Page 4 - Reedley Exponent 5-23-19 E-edition

The Reedley Exponent A4 Thursday, May 23, 2019 Editorial & Opinions
Serving “The World’s Fruit Basket” since 1891
A Mid Valley Publishing Newspaper
Founded March 26, 1891, in a two-story building on the corner of 11th and F streets, by A.S. Jones
Fred Hall — Publisher
In my OPINION
Jon Earnest — Editor / Sports Juanita Adame — Panorama Editor Budd Brockett — Editor Emeritus
QUOTE
“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”
Marie Curie (1867-1934)
Commit a crime and the world is made of glass. Commit a crime and it seems a coat of snow fell on the ground, such as reveals in the woods the track of every partridge and fox and squirrel and mole. You cannot recall (take back) the spoken word. You cannot wipe out a foot track. You cannot draw up the ladder so as to leave no inlet or clue. Some damning circumstance always transpires.
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ruben Perez was an exemplary pro with the Reedley Police Department
Fred Hall
Turns out that bearing false witness may indeed carry the possibility of legal repercussions, and all of these characters are scurrying about pointing their fingers at each other. Talk about a circular firing squad! What appears to have been a really ugly game these players have been playing for about three years in an effort of overturn a legitimate election suddenly has the possibility of sunshine being shined upon it! Who would have ever imagined that this country would ever witness a bloodless coup by the “deep state? Obviously those who practice professional politics — proba- bly begun during the Clinton era — felt they could get away with it.
Attorney General William Barr has begun an examination of the questionable methods and sources which were used to figura- tively begin an anal exam of a man who was new to the ways of Washington and the political machinations which are practiced there.
A Democratic-controlled house continues to rehash the Muel- ler investigation, which after all this time with a staff of attor- neys which seem to have been selected for anti-Trump, was able to find nothing of consequence in their mission. After all this time of being promised that evidence was plain to see by people like California’s Adam Schiff there is nothing, period. Yet, Democrats want to look at his taxes, his family and probably even his school years. In the meantime all the nation’s problems are effectively being ignored by this bunch of Sherlock Holmes wannabes.
Obviously they continue the witch hunt as long as they the sup- port of sycophantic allies in the media, especially the New York Times, Washington Post, CNN and MSNBC. These are willing members of the media who eagerly spread the trash in the Steele dossier and breathlessly reported it as truth.
It’s indeed a black eye for America that many of the top tier bureaucrats working for various agencies became “weaponized” during the tenure of Barack Obama. Early on in that adminis- tration, it became readily apparent that the appointment of Eric Holder as attorney general was the genesis of such a movement. One of his earliest acts was the dropping of charges against three Philadelphia men for racketeering actions during an election. He quickly followed that with a really dumb “fast and furious” action which had ultimately aimed at establishing greater control of guns.
Not far behind that, we discovered that Lois Lerner of the In- ternal Revenue Service had targeted conservative nonprofits for further investigation. The applications were slow walked, which directly impacted monies which might have been available for the promotion of conservative Republican candidates during an elec- tion. Ms. Lerner was allowed to retire with no repercussions and apparently is now enjoying the largesse earned from her govern- ment employment.
It appears that William Barr is a trained, seasoned prosecu- tor and has busied himself cleaning up a corrupt Department of Justice. For the first time in a very long time, the average citizen can hold out hope of at least part of the swamp that is Washington will be drained.
One has to ask themselves, if you had been busy lying and leaking confidential information for the past three years, would you not be worried. It is our hope and belief that over the coming months these folks will find no place to hide and Barr and his team of trained investigators will have the wolves turning on their own. After all, that is the very nature of the beast.
But, as always, that’s only one man’s opinion.
The Reedley Police Department lost one of its longtime law enforce- ment veterans last week, when re- tired police Sgt. Ruben Perez died at 73 on May 15. Perez worked in law enforcement for more than 30 years – 29 of them with
the Reedley Police
Department as a
police dispatcher
(1973-1975) and of-
ficer (starting in
1975) – before retir-
ing as a police ser-
geant in 2002.
to voice their
concerns and air
their grievances onMay20atthe
latest Reedley
Town Hall, aptly
titled “Where the
Rubber Hits the
Road.” Sadly, few
took advantage of
the opportunity to
talk directly with city officials who are experts on the issue. About 25 were in attendance at the Reedley Community Center’s Senior Room.
If you were there, you had the opportunity to ask questions of John Robertson, city engineer, and get the latest on the city’s three-year schedule of street improvements and fixes. While it may be too long a wait for some, it’s certainly a step in the right direction.
Those who missed the Town Hall can go to a copy of the live stream video on The Exponent’s Facebook page. Also, if you continue to have an issue you want to share, it’s only a simple phone call or email away from being addressed.
•••
While you’re driving on any of
those bumpy streets and roads around the city, be extra vigilant when you’re around school grounds starting with Reedley College on Friday, May 24. The school’s 91st commencement be- gins at 6:30 p.m. Many students and families will be crossing Manning Avenue and filling the parking lots around campus.
The traffic hazards around schools continue on Thursday, May 30 (Im- manuel and Orange Cove high gradua- tions) and on Friday, May 31 (Reedley High School). These are perhaps the busiest days on these campuses, and it’s important to practice extra caution behind the wheel.
Today we dedicate that bit of poetic pre-
science to Messrs. James Comey, James Clapper, John Brennan, Andrew McCabe, Peter Strzok, Christopher Steele, Bruce Ohr, and James Baker. In an effort to negate the appearance of being sex- ist and in an attempt to be all inclusive, we must also include Lisa Paige, Nellie Ohr, Susan Rice, Samantha Power, Sally Yates, Fusion GPS, Loretta Lynch, most members of the “mainstream” media and any other ancillary associates of this gang.
Jon Earnest
Perez was the
first of what’s now
three generations
of law enforcement. His oldest son, Joey retired from the Fresno Police Department as an officer and served as an officer before that in Madera.
“I have been friends with the family for over 35 years,” said Joe Garza, Reedley’s police chief. “His son Joey and I were in the Police Explorers when we were 15 years old and have remained friends ever since.”
The third generation of law en- forcement began earlier this month when Tyson Loewen, Ruben’s grand- son, joined Reedley PD as a sworn officer on May 1. In what was a mov- ing tribute just a day earlier, Loewen was ceremonially sworn in as an of- ficer at Clovis Community Medical Center where Perez was hospital- ized.
“Since Ruben was not able to at- tend the swearing in ceremony as he was at the hospital we took the swearing in to him,” Garza said. “Ruben was able to witness Tyson be sworn in and continue the legacy of police service the Perez family has established.”
Garza said that Perez’s death fell during National Peace Officers Week, which is dedicated to honoring
By Jerry Isaak
Guest columnist
Springtime — a great time of year when the weather becomes warmer and we are able to do more outdoor activities — also is the time of year when many of us think about do- ing some “spring cleaning” such as conducting a yard sale.
Like most other towns in the area, the city of Reedley has specific regulations on yard sales, also known as garage or patio sales. The regulations can be found in the Reedley Municipal Code Title 3, Chapter 5.
Here are some of the re- quirements;
•Apermitforayardor garage type sale is required. The permit can be obtained at City Hall, 845 G St., for $10.
• Only your personal property shall be sold.
• The maximum period
of the sale will be for 3 days.
• A maxi– mum of two sales are al- lowed at the same address each year.
• No signs
shall be posted
in any place
other than the
property where the sale is being conducted. Posting or placing signs on utility poles, street signs and in public right-of-ways is il- legal.
Please visit www.reed- ley.com and click on “Mu- nicipal Code” for more spe- cific information.
Other tips to help you have a successful yard sale as follows;
Scheduling your sale
• Join together with some neighbors for your yard sale if possible. The more stuff, the better the sale.
• Make sure that your yard sale doesn’t fall on a holiday week- end. Fridays and Satur- days are best.
• Plan it for a day that gives you plenty of time to get ready.
• Schedule a yard sale or garage sale around the first of the
month because that’s when people have the most money.
• Check the 10-day fore- cast and make sure it won’t be raining.
• Consider a pre-sale the Friday night before and invite your friends and co- workers. You may get rid of some bigger items that way.
• Have a large quantity of items to sell, a big vari-
ety.
• If you’re selling your kids’ things, make sure you ask them a few times first to make sure they want to get rid of it.
• Antiques go over big
regardless of condition.
• Hold a yard sale twice a year. Sell your winter stuff towards the end of summer, or in the fall. Sell your spring/summer things
in spring or summer time. • Find tables to use. Borrow them or make them out of doors and saw-
horses.
• Clean the items up.
Wash or dust any items that you’ve been storing for a while.
• Clean up the yard. If it is more attractive, people will think your items are higher-quality.
• Advertise! Place an ad in the newspaper, local bul- letin boards, and websites. Include a list of special items you have for sale that people might be drawn to (e.g. name brand toys, kids clothing, furniture).
Jerry Isaak is chief of the Reedley Fire Depart- ment.
Ruben Perez
Perez family-Reedley PD / Contributed
Tyler Loewen sat in a patrol cruiser with his grandfather, Sgt. Ruben Perez, in this un- dated file photo. Loewen was sworn in as a Reedley police officer on May 1, but had a ceremonial swearing in at Clovis Commu- nity Medical Center where Perez was hospi- talized. Perez died on May 15.
those who made the ultimate sacri- fice to their communities and their country.
“Although, Ruben did not die in the line of duty, his 30-plus years of service as a police officer and his time in the U.S. Army serving dur- ing the Vietnam War no doubt is a sacrifice,” Garza said.
A funeral service for Garza will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 23, at the new St. Anhony of Padua Catholic Church. •••
One of the more common com- plaints voiced by Reedley residents over the years I’ve been here has been the state of the city’s streets and roads. Posts often appear on The Exponent’s Facebook page complain- ing about potholes, pock-marked al- leys and other street issues.
Residents had an opportunity
Remember the city’s regulations for yard sales
Jerry Isaak
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