Menifee launches new emergency management platforms to help keep

Community Safe

MENIFEE – To further strengthen communications with the public during emergency situations, the city of Menifee launched two new emergency management platforms, Alert Menifee and Genasys Protect.

Alert Menifee will be used to communicate public safety topics including severe weather, evacuations, road closures, etc. All residents are encouraged to sign up for alerts and can visit the website to sign up. During the registration process, users can choose the types of alerts they want to receive and how to receive them, including landline phone, cell phone, text/ SMS message and email. Users can customize the order they wish to receive alerts. The information entered into the system is for com-

Man fatally struck while walking down dark road in Menifee

City News Service

Special to the Valley News

A man who was struck and killed by a pickup while walking in the middle of a Menifee street was identified.

The fatality occurred at about 4:20 a.m. Friday, Aug. 4 at the intersection of Menifee and Wickerd roads, according to the Menifee Police Department.

Lt. Denise Keith said the victim was in the middle of southbound lanes on Menifee Road when a Dodge Ram approached at an undetermined speed.

Keith said the driver did not see the victim, “who was wearing non-reflective clothing,’’ and hood Santa visits because of the lack of proper transportation, increasing costs and city staff limitations.

The decision to bring back the traditional Santa Stops program was first sought by a growing number of local residents and Murrieta Council member Ron Holliday who had it placed on the Tuesday, Aug. 1, meeting agenda for its reinstitution and an increased revenue projection of an additional $54,000 from the already budgeted $25,000.

It was the council’s decision to reinstate the much loved program by many Murrieta residents, or to find another way to celebrate plowed into him on the dark stretch of road. the holidays under the current budget. The council heard a presentation from the Assistant City Manager Kristen Crane that showed completely reviving the traditional Santa Stops program would cost nearly $81,000 without any grants or donations. The program includes the leasing of trolley cars, arranging the stops and volunteers, choirs and other necessary logistics and a large amount of staff time that are already pressed with other necessary seasonal projects all in a very short time period.

The motorist, who was not injured, stopped and called 911.

Paramedics from the Riverside County Fire Department pronounced the pedestrian dead at the scene. He was identified Saturday as 57-year-old Eliazar Garcia of Menifee.

“The preliminary investigation suggests that neither alcohol nor drugs were a factor for the driver,’’ Keith said.

Anyone with additional information about the death was asked to contact the police department’s Traffic Unit at 951-723-1690.

It was this argument that brought a response from Murrieta Mayor Lisa DeForest and Council member Cindy Warren to delay the program for at least another municating emergency and official city information only – neither the city of Menifee nor Genasys will share or sell personal information.

Genasys Protect is an interactive map and can be viewed at https:// alertmenifee.genasys.com/portal/ Residents can look up their predetermined evacuation zone using the search bar in the top left and can view live zone statuses, road closures and evacuation points during an emergency. All residents are encouraged to look up important addresses and record the zone IDs in an easily visible place such as on the fridge or by the door.

“Alert Menifee and Genasys Protect are great assets that will help ensure residents receive timely and accurate information during an emergency,” Interim

Police Chief Pat Walsh said. “We highly encourage the Menifee community to sign up and become familiar with these new resources that can help protect themselves and their families during a crisis.” For more information and to sign up for alerts, visit http://www. cityofmenifee.us/alertmenifee.

Submitted by city of Menifee.

Wildomar crash leaves one dead, two injured

City News Service Special to the Valley News

A 23-year-old Mission Hills woman was killed in a crash in Wildomar Saturday, Aug. 5, the California Highway Patrol reported.

The crash was reported at around 12:40 a.m. Saturday on the southbound Temecula Valley (15) freeway just north of Wildomar Trail.

According to the CHP, the victim was driving a 2014 Hyundai Genesis at a high rate of speed southbound on I-15 when she rear-ended a Nissan Rogue. The Hyundai then came to a complete stop in the southbound No. 2 lane, year, seeing it as too much for the already pressed city staff, police and fire departments this year in such a short time. They saw other methods to bring the community together for the holidays within the budgeted $25,000 with less staff involvement, costs and logistics.

“I love the memories (of the traditional Santa Stops,) but this seems a little chaotic,” DeForest said. “I love the idea but it’s not the best for our community as a whole.”

She said the proposed reinstatement of the program, in the short time for planning and gaining resident involvement, was a burden that would fall on the already pressed staff.

Warren agreed.

“I cannot support this endeavor,” Warren said. “It’s too far in the year. We need more time to bring it back.”

Council member John Levelle asked about the value of the food collection in the program and said he already had many volunteers lined up to help in the program as needed.

“I would like to see it viable again,” Levelle said.

Mayor Pro Tem Lori Stone said the revival of the program was indeed a “heavy lift for the staff, but where it was disabled.

A 2019 Nissan Armada was also traveling south on I-15 when it crashed into the Hyundai due to the darkness and lack of overhead lighting, according to the CHP.

The occupants of the Hyundai were not wearing seat belts, and were ejected from the car, coming to a rest in the center divider.

The 23-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Her identity was not immediately available. She was traveling with a 24-year-old passenger identified as Alicia Gonzalez of Vista, who suffered major injuries, according to officers.

The driver of the Nissan Armada suffered minor injuries and was it is and always will be a unique opportunity for the community to retain its small town identity. It has stories and memories. It is a special event and I want to see it move forward.”

She said she believed they could get enough volunteers to collect the food and help with the other needs.

“It is a must for the underserved in our community. I want to keep the old traditions,” Stone said.

“We can’t set this up for failure. It’s not good,” said DeForest. “Push it back to the community. Let them do it and let it go forward.” Holliday said he, his church and many other volunteers are ready to bring it forward this year.

“It deserves a shot,” he said.

Following the discussion, the vote was called by Holliday to allow the staff to proceed with the planning, suggesting the community would get behind it and more than enough volunteers would help and local businesses would donate the other needs, with Stone seconding it. The event was approved in a 3 to 2 vote with Warren and DeForest saying, “No.”

In other business, the council approved a salary increase for City Manager Kim Summers to identified as 47-year-old Nache Phillips of Aguanga.

No information was immediately available regarding the occupants of the Nissan Rogue involved in the initial crash. The CHP and Cal Fire Riverside responded to the crash. The southbound traffic lanes were closed for approximately six hours while the scene was investigated and lanes were cleared.

Investigators believe the 23-year-old was driving under the influence of alcohol, according to the CHP.

Anyone with additional information about the accident was encouraged to contact the CHP at 951-506-2000.

$340,900 with a 3% cost of living increase and step increases for members of the staff.

The council learned Murrieta was voted the Best City in the San Gabriel and Inland Valleys and honored the city’s police department as it celebrates its 31st birthday with 102 officers aboard, 26 staff members and 39 dispatchers working with the neighboring Menifee Police Department.

During the public comments on agenda items, a complaint was made about children inappropriately riding their e-bikes as a safety problem and the alleged dangerous conditions at the French Valley Airport after two recent plane crashes. The council made no comment on the comments and referred them to city staff.

The council was notified there were several speed zone changes on five streets in the city with 30 and 35 mph limits. Electronic signs showing the reduced or increased speeds on those streets will be placed as a driver warning. Most streets in the city will remain at the current speed limits.

The Murrieta Hills Specific Plan will be going into the city’s District 1.

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

RALLY from page A-1

Way (PFAW) and their offshoot organization Grandparents for Democracy. PFAW has been funded, in part, by George Soros’ Open Society Foundation which spans the globe. It describes itself as “the world’s largest private funder of independent groups working for justice, democratic governance, and human rights.”

PFAW is a left of center advocacy group formed in 1981 by Hollywood television producer Norman Lear, to oppose conservative principles espoused by Christian conservatives.

PFAW monitors what it characterizes as “right-wing” activities, advocates for a left-of-center policy agenda, and helps to elect liberal political candidates.

PFAW also publishes the website RightWingWatch, which has published thousands of posts monitoring and attacking conservative political beliefs in support of the PFAW’s left-of-center agenda.

According to CNBC, George Soros’ backed nonprofit invested at least $140 million into politically charged nonprofits just one year before the last midterm elections.

Those donations are on top of the more than $170 million Soros personally contributed during the 2022 midterm election cycle to help Democratic campaigns and political action committees.

The TVUSD conservative majority has come under scrutiny for firing a long-time superintendent of the district, banning Critical Race Theory, along with two other districts in this state and 18 states across the country. They also refused to adopt the state-recommended social studies curriculum until it was scrutinized by parents and teachers. The curriculum was later adopted, after the state deadline in May, with the exception of one portion that is still under consideration.

There were also about 20 counter protestors outside the recall rally in support of the board majority.