Local actor portrays Vince Lombardi, A-12
VALLEY
Linfield coach selected for 90th East-West Shrine Game, B-2
Valley Sports Year in Review, B-1
A
Section
NEWS
January 2 – 8, 2015
www.myvalleynews.com
Health
Valley News joins Fit City to break circuit training class world record
Volume 15, Issue 1
Looking back at 2014’s top stories Southwest Riverside County experienced growth, conflict and changes during past year
Local businesses and citizens invited to participate Paul Bandong Staff Writer Valley News is joining with Fit City and Breaking Records for Charities in the effort to establish a new Guinness World Record for “Most People Participating in a Circuit Training Class” in one location. see page B-12
Local
City and chamber of commerce officials share outlooks for 2015 Leaders from Lake Elsinore, Temecula, Wildomar and Murrieta share their enthusiasm for 2015. see page B-6
Home & Garden
Properly caring for garden soil is important task for healthy plants Linda McDonald-Cash Landscape Designer Hello fellow gardeners. I thought it would be a good idea this week to educate you “from the ground up” literally, so to speak, as “soil” is the foundation for your entire garden and everything growing in it.
VALLEY NEWS
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID FALLBROOK, CA PERMIT #499
see page B-10
The opening of Temecula Valley Hospital last spring, immigration protests in Murrieta during the summer and elections of new city officials in the fall, were events that made 2014 a year of
growth, conflict and changes for Southwest Riverside County. “As we begin a new year, it’s important to look back and see how our communities have grown and changed,” said Val-
ley News Publisher Julie Reeder. “We should be encouraged. A lot of positive things have happened in 2014. Even negative events can be used to help direct a path toward a stronger community for
everyone.” Following is a review of some top stories covered by the Valley News in 2014.
see 2014, page A-3
Family escapes Wildomar blaze, thankful to be alive Daniel Lane Multimedia Journalist A Wildomar house fire left three people homeless, but thankful to be alive. Flames broke out shortly before 10:15 a.m. Monday, Dec. 22 in the single story home on Cashew Street near Jennifer Drive, according to reports on scene. The homeowner was at home with her two children, ages 6 and 11, when she heard “popping” sounds coming from the garage, according to the 35-year-old homeowner Maurissa Leon. “We heard some popping noises so we ran outside...we noticed smoke coming from the garage,” Leon said. “I told the kids to stay outside and I went back inside to check what it was. “I checked the garage and saw the flames.” Leon said she grabbed a few items on her way out and got the kids in the car to get them away from the fire. “We got in the car to move it because we need the car,” Leon said. “(We) moved the car down the street to get the kids away from the house.”
Maurissa Leon comforts her 11-year-old son Nathan as firefighters worked to put the flames out at their Wildomar home on Monday, Dec. 22. Daniel Lane photo
Black smoke was visible from miles away, including from Temecula. “As soon as the first engines rolled out, they saw the smoke (and
we) knew we had a working fire,” CalFire/Riverside County Fire Department Battalion Chief Mark Barr said on scene. “First arriving engine gave a report of heavy fire in the ga-
rage extending into the living area. “The fire was pretty advanced by the time we got here.”
see WILDOMAR, page A-2
Eight cars go up in flames; six people hospitalized; 215 shut down Daniel Lane Multimedia Journalist An 11-vehicle crash leaving eight vehicles on fire Saturday, Dec. 27 on the southbound 215 in Perris sent six people to the hospital with minor injuries and forced a full closure of the freeway in both directions. Emergency crews responded just after 5 p.m. to the multi-vehicle crash just north of the Fourth Street overpass. “Basically it looks like 11 vehicles involved (in this crash),” California Highway Patrol Officer Janitzio Jurado said. “It’s a chain reaction accident due to traffic coming to a stop and involved parties traveling a little too fast for
conditions.” According to CalFire/Riverside County Fire Department, six people were taken to local hospitals for minor injuries. Jurado said, “It is quite remarkable” that no one was killed or seriously injured. A SigAlert was issued at about 5:15 p.m. by CHP. The northbound side of the 215 was closed at lower 74 and the southbound side was closed at Nuevo Road. While crews investigated the incident, many of the victims walked around the dark scene bundled up in blankets, many with children. The cause of the crash is still under investigation by the CHP.
Eight burned-out cars sit on the 215 freeway in Perris following a crash on the southbound side right before the 4th Street overpass. Daniel Lane photo