Page 1 - Mid Valley Times 11-26-20 E-edition

Thursday, November 26, 2020
Vol. 2, No. 22
Coronavirus Update — Still Seeing Purple
A holiday
period of
restricted
activities
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
Fresno County — along with all other counties in the Central San Joaquin Valley region — entered the Thanks- giving Week holiday firmly entrenched for a third week in the Purple Tier (widespread) category of positive COV- ID-19 infections.
That meant Sanger, Reed- ley, Parlier, Orange Cove and Del Rey among the rural com- munities faced closed indoor dining, indoor gym and health club restrictions and indoor
See PURPLE on page A16
Trimming the tree
50 cents
Dinuba
to hold
reverse
parade
Dec. 5
By George M. Villagrana
Mid Valley Times
The city of Dinuba Com- munity Services Department will be taking a different ap- proach for the annual Elec- tric Light Christmas Parade this year.
Rick Curiel / Mid Valley Times
A worker with the city of Sanger stood on a hydraulic hoist as he checked lights and connections on the city's Christmas Holiday tree last week. At the start of the week, the Sanger Chamber of Com- merce was working on the details regarding a lighting ceremony, which will be a change from the normal annual gathering because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and state restrictions. There will be a tree lighting and reverse Reedley Electrical Christmas Parade on Saturday, Nov. 28, while Dinuba plans to have an Electric Light Christmas reverse parade on Saturday, Dec. 5.
Reedley's parade set for Saturday, Page A15
Sanger's north corridor plans continue
City's goal is to enhance infrastructure along North Academy Avenue to north of Highway 180
By Rick Curiel
Mid Valley Times
The city of Sanger continues mov- ing forward with plans to develop the recently annexed northern portion of Academy Avenue, a move that will ex- pand the city’s limits to just past High- way 180 and could spell more than $2 million in potential annual tax revenue for the city.
At the Nov. 19 city council meeting, an update was given on the city’s pur-
suit to turn the area into an Enhanced Infrastructure Finance District (EIFD), allowing the city to draw on future tax revenues to fund the infrastructure needed to allow commercial develop- ment.
Presenting the item to the council via videoconference was Debbie Kern of the real estate economics advisory firm Keyser Marston Associates.
“The thought is that because of the strength of State Route 180 as a major east-west transportation route that these commercial opportunities area particu- larly strong in this area,” said Kern of the area’s potential.
The acquisition of the northern cor- ridor of Academy Avenue reportedly stands to add over $510 million of as- sessed property value over the long
term, with over 260 acres of net devel- opable land.
If the city were to participate in the district by itself, it could see possible tax revenue of about $1.6 million annu- ally on commercial developed land. If the County of Fresno were to partner with Sanger and also participate in the district, the city of Sanger could see as much as $2.4 million in annual tax rev- enue.
Those future earnings could fund the build-out cost for the area of anywhere between $22-$34 million.
But that revenue, which would be set aside from general funds as part of the district to pay for the cost of infra- structure, would be not be realized until
See CORRIDOR on page A2
Reedley's Reid wins Fresno State award
Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
Sarah Reid, Community Services director for the city of Reedley, gestured as she addressed the City Council on Nov. 10 after it was announced she had been selected the 2020 Health and Human Services Hero of the Department of Recreation Admin- istration in the College of Health and Human Services at Fresno State.
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
Sarah Reid, Reedley's Community Servic- es director, was honored by her alma mater when Fresno State selected her to be the 2020 Health and Human Services Hero represent- ing the university's College of Health and Hu- man Services.
Reid has managed the city's recreation de- partment that has adjusted and managed to keep programs active despite the ongoing coro- navirus pandemic. She was introduced by City Manager Nicole Zieba at the Nov. 10 Reedley City Council meeting.
"Most agencies in the Valley shut down, peri- od," Zieba said. "We've had city halls shut down. Certainly the recreation programs shut down.
"Ours not only did not shut down, but it is thriving and flourishing, and providing ser- vices through the entire gamut of age ranges we serve. From preschool on up to seniors, and the reason that we are thriving and serving is
See REID on page A2
Classifieds - A6 Directory - A11 Legals - A12-14 Sports - A9
Lifestyle - A7-8
Lights & Sirens - A3, A5 Obituaries - A2-3 Opinion - A4
With the
completely
canceling
the parade
because of
the pandem-
ic, organiz-
ers decided
to hold a
Reverse Parade on Satur- day, Dec. 5, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., rain or shine. The theme is "Rocking and Roll- ing Through 2020."
Stephanie Hurtado, the city's Parks and Community Services director, said the city wanted to safely host events this holiday season.
“We started small with the Fall Harvest Fling and after the success of that event we started brainstorming possi- bilities for the Dinuba Christ- mas Parade,” Hurtado said. “We put out a questionnaire to past participants to see if there was an interest, then we reached out to Tulare County HHSA and submitted safety guidelines and protocols.”
Hurtado said they worked through the guidelines with the county and feel confident they can host the event.
Participants are encour- aged to set up static displays that will be viewed by the public as they drive through the route. The route will be- gin on East Tulare Street then left on L St. and right on West
See PARADEonpageA15
MVT offices will close Nov. 26-27 in observance of Thanksgiving, Black Friday
The Mid Valley Times' business offices in Dinuba, Reedley and Sanger will be closed on Thursday, Nov. 26, in observance of Thanksgiv- ing Day; and Friday, Nov. 27, because of Black Friday.
The Times' three offices will reopen for business at 8 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 30.
Enjoy the holiday!
possibility of