Page 4 - Mid Valley Times 3-18-21 E-edition

Thursday, March 18, 2021 | A4 | Mid Valley TiMes Editorial & Opinions
Serving the Readers of the Reedley Exponent, Dimuba Sentinel and Sanger Herald.
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 Rising fuel prices a perfect
example of cause and effect
These days it isn't necessary to look beyond one's purveyor of gasoline and petroleum based fuel for the definition of cause and effect!
A final column from 7-23-20: the difference between SUSD and City
Jon Earnest — Reedley Editor Dick Sheppard — Editor Emeritus
QUOTE
“Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to try- ing to prove that the other party is unfit to rule — and both commonly succeed, and are right.”
— H. L. Mencken (1880-1956)
It's best to begin by saying, don't
blame your local service station opera-
tor, especially if you voted for Joe and
Kamala. The only thing uglier than an-
ger would be misdirected anger. These
people who are operators and manag-
ers have to buy their fuel elsewhere in
bulk and the less that is available, the more expensive it's going to be to them.
Let's begin with the Keystone pipeline. With the stroke of a pen,. Biden interrupted the flow of that Ca- nadian oil to American refineries much to the delight of the oil-rich Middle East and Russia. Along with wip- ing out more than 1,000 good paying jobs that supported American families, this action generated a ripple effect with the economy, affecting the merchants in the small towns which dot the route of the pipeline.
Feeling emboldened by the president's action, pro- gressives from all corners, including Hollywood, have demanded other pipelines be abandoned as well.
Activity in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Can- ada (Anwar) has been shut down. The available reserve in “the North Shore” accounts for approximately 10 billion barrels of oil. A full speed ahead attitude and putting America's interests first allowed the Trump administra- tion to gain petroleum independence from foreign oil for the United States. There can be little doubt that is all gone, blaming the specious claim of climate change.
It's an unquestioned axion; reduce the supply of any- thing and expect the price to increase immediately. The same can be said for any of the burdensome tax increases which are so infamous and rammed down our throats here in California. You just got a gift from “climate change!”
Why can't our leftists and politicians realize that constantly claiming that racism is systemic here in the United States while, at the same time, providing special favors and consideration for those deemed to be minori- ties. That, by definition, is racism. The very latest of these in the government providing 120 percent of debt payments to all “minority” farmers while providing noth- ing for “white” farmers. Seems to me that is the very definition of racism and further divisive to our country. Every “innovative” new program in schools, government, the military establishment and books seems to deal with “white supremacy.” I submit the following, which was forwarded to me by a friend, for your consideration. We hope it will demonstrate how ridiculous the whole thing has become and should be taken in that context.
For Sale: My White Privilege Card. The card is quite old, but in mint condition. Never been used. Reason for selling: it hasn't done anything for me! No free college, no free food, no free housing, no free anything. I've had to go to work every day of my life while paying a boat- load of taxes to fund free stuff for those who dine at the government trough. If interested, I prefer cash but will- ing to do an even trade for a Victim Card, which seems much more widely accepted and comes with countless benefits without even having to show the card! If inter- ested, contact me on my cell phone that I pay for every month. Serious buyers only!
Until all the people of this country decide they will no longer allow themselves to be divided along racial and ethnic lines by self-serving politicians, expect a steady diet of this nonsense. There are racists on both sides but until we say enough is enough, we will be ruled by the ivy league educated who look down upon everyone — regardless of skin color or ethnicity. Let's face it, when we begin to ban books and cartoon figures from public consumption because of some hidden perceived racism that only a few see, we've taken a step too far — espe- cially in the most free land in the world.
Until we all decide that we, indeed, are created equal one may expect some pseudo intellectual or politician to take advantage by tearing us apart!
Why is the new Sanger High School campus being built so far away from the City of Sanger? That was Donna Bailey's question in her letter to the editor last week and it echoed one of the most fre- quently asked questions about the new facility just off Jen- sen between Armstrong and Fowler avenues. The answer is, Donna, because that's where the bulk of the student popula- tion is going to come from for the new campus.
Go Apaches!
Probably the next most asked question is, "With an- other high school campus does that mean we'll have another football team to compete with the Apaches for players."
Most emphatically "no" is the answer you'll get from anyone at the district office. Sanger loves its Apaches. Sanger is one town and one tribe with one team ... the awe- some Apaches ... at least for now.
The City of Sanger and the Sanger Unified School District are two very separate enti- ties. They have very differ-
about as differ-
ent as they can
be. In the opin-
ion of an old
guy who closely
followed the
fortunes of the
district and the
foibles of the
city for 15 years, as an editor and reporter for the Sanger Herald, they are about as dif- ferent as night and day.
In my opinion, the district's culture is shaped by a process of collective discovery and collaboration, and the city's is shaped by an orthodoxy known only to an enlightened few whose job it is inform everyone else. In my opinion, the school district's concept of success is based on results and the city's is based on being in control.
It seems to me the city has opted for control over prog- ress, over growth and over transparency. If that's the case the city must consider itself very successful.
Why Donna is the new cam- pus being built so far away from the City of Sanger? Just lucky I guess.
Fred Hall
ent boundaries and different governing boards with very different cultures. The school district's boundaries include the communities of Sanger, Centerville, Del Rey, Fairmont, Lone Star, Tivy Valley and por- tions of the Sunnyside area of metropolitan Fresno. The pop- ulation center is about where the new campus is located, several miles west of the city of Sanger, which, as time goes by is becoming a smaller and smaller part of the district.
The corporate cultures are
Dick Sheppard
Red tier status a big next step for Tulare County to speed up reopening
The COVID-19 situation for Fresno and Tulare counties in recent months has been been a purple haze, as the region's been locked into a purple tier category of widespread posi- tive tests. But for the first time in nearly the entire period a color tier system has been in place in California, Dinuba and the rest of Tulare County have finally been able to escape the "purple" prison and gain some more business and organiza- tional freedoms by being in the red tier (substantial) category.
Suddenly, businesses and schools in the county will be able to push more aggressively toward levels closer to normal operations. Starting on March 17, restaurants were able to return to limited indoor dining (at 25 percent capacities) while retail businesses that already had limited indoor services and customer capacity can double
their amount of customers on site.
More important for students of all ages and their families, schools can take significant steps forward to returning to on-campus learning. Tulare County already has lagged be- hind Fresno and other Valley counties by being mandated to offer distance learning only. Now, the red tier means some on-campus instruction can re- turn. Visalia Unified School District is acting quickly, an- nouncing that a majority of students will return to direct instruction on Monday, March 25. Dinuba Unified also will be able to take larger steps to- ward blended (on-campus and distance) instruction.
Extracurricular activities and athletic events also are starting to amp up, especially with the outdoor sports. The return of prep football had a
major hiccup
this week as
schools still are
trying to adjust
to following the
protocols put
in place by the
California In- terscholastic
Federation and local counties. As a result, two games were canceled with one reverting to a scrimmage.
While it's great to get back involved with many activities, it's important to still practice physucal distancing and contin- ue wearing masks when deal- ing with anything above small family gatherings. As more of us continue to receive vaccina- tions, the closer we get to put- ting this year-long nightmare behind us.
Jon Earnest is news-sports editor for The Times.
Jon Earnest
But, as always, that's only one man's opinion.
This is the third of three "Random Thoughts" columns we are featuring that the late Dick Sheppard wrote for The Times after his retirement from the Sanger Herald/ Mid Valley Times in 2019. A Memorial Service for Mr. Sheppard will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 20, at Calvary Fellowship Church, 737 Church Ave. in Sanger.
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