Three dates remain for bird tours in San Jacinto Valley wetlands

City News Service

Special to the Valley News

Bird watchers seeking close-up views of dozens of species that nest or migrate within the San Jacinto Valley Wetlands have three opportunities left to take tours in what remains of the current birdwatching season, the Eastern Mu-

JUSTICE from page A-1 her daughter unresponsive in her bedroom while the college student was home from Arizona for winter break. Alexandra had ingested one-half of a fentanyl-laced pill that killed her. It took several months for police to find the person responsible for selling her the fatal counterfeit Oxycodone pills.

In August 2022, 23-year-old Brandon Michael McDowell of Riverside pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. In a sworn statement, McDowell admitted to knowing the pills he sold Alexandra Capelouto were counterfeit and that they contained fentanyl. A sentencing hearing at the federal courthouse in downtown Riverside was scheduled for early November but got postponed.

At the upcoming hearing, the judge can sentence McDowell to anything from probation to 20 years in prison. The Capelouto family wants to see the maximum sentence imposed, which was another factor leading to the decision for Matt to take his walk for justice. “I think he should get the maximum penalty of 20 years, one year for each year my daughter was on this earth,” Matt said. The idea to plan this walk came about as Matt was looking for a way to control the anxiety he has been experiencing as the sentencing date approached. He said, “I feel this walk will be a good way for me to channel that energy.” He has been preparing for the trip by taking long walks, progressively

STREETS from page A-1 the deterioration of roadways by creating small cracks. When water finds its way into small cracks from normal wear and tear, it washes out layers of stone, dirt or gravel that supports the roadway. As the cracks grow deeper, chunks of the pavement material separate and are pulled out as vehicles pass over them or as water, especially heavy rains, lift them out and causes a pothole.

Traveling on streets with potholes can be frustrating, damaging and dangerous, but they are part of a roadway’s normal aging process and a product of winter weather conditions. Finding a way to minimize their impact in a timely and effective manner has been a goal of city officials.

Johnson, who was hired as San Jacinto’s city manager in 2017 after spending four years with the city of Menifee, explained the process that begins with the Public Utilities Streets Division crew identifying a location/area of multiple potholes. They perform skin patching or grind and overlay techniques to patch potholes. The depth and diameter of the potholes are keys to employing each technique.

With skin patching, the crew identifies an area to be patched, tacks the area and lays hot asphalt nicipal Water District announced.

The agency operates a water reclamation facility in the 60-acre protected space, south of Mystic Lake and west of Highway 79. It was constructed using U.S. Bureau of Reclamation funds more than a quarter century ago and enables high-volume water recycling.

The National Audubon Society, increasing his miles each day.

“I’m not as young as I used to be and the first day I walked 13 miles was a wake-up call,” Matt said. “Being on my feet for that length of time is taxing and doing it three days in a row will be a real challenge. But when I think about why I’m doing it and who I’m doing it for, the pain and soreness I will experience is insignificant.”

Leaving from Temecula on Friday, Feb. 24, which coincidentally would have been Alex’s 24th birthday, Matt will walk about 22 miles to Menifee. The next day he will walk about 18 miles to the outskirts of Riverside. On the third day, the bulk of the walk will conclude at the Mission Inn in Downtown Riverside. From there, at 1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 27, several parents who also have lost children to fentanyl poisoning will gather in solidarity. “As a group, we plan to walk the final half mile to the courthouse,” Matt said.

The sentencing hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the George E. Brown Jr. Federal Building and United States Courthouse, 3470 Twelfth Street. Capelouto anticipates the turnout to be extensive and most likely will fill the courtroom and its overflow room where a monitor will televise the proceedings.

Capelouto’s three-day journey will also bring awareness to Senate Bill 44, authored by Senator Tom Umberg and supported by Sen. Kelly Seyarto and many others. The bipartisan bill, also known as Alexandra’s Law, would require a court to issue an advisory to down up to 1-inch thick, rakes and compacts the area and seals its edges with tack. The crew can skin patch an area of up to 1,000 square feet.

With grind and overlay, the crew will identify the area, mark it out and then use a walk-behind saw to cut out the area. Then they tack the area and place hot patch into the cutout area, rake and compact the area and seal its edges with tack.

The crew is able to grind and overlay a 12-foot by 12-foot by 4-inches deep area.

“In the long run, the hot patch is cheaper due to the length of time the patch will stay in place,” Johnson said.

He said it is an important consideration as only about 9% of the city’s total revenue comes from property tax. Most of the city’s funding is from sales tax revenues from residents and others who shop in San Jacinto. Gas tax is a contributor as well.

While the Hot Patch method is considered superior in that it lasts longer, Johnson said it definitely takes more time and uses double the staff to operate the truck.

“Most of our cold patch techniques can be accomplished by a two-person crew and that’s mostly for the safety of the crew,” he said.

“But I would say the new truck has in partnership with the EMWD, hosts guided bird-watching tours in the Wetlands every year. The tours generally take place the second Saturday of each month, October to April. individuals convicted of selling or distributing controlled substances, including fentanyl, warning them of potential future criminal liability if another person dies as a result of those actions.

Three tour dates remain open for booking: Feb. 11, March 11 and April 8. Information on reservations can be found at http://www.

In 2020 alone, California experienced nearly 4,000 deaths related to fentanyl poisonings, and in 2021, fentanyl became recognized as the leading cause of death of Americans aged 18 to 45.

The bill would require a person who is convicted of, or who pleads guilty or no contest to, the crime “to possess for sale or purchase for purpose of sale, transport, sell, furnish, administer, give away, manufacture, compound, convert, produce, derive, process, or prepare various controlled substances, including, among others, fentanyl, peyote, and various other opiates and narcotics” to receive “a written advisory of the danger of manufacturing or distribution of controlled substances and that, if a person dies as a result of that action, the manufacturer or distributor can be charged with voluntary manslaughter or murder.”

Capelouto said, “The ultimate goal of this legislation is to prevent any more fathers and mothers from having to go through the anguish and devastation caused by a drug dealer’s selfish, financially driven actions.” He remains hopeful that SB 44 will pass and serve as a deterrent to drug dealers.

Family members of victims, friends and supporters are welcome to join Matt during any part of “A Walk for Justice,” weather permitting. The Capelouto family probably already paid for itself.”

The Hot Patch Truck holds five tons of material, which is from Fontana. The truck is driven there, filled up and brought back to San Jacinto to fill as many potholes as possible with the material loaded onto it. All crew members have been trained on the equipment by the manufacturer of the vehicle, as well as having been given on-the-job training by Streets Lead Mike Beato.

“It is most often used two times per week. Since the travel time to and from Fontana can be extensive, the goal is to pick up the asphalt and use the truck two days in a row,” Johnson said. “This fiscal year, city crews have repaired 14,050 square feet of potholed area. A total of 173 tons of material has been used since the truck hit the streets on July 25, 2022, which calculates to roughly 34.6 trips to Fontana so far.”

While many commuters and residents might feel the potholes they encounter on a regular basis aren’t being tended to quickly enough, Johnson explained that the city’s website has a “button” on the main page for citizen requests.

“When that link is used, a wide variety of items can be noted for city staff to address,” he said.

Visit http://www.sanjacintoca. gov, and make requests at https:// sanjacintoca.hosted.civiclive.com/ cms/One.aspx?portalId=10384430 &pageId=13252694

Residents can pinpoint the problem area on a GIS map and submit the issue. Other items that can be ad-

4.70 emwd.org/bird-walks

According to water agency officials, North American bald eagles are among the 120 different species that inhabit the Wetlands seasonally.

In February 2022, officials installed a webcam, where viewers can observe activity within the reserve year-round. It’s avail - able at http://www.emwd.org/ wetlands?utm_campaign=&utm_ medium=email&utm_ source=bundle_and_blast.

The Perris-based EMWD is the state’s sixth-largest utility, serving a 558-square-mile area encompassing Hemet, Menifee, Moreno Valley, San Jacinto, parts of Temecula Valley and Winchester.

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The Capelouto family formerly on vacation in New York. Valley News/Courtesy photo is also asking for friends, supporters and family members of victims to attend the sentencing hearing. In a statement, Matt Capelouto said, “As a community, it’s important we send a strong message to the judge that we won’t tolerate those who distribute this poison. Law enforcement did their job in bringing this man to justice. Now the judge must do his part and impose the maximum sentence.”

Matt added, “I plan to use the time during this walk to reflect on my daughter’s life, the impact of our family’s loss and the future of our justice system. Far too many victims are not receiving the justice they deserve.”

For more information and a map of the walk’s route, please visit https://druginducedhomicide. org/a-walk-for-justice. Matt can also be contacted directly by email at matt@druginducedhomicide. org

San Jacinto Streets Division crew members work on patching potholes throughout the city. Valley News/Courtesy photos dressed in this area include animal control, building and safety, traffic, code enforcement, graffiti, parks, SJ Power, water and sewer, planning and any other general city item.

Johnson said Public Utilities Superintendent Preston Sullens uses the GIS platform and has identified problem areas, especially after weather events. When not repairing potholes, department employees stay busy with street sign replacement/repair, street light issues, downed tree or other road issues, graffiti abatement, building maintenance, assisting with water/sewer line repairs, concrete sidewalk/curb repair and assisting the department in any other area of need when necessary.