Reedley Exponent 7-26-18 E-edition

Discovery Center brings live animal show to Reedley
Panorama
Marlins swimmers compete at CVRSL finals in Sanger
Sports
Vol. 129, No. 30 | Thursday, July 26, 2018
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Reedley (Fresno County) CA 93654 | 50 cents Excessive heat in region expected to continue
Power flex alerts may
continue into next week
By Jon Earnest
jon@midvalleypublishing.com
Summer heat in Reedley and the San Joa- quin Valley will continue into next week with a vengeance. High temperatures are expected to eclipse triple digits for a third consecutive week, which would set a new record for con- secutive days above 100 degrees.
The National Weather Service forecast for Reedley on Thursday, July 26, calls for
a high temperature of 105, and is on the tail end of a heat advisory covering the Central Valley. More heat advisories could be com- ing, as next week’s high temperatures are expected to be at least 104 degrees for four days.
If high temperatures rise to 100 degrees by Friday, July 27, Fresno will have estab- lished a new record of 22 consecutive days reaching triple digits. The previous record came in 2005.
Complicating conditions are two major wildfires affecting Central California — the Ferguson Fire near Yosemite National Park and the Horse Creek Fire in Sequoia National
Park. An air quality alert remains in effect in eastern Fresno County as well as the foot- hills and mountains for the duration that those fires burn.
Susan Chapman, vice president of patient care services for Adventist Medical Center,
Reedley, said the extended hot weather can lead to health risks for people.
“We have been seeing an increase in heat-related illnesses this month at Adventist Health-Reedley’s emergency department,” she said.
Chapman said the main risks posed by an extended heatwave are dehydration from not having enough water and overheating. These can make symptoms worse for people who already have problems with their heart or breathing.
The heat already affects outdoor construc-
See HEAT on page A6
Governor
candidate
visits area
By Mike Nemeth
Mid Valley Publishing
Republican candidate for gov- ernor John Cox braved the county’s sweltering heat and muggy smoke- infused air July 18 to share his mes- sage of support for central San Joa- quin Valley’s water supply and took aim at the 2017 gasoline tax.
“Proposition 3 is essential,” he said. “If we don’t have a conveyance of water, we can’t get it. We need to have water for our farmers.”
Cox spoke to a small group of re- porters in the early afternoon stand- ing on the banks of the Friant-Kern Canal alongside Highway 180 and just up the hill heading east from the historic School House Restaurant & Tavern north of Reedley. Tempera- tures hovered in the triple digits and even the slight breeze failed to bring any relief.
But Cox didn’t appear to mind. Accompanying him were four with the Friant Water Authority, includ- ing a pair of board members. He had met with the authority’s board earlier that day for a briefing on the region’s water supply and issues re- lated to the canal system.
The 152-mile canal stretches from Millerton Lake north of Fresno and travels south along the eastern edge of the Central Valley to the Kern River near Bakersfield. It was completed nearly 70 years ago and cost $60.8 million. The canal was built “to ensure water users received a surface water supply from the San Joaquin River ... to grow crops and recharge groundwater,” according to the authority’s website.
“Through this arrangement, Fri- ant Division contractor water sup- plies and groundwater tables were managed sustainably for more than 70 years.” The canal was built after over pumping reduced groundwater supplies in the 1920s.
Now that canal is showing its age, said Jim Erickson, a Madera farmer and Friant Water Authority
See COX on page A3
RMCHS construction progress
New facility on track to be open by February 2019
By Jodie Reyna
Mid Valley Publishing
Construction continues on the Reedley Middle College High School campus, with completion expected by February 2019.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held in February for Phase I of the project estimated to cost $8.7 mil- lion. Construction is taking place on the north end of the Reedley College campus near RMCHS’s current site, which opened in 2012. RMCHS is a collaborative effort between Kings Canyon Unified School District and Reedley College.
“It’s an honor to be able to deliver this for our students,” said Dr. John Quinto, assistant superintendent of business services for KCUSD.
Phase I of the new campus will accommodate 300 students. It in- cludes a two-story building that is about 15,000 square-feet. The build- ing will house eight classrooms, an administration office, and a staff room. Phase I also includes an out- door eating area and recreational area.
Durham Construction in Clo- vis is performing the work on the project. Project manager Julio Marroquin said the steel frame of the structure has been finished and workers are now framing the inte- rior walls.
“We are on schedule,” he said. “Everything is going smoothly.”
Reedley Middle College High School opened six years ago with only 20 students. The school now has an enrollment of 210 students for the 2018-19 school year, accord- ing to Adelfa Lorenzano, RMCHS coordinator. Shesaidtheschoolhas outgrown its current facility.
“We are at full capacity,” Lorenz- ano said.
Quinto said the school district has planned for future growth, and will begin construction on Phase II
See RMCHS on page A6
ABOVE: Two stories of classrooms will be housed in the new Reedley Middle College High School campus building, currently under construction in the northwest por- tion of Reedley College. The new campus is expected to be ready for occupancy by February 2019.
LEFT: Ron Pack, left, principal, educational options, and Alejandro Juarez, administra- tor at Reedley Middle College High School, stand in front of the new campus building under construction.
Photos by Jon Earnest / The Exponent
COOLING CENTERS
People without access to air conditioning can come to two cooling centers in the city: Palm Village Retirement Community (303 W. Herbert Ave.) and Sierra View Homes Retirement Community (1155 E. Springfield Ave.) from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Light refreshments are available.
Reedley family seeks answers in death of their dog
Lorie Ham certain their beloved 9-year-old Rupert was taken
By Jon Earnest
jon@midvalleypublishing.com
The Ham family of Reedley still is coming to an emo- tional grip trying to understand the mysterious disap- pearance and subsequent death of their dog, Rupert.
The 9-year-old black and white chihuahua mix went missing the morning of June 23 from the fam- ily’s fenced backyard in southwest Reedley. On July 12, the family received a text from a couple who said they found Rupert’s body floating in the Kings River near Kingsburg.
Lorie Ham believes her dog was taken from the yard by someone, although there have been no reports of ani- mal thefts in the area.
“Rupert was a chicken,” she said. “He had no desire to ever leave home, and the few times in the past when the dogs got out the front door he didn’t move more than a few feet from the door.
“If somehow he managed to find a way out of the
Classified - B6-7 Directory - A5
yard — which there was no sign of at all — he’d have sat himself down on the front steps and waited to be let in. It was not in his nature to run away — period. He’s 9 years old and we’ve had him since he was a tiny puppy. I know my dog.”
Ham said there were no signs of holes in or under the fence, and none of the family’s other four dogs had left the yard. An extensive search of the immediate neigh- borhood turned up no sign of Rupert.
Ham said her family extended their search, making fliers and scouring the neighborhood. Communicating on the NextDoor app, she said she received feedback from some people who believed their dogs had been taken from their yards as well.
“If only we’d known, we’d never have left him alone and we’d still have him,” she said.
Ham said she called John Urbano, Reedley’s animal control officer, to report Rupert’s disappearance. He thanked her for the information and said he would keep an eye out, but told her he had received no other reports of animals being stolen.
Urbano currently is out of town on vacation, but Reedley Police Chief Joe Garza said the department
Courtesy of the Ham family / Photo Contributed
Rupert is pictured in an undated family photo. The 9-year-old black and white chi- huahua mix’s body was found floating in the Kings River near Kingsburg on July 12, more than two weeks after going missing from the Ham family’s backyard. Rupert’s owners believe he was taken from the yard, as there were no signs of escape.
See RUPERT on page A3
Legals - B5 Sports - B3-4 Lights & Sirens - A3 Obituaries - A2-3 Opinion - A4