Temecula Valley News

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Gillian Larson lauds Reality Rally volunteers, A-3

VALLEY

Temecula Valley Family Fair opens this weekend, B-4

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Section

NEWS

March 27 – April 2, 2015

Local

General plan amendment removes highway designations from Walker Basin roads

South Valley League Diamond Showcase, D-1

www.myvalleynews.com

Volume 15, Issue 13

Bluegrass Festival, stompin’ good fun

Joe Naiman Writer The Riverside County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 March 10 to approve an amendment to the county’s general plan which removes Circulation Element highway designations from five roads in the Walker Basin Policy Area. see page A-7

Real Estate

What to do when your house doesn’t sell John Occhi and Mike Mason Special to the Valley News You look back to the day you decided to list your home for sale. You met with a realtor that you met at the kids soccer game and you got along with her great – you just knew she would be the right agent to sell your home; after all her kids played on the same team and she was always bringing snacks and water for everyone to share. see page C-5

Sports

Round one of the High School Mountain Bike Racing Series High School Mountain Biking Racing Committee Special to the Valley News On Feb. 25 the 2015 opener at Lake Perris took place in a mix of cool clouds and drizzle turning into a steady downpour for the final wave of the day.

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID FALLBROOK, CA PERMIT #499

see page D-4

Bluegrass group, The Central Valley Boys perform during the 15th annual Temecula Bluegrass Festival.

Tony Ault Writer Hand-clapping, foot-stomping and barefoot dancing highlighted the annual weekend Temecula Bluegrass Festival with visitors and local residents thoroughly enjoying the Old Town event.

was a fun time for all, particularly for the Bluegrass musicians, called jammers. New friendships developed with invitations to the nights’ jam sessions held at the impromptu campgrounds south of Old Town and other locations on Front Street. Foot-weary visitors found more fun and relief in the sun-drenched town square stage where different

nationally known bluegrass performers and bands played throughout the weekend. Warming up the crowds Saturday morning was top acoustic band Slingo Rags who played lilting Celtic music with a touch of bluegrass. The Disneyland

see BLUEGRASS, page A-8

Mother of murder victim speaks out after killer pleads guilty, sentenced to life in prison Kim Harris Managing Editor William Gary Simpson, 22, of San Bernardino County pleaded guilty on Friday, March 20 to the first-degree murder of Saskia Burke, 18, of Murrieta. Simpson was immediately sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the December 2011 knife attack in which he also attempted to kill Burke’s father and boyfriend. But Burke’s mother, Catherine, who witnessed the murder, is anything but happy about the situation. She wanted to see Simpson get the death penalty for the crime she says tore her family apart. Catherine Burke said she is “terrified” that Simpson did not get the death penalty. “Right now as I stand here at the end of things and all I can ask is why,” Burke said. “Nobody loved

see BURKE, page A-7

VALLEY NEWS

Hundreds walked up and down old town’s streets stopping to enjoy the bluegrass musicians, playing in front of the stores. Children couldn’t help grabbing their parents’ hands to dance to the upbeat music. “Whoopee!” shouted one visitor dressed in cowboy garb while his lady clapped to the upbeat music. It

Shane Gibson photo

Catherine Burke sits in her home holding her late daughter Saskia’s hair while recounting the horror of the morning of Saskia’s murder. Daniel Lane photo

Students exercise constitutional right to protest Kim Harris Managing Editor More than 100 students at Margarita Middle School along with their parents converged upon Temecula Valley Unified School District offices in protest of the board’s recent decision to dismiss Principal Karen Hayes. Hayes has been on administrative leave since the board made the decision earlier this year, according to reports received by Valley News. The students began their protest at the school, walking two miles to the district offices located on Rancho Vista Road. Upon their arrival, the group began chanting “Hayes stays” and “I believe that Hayes should stay.” Seventh grader Aaliyah Ware, 13, said she believed it was unfair to the students and to Hayes that the longtime school principal was More than a 100 students and their parents protested the dismissal of Margarita Middle School Principal Karen Hayes on Friday, March 13. Kim Harris photo

see HAYES, page A-6


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