Page 1 - Mid Valley Times 12-16-21 e-Edition

Thursday, December 16, 2021
Vol. 3, No. 24
Apaches football coach Peña steps down
Excelled for 33 years with Sanger program
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
Jorge Peña, a fixture with the Sanger High football pro- gram for more than three decades including the past five seasons as head coach, announced last week that he's stepping down from the Apaches' pro-
gram.
50 cents
Christmas at the Reedley Museum
Peña an- nounced his plans to leave coaching In a Dec. 9 letter to Apache Foot- ball parents and families of players.
Jorge Peña
ABOVE: Karey Olson of the Reedley His- torical Society pointed out some of the items on display as part of the "Christmas Memories Through the Decades exhibit at the Reedley Museum. The exhibit will be on display at the museum Tuesdays and Saturdays through the end of January.
LEFT: A vintage model farm truck crafted from wood from 1943 is among the items on display at the exhibit. Popular holiday toys from the 1930s to the present are part of the exhibit.
Photos by Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
Reedley Historical Society exhibit profiles decades of holiday memories
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
The Reedley Historical Society is giving all people who are young at heart the opportunity to revisit some of their memories of favorite toys and other popular items from their child- hood.
Running
through the
end of Janu-
ary, the Reed-
ley Museum
has an exhibit
on display,
"Christmas
Memories
through the
Decades." The
exhibit – creat-
ed by museum
volunteers Di-
xie Akin, Vicky
Trujillo, Kiera Krum and Alondra Cor- rea — covers popular toys and items from the 1930s up to present day.
See MUSEUM on page 5
"To say it was a difficult de- cision is an understatement," Peña said in the letter. "After a long career, I've decided it's time to make more time for family and other interests that I've put on the backburner for many years.
"I'd like to thank you for your support of Sanger Foot- ball and for the sacrifices you've made in order for your sons to play football here."
Peña posted a 34-18 var- sity record from 2017-2021, capped by a 5-1 record and the County Metro Athletic Conference title in a 2020-21 season that played this spring. Following an upset loss to Kingsburg to open the abbre- viated campaign, the Apaches — quarterbacked by Peña's
See PEÑA on page A9
Sanger student shot and killed on Dec. 12
"CHRISTMAS MEMORIES THROUGH THE DECADES"
When: Exhibit on display through end of January Where: Reedley Museum, 1752 10th St., Reedley Hours: 9 to 11 a.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays
By Juanita Adame
Mid Valley Times
The shocking death of a 17-year-old Sanger student in the early morning hours of Dec. 12 has left many through- out the community in disbelief.
Maria Guadalupe Garcia Gaspar, or “Lupe” as she was known to friends and family was killed in the 1300 block of I Street in Sanger near Edgar Avenue.
“At approximately 1 a.m. Sanger Police officers heard gunshots in the south-east part of town,” said Greg Gar- ner, Sanger’s Police Chief during a press
conference on Dec. 13. “Multiple callers advised dispatch that they’d heard gun- shots in the area and officers quickly re- sponded to the area.”
Once on scene,
Garner said they
found Garcia laying
in the roadway with a
single gunshot wound
to the back of her neck. EMS personnel attempted life saving efforts but were unsuccessful, Garcia died on the scene.
“In all likelihood, she died instantly.” said Garner.
Garner also said they believe the vic- tim had no gang affiliations or ties to gangs and they are unsure of the exact motive for the crime.
“She left her home shortly after mid- night,” he said. “The time between when she left her home and when this event occurred was about an hour time span.”
He said they have reason to believe there were at least two people involved in the shooting and left the area on foot.
See SHOOTING on page A2
London residents welcome holiday season with parade
Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
Santa Claus rode the back of a pickup truck along Kate Road with two of his helpers during the latter half of the 20th an- nual London Christmas Parade on Dec. 11.
MVT Staff Report
Residents of the Central Valley's London enjoyed the return of a live parade on Dec. 11.
After a year's absence be- cause of the COVID-19 pan- demic, the Tulare County com- munity southwest of Dinuba held its 20th annual parade through the streets. A small procession of vehicles, floats and two bands traveled the streets from Avenue 377, turn- ing north long Kate Road and making a counterclockwise loop back through town.
Viewers standing and sit- ting in chairs lined the road- way, taking photos of the par- ticipants. Most riding on floats threw candy out toward specta- tors during the hour-long event.
Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
The Dinuba High School Marching Band played for the crowd while march- ing past London Market along Kate Road during the 20th annual London Christmas Parade on Dec. 11 in the rural Tulare County community. The live parade returned for 2021 after a year's absence because of COVID-19.
Maria Guadalupe Garcia Gaspar
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