Page 14 - Mid Valley Times 10-31-19 E-edition

Thursday, October 31, 2019 | A14 | Mid Valley TiMes
Sanger Veterans Parade set for Saturday, Nov. 2
MVT Staff Report
Channel 26 news anchor Liz Gonzalez, a native of Sanger, along with parade and Veterans’ Network chairman JD Bennett will host pre-pa- rade activities and will serve as announcers for Sanger’s annual Veterans Parade on Saturday, Nov. 2.
Ceremonies preceding the annual Sanger Veterans Parade will begin at 10:30 this Saturday morning at the judging and announcing stand on the corner of 7th and O streets. The parade will step off from the staging areas on 10th Street onto Academy Av- enue at 11:11 a.m. following
SHEPPARD Continued from page A1
After leaving the military, Sheppard picked up a ca- reer he had started while a junior at Dinuba High School – when he served as disc jockey for the KRDU radio station in Dinuba. He would go on to enjoy an ex- tended career in radio and television broadcasting as a radio/TV news and sports announcer.
Soon, Sheppard moved into management and over- saw stations in Fresno, Sac- ramento and the Bay area before being named the Chief Operating Officer for a national group of stations.
After moving to Sanger for what he thought would be his retirement, Sheppard took on a new career path in the newspaper industry as he took over the editor’s position for the Sanger Her-
TRUNK Continued from page A1
“All you have to do is look around you and you realize he has great business,” said Denney of what Sidhu has done for the location. “Sidhu does great.”
Denney has owned the location since 1966. He and his family came to Dinuba form Oklaho- ma in 1958, where they first picked cotton.
Sidhu got the Trunk- or-Treat started last year with Rigo Villarreal of Creativity Car Club of Dinuba.
“We just sat here one day and we talked about it,” said Villarreal of its beginning last year. “He said ‘let’s do a trunk-or- treat, and I said ‘ok, I got you’, and so with my brainstorming and his sponsoring we just went for it.”
Though trophies were given out at Sat- urday’s event, Villarreal said that wasn’t the main purpose for holding it.
“Our whole purpose
a flyover by the Air National Guard’s 144th Fighter Wing.
“The Sanger parade is a preview of the big Veterans Day Parade in Fresno,” shared Bennett. “We usually have many of the same entries.”
Bennett added that the pa- rade is hoping to have 10 divi- sions this year, making it one of Sanger’s biggest Veterans’ parades.
Members of the Native American Veterans Associa- tion will begin morning activ- ities with a traditional cleans- ing and blessing “smudging” ceremony; an invocation will be offered by Pat Niemeyer, retired US Navy Lt. Cmdr and pastor of the Calvary Fel-
lowship
Church;
AMV-
VETS
Post 98
will pres-
ent col-
ors; grand
marshal
Dick
Sheppard
will be in-
troduced;
former Miss Fresno County Valerie Salcedo will sing the National Anthem; and Honor Sanger founder Adam Al- brecht will present handmade quilts honoring members of three Sanger veterans orga- nizations, Chris Conway of
the American Legion, Johnny Perez of VFW and Mike Viar of AMVETS.
There may also be time for additional parade entries. “We always accept entries right up to the day before the parade,” said Bennett. “So if someone decides right up to tomorrow (Friday) afternoon to enter the parade, just give me a call at 559-280-3173 or call the parade volunteer co- ordinator Cheryl Ing at, 559- 875-8387 and we’ll try to work
out something.”
The parade route will be
10th Street to Academy Ave- nue, Academy Avenue to 7th Street, 7th Street to P Street and back to 10th Street.
“Anticipate congestion and plan your day to have fun and enjoy the parade,” added Bennett.
Vendor booths will be set upfrom8a.m.to2p.m.inthe United Health Center’s back parking lot off O Street.
Parade entrants and spon- sors will receive this year’s memorial military challenge coin honoring the U.S. Coast Guard. Others may purchase the coin for $10.
Sanger’s Toyland Parade will take place this year on Sat- urday, Dec. 7. To get involved in the Christmas parade or any of its related activities, contact the Sanger Chamber of Com- merce at (559) 875-4575.
Liz Gonzalez
ald in 2005.
During his time as edi-
tor for the Sanger Herald, Sheppard received several honors, including the Gold Seal award for community service from the Sanger Chamber of Commerce, being named to the Sanger Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame and even being honored by the local USMC organization as “Those Who Served.”
During his tenure at the Herald, the paper received numerous accolades, includ- ing a number of regional, state and even nation awards for investigative journalism.
Having always taken an active role in his commu- nity, Sheppard is a charter member of the Kiwanis Club of Dinuba and the Ro- tary Club of the Fresno Air- port. He was also honored as the Outstanding District
President of the Downtown Kiwanis Club of Fresno as well as the Rotary Clubs of Sanger and the Fresno Air- port.
He is also a member of Sanger High School Athlet- ic Hall of Fame Committee, the Sanger Post 7168 Vet- erans of Foreign Wars, the Sanger Post 98 AMVETS, and even a member of the Sanger Woman’s Club.
He is and his wife, Na- dine, have four children, nine grandchildren and a few great grandchildren. They also have what Shep- pard calls ‘one bossy little dog’, Sadie.
“I hope all the wonder- ful people who were nice enough to invite the Herald into their lives every week for the past 15 years will come out to both parades and say hello or at least wave,” said Sheppard.
ABOVE: Dick Sheppard has been and tak- ing notes and photos at Sanger events for more than 15 years as editor of the Sanger Herald.
Contributed Photo
LEFT: Dick Sheppard served in the U.S. Ar- my after he graduated from Dinuba High School.
Photo Courtesy Dick Sheppard
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Rick Curiel / Mid Valley Times
Otis Denney, owner of Otis’ Plaza, came to the trunk-or- treat event on Oct. 26, all decked out as General George S. Patton.
was giving back to the community,” he said. “We’re here for the smiles on the kids faces.”
A trophy was given out for the best decorat- ed trunk.
A second trunk-or- treat event was held be- hind Jack-n-the-Box on East El Monte later the same night. That event was hosted by PR Trucks 559 and the Tulare Coun- ty Chapter of OndiaDos.
And a third trunk-
One of awards for best deco- rated trunk went to Delilah Moreno for her Dia de
los Muertos themed trunk. Pictured in front of her trunk are Liliana Curiel and Manuel Moreno.
Photo Contributed
or-treat was held at the O’Reilly’s parking lot on West El Monte. It was hosted by Cen-Cal Car Club.
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