Public's help sought in search for missing Wildomar girl Menifee Council adopts new lengthy Parks Master Plan through 2035

Tony Ault Staff Writer

The Menifee City Council adopted a new Menifee Parks Master Plan that will include the opening of new parks and improved recreational facilities through 2035 as the population continues to grow.

The Master Plan acknowledged that Menifee is one of the fastestgrowing cities in the state of California with many newly planned developments in progress or coming. It showed several developers who are including parks on their project sites and paying into developmental impact fees for their projects in Menifee. Some of those conceptual park plans are included in the Master Plan, and others must be planned to meet city parkland dedication requirements.

that might be incorporated in the future. They include a suggestion by Councilmember Dean Deines from District 4 that because of the current record-breaking heat wave and future heat waves, the city might consider increasing more splash-pad facilities in the parks and seeing about sharing local school swimming pools during the hot spells.

Councilmember Lesa Sobek of District 3 suggested that the city might build an indoor volleyball court and agreed with the establishment of more splash-pads in the parks.

Council member Ricky Estrada of District 2 suggested working with neighboring Perris on a splash-pad and water facility and perhaps a Menifee Day at some of the Perris school pools.

noise complaints.

In a similar manner, residents suggested and the council discussed the idea that a Traffic Enforcement volunteer group could be established to help reduce the noise and other traffic problems in the city.

Guiterrez again indicated that sworn officers, by law, are the only ones able to issue citations; volunteers cannot do so.

He said the department does have 15 police department volunteers and two volunteer patrol cars with amber lights on their cars who are deemed the “eyes and ears” of the department but have no ability to make arrests or issue citations. He said they help in traffic control and other community outreach for the department.

Anna Talavera Urita from Wildomar has been missing for over a month. Valley News/Courtesy photo

City News Service

Special to the Valley News

Riverside County sheriff's investigators asked for the public's help in tracking down a 14-year-old Wildomar girl who was last seen over a month ago.

Anna Talavera Urita has been the subject of a search from the Inland Empire to Central California. According to sheriff's officials, Anna was reported missing by her family on June 20.

The circumstances of her disappearance remain unclear, but investigators said she has been seen in a white Mercedes sedan, California license plate No. 8BKA228.

"She could possibly be in the Fresno area," according to a sheriff's statement. Anna is 5 feet, 9 inches tall, 190 pounds, with brown hair and eyes.

Anyone with information was asked to contact the sheriff's department at 800-950-2444.

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The Parks and Recreation Department said it “will work with city staff to ensure that the park amenities meet the existing and future needs of residents” by developers, who will be required to provide adequate shading for the park and playground areas to enhance the comfort and desire of the growing populations and the safety and usability of play structures in the years ahead.

Specifically mentioned was the Legado Park Conceptual Plan for a playground community center with multi-purpose fields and a multi-purpose field walking loop. Legado is a large mixed-use development currently in the planning process. The development will include 1,022 new residential home lots on 216 total acres. It will also include the southwest section of the development where a 12.88-acre community park will be located.

The Cimarron Ridge Specific Plan includes a network of community parks, pocket parks, natural open space areas and water quality basins. Proposed draft concept of the future community park includes: soccer/multi-purpose fields, a baseball field, restroom facilities, playground and tot lots

Other planned developer park projects are the Menifee Valley Sports Park, Cantilena Park and a Menifee North Specific Plan Park.

In addition to the developerplanned parks and recreation facilities, the Master Plan also includes additional and improved facilities for current city and Valley Wide Park and Recreation District parks. The city continues to work with Valley-Wide to possibly transferring some of its parks over to the city.

The large 228-page Parks Master Plan was approved and adopted by Menifee City Council with the suggested additions from each of the council members to the plan

Mayor Bill Zimmerman suggested the city look into preserving the historical tree sites in the city and build an Interpretive Center manned by the city’s park rangers as a headquarters.

Mayor Pro Tem Bob Karwin looked at the possibility of working more with the school districts and Valley-Wide and using Measure DD funding.

The council all agreed to accept the Parks Master Plan through 2035, predicting the city’s population growth, which is rated one of the highest in the state.

The council discussed the noise concerns expressed by some residents living along the Newport Road Corridor, the main highway access through Menifee. Menifee Police Department Capt. Heriberto Gutierrez said traffic officers were doing all they could do under the state vehicle codes to curtail some of the noise.

He indicated that state traffic laws on limited muffler noises, speeds in residential zones and other excessive noise are factors for the issuance of citations, but they must be witnessed by sworn and trained traffic officers. He agreed that Newport Road, since it is the most highly trafficked by residents and other motorists passing through the city, was the noisiest, but because of the state vehicle laws, they can do little else to control it. He said there are walls and trees that can also reduce the traffic noises.

Signage telling motorists certain roads and streets were in a “Quiet Zone” might help, but it would require an officer to observe any noise infractions. He said the department might consider improving or changing the traffic light timing in some areas to help to reduce long delays that often result in more noise from the vehicles.

The council received and filed the comments on the highway

He suggested there might be some way to use volunteers to report any continuing traffic violations, such as red-light violations, with which the department might send out warning-only citations and identify the warned driver who continues to violate the traffic laws.

He also suggested more Flock cameras or license plate readers could be used by private homeowners or home owners associations to help reduce crime in their neighborhoods.

The council honored resident Stacy Hartfiel who is very active in many community events with the Menifee Lakes Women’s Club and MilVet among other nonprofits with the Citizen of the Month Award.

Young Kahlil Pilacin of Menifee was recognized by the council for his achievement in the mixed martial arts sports internationally. He is slated to be on the U.S. Mixed Martial Arts Team to compete around the world.

Melody from the Melody Thai Cuisine restaurant in Menifee was recognized in the city’s Business Spotlight for her work with community events and for the Thai foods and service offered at the restaurant.

Community Services and the Menifee Police Department gave their quarterly update for April 1, through June 30.

Police Capt. Dave Guiterrez said officers made 317 arrests, mainly on warrants during the quarter, handed out 1,352 traffic citations with Code Enforcement officers taking down 321 illegal signs and making 70 new contacts with the homeless, with many coming through the city being offered assistance. He said new motorcycle officers will be on the streets following their training in the next few months.

Tony Ault may be reached by email at tault@reedermedia.com.

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Report: Airplane stalled, flipped inverted prior to crashing in French Valley

City News Service Special to the Valley

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A single-engine airplane with a student pilot at the controls, flying with his young sons, stalled, rolled inverted and then crashed next to a building during a touch-and-go landing at French Valley Airport, killing the airman and severely injuring the boys, according to federal investigators.

The National Transportation Safety Board on Thursday released its preliminary report on the July 4 crash that killed 39-year-old Jared Alan Newman of Temecula and left his sons, Caleb, Connor and Elijah Newman, with major injuries.

According to the NTSB’s initial findings, Newman was flying the Cessna 172N in the pattern at French Valley just before 2 p.m. on the holiday and was performing what appeared to be a touch-andgo on Runway 18 when he apparently lost control.

“The airplane touched down on the runway for one to two seconds, and then immediately entered a climb in a nose-high attitude as it drifted left of the runway,” the NTSB said. “After the airplane reached about 60 feet above ground level, it began to settle and subsequently entered a left-wing low attitude. The airplane rolled inverted and then ... (crashed) in an industrial complex.”

Investigators relied on an airport surveillance camera and an eyewitness to gather preliminary data on the accident.

The witness, whose identity was not disclosed, said he observed the entire chain of events, noting that as the Cessna approached Runway 18, it was “unstable.”

“After the airplane made contact with the runway ... the witness heard the engine power advance and observed the airplane take off again. The plane then veered off the side of the runway. According to the witness, the airplane was still configured with full flaps as it slowly climbed toward a group of buildings. Its wings rocked back and forth, and the flaps started to retract.”

The Cessna went down roughly a third of a mile from the runway in the 37300 block of Industry Way, the wing making contact with a 50foot building, leaving strike marks, as the plane crashed upside-down, according to investigators.

Riverside County sheriff’s deputies were first to reach the location and discovered Newman dead in the cockpit. Paramedics arrived minutes later and rendered treatment to the three boys, all of whom were taken in critical condition to Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego.

Federal Aviation Administration records indicate Newman obtained his student pilot certificate in September 2020 but did not go on to obtain a recreational pilot, sport pilot or private pilot license. Federal regulations prohibit a student airman from operating as lone pilot in command of any aircraft carrying passengers. Student pilots can fly with passengers if there is an instructor on board, or a licensed pilot who is at the controls.

The NTSB’s preliminary report did not address Newman’s qualifications. The Cessna, tail No. N5243E, belonged to California Flyers Club at French Valley Airport, according to FAA records.

A GoFundMe account was started by relatives of the victims and has since generated $110,254 in donations. It is at https://gofund. me/1ef00a16

Jared Newman’s wife, Megan, posted a message shortly after the crash, saying all of the boys suffered broken bones and lacerations, while one of them also had liver damage. They’re all recovering, she said.

The NTSB is expected to publish a final report on the crash in the next two years.