Page 14 - Reedley Exponent 7-12-18

The Reedley Exponent B8 Thursday, July 12, 2018 Perfect attendance winners
Photos Contributed
The Sunrise Kiwanis Club of Reedley presented 12 new bikes to winners of a draw- ing for students in Kings Canyon Unified School District who had perfect at- tendance in May and June.
ABOVE: JeffersonEl- ementary School perfect attendance winner is Leslie Preciado. Alsopicturedis Jefferson Principal Agustin Villarreal.
ABOVELEFT: AltaElemen- tary School perfect atten- dance winner is Zitlali Flores Cantu.
MIDDLELEFT: St.LaSalle School perfect attendance winner Aniyah Padilla (cen- ter). AlsopicturedisSunrise Kiwanian Don Grimes (left) and St. La Salle Principal Sister Lucy Cassarino (right).
BOTTOM LEFT: T.L. Reed Elementary School perfect attendance winner Izabella Bedolla.
NEARLEFT: Greatwestern Elementary School perfect attendance winner Jocelyn Armenta Godinez.
Photo Contributed
Brayden Koop, 10 (center), is pictured with his junior dragster race carattheAutoClubDragwayinFontana. AlsopicturedisBrayden's grandfather, Gene "Pops" Carter (left), and father, Darren Koop.
BRAYDEN
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home a combined total of $170, a Krispy Kreme gift card, and a free family-sized pizza. Braydenattributeshis win to an upgraded clutch and lots of practice. Darren said consistency and focus also played a factor. While Dar- ren works behind the scenes to make sure his son’s car is in good working order, he said the rest is up to Brayden.
“Everything worked per- fect. It all came together at that race,” Darren said of the Father’s Day weekend race. “Everyone was so excited for
LIBRARY
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When it was Fozzie Bear’s turn to read, Allison Ander- son, 10, sat beside him and petted him while Escobedo read a book about dogs with special needs. Anderson was comfortable with Fozzie Bear, herself having pets at home.
Escobedo and her dogs also visit hospitals and re- tirement communities. But, Escobedo said libraries are her favorite place to take her dogs. To become a therapy dog, Escobedo said her dogs had to pass extensive tests related to their temperament and ability to obey instruc- tion. Additionally, they have to work well around medical equipment, noise, and chil-
him.”
With his win, Brayden is
now making a name for him- self in the junior dragster cir- cuit. He was given the nick- name “Koop” by some of his fellow racers.
Darren said drag racing is highly competitive, but for Brayden it’s all about having fun and spending time with his dad and “Pops.” He espe- cially likes camping with them overnight on the race track. Brayden plans to continue rac- ing and go even faster in the years to come.
When he’s not racing, Brayden plays tackle football for the Reedley Titans. This school year, he’s trying soccer.
dren.
“It takes time to get them
to that level, but it’s worth it,” Escobedo said.
Escobedo, who previ- ously worked for Valley Ani- mal Center in Fresno, trained Doxie and Fozzie Bear herself. She also took them to group classes so they would learn to be around other dogs.
Escobedo said therapy dogs are a source of comfort to those they meet, and are proven to lower stress levels. Therapy dogs also help break the stereotype that some people have about aggressive dogs. Escobedo said being around dogs who are trained properly and socialized gives people a chance to see dogs in a positive light.
“It’s a win-win for every- one,” she said.
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