Temecula Sunrise Rotary honors Rotarian of the Year, B-6
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Temecula’s Kate Jacobsen named All-American by United Soccer, C-1
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Valley News • www.myvalleynews.com • July 15, 2022
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SERVING TEMECULA , MURRIETA , L AKE E LSINOR E , M ENIFEE , WILDOMAR , H EMET, SAN JACINTO July 15 – 21, 2022
Local Revised Menifee Housing plan available to review online
VISI T
T HE NEW
AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES
myvalleynews.com
Volume 22, Issue 28
Temecula announces winners of 2022 Star Spangled Fourth of July Parade
MENIFEE – The city of Menifee following a series of public hearings has developed a future housing development plan to meet California’s Department of Housing and Community Development requirements which is available for public review. see page A-2
Local Cities issue notice of general election Kim Harris MANAGING EDITOR
Local cities have issued their notices announcing the General Municipal elections for Tuesday, Nov. 8. see page A-4
Regional News Reports find need for changes in child, adult welfare agencies
Members of The Spirit of Great Oak Marching Band & Guard perform while marching in the Temecula Fourth of July Parade. The band took home the award for Top Band. For story and more photos see page B-3. Valley News/Shane Gibson photo
Murrieta man maintains his father’s legacy through community service Diane A. Rhodes SPECIAL TO VALLEY NEWS
Paul J. Young CITY NEWS SERVICE
Two overlapping reports on Riverside County’s child and adult care agencies cited deficiencies in the way cases are handled and the need for better training and increased recruitment to prevent ongoing failings. see page C-6
Justin Metoyer of Murrieta poses for a photo at the Hemet Police Department’s main station citizen volunteer office. Valley News/Diane A. Rhodes photo
INDEX Anza Valley Outlook ..... AVO-1 Business ............................. B-6 Business Directory ............. B-7 Calendar of Events ............ B-2 Classifieds .......................... C-8 Courts & Crimes................ C-8 Education ........................... C-4 Entertainment .................... B-1 Faith.................................... C-3 Health ................................ B-5 Home & Garden ................ C-5 Local .................................. A-1 National News .................... C-7 Opinion ............................... B-8 Regional News .................... C-6 Sports .................................. C-1
Justin Metoyer was a teenager when he joined Hemet Police Explorers Post 910. His father, Leo Metoyer, served on the force at that time, and Justin Metoyer said he enjoyed learning about the community through service and public activities. When his father died from cancer shortly before his son’s 16th birthday, Justin Metoyer said he was determined to honor his father’s legacy by continuing to serve the residents of Hemet. Today, Metoyer is a successful business owner who continues to volunteer his time for the safety of the Hemet community that meant so much to his father. He spent more than 20 years working in the security industry, but he said his heart and soul weren’t full. “There was always something missing no matter what I did or
was doing in life,” Metoyer, 41, said. “While patrolling in the city of Hemet for my security company, every time I drove by the police station or interacted with one of the fine Hemet police officers, my heart and soul felt different. It made me smile and a feeling of joy would overcome me. I knew it was my father calling me to serve at the department that he loved to work at so much.” The Murrieta resident began volunteering for the Hemet Police Department in February 2020 and has enjoyed his time with the patrol division. He is one of 62 current volunteers. “I am blessed to work for the best volunteer program and people,” Metoyer said. “I get to supervise our patrol and callout teams. We get to assist the officers with traffic control, write parking see SERVICE, page A-4
De Luz ‘shortcut’ no longer option for commuters Karen Ossenfort SPECIAL TO VALLEY NEWS
Thanks to a newly constructed gate on Sandia Creek Drive, commuters who make their way from Temecula to Fallbrook through De Luz must now look for a new route between the two towns. The drivers who cut through Fallbrook, Sandia Creek and De Luz on their way to Temecula or Interstate 15, were met with a surprise Saturday, July 2, when they discovered a new gate installed on the privately owned and maintained Sandia Creek Drive. The gate is locked and without a pass, drivers will be forced to turn around. “As of 8 a.m. this Saturday morning the gate is closed,” Alma Carpenter, secretary of the Sandia Creek Drive committee, said Saturday, July 2. “The fire department did an extensive review of the gate and (how it will work), and they know they can open and close it.” see DE LUZ, page A-6
The gates are now closed and in operation at the private stretch of Sandia Creek Drive in the unincorporated area of De Luz. Village News/Shane Gibson photo