Page 1 - Mid Valley Times 4-2-20 E-edition

Thursday, April 2, 2020
50 cents
Adjusting to COVID-19 situation
Vol. 1, No. 40
Dinuba
woman is
first death
in Tulare
County
By Rick Curiel
Mid Valley Times
The first person in Tulare County to die from the COV- ID-19 Coronavirus, and only the second in the Valley, was from Dinuba. She died Satur- day, March 28.
The 66-year-old woman was reportedly admitted to Kaweah Delta Medical Cen- ter on March 14 after suffer- ing from a case of pneumo- nia. By the next day, she was moved to the Intensive Care Unit. She tested positive for COVID-19 on March 16.
Her husband also reported-
See DEATHonpageA9
Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
Gabby Morazan, preschool secretary at Washington Elementary School in Reedley, wipes down an extra coating of antiseptic cleaning solution to containers for items in the preschool classroom. Schools in Reedley, Sanger and Cutler-Orosi districts all have extended closures of campus through Friday, May 1.
Sanger Unified extends closure to May 1
By Rick Curiel
Mid Valley Times
In a special meeting held March 30, trustees for the Sanger Unified School Dis- trict unanimously approved a resolution to extend school closures until Friday, May 1, with the understanding that Superintendent Adela Jones would have the flexibility to change the date based on the weekly developments of the current COVID-19 Coronavi- rus pandemic.
Because of the state man-
See SUSDonpageA9
Longtime Reedley business icon dies at 100
Julie Rucobo posed with her great-niece, Mandy McMenamin,
on the day of her 100th birthday on Jan. 8. Rucobo, who owned and operated the Reedley Flower Shop for more than 60 years, died on March 28.
Danny Jimenez / Photo Contributed
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
Julie Rucobo, a Reedley icon whose business presence spanned six-plus de- cades owning and operating the Reed- ley Flower Shop, died March 28 in Reedley at age 100.
"She was a pillar in the community, a lot of people spoke highly of her," said her son, Richard Rucobo. "She was so upbeat, she never talked derogatory about anyone."
Rucobo and her husband, Arnold Rucobo, purchased the Reedley Flow- er Shop in the early 1950s and ran the
business from two locations; in recent years at the northeast corner of 12th and G streets. Julie continued to run the business after her husband's death before her daughter, Rebecca, took over the business. She returned to run- ning the shop after Rebecca's death, and remained involved with the busi- ness before selling in 2017.
Danny Jimenez, 2019 Reedley Citi- zen of the Year and Rucobo's nephew, said the shop was a popular first job for teenagers over the years. "A lot of high school kids had their first jobs work-
See RUCOBOonpageA9
By George M. Villagrana
Mid Valley Times
Entering the third week of school clo- sure due to the coronavirus outbreak, Dinuba High School students were pre- sented an opportunity to use a school- issued Chromebook during a drive- thru program held March 25-27 at the school’s parking lot.
With one of the challenges facing stu- dents and families who don’t have access to computers, the drive-thru program will help students with distance learn- ing while campus is closed.
"They are being provided the op- tion to check out a chrome book," said Katrina Scheafer, one of several volun- teers assisting with the checkout. “Stu- dents will get an opportunity to make up work and get a chance to bring up a grade.”
Scheafer added, "As far as I know, there is no new learning, It's reciprocal, review and enrichment. If this extends, that may change."
Students were instructed to bring a school ID and a parent or guardian to fill out a paper to receive a Chrome book.
"They have to have a parent be with them, so that they can be the responsible party," she added.
Dinuba High principal Andrew Popp said staff is eager to give back during a difficult time.
"Everybody wants to help students in any way that they can and this is part of it," Popp said.
Dinuba Unified School District Su- perintendent Dr. Joe Hernandez said a total of 400 Chromebooks were passed out.
“Some students already had Chrome- books checked out,” he said.
George M. Villagrana / Mid Valley Times
Volunteers assisted Dinuba High School students who used school-issued Chromebooks during a drive-thru program at the school on March 25-27.
COVID-19 update
As of Tuesday afternoon, (COVID-19) in Fresno County cases, 17 were
March 31, there had been 68 confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019
County, and 45 confirmed cases in Tulare County with one death. In the Fresno
travel-related and nine were confirmed as person- to-person transmission.
Julie Rucobo owned, operated Reedley Flower Shop for more than 60 years
Chromebooks give Dinuba High students flexibility
Classifieds - B2 Directory - B3 Legals - B4-6 Sports - B1 Lifestyle - A5-7 Lights & Sirens - A3 Health & Fitness - B7-8 Obituaries - A2-3 Opinion - A4