Page 1 - Mid Valley Times 6-18-20 E-edition

Thursday, June 18, 2020
Vol. 1, No. 51
Central Valley cases, recoveries continue to climb
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
More than 800 people in Mid Valley Times' anchor cities — Dinuba, Sanger and Reedley — have contracted the CO- VID-19 Coronavirus since the official numbers on the virus were being tabu- lated starting in late winter.
As of June 16, Dinuba had 425 total confirmed cases while Sanger had 221 and Reedley 149. Those three cities ac- count for little more than 14 percent of the combined Fresno-Tulare counties total cases of 5,586, of which 2,735 cur-
See COVID-19onpageA15
Sanger begins its interview process for new police chief
By Rick Curiel
Mid Valley Times
“If all goes well, we could have a new Police Chief on board by the beginning of August,” said Sanger City Manager Tim Chapa.
The interviewing process to hire the city of Sanger’s new Chief of Police began this week on June 16, as the first candi- dates began the screening process. Earlier in the year the city retained the services of Ralph Anderson and Associates, a profes- sional recruiting firm, to help guide the city through the process.
That process involves the candidates being interviewed by two recently estab- lished committees, a community panel and a technical panel. The community panel is made up of five citizens from Sanger who were selected by their district city council member. The technical panel is also made
See POLICECHIEFonpageA16
Dinuba theater one of last week's reopenings
By Rick Curiel
Mid Valley Times
Platinum Theaters in Dinuba has joined a growing number of business establishments reopening after being closed for nearly three months due to a state mandated shelter-in-place order issued in March in response to the CO- VID-19 Coronavirus pandemic.
The theater opened its doors on June 13, with precautions taken at the door and through- out. Patrons who visit the theater are required to wear a mask while inside the building, have their temperature taken upon entering, main- tain social distancing and are seated by employ- ees once inside.
Masks may be removed once seated but
See THEATER on page A10
Rick Curiel / Mid Valley Times
A Platinum Theaters’ employee scanned a young girl’s temperature as she enters the theater. The Dinuba theater reopened for business on June 13 after being closed for nearly three months because of COVID-19.
50 cents
Coronavirus Update — Reopening California
More businesses open under Stage 3
Vigil for George Floyd
Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
Candlelight vigil participants (from left) Miriam Cardenas Aleman, special speaker Maya Stewart and opening speaker Kaylena Santos reacted as music played to close out a June 12 candlelight vigil in honor of George Floyd, the African-American man who died at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer on May 25. A crowd of more than 150 people attended the vigil, which organizers said was to honor Floyd and "all the lives taken to soon."
Reedley event on June 12 draws more than 150
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
More than 150 people came to Reedley's Pioneer Park the evening of June 12 to partici- pate in a candlelight vigil for George Floyd, the African- American man who died at the hands of police in Minnesota last month.
The event included mes- sages from guest speaker Maya Stewart, a Reedley res- ident who shared her experi- ences growing up black, and local pastor Matt Naylor. It also featured music, prayer, an invitation for attendees to be active in the cause and a candlelight vigil to cap the evening.
See VIGIL on page A15
Sanger native Vaca takes administrator job in Visalia
Roberto Vaca asked a question during a "community conver- sation event" with Fresno State officials at Reedley College in November 2019. Vaca, a native of Sanger who served as principal at Orosi High School this past six years, has moved to the Visalia Unified School District as an area administrator.
Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
By George M. Villagrana
Mid Valley Times
Sanger native Roberto Vaca is trying to gain traction at his new position as Area Admin- istrator with Visalia Unified School District.
Vaca, who served as principal of Orosi High School the past six years, takes on a role oversee- ing the Golden West High School area that will include charter schools, alternative education, adult schools and athletics.
“I know it’s a lot,” he said. “I’m taking it one day at a time.” Vaca said he was trying to attend as many on-site campus
visits as pos- sible while getting fa- miliar to new policies and procedures.
“I’ve been
meeting new
people,” said
Vaca. “I feel
like a fresh-
man in high
school having to learn a new campus and make new friends, learn new systems that we have in place.”
Vaca spent five years at Sanger High, three years in Tu- lare and the past six in Orosi.
“I feel like the past experi- ences have really prepared me for this one,” he said.
At Orosi, Vaca said continuity and the support from the school board and superintendent Yolan- da Valdez, allowed the students to thrive.
“I’m very proud of the school board and superintendent. They provided us all the resources we needed to do our jobs,” Vaca said.
Vaca added the school’s grad- uation rates were one of the highest in Tulare County and im- proved test scores were a credit
See VACA on page A10
Classifieds - A6
Directory - A11
Legals - A12-14
Sports - A9 Lifestyle - A7-8 Lights & Sirens - A3 Obituaries - A2-3 Opinion - A4
Roberto Vaca