The Californian from Temecula, California • 3

ll 10 iW2i A3 Tilt CALIFORNIAN WEDNESDAY. m-mo IS. IW Pedestrian recovering after accident Measure takes center stage at City Council meeting SUSAN WOOD Tiif Caiifornian SUSAN WOOD The Californian TEMECULA A 41-year-old Temecula man is recuperating at home after being hit by a car in Temecula Monday night. Peter Compton said he was out to get some fresh air at 8:45 p.m. when the accident happened.

Compton was crossing Santiago Road on foot when a vehicle driven by 17-year-old Jeni Howell of Temecula ran into him at Corte Al-corisa, according to authorities. She had to be terribly distracted, said Compton, adding that he wore a bright yellow raincoat at the time. I never go out at night without it. At the time he was hit, Comptons first thought was disbelief. He swears Howell had ample opportunity to notice him.

How cant you see, he added. Comptons girlfriend Dawn Clair said she had a premonition something may have happened to him. Fearing that her boyfriend might have slipped on a ladder, Clair said she just had this feeling that something was wrong. She tried to call him several times Tuesday to no avail. Once Temecula police ar rived on the scene, Compton was transported to Inland Val- ley Regional Medical Center in Wildomar where his facial in- juries were treated.

After being held for observation he was later transferred to Kaiser perience potential devastation to the recreation services we offer our citizens, said Stone, who characterized the meeting night as symbolic to the historic upcoming community election. Its very clear. This decision will determine what kind of city well have, said the citys Community Services Department Director Shawn Nelson after the meeting. These serious issues serve as implications not only today, but for many years to come, added Nelson. With the concern, came confidence from Roberts.

If any city is going to vote for it (the measure), it will be us (Temecula) as long as they (citizens) realize that its (Measure C) not a new tax, said Roberts, basing his belief on past experience. Nelson agreed, calling the measure a replacement tax. Both Roberts and Nelson pointed out that its been customary for the city to notify property owners of what their assessments will be. And no one has shown up to complain, said Roberts about the public hearings over the last five years. Measure was prompted by the passage of Proposition 218, which requires local governments to put more tax measures to a general vote, including some taxes and assessments already being collected.

Specifically, Proposition 218 limits use of flat-rate parcel taxes and other property-related fees that critics say cities have used to circumvent Proposition 13. Such fees have been used to pay for parks, fire protection, lighting, ambulance service, libraries and water and other public services. After the general election last November, hundreds of civic leaders statewide have gathered to discuss the impact of Proposition 218s passage. Under the measure, only property owners not renters have a say in the vote. The vote is still out on the measures final outcome.

Firefighters take Peter Compton to an ambulance after he was struck by a car on Santiago Road Monday night in Temecula. TEMECULA The City Council brought Measure to the forefront of their first meeting of the year Tuesday night. As the panel breezed through the business at hand in a record 49-minute meeting, pivotal items in the agenda spurred discussion of the parks and recreation tax set for a community vote March 4. With Measure Temecula voters will determine whether to continue paying annual assessments in the amount of $74.44 per single family household. Extending the assessments beyond June 30 requires a two-thirds vote.

In a public appeal to vote 'Yes on Councilman Karel Linde-mans addressed the audience and declared that ano vote would kill this city from a lack of funding. Lindemans was responding to an agenda item in which the council unanimously approved the funding of furniture and office equipment for Parkview Fire Station 84. The Measure issue also arose during the Temecula Community Services District meeting immediately following council business. Councilman Ron Roberts expressed reservations about approving a $23,700 amendment to a design services contract for the Duck Pond project, even as it's considered to be a pet project of Roberts. With that, all council members voted in favor of continuing the item until after the community vote.

Reiterating a common degree of concern among many City Council members, Councilman Jeff Stone mentioned the $2.4 million deficit involved in maintaining services without the assessment funds. Were not fooling ourselves here. If we dont have the revenue to fund our parks, well ex- a plastic surgeon Thursday. Although he sustained a gash to the head which he says has left him with much pain and stiffness, he says hes okay. Thank God Im alive, he said reflecting on the seriousness of the accident.

said Compton about his extensive medical attention. And 1 hate hospitals, he said, adding he was relieved to be home with Clair by his side. I try to look out for him. I love him, she said. Compton is set to meet with Fontana Permanente in Fontana.

To add insult to injury, the warehouse foreman for Ralphs supermarkets is technically on vacation from his job in Rainbow. It was really an ordeal, IN BRIEF Supervisors will lease more space to adult day care center County trying to clear the agenda of issues that do not involve policy issues CHARLES HAND Thf Californian REGIONAL BRIEFS City taking input on spending of federal grant money MURRIETA The city is seeking public input on how to spend a federal grant aimed at improving neighborhoods and providing services to lower income people. To discuss options, the city is planning a public forum tonight at 7 p.m. during which time interested parties may make their suggestions on how to spend the more than $250,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds. The meeting will be held in the council chambers of City Hall at 26442 Beckman Court.

Nonprofit groups and other public agencies may also apply to receive funding under a program that meets the block grant criteria. Those applications are due at City Hall by Jan. 22. Application packets are available at City Hall. The expansion increases the adult day care space to 1,194 square feet.

The new monthly rate will be retroactive to Sept. 1, 1996 and continue until the end of the lease period in June of 1998. In other business, an ordinance limiting the time a temporary employee can work for the county to 1000 hours per year was introduced. It is scheduled to be passed next week. The limit is a response to complaints from the countys largest union that too many temporary workers were being kept for too long.

In another personnel matter, supervisors gave first reading to a change in county law turning over responsibility for certain re-employment status decisions to the county executive officer. The change will give the CEO the authority to approve or disapprove a department request to allow continuous service credit to a former employee who is being rehired. Employees who have lost continuous service credit because of the circumstances of their time in other employment may get some or all of the credit restored if their department heads get authorization from the supervisors. Supervisors have indicated they would like to deal with fewer routine matters on their weekly agendas. Moving responsibility for the re-employ-ment decision to the CEO is part of the move to clear the agendas of issues that do not involve policy decisions.

RIVERSIDE Supervisors agreed Tuesday to lease additional space for the adult day care program at the Kay Ceniceros Multipurpose Senior Center in Menifee Valley. The board agreed to allow Cooper-Burkhart House to use a conference room adjacent to the part of the building used for the program. Cooper-Burkharts monthly payment will double from $500 per month to $1,000. OBITUARIES Man convicted of beating stepdaughter LOS ANGELES Superior Court jurors convicted a man of second-degree murder in the beating death of his 4-year-old stepdaughter. Roberto Cauchi faces life in prison during sentencing Jan.

31 before Judge Curtis Rappe, prosecutor Daniel Wright said Tuesday. Cauchi told police on the night of March 9, 1996, when Christina Rodriguez died, that he punished her for not eating her dinner by forcing her to run around the dinner table. If the little girl stopped or slowed due to fatigue, Cauchi said he would yank her by the arms to get her running again. When she stopped breathing, Cauchi said he undressed her and tried to resuscitate her, even sticking a turker baster down her throat to clear her airway. The prosecutor said Cauchi used the tool to sodomize the girl.

Neil Cantwell of Hemet died Jan. 10. He was 65. Born in Anaheim June 1, 1931, he lived in Hemet for three years. Cantwell worked as an engineer before he retired in 1992.

He enjoyed sailing. Survivors include his wife, Patricia Cantwell; two sons, Matthew Cantwell and Christopher Cantwell; two step-daughters, Debra A. Mack and Rebecca J. Ruff; and a sister, Gene Cantwell. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1 p.m.

today at St. Catherines Catholic Church in Temecula. Burial will follow at 2 p.m. at Temecula Cemetery. Ex-customs employee pleads guilty to divulging information LOS ANGELES A former U.S.

Customs Service employee pleaded guilty to divulging information that allowed illegal food products to be smuggled into the country, U.S. Attorney Nora Manella said Tuesday. Denise Britt, 43, of Inglewood, resigned from Customs when charges were filed last year. She entered her plea Monday. Britt will be sentenced by U.S.

District Judge Richard Paez March 13. Britt admitted passing the confidential information to Joan Gillam. Gillam pleaded innocent to smuggling prohibited products and bribing a Food Drug Administration official to get the items into the country. Former FDA official Liz Mc-Girt pleaded innocent to accepting a bribe. Gillam and McGirt are set to go to trial March 4.

Man arrested for killing store clerk in Long Beach LONG BEACH A man wanted for killing a Long Beach store clerk was arrested in Oakland, police said Tuesday. Andre Gerald Wilson was arrested Monday by FBI agents, federal marshals and Oakland police officers who received an anonymous tip. The caller saw a supermarket surveillance videotape and recognized Wilson. The tape recorded the fatal shooting of Sary San, 38, on Tu-ly 26, 1996. The NBC-TV show Unsolved Mysteries, aired the tape and featured the unsolved case in September 1996 and again last month.

1907, he lived in Hemet for 18 years. Father Murphy served as a chaplain in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1946. He retired in 1982. Survivors include three nephews, John Murphy of Arlington, Texas, Joseph Murphy of Pittsburgh, and Father James Murphy of New Bedford, Pa.

Rosary will be prayed at 5 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, at 780 S. State St. in Hemet.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 17, with burial at Holy Ghost Cemetery in Hemet. Miller-Jones Mortuary of Hemet is handling arrangements. Donations may be made to Holy Ghost Fathers, San Antonio, Texas.

Magdalena Salas Magdalena Salas of Temecula died Jan. 13 at Hemet Valley Medical Center. She was 75. Born in Mexico, July 22, 1921, she lived in Temecula for 16 years. Salas worked as a Licensed Vocational Nurse.

She loved crocheting and gardening. Survivors include one son, Ricardo Salas of Los Angeles; two daughters, Alicia Lara of Temecula, Adele Harrison of San Dimas; five grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren. Services were held Tuesday at Valley Funeral Home with private burial. Neil Cantwell Anthony Cappuccilli Anthony Cappuccilli of Sun City died Jan. 11 of cancer at his home.

He was 80. Born in Warren, R.I., Oct. 25, 1916, he lived in Sun City for 11 years. Cappuccilli served in the U.S. Army from 1942 through 1946.

He was a member of St. Vincents Catholic Church. He was a special education teacher with the Newark City School District for 20 years and past president of the Italian Club of Sun City. Survivors include his wife, Pauline of Sun City; two sons, James of Anaheim and Paul of Huntington Beach; two sisters, Marguerite Cuzzone of Barrington R.I. and Josephine Ilassett of Middletown, R.I.; and six grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at St. Vincents Catholic Church with burial at Riverside National Cemetery. Miller-Jones Mortuary handled arrangements. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Ramona Hospice, 27851 Bradley Sun City, Calif. 92586.

Sue-Ellen Marie Ladewski Sue-Ellen Ladewski of Temecula died Jan. 8 in Murrieta of a stroke. She was 39. Born in South Bend, March 30, 1957, she lived in Temecula for six months. She was a receptionist and computer input operator.

Survivors include her parents, Stan and Jean Ladewski of South Bend, her fiance, Jose Ala-torre of Temecula; sister Michaelle Burtak of Niles, and a niece, Lisa Bursch of Costa Mesa. A funeral Mass will be celebrated today at St. Stanislaus Church in South Bend, Ind. Arrangements were handled by Valley Funeral Home in Murrieta. June Clark June Clark of Wildomar died Jan.

12 of a heart attack and stroke. She was 61. She was bom Dec. 1, 1935, in Hackensack, N.J. and lived in Wildomar for 15 years.

Survivors include one son, Wilbur Clark Jr. of Cedarville; three daughters, Sharon Iluther and Rochelle Ewing, both of Cedarville; and Dawn Ann Clark of Wildomar; and five grandchildren. Visitation will be at 10 a.m., with funeral services at noon, Thursday, Jan. 16, at Valley Funeral Home Funeral in Murrieta. Burial will be at 2 p.m.

at Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Ave. Father Joseph B. Murphy lather Joseph Murphy of Hemet died Jan. 12 of respiratory failure at Villa Rancho Bernardo, San Diego, lie was 89. Born in Pittsburgh, la.

Feb. 9, Man killed for pulling pen out of pocket WEST HOLLYWOOD A 30-year-old man shot and killed by a deputy when he pulled an object from his pocket only had a pen in his hand. Roger Marito, of Los Angeles, was shot Monday night after he attacked a person inside an exotic car showroom and then refused arrest. Los Angeles County sheriffs Deputy Sean Ruiz said he tried to calm Marito down and convince him to surrender. Deputy Carrie Stuart said Ruiz tried pepper spray to subdue Marito, and also used his baton, but stopped when Marito pulled an item from his pocket.

The deputy shot Marito when Martito refused to drop the object and instead raised his arm and took a step toward the deputy. Ruiz fired one round from his 9mm service weapon, killing Harry Coon Rosen Harry Rosen died Jan. 11 of complications from surgery in Sun City. He was 88. He was born in Lincoln, Neb.

and was raised Rosen was in the American Softball Hall of Fame. He worked as general manager of Caliente Race Track in Tijuana. He also managed the newly opened MGM Grand Hotel in lats Vegas and its Jai Alai fronton before he retired at age 76. Survivors include his fiancee, Anne La Sala of Sun City; two daughters; three sisters; a nephew, Michael Glass of Encinitas; seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren. No services were scheduled.

Interment was in Las Vegas..