Page 2 - Mid Valley Times 9-17-20 E-edition

Thursday, September 17, 2020 | A2 | Mid Valley TiMes
Virtual Miss Dinuba pageant Saturday
By Rick Curiel
Mid Valley Times
Only 50 people will be al- lowed at this year’s Miss Dinu- ba Pageant, an event that will be held this Saturday, Sept. 19. at an undisclosed location to protect the privacy of those involved and to prevent a large crowd from gathering.
The pageant will take place under COVID-19 precautions, with each contestant allowed four seats for family and friends. Social distancing will be practiced and those attend- ing must also use face cover- ings.
The 105th Miss Dinuba Pageant will certainly be much different from those
in previous years. The pan- demic threatened to do away with this year’s pageant, as it did many events in Dinuba – such as the Cinco de Mayo pageant and festival as well as the city’s annual Raisin Day Festival.
But when this year’s con- testants considered the pos- sibility of a canceled pageant
they did everything in their power to prevent that from happening. In stepped pag- eant coordinator Mona Car- rion, who has been involved with the Miss Dinuba pageant committee for several years.
Carrion, moved by the girls’ willingness to see the pageant through, spearheaded the efforts to keep this year’s
event on track.
Those efforts will culmi-
nate on Saturday at 7 p.m., when eight contestants vie for the coveted crown of Miss Di- nuba.
To keep the pageant from going to long and to minimize unnecessary exposure, each
See PAGEANT on page A15
Karen Cabellos is the 17-year- old daughter of Enrique Velasquez and Rosa Pena. She is one of six siblings.
While studying at Dinuba High, Karen has been active in various clubs and organizations, includ- ing the Migrant Club, FFA, HOSA, Ignite, Key Club, NAMI, the Med Pathway and the Big Brother and Big Sister Club. Her efforts in and out of the classroom have earned her honors as Emperor of the Month and a State and Greenhand degree.
She has also been part of com- munity services through the DHS MED Pathway and has assisted at the Omni Clinic Christmas Drive. As part of her high school’s FFA program, Karen has spent the sum- mer raising a lamb. Her name is Xena.
For her platform, Karen chose to bring awareness to mental health and emotional distress.
“I have seen many children and adolescents who are fearful when first recognizing a mental health is- sue within themselves,” she said of her decision. “I want to reach out and show them they are not alone.”
She said she would like to be- come the next Miss Dinuba be- cause she would like to build stron-
Karen Cabellos
ger connections within her commu- nity. Her hope is to bring Dinuba into a new light and inspire others to take opportunities without hav- ing fear.
After graduating from high school, Karen plans to attend the University of California, Berkley and study Child Development and Biology.
Natalie Gonzalez is the 17-year-old daughter of Juan Carlos and Sandra Gonzalez and is the youngest of three siblings.
Throughout her first three years at Dinuba High, Natalie has maintained a high standard of academic excellence. With an accumulative grade point av- erage of 4.67, the senior is currently ranked as the top student in her class. Her academic achievements have earned her honors as a three-year mem- ber of the DHS Honor Roll, making the Principal’s List and being named Em- peror of the Month three times.
She has been a two-year HOSA state leadership finalist as well as a two-year HOSA international leadership finalist. All the while, Natalie has spent time on the volleyball court, four years as a member of the Dinuba High School volleyball team and five years as part of the Dinamite Volleyball Club.
Somewhere she has also found time to be part of the Accept Club, the Spirit Club, the DHS MED Pathway, CIA (Catholics In Action) and the Ivy League Project.
Natalie is also the 2017 Cinco de Mayo Princess and currently holds the title of Cinco de Mayo Queen.
She chose Down Syndrome Aware- ness for her platform, something close to home for Natalie as her sister Hope
Natralie Gonzalez
was born with Down Syndrome. Natalie said would like to be the next Miss Dinuba to continue connecting
with the community.
“I have learned first-hand that a
title is so much more than a sash and a crown,” she expressed. “It’s the con- nections and relationships...it’s the op- portunity to pursue higher education and it’s representing my community with pride.”
After graduating from high school, Natalie plans to attend the University of California, Berkley and study Psy- chology. She would like to become a Neuropsychiatrist.
These are the final two profiles of candidates for Miss Dinuba
Obituaries
Juan Alejandro
Juan Alejandro of Orosi died Sept. 5 in Porterville. He was 91.
Mr. Alejandro worked as a farm laborer.
He is survived by four sons, five daugh- ters and 26 grandchil- dren.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thurs- day, Sept. 17 at Dopkins Dinuba Outstanding warrant/arrest Funeral Chapel.
Doris Domenici
Doris Domenici of Orange Cove died Aug.
30 in Sanger. She was 88. Mrs. Domenici worked as a teacher's aide at Orange Cove
daycare.
She is survived by
five sons, two daugh- ters, 20 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren and four great-great- grandchildren.
Services were sched- uled to be held at Reed- ley Mennonite Brethren Church.
Raul Ramirez
Raul Rios Ramirez of Parlier died Sept. 12 in Fresno. He was 71.
Mr. Ramirez worked as a machine operator.
He is survived by his wife, Luisa Rios, one son, five daugh- ters, 19 grandchildren and five great-grand- children.
No services were announced. Dopkins Reedley Funeral Chapel is handling the arrange- ments.
Luis Reyes
Luis Reyes of Dinuba died Aug. 22 in Dinuba. He was 39.
Mr. Reyes worked as a carpenter.
He is survived by his wife, Lorena Reyes, one son and two daughters.
Services were held Sept. 8 at Dopkins Fu- neral Chapel.
Samuel Salinas
Samuel Salinas of Di- nuba died on Sept. 9. He was 43.
Mr. Salinas worked as a handyman.
He is survived by one parent, two broth- ers and one sister.
Services were held Sept. 16. Sterling & Smith Funeral Home handled the arrange- ments.
Reedley College's Constitution Week Conference will be virtual Sept. 24-25
MVT Staff Report
Reedley College's an- nual Constitution Week Conference will go on in 2020, despite the ongo- ing COVID-19 situation. However, this year's seventh annual event — scheduled for Thursday and Friday, Sept. 24-25 — will take place virtu-
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ally on video.
Although logistics
with the format change keeps a majority of the confer-
ence only
for stu-
dents, the
public will
have the
chance to
attend the
keynote
address.
That event
will take
place at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24, via Zoom.
This year's keynote speaker is Prof. Paul Kengor, the Senior Aca- demic Fellow at the In- stitute of Faith & Free- dom. He also is a profes- sor of political science at Grove City College in Pennsylvania. The Insti- tute is housed at Grove City College. Kengor has had guest editorials published in past issues of The Reedley Expo- nent.
At the virtual keynote address, Kengor's talk is titled "Communism, So- cialism and Democratic Socialisn: What's the Dif- ference?"
People wishing to at- tend the Zoom session be RSVP by Wednesday, Sept. 23, by logging on to reedleycollege/edu/con- stitution. A link for the session will be emailed to confirmed attendees within 24 hours of the event.
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Mid Valley Times Staff
Fred Hall
Jon Earnest
Rick Curiel
George M. Villagrana Juanita Adame
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