Mid Valley Times 7-15-21 E-edition

Thursday, July 15, 2021
Vol. 3, No. 2
Officer accused of sexual battery
50 cents
Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
Bryan Marsh, new firefighter and paramedic for Dinuba, looked on as his 8-year-old son, Clayton, pinned on his badge on July 13.
Dinuba
adds new
firefighter/
paramedic
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
The city of Dinuba wel- comed its newest firefighter and paramedic when Bryan Marsh was sworn in during the Dinuba City Council meet- ing on July 13.
Marsh, a Visalia resident, has worked with the depart- ment for nearly two decades as a paramedic and added the title of firefighter as part of his job promotion. He was pinned at the brief ceremony by his 8-year-old son, Clayton.
Marsh's extensive para- medic experience includes a stint as a flight medic with Mercy Air and time as an ad- junct paramedic instructor for West Hills College, Lem- oore. He was welcomed to his new post by Fire Chief Jordan Webster, council members and city officials.
Also at the July 13 meeting, Karla Radtke was honored for her 15 years-plus of service as a landscape technician with the city. She received a plaque of appreciation for her time with the city.
More than 1 incident may have occurred involving Sanger PD officer Torrence
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
A Sanger police officer was briefly jailed and placed on administrative leave after being arrested last week on charges of sexual bat-
tery and unlawfully de- taining a person while on duty. The Fresno County Sheriff's office said there also may be other incidents of mis- conduct, and in recent days as many as eight cases come to light.
J.D. Torrence
Image courtesy of Fresno County Sheriff's Office
Greg Garner, Sanger Chief of Police, spoke during a July 7 news conference as Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims looked on. Sanger police officer J.D. Torrence was arrested on June 24 on suspicion of sexual battery to a woman during a traffic stop on June 23.
J.D. Torrence, a res-
ident of Corcoran who
joined the Sanger Police Department as an officer in 2016, was booked into Fresno County Jail on July 7, and was released from custody on July 8 after posting a $50,000 bond on a initial bail of $250,000. The sheriff office handled the investigation at SPD's request after
a complaint was filed at the department on June 24.
Torrence is accused of sexual battery to a woman that occurred after a traf- fic stop in Sanger on June 23. Accord-
ing to the sheriff's office, Torrence — who was alone on patrol — stopped his patrol vehicle to check on a parked car
See ARREST on page A16
Sanger Chamber award winners
Two years will be honored on July 30
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
The Sanger Chamber of Com- merce's annual awards banquet not only is returning for 2021, it's offering twice the show.
After a year's absence because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the banquet is back and will be held at the Belmont Country Club in Fres- no on Friday, July 30. Dinner is at 6 p.m., followed by the program.
Headlining the Class of 2021 recipients is Hall of Fame induct- ee Ken Marcantonio and Citizen of the Year Denny Noller.
Marcantonio was a fixture in the Sanger education scene for more than five decades; teach- ing social studies at Sanger High
School for 34 years, including 25 years as a senior advisor, before retiring in 2000. Finding he missed the students in his first years after retirement, he ran for and won a seat on the Sanger Unified School
SeeCHAMBERonpage A16
Image Courtesy of Sanger Chamber of Commerce
Ken Marcantonio smiled when he learned he was named the Sanger Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame honoree for 2021 on July 7.
96th ANNUAL AWARDS BANQUET
When: Friday, July 30, social hour at 5 p.m., show/dinner at 6 p.m.
Where: Belmont Country Club, Fresno
Theme: The Great Gatsby (period attire is encouraged)
Tickets: Sanger District Chamber of Commerce at 875-4575
Reedley PD adds a sergeant with promotion of Kelly
Danny Jimenez / Photo Contributed
New Reedley police Sgt. Tim Kelly flashed a smile while Police Chief Joe Garza made comments during Kelly's promotion ceremony at Reedley City Hall on July 13.
MVT Staff Report
The Reedley Police De- partment has added a new sergeant to its ranks, and he's a familiar face.
Tin Kelly, who has been with the department since September 2013, was for- mally promoted on July 14, but was introduced to his new position of sergeant su- pervisor during a brief cer- emony July 13 at Reedley City Hall Council Chambers.
Since joining the depart- ment, Kelly has served in a variety of roles including field training officer, Ex- plorer adviser, Honor Guard
member and a use force in- structor specializing in elec- tronic shock (Taser) devices.
Kelly's promotion cere- mony was the lone activity in the council chambers on June 13, as the regularly scheduled Reedley City Council meet- ing was canceled because of a lack of agenda items. The council will next meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 27.
•••
It's not completely bar-
ren in the Reedley Council Chambers this week, as the Reedley Planning Commis- sion has scheduled a meeting for 5 p.m. Thursday, July 15.
Commissioners will dis- cuss and vote on two public
hearing items at the meet- ing. First, the commission will consider an environ- mental assessment and con- ditional use permit applica- tion authorizing an expan- sion to the north end of the Airtime BMX facility near the Reedley Municipal Air- port to use for parking and a strider track.
Commissioners also will vote on a conditional use permit for construc- tion of a 4.200 square foot convenience market with a drive-through window that provides gasoline service, convenience retail and quick service food at 1625 E. Di- nuba Ave.
Classifieds - A10 Directory - A6 Legals - A11-14 Sports - A9 Lifestyle - A7-8 Lights & Sirens - A3, A5 Obituaries - A2-3 Opinion - A4