Page 1 - Mid Valley Times 11-14-19 E-edition

Thursday, November 14, 2019
Vol. 1, No. 20
Bringing closure to family
50 cents
Two items a source of contention at Sanger council
By Rick Curiel
Mid Valley Times
Among the agenda items on the Nov. 7 Sanger City Council meeting was a public hearing to amend a city zon- ing code regarding high den- sity multiple family residen- tial districts, a safety analysis report that has the potential to bring changes to Jensen Avenue, the audit report on the city’s Measure S Compli- ance Examination and a new ordinance that will allow city agents more flexibility when it comes to purchasing.
But it was the latter two that struck the biggest cord on the council.
The audit report for the city’s Measure S, or public safety bond, was as many city staff and council members ex- pected, showing deficiencies in certain areas. The audit, conducted by Harshwal & Company, LLP CPAs, showed that the city of Sanger was out of compliance when it came to the Measure S budget and that some public safety offi- cer hires and salary increases were out of compliance.
City Manager Tim Chapa, however, argued that city staff was not in agreement with the two latter con-com- pliance issues because such hires and pay raises fell with- in the city’s own resolution for handling Measure S funds.
But the compliance issues were not the biggest issue for Sanger’s District 4 council member Eli Ontiveros, who felt the city council should have had the opportunity to question them on the audit report.
SeeCOUNCILonpage A12
Loved ones of recently deceased veteran and Cutler native receive flag at Avenue of Flags Veterans Day ceremony
By George M. VIllagrana
Mid Valley Times
It had been nearly 40 years since Alice Chavez Lupercio had been in con- tact with her uncle, Albert Chavez. The Cutler resident was last heard from in the late 1970s as he said his farewells to family members.
“He went to pick apples in Walla Walla, Washington,” Lupercio said dur- ing the Veterans Day Avenue of Flags Program at Smith Mountain Cemetery in Dinuba on Nov. 11. “He did come to Cutler to say goodbye, and that was the last time we saw him.”
Upon hearing of his death, the family approached George Madrid, telling them of their uncle and requested a flag for him.
“They said we have an uncle that we finally found his burial remains and would like to get a flag for him to be re- membered,” said Madrid, who is chair- man of the Vietnam Veterans of Amer- ica, Chapter 643 and served as master of ceremonies for the Avenue of Flags Program. “They wanted the flag to also be flown alongside here.”
Chavez was born and raised on a ranch in Cutler. His family consisted of three brothers and two sisters. He later moved away, married and had two chil- dren, according to Alice.
“My uncle Albert struggled in life,
See VETERANS on page A6
George M. Villagrana / Mid Valley Times
Col. David Meals presented a flag to Alice Chavez Lupercio during the Veterans Day Avenue of Flags Program held Nov. 11 at Smith Mountain Cemetery in Dinuba. The flag was requested by the family of the late Cutler native Albert Chavez, who served during World War II.
Reedley sales tax vote finalized for March ballot
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
The city of Reedley has of- ficially put it up to voters to decide early next year if there will be a three-quarters cent sales tax – specifically a trans- action and use tax — approved to help stabilize the city from a looming financial crunch.
At the Oct. 22 Reedley City Council meeting, the council unanimously approved the measure for the sales tax, pro- viding Reedley voters approve it during the March 2, 2020 primary election. The council passed two ordinances at that meeting, including a modified plan that calls for a 10-year re- view to the ballot measure.
Paul Melikian, assistant city manager, called the Oct. 22 "essentially the last step" in adopting the sales and use tax should voters approve it. Melikian said without the pro- posed tax, the city would see potential deficits grow from $600,000 in the 2020-21 year to well more than $2 million in the next four or five years.
"It's pretty tough sailing if we're sailing at all. The ship would list and take on some water," Melikian said of a budget outlook without the proposed tax. Surveys of Reedley residents have shown the community strong- ly supports continued public
SeeTAXonpage A5
Immanuel scores historic football win over RHS
Classifieds - B5
Directory - B4
Legals - B6-10
Sports - B1-2, B11-12
Lifestyle - A7, A9-10 Lights & Sirens - A3 Obituaries - A2-3 Opinion - A4
Immanuel High's Matt Tiger eluded the lunging tackle attempt by Reed- ley High's Jordan Moreno on his way to a 59-yard touchdown run in the third quarter of the Eagles' 16-0 shutout of the Pirates on Nov. 8. Tiger rushed for 229 yards on 27 carries while scor- ing two TDs.
Kirk Kawagoe / Photo Contributed
MVT Staff Report
The Immanuel High Eagles made history on Nov. 8, de- feating Reedley High 16-0 in the first-ever varsity football meeting between the two city schools.
In ending the Pirates' 6-5 sea- son before a large crowd at Sal Gonzalez Field, the 9-2 Eagles advanced to the Central Section Division 5 quarterfinal round. On Friday, Nov. 15, they'll travel to Caruthers to take on the top- seeded 10-1 Blue Raiders in a 7 p.m. kickoff.
There was one other clash between schools in The Times'
coverage area on Nov. 8, this one in Division 2. The 13th seed Dinuba High Emperors knocked off the No. 4 seed Sanger High Apaches by a 28-14 score at Tom Flores Sta- dium. Dinuba will next play fifth seed Tulare Western High School in the quarterfinal round at 7 p.m. Friday at Bob Mathias Stadium in Tulare.
In Division 6, the Orosi High Cardinals raced past visiting Granite Hills High by a 56-24 score on Nov. 8. The third-seeded Cardinals will host No. 6 Mission Prep in a 7 p.m. quarterfinals on Friday.
Details in Sports, page B1.