Month: December 2009

SAN JACINTO -The Riverside County Sheriffs Department is looking for more potential victims of a scam. Investigators in San Jacinto say they’ve received a number of complaints about David Jerome Edwards, Sr. People say he posed as a financial adviser, and took out personal loans in their names. But then, they say he kept the

MECCA – With sirens blaring, the California Highway Patrol cleared the way for Santa Claus to ride in to the Saul Martinez Elementary School in Mecca. “We were so excited to see the children, their reaction. They were chanting, ‘Santa! Santa!’ so it was wonderful,” says principal Delia Alvarez It’s part of Chips for Kids.

INDIO – Indio City leaders along with the Human Services Commission met Thursday night to discuss the City’s new proposed Indio Central Park. The Indio Central Parkwould bebuilt on 53 acres of City-owned property near Jackson and Market Streets. The Indio Central Park would feature an aquatic center, 20 acre community park, two football fields,

HEMET – Police have arrested the parents of a 17-year-old girl who’s been missing since the burned body of a teenage boy was found in a backyard in Hemet. Didia and Anthony Sharp were arrested Friday during a search of their home in Hemet. Police Sgt. Dave Quinn said officers found a rifle, handgun and

By News Channel 3newsline3@kesq.comEven if the electricity and gas bill are past due, the Christmas lights will stay on and the turkey in the oven will stay piping hot. Southern California Edison and The Gas Company say they will not cut off anyone’s utilities between December 21st and January 3rd. The announcement came after a

INDIO – Hundreds of children in the desert are walking with confidence and comfort, after unwrapping new shoes Friday morning. Christmas came early for underprivileged students at Van Buren Elementary School in Indio thanks to a group of valley moms. Before the students get to class, secret santas place gifts at every child’S desk. Inside

THOUSAND PALMS – A helicopter was forced the land at the Tri-Palms Golf Course in Thousand Palms. Witnesses say the helicopter came down near the intersection of Ramon and Monterey around 2:50pm. There are no reports of injuries, but the hazardous materials team has been dispatched. The owner of the helicopter is listed with a

INDIO -Tough timesare forcing the city of Indio to cut its budget by $5 million. A memo to Indio city employeesobtained by News Channel 3says the immediate budget solutions include reducing advertising, supplies, travel and professional services. City Manager Glenn Southard also plans to leave most vacant positions empty. Southard says he will propose offering

COACHELLA – Joined by middle school students, city leaders spoke out against gang violence. This comes after the December 3rd murder of Angel Luna. Someone shot him as the teenager rode his bike. Police believe 26-year-old Angel Esparza pulled the trigger. The shooting happened next to the Coachella Boys and Girls Club. Director Quinton Egson

RIVERSIDE -Uncle Sam is offering Riverside County farmers financial assistance to take part in a pilot project that involves using plastic-covered houses to grow fruits and vegetables, it was announced today. Under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s $65 million “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” program, growers who qualify can receive taxpayer funding to cover

WASHINGTON – Vicks issued a recall of its Dayquil Liquicaps, today, due to the lack of child-proofing in its packaging. The recall statement reads: “The cold and flu medicine contains acetaminophen and is not in child-resistant packaging and lacks the statement, ‘This Package for Households Without Young Children,’ as required by the Poison Prevention Packaging

BERMUDA DUNES -The warm weather didn’t stop one Coachella Valley school from holding a snow day today. Christian Schools of the Desert hauled in 30-tons of snowto celebrate the last day of school before Winter Break. This is the third annual event there. A group of fathersknown as “The Watchdogs” raised the money to bring

PALM DESERT -In the middle of the holiday hustle and bustle, tax time might be the last thing on your mind. But it shouldn’t be. There are just 2 weeks left in 2009, and there are still some money saving opportunities out there before the calendar flips. Raphael Tulino with the IRS says as the

RANCHO MIRAGE – Rancho Mirage Mayor Pro-Rem Alan Seman has resigned his position as he continues tobattle Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Heresigned during last night’s council meeting saying it was for health reasons. The council will decide on how to fill his seat at their next meeting which is scheduled for January 7th. In his

INDIO – Sixty-four bundles of marijuana were seized in a routine sweep of a vehicle on the highway 86 checkpoint for U.S. Border Patrol. Agents say their canine team alerted them to a possible drug hit in the bed area of a pick-up truck. Inside, agents found the bundles of marijuana, weighing 400 pounds, and

PALM DESERT – As schools around the state deal with historical budget cuts one local college is turning to the community for help, hoping businesses will dig deep so the school doesn’t crumble. “I’ve never seen a situation like this,” says Fred Jandt, California State University San Bernardino Palm Desert campus Dean. There’s no end

HEMET – The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office has filed one charge of murder against a teenager who is still missing. Jose Manuel Campos, 17, faces the charge in connection with the death of 17-year-old Adrian Rios. Rios’ body was found burned and buried in Campos’ backyard in Hemet. The criminal complaint also alleges that

INDIO – A jury recommended today that a gang member who robbed and killed a man in a Cathedral City driveway be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Miguel Najera, 28, was convicted Dec. 2 of first-degree murder and robbery for the May 28, 2006, slaying of 40-year-old Adrian Cedeno at

COACHELLA -Sheriff’s deputies alerted to some suspicious characters in a Coachella home chased and stopped a vehicle found to contain some electronic equipment, including a television, a Riverside County sheriff’s spokeswoman said. Deputies got a call about the suspicious activity in the 83600 block of Mecca Hills Avenue at 12:06 p.m., and the suspect vehicle