MAIL DELIVERY: Mail will not be delivered Monday.

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS: Will be closed Monday.

STORES: Most major stores and supermarkets will be open Monday.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:

Riverside Transit Agency, Dial-A-Ride buses will not operate on Monday. The administrative offices and the Customer Information Center will also be closed. Bus services and facilities will resume regular operations on Tuesday.

Omnitrans buses will not operate on Monday. Administrative offices and the San Bernardino Transit Center will also be closed Monday. Bus service and facilities will resume regular operations on Tuesday.

Foothill Transit buses will run on weekend or Sunday schedules on Monday. All Transit Stores will be closed. Service at 800-RIDE-INFO will be available 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Metrolink trains operate on a weekend schedule for the Antelope Valley, Inland Empire-Orange County, Orange County, San Bernardino, Ventura County and 91/Perris Valley Lines. The Riverside Line does not operate on weekends.

The $10 Holiday Pass can be purchased on the Metrolink Mobile App or at Metrolink station ticket machines under “special ticket options.” The $10 Holiday Pass allows for unlimited rides throughout the system for the day

Amtrak Rail 2 Rail and Codeshare will be suspended May 22-26.

SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES: Not in session.

TRASH PICKUP: City of Riverside, city of Redlands, Burrtec Solid Waste, Waste Management of the Inland Empire, CR&R and CAL Disposal will not have service on Monday; service will be delayed by one day. Riverside County and San Bernardino County landfills will be closed Sunday and Monday.

The post What’s open and closed on Memorial Day in the Inland Empire appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

“West Coast Thunder” is scheduled to roar to life on the morning of May 25.

Riverside Harley-Davidson always hosts the event, which began in 2000 when the dealership belonged to Skip Fordyce and operated under that banner.

More than 7,500 motorcycle enthusiasts are expected to take part in this year’s ride.

The event returned in May 2023 following a three-year hiatus, initially stemming from the COVID lockdowns, then ongoing concerns that led to further cancellations.

This year’s event will get underway in front of the dealership at 7688 Indiana Ave., with motorcyclists bearing American flags and other ensigns starting to assemble about 6 a.m. on May 25. They’ll leave the location at 9:11 a.m., under escort by Riverside police officers, Riverside County sheriff’s deputies and other law enforcement personnel, proceeding up Alessandro Boulevard to south Riverside, where residents regularly gather on sidewalks to wave and show support.

The ride will then transition to Van Buren Boulevard, where some participants will peel off to Riverside National Cemetery to pay their respects, while others will loop back to downtown Riverside via area freeways, making a wide sweep that will conclude near the Riverside Municipal Auditorium.

The exact route had not been announced as of Monday. However, West Coast Thunder Foundation Director Jackson Dodd said two local bands, The New Originals and Travis Humble Heritage Harmonic, had been confirmed to perform for riders and other celebrants in the Historic Downtown space, beginning in the early afternoon of May 25.

“There is a unique synergy between the rumble of a motorcycle engine and the rhythm of live rock and roll,” Dodd said. “Bringing The New Originals and Travis Humble into the fold allows us to celebrate our local culture while maintaining our focus on honoring those who have served.”

There will be a beer garden and other activities during the afternoon entertainment.

In previous years, the rides traveled farther east to San Jacinto, or farther south into the Temecula Valley.

A large share of proceeds raised from the rides and musical shows are donated to the Riverside National Cemetery Support Committee, which relies on contributions to build monuments and make other improvements at the hallowed grounds, where over 250,000 U.S. military veterans, police officers, firefighters and others are interred.

More than $1 million has been generated over the past two decades, and even when the rides weren’t held, the West Coast Thunder Foundation continued donation drives to support the cemetery.

More information about the rides is available at westcoastthunder.com/.

The post 7,500 Motorcycle Enthusiasts Expected In Riverside County For Annual ‘West Coast Thunder’ appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

On Thursday, May 23, about a dozen youths placed more than 50 flags at the gravesites of veterans who are buried at the cemetery. Many are relatives of the youths who were there that day, bringing another level of meaning to the task at hand. They were reminded how important to the community and to all those who served in the military to have them remembered in this way and that they should be proud of their involvement.

While there, the young men and women also tidied up the sites by removing debris and straightening overturned vases and more. Four members of the Soboba Fire Department took rakes and other tools to the parking area where guests would gather for the ceremony the following Monday, May 27. They raked up debris from shade trees and leveled out the surfaces.

Capt. Frank Martinez, who is part of the Wildland Urban Interface crew, made sure everyone had the proper tools to take care of the cleanup. Fire Apparatus Engineer Glenn Lindsey said the cemetery is a special project for the fire department, always keeping it clean and looking nice.

“It’s personal for me; I have family buried here and I want to make sure they are taken care of,” he said. “Me and my family come up here all the time to clean up and throw out dead flowers and things like that; it’s something you grow up doing around here.”

Soboba Tribal Youth Council membership is open to youth from 12-18 who are Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians Tribal members and those who are of Native American descent. Along with providing an understanding of the functions and responsibilities of Tribal government, participation provides leadership development and spiritual, mental, physical and social growth, as well as opportunities to attend cultural events. They host many fundraisers to cover expenses for the group’s activities.

In between the monthly in-person meetings, members and the Advisory Board stay connected through a group chat app where they can share information about upcoming events and make collective decisions. Officers are Chairwoman Rhianna Salgado, 16, Vice Chairwoman Raya Salgado, 14, Secretary Akwaalimay Resvaloso, 15, Treasurer Aniyah Brittian, 12, and Member-at-Large Nowaniiki Resvaloso, 13.

Advisory Board members include Parks and Recreation Director Andy Silvas and other department staff, Tribal Council Vice Chairwoman Geneva Mojado and Secretary Monica Herrera and parents of youth council members. The youth-led council, under the guidance of its Advisory Board, is affiliated with the United National Tribal Youth network, also known as UNITY.

The Soboba Tribal Youth Council constitution and bylaws outline the objectives of the group, which is to provide a collective voice and represent the Tribal youth in all matters that concern them; to serve as a means of mobilizing and coordinating the actions of the youth, other community members and organize them towards positive goals; to promote the development of future Tribal leaders; and to complete community service projects and provide opportunities for the youth to interact with the community for fun and fellowship.

The Memorial Day ceremony began at dawn when Gabe Herrera from Soboba Fire quickly raised the American flag to full-staff position and then slowly lowered it to half-staff to honor the fallen service men and women of this country. Veteran Richard VanDyke-Parker raised it back to full staff at 11 a.m. in recognition of living military veterans who served the country and it remained at full staff until sunset. Richard served in the U.S. Navy from 1975-1996. This action marked the end of the ceremony that had started with prayer from St. Joseph Catholic Church Reverend Earl Henley. A morning mass had been held at the church before parishioners joined him at the veterans’ memorial, a permanent fixture at the east end of the cemetery that is “dedicated to the memory of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians and non-Tribal Members who gave their all for us.” Father Henley also called for a moment of silence for the fallen.

After a blessing of the marker, members of Soboba Tribal Youth Council took turns reading names in memory and honor of those who served in the military. Alphabetically, honored Soboba Tribal Veterans whose names were read during the roll call were M.J. Apapas,  Daniel Arres, Gordon Arres, Norbit Arres, Theodore P. Arres, Leonard Arrietta Sr., Ralph C. Arrietta, Robert Arrietta, Anderson Begay, Robert Bentiste, Larry C. Boniface, Paul Boniface, , Gabriel Castello, Peter F. Castello,  Gloria Cozart, Jessie M. Gilmore,  Benny C. Helms Sr., Reginald P. Helms, Romaldo A. Helms, Martin Hurtado, Joe John Lala, Tiefielo Francis Lugo, Kenneth Mathers, Marcus E. Mojado, Danny Navarro, David Navarro, Paul A. Resvaloso, Prudencio Resvaloso, Ernest Salgado Sr., Richard Salgado Sr., Albert Silvas, Allynn Silvas, Daniel Silvas, Frank “Chico” Silvas, Joe “Jody” Silvas, Eloy Soza, Frank E. Soza, Michael Soza, William P. Soza, John Vincent Valdez, Carmel Paul Valenzuella and Louis Vivanco.

Non-Tribal veterans, whose names were included in the roll call, were Eugene F. Arenas, Tony D. Basquez Sr., Bruce Cozart, Miguel R. Briones, Refugio R. Garcia Jr., Orvin D. Gilmore, Foster Hurtado Sr., Andrew Jackson, Ben Largo, Arthur R. Lopez Sr., Mariano Steven Largo,  Leonard Lubo, Senon Lubo, Richard Patrick Macy, Fred Miranda Sr., Peter D. Morillo Sr., Pio Morillo,  James Paul Navarro,  Phillip Rodriguez, Mariano Tortez and James Walker.

Soboba Tribal Council Chairman Isaiah Vivanco, who was invited to the microphone to say a few words, said it was great to see the turnout that seems to increase each year.

“I think it’s important that we come out and not only say thanks to our veterans but also to memorialize and remember those that have served and are no longer here with us. It’s important to make sure that we pay that tribute to keep their history and names alive.”

He introduced fellow Tribal Council members Geneva Mojado, Mike Bentiste, Monica Herrera and Daniel Valdez. “I also want to thank the fire department, Sports Complex staff Andy (Silvas) and Steve (Lopez) and youth council. Our youth council has been working to make sure the flags get out to those that need remembrance, making sure that all the graves of all our lost heroes are marked and remembered. It’s important that we continue that tradition and I think with the youth learning where these markers are at, that tradition will be carried on and that’s something we need to be thankful for.”

He said that under the tutelage of elder Marian Chacon, the youth are learning how to continue the traditions that are so important to the people of Soboba. Guests at the Memorial Day event were invited to a brunch at the Soboba Sports Complex after the ceremony and enjoyed delicious food served by members of the Soboba Youth Council who hosted the meal.

The post Soboba Youth Council steps up for the community appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

The “Flag for Every Hero” event is slated for 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, beginning with a brief ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Amphitheater in the middle of the cemetery.

“Accomplishing this large feat takes a lot of participation by many people, doing many different things,” Brennan Leininger with nonprofit Honoring Our Fallen said. “Everyone’s involvement is critical to the success of accomplishing this task. The emotional experience that results from participating in this event is what it is all about.”

The flag walks, first organized in 2012, are conducted not only on Memorial Day weekend, but also on Veterans Day. Both were nixed in 2020 because of the COVID lockdowns but returned in 2021 with some restrictions, all of which have since been nullified.

Boy Scouts, police Explorers, Civil Air Patrol cadets, unions and other interested parties from throughout the Inland Empire take part in the walks, which have drawn upwards of 1,500 volunteers in the past.

When the events began in 2012, participants were able to reach only 21,000 graves. In 2014, organizers were able to procure enough flags and enlist a sufficient number of people to plant the Stars and Stripes next to just about all of the roughly 250,000 final resting places of those interred at the cemetery.

Since then, flags have been placed at every grave within about three hours, Leininger said.

The honorably discharged U.S. Air Force serviceman, now a police officer, visited the cemetery in 2011 and was dismayed by how few flags were flying, prompting him to start the placements, with the help of Garden Grove- based Honoring Our Fallen.

Eventually, Leininger’s group combined with Riverside resident Mary Ellen Gruendyke to ensure all graves receive a flag. Gruendyke had contributed money and time to the effort long before 2012.

The 900-acre national cemetery is the fourth-largest of its kind in the nation — and running out of space.

Additional information is available at www.honoringourfallen.org.

The post Volunteers Needed For Memorial Day Flag Placement In Riverside County appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

But for people such as Manuel Castañeda Jr., the day is very personal. He lost his father, a U.S. Marine who served in Vietnam, in an accident in 1966 in California while his father was training other Marines.

“It isn’t just the specials. It isn’t just the barbecue,” Castañeda told The Associated Press in a discussion about Memorial Day last year.

Castañeda also served in the Marines and Army National Guard, from which he knew men who died in combat. But he tries not to judge others who spend the holiday differently: “How can I expect them to understand the depth of what I feel when they haven’t experienced anything like that?”

1. WHY IS MEMORIAL DAY CELEBRATED?

It’s a day of reflection and remembrance of those who died while serving in the U.S. military, according to the Congressional Research Service. The holiday is observed in part by the National Moment of Remembrance, which encourages all Americans to pause at 3 p.m. for a moment of silence.

2. WHAT ARE THE ORIGINS OR MEMORIAL DAY?

The holiday stems from the American Civil War, which killed more than 600,000 service members — both Union and Confederate — between 1861 and 1865.

There’s little controversy over the first national observance of what was then called Decoration Day. It occurred May 30, 1868, after an organization of Union veterans called for decorating war graves with flowers, which were in bloom.

The practice was already widespread on a local level. Waterloo, New York, began a formal observance on May 5, 1866, and was later proclaimed to be the holiday’s birthplace.

Yet Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, traced its first observance to October 1864, according to the Library of Congress. And women in some Confederate states were decorating graves before the war’s end.

David Blight, a Yale history professor, points to May 1, 1865, when as many as 10,000 people, many of them Black, held a parade, heard speeches and dedicated the graves of Union dead in Charleston, South Carolina.

A total of 267 Union troops had died at a Confederate prison and were buried in a mass grave. After the war, members of Black churches buried them in individual graves.

“What happened in Charleston does have the right to claim to be first, if that matters,” Blight told The Associated Press in 2011.

In 2021, a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel cited the story in a Memorial Day speech in Hudson, Ohio. The ceremony’s organizers turned off his microphone because they said it wasn’t relevant to honoring the city’s veterans. The event’s organizers later resigned.

3. HAS MEMORIAL DAY ALWAYS BEEN A SOURCE OF CONTENTION?

Someone has always lamented the holiday’s drift from its original meaning.

As early as 1869, The New York Times wrote that the holiday could become “sacrilegious” and no longer “sacred” if it focuses more on pomp, dinners and oratory.

In 1871, abolitionist Frederick Douglass feared Americans were forgetting the Civil War’s impetus — enslavement — when he gave a Decoration Day speech at Arlington National Cemetery.

“We must never forget that the loyal soldiers who rest beneath this sod flung themselves between the nation and the nation’s destroyers,” Douglass said.

His concerns were well-founded, said Ben Railton, a professor of English and American studies at Fitchburg State University in Massachusetts. Even though roughly 180,000 Black men served in the Union Army, the holiday in many communities would essentially become “white Memorial Day,” especially after the rise of the Jim Crow South, Railton told the AP in 2023.

Meanwhile, how the day was spent — at least by the nation’s elected officials — could draw scrutiny for years after the Civil War. In the 1880s, then-President Grover Cleveland was said to have gone fishing — and “people were appalled,” Matthew Dennis, an emeritus history professor at the University of Oregon, told the AP last year.

By 1911, the Indianapolis 500 held its inaugural race on May 30, drawing 85,000 spectators. A report from The Associated Press made no mention of the holiday — or any controversy.

4. HOW HAS MEMORIAL DAY CHANGED?

Dennis said Memorial Day’s potency diminished somewhat with the addition of Armistice Day, which marked World War I’s end on Nov. 11, 1918. Armistice Day became a national holiday by 1938 and was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.

An act of Congress changed Memorial Day from every May 30th to the last Monday in May in 1971. Dennis said the creation of the three-day weekend recognized that Memorial Day had long been transformed into a more generic remembrance of the dead, as well as a day of leisure.

In 1972, Time Magazine said the holiday had become “a three-day nationwide hootenanny that seems to have lost much of its original purpose.”

5. WHY IS MEMORIAL DAY TIED TO SALES AND TRAVEL?

Even in the 19th century, grave ceremonies were followed by leisure activities such as picnicking and foot races, Dennis said.

The holiday also evolved alongside baseball and the automobile, the five-day work week and summer vacation, according to the 2002 book “A History of Memorial Day: Unity, Discord and the Pursuit of Happiness.”

In the mid-20th century, a small number of businesses began to open defiantly on the holiday.

Once the holiday moved to Monday, “the traditional barriers against doing business began to crumble,” authors Richard Harmond and Thomas Curran wrote.

These days, Memorial Day sales and traveling are deeply woven into the nation’s muscle memory.

Jason Redman, a retired Navy SEAL who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan, told the AP last year that he honors the friends he’s lost. Thirty names are tattooed on his arm “for every guy that I personally knew that died.”

He wants Americans to remember the fallen — but also to enjoy themselves, knowing lives were sacrificed to forge the holiday.

The post 5 things to know about Memorial Day, including its evolution and controversies appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (AP) — Police launched a search Tuesday for three suspects they believe to be the gunmen who opened fire along a crowded Florida beachside promenade on Memorial Day, wounding a 1-year-old and eight others while sending people frantically running for cover.

Hollywood police sought the public’s help in identifying the gunmen, who ran from the scene during the chaos of hundreds of people fleeing for their lives and diving for cover as shots hit bystanders.

Two people involved in the altercation that led to the shooting — Morgan Deslouches and Keshawn Stewart, both 18 — have been arrested on firearms charges, police said. Five handguns have been recovered, with one of them reported stolen in the Miami area and another in Texas, they said.

Police and witnesses said the shooting began as a group of people fought in front of a busy stretch of shops on the Hollywood Oceanfront Broadwalk about 7 p.m. Monday.

The sound of gunshots sent witness Alvie Carlton Scott III ducking for cover behind a tree before he fled on foot at the command of a police officer. Another witness, Jamie Ward, said several young men were fighting when one of them pulled a gun and started firing.

One witness told police that she recognized a group of young men in the area later Monday as being involved in the shooting, according to an arrest report. When an officer approached the group, he noticed one of the men, later identified as Deslouches, trying to hide a black backpack. The officer reported that he ordered the man to sit and then took the man’s bag. Inside, the officer found a 9mm handgun loaded with seven rounds, the report said.

Meanwhile, a detective was transporting witnesses to be interviewed when he spotted Stewart walking down a street, an arrest report said. Earlier, a witness had taken photos and video of Stewart and one of the shooting suspects. The witness told police the shooting suspect had given Stewart a gun. When the detective stopped and searched Stewart, the detective reported finding a fully loaded 9mm handgun in Stewart’s backpack.

The shooting upended busy holiday weekend festivities at the popular beach destination where there was already a heavy police presence to oversee the big crowds.

Police spokesperson Deanna Bettineschi said four children between the ages of 1 and 17 were hit, along with five adults between 25 and 65. Six of those shot remain hospitalized in stable condition, while three have been released, police said.

The names of those wounded have not been released.

Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy said that he was “deeply saddened and angered” by the shooting. Dozens of officers are assigned to the beach on busy holiday weekends and that meant there was an immediate response and multiple people were detained, Levy said in a statement.

“People come to enjoy a holiday weekend on the beach with their families and to have people in complete reckless disregard of the safety of the public and to have an altercation with guns in a public setting with thousands of people around them is beyond reckless,” he said.

Videos posted Monday evening on Twitter showed emergency medical crews responding and providing aid to multiple injured people.

Hollywood Beach is a popular beach destination about 11 miles (17 kilometers) south of Fort Lauderdale and 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Miami. The beach was expected to see more visitors than usual because of the Memorial Day holiday.

Deslouches is charged with grand theft of a firearm, carrying a concealed firearm and removing serial numbers from a firearm. He’s being held on $20,000 bail.

Stewart is charged with carrying a concealed firearm and was being held on $15,000 bail.

Jail records didn’t list attorneys for Deslouches or Stewart.

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

The post Florida police search for 3 gunmen who wounded 9 at crowded beach on Memorial Day appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

If you’re among the 42.3 million Americans expected to travel 50 or more miles from home over the May 25-30 Memorial Day holiday week, the auto club AAA’s travel forecast gives advance notice on when to get out of the Inland Empire. AAA expects the six-day period to be the third-busiest since it began measuring Memorial Day travel a decade ago. Most people will drive.

Road trips are expected to be up 6 percent over last year, with about 37.1 million motorists on the roads — about 2 million more people than last year competing for space on highways. The holiday could be one of the busiest at the nation’s airports since Memorial Day in 2005, with nearly 3.4 million people, an 11 percent increase from 2022, expected to fly.

As a result of lower gas prices compared to last year, “drivers should expect long delays this holiday weekend, especially in and around major metros as commuters mix with Memorial Day travelers,” said Bob Pishue, a transportation analyst at INRIX, AAA’s data partner in the forecast. The best times to travel by car are in the morning or evening after 6 p.m. The lightest traffic days will be Saturday and Sunday.

Major metro areas like Boston, New York, Seattle, and Tampa will likely see travel times double compared to normal. Here are some tips from AAA as Inland Empire residents plan their road trips: When you’re leaving, avoid traveling from 3-6 p.m. on both Thursday and Friday. Instead, leave before 1 p.m. on Thursday and noon on Friday. At the end of the weekend, noon-3 p.m. Monday and 4-6 p.m. Tuesday are expected to be busy. Better times are before 10 a.m. Monday, and before 2 p.m. or after 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

In Southern California, the route from Los Angeles to San Diego via southbound I-5 is expected to be about 47 percent busier than usual at 1 p.m. Sunday, making travel time an estimated 3 hours and 24 minutes. The returning route from Las Vegas to Los Angeles via southbound I-15 is expected to be about 41 percent busier than usual at 3 p.m. Monday.

Tourist hotspots such as Orlando, New York City and Las Vegas are top domestic destinations for the Memorial Day weekend, according to AAA booking data. With many Southern California residents traveling to Las Vegas, it is one of the busiest weekends of the year for traffic on Inland Empire freeways, including I-15 and state Route 91.

Even with lower gas prices, travel will be more expensive overall, in large part because of the rising cost of airline tickets. AAA said its booking data shows a 40 percent increase in airfares to this year’s top destinations. International travel is surging as well, with a 250 percent increase over 2022.

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

The post Memorial Day travel 2023: When to get out of The Inland Empire appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Prior to Monday’s Memorial Day Flag Raising ceremony at the Soboba Cemetery, miniature flags were placed at the gravesites of veterans. At dawn, members of the Soboba Fire Department raised the American flag, located on the center flagpole behind the Veterans’ Memorial, to full staff and then slowly lowered it to half-staff to honor America’s fallen servicemen and women.

After a morning mass by Father Earl Henley at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, adjacent to the cemetery, Tribal members gathered at the shrine that is “dedicated to the memory of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians and non-Tribal members who gave their all for us.”

Father Henley said the patriotic wreath that stood next to the shrine was “adorned with love, memories and our faith.” He offered a blessing and prayer for those veterans.

“With reverence we visit this shrine where their bodies were placed within the womb of the earth to await their final day of glory,” he said. “We pause in silence to be united with them. May the breath of creation that surrounds these graves, trees, grass, earth, birds and sun, join us in prayer. May this pilgrimage remind us of what we already know: that nothing dies, rather life is transformed into new life.”

A roll call of the deceased veterans, most of which have been inscribed on the memorial, was read by Soboba Parks and Recreation Director Andy Silvas.

This was followed by the flag being raised to full staff once again in recognition of living military veterans who served their country. Junie Helms, who served in the U.S. Navy from 1967-1973, did the honors. Then members of the Soboba Fire Department raised the state of California flag as well as the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians flag which all remained flying until sunset.

Soboba Tribal Chairman Isaiah Vivanco recognized other Tribal Council members in attendance and thanked Tribal member Marian Chacon for her years of dedication to making sure this event happens each year.

Chacon’s mother and aunt began the official Memorial Day ceremony during World War II, after Maria Helms’ two sons were killed in action overseas in 1944. Chacon said she is probably related to more than half of the veterans honored at the event.

She was happy to see the Soboba Youth Council step up and take over the annual program because she said it “needs to keep going.”

Vivanco said it is important to give the rightful dedication to those that have fallen and all family members that served in the military.

“And thank you to those veterans that are here today who have served and helped protect the rights and freedoms that we enjoy today. We thank you,” he said.

About 50 guests attended the ceremony to pay tribute to family members who had passed and to honor all those who had served our country. Norbit Arres served in the U.S. Navy during WWII and three of his 10 children – Carlene, Millie and Vicky – were among those at the ceremony to honor his memory and that of many uncles and cousins who also served.

“We come each year for so many reasons,” Millie Arres said. “We miss them and we want to honor them for sacrificing their lives for all of us and for our country.”

Soboba Tribal Council Treasurer Daniel Valdez was there with members of his family. His grandparents, Bruce and Gloria Cozart, both served in the U.S. Air Force. Valdez named his son and daughter after them as he was very close to them growing up.

“I think it’s awesome to be able to honor them for their service,” he said.

Guests were invited to brunch at the Soboba Sports Complex after the ceremony and enjoyed eggs, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy, muffins, fresh fruit, juice and coffee from Thomas Catering of San Jacinto.

Alphabetically, honored veterans whose names were read during the roll call, were M.J. Apapas, Eugene F. Arenas, Daniel Arres, Norbit Arres, Theodore P. Arres, Leonard Arrietta Sr., Ralph Arrietta, Robert Arrietta, Robert Eugene Bentiste, Sonny Bentiste, Larry C. Boniface, Paul Boniface, Miguel R. Briones, Peter F. Castello, Bruce Cozart, Gloria Cozart, Refugio R. Garcia Jr., Jessie M. Gilmore, Orvin D. Gilmore, Benny C. Helms Sr., Reginald P. Helms, Romaldo A. Helms, Martin Vernon Hurtado, Andrew Jackson Jr., Joe John Lala, Ben Largo, Mariano Steven Largo, Arthur R. Lopez Sr., Leonard Lubo, Senon Lubo, Tiefielo Francis Lugo, Richard Patrick Macy, Fred “Pinky” Miranda Sr., Marcus E. Mojado, Peter D. Morillo Sr., Pio Morillo, Danny Navarro, David Navarro, James Paul Navarro, Paul A. Resvaloso, Prudencio Resvaloso, Phillip Rodriguez, Ernest Salgado Sr., Richard Salgado Sr., Albert Silvas, Allynn Silvas, Daniel Silvas, Frank “Chico” Silvas, Joe “Jody” Silvas, Eloy Soza, Frank E. Soza, Michael Soza, William P. Soza Sr., Mariano Tortez, John Vincent Valdez, Carmel Paul Valenzuella, Louis Vivanco, and James Walker.

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

The post Soboba Honors Its Fallen on Memorial Day appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

At dawn, members of the Soboba Fire Department raised the American flag, located on the flagpole behind the memorial, to full staff position and then slowly lowered it to half-staff to honor America’s fallen servicemen and women. During the ceremony, the flag was raised quickly to full staff in recognition of living military veterans who served their country. The flag remained at full staff until sunset. The crew did the same flag raising at their station, located on the Soboba Reservation.

Soboba Parks and Recreation Director Andy Silvas, who is also co-coordinator of the Soboba Youth Council, explained the ceremony is held “in memory and honor of those that gave their lives in service to this country so that we may have the freedoms that we have today.” He then introduced Father Earl Henley from St. Joseph’s, who offered a blessing.

“Our common Christian concern has brought us together to bless this (memorial) marker and pause for a moment in the silence of our heart, praying for those who have gone before us,” he said. “For all the soldiers, it is with reverence that we visit this sacred shrine on this special day and leave a wreath of worship at this monument.”

Youth Council members and cousins Emma Valenzuella, 16, and Jocie Yepa, 15, took turns reading the last roll call, a military tradition that pays honor to deceased soldiers. Emma’s great-grandfather, Paul Valenzuella, served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was one of the names on the list that was read. Edwin Muro, who has been on youth council for three years, said both his grandfather, Bruce Cozart and grandmother, Gloria Cozart, served in the U.S. Air Force.

Gloria Cozart, Jessie Gilmore and Theresa Seaton all enlisted in the U.S. Women’s Air Force at the same time. Seaton, who served from 1949 to 1952, was on hand Monday to assist with the flag raising alongside Soboba Fire Captain Gabe Herrera, Firefighter/Paramedic Keith Navarre and Firefighter Engineer Andrew Chavez.

Soboba Tribal Chairman Isaiah Vivanco, whose father served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War, said it was great to see Soboba’s youth work with Tribal elders to remember Tribal members who served in the Armed Forces.

“They’re sharing our history,” he said. “On behalf of Tribal Council, I want to thank you all for coming today and helping us remember our fellow tribal members. A special thanks goes to Marian Chacon who has been working with our youth council to identify the graves of those that lie within our cemetery and have served in our armed forces. It’s something that our youth has taken on and we are really appreciative of them doing that.”

The youths spent the morning of May 28 preparing the Soboba Cemetery for Monday’s ceremony. Working with an aerial view map, Silvas directed the young men and women to the more than 50 gravesites of veterans that are buried there so a flag could be placed there. They also took time to spruce up the sites.

Employees from Soboba Public Works had gone through the cemetery earlier that morning to rake up leaves, branches and debris that had been deposited on the paths between the gravesites. Members of the Soboba Fire Department picked up the piles and disposed of them in preparation for Monday’s ceremony.

U.S. Navy veteran Benny Helms, who served six years during the Vietnam War, said having the youth host a Memorial Day ceremony showed a lot of respect for all the veterans and he was glad to see them step up.

Soboba Youth Council Chairwoman Iyana Briones concluded the ceremony by inviting all guests to drive to the Sports Complex and pick up a to-go brunch meal, prepared by Thomas Catering of San Jacinto. Youth council members bagged the items and delivered them to the vehicles that drove through the parking lot of the complex.

Alphabetically, honored veterans whose names were read during the roll call were: M.J. Apapas, Eugene F. Arenas, Daniel Arres, Norbit Arres, Theodore P. Arres, Leonard Arrietta Sr., Ralph Arrietta, Robert Arrietta, Tony D. Basquez Sr., Anderson Begay, Robert Eugene Bentiste, Larry C. Boniface, Paul Boniface, Miguel R. Briones, Peter F. Castello, Bruce Cozart, Gloria Cozart, Refugio R. Garcia Jr., Jessie M. Gilmore, Orvin D. Gilmore, Benny C. Helms Sr., Reginald P. Helms, Romaldo A. Helms, Foster Hurtado Sr., Martin Vernon Hurtado, Andrew Jackson Jr., Joe John Lala, Ben Largo, Mariano Steven Largo, Arthur R. Lopez Sr., Leonard Lubo, Senon Lubo, Tiefielo Francis Lugo, Richard Patrick Macy, Fred “Pinky” Miranda Sr., Marcus E. Mojado, Peter D. Morillo Sr., Pio Morillo, Danny Navarro, David Navarro, James Paul Navarro, Paul A. Resvaloso, Prudencio Resvaloso, Phillip Rodriguez, Ernest Salgado Sr., Albert Silvas, Allynn Silvas, Daniel Silvas, Frank “Chico” Silvas, Joe “Jody” Silvas, Eloy Soza, Frank E. Soza, Michael Soza, William P. Soza Sr., Mariano Tortez, John Vincent Valdez, Carmel Paul Valenzuella, Louis Vivanco, and James Walker.

Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians | Contributed

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

The post Soboba Veterans Remembered on Memorial Day appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

On May 31st, 2021, personnel from the Colorado River Station conducted high-visibility patrol along the Colorado River, in conjunction with the Memorial Day weekend. The area patrolled stretches north to the San Bernardino County line, south to the Imperial County line, and east to the Arizona border.

During the operation, an occupied vehicle check was conducted under the Agnes Wilson bridge east of Hwy. 95. The vehicle was reported stolen by Blythe Police Department. Leonardo Rojas (28-year-old of Blythe) was the driver of the vehicle and in possession of 9.21 grams of methamphetamine, 25.5 Xanax tablets, ammunition, and an unregistered firearm. The stolen vehicle was recovered and returned to the owner.

Rojas is a convicted felon and was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Blythe Jail for the following charges:

• Possession of a Stolen Vehicle
• Possession of a Controlled Substance While Armed
• Felon in Possession of an Unregistered Firearm
• Felon in Possession of Ammunition

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has a zero-tolerance policy for these offenses. If you suspect illegal activity in your area, please contact your local Sheriff’s Station. In addition, The Colorado River Station is locally dedicated to serve our farming and rural communities and willfully enforce the law to protect our citizens. Anyone with additional information regarding this case is urged to contact Corporal Eckenrode at the Colorado River Station by calling (760) 921-7900.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

Find your latest news here at the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle

The post Felon in Possession of a Stolen Vehicle/Narcotics while Armed appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.