Temecula Valley News

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Local woman makes sock monkeys for children who need comforting, A-7

VALLEY

TVHS wrestlers extend streak with win over Pumas, B-9

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Section

NEWS

January 16 – 22, 2015

www.myvalleynews.com

Real Estate

FHA cuts PMI rate for new home buyers Paul Bandong Staff Writer

2015 Rock the Oaks promises to be bigger and better, A-12

Volume 15, Issue 3

End of an era for Murrieta as Fire Chief Matt Shobert retires

President Obama announced on Jan., 8 that the government—U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development—recently cut a major expense for new homebuyers taking out low-down payment loans insured by the Federal Housing Authority. The cut is in the Annual Mortgage Insurance premium for loans with terms greater than 15 years, effectively lowering the annual premium by 50 basis points (0.50 percent). see page B-4

Opinion

Hack serves as reminder to protect personal information Kim Harris Editor It’s been a busy news week here at the Valley News. From breaking news, car accidents, robberies and prostitution stings to groundbreakings and clean-up from winter storm Frona, reporters have been out virtually 24 hours a day seven days a week. One of the biggest national news stories we heard this week was the hack of U.S. Central Command’s social media sites. see page A-10

Sports

Valley News’ ALL-VALLEY Awards recognizes best high school athletes

Tami Shobert comforts her husband, retired Murrieta Fire Chief Matt Shobert during his retirement reception on Tuesday, Jan. 13.

Kim Harris Editor Retired Murrieta Fire Chief Matt Shobert was recognized during a retirement reception held on Tuesday, Jan. 13 at the fire department headquarters on Juniper Street. During an informal ceremony preceding the reception, Shobert

was presented with a proclamation recognizing his entire career from Assemblywoman Melissa Melendez’s District Director Michael Garrison. City leaders, community members and Shobert’s peers praised him for the level of service and care he provided the community during his tenure with the department. “Today is one of those bittersweet

moments,” Murrieta City Councilman Rick Gibbs said. “We are closing a chapter on one of the greatest fire chiefs this city, the country has known. Matt Shobert indeed has a lot left to do.” Shobert officially stepped down on Dec. 31 to focus on his recovery from a freak accident in July of last year that left him suffering a mild traumatic brain injury, short term

memory loss, post-traumatic stress due to self-rescue and in need of numerous surgeries. “The fire service hasn’t just been my profession. It’s been my life, my hobby, my everything,” The sometimes teary-eyed Shobert said. “I thank all of these guys from the bottom of my heart.” To comment on this story online, visit www.myvalleynews.com.

Menifee city officials, residents celebrate groundbreaking for city’s first business park Alex Groves Staff Writer More than a dozen people arrived to a vacant and flat piece of earth in Menifee to celebrate groundbreaking for the city’s first business park, a project that has been in the works for nearly a decade but has struggled to find its roots in the midst of a struggling economy. The 51-acre property will eventually host two adjacent business park sites, which will total 825,000 square-feet of structure. The northern portion of the project site is expected to have approximately 18 buildings while the southern portion of the site will have approximately 33. The site for the park is adjacent to Interstate 215 on the east side of Zeiders Road. City officials are hoping that now vacant lot will

The Valley News’ ALL-VALLEY Awards seeks to recognize the best-performing athletes in each sport among all the high schools – public, private and charter – and across all leagues and CIF divisions in our coverage area (Southwest Riverside County).

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID FALLBROOK, CA PERMIT #499

see page B-10

VALLEY NEWS

Kim Harris photo

Developers and Menifee city dignitaries break ground at the future site of Commerce Pointe Menifee on Shane Gibson photo Jan. 12.

see BUSINESS PARK, page A-6

Saving Huey, a ‘tail’ of love and one dog’s survival Daniel Lane Multimedia Journalist It all started on Christmas Day in 2014, a day when a dog was dumped like a bag of trash on a Moreno Valley street. Diana Dodd saw the emaciated male pit bull badly injured and in the road in front of her home on Locust Avenue. The dog, now named Huey, was helpless, homeless, in pain, and cold. That is when Dodd jumped to action bringing Huey into her home for food, warmth, a real bed and comfort. Huey was scarred and torn, all indications he was most likely a bait dog... that’s all he knew. His mouth had been taped shut and his lips and jaw were torn like an old stuffed bear.

see HUEY, page A-9

Tracy Lystra sits on her living room couch as playful Huey investigates the photographer‘s camera. Daniel Lane photo


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