Page 7 - Reedley Exponent 7-12-18

The Reedley Exponent BPanorama
Sunrise Kiwanis awards students with bikes for perfect attendance See B8
Section | Thursday, July 12, 2018 www.reedleyexponent.com
A reader's best friend
Reedley (Fresno County) CA 93654
Reedley Library offers 'Read with a Dog' program on Saturdays
Photo Contributed
Brayden Koop, 10, is pictured next to his junior dragster race car which travels at speeds above 50 miles per hour. Brayden recently earned the title of "Junior Dragster Champion" in his age bracket at a Southern Cali- fornia competition held in June.
Immanuel
student wins
dragster race
By Jodie Reyna
Mid Valley Publishing
At 10 years old, Brayden Koop is driving at speeds above 50 miles per hour - not on the street, but on the racetrack.
Brayden races junior drag- sters, and recently earned the title of “Junior Dragster Champion” in his age bracket at a Southern Cali- fornia Drag Racing Association (SCEDA) competition June 16-17. The race was held at the Auto Club Dragway in Fontana, which also hosts NASCAR.
“I was surprised,” Brayden said.
This is the first competition that Brayden won since he began racing three years ago at age 6. He will enter the fifth grade at Im- manuel Schools in August.
Brayden races with his grand- father, Gene “Pops” Carter, who got Brayden hooked on the sport. Carter also raced in the SCEDA competition in June, but did not place. He has been racing since the 1970s.
“It was good to see him win,” Carter said of his grandson’s win.
Brayden’s car is a scaled-down version of a top fuel dragster. It travels 1/8 mile in about 12 seconds and hits speeds of up to 52 miles per hour.
At the Southern California competition, Brayden’s car sported a new blue and white wrap that he received for his June birthday.
Brayden won an event on each day of the competition. He took first in the qualifier for Saturday’s raceand4thinSunday’srace. But, on Sunday, Brayden also beat out the number one qualifier, earning him the championship title. He raced a total of 10 rounds between both days.
“It’s unheard of to win two days in a row, especially in his class,” said Darren Koop, Brayden's proud father.
For his wins, Brayden took
See BRAYDEN page B8
Family night at RHS pool
The Reedley Community Ser- vices Department is holding its an- nual “Family Night at the Pool” on Friday, July 13.
The event will be held from 8 to 10 p.m. at the Reedley High School Aquatics Complex on Man- ningAvenue. DJ“Toeknee”willbe on hand to provide music through- out the night.
Sarah Reid, Interim Commu- nity Services Director, said fami- lies are invited to swim or bring a chairandsitonthepooldeck. Wa- ter flotation devices are allowed. Reid said children 12 and under will not be allowed through the gates without a parent. Regular pool fees apply.
For details, call the Commu- nity Services Department at (559) 637-4203.
By Jodie Reyna
Mid Valley Publishing
It's summer vacation, which means that valuable skills learned in school can get rusty.
A newly reinstated program at the Reedley Library called "Read with a Dog" is helping children to sharpen their reading skills over the summer, and they get to cuddle up withafurryfriend. Beginnerread- ers also benefit.
Each Saturday morning, Shan- non Escobedo brings her two certi- fied therapy dogs from the Wonder Valley area to the Reedley Library toreadwithchildren. Escobedoisa volunteer with the the Fresno County Public Library system’s “Read with a Dog” program which is available every Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Reedley Library.
As a volunteer, Escobedo says she has one of the best jobs in the world.
“Even on slow days, I get to hang out in the library and read with a dog,” she said.
The "Read with a Dog" program has been reinstated after being un- available for a while.
“It’s an excellent program. I am very fond of it,” said Terrance McArthur, a representative from the Fresno County Public Library. “Often, children who won’t really talk will open up with the dogs. It’s a positive experience for them. They really like it.”
Escobedo’s dogs are named “Doxie” and “Fozzie Bear.” Doxie is an 8-year-old Chihuahua, Shih Tzu, and Dachshund mix. Fozzie Bear is a 4-year-old Golden Retriever mix.
"I love bringing the dogs out and instilling the joy of reading to kids."
– Shannon Escobedo, A volunteer with the "Read with a Dog" program
“I love bringing the dogs out and instilling the joy of reading to kids,” Escobedo said.
Escobedo is a member of the Fresno chapter of Therapy Dogs International, which evaluates and certifies handlers and their dogs and
connects them with area organiza- tions, such as the Reedley Library.
On Saturday morning, June 16, Escobedo wheeled her dogs into the library in a large pet carrier. The two dogs were anxious to get out. Doxie was first.
“Doxieisaveteran. Helovesto read,” Escobedo said. “He’s been do- ing this a long time.”
Maggie Morales, 8, was hesitant to approach Doxie, but soon warmed up to him. She sat next to Doxie as Escobedo read to the pair. Escobe- do always brings an assortment of books with her, but also invites chil- dren to bring their own.
Escobedo said reading to a dog has been proven to increase com- prehension and literacy in children, especially beginning readers. The dogs don’t pass judgment and chil- dren can talk to the animals about the pictures.
“It’s nice to see kids getting in- volved in reading and storytelling,” Escobedo said. “And they get to meet a great dog.”
See LIBRARY page B8
Shannon Escobedo brings her two therapy dogs to the Reedley Library every Saturday morning for the "Read with a Dog" program for children. Escobedo's dogs are certified therapy dogs through the Fresno chapter of Therapy Dogs Interna- tional.
ABOVE: Escobedo(left) reads a book about dogs with special health needs. AllisonAnder- son, 10, and Escobedo's dog, Fozzie Bear, listen attentively.
RIGHT: MaggieMorales, 8, sits next to Doxie, a therapy dog who also
participates in the "Read with a Dog" program.
Jodie Reyna /The Exponent
KCUSD eighth-graders excel in academics
Nineteen T. L. Reed students receive 'Husky Honors' award
Navelencia recognizes top students with 'Patriot Award'
Photo Contributed
T.L. Reed K-8 School chose 19 eighth grade students for the 2018 Husky Honors. The award recognizes eighth-graders for academics, citizenship, community ser- vice and extracurricular involvement. Here are this year’s honorees. In the bottom row (from left) are Elizabeth Galvan, Lauren Torres, Josiah Friedenberg, Maryjane Lucero, Austin Jones, Michael Gutierrez-Tottoc, Emiliano Medina and Josh San- tiago. In the top row (from left) are Madison Gabaldon, Graciela Garcia, Madalyn Scroggins, Rachael Gutierrez, Angelina Romero, Kalleah Jimenez, Mauricio Fer- reyra Ruiz, Mariah Nourian, Riley Hammond, Eric Dominguez and Samari Duran.
Photo Contributed
Navelencia Middle School has selected six eighth grade students as its Patriot Award winners for 2018. The honor is presented to students who excel in aca- demics, athletics and community activities. For the first time, all the selected students have a 4.0 cumulative grade point average. Students who were eligible for the award had to write an essay about their experiences at Navelencia and their hopes for the future. The Patriot Award Committee then interviewed the fi- nalists. The Patriot Award recipients were selected by averaging their scores from the applications, essays and interviews. ABOVE: The 2018 Navalencia Middle School Patriot Award winners are (from left) Emily Medina, Morgan Gates, Jen- nifer Garcia, Paola Rangel, Alexa Valdez and Gabriela Lemus.