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Whiz Kid Challenges School Board

It is not every day that an 11-year-old approaches the school board.

NAME: Garrett Smedley, 11

SCHOOL: Murrieta Elementary School, fifth grade

ACCOMPLISHMENT: Garrett recently went before the Murrieta Valley Unified School District school board to ask them to consider making a change to fourth grade field trips. He would like fourth-graders to also visit the Mormon Battalion historical site in San Diego, along with their annual trips to the San Luis Rey Mission in Oceanside. Garrett said it ties in with fourth grade lessons about the history of California, and that the battalion, a group of more than 500 Latter Day Saints, volunteered to help the U.S. Army in the Mexican-American war. The battalion marched through the Temecula/Murrieta Valley in 1847.  To read more about the Mormon Battalion, click here.

KEY TO AWESOMENESS: "He has no fear of anybody or anything, he will talk to anyone," said Jana Smedley, Garrett's mother. "He is our social boy."

Jana, along with Garrett's father, Craig Smedley, said he participates in just about everything--art, choir, athletics. He also keeps up good grades.

Garrett's parents say he hasn't heard back from the school board yet. Going before the school board was part of earning his merit badget in Boy Scouts. He has four brothers, two of which are Eagle Scouts.

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sandalina May 21, 2013 at 02:05 pm
This couldn't possibly happen in a worse place, given the proximity to the freeway, high school, andRead More numerous businesses. UGH! The following is the press release from MPD: On 05-21-13, at 3:27 AM, the Murrieta Police Department received a call of a water-main break in the area of California Oaks Road and Monroe Avenue. Murrieta Police and Murrieta Fire Department initially responded to the scene and discovered a large sinkhole in the westbound lanes of California Oaks Road just west of Jackson Avenue. The sinkhole was approximately 4 feet deep and about 20 feet across. The hydraulic pressure from the water-main break appears to have created this sinkhole and damaged all the westbound lanes of California Oaks from approximately Jackson to Monroe. As a result, the westbound lanes of California Oaks between Jackson and Monroe will be closed for repair until further notice. Rancho Water Officials estimate that these repairs will take approximately one week to complete. When traveling in this area please expect delays and plan an alternate route in order to arrive at your destination on time.
John Kirk De Ritis May 21, 2013 at 08:39 am
I called Rancho was told 3/4 hours from now water will be back up
John Kirk De Ritis May 21, 2013 at 08:39 am
Why hasn't anyone said anything about this my water died literally at 4 am the entire street has noRead More water
Dave Peters May 19, 2013 at 02:44 pm
Hey Maggie, I don't get a chance to talk to the help desk but the ad has gone away for now. I justRead More made a comment on one of Carl Petersons blogs and now the comment has disappeared and no trace of it in my comment history. Are comments still pending proof reading before they post? Was it taken down by the blog author? I realize you guys have made a lot of changes so I'm still not sure if there are bugs being worked out or if some thing else is going on. Any help would be appreciated.
Maggie Avants (Editor) May 18, 2013 at 12:56 am
Hi Dave, I don't see that on my laptop, but it must be annoying on the iPad. I suggest emailingRead More support@patch.com. We also have a feedback form: http://feedback.aol.com/product/patch/?tid=446&r=http%3A%2F%2Fmurrieta.patch.com%2F&ch=
Maggie Avants (Editor) May 18, 2013 at 12:53 am
Hi Heather, I'm glad you like! The design team has been working hard on this for so long. There areRead More still more features coming. :)