Thursday, August 6 | Volume 40 No.21

THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2026

WESTSIDESTORY NEWSPAPER

SBCUSD Police Urge Drivers to Slow Down as Students Return to School

Santa Clarita Native

Participates in World's Largest International Maritime Warfare Exercise ern California at Santa Barbara in 2020. Olivero joined the Marine Corps five years ago.

"I joined the Marine Corps after being around it my whole life," Olivero said. "My father served 22 years in the Corps, and I had a total respect for him, and I also wanted to be active and have an active lifestyle."

The skills and values needed to succeed in the Marine Corps are similar to those found in Santa Clarita.

"Early on, it was instilled in me the ability to adapt to pressure," Olivero said. "I didn't have a lot of pressure on me, but I was ex- posed to it at a young age, and af- ter joining the Corps, it prepared me more than those who weren't." Today, Olivero serves as a ship's team embarkation officer.

As the world's largest internation- al maritime exercise, 31 nations, approximately 40 surface ships, five submarines, 14 national land forces, over 140 aircraft and more than 25,000 personnel will partic- ipate in RIMPAC 2026. This ex- ercise provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain cooperative re- lationships that are critical to en- suring safety at sea and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC

2026 marks the 30th exercise in a series that began in 1971.

An Urbita Elementary School student (Photo by Corina Borsuk and providec SAN BERNARDINO, CA-As nearly 44,000 students returned to San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) cam- puses for the start of the new school year on Monday, Aug. 3, the District's School Police De- partment is urging motorists to exercise extra caution around schools and along student travel reads on the playground. courtesy of SBCUSD) school, I encourage every driver to slow down, stay focused and be patient. A few extra seconds can make all the difference in protect- ing a child and helping ensure ev- ery student arrives safely at school and returns home to their family."

Drivers are also encouraged to eliminate distractions by putting away cell phones and keeping their full attention on the road. A moment of inattention can have life-changing consequences.

To help ensure a safe start to the school year, SBCUSD School Po- lice officers will have an increased presence around campuses and along school routes during arrival and dismissal times. Officers will assist with traffic flow, enforce traffic laws and work alongside school staff to help students arrive

By Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist John Osborne, Navy Office of Community Outreach

PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII -

2nd Lt. Philip Olivero, a native of Santa Clarita, California, is as- signed to the 15th Marine Expe- ditionary Unit (MEU) embarked aboard USS Essex, a U.S. Navy warship participating in the bien- nial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in and around the Hawairoutes.

As families adjust to new routines and students return to classrooms, traffic is expected to increase sig- nificantly during morning arrival and afternoon dismissal.

School Police are reminding drivers to slow down, obey posted school zone speed limits and re- main alert for students walking, riding bicycles, skating and using other forms of transportation to and from school, said School Po- lice Chief John Guttierez.

"We all play a role in keeping our students safe," Chief Gut- tierez said. "As students return to ian Islands.

safely each day.

Olivero graduated from West Ranch High School in 2015 and earned a bachelor's degree in his- tory from the University of South-

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