Approximately 50 children, ages 2 and up, participated in the event, eagerly searching for Easter eggs that had been thoughtfully hidden earlier that morning by the Boy Scouts of Troop 46. A special grassy area was designated for younger children, ensuring that even the smallest participants had a safe and enjoyable experience hunting for their own treasured eggs. Families gathered with excitement as the children were given the signal to begin the hunt, creating a joyful and memorable moment for all in attendance.

Following the egg hunt, attendees enjoyed a delicious lunch prepared and served by the Hemet Kiwanis Club. Afterward, the eggs were counted, and the child who collected the most eggs was awarded the opportunity to choose a special Easter basket and toy to take home.

The spirit of the day was captured in the words of participating families. One parent shared, “Thank you all who helped and donated,” while another expressed, “Thank you! My kids had a blast. Everything was great—from the food to the Easter baskets. God continue to bless you.” Another attendee added, “Thanks for inviting us! The kids had a really good time. Everything was perfect!”

This successful event was made possible through the generous support of community partners who share a passion for helping children and families. Sponsors included the Hemet Kiwanis Club, Kids Free Fishing Tournament Inc., Golden Era Productions, Community Pantry, Beaumont Lions Club, Harvest Church, Boy Scout Troop 46, Hoofbeats for Hope, Harvest Church, Riverside County Faith in Motion, Rancho church Men’s Group, Sturgeon Electric and Rose Again Foundation.

The Rancho Replanted Group serves foster and adoptive families throughout the Temecula Valley and surrounding areas, as well as community members who are passionate about supporting these families. The organization is dedicated to fostering connection, building relationships, and providing resources and support—regardless of background, lifestyle, or faith journey.

Weekly meetups are held at Rancho Community Church on Wednesday evenings, offering ongoing opportunities for encouragement and community building.

Those interested in learning more about Rancho Replanted Group or exploring foster or adoptive parenting are encouraged to reach out for more information.

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What the prey don’t realize is that they have fallen for a very clever trap set up by the lions. Male lions are slow & lazy and don’t want to chase quarry down. It’s the lioness that chase and attack the prey. The prey are unnerved by the fear of the lions roar and run in the opposite direction – straight into the path of the lioness waiting for them on the other side of the watering hole.

Sometimes we have to ‘run to the roar’ and do the opposite of what seems normal and confront fear. To face a tough situation head-on is often the best choice. Running away can make things worse. It’s really a matter of responding and not reacting! How do we do this?

First we must define what’s causing us fear. Often the ‘roar’ from a tough situation is so loud it creates confusion. Secondly – don’t overanalyze. This can actually lead to “analysis paralysis” as you freeze with non-action. And that’s not going to get you anywhere! And lastly, talk with others. Often just running your ‘challenge’ by another person with a brain will help unlock some new thinking and course of action. Proverbs 24:6 tells us: “For by wise counsel you will wage your own war; and in a multitude of counselors there is safety.”

When we stand up to fear, faith moves in – and when faith moves in, dreams start occurring. So what’s the riskiest or craziest dream you could run after? You see, faith gives a person the willingness to look foolish, and the results speak for themselves. Noah and his family were saved from a flood. David defeated Goliath. The Wise men found the Messiah. Peter walked on water.

If you aren’t willing to look foolish, you are foolish! Because, when you think about it

– it’s the fear of foolishness that stands between us and our dreams.

Social psychologists once carried out a study making distinctions between two types of regret. First there are action regrets — things you’ve done that you wish you hadn’t. And then there are inaction regrets — things you didn’t do but wish you had. What they discovered is fascinating. In the short term, we seem to regret actions over inactions 53% to 47%. Pretty much a toss-up. But – over the long haul, when we look back over our lives, we tend to regret inactions over actions 84%-16%. That’s huge!

84% of our regrets are going to be dreams we never took action on.

There was once a young high school student whose dad was a horse trainer. During his senior year he had to write a paper about what his dreams for the future were. He wrote about owning a 200-acre horse ranch with stable and tracks plus a large home – he even drew a diagram of the property and the design for his house. He turned the paper in. Two days later it came back with an “F” on the front and a note to see the teacher.

After class, the teacher explained to the boy that his dream was ‘unrealistic.’ The teacher said that if he rewrote the paper with a much more realistic dream, he would reconsider the failing grade. The boy went home and asked his father what to do. “It’s your decision,” said the father. The boy kept the paper for a week and then returned it to his teacher after class. “Here,” the boy said, “you can keep the ‘F’ and I’ll keep my dream.”

Brave kid. He ran to the roar. Tony Gaskins once remarked that “If you don’t build your dream, someone will hire you to help build theirs!” So…my final thoughts on this would be a verse from Psalms: “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” Dreams give direction – God gives direction. Don’t live life without them.

Bob and Susan Beckett pastor The Dwelling Place City Church at 27100 Girard Street in Hemet. For more information, you may contact them at DPCitychurch.org

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The Soboba Sports Complex was transformed into a bingo hall with festively decorated long tables to accommodate the 400-plus guests who each paid $20 for a delicious dinner of either chicken alfredo or spaghetti with meat sauce plus four bingo cards. There were concessions for sale that included cupcakes and cookies baked by Val Saenz as well as popcorn, nachos, pickles and other sweet and savory snacks.

Proceeds from the event are earmarked for a year-end trip to Legoland for all 57 students. Soboba Tribal Preschool Administrator Lenora “Ponie” Mojado thanked the crowd for coming out to support the school to help them exceed their fundraising goal.

“It was an amazing turnout, and we have a great community,” Mojado said. “We plan to take three or four field trips throughout the school year and acquire new items for the school, such as Cricut machines for the teachers, a pressure washer, staff shirts and children’s shirts plus new school merchandise.”

Soboba Foundation’s Sponsorship and Higher Education Coordinator Andrew Vallejos hosted the event and was the official numbers caller from the stage. The first three games of regular bingo paid $250 cash to each winner and the final Blackout Bingo game winner was awarded $500. Of course, with the number of players in attendance, it was expected that there would be a tie or two. Tiebreaker games, facilitated by Corryn Salgado-Flores, were played with much encouragement and enthusiasm from the audience members.

The fruit roll-up challenge is a crowd favorite, and the first tie included Soboba Tribal Council Chairwoman Geneva Mojado, who came in second by mere inches. The second game was won by Amber Medrano after she completed a donut-on-a-string eating challenge that followed a two-way tie. Debbie Lotman was the sole winner of game three.

The final game, a total bingo card blackout, ended in a three-way tie after about 10 minutes of play. The fruit roll-up challenge between Sally Montoya, Maria Vivanco’s great nephew, Dominick Lara, 5, and Brenda Muñoz’s niece Autumn Ramos, 9, ended with Autumn finishing first and taking home $500.

Between the games, raffle winners were announced. There were three long tables, each filled with 25 or so wrapped baskets filled with a variety of gifts ranging from cookware to gift cards from local eateries and toys for kids to self-care baskets for parents. Guests were able to purchase a dozen tickets for $10 and place half of the ticket into the box corresponding to the prize they hoped to win, guaranteeing everyone whose number was called got the gift they really wanted.

Teachers and staff from the preschool, along with other volunteers, delivered baskets to the winning ticket holders that were seated throughout the room.

“I want to give a huge shoutout to all the families and the community for their incredible support! Many of you have a family member—be it a cousin, son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, or niece/nephew—who attends the preschool, and your contributions were essential in helping us reach our goal of 75 baskets,” Ponie Mojado said. “I especially want to recognize my team of teachers who made everything possible. And thanks to my assistant, Maria Hernandez, for coming in during such a busy tie and helping to get everything done.”

Another popular attraction of the three-hour long game night was a 50/50 drawing. At about 7 p.m., nearly an hour before the games were finished, it was announced that there was $967 available to the winner. Soboba Tribal Council Treasurer Mike Bentiste stepped up and bought enough tickets to take the total to $1,000 for the winner’s half. His granddaughter Natalia Girard attends the preschool, and 16 of his family members joined in the evening’s activities.

The winning 50/50 ticket was drawn by preschooler Love Salgado-Flores and the lucky ticket holder was Myah Saenz, who works for the gaming commission. She said her grandmother, Lynn Saenz, invited the whole family to support the preschool.

Many volunteers contributed their time and efforts to making the fun-filled event a smooth-running operation from beginning to end. Those included members of the Soboba Youth Council who served the food and helped out where and when needed.

The support from everyone who attended was appreciated. Along with Soboba Tribal members in attendance, there were others from the Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla Indians as well as team members from various departments at Soboba. Local community members also participated.

“A special thank you goes out to Leland and Yesenia Razon, Tara and Joey Placencia, Brit Covington, Nette Escalante, Taylor Bentiste, Hope Chacon, Carrie Garcia, Daise Burton, Beth Hamilton, Andy and Noami Silvas, the Silvas Family, Denise, Dondi, Ms. Yvonne, and Mr. Mojado for donating his casino giveaways. I also want to recognize our wonderful teachers, Julissa Garcia and Alaina Adkins,” Ponie Mojado said. “The outpouring of basket donations, time, and effort from our families has been truly remarkable. If I missed mentioning anyone, I sincerely apologize, but I want you to know how grateful I am for having such a supportive community that contributes to our preschool. Your generosity is greatly appreciated!”

In addition, she extended her gratitude to the following departments for their donations: Tribal Admin, Soboba Casino Resort, Tribal Family Services, Soboba RX, Soboba EDC, TANF Riverside, Noli Booster, Noli Beading Club. Gratitude was also extended to outside organizations Morongo Casino, Hadley’s, RossCo Promotions, Nike, and Stadium Pizza.

“Your support for the preschool means so much to us,” Ponie Mojado said.

The post Bingo fundraiser supports Soboba Tribal Preschool appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

The Soboba Foundation is now accepting applications from nonprofit organizations to be considered as beneficiaries of this year’s tournament. The Foundation board will choose 10 organizations to receive $10,000 each in funding.

To be eligible for consideration, the entity must be a nonprofit or Tribal organization located within the San Jacinto Valley or one that provides services for the Hemet and San Jacinto communities.

Organizations must complete and submit a nonprofit beneficiary application that can be found at soboba-nsn.gov/sponsorship and submit it via email to Sponsorship Coordinator Andrew Vallejos at avallejos@soboba-nsn.gov.

Along with a completed application, each organization must prepare and submit a 30- to 60-second video detailing why the Foundation should consider the organization as a beneficiary and what the funding will be utilized for, if selected.

It is highly recommended that the video be completed as soon as possible because upon submission of a completed application and ensuring all criteria are met, the Sponsorship Coordinator will email a link to the Dropbox. Video submissions must be uploaded to that link by 5 p.m. on Feb. 1, no exceptions.

Submitted applications and videos will be reviewed by the Soboba Foundation Board of Directors. The Board will choose 10 organizations they deem appropriate to receive $10,000 in funding. All eligible organizations will be notified in writing whether or not they were chosen to be a beneficiary of the 13th Annual Soboba Foundation & Soboba Casino Resort Charity Golf Tournament.

All chosen organizations will be required to promote the tournament in addition to providing volunteers for the days of the event for which they will be assigned. This year’s tournament will be April 7-9 at the Soboba Springs Golf Course.

For those that would like to offer support to the selected nonprofits, there are multiple sponsorship opportunities available. “As we continue to grow, we are thrilled to offer the tournament over three days once again this year, providing even more flexibility for your team,” Tournament Director and SCR General Manager Jason Cozart said. Participation will be on a first-come, first-served basis with only 36 teams accepted each day.

An awards banquet at the SCR Event Center will follow each day’s play, where a grand prize winner of $13,000 in cash will be announced as well as winners of on-the-course games. This is in addition to a huge array of outstanding raffle prizes.

All participants are eligible for a reduced room rate at the Soboba Casino Resort Hotel, providing the perfect opportunity to enjoy the course, festivities and everything SCR has to offer.

Available sponsorships include the Premium Package that offers for each of four players tournament entry, a $500 Amazon gift card, a $100 SCR gift card, a $100 free slot play voucher for the casino, a 13-year anniversary premium gift package and a Tee sign to advertise your support.

A Pair Package includes all the same fantastic items for each of two players. Tee and Green Sponsorships are also available as well as outright donations and/or raffle items. To sign up, please visit www.soboba-nsn.gov/sponsorship.

All sponsorships will support the many charitable organizations that are served by the Soboba Foundation throughout the year. The 13^th annual Charity Golf Tournament is just one way that local nonprofits can be rewarded for the selfless work they do on behalf of their communities. Providing them with much-needed funding is a great way to promote goodwill and help them with the meaningful causes they represent.

The post Soboba seeking nonprofits and sponsors for charity golf tournament appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Families identified by school site parent liaisons received a voucher that enabled them to drive through the distribution area after checking in. When the program first began several years ago, families were treated to a 20-plus pound turkey. As inflation increased in recent years, Soboba Foundation board members decided it was important for families to be given more, and all the fixings were added.

Along with the large frozen turkey, each family also received a large package of cornbread stuffing, a huge can of turkey gravy, cranberry sauce, corn, green beans, rolls and seasoned mashed potatoes and a pumpkin pie.

The San Jacinto High School stadium parking lot was transformed into a two-lane pick-up station for 700 families who have students attending San Jacinto Unified School District schools. Items were sorted by dry and frozen and bagged by a steady stream of helping hands. Thanks to the efforts of volunteers from the Soboba Foundation, Soboba Tribal Council, Soboba Casino Resort, Soboba Tribal Environmental Department, the school district and the community, as well as Tribal members Bianca Machado and Alex Vallejo, vehicles were safely and swiftly loaded with all the essentials needed for a delicious Thanksgiving feast in just a couple of hours.

The day before this event, 300 meal fixings were distributed to local organizations that reach families that do not have children attending schools in either district. One nonprofit that received 125 of the 300 turkey meals was Valley Community Pantry.

SJUSD registered nurse Kim DeWald was helping out for the first time. “I made it a point to be out here this year,” she said. SJUSD Superintendent Dave Pyle was on turkey duty, taking them out of big boxes to place one on each rolling cart where bags of other items were added. He said the event gives district employees an opportunity to step away from what they do on a daily basis and make an impact on the community in a different way.

“It is so fulfilling to be part of this program every year that helps so many families in our community who wouldn’t otherwise have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner,” Pyle said. “It’s great to be working with Soboba again. This is always one of my favorite days of the year.”

Upbeat music played on loudspeakers as cars were ushered into the parking lot and a long line of representatives from each school, including mascots, stood along the route cheering and wishing them a happy holiday.

Anthony Segura has been teaching for 10 years, spending the last three at the state preschool program near the Edward Hyatt World Language Academy campus.

“I love to give back; it’s awesome to be the change,” he said. “It’s exciting seeing all the employees working together. It brings us all together and I think that meets our concept of ‘The San Jacinto Difference.’”

The following day, many of the same volunteers were at the parking lot of Hemet Unified School District’s administration offices on Acacia Ave. to serve families of students who attend HUSD schools. Soboba Foundation President Dondi Silvas stayed busy both days directing traffic at San Jacinto and helping to load cars at Hemet.

“We are truly blessed that we are able to do so much for the families in the neighboring communities that surround the Soboba Indian reservation,” Silvas said. “Hearing the heartfelt thank yous from the families as we load their cars, especially from the tiniest voices, gives us all a warm and joyous feeling.”

Soboba Tribal Council members Mike Bentiste and Daniel Valdez also serve as board members for the Foundation and always volunteer to help out and Vice Chairwoman Geneva Mojado also volunteered at both locations.

“Soboba gives back in many different ways throughout the year but during the holidays we get to see firsthand who benefits the most,” Mojado said. “It is very humbling to know that we can provide something that seems so simple but means so much to each individual family that is served by this program.”

HUSD’s Nutrition Services department assembled 1,000 boxes and bags a few days prior to the event. The dry goods were placed into a box with a “Happy Thanksgiving” sticker while the bags contained the frozen items.

Claudia Aguilar, who works at the district’s warehouse, brought a festive twist to the event by wearing a turkey costume as she greeted participants driving by. “We’re delivering love right now,” she said.

Hemet-San Jacinto Valley Chamber of Commerce Chair Patricia Scott enlisted the help of many members to join her to pitch in. She herself has been a member since 2014 and volunteers every year. “The board has always been supportive of this event and our partners are very responsive to coming out to serve the community every year,” she said. “I will take any opportunity to serve; I love it.”

CR&R Sustainability Coordinator Derik Fields, who heard about the volunteer opportunity from Scott, said, “I used to work in a grocery store so I’m kind of used to the busy holiday season.”

To keep the area clear of clutter, several helpers stayed busy breaking down the boxes as they were emptied of their contents and loading the cardboard into large recycling bins.

Refrigerated trucks were constantly being unloaded by forklifts with the pallets delivered to the nearby canopied distribution area for easy access. The process went smoothly, with everyone working together like a well-oiled machine to keep the rows of vehicles flowing.

Miriam Ortiz, Coordinator for School, Family and Community Partnerships at HUSD, said, “We are super grateful for the opportunity to be included in this program and to be able to share this with our families. We have such a great team of parent liaisons and a lot of cross collaboration to ensure that each individual family gets what they need.”

Marisol Inda is a parent liaison at West Valley and took on traffic duty to guide cars into the parking lot from the public streets. She has worked for Hemet Unified for 12 years, the last eight as a parent liaison. For the past 10 years she has also assisted as an interpreter throughout the district as she is fluent in English, Spanish and ASL. Inda said vouchers are given out based on referrals from staff, other students or the families themselves. The school was given 110 this year.

She has been helping with the Soboba Gives Back turkey distribution since it began. “I love helping others and being part of the community,” Inda said.

Ortiz said families were asked to complete an online survey following the event about what went well, and the overwhelming response was that it was “excellent.” Comments included, “Very quick and efficient. Everyone was very kind,” while another wrote, “It was so well organized. All the smiling faces were so wonderful to see. We are beyond blessed to be part of something so amazing.”

One family commented, “Thank you so much, my children are so excited. We had experienced multiple passings in the last few months.” Another one wrote, “They were very well-organized regarding traffic, and everything went very fast. And I am now going to be able to have a Thanksgiving dinner for my family. Thank you.”

The post Soboba gives 2,000 reasons for families to be thankful appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

She is grateful to have many family members involved with set up, prepping food, cooking and cashiering. “My sons Jesse, Charles and Mingo really know every part of the business, along with their wives Jennifer and Dreena,” Resvaloso said. “The grandchildren are also involved. Bella, Sofia, Ushla, Evie, Waniicha, Domingo, Benny, Johnathan and Ano help fill the orders, stock and cashier.”

With lots of repeat customers for their Indian tacos, popovers, burritos, regular tacos, frybread and fresh salsa, having the whole family help works out very well.

But the company is about so much more than delicious food. “If a person needs help raising money for uniforms, a funeral, lights for their church, or any type of fundraiser, we are always willing to help out,” Resvaloso said. “If someone is sick, I will make chicken soup with frybread and drop it off at their house.”

They also regularly give back to the community by teaching cooking classes. H.A.L.O. was a special guest at a recent Soboba TANF workshop during November’s Native American Heritage Month events. Resvaloso recently taught a class on how to cook popovers in Palm Springs, hosted by the Agua Caliente Cultural Preservation Committee.

“I started out cooking for funerals and events at a young age with Helen Jose from Torres Martinez Reservation,” she said. “She instilled in me that you are always to do for all people and respect your elders. It’s something that I have passed down to my family.”

Resvaloso, who has been the Assistant Store Manager at Roadrunner Express since July 2023, works there Monday through Friday. “We mostly cook on the weekends for events throughout the community,” she said.

Prior to the opening of the convenience store and gas station, she worked in Cash Operations at various casinos, including Soboba, for 25 years.

H.A.L.O. will be part of the next Soboba Casino Resort Food Truck Fiesta. Resvaloso is looking forward to sharing her cooking with the many people that come from near and far to enjoy good food and socializing with friends and family.

The post H.A.L.O. serves up food and friendship appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Designed to help individuals and families recover, applicants must reside in an evacuation zone and meet Altura’s credit qualification criteria. The Wildfire Emergency Loan offers:

• 0% APR: No interest will be charged on these loans
• 90 Day Payment Grace Period: No Payments for the First 90 Days
• Loan Amount: Up to $1,500
• Term: 18 months

” We understand the hardships faced by individuals and families displaced or impacted by the wildfires,” said Jennifer Binkley-Heiting, President and CEO at Altura Credit Union. “By offering our Wildfire Emergency Loan, we can directly assist our members and the local community, providing some relief and support during this difficult time.”

To apply for a Wildfire Emergency Loan or learn more, please visit https://www.alturacu.com/EmergencyLoan or contact Altura Credit Union at 866-787-8634. We encourage you to share this information with anyone in an evacuation zone who might need assistance.

The Altura Credit Union team continues to look for ways to provide more one-of-a-kind experiences for their Members and for people living in Riverside County. Through sponsorships and community-based events, Altura hopes to strengthen its relationship with local communities and bring to life its mission of Enriching Lives and Empowering Dreams.

Altura has been a trusted partner to over 198,000 Members since 1957, offering all the services expected from a full-service financial institution, such as checking and savings accounts; auto loans; and home and personal loans.

For more information on Altura Credit Union, visit www.AlturaCU.com, or call 1-888-883-7228.

Visit us on Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, youtube, and twitter.

About Altura Credit Union: Since 1957, Altura Credit Union has been dedicated to serving the communities of Riverside County. With over 198,000 Members and twenty-three branches, we are committed to enriching the lives and empowering the dreams of our Members, communities, and employees. When you choose to be a Member, you’re choosing to be effective in your own backyard. We know how important it is to be there when it matters most, and we collectively choose to make every decision with the purpose of bettering the lives around us. Altura is so much more than a financial institution; we’re an institution that bridges community, care, people, and finances. To us, you’re more than a number; you’re our family, our friend, and our neighbor. Altura Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, or attends school in Riverside and San Diego counties; select cities in San Bernardino and Orange counties; as well as U.S. Military, U.S. Government and Civilian employees working at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County; and retirees of the United States Armed Forces. For more information on Altura, http://www.AlturaCU.com, or call 1-888-883-7228.

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COACHELLA VALLEY, CA — An investigation into a 16-year-old boy’s slaying remains open after the child was found dead 12 months ago in Coachella.

With a year gone by, investigators are once again asking the public to provide any information that might lead to Joseph Aroz’s killer.

“Extensive investigative efforts have been made over the past year, but the suspect in this incident has not been identified,” the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday.

At about 9:07 p.m. Aug. 20, 2023, Thermal Sheriff’s Station deputies were called to the 53500 block of Cesar Chavez Street. There they found Aroz. He had gunshot wounds and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The sheriff’s office has maintained that Aroz was murdered. A possible motive in the case has not been disclosed.

The slaying occurred amid Tropical Storm Hilary, when officials were scrambling to rescue Coachella Valley residents from significant flooding and provide resources to victims whose homes were inundated with mud and water. Many desert roads were closed due to flooding and damage.

In the days following his death, Aroz’s family spoke to local media.

According to a KESQ report, Aroz was gunned down just outside his family’s home. A neighbor heard gunshots, but a suspect was never found.

The boy was one of eight children in his family, the news outlet reported.

A GoFundMe page that was launched to help pay for Aroz’s memorial and funeral expenses includes photos of a boy with short brown hair and brown eyes.

“… he was only 16 years old,” the page reads. “Jojo was loved by all of us, by so many … our world will never be the same.”

Investigators continue to seek answers for the family.

“The Riverside Sheriff’s Office Central Homicide Unit is requesting the public’s assistance in solving this case,” the agency said Tuesday.

Anyone with information who can help identify the individual(s) responsible for Aroz’s killing is asked to contact Investigator D. Brown or Investigator V. Magana at 951-955-2777 or by email. Information can also be submitted through the Sheriff’s Office Online Tip Form.

The post 1 Year After Boy’s Slaying, RivCo Investigators Still Seek His Killer appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

BANNING, CA — A 98-year-old Banning man who was attacked and killed inside his home last month was formally identified Tuesday as Earnest Collins.

“Mr. Collins was a long-time Banning resident, who was known and loved by several people in his community,” Banning police said.

Collins was found unresponsive around 2:38 p.m. April 19 at his home in the 500 block of N. Allen Street. No arrests have been announced in the case and police say they are looking for tips.

“We thank the public for their assistance in bringing justice to Mr. Collins, his family, and friends,” the Banning Police Department said.

According to an obituary for Collins, he was born on Jan. 5, 1926, in Foreman, Arkansas, to Clay Collins Sr. and Caroline Johnson Collins.

He went on to be drafted by the U.S. Army in 1946 and received an honorable discharge. He married his first wife, Vera Odessa Collins, and together they had three children: Allen James Collins, Johnnie Earl Collins, and Jimmy Ray Collins, the obituary states.

From 1959 to 1979, Collins worked at a cotton mill in Calipatria.

“He was such a great people person that he quickly advanced to night shift foreman,” according to the obituary.

Following his retirement from the mill, Collins married his second wife, Lucille Sullivan.

Collins was preceded in death by both of his wives and two of his sons, Allen James and Jimmy Ray.

He is survived by sons Johnnie Earl of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Bobbie Lee Collins of Phoenix, Arizona, and eight grandchildren — Jason Anthony Collins, Michelle Lavette Collins, Dione Lamar Collins, Datrice Lanette Collins, Deandra Renae Collins, Dorian Ray Collins, Allen James Collins, Jr. and Lorraine Denise Collins — several great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Anyone with information about the killing is asked to contact the Banning Police Detective Bureau at 951-922-3170.

The post Beloved 98-Year-Old RivCo Man Killed In His Home, Police Seek Tips appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

The benevolent fund had reached out to the Soboba Fire Department and asked if they could help as the Rodríguezes were coming from out of state and the local family had no availability to lodge them. Tribal Council authorized the Soboba Casino Resort to provide lodging to Tim Rodriguez’s parents and other family members after the tragic accident and through the funeral service.

Rodriguez, 44, was born at San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital in Banning. He was raised in Hemet where he graduated from West Valley High School in 1997. He attended Mt. San Jacinto College where he pursued an education in Fire Technology. Rodriguez worked at several fire stations before returning to his passion at Hemet Ryan Air Attack Base in 2022 as a Helitack Fire Captain.

Founded in 2006, the Riverside County Professional Firefighters Benevolent Fund proudly supports firefighters and cooperators in Riverside County. The firefighters of Riverside County provide fire and EMS services to one of the largest counties in California. It is the goal of the Riverside County Professional Firefighters Benevolent Fund to be able to support those men and women in their time of need. The organization also supports other nonprofit organizations that are affiliated with the fire service, such as cancer research and the burn institutes.

According to Director of Finance Matt Brandt, prior to the formation of the RCPFBF there was no support organization for the families of injured or fallen firefighters in Riverside County. “Years later the Cal Fire Benevolent Foundation would be formed by Cal Fire Local 2881, to serve their members throughout the state,” he explained. “While labor laws have change to provide more support for firefighters, there is still a tremendous burden placed on families when a firefighter suffers injury or death; this is where the RCPFBF steps in and can provide assistance that the departments cannot.”

The nonprofit was organized for the purpose of providing physical, financial and emotional support to members and their families during times of need, Brandt said, adding “Our support is provided by an all-volunteer Board of Directors in a non-political and non-denominational manner.”

Brandt was on the Cal Fire Local 2881, Riverside District Board as a Rank & File Representative in 2006. “In 2008, I became the Director of Finance for both Cal Fire Local 2881, Riverside District and the RCPFBF.  Since then, the two boards have separated into two different entities, and I have remained,” he said.

“The RCPFBF Board of Directors all agreed on providing the key supporters with recognition for their support of the families of Fire Captain Tim Rodriguez and Assistant Chief Josh Bischof,” Brandt said. “The indirect support that was provided to both families was greatly appreciated. Cal Fire and the State of California can provide staffing and indirect support to the families of fallen firefighters but cannot provide any direct financial support. The financial burden is placed on the families and is offset by support of Cal Fire Local 2881, the Cal Fire Benevolent Foundation, the Riverside County Professional Firefighters Benevolent Fund and key supporters like Soboba. If it was not for this support, the families would have to bear the burden of costs.”

For more information and to make donations, please visit www.rcpfbf.com.

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