LIFE & SPORTS ARTS & CULTURE POLITICAL OPINION THE WEEKLY BEAT TECHNOLOGY Titans pierced Stars of Idyllwild SJ selects new by the Lancers Film Festival planning director How mixing music and math helps Jobs for students engage proficient MORP goes in math students to the circus A3 A6 B1 B2 C1 D1 Thursday, March 22, 2018 VOL XVII EDITION 12 www.thevalleychronicle.com 75 cents (including tax) Hemet students have something to say: #NeverAgain Hemet Crime Sympathies for those killed in Florida run high among local teenagers stats show 8 percent decrease Police department releases 2017 crime reports; total crime Our government decrease overall let our peers ■ KYLE SELBY down. We won’t!” REPORTER The Hemet Police Department ■ MELISSA DIAZ has released its annual crime HERNANDEZ Photo by Melissa Diaz Hernandez/The Valley Chronicle statistics for the year 2017, EDITOR Hemet High School students demonstrate on the school’s football field March 14. which ultimately revealed an 8 percent decrease in Hemet- A nationwide walkout in response to ticipated in the walkout a few minutes Once in the stadium, the students One of the signs read, “Our gov- based criminal activity. the 17 people killed after a gunman after 10 a.m. on March 14. Several formed a circle on the football field ernment let our peers down. We “We will not stop our efforts used an AR-15 assault rifle to open teachers walked with the students with teachers and deputies watch- won’t!” Hemet High students took to further reduce crime and fire at a Parkland, Florida high school to the school’s football stadium to ing from the sidelines, allowing the several minutes of silence as students the fear of crime in our city,” Feb. 14 hit communities across the ensure their safety. Deputies from students to demonstrate. Several held up signs with the names of all said a press release by HPD country last week and Hemet was the Riverside County Sheriff’s De- minutes later, the students gathered 17 victims. The nationwide demon- on Wednesday, March 14. “As no exception. partment blocked off Stetson Avenue in the bleachers, holding signs and a department, we recognize Hemet High School students par- while the students crossed the street. chanting. 4SEE NEVER AGAIN ON A-2 that there are many factors that contribute to crime rates and the police department is but one component that Dr. Ruiz Popular Netflix series influences criminal activity throughout our city. The Hemet recognized puts Hemet front-and-center Police Department is extreme- ly grateful to our community Currently trending on the streaming service, ‘Love’ for the interest in the quality as bipartisan finds its cast on a weekend getaway in Hemet of life issues affecting our city. As stated in the Hemet Police leader in ■ KYLE SELBY Department Strategic Plan, REPORTER we can only continue this im- provement through stakeholder Congress It’s not often Hemet gets put on participation and community the map. However, just a couple of partnerships.” Ruiz is sole Democrat weeks ago, millions of viewers were HPD cites the voter-approved © Netflix to receive Bipartisan Photo courtesy of the office Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. made aware of Hemet, California sales tax increase, Measure U, Former Republican National Com- when it became the focus of one of All episodes of “Love” are now for the decrease in crime and Policy Center’s Legislative mittee Chairman and BPC Board Netflix’s original hit series. streaming on Netflix. increase in public safety. The Member Michael Steele with Rep. Judd Apatow, writer and director $10 million annual income Action Award Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-CA). behind works such as “Knocked Up,” Getaway,” saw the four lead char- promised by the measure was and “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” cre- acters—Mickey, Gus, Bertie, and able to fund an increase in de- ■ CHRONICLE NEWS to members of Congress who ated Netflix original series, “Love” Randy—head from Los Angeles to partment staff, and generated SERVICE work to build bipartisan consen- just two years ago. The raunchy Palm Springs for a much-needed a 44 percent increase in total sus, practice civility, and work comedy-drama series follows two vacation. They hit the road when arrests compared to 2016. Wednesday, March 14, Rep. Raul to find pragmatic solutions to contrasting 30-something year-olds Randy offers his cousin’s place for The chart on page A2 illus- Ruiz, M.D. (D-CA) received the the challenges facing our nation. gradually falling in love with each the four of them to stay for the trates crimes by category, how 2018 Legislative Action Award “My life mission is to serve other; Gus (Paul Rust), a dorky stu- weekend, but they soon discover many occurred in 2017, and from the Bipartisan Policy Center others. As an emergency physi- dio lot tutor nice-guy and Mickey that the house is actually located in what the percentage of decrease (BPC). Ruiz was the only Demo- cian, I am devoted to my patients, (Gillian Jacobs), a radio station as- Palm Springs’ “cousin-city,” Hemet. is, based on previous years as crat recognized and one of only and now, as a Congressman, I sistant struggling with her sobriety. “We just thought it would be provided by HPD. four recipients including Sen. put people above partisanship As of March 9, 2018, Netflix fun to set it in a place that is near Part 1 crime statistics are re- Cory Gardner (R-CO), Sen. An- and solutions over ideology,” subscribers can stream the third the place they were promised, but ported annually to the Federal gus King (I-ME), and Rep. Susan said Ruiz. “Since my first day in and final season of the critically ac- not actually Palm Springs. I don’t Bureau of Investigation by ev- Brooks (R-IN). Ruiz represents Congress, I have made it a top claimed show from the comfort of know who decided Hemet was the ery police and sheriff depart- California’s 36th Congressional their homes. The first episode of the District. The award is presented 4SEE RUIZ ON A-2 new season entitled “Palm Springs 4SEE NETFLIX ON A-2 4SEE CRIME STATS ON A-2 EMWD recognized for transparency ■ EASTERN MUNICIPAL moting open government practices. WATER DISTRICT In order to receive the award, EMWD had to meet more than two Eastern Municipal Water District dozen requirements, all relating to (EMWD) has been recognized by the promotion of open governance. the California Special District As- Eight of the requirements centered sociation (CSDA) with its Trans- round ethics training for all board parency Certificate of Excellence members, properly conducting open in recognition of EMWD’s ongoing meetings, and filing financial trans- commitment to open government. actions and compensation reports The award is presented by the to the State Controller’s office. CSDA Special District Leadership Additionally, EMWD fulfilled Foundation. EMWD has continually more than a dozen website require- held the honor since 2013. ments, including the posting of board EMWD was the first water agency agendas, district budgets, the General in Riverside County to receive the Manager’s contract, financial audits certificate when it was first recog- and other key financial policies. nized in 2013. The certificate is valid EMWD also demonstrated com- for a two-year period. munity outreach through regular The Certificate of Excellence is correspondence and special com- presented to organizations that place munity engagement projects. transparency and public accessibility “EMWD is committed to operat- at the forefront of their missions and meet stringent requirements pro- 4SEE EMWD ON A-3 A2 NEWS March 22 - 28, 2018 www.thevalleychronicle.com NEVER AGAIN been reported by students If a student chooses to leave The 17 lives lost FROM PAGE A1 and teachers that student campus for the demonstra- at Marjory attendance had dropped tion period, regular absence Stoneman Douglas strations lasted 17 minutes dramatically. A Riverside and discipline procedures will High School to honor the 17 lives lost in County Sheriff’s Department apply. We understand that Parkland. investigation revealed that a some students may want to Alyssa Alhadeff, 14 When multiple Hemet 16-year-old female Hemet participate in these demon- Scott Beigel, 35 High students were asked High School student authored strations, while some may Martin Duque Anguiano, 14 before and during the demon- the threat and was booked into not. Our goal, as a district, is Nicholas Dworet, 17 stration if the school tried to the Riverside County Juvenile Photo by Melissa Diaz Hernandez/The Valley Chronicle to ensure that all students feel Aaron Feis, 37 block the walkout, the students Detention Center. The students chanting and holding signs, including seventeen who safe, supported and respect- Jaime Guttenberg, 14 said, yes. Some students even “It has almost been a month carried ones with the names of the 17 lives lost at Marjory Stoneman ed as they grapple with these Chris Hixon, 49 ditched their first period class since the Parkland, Florida Douglas High in Parkland, Florida. issues. Site staff are working Luke Hoyer, 15 so the school could not pro- school tragedy, and it contin- with student leaders to de- Cara Loughran, 14 hibit them from participating ues to weigh heavily on our lives lost and the families that debates and there are calls for velop alternative avenues in Gina Montalto, 14 in the demonstration. hearts,” said HUSD Super- have been affected. During a school walkout nationwide which students can express Joaquin Oliver, 17 Hemet High School was intendent Christi Barrett in this time, a nationwide con- on March 14 and April 20,” their viewpoints and engage Alaina Petty, 14 the center of school threats a video message to families versation about preventative continued Barrett.