Enjoy Easter Brunch at Menifee Lakes Country Club

Feasibility Study of McCall Interchange Project to Begin

McCall Boulevard, which currently has two lanes each way crossing over Interstate 215, will be studied for the feasibility of widening the road and other improvements.

The Menifee City Council has approved an agreement with RBF Consulting to conduct a feasibility study for an improvement project on the McCall Boulevard freeway interchange.

This project is further out on the timeline than other Menifee freeway road projects, such as the Newport Road interchange, Scott Road interchange and Holland Road overpass. However, city officials believe it is necessary to expand that free interchange as Menifee's population continues to grow.

Council members unanimously approved the contract with RBF Consulting, which is not to exceed $152,230. According to city manager Rob Johnson, the city has Measure A funds to help finance this project.

According to city documents, the feasibility study will:

-- Identify viable design alternatives and its potential implications.

-- Develop preliminary cost estimates to assist with defining funding needs.

-- Provide an anticipated project schedule.

-- Identify required environmental studies.

-- Explore potential phased or interim improvements.

-- Prepare the Project Initiation Document per Caltrans standards and obtain Caltrans approval of the PID.

This agreement is for the feasibility study only. Once that is completed, bids will be solicited for the design process.

Valley-Wide Easter Egg Hunt Tomorrow

Cool Drinks & Fresh Salads Served Up at Carnitas Express

Advertorial Supplement:

Carnitas Express is well known in Menifee for their consistently delicious and affordable dining. As the weather heats up, come on in and cool down at Carnitas Express with refreshing beverage and light salad options.

Stop by for great deals on drinks and appetizers during happy hour, Monday through Friday from 3 to 7 p.m. at their Menifee location. Sip on a house margarita in your choice of fun fruity flavors including; strawberry, mango, peach, wild berry, banana, or classic served either blended or on the rocks each for just $3.95. Or choose from dozens of specialty margaritas like the Cadillac margarita, Midori Sour margarita, Red Bull margarita, Blue Cancun margarita, and more starting at just $5.95.

You can also enjoy mixed drinks starting at $4.25, domestic and import beers starting at $2.95 or a glass of house wine for only $3.95 during happy hour.

Order up some appetizer specials to make it a very happy hour. The happy hour menu of appetizers features:

• Large guacamole and chips
• Spinach dip and chips
• Nacho supreme
• Chicken, beef, or carnitas quesadilla
• Hot-n-spicy wings
• Cheese fries
• Wings, rings, and things sampler of chicken wings, onion rings, mozzarella sticks & potato skins



When it’s hot outside try one of their cool salads for a lighter meal. Try Eva’s Salad Supreme with fajita style chicken breast, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, and avocado or the Chef Salad of crisp salad greens piled high with turkey, ham, cucumber, tomato and a sprinkling of cheese with your choice of dressing. If you’re in the mood for chicken choose from the grilled chicken or crispy chicken salads too.

Make it a Carnitas meal and head on over to one of Carntias Express’s three convenient locations in Menifee or Murrieta.

Carnitas Express Menifee
26900 Newport Rd., #117
Menifee, CA 92584
(951) 679-9747

Carnitas Express Los Alamos (Murrieta)
25030 Hancock Ave, #102
Murrieta, CA 92562
(951) 304-7999

Carnitas Express Madison (Murrieta)
25145 Madison Ave, #101
Murrieta, CA 92562
(951) 677-5377

Website: Carnitas Express

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Menifee Word Hunter: Win a Gift Card to The Beer Hunter

Here’s the first letter in Menifee Word Hunter 8, a Menifee 24/7 game sponsored by The Beer Hunter sports pub, located in the Countryside Marketplace.

By guessing the correct letters to fill in the blanks, you will reveal a phrase or proper noun that has something to do with Menifee. If you are the first to email us with the correct guess, you win a $30 gift card to The Beer Hunter – which offers great food, a variety of beverages, and all the big sports events on big screen TVs.

Remember, this game is not Hangman or Wheel of Fortune. You don’t guess the letters. We reveal them to you – usually one letter a day, sometimes more – until someone guesses correctly. There may be duplicates of a revealed letter that are not yet revealed; just because we’ve shown you one letter S doesn’t mean there couldn’t be more. Each game has a clue to help you along the way.

Submit your guess in an email to menifee247info@gmail.com. Put “word hunter” in the subject line. The first person to correctly guess the phrase will receive a Beer Hunter gift card. Only one guess per day per email address.

Each day, the updated game will be posted simultaneously on our website and our Facebook page. But keep in mind, guesses posted as comments on our Facebook posts do not count as official guesses. Your guess must be sent in email form to menifee247info@gmail.com.
Good luck!

Two Charged in Theft of Purse, Baby Toys of 'Sentimental Value'

Two people are in police custody facing charges including burglary and identity theft in connection with a purse stolen from the women's locker room at the LA Fitness in Murrieta last month, police said today.

The purse contained the victim's identification, credit cards and other miscellaneous property. In addition to those items, the purse contained several baby toys that belonged to the victim's baby "Timothy", who died unexpectedly in 2013. The baby toys held sentimental value for the victim.

Amanda Sander, 30, of Diamond Bar is charged with fraudulent use of an access card, burglary, possession of stolen property and identity theft. Investigators in the case located her in Los Angeles County Jail, where she was in custody on unrelated charges.

Romulo Castaneda, 49, of Chino Hills was charged with fraudulent use of an access card, burglary and identity theft. He was located at a hotel in Chino Hills and was arrested without incident.

The theft at the health club, located at 40985 California Oaks Road, resulted in an investigation that led detectives to several retail outlets in Temecula where the stolen credit cards were used. Surveillance photos of the suspects were released to the public in an attempt to identify the suspects.

Through several anonymous tips and additional investigative leads, the suspects were identified as Sander and Castaneda.

Sander was interviewed in jail on April 14 but refused to cooperate with the investigation. The victim's purse was located the same day in the possession of an associate of Sander. The purse was recovered by detectives and the associate was determined to be uninvolved in the case. The purse was returned to the victim, but the toys were not recovered.

Castaneda was transported back to Murrieta PD for questioning on April 17. Although Castaneda gave a statement, he was unable to give detectives the location of the toys.

Castaneda was booked at the Southwest Detention Center. Any other information related to this case should be directed to Detective Jeremy Durrant at 951-461-6354.

Menifee 24/7 Adoptable Pet of the Week: Catillac

Animal’s Name: Catillac

Breed: Domestic Short Hair

Age: 4 years

Color: All white coat with one blue eye and one green eye

Gender: Male, neutered

Catillac's Story: Catillac was saved from euthanasia at an area shelter, where he was picked up as a stray. He was very ill, starving, dirty and had a head injury. He has been nursed back to health and is doing and looking much better, however, he has herpes virus infection in his eyes, which causes his eyes to be watery. It flares up occasionally and requires prescription eye drops. Most cats have been exposed to this virus and can fight it off, and we hope Catillac's immune system improves with time. Otherwise, he is healthy and has been neutered, vaccinated and dewormed. He tested negative for all the major feline infectious diseases. Catillac is a beautiful and delightful cat with an outgoing, friendly and affectionate personality. He's a very likable and loving lap cat. He's been waiting at the rescue over a year for a home of his own.

Agency: Rescue and Rehome, a small private nonprofit no-kill rescue.

Adoption details: $50 adoption fee; cash only. Adoption contract is required.

Location: Quail Valley/Menifee, Southwest Riverside County. Local adoptions only within 75 mile radius because they deliver the animal to its new home to do a home check. They are looking for adopters who are willing and able to care for this cat for its lifetime of around 15 years or more. If interested, please phone and leave a message at (951) 244-3215 or email them at rescuenrehome@gmail.com with a little info about you, your family, your other pets, and where you live.

Hours of Operation: Animals are shown by appointment.

Website: Rescue and Rehome

Like them on Facebook for more adoptable animals!

Menifee Maze 43: We Have a Winner!

Congratulations to Rachael Mixon, who was the first to correctly identify Menifee Maze 43 as the front of Callie Kirkpatrick Elementary School. Rachael wins dinner for two at Texas Roadhouse. A new maze starts tomorrow!

Murrieta Man With Fixation on Girls' Socks Re-Arrested

A Murrieta man previously arrested and released on bail has been re-arrested today on charges of attempted kidnap and sexual misconduct charges, Murrieta police said today.

Alexis Edmundo Garcia, 31, was released on bail Saturday following his arrest concerning a number of child annoyance incidents in which he asked young girls for their socks. Authorities said they believe Garcia has a fixation with girls' socks and was in possession of child pornography.

After extensive investigation including additional witness and victim statements, the Riverside District Attorney was consulted on the case. It was determined today that probable cause existed to re-arrest Garcia on a charge of attempted kidnapping. Additional charges are being sought for "possession of matter depicting a minor simulating sexual conduct."

Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for those charges. That warrant was served at 1:15 p.m. today and Garcia was taken into custody without incident. He remains in jail at the Southwest Detection Center on $1 million bail.

To date, 12 victims have been identified in this case. Additional victims or witnesses who have not spoken to police are encouraged to come forward. Information regarding this criminal case can be directed to Sgt. Phil Gomez at 951-461-6356.

Town Meeting with Riverside County Supervisor Marion Ashley

Man Found Fatally Shot at Residence in Nuevo

A Nuevo man was fatally shot during an altercation at a residence in that city Wednesday night, police said today.

The body of Salvador Cendejas, 21, was discovered in the doorway of a residence in the 22000 block of Porter Avenue about 8:30 p.m. after Riverside County Sheriff's deputies responded to a report of assault with a deadly weapon and shots fired. Subjects discovered in the front yard were detained and a safety sweep of the residence revealed the victim's body.

Investigators from the Riverside Sheriff’s Department Perris Station and Central Homicide Unit assumed the investigation. According to police, there are no outstanding suspects, but no information on arrests was provided. This is an ongoing investigation and no further information was released.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Investigator Lester Harvey of the Central Homicide Unit at 951-955-2777, or Investigator Chris Barajas of the Perris Station at 951-210-1000.

Coroner Releases Identity of Man Who Drowned in Lake Perris

The Riverside County Coroner's Office has identified the victim of a drowning Wednesday in Lake Perris as Jario Hidalgo, 44, of Hemet.

Hidalgo's body was found submerged in lake water about 3:30 Wednesday afternoon, according to the coroner's report. There are no suspicious circumstances and the investigation is ongoing.

The man was transported to Kaiser Hospital in Moreno Valley, where he was pronounced dead at 4:52 p.m.

Probation Department to Suggest Trial Status for Skylor Atilano

A juvenile court judge today ordered the Riverside County probation department to prepare a report recommending whether the juvenile half brother of Terry Smith Jr. should be tried for murder as a juvenile or an adult.

Judge Timothy Freer will have the final say after reviewing the probation department's report regarding Skylor Atilano, who was 16 when he was arrested last July and charged with the murder of 11-year-old Terry Smith Jr. in Menifee. Atilano (shown at left in a previous court appearance) remains in custody at the Southwest Justice Center in French Valley.

The judge set a court date of June 12 to receive the probation department's report.


Atilano is accused of killing Terry Smith Jr. (right), whose body was found buried in a shallow grave in the family backyard following a three-day search by thousands of residents throughout the valley.

Join Menifee Community Center for Free Easter Egg Hunt

Advertorial Supplement:

Bring the kids and their baskets out to the Marion V. Ashley Community Center in Menifee for a free Easter egg hunt on Saturday. 

The Menifee community center, located at 25625 Briggs Rd., will offer a free Easter egg hunt for kids ages 12 years old and under beginning at 10:00 a.m.

The egg hunt will include games and takeaways for the kids to kick off the holiday weekend. 

Every child will walk away with something if they participate in any of the games or activities at the event.

Activities for the day include a bean bag jump, jelly bean count and bean bag toss. Gifts, prizes and treats will be given away at activity tables set up around the park. 

Kids can also count on a special appearance from the Easter bunny himself! The "bunny of the hour" will be posing for photos during the event. 

Enjoy a day of family fun on Saturday for the Easter egg hunt, take advantage of the community center amenities or join in on any of Valley-Wide Recreation & Park District’s classes or sports leagues. 

If you’re not interested in taking classes, the community center has plenty more to offer. With so many amenities, everyone is sure to find something to suit their needs. 

The Menifee Community Center is complete with a gymnasium, tennis courts, ball fields, volleyball courts, a picnic area, lighted fields, horseshoe pits, fitness trails, basketball courts and play areas. So, whether you want to play a friendly game of softball or just soak in the sun at the picnic area, the Valley-Wide Menifee Community Center has something for everyone. 

The community center offers classes to teach everything from line dancing to Taekwondo. Classes are also offered for exercise, such as yoga and “Dance and exercise for kids” to involve the entire family! 

A variety of multi-level horse riding lessons are also available through Valley Wide Recreation and Parks District, as well as a horse day camp. 

Youth leagues are available for the little ones to participate in competitive sports, such as indoor soccer.

This Saturday's Easter egg hunt at the Menifee Community Center is one of the many Valley-Wide hosts for its community centers. For a full list of events, click here. 

For more information, call the Menifee Community Center at (951) 672-6744. 

Location:

Marion V. Ashley Community Center

25625 Briggs Road

Menifee, CA 92585

Website: Valley Wide Recreation Menifee Community Center

Oasis Maids Spring Deep Clean Deal

For more information call (855) 581-0745, visit their Facebook page here or their website here.