Chris Smith

News

Elks Lodge, Home Depot recognize Hemet veterans

written by Chris Smith

Brookdale Sunwest site of new veterans memorial park Chris Smith / The Valley ChronicleThe dedication of the new veterans memorial park was an opportunity to recognize local veterans, and four received quilts from the local chapter of Quilts for Veterans. Displaying their quilts sewn by Hemet-area quilters are, from left, veterans Richard Powell, Tony Colston, William Becker and Ron Loomis. ■ By Chris Smith / Advisory Editor A new veterans memorial park was dedicated at Brookdale Sunwest assisted living facility in Hemet with the help of Hemet Elks Lodge 1740 and Home Depot. The memorial park is also a memorial garden that will allow residents of Brookdale to plant and tend (more…)

March 21, 2019
no responses

Crime

Big fire destroys auto body shop

written by Chris Smith

Prized vintage cars among inferno’s casualties Photos by John Strangis ENG News & Ricardo Ruelas HE NewsHemet firefighters battle a large commercial building fire Friday, March 15, at 1000 N. State Street. Damage to the building, equipment, and vehicles inside was estimated at $500,000. ■ By Chris Smith / Advisory Editor Firefighters from Hemet and surrounding areas battled a large fire in a commercial building Friday night, March 15, on North State Street in Hemet. The building and several vehicles were destroyed, but there were no reported injuries. Initial estimates place the damage at about $500,000. Around 8 p.m., the Hemet Fire Department responded to reports of a fire and explosions (more…)

March 21, 2019
no responses

Crime

Stabbed through the heart

written by Chris Smith

Hemet man dead, accused attacker jailed Courtesy Wilver Garcia family and Facebook.comWilver Garcia died Friday night after being stabbed through the heart following a confrontation with a man police say was from Beaumont. ■ By Chris Smith / Advisory Editor A Beaumont man is in jail on a $1 million bond after being arrested for investigation of second degree murder in the stabbing death of Wilver Aroldo Garcia, a 23-year-old Guatemalan immigrant who lived in Hemet. Police reported arresting Mark Anthony Acevedo, 22, in connection with the crime, which is still under investigation. Acevedo was arrested by police early Sunday morning in Beaumont at a location on Sunburst Drive, according to (more…)

March 7, 2019
no responses

News

Guilt, shame, and loss

written by Chris Smith

Is life worth living after such a tragedy? A family tries to keep going after the death of their son Chris Smith / The Valley ChronicleThe little bike that Baby Anthony was learning to ride is a stark reminder of his absence from the family’s yard. Pictured also is the driveway where he was fatally struck by his father’s truck. ■ By Chris Smith / Advisory Editor Sometimes things happen in life – very bad things with no silver lining – and you question whether it’s even worth going on, whether it’s worth continuing to struggle each day to survive. That’s the depth of Eduardo’s heartache. “Why?” He asks himself every (more…)

February 28, 2019
no responses

Crime

Hemet Police discover hard drugs after traffic stop

written by Chris Smith

Local man on community release taken back to jail Hemet PolicePolice confiscated a half pound of meth, 50 grams of heroin, and a wad of cash following a traffic stop on Palm Avenue a week ago Wednesday. ■ By Chris Smith / Advisory Editor Police arrested a 52-year-old Hemet man on drug charges last week and confiscated a sizable stash of methamphetamine and heroin. Hemet PoliceJoseph Navas, 52, arrested on suspicion of illegally possessing meth and heroin. Arrested and jailed on suspicion of drug and parole-related offenses was Joseph Navas, a resident of Hemet, according to Hemet Police Lt. Nate Miller. Police were patrolling in the 400 block of N. Palm (more…)

February 28, 2019
no responses