Menifee Matters - Community News & Activity Guide - Winter 2024

14 WINTER 2024 Menifee is a city filled with Hometown Heroes. As part of this year's State of the City theme, we will be honoring our Hometown Heroes who continue to make Menifee one of the best places to call home. Meet Tanner O’Dell, a six-year-old hometown hero who courageously saved his three-year-old brother, Gunner, from nearly drowning. Both boys had been taking swimming lessons, and Gunner was eager to put his new skills to use. As their father Kyle was rolling up their pool cover, Gunner excitedly jumped into the deep end of their spa but began to struggle. Tanner saw his brother in distress and quickly rushed over to rescue him. Everything happened so fast that once his father turned around, he noticed that both his sons were wet, and Gunner was crying. Kyle only realized Tanner's heroic act after watching their backyard camera footage. The O’Dell family emphasizes the importance of vigilance, as even with all the proper precautions, a drowning can happen in an instant. TANNER O'DELL A campus supervisor at Kathryn Newport Middle School, Shelly Hobbs is a strong advocate for pedestrian safety in our community. After her son was hit by a car while riding his bike to school, Shelly and her son came together to create a non-profit, Helmet Up, dedicated to helmet safety. Collaborating with local police and fire departments, Helmet Up has drawn community attention to the importance of pedestrian and bike safety and opportunities to increase safety at the school and city level. In addition, Shelly has adopted Gale Webb Action Sports Park to help keep the park clean and riders educated on helmet and bike safety. SHELLY HOBBS