Chris Lopez named acting city manager ■ By Tom Jones / Contributed The city council has placed City Manager Allen Parker on paid administrative leave while the council continues the process of his evaluation following a closed-door session Tuesday night, March 12. The council appointed Deputy City Manager Chris Lopez as acting city manager. Parker was appointed city manager in 2017. Hemet’s history of losing city managers for one reason or another is bleak and high turnover actually was a subject of concern in the State Auditor’s report after the state stepped in a few years ago identifying Hemet as an at-risk city. Parker’s predecessor, former City Manager Alex Meyerhoff, left (more…)
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Culling the herd
Far-From-Perfect Mustang Rescue gives horses a second chance Far-From-Perfect Mustang RescueJoel Sapperfield, mustang trainer, prepares Star, one of their newest wild mustangs, for training. ■ By Ann Hoffman / Contributed When you were a kid, did you have dreams of riding the range, maybe rounding up wild mustangs, maybe even “breaking” them to ride? Or maybe you just have a thing for horses? What if you could actually go see and touch one of these magnificent creatures that began life as a free-roaming and spirited animal? Would that be right up there on your adventure list? Well, you can. So how is it that mustangs end up in places like the (more…)
SJHS Annual Golf Tournament
Local high school hosts 11th annual ‘Match Play’ at Golden Era Golf Course Muriel DufresneCoach Corky Cloud, winner Jeffrey Winkler, and organizer Ryan George. ■ Muriel Dufresne, Golden Era Productions / Contributed The 11th annual San Jacinto “Match Play” Tournament was hosted at the Golden Era Golf Course from Feb. 25-27. This competition is for high school golfers and is played differently than a regular golf tournament. Match Play was started by Coach Steve Simpson when he was the boys’ golf coach at San Jacinto High School. Simpson is currently the Assistant Principal of the school. As explained by the SJHS PE teacher and current organizer, Ryan George, “Match Play is (more…)
New pickleballcourts open at Diamond Valley
Additional courts at Diamond Valley Lake Community Park reflect growing popularity of the sport Tom Jones/The Valley ChronicleSnowbirds from Canada and Oregon enjoy a fast-paced game of pickleball at Diamond Valley Lake Park. Canadians Scott Martin and Marcia Marzovilla (foreground) challenge Roger Damico and Greg Crowl from Oregon. ■ By Tom Jones / Contributed The community park at Diamond Valley Lake recently gained two new pickleball courts to better accommodate the growing popularity of the hybrid sport. The Hemet City Council has approved a reimbursement request in the amount of $59,961 to the Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District for the construction of two additional pickleball courts at the Diamond Valley Lake (more…)
Are firefighters using all the right stuff?
■ Thomas D. Elias / Contributed It’s pretty clear to anyone who’s watched firefighters try to control the massive blazes bedeviling California over the last two years that they have the right stuff. But questions have arisen over whether they are using all the right stuff. The maker of a rival firefighting substance has cried foul over an exclusive contract between suppliers of Phos-Chek fire retardant fluids and the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as CalFire. That pact sees the state use no long-term fire retardant other than Phos-Chek, a highly visible pinkish-red fluid dropped from air tankers onto fast-moving flames. Phos-Chek, produced by the St. Louis-based ICL (more…)
What the pension ruling means for California’s taxpayers
■ By Jon Coupal / Contributed Last week, the California Supreme Court issued a ruling in Cal Fire Local 2881 v. CalPERS, a case involving public employee pensions. For taxpayers, the decision was a mixed bag. On the plus side, the court refused to find a contractual right to retain an option to purchase “air time,” a perk that allowed employees with at least five years of service to purchase up to five years of additional credits before they retire. Under this plan, a 20-year employee could receive a pension based on 25 years of contributions. On the negative side, the high court left intact, for now, the so-called California Rule, (more…)
Local sting operation
Five adults arrested for selling alcohol to minors ■ Hemet Police Department / Contributed On Saturday, Mar. 9, the Hemet Police Department ROCS (Restoring Our Community Strategy) Team arrested five adults for furnishing alcohol to minors. One of those five adults was also arrested for allegedly driving a motor vehicle while under the influence. Two vehicles were towed and one of the businesses involved was found to be selling unlawful glassware, which was seized. These arrests were the result of a “shoulder tap” operation in which minors, under the direct supervision of ROCS Detectives, attempted to purchase alcohol from patrons visiting licensed liquor stores in the City of Hemet. During this (more…)
Clergy Corner – The dangers of spiritual abuse
File PhotoDr. Rick Puls. ■ By Rick Puls – Contributed I talked to a young man once who had once been a member of a very large church. In everyday life he had difficulty being alone, so he enjoyed spending time with the people that he met in the church and felt secure in their fellowship. He relied on other people for comfort, reassurance, advice, and support. He had difficulty making decisions on his own and looked to the church for precise guidance. This church fit his need. As he became deeply involved in the congregation, church leaders begin to dictate his behavior both in minor and major aspects of his (more…)
Ready, set, science!
Inland Empire Science Festival returns to the Western Science Center ■ Western Science Center / Contributed Science is happening in the Inland Empire and the Western Science Center, Riverside County’s largest natural history museum, is ready to show it off. The museum will be bringing together scientists and organizations from across Southern California to celebrate science in the region during the Inland Empire Science Festival on Saturday, April 13. For the price of regular admission, guests will be able to explore the museum while meeting the scientists and representatives from museums and companies who make science happen in the Inland Empire. Those who attend will discover how scientists can turn flesh (more…)
PET OF THE WEEK – March 14, 2019
Photo Courtesy of Ramona Humane SocietyHe loves car rides. “Bassett” – Pitbull male Mix Here is a real cutie! Bassett is being so good – no fussing, no barking – just waiting patiently for somebody to want to give him a 2nd chance. He is housebroken but alas, was brought here by previous owners because they just couldn’t take care of him anymore. They said he doesn’t jump fences, doesn’t get into the garbage or chew on household items. He loves car rides. He is 5 years old & weighs 76.7 pounds. Bassett is neutered, housebroken, up to date on shots, good w/kids & other dogs & de-wormed. He is available (more…)