Mid Valley Times 1-14-21 E-edition

Thursday, January 14, 2021
Vol. 2, No. 29
Back to campus for TK-6th
50 cents
Coronavirus Update — Still In Purple Tier
Vaccines
given out
to area's
nursing
facilities
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
A substantial number of positive coronavirus cases and a regional stay-at-home mandate from the state re- mained in effect this week and the foreseeable future for Central Valley counties, but an increasing amount of vac- cines being received and ad- ministered is providing some hope that the tide is turning.
On Jan. 9, the first round of COVID-19 vaccines were administered to patients and staff at the Dycora Transition- al Health & Living Facility in Reedley. The second round of the two-part dose of vaccine is expected to be administered on Saturday, July 30.
"We are so happy that we were able to vaccinate 66 people on Saturday, 31 of which are residents," said Na- than Williams, administrator at the facility. Williams said residents and employees who have chosen not to take the vaccine still have the option to receive shots.
The Dycora Reedley facil- ity has been the site of a se- vere breakout of COVID-19 cases. In a statement released back in August, officials had acknowledged that nine resi-
See VACCINE on page A8
Younger KCUSD students at schools to start 2021 year
By Juanita Adame
Mid Valley Times
As students attending Lincoln El- ementary School in Reedley walked onto their campus the morning of Jan. 12, they were greeted by music play- ing through a speaker and their school principal, Reginald Wagner waiting at the entrance to the main gate.
Wagner said his faculty and staff were excited to be back to “on campus learning” and felt it was important for their students to have the daily interac- tion with their peers.
“Not only do they get to learn in front of our excellent teachers and supportive staff but they also get to see each other, and we feel that is so important during this pandemic,” he said. “Because, we feel they really need this interaction.”
The Kings Canyon Unified School District resumed their on campus learn- ing on Jan. 11 for their lower grade lev- els.
District officials confirmed that they will wait until COVID-19 numbers
See SCHOOLS on page A2
ABOVE: Students arrived at Lincoln Elemen- tary School in Reedley on Jan. 12, the sec- ond day of on-campus instruction for the 2021 portion of the school year. The Kings Canyon Unified School District received a waiver from the state last fall to allow on- campus education for students in transi- tional kindergarten through sixth grade.
LEFT: A Lincoln Elementary School second- grader sat at his desk during the second day of class on Jan. 12.
Photos by Juanita Adame / Mid Valley Times
Sanger council extends admin leave policy
Ongoing COVID means policy likely to remain through end of March
MVT Staff Report
The Sanger City Council was expect- ed to approve extending its Limited Du- ration COVID-19 Administrative Leave Policy (LCAL) at its online regular meet- ing on Jan. 7.
An emergency services director executive order had been signed on Dec. 30, recommending to the council that they extend the administrative
leave policy in place since March 2020 through Wednesday, March 31. The ex- tension of the LDAL policy would con- tinue the leave provision to eligible city employees who have mort already ex- hausted their provided leave.
The LDAL Policy initially was voted in by the council on March 27 last year, and was initially meant to remain in ef- fect through Dec. 31, 2020. That was expected to be sufficient time for the policy, as the general thought was that COVID-19 would be on the wane by later in the year.
That hasn't happened, of course, and positive case numbers have been soar- ing throughout the Central Valley, Cali-
fornia and the nation. Sanger has been hit particularly, with total case numbers surpassing 2,700 late last week.
In addition to the administrative leave policy extension, the council also was scheduled to take action to adopt a resolution confirming the extending of the Regional State at Home Order man- dated by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The next scheduled council meeting is Thursday, Jan. 21, at 6 p.m.
This week, the Sanger Planning Com- mission is scheduled to meet via tele- conference at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 14. The commission will be hearing a conditional use permit request for an alcoholic beverage license.
Perseverance best describes Dinuba top teen finalist
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
Jada Delgadillo lists perseverance among her most important traits. So impor- tant that it led off her autobiographical es- say for Dinuba Teenage Citizen of the Year.
Jada is one of three Dinuba High stu- dent finalists for this year's top teen citi- zen, which will be announced later this month at the annual Dinuba Chamber of Commerce banquet. This year's event will be a virtual one, and more details will be released in the near future.
The winner will receive a $1,000 schol- arship while the other two finalists will be awarded $500 scholarships. This year's fi- nalists also include Natalie Gonzalez (pro- filed in the Jan. 7 issue of The Times) and Arshpreet Pannu (will be profiled in the Jan. 21 issue).
top tier of the DHS Class of 2021, used that "P" word to describe her journey.
"'Perseverance is not a long race, it is many short races one after the other.' Throughout the short experiences that I have faced throughout my life, I have come to understand that I could live up to the potential I was destined to, despite being a mystery," she wrote in her essay. "These experiences have significantly impacted me and have shaped me into the person I am today."
Delgadillo was raised by a single mother, and lived with her grandparents through- out her childhood. She credits her mother with helping to flourish her interest in the
Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
Jada Delgadillo has been active in numerous clubs and organizations at Di- nuba High School, contributing more than 500 community service hours to her school. She is one of three finalists for Dinuba Teenage Citizen of the Year.
Delgadillo, carrying a cumulative grade
point average of 4.46 that ranks her at the See TEEN on page A8
This is the second of three profiles on the finalists for Dinuba Teenage Citizen of the Year.
Classifieds - A9 Directory - A10 Legals - A11-12 Sports - A7 Lifestyle - A5 Lights & Sirens - A3 Obituaries - A2-3 Opinion - A4