Public Safety | rialtonow

Appointments Open for West Valley Water District

17 Feb 2017 Leave a comment

So what happens when a local governing body is so fractured that no more than two people can agree with each other? Another governing body has to do your work for you.

There are few governing, publicly elected bodies like West Valley Water District that cover Rialto, Colton, Fontana, Bloomington and other unincorporated areas of San Bernardino County, and a portion of Jurupa Valley in Riverside County. West Valley Water fly’s under the radar of rate payers because until recently who cared about your water board right? Until the hyper controlling measures that state and local water agencies laid out on ratepayers nobody really took the time to watch what their water board is doing.

West Valley Water Board members Clifford Young, Linda Gonzles and Greg Young worked hard over the last two years to kick certain board members off the board, bring in new blood that wont question bad spending habits and fight to keep certain people from ever sitting on the board EVER…..

Well with twice appointed never elected board member Rafael Trujillo moving over to Rialto City Council there is once again a vacant seat. Normally the board has a politically charged person waiting in the wings but partisan politics coupled with a lack of ability to collectively agree on a person now has taken this choice out of their hands. The names that were floated around being considered were former Rilato Councilman Ed Palmer, Former Fontana Planning Commissioner Phil Cothran and Activist Irma Flores were just a few of the names that were talked about.

The community was ready to charge the doors of West Valley Water district if Phil Cothran was appointed to the water board. He is coming off a fresh election where he has been accused of trying to takeover the Fontana Woman’s Club, stories of failing to report campaign donations that Phil Cothran took from Young Homes prior to voting yes on their projects and running a local PAC that derailed some very good peoples chances of winning an elected seat. Apparently Ed Palmer who was supported by Clifford Young was not what Greg Young was looking for in a fellow board member. Greg Young didn’t want Ed Palmer’s drama from the recent election where he challenged current Mayor Deborah Robertson for her Mayor seat.

So since West Valley Water is punting this decision it is now up to the San Bernardino County Supervisors to make the appointment. The Board of Supervisors created a special advisory committee consisting of Second District Supervisor Janice Rutherford and Fifth District Supervisor Josie Gonzales to interview the applicants and recommend an appointment to the full Board of Supervisors.

What is funny is that West Valley may have a Board member that they fought long and hard against two years ago wasting thousands of dollars and wasting rate payer time advocating for their choice in the election.

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District College Night at Eisenhower High School

17 Feb 2017 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in #CA31st, Ca, City of Rialto, Inland Empire, Rialto, rialto unified school district, youth

The District College Night at Eisenhower High School brought out hundreds of engaged and interested students and parents. Various principals also attended to support their children and our students, as information was delivered by RUSD education leaders as well as regional college/universities educators

Ms. Kenyatta Price, from the College Board, spoke to students at Eisenhower High School MPR during the District’s College Night.

Among the audience members, Mrs. Nancy O’Kelley, former Eisenhower High School administrator and RUSD Board Member attended the College Night for RUSD students and parents.

An engaged and interested audience member of students and parents listened to various speakers at the District’s “College Night” held at Eisenhower High School.

This is exciting this year as Eisenhower ASB Director Crystal Pulido has been sending out text alerts to congratulate the students on the Eisenhower Campus that have been receiving various letters of acceptance to colleges all over the state and country. Also having Lamario Howard represent Eisenhower at Azuza Pacific University with a full ride football scholarship.

Carter High School Erupts In Fights Triggering School Lockdown

11 Feb 2017 1 Comment

by rialto-now in Ca, City of Rialto, Public Safety, Rialto, Rialto Police Department, RUSD, youth

Written by Steven Ybarra

One day after Carter Students competed in various science competitions the school erupted in anywhere from 7 to 10 fights triggering a whole school lock down, a mosh pit, a student stole a police car, fire alarm was pulled and as you see from the video above a Security Officer was assaulted on campus.

Parents picking up kids at other schools were texting their kids telling them to stay away from the trouble and get out safely. Since Carter has opened it has been the school that seems to have a large collection of problems. Last year the former Principal Mrs Foote told us that she was having a lot of issues with fights and sexual promiscuity. Years ago these problems were laid at the feet of Eisenhower and Rialto High Schools but now it seems the problems have come to rest at Carter.

Social Media Expert and former Executive Director of Inland Valley Drug Free Coalition David Phillips says just search the hashtag Carter High School and see what the student body is being exposed to. Sexual behavior videos, marketing of drugs and fights are being pumped into the kids eyes. The old saying garbage in garbage out applies here. If we continue to dump our kids in a well of sewage should we be surprised with this outcome?

After our editor spoke to Sydea Jafri the District Communications Director we found out that most of the social media made things seem worse than they really were. A few fights between four girls was a bulk of what occurred today on Carters campus. The RUSD Security Officer in the video above was not seriously injured. Also Mrs Jafri and Rialto PD personnel confirmed that no police car was stolen by a student today. What occurred according to Mrs Jafri was a couple of cops running along a RPD unit being driven by an officer. Some were concerned with the amount of Law Enforcement on scene if nothing bigger happened, but it seems that the response was just part of an abundance of cation and officer safety.

There were no reports of injuries and no word of any arrests. As we obtain more information we will update this post. You can also follow the latest by following #rialtonowcovers

Screenshots of what Carter High Students were saying about today’s events

Poll Question on Warehouses?

08 Feb 2017 1 Comment

by rialto-now in #CA31st, Ana Gonzales, and the unincorporated communities of Bloomington and Muscoy, Andy Carrizales, Aquenetta warren, Bad Commerce, Budget, Ca, City of Rialto, Colton, Currupt, Deborah Robertson, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Inland Empire, jobs, Rialto, Rialto, San Bernardino, warehouse, youth

Rialto High Cheer Squad Hold 1st Place As State Champions Two Years In A Row

07 Feb 2017 Leave a comment

Photo provided by Rialto High ASB

Varsity cheer placed first at the CheerPros State Championships on January 29th at Citizen’s Bank Arena. Back to back titles. Their next stop will be USA Nationals on March 25th to defend their national title.

What do you get when your student is a Cheerleader from Rialto? Back to Back State Champions that’s what!!!!!!! Both Junior Varsity and Varsity cheer squads will be moving on to the National Championship.

Congratulations to both our varsity and junior varsity competition teams. They will both be heading to nationals in March!

Once again the dedicated cheer team at Rialto High School took the California State Championship and came out on top earning a 1st place finish.

Now our powerful girls head off to Nationals to defend their National Championship in March.

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Community Members Say Now is the Time for a Recall

05 Feb 2017 Leave a comment

Written by Carlos Bravo

Some people call Karen Larson Coleman “Brave.” Not me. I call anybody, that speaks truth to power, “Fontana.” Because this is exactly what being a part of THIS community is all about!!
“Fontana’s mayor needs to be recalled

Re “Attempted recall of Fontana mayor a waste of effort” (Editorial, Jan. 19):

Written by Karen Coleman
You called the recall effort of Fontana Mayor Acquanneta Warren a waste of time and silly. Do any of you live in Fontana and if so have you traveled our streets?
Have you attended a mayor’s round table meeting to supposedly discuss plans for future downtown renovations and not been allowed to speak.
The audience sat at round tables and were not allowed to speak or if they did speak they would be removed by police officers standing at the exits.
The abuse of power this mayor has forced upon the citizens of Fontana is not silly. Have you heard or listened to her declare war on her enemies? She is a bully!
I could fill a page of your newspaper with stories of abuse but whenever I have contacted your offices no one was interested in covering those stories.
Can Fontana take another 22 months of Warren and her cronies turning our city into a warehouse slum? Huge trucks and dirty air for our children to breathe. Can we take 22 more months of her traveling all over the country with no accountability?
She has broken the camel’s back and we cannot waste another day watching our city go down the drain. Why would any reputable newspaper support this kind of behavior?
– Karen Coleman, Fontana”

#RecalLMayorWarren #WarehouseWarren #Fontana #MyFontana #IntegrityMatters #CharacterCounts #VocalMajority

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Eisenhower High School Celebrates Athlete Full Ride Scholorship

03 Feb 2017 Leave a comment

This Football Season didn’t go as well as some would have hoped but the one thing that proved constant were the leaders of the team were not going to give up until the last game was finished. Lamario Howard not only was key to that leadership on the sidelines of each game but he put it all out on the field playing on offense, defense and special teams. One of my first games this season I watched Lamario Howard and Nick Freeman torch Rialto High School for a combined six touchdowns. The head coach of Azuza Pacific University had this to say about Lamario at the signing day press conference.

Eisenhower High School Principal Scott Sparks and Athletic Director Gilbert Pulido held a signing day event at Eisenhower on Wednesday where the education and sports community gathered to congratulate Lamario on this great day. The school is happy to see the leadership of new coach Al Brown producing talented young men that have the skills to attract the attention of Universities like APU. In our interview with Coach Brown he spoke to the importance of reminding student athletes the importance of hard work and dedication in the classroom and field. It is this old school approach that will continue to produce awesome young men coming out of Eisenhower High School.

Lamario Howard pictured at his signing celebration with family and coaches. Picture courtesy of RUSD Communications Dept

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Carter High School holds Signing Day for Two Athletes

02 Feb 2017 Leave a comment

A ROARING SUPPORT… Flanked by their peers, Carter High School student/athlete, CHS Quarterback, Sonny Robison (seated left) will head to the University of Redlands and Carter Girls Softball Player, Alicia Rivera, heads to Iowa Lakes, after graduation. They signed their letter of intent, this morning at Carter High School.

As Carter High School Principal, Dr. Patricia Chavez, once stated, “Great, quality coaching/teaching, results in great, quality students”… With that said, this morning, at 7:00 a.m., Carter High School Athletic Department. led by Athletic Director, Mr. Kennard Kapono held a full ride scholarship signing for two student-athletes at CHS Career Center. Enjoys some early morning, positive news from the Lions’s Den.

Taken from Rialto USD Facebook Page

A PROUD MOMENT….Carter High School Staff and District Leaders were overjoyed as Sonny Robison, Carter High School Quarterback, (seated left), signed to attend the University of Redlands and Alicia Rivera, Carter Girls Softball Player, signed to attend Iowa Lakes, after graduation. Also pictured are CHS Assistant Principal, Temika Morris, CHS Head Football Coach, Alex Pierce, Head Softball Coach, Omar Fernandez, Assistant Softball Coach, Amanda Alvarado, CHS Assistant Principal, Dr. Eric Schessler, RUSD Superintendent, Dr. Cuauhtemoc Avila, and RUSD Lead Innovative Agent, Dr. Jinane Annous

Taken from Rialto USD Facebook page

Signing for their future….All smiles as Carter High School student/athletes, Sonny Robison (seated left), CHS Quarterback, signed to attend the University of Redlands and Alicia Rivera, Carter Girls Softball Player, signed to attend Iowa Lakes, after graduation.

Taken from Rialto USD Facebook page

Signing for their future….Carter High School student/athlete, CHS Quarterback, Sonny Robison (seated left) signed a full ride to University of Redlands and Carter Girls Softball Player, Alicia Rivera, heads to Iowa Lakes. They signed their letter of intent, this morning at Carter High School. Pictured from left are Carter High School Head Coach Alex Pierce, Mr. (and CHS Asst. Coach) and Mrs, Robison, Carter HS Assistant Softball Coach, Amanda Alvarado, Head Softball Coach, Omar Fernandez, Mr. and Mrs. Rivera, and RUSD Superintendent, Dr. Cuauhtemoc Avila, who shared with the students that he also played football and baseball in high school.

Taken from Rialto USD Facebook page

Carter High School Athletic Director, Kennard Kapono describes the students, as they both intently listen. The students, Sonny Robison and Alicia Rivera signed for a full ride, this morning at Carter High School. “These are hardworking, bright, students and we couldn’t be more proud of them, both,” said Carter High School Head Football Coach Alex Pierce(standing far left), Carter High School Assistant Girls Softball Coach, Amanda Alvarado (middle) and Head Softball Coach, Omar Fernandez stands over Carter Girls Softball Player, Alicia Rivera. Rivera will head to Iowa Lakes, after graduation and Robison will head to the University of Redlands on a full ride.

Taken from Rialto USD Facebook page

Before signing it’s always fun to just be “a kid.” Carter High School student/athlete, CHS Quarterback, Sonny Robison (who heads to the University of Redlands) gets the bunny ears from Carter Girls Softball Player, Alicia Rivera (who heads to Iowa Lakes). They signed their letter of intent, this morning at Carter High School.

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Rialto Now Story Leads To Changes At City Hall & Coverage By Local Media

15 Jan 2017 Leave a comment

“Don’t ever let anyone tell you that your voice isn’t powerful” says editor David Phillips of the Internet site loosely named in the San Bernardino Sun article printed Sunday morning by Jim Stienberg. Mr Phillips and his staff worked hard over the last part of 2016 and early 2017 to highlight some major issues effecting Rialto residents, business owners and taxpayers.

First was the planned secret meeting of the first Rialto sanctuary city committee by Raza Rialto and Councilman Rafael Trujillo which thanks to Mr Phillips and his staff was stopped dead in its tracks with some unexpected help from right wing advocates for following the rule of law.

Second was the travel of two elected officials and two high ranking police officers to Washington DC at a cost of over $17 thousand dollars. This request was once again buried in the consent calander where at times over 50 items will be approved with one simple vote. Not only did our story rack up thousands of hits and readers but the mayor and council were forced to address the travel and explain themselves. On top of that a follow up story by Jim Stienberg of the San Bernardino Sun was written to further highlight to the local community what is happening with this travel.

Our questions Tuesday led to an admission by Mayor Robertson that even though she was staying in Washington for the 20th she would not be going to the inauguration. Now according to the San Bernardino Sun article she is coming home EARLY!!!!!

We started this blog five years ago as a response to the lack of reporting from the bigger media who’s job it is to report on what is going on in the Rialto region. We started our 1st year with only 1,000 views to an average of 5,000 views a month. Our articles have been used in other publications and we’re the first place many news publications go to for information. Much like Jim Stienberg’s article we are the vehicle for making sure that our leaders do not veer to far off course and keep Rialto and the surrounding region moving forward.

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Thousands of Dollars Wasted on Travel for Mayors Private Security Detail

08 Jan 2017 Leave a comment

For years Rialto public leaders have used your tax dollars to go on lavish trips all over the nation. The situation got so bad that an audit 4 years ago led Councilman O’Connell to ask the Council to approve measures that would bring travel spending under control. These changes were short lived as Mayor Robertson has allowed commisoners to travel on the tax payers dime and now the city council has a $99,000 travel budget for the year.

Our Mayor has used the Mayors Conference to use your tax dollars to spend time taking selfies with Presedent Obama in the distant background and eating rich food and staying in 4 star accomidations. All of these are luxuries that the people of Rialto will never get the chance to enjoy. Mayor robertson was questioned for bringing City Clerk McGee with her to lavish travel destinations with no clear reason for the City Clerk to atend.

Now Mayor Robertson is making good on a campaign promise, reports are that if she won she would be taking Cheif Randy Deanda to Washington DC with her. Well we found out how this abuse of tax dollars would bare out. Mayor Robertson is taking Cheif Deanda and Lt. Paul Stella with her to Washington DC has her own personal Security Detail!!!!!!!

Lets break down these travel requests that total more than $7,000!!!!!!

Where in the budget are they pulling this money?
Why are we paying for 4 seperate cab fare’s when they are supposed to be security detail?
How much is the overtime going to cost with these two not being home doing their duties?

We spoke to current Mayors, Council Members and Former Elected leaders and nobody has heard of ever brining their own security detail to any travel. In addition those attending the Trump Swearing in are not brining in their own security they are relying on the Washigton DC city, county and federal law enforcement officers to keep everyone safe.

Residents already on edge after freshman Councilman Rafael Trujillo tried to start Rialto down the road of becoming a Sanctuary City are wondering what is happening to their city. One resident said “when will our council and mayor just do what is right for us” and another said “if Mayor Robertson couldn’t have her raise she will get her money one way or another”.

On top of this $7,000 travel bill for security Mayor Robertson is spending $3,200 minimum on this trip. It is unclear if the taxpayers are paying for Councilman Ed Scott’s travel as well. Unless someone comes to their senses this will be approved on Tuesday January 10th 2017 at 6pm.

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