Reedley Exponent 11-1-18 E-edition

Pirates honor 13 players in Senior Night football finale
Sports
Reedley (Fresno County) CA 93654 | 50 cents Police arrest 2 students after gun found at RHS
An array of costumes highlight ‘Red Ribbon’ carnival
Panorama
Vol. 129, No. 44 | Thursday, November 1, 2018
www.reedleyexponent.com
Pair of freshmen in custody, handgun was in gym locker
By Jon Earnest
jon@midvalleypublishing.com
Reedley police arrested two Reedley High School students on Oct. 25 after detec- tives discovered a loaded handgun on campus during morning classes.
The two police detectives came on campus
Election
Day is
looming
Voters go to polls
on Tuesday, Nov. 6
Staff Report
The public has less than a week remaining to bear with the barrage of television, radio and media spots from political candidates and orga- nizations.
Election Day is almost here.
The general election vote will be on Tuesday, Nov. 6, across the coun- try, and Reedley voters will have is- sues to vote on covering local, state and national interest.
On election day, a dozen pre- cinct voting locations will be open around Reedley. (see list of polling precincts on page A2). Three more precincts are in Orange Cove, four in Squaw Valley, four in Parlier and one each in Dunlap and Miramonte.
There are two immediate local races that Reedley voters will have a large say in deciding. One is in Reedley City Council’s District 4, where incumbent Ray Soleno is run- ning for another term and is being challenged by Lee Ky. That is the only council race, because District 2 incumbent Mary Fast was unop- posed and will be appointed to an- other four-year term.
The other local race is for Area 4 trustee with the State Center Com- munity College District. The area, which includes Reedley, features a race between incumbent Ron Nishi- naka and challenger Magdalena Go- mez. There also are local council races in Orange Cove and Parlier.
Locals also will vote in the 31st Assembly District race between in- cumbent Juan Arambula and chal- lenger Lupe Espinoza. Most Reed- ley voters will pick a side in the 22nd Congressional District race between incumbent Devin Nunes and challenger Andrew Janz. Some rural residents west of the city will vote in the 21st District race be- tween incumbent David Valadao and challenger T.J. Cox. Another state race features incumbent An- dy Vidak against challenger Melissa Hurtado for the 14th District State Senate seat.
The deadline to register for the general election has passed, but many people will be voting by mail. They can mail in their ballots any- time up until election day, or drop off their ballots in person at the Fresno County Elections Office.
after a student reported to school administra- tors that another students was in possession of a gun. Administrators notified the school resource officer, and the detectives conducted a search to find the weapon, according to a news release from the Reedley Police Department.
The campus was not placed on any lock- down, as detectives determined that there was no imminent threat to students or staff. Parents and staff were notified after the ar- rests were made.
Reedley Police Chief Joe Garza said the
student notifying school administrators ini- tiated a smooth and thorough process that eventually located the handgun in a school locker. It wasn’t confirmed where the locker was located, but the campus has a few lock- ers in the main administrative building and in physical education locker rooms.
“We truly appreciate that a student came forward and notified school staff,” said Joe Garza, Reedley police chief. “It’s one of those things we take very seriously.
“Our responsibility is the safety of the
students and safety of the campus.”
The two male juveniles arrested were freshman underclass students, according to RHS Principal John Ahlin. They were part of the interview process by detectives, and the
handgun was recovered without incident. “It’s what we teach our kids. If you see something, you say something,” Ahlin said. “A student came forward, notified us and we re- sponded like we’ve been trained. Two students
See GUN on page A8
A ‘Big Green’ milestone
ABOVE: Directors and faculty with the Reedley High Pirates Marching Band hoist the Selma Band Review’s Grand Sweepstakes award won by the band on Oct. 27. It was the school’s first Grand Sweepstakes award since 2005, and the first time RHS has won both the Grand Sweepstakes and Grand Marshal trophy in the same year.
BELOW: The Grand Sweepstakes and Grand Marshal awards from the Selma Band Review is the latest hardware captured by the Reedley High band.
Reedley High Pirates Marching Band sweeps Grand Sweepstakes and Grand Marshal awards at Selma for first time
Reedley High School Marching Band / Photos Contributed
By Jon Earnest
jon@midvalleypublishing.com
The Reedley High Pirates March- ing Band reached a new milestone in its impressive musical and competi- tion history last weekend.
On Oct. 27, the “Big Green March- ing Machine” captured the Grand Sweepstakes award at the prestigious Selma Band Review, the school’s first since 2005. But for the first time, Reedley High captured both the Sweepstakes and Grand Marshal’s award in the same year.
“The best moment of the night was seeing the kids in the stands dur- ing the awards ceremony all down and depressed after hearing the other bands get all the other awards, but
then exploding like fireworks when Reedley was announced the winner,” Daniel Paulson, senior band director, said in an e-mail.
In addition, Reedley High received the award for high visual effect dur- ing the daytime parade competition in downtown Selma. That traditional event precedes the performances re- views held at Selma High’s football stadium.
Also, Emily Booth was awarded second place in the drum majors judg- ing.
Word of Reedley’s triumph at the Selma Band Review spread quickly once it was on the band’s Facebook page, then shared to The Exponent’s
See BAND on page A8
Conservancy breaks ground on wildlife area
Contributed
The Kings River Conservancy and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have started construction on the new Nature Center and Wildlife Management Area set to open next year.
A grant was awarded by the Central Valley Community Founda- tion from the Ted Martin Fund to develop 34 acres along the Kings River into a Wildlife Management Area and Nature Education Cen- ter. The area and center will be utilized as part of a science edu- cation program for local students and by the general public.
“We are excited to begin this project,” said Vernon Crowder, Ex- ecutive Director, Kings River Con- servancy. “This area will be such a great addition to the community
and will benefit our local students visiting the river for educational field trips.”
Kings River Conservancy and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will work together to develop this land, currently owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The 34-acre stretch of land is located along the south side of the Kings River, just below the Pine Flat Dam, and is a former camp- ground. A network of “all-accessi- ble” trails will be established.
Construction is anticipated to take 12 months to complete and will be overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
For more information about the Kings River Conservancy, contact the conservancy at (559) 787-9500 or go online to kingsriverconser- vancy.org.
Kings River Conservancy / Photo Contributed
From left are Adam Thompson, Senior Park Ranger; Mary Morris, KRC Education Director; Deb Lapp, KRC Board President; Justin Aulakh, Natural Resource Spe- cialist/Park Ranger.
Adjust your clocks for Daylight Saving Time on Sunday, Nov. 4.
Classifieds - B6-7
Directory - A5 Legals - B5 Sports - B3-4 Health & Fitness - A6-7
Lights & Sirens - A3 Obituaries - A2-3 Opinion - A4