Page 1 - Dinuba Sentinel 3-14-19 E-edition
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Dinuba Sentinel Serving the communities of Dinuba, Cutler-Orosi and Monson-Sultana
On to State
Several Dinuba Uni ed GATE students move on to State History competition
Community, A7
Thursday, March 14, 2019
Spring is in the air
With recent rains and warmer weather, bees have been busy pollinating throughout the Valley and around Alta District, making for perhaps the most colorful time of the year, with pink and white blossoms adorning local orchards in rural roads. To date, Alta Irrigation District has reported about nine inches of rain for the season. A chance of more rain is in the forecast for Tuesday. And temperatures for this weekend are expected to be in the mid-70's. Spring begins on Wednesday, Mar. 20.
Photos by Rick Curiel | The Sentinel
Established 1909, Dinuba, California
City planning
walkway from
Viscaya to
Roosevelt
50 Cents
Water ows from Pine Flat Dam
Early release part of ood prevention, may last through summer
Sentinel staff report
Weeks of storm activity and increasing spring runoff prospects prompted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to begin a Kings River flood release from Pine Flat Dam on Thursday, Mar. 7, the first early release in two years.
Kings River Watermaster Steve Haugen said the Corps made the decision on Mar. 6 based upon the most recent Department of Water Resources runoff forecast, high recent flows into Pine Flat Reservoir and overall storage beginning to encroach into space reserved for flood management.
The Kings River Water Association’s Assistant Watermaster, Matt Meadows, said the flood release amounts will initially be relatively low, although KRWA’s 28 member agencies with Kings River entitlements are expected to begin taking advantage of water made available as a result of the situation.
The Corps established an initial target flow of 200 cubic feet per second over Crescent Weir, south of Riverdale, and all Kings River units were expected to have water available within a few days of the release, said Huagen.
Under flood release conditions, member units generally can take as much water as they wish. The association expected the initial release from the dam to be approximately 3,500 cubic feet per second and expected the release to top off this week at about 5,000 cubic feet per second.
“This is a perfectly normal response by the Corps of Engineers to what is turning out to be an above-average water year,” said Haugen. “Flows occurring along the Kings River will be similar to ordinary summer water conditions.”
However, Haugen said, anglers and others along the river need to be aware of higher water conditions and exercise
See Water, Page A6
By Rick Curiel
Editor@thedinubasentinel.com
Though the rain has been a welcome sight for many locals recently, for many Roosevelt Elemantary School students walking from the Viscaya neighborhood on the west side of town, the rain can make for a daunting journey as they walk to school. That's because their current route is an unimproved dirt pathway.
Now, the city of Dinuba is working to alleviate the burden on these students by creating what is being called the Roosevelt Paseo Project.
City of Dinuba Public Works Director Ismael Hernandez updated the Dinuba City Council at Tuesday night's meeting on the project.
"This pathway becomes muddy during the rainy season and dusty during the spring and summer," Hernandez told the city council.
The proposed pathway will extend from the northeast corner of Viscaya Parkway, north of Rosemary Avenue (where the future Viscaya Park will be) and extend east to Euclid Avenue where the school is located.
To fund the project, the city will be relying on Measure R money for most of the cost. The Tulare County Association of Goverments (TCAG), which oversees the Measure R funds, has agreed to allocate $200,000 towards the project, Hernandez said.
Though the total cost of the project is currently expected to be approximately $420,000, Hernandez hopes to get that number down to about $300,000.
When complete the Roosevelt Paseo will include a 10-foot wide concrete pedestrian and bicycle path with safety lighting, landscaping, signage and fencing.
As for the north route towards Roosevelt Elementary School, namely Nebraska Avenue, Hernandez reported that the developer for the Autumn Gate subdivision will be improving the curb and gutters as part of the housing project. He stated those improvements will consist of the completion of sidewalks on Nebraska Avenue and the west side of Euclid Avenue.
City staff hopes to fast-track the project and have it completed before the start of the next school year.
New establishments bringing life to downtown
Orbit Lanes now open, Big D's Bar and Grill to open next month
Lady Emps beat Bullard
Dinuba stays undefeated with win over Knights
Sports, Page B1
recent years when the district lost three major anchors, the use of the Dinuba Vocational center on the north end, the bowling alley on the south end, and the bar and grill at its center.
This spring, however, may be remembered as the one that gave new
Dinuba High School grad Donnie Malone returns to downtown Dinuba as bartender at the new Big D's Bar and Grill. Malone was one of the original bartenders at the bar when it was called J's Bar and Grill.
life to Downtown Dinuba. Last month a large gathering of community members filled the Dinuba Vocational Education Center to celebrate its grand opening in a promising deal between the city of Dinuba and the Dinuba Unified School District.
Last week, Orbit Lanes (name of the new bowling alley) opened to the general public. It was to the delight of many who have already visited Orbit Lanes as a true family entertainment location.
Under new owner Robert Trevino and the management of Ralph Alvarez, the new bowling alley looks better than ever. With updates throughout the building, and even on top with a new roof, the new Orbit Lanes offers a refreshing addition to Dinuba’s downtown entertainment plaza.
In addition to offering the entertainment of bowling, the facility offers a definite upgrade by way of its food. Alvarez is also the owner and operator of Pizza Planet, a local restaurant chain with locations in Reedley, Orosi and Orange Cove. Dinuba becomes the chain’s fourth location as inside the new Orbit Lanes is a fully functional Pizza Planet. The old adjoining bar room has been renovated
By Rick Curiel
Editor@thedinubasentinel.com
For many years now, Dinuba’s downtown district has been suffering from lack of foot traffic. Concerns for the downtown area only increased in
Rick Curiel | The Senitnel
to accommodate for additional dining space.
Monitors have been updated, and many shoes are band new.
Bookending the downtown area on the south end, the new Orbit Lanes will serve as the third piece of Dinuba’s downtown entertainment plaza, with Platinum Theaters and the
entertainment park being the other two. But, until recently, there had been a void in the center of downtown, as one of Dinuba’s most iconic buildings sat dormant for years. The building that began as the Karnack building, located on the northeast corner of Tulare and
See Downtown, Page A8
Pastor Mark Isaac of Dinuba Mennonite Brethren Church spins one down a lane at the new Orbit Lanes in downtown Dinuba. Isaac and his family were just of the few of the patrons to visit the renovated bowling alley last week.
Rick Curiel | The Sentinel
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