Mid Valley Times 5-28-20 E-edition

Thursday, May 28, 2020
Vol. 1, No. 48
Businesses begin reopening process
Tulare County votes to proceed to Phase 2 and 3 despite state's objections
By George M. Villagrana
Mid Valley Times
Tulare County Board of Su- pervisors voted 3-2 on May 19 to allow several businesses to reopen under Stage 2 and 3 of California’s plan.
Stage 3 of the state’s road map includes shopping malls, churches, barbers, dine-in res- taurants and movie theaters. The move is a surprising one considering the county has not met all the criteria to allow for a quick reopening as confirmed cases and test results continue to climb.
See REOPEN on page A8
Reedley council to consider business' alcohol bid
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
The Reedley CIty Coun- cil once again will decide if a north Reedley market will be allowed to sell beer and wine from its location.
In a 3-2 vote, the Reedley Planning Commission on May 21 narrowly approved an en- vironmental assessment and conditional use permit appli- cation for City Market at 1060 E. Manning Ave. Those steps could eventually allow the business to sell beer and wine for off-site consumption. The application now goes on to the council, which likely will hear the matter at the second meet- ing in June.
It would be the second time the business will try to get approval for a liquor license. The commission had ap- proved a request for a license when the business opened in 2018, but the council rejected the request by a 4-1 vote. The council cited that nine busi- nesses already sell beer and wine in the immediate neigh- borhood.
Approving the application this time around were com- mission Vice-Chair Albert Custodio and commissioners
See ALCOHOLonpageA2
George M. Villagrana / Mid Valley Times
With Tulare County moving forward to Stage 3 of the state's road map, Don's Shoes in Di- nuba will abide with social distancing guidelines and provide masks for shoppers who do not have one. The county voted 3-2 to allow several businesses to reopen under Stage 2 and Phase 3 of California's plan.
Sanger leaders taking conservative steps for returning
By Rick Curiel
Mid Valley Times
Navigating through the ever-chang- ing landscape of this pandemic is no easy task. In preparing for Sanger’s city council meeting on May 21, city manager Tim Chapa said he needed to revise his COVID-19 pandemic update three times – all due to new updates by the county as the day went on.
“It’s amazing how fast this thing has changed,” Chapa told the council.
Earlier in the day, the Fresno Coun- ty Health Officer needed to clarify an early order by regarding the use of facemasks while out in public. The order received some push back from citizens after it was read that all resi- dents ‘shall’ use cloth masks but then
See COUNCIL on page A8
50 cents
Coronavirus — Shelter in Place restrictions begin to ease
Memorial Day remembrance
RIck Curiel / Mid Valley Times
A member of Post 643 of the Vietnam Veterans of America straightens an American Flag after posting it early morning on May 25 at Smith Mountain Cemetery in Dinuba. Unlike previous years, where hundreds of flags could be seen throughout the cemetery lawns, this year only a few dozen were posted along the front of Smith Mountain Cemetery and the north entrance. COVID-19 restrictions resulted in the cancel- lation of this year's Avenue of Flags ceremony.
George M. Villagrana / Mid Valley Times
Reedley's Anthony Jewell lowers the American flag to half staff at 8 a.m. on May 25 at Reedley Cemetery. Because of COVID-19 restrictions and the shelter in place, this year's Memorial Day ceremony at the cemetery was canceled. Still, Boy Scouts and volunteers placed crosses and American flags at the gravesites of veterans buried in the cemetery.
A Memorial Day Observance cemetery was held at Sanger Cem- etery on May 25. The event, hosted by American Legion Post 23, draw a number of people practicing social distancing measures. Margaret Mims, Fresno County sheriff, was initially scheduled to speak by cancelled. A scheduled flyover also was canceled, Photos on the ceremony are on Page A2.
Classifieds - A11 Directory - A10 Legals - A12-13 Sports - A7 Lifestyle - A5-6
Lights & Sirens - A3 Obituaries - A2-3 Opinion - A4