Page 1 - Mid Valley Times 7-30-20 E-edition

Thursday, July 30, 2020
Vol. 2, No. 5
Cases still climb in higher-risk region
Worshippers march in Sanger while businesses take on more challenges
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
Fresno and Tulare counties re- mained under state monitoring status this week as businesses and churches adjusted to remain open as the region, state and nation prepared to enter into a sixth month of the worldwide COV- ID-19 pandemic.
Gov. Gavin Newsom this week an- nounced new funding to curb the spread of coronavirus in the San Joaquin Val- ley, including Fresno and Tulare coun- ties which had a combined total of more than 22,000 total cases (about 13,000 ac- tive). The Central Valley's eight counties have positive case rates ranging from 10.7 percent to 17.5 percent, well ahead
See COVID-19onpageA16
Derek Fujitsubo, Upper Room Church / Photo Contributed
About 200 people marched along Bethel Avenue in Sanger the morning of July 25 as part of the "Sing to Our King" march organized by the Upper Room Church of Sanger. The event was to protest Gov. Gavin Newsom's recent restrictions regarding singing in indoor church services. Pastor Don Komush with the church said the restrictions against the churches violate wor- shippers' constitutional rights.
Dinuba Unified scales back to full distance learning for 2020-2021 year
By Rick Curiel
Mid Valley Times
Less than two weeks after releasing a tentative plan to return safely to schools using a blended model, the Dinuba Unified School District has announced last week that, due to California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s mandate regarding school openings, the district will be implementing full dis- tance learning this fall.
At a special meeting held on July 9, trustees from the Dinuba Unified School Dis-
SeeDUSDonpage A16
50 cents
Coronavirus Update — Stuck on State Monitoring List
Sanger girl rescued from human trafficking operation
MVT Staff Report
A female minor from Sanger was rescued this summer from the hands of a human trafficker after the persistence of one Sanger po- lice officer led to an arrest in Southern California.
The Sanger Police Depart- ment received a report of a sexual assault back in May of this year involving the same minor. Officer Shaela Ed- wards took over the case and began an investigation that re- vealed the minor was engag- ing in ‘dangerous activity’.
Edwards began working with the family in an attempt to get the girl help but, accord- ing to police, was unsuccessful. Shortly after, the police depart- ment received word that the minor ran away from home.
Determined to find the mi- nor, Edwards continued her investigation. In June, after following leads, she discov- ered that the minor was stay- ing with a man in Irvine as a victim of human trafficking. She alerted the Irvine Police Department, who in turn, called in the Orange Coun- ty Human Trafficking Task Force to investigate it further.
Edwards’ suspicions were verified by the task force
See TRAFFICKING on page A6
A happy welcome home
Reedley's Darren Morrison returns from brain surgery in SF
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
A longtime California Highway Patrol officer and Reedley resident received a special homecoming from law enforcement friends and family on July 24, just three days after undergoing brain surgery in San Francisco for a rare condition brought on by a stroke in 2018.
Darren Morrison, his wife Megan and a number of fam- ily and friends stood on the lawn of his home on North Riverview Avenue around 9:30 a.m. as a long line of ve- hicles — starting with three CHP cruisers representing his longtime employer — passed by from the north while waving, honking and presenting gifts. It was an unexpected scene for the 45-yerar-old Morrison, who on July 21 was operated on by renowned surgeon Dr. Nicho- las Galifianakis.
The brain specialist inplant- ed a special deep brain stimu- lation device to help treat the rare Holmes Tremor disorder that affected Morrison since the stroke two years ago.
Despite the miraculously quick recovery time since the surgery, Morrison said vi- sion problems have forced his retirement from law enforce- ment. He served 18 years with CHP, working the area around Reedley and eastern Fresno County, and earlier had stints with the Tulare County Sher-
ABOVE: California Highway Patrol cruisers roll along Riverview Avenue in north Reedley during a July 24 drive-by salute to Darren Morrison, longtime employee with the depart- ment who had just returned home from brain surgery earlier this week in San Francisco.
LEFT:With family looking on, Darren Morrison and his wife, Megan Mor- rison, react to the parade of vehicle that passed by Morrison's home.
Classifieds - A11 Directory - A12 Legals - A13-15 Sports - A9 Lifestyle - A7-8
Lights & Sirens - A3 Obituaries - A2-3, A5 Opinion - A4
iff's Department and Dinuba Police Department.
"I would love to go back to work, but realize I can't," Morrison said, adding that
he's lost about half of his vi- sion. "I'm so grateful for what I have."
The brief parade began to the north at the Redeemers
Photos by Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
Church on Parlier Avenue, then traveled south on Reed Avenue before turning east and finish- ing south on North Riverview to Morrison's home.