Temecula Valley News

Page 1

Veterans Day Events, A-4

VALLEY

Check out these wheels! 2015 Nissan Versa Note, C-7

Four local teams fight for championships, C-1

A

Section

NEWS

November 7 – 13, 2014

www.myvalleynews.com

Election Coverage Election Results as of press time Tuesday, Nov. 4

Volume 14, Issue 45

New Murrieta Los Alamos Overcrossing inaugurated

Kim Harris Writer As of press time Tuesday, Nov. 4, Supervisor Jeff Stone appeared to hold a solid lead over Bonnie Garcia for the state senate’s 28th district race. Incumbent Scott Mann continued to lead the race for Mayor in Menifee and incumbents Maryann Edwards and Jeff Comerchero, along with challenger Matt Rahn, could all but declare a victory. see page A-6

Hard News

Women allegedly scammed Facebook friends with fake cancer diagnosis JP Raineri Sports/Multimedia Editor Authorities have charged Cristina Lagman, claiming to be terminally ill, with felony theft by false pretenses. see page A-2

DA’s office files felony charges against former Murrieta Mayor Alan Long Michelle Mears-Gerst Writer The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office filed a felony driving under the influence charge against the former mayor of Murrieta related to a crash he was involved in that injured four teenage girls.

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID FALLBROOK, CA PERMIT #499

see page A-2

Shane Gibson photos Murrieta city dignitaries celebrate the bridge opening with a ceremonial ribbon cutting signifying the bridge is ready for motorists on Nov. 3. see more photos, page A-4

Temecula Valley Pop Warner team wins Pee Wee Division Championship Michelle Mears-Gerst Writer The Pop Warner Division Three Championships were held last weekend at Orange Glen High School in Escondido between Temecula Valley Pop Warner’s Mighty Bruins and La Costa Canyon from Carlsbad. These two teams are rivals with very intense emotions from both sides due to Temecula Valley losing to the Fighting Mavericks in week 4 during the regular season. The defense for the Mighty Bruins was unstoppable with the power of the defensive line making big-time plays with blocked kicks and recovered fumbles throughout the game. The Championship game was a nail-biter and was neck and neck until the final quarter when the Mighty Bruins scored two touchdowns to clinch the win. The final score was 18 to 6. The next and final game for the Bruins (7-2) is Nov. 8 at Great Oak High School against the Rialto Aztecs.

The Mighty Bruins are Temecula Valley Pop Warner’s Palomar Conference Pee Wee Division 3 Courtesy photos Champions. See more photos online at www.myvalleynews.com.

VALLEY NEWS

Menifee Councilman Fuhrman sued for wrongful termination and labor code violations Michelle Mears-Gerst Writer A lawsuit was filed last week in Riverside Superior Court against Thomas Fuhrman, owner of the Wooden Nickel Ranch in Menifee. The lawsuit was initiated by former alleged employee Roxann Thompson for wrongful termination and labor code violations. The case was filed Oct. 27 in the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta by the Law Offices of Jon A. Dieringer based out of Huntington Beach. The lawsuit lists a number of alleged labor law violations including, failure to pay minimum wage earnings, failure to pay overtime earned, restitution and injunctive relief for the violation of the unfair competition code under Business and Professions Code, and failure to provide paystubs, to name a few. The lawsuit also alleges Fuhrman wrongfully terminated Thompson in violation of public policy for opposing unlawful wage and labor code violations. Fuhrman, who is also a Councilman with the City of Menifee, was arrested on Oct. 23 by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office

Menifee Councilman Fuhrman responds to DA’s corruption probe and a civil lawsuit

Michelle Mears-Gerst in a corruption probe. He was charged with eight Writer counts: one felony conflict of interest count and seven misdeMenifee City Councilman and meanors counts of using his official owner of the Wooden Nickel position to influence Ranch, Tom Fuhrman a governmental deciclaims the corrupsion in which he had tion probe is nothing a financial interest. more than a western There are also three showdown between counts of not having pro-developers and a business license, landowners. court records show. Fuhrman was arAccording to the rested on the afterCity Clerk’s office, noon of Oct. 23 by Fuhrman is continuinvestigators with the ing his bid for reDistrict Attorney’s ofelection. fice. He was charged Attorney Dieringwith eight counts: er said, “The timing one felony conflict Tom Fuhrman. of the lawsuit has of interest count and Paul Gallaher photo nothing to do with seven misdemeanor the recent arrest of counts of using his Fuhrman.” official position to influence a gov“This is not a political chase. ernmental decision in which he had We have been preparing to take a financial interest. There are also this case to court for weeks and three counts of not having a busithe timing (with the DA’s case) is a ness license, court records show. coincidence,” said Dieringer. Fuhrman, who is running for Dieringer reported his client re-election, was playing softball was forced to call the Riverside with his team when handcuffed on the field. “This was made to be an orsee LAWSUIT, page A-5

chestrated public spectacle, arresting me at the softball field,” said Fuhrman. “It was odd when one of my political adversaries, a person known to be a mudslinger, just happened to be there to take the photo.” Fuhrman said there was no need to have a public arrest, “The DA contacted me after a council meeting on Oct. 15. By the end of evening, I am in complete pain and need to take medication. I couldn’t meet with the investigator at that moment but gave him two dates, Oct. 29 or Nov. 6, and I went home.” Fuhrman said the next time he heard from the investigators was when he was arrested. Fuhrman, 70, was seriously injured during a fall at his ranch in July. “Charges have been made. In America we are innocent until proven guilty,” said Fuhrman. “My attorney says the charges won’t hold up in court. This was organized to derail my campaign.” Fuhrman says there is a plan to derail his campaign being brought on by people who want to have a

see RESPONSE, page A-5


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
Temecula Valley News by Village News, Inc. - Issuu