Mid Valley Times 2-10-22 E-Edition

Thursday, February 10, 2022
Vol. 3, No. 32
Coronavirus Update
New case
numbers
continue
to decline
Hospitalization decline continues, but vaccination numbers still lag
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
More than two months af- ter the start of a winter holi- day spike in coronavirus cases throughout the Central Valley, new and active case numbers in Fresno and Tulare counties finally are undergoing sharp drops in numbers to reflect declines throughout the state.
In Fresno, the 7-day in- cidence rate of active case numbers declined by nearly 50 percent, dropping from a number of 15,052 on Feb. 1 to 7,940 in the Feb. 8 data re- leased by the Fresno County Department of Public Health. In that same timeframe, the4 number of new daily cases per 100,000 people in popu- lation declined from 228.9 to 142.9.
That number remains well above COVID-19 case num- bers from back at the end of summer and start of the school year. But California numbers have dropped to the point that Gov. Gavin Newsom and the state's Deparrtment of Public Health announced on Feb. 7 that the indoor mask mandate for all people is be- ing listed on Tuesday, Feb. 15. The mask requirement indoors will continue for un-
See COVID on page A18
50 cents
Big day for Sanger AD students
Photo courtesy of Sanger High School
Members of Sanger High School's Academic Decathlon team participated in the virtual Super Quiz competition at the 4oth annual Fresno County Academic Decathlon on Feb. 5. The team's' setup for the Super Quiz event was inside the school's Multipurpose Center on campus, as all schools participating in the Super Quiz did so from their respective campuses. Sanger finished in third place.
Place second in division, third overall at county Academic Decathlon
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
Sanger High School's Aca- demic Decathlon team en- joyed a big day at the 40th an- nual Fresno County Academic Decathlon on Feb. 5.
The Apaches placed sec- ond in the rugged Division 1 competition and third place overall, scoring 32,290.4 points including a third place score of 3,010.0 in the herald- ed Super Quiz competition. They trailed only powerful University High, which suc- cessfully defended its title with 43,306.2 points (also win- ning the Super Quiz) and Divi- sion 2 champion Clovis North
See ACADEMIConpageA2
Greater Reedley Chamber Gala on Feb. 26
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
Emily Rico says that giv- ing back to the Dinuba com- munity, through her numer- ous campus activities along with church involvement and her own self-run busi- ness, are at the core for her desire to serve others.
“Growing up in Dinuba all my life playing sports, being in our local parades, and overall representing out community...I want to leave a mark on Dinuba and be able to share my past ex- periences with the youth,” she said.
The Dinuba High senior is one of four finalists for
Dinuba Teenage Citizen of the Year, which will be announced at the annual Chamber of Commerce awards ceremony on Fri- day, Feb. 18.
Rico’s school involve- ment has been extensive, both academically and ath- letically. She has served as an officer for four years with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and other campus activities in- clude student council, edi- tor of the school yearbook
photography, letter and drill. She is a three-year let- ter and two-year captain for the volleyball team, earning all-Central Sequoia League honors this past fall.
Off campus, Emily has worked as an event styl- ist, handling people’s party needs creating balloons, backdrops, event styling cotton candy, popcorn and shaved ice catering.
“It is going so well and I am truly grateful for every- thing,” she said. I’m excited for the future and how I can grow my business to be the best possible.”
Other volunteer work
See TEEN on page A2
Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
In addition to her numerous school activities, Dinuba High Senior Emily Rico continued to work as an event stylist, handling people's party needs. She also was two-time captain and an all-league volleyball player.
Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
Susan Lusk, shown speaking to volunteers before the start of the 2021 Reedley Wreaths for Veterans event on Dec. 18, is the 2022 Citizen of the Year for Reedley.
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
The Greater Reedley Chamber of Commerce has announced the seven people and businesses to be honored as the upcoming Business & Community Awards Gala on Saturday, Feb. 26, at the Reed- ley Community Center.
Susan Lusk, longtime edu- cator and organizer for the Reedley Wreaths for Veterans Program, is the 2022 Citizen of the Year for Reedley. She has been a tireless advocate
for the wreaths program and the Capt. Joe F. Lusk Memo- rial Foundation, established after the death of Lusk's Ar- my Captain son in a military helicopter crash in Kuwait in 2005.
The other 2022 Chamber Gala honorees are:
• Ashlee Campos, Junior Citizen of the Year,
• Fitness Quest Health Club, Large Business of the Year,
• Willie's Cafe, Small Busi-
SeeAWARDSonpage A18
Susan Lusk is selected as 2022 Citizen of the Year
Dinuba Teen Citizen hopeful combines school, business
This is the third of four finalist profiles for Dinuba Teenage Citizen of the Year.
Classifieds - A10 Directory - A6 Legals - A9, A12-16
Sports - A11, A17 Lifestyle - A7-8 Lights & Sirens - A3, A5 Obituaries - A2-3 Opinion - A4