Page 2 - Mid Valley Times 12-31-20 E-edition

Thursday, December 31, 2020 | A2 | Mid Valley TiMes
Weed buildup near Paseo 55 causes concern
Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
Dried-out weeds and brush on property owned by the San Joaquin Valley Railroad in downtown Reedley continued to be overgrown on Dec. 28. In the background is the Paseo 55 housing complex, which is separated from the property by the Reedley Rails to Trail Parkway.
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
Concerned residents at the Paseo 55 apartment complex in downtown Reedley are hoping something eventually can be do- ne regarding overgrown weeds on San Joaquin Valley Railroad Company property abutting the Reedley Rails to Trails Parkway to the west of the living units.
The issue first was brought to attention of The Times earlier in the fall, when one of the residents said the area of weeds just north of 13th Street and east of the train tracks had become a fire hazard in late spring and remained so in- to the summer. She described how juveniles had been attempting to light fireworks in the area during the Fourth of July holiday period.
The area is partially fenced off just west of the Rails to Trails Parkway, but can be accessed by foot from the north. The area still contained many overgrown weeds
that had dried out. There also was some trash in the vicinity.
Jerry Isaak, Reedley fire chief, said earlier this month that the city has had no success in efforts to reach out to railroad officials who won't allow the city or outsid- ers onto railroad property.
"Our Code Officer has been communicating with a person from the railroad who stated the clean up issue would be discussed with the “team", Isaak said in an email to The Times on Dec. 1."This was on Nov. 17th. To date, we have not received a response indicating when the clean-up might happen.
"This has been an ongoing is- sue for some time and communi- cating with the railroad and their property management folks is challenging. We will keep trying."
Russ Robertson, the city's pub- lic works director, said on Dec. 28 that no city officials have heard back from the railroad. The Times will provide an update on the situ- ation in a future issue.
Obituaries
Christina Cortez-Chedotte Christina Cortez-
Chedotte of Visalia died Dec. 26 in Visalia. She was 45.
Ms. Cortez-Chedotte worked as a special ed- ucation teacher.
She is survived by her husband, James Chedotte, parents Rob- ert and Jeanette Cor- tez, one daughter, one son, her grandmother, two sisters and one brother.
No services were scheduled at this time. Dopkins Funeral Cha- pel is handling the ar-
rangements.
Lee Vernon Essman
Lee Vernon Essman of Kingsburg died Dec. 20 in Palo Alto. He was 84.
Mr. Esman worked as a machinist.
He is survived by his wife, Sue Essman, two daughters, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Visitation will befrom4to7p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6, at Dopkins Reedley Fu- neral Chapel. Servic- es will be at 11 a.m.
Thursday, Jan. 7, at Dopkins Reedley Fu- neral Chapel. Burial will follow at Reedley Cemetery.
Dopkins Reedley Fu- neral Chapel handled the arrangements.
Javier Negrete
Javier Negrete of Dinuba died Dec. 15 in Hanford. He was 67.
Mr. Negrete worked as a farm laborer.
He is survived two sisters and one brother. No services are scheduled at this time. Dopkins Funeral Cha- pel handled the ar-
rangements.
Crash near Orange Cove Dec. 23 kills Orosi man
Resident at Reedley complex says area on railroad property poses fire hazard
Accident occurred at intersection of Adams and Hill avenues
MVT Staff Report
An 81-year-old Orosi man was killed on Dec. 23 when the pickup he was driving ran a stop sign and col- lided with another pickup truck at a rural intersection near Orange Cove.
The Fresno County Coroner's Of- fice identified the victim as Gene Butler. The crash occurred at about 5:30 p.m. at the intersection of Adams Avenue and Hill Avenue just west of the city.
According to the California High- way Patrol, Butler was a Toyota Ta- coma pickup north on Hill Avenue, ap- proaching the intersection of Adams Avenue. Hill has a stop sign while Adams does not, but the CHP report
said that Butler entered the intersec- tion without stopping.
The Toyota struck an eastbound Chevrolet Silverado pickup driven by 41-year-old Paulino Ybarra of Fresno. Butler and the Tacoma struck the Silverado in its right front side, the CHP reported, and both vehicles ca- reened in a northeasterly direction. The Chevy struck a dry drainage ditch and overturned, combing to rest on its side, while the Toyota came to rest on its wheels in a drainage ditch.
Butler was wearing his seatbelt, but still sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Ybarro and his passenger, 39-year- old Hipolito Ybarra of Fresno, with suffered moderate injuries and were transported to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno.
The CHP said that alcohol and/or drugs were not suspected to be fac- tors in the collision. The investigation on the crash is ongoing.
Parlier continues its DUI enforcement
through New Year's holiday weekend
Contributed
With holiday season winding up this week-
end, the Parlier Police Department wants to re- mind the public about the continued importance of being safe and sober when you are driving or decide to drive.
While the COVID-19 pandemic is changing how we celebrate the holidays, Parlier PD is dedicated to keeping the public safe and urges people to stay at home or use a designated so- ber driver if you plan to drink.
Continuing through New Year’s Day week- end, the department will have officers on patrol looking for drivers sus- pected of being under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. The en- forcement effort is part of a national campaign, "Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over", intended to show zero tolerance for drunk driving and keep roads safe.
SeePARLIERonpage A8
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