Mid Valley Times 12-10-20 E-edition

Thursday, December 10, 2020
Vol. 2, No. 24
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
Coronavirus cases in Fresno and Tulare Coun- ties this week continued to drastically climb in line with much of the rest of the state, and Gov. Gavin Newsom has responded by instituting a stay at home order effective at midnight on Dec. 6.
The mandate (actually
a guideline) has resulted in the temporary elimina- tion of limited indoor and outdoor dining as well as the temporary closure of salons, barbershops and other deemed "non-essen- tial" items. Many sheriffs, police chiefs and district attorneys hinted or said they would not be enforc- ing Newsom's mandate.
See COVID on page A15
Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
Nicole Zieba, Reedley City manager, explains the city plans to the Reed- ley City Council at a special meeting on Dec. 3. The council approved $45,000 in coronavirus aid and relief for a variety of Reedley business- es, up to a maximum of $1,500 per business.
Revised event features reverse drive-thru format
By Juanita Adame
Mid Valley Times
Just before severe COV- ID-19 restrictions were once again established for the Tu- lare County region and the rest of the state, members and residents with the city of Dinuba participated in their annual Electric Light Christ- mas parade.
This year’s parade was called “A Rockin’ and Rollin’ Drive Thru Christmas” and was modified to fit the Cen- ters for Disease Control’s safety guidelines.
For starters, it was a "re- verse parade" format rather than the traditional parade. Vehicles drove the parade route to view the participat- ing displays.
Once on the parade route, vehicles were required to turn off their headlights. There was one entrance and exit throughout the parade
Juanita Adame / Mid Valley Times
Vehicles turned from East Tulare Street onto South Ventura Street during Dinuba's annual Electric Light Christmas Parade on Dec. 5. Residents and visitors drove their vehicles along the parade route in a "reverse parade" format, switched this year because of COVID-19 restrictions.
Coronavirus Update — Shelter In Place Order Arrives in Valley
Region tries to deal with latest setback
State institutes lockdown status in communities
Reedley City Council provide financial aid to some businesses
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
The Reedley City Council is pro- viding more relief for the city's businesses that are taking another big financial hit with a stay at home order from the state resulting in more closures because of recent spiking COVID-19 numbers.
At a special council meeting on
See FINANCIAL AID on page A15
Valadao will return to Congress after edging Cox in CD21
MVT Staff Report
David Valadao's return to Congress was finalized this week with the certification of a tight race for the 21st Congres- sional District seat.
The Republican, who served three terms before losing by 800 votes to Democratic chal- lenger T.J. Cox in 2018, was able to hang on for victory in the Nov. 5 rematch.
On Dec. 4, Cox called Va- ladao to concede the race, as Valado held a lead of little more than 1,500 votes (85,928 to 84,406, 50.4 to 49.6 percent) from ballots cast in four coun- ties. Valadao and Cox split in Fresno and Tulare counties, with the Republican winning in Fresno County (30,095 to 28,344, 51.5-48.5 percent) while the incumbent claimed Tulare County by a scant nine votes
SeeVALADAOonpage A6
50 cents
Dinuba joins parade spirit
route and guests were not al- lowed to exit their vehicles for any reason. Parade par- ticipants were also required to wear masks and stand six feet apart.
The route began on East Tulare Street and continued through downtown to West Ventura Street, and includ- ed the Dinuba High School marching band as well as the
Dinuba Lyon’s Club and sev- eral other businesses as well. More photos from the Di- nuba Electric Light Christ- mas parade can be found on
Page A16.
Ontiveros moves into mayor's chair on Sanger's council
By Rick Curiel
Mid Valley Times
After being sworn in by California State Senator Me- lissa Hurtado at the Dec. 3 Sanger City Council meeting, new City Mayor Eli Ontiveros set the tone for his first may- oral term by calling the city on several presumed financial discrepancies.
Ontiveros pulled two agen- da items from the council’s consent agenda, a treasurer’s report and financial update. Among the supposed discrep- ancies Ontiveros questioned was what he believed to be a $3 million shortfall in the
city’s general fund. However, Sanger Administrative Ser- vices Director Bret Harmon clarified that the numbers reflected in the report com- pared last year’s total figures to a year-to-date figure, as in- dicated in the report, which made up for the majority of the difference.
Financial updates and trea- surer’s reports are given on a monthly basis and are nor- mally approved by the coun- cil along with other routine items in the consent agenda. By pulling the items, Ontive- ros made sure to let city staff know that he will be keeping
them on their toes — after running a campaign on anti- corruption.
Ontiveros, along with coun- cil members Daniel Martinez and Esmeralda Hurtado were all sworn into office at last week’s meeting. With Ontive- ros taking over the mayor’s seat, held formerly by Frank Gonzalez, District 4’s council seat has been left open.
The process of filling the open seat became a hot topic at the meeting as several citi- zens voiced their concerns to a process suggested by city
See COUNCIL on page A2
Emily Martinez / Photo Contributed
From left at the council desk, Mayor Eli Ontiveros, Council Member Daniel Martinez and Council Member Esmeralda Hurtado were sworn in to new two-year terms on the Sanger City Council on Dec. 3.
Classifieds - A11 Directory - A10 Legals - A12-14 Sports - A9 Lifestyle - A7-8
Lights & Sirens - A3, A5 Obituaries - A2-3 Opinion - A4