemet voters for more tax money to help pay for public safety function is before the City Council again.

Union contract calls for City Hall to close alternate Fridays
Hemet City Hall will start closing every other Friday starting July 11.

FYI
Things to do! Some of the Valley's best events over the next seven days.

Busy owner wears, and makes, many hats
Cindy Jolene, owner of Miss Cindy Cindy Beauty & Barber Salon, says she's such a busy gal, she does the work of two people.

‘Dynamic' executive takes charge
The local nonprofit Habitat for Humanity has been struggling to grow for the past 14 years and is now under a new forward-thinking board, along with a new executive director.

Club briefs
Lawn bowlers hold singles tournament

It's time to mark Fourth of July
It's that time again! Come join us for our annual Fourth of July celebration at Regional Park in San Jacinto. Festivi-ties will start at 10:30 a.m., with vendor booths opening and a belly-dancing demonstration at 11:30. The children's games begin at noon and go to 6 p.m. The music begins at 2, with the ever-popular Old Town Jazz Band. From 6 to 9, enjoy classic rock ‘n' roll and rhythm and blues with One 2 Many. Finally, enjoy our spectacular fireworks display.

Program targets addictions big and small
Celebrate Recovery is for people with hurts, hang-ups, and habits, says Gary Rowden, lead facilitator of the program.

Faith in brief
Baptists to mark Independence Day

Youth exchange helps students see world
Students from the San Jacinto Valley will join youth from throughout the state next month in a foreign exchange program sponsored by the Lions Club.

SJUSD pares down budget in face of state cuts
San Jacinto Unified School District faced two main concerns - cost of living adjustments and cuts to funds - in passing its 2008-09 budget this month.