Page 1 - Mid Valley Times 9-26-19 E-edition

Thursday, September 26, 2019
Vol. 1, No. 13
First step taken to dismantle Sanger's Measure L
By Dick Sheppard
Mid Valley Times
The Sanger City Council seems intent on dismantling controversial Measure L, passed by voters in 2010. But it will have
Blue Angels pay visit
50 cents
Reedley
council to
decide on
tax vote
next month
MVT Staff Report
Just exactly what sales tax hike the city of Reedley plans to bring to its resi- dents to vote on won't of- ficially be determined until next month.
The Reedley City Coun- cil already has approved adopting a fiscal emer- gency, which would allow the city to place a tax bal- lot measure on the March 2020 statewide presidential primary election ballot.
The city's preferance is to have a vote on a three- quarter cent sales tax in- crease, but whatever is planned needs to be ap- proved by the council. A vote initially appeared to be scheduled by the end of September, but City Man- ager Nicole Zieba said the council won't vote on the matter until either the Oct. 8 or Oct. 22 meeting.
Because of rising state retirement pensions and rising minimum wage, the city is facing a possible budget deficit as early as the 2020-2021 fiscal year.
to wait un- til results of the 2020 census are released late next year to take a sec- ond step in that direc- tion.
The council de- cided to take the first step when, at its Sept. 19 meeting, it voted unanimous- ly to give voters at the Nov. 3,
2020 regu-
lar munici-
pal election
an opportunity to change the length of the mayor's term of office back to four years, the way it was before Measure L. That was when all five mem- bers of the council had four year terms and councilmem- bers elected the mayor from within the council. Measure L brought about the at large election of a short term may- or even though the mayor still had no more authority than any other councilmember.
See MEASURE L on page A11
Citizens in Dinuba got
a sneak preview of the recent Blue Angels show, held this past weekend
at the Lemoore Naval Air Station. On Wednesday, Sept. 18, many people in Dinuba were driven out
of their homes and busi- nesses by the thunder-
ing sound of low flying jets. To the delight and awe of many, what many residents witnessed was the team of Blue An-
gels practicing for the weekend's event, leaving streaks of afterburn over- head. The national- and world-renowned flight team highlighted the first air show at Lemoore Naval Air Station since 2011. But the two-day event on Sept. 21-22 wasn't without its hiccups. Long lines of cars trying to get onto the base for the Saturday perfor- mance were backed up
for miles on Highway 198, and many did not actually make the show, instead being forced to watch from the outside while waiting along the highway. But at- tendees didn't experience any troubles getting to the event on Sunday.
Photo Contributed
Sanger mayor pro tem Daniel Martinez
Sanger city councilmember Humberto Garza
Sept. 22 shootings in 3 Sanger neighborhoods
By Juanita Adame
Mid Valley Times
Red and blue police lights simultaneously flashed throughout three Sanger neighborhoods — all located on opposite sides of town — during the evening hours of Sept. 22.
The initial call was report-
ed just after
7:30 p.m. Po-
lice were dis-
patched to the
area of Ninth and J Streets after several neighbors re- ported hearing gunshots.
Investigators later de- termined the gunshots to be the result of a “negligent dis- charge of a firearm” and an
arrest was made.
While of- ficers were busy working the first scene, a second shots fired call was made, this one in the 1600 block of Greenwood near North Av-
enue.
Police stopped a vehicle in
that area while across town
an additional swarm of patrol cars lined a neighborhood on Indianola near Vine Street.
Neighbors in the Vine Street area stood outside and watched as police detained several subjects near their front yards.
“They were still out there,
See SHOOTINGSonpageA2
Citizens get up close and personal with TCSO deputies
By Rick Curiel
Mid Valley Times
Most officers, whether they serve under a police department or sher- iff's office, know that there is a cer- tain stigma that comes along with the position. That stigma can often carry with it a negative connotation, especially when it comes to how they are portrayed to the youth.
"A lot of kids are accustomed to parents telling them 'we're going to get the cops'," said Tulare Area Gang Narcotic Enforcement Team (TAG- NET) Detective Jose Melendez. "Just to have them out here and see us drinking a soda or eating something, to them that's something out of the norm. We tell them all the time that we're just like you."
Melendez was one of many detec- tives and deputies who took part in the annual 'Meet your Deputy' event, held Saturday, Sept. 21, at Ledbetter Park in Cutler. Though this was the second year that Melendez partici- pated, the event is held on an annual basis.
The event aims to diffuse nega- tive stereotypes in the communities the deputies serve and also gives community members an opportunity to see, firsthand, what their local law enforcement does.
"For them to see us down to earth and at this level, it's pretty cool," Me- lendez added. "Something as simple as us talking to them, because usu- ally they see us at a distance or they
SeeDEPUTIESonpage A6
Detective Jose Melendez
of the Tulare Area Gang Narcotic Enforcement Team (TAGNET) lets 10-year-old Jesse Coronado of Cutler try on swat gear at the Tulare County Sheriff’s‘Meet the Deputies’ event, held Sept. 21 at Ledbetter Park in Cutler. This was Melendez's second year participating
in the event, which aims to diffuse negative stereo- types in the communities surrounding law enforce- ment.
Rick Curiel / Mid Valley Times
Police arrest man in Dinuba kidnap and rape, Page A6
Classifieds - B4-5 Directory - B6
Legals - B7-11 Sports - B1-2, B12
Lifestyle - A7-10
Lights & Sirens - A3
Obituaries - A2-3
Opinion - A4