San Jacinto on July 4
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ARTS & CULTURE POLITICAL COMMUNITY OPINION THE WEEKLY BEAT HEALTH & FITNESS Local CERT Four-year college Improve Know your chapter drills for degree program GERD elected rescue operations America’s symptoms with representatives: natural remedies July 4 makes us Political Chamber Nonprofit aware of our citizen Award presented responsibilities Amnesia A3 to HHT A4 B1 B2 C1 D1 Thursday, July 5, 2018 VOL XVII EDITION 27 www.thevalleychronicle.com 75 cents (including tax) Thousands turn out for July 4 parade Parade route down Main Street a hit with spectators, participants ■ DENNIS FLETCHER CONTRIBUTED Festivities and spirits were high during the 2018 Independence Day Hometown Parade and Fes- tival held in San Jacinto on July 4. The parade started 9 a.m. Wednesday beginning its route from Ramona Expressway and proceeding down Main Street towards Jordan Avenue. Thou- sands of citizens from Hemet, San Jacinto and surrounding areas turned out for the holiday parade Photo by City of Hemet Police Department to enjoy their midweek day off. Carrying little more than a giant cof- Several people came with loved fee mug and a plastic bag with her ones, children, and possibly some personal belongings, Ladonna waves out of towners. goodbye to Hemet for the last time A full band and parade float before boarding a bus for the 53- incited the crowd of onlookers Photos by Gena Estrin hour trip home to North Carolina. to cheer and snap photos on Members of the San Jacinto City government gathered at the San Jacinto Power booth: Ramon Boshra, volunteer, SJPD; Mayor Crystal Ruiz, Tom Pril, SJ City Director of Finance, Michelle Holmes, SJ City Accounting Manager, and John Hemet Police, 4SEE PARADE ON A-8 Ventaleth, volunteer, SJP Valley Restart reunite homeless woman with lost family Living on the streets was a way of life for North Carolina Riders from Romona Pagent were in the parade and their horses danced to traditional Mexican music. Crowd eating. woman stranded in the Valley for years ■ LT. ERIC DICKSON CONTRIBUTED Stone Soul Editor’s Note: The following story of hope and success is an example has ‘em rocking at Ramona Bowl of one of the newer approaches that the Hemet Police Department is A full moon rises over the San Jacinto taking in 2018 to help restore the city to the clean, safe community mountain backdrop during last Thursday’s for which it has been known for so many years. The last name of concert at Ramona Bowl as Stone Soul, a the individual at the center of the story has been withheld out of re- classic soul and motown group, entertains spect for her privacy. more than 700 concertgoers. The Hemet Police Department’s Photo by Chris Smith/The Valley Chronicle Restoring Our Community Strate- See story page A3 4SEE HEMET POLICE ON A-2 Tee-off marks official reopening of Soboba golf course Fresh look belies new name: Traditions at Soboba Resort & Casino Golf Course ■ MIKE HILES CONTRIBUTED With the swing of a golf club by Soboba Tribal Council Chair- man Scott Cozart, a ceremonial inaugural tee-off marked the of- ficial opening of the renovated golf course at The Country Club at Soboba Springs. And with the fresh look comes a new name: Traditions at Soboba Resort & Casino Golf Course. Photo courtesy of Catie Stanley The renovated holes were de- Soboba Tribal Council Chairman Scott Cozart makes an inaugural tee-off to signed by Cary Bickler, golf course mark the official re-opening of the renovated golf course on June 29 as digni- architect and apprentice to Des- taries and community members watch. mond Muirhead, the original 1966 golf course designer. Bickler was “The completion of every project had been a mentor of mine and I brought back in 2006 for a rede- feels rewarding, but this project was appreciate the value of his work. I sign and oversight for the current especially rewarding and exciting understand what his intention was design and remodel of the 18-hole for me,” Bickler said. “The original championship golf course. golf course architect (Muirhead), 4SEE SOBOBA GOLF ON A-2 A2 NEWS July 5 - July 11, 2018 www.thevalleychronicle.com SOBOBA GOLF FROM PAGE A1 as he routed and designed this course. The new holes I designed fit seamlessly with the existing portion of the course. They mirror many of the elements that were preserved, and at the same time, they bring the overall golf course experience to an incomparable level.” With more than 7,300 Photo courtesy of Soboba Band Luiseño Indians yards of playing area, Tra- On hand to celebrate the grand opening of the renovated golf ditions features a new sig- course, Traditions at Soboba Resort & Casino, were Soboba Trib- nature hole called the Island al Council members Kelli Hurtado, Scott Cozart, Isaiah Vivanco Green, which took several and Monica Herrera with golf course architect Cary Bickler. million gallons of water to fill. Its arched bridges and multiple waterfalls makes it the centerpiece for the Soboba Casino Resort. The new 425-yard Par 4 Island Green at Hole #13 adds not only a memorable hole, but it Photo by City of Hemet Police Department also invites the golfer to take Grateful for the chance to return home, Ladonna, gives members of the ROCS team a big hug on the exciting challenge of before departing for North Carolina. landing the ball on a green surrounded by water. HEMET POLICE attempts, they finally made ty resources, such as Valley There is also now the FROM PAGE A1 contact with a family mem- Restart, United Way, The fourth longest Par 5 on the ber who told them they had Department of Public Social PGA Tour at the 641-yard gy (ROCS) team, along with lost touch with her and had Services, Anchor in Christ, Hole #15. As golfers navi- A foursome plays on the renovated golf course as construction Valley Restart, have reunited been desperately looking and Liberty Ranch, to name gate this hole, they will find continues on the Soboba Casino & Resort in the background. one of Hemet’s chronically for her. Ladonna’s family a few. The team helps people multiple levels of risk and homeless residents with her was thankful that she had who are willing to accept reward based on the accu- long-lost family in North been found. The family that help. For those who racy of their shots. Carolina. told detectives they would are not ready, the ROCS “Both of these new design Ladonna had been living welcome her back if trans- team still enforces the law elements add a unique level on the streets of Hemet for portation for her could be to ensure that law-abiding of excitement,” Bickler said. almost five years and was arranged. citizens are protected. “Of the four (redesigned) well known to many resi- The ROCS team reached holes, there are two very dents and officers. ROCS out to Valley Restart and Following is a snapshot demanding Par 3s from the team detectives have been were told they would pro- of the ROCS team activity Tour Tees at Hole #14 (206 offering her assistance since vide bus transportation to since its launch late last year: yards) and at Hole #16 (235 the team’s launch late last North Carolina for Ladon- • Eight people helped to yards). Holes #13 through year and were looking for na if she were willing to return home. #16 will be a strong test in a more permanent solution accept it. Detectives from • Eleven people helped off the golfer’s finishing portion for her. the ROCS team were able the streets and into some of the round and will most ROCS learned that La- to locate Ladonna and she form of housing. likely determine the winner One of several water features at the renovated Traditions at Soboba donna came to Hemet six agreed that she was ready to • Twelve nuisance proper- in competition.” Resort & Casino Golf Course, which officially reopened on June 29. years ago from North Caro- be helped. According to the ties have been identified Bickler’s interest in golf lina. She eventually became team, she made it safely to and the city is compel- course design began early. one’s complete satisfaction. plauded the tribe for being stranded and began living on the bus stop and checked in ling the owners to clean He was only 14 years old Representatives from the strong community partners the streets. ROCS detectives ready to travel. On June 26, them up. when he met his first golf valley and county that at- through its sponsorship of had been working with po- she arrived back home to be • Five firearms have been course architect on a fami- tended the grand re-opening community events and rec- lice departments in North reunited with her family in recovered. ly-owned golf course con- of the golf course June 29 reational sports for all ages. Carolina in an attempt to North Carolina. • More than 100 grams of struction site. He said from were introduced by Trib- San Jacinto Mayor Crystal locate Ladonna’s family but In an effort to provide illegal drugs seized. that point on, he knew what al Administrator Michael Ruiz and council members were initially unsuccessful. long-term assistance to the • More than $1,200 recov- his career path would be and Castello and welcomed recognized the tribe for its On June 21, however, city’s homeless, the ROCS ered from drug dealers. he continued in all the edu- by Soboba Tribal Council renovated golf course stating: detectives made a break- team has been building • Arrests are averaging cational and apprenticeship Chairman Scott Cozart, “Traditions will offer San Ja- through.