Page 1 - Reedley Exponent 2-28-19 E-edition

Reedley High’s FCCLA student leaders garner awards
Panorama
Vol. 130, No. 9 | Thursday, February 28, 2019
Orange Cove wrestlers make their marks at state meet
Sports
Chamber awards
‘Beach Party’
theme honors
community’s
finest for 2019
By Juanita Adame
juanita@midvalleypublishing.com
The Greater Reedley Chamber of Commerce Awards Gala was held on Feb. 23 at Reedley College. It was an evening filled with laughter, musical entertainment, food and a ceremony recognizing local businesses, people, and educators who have made a dif- ference in the community.
“To be up here and to honor fel- low people throughout our communi- ty, it has been a big year,” said Tony Cabrera, master of ceremonies and a Reedley resident. “It has been a fun year as well. There’s been ups, there’s been downs in our commu- nity, and that’s what pushed me to get a little more involved.” \
Cabrera is the anchor for the morning show on Fresno television station, ABC 30.
“This is a small town and we’re strong and we’re going to rise up this year,” he said. “We’ve [Cabrera and his family] been here about three years now and I can’t believe it’s gone by that fast. We have met so many great people, this community truly is amazing place to be, and an amazing place to raise kids.”
Among the winners this year were Danny Jimenez, who took home the Citizen of the Year award.
Jimenez, a retired Kings Canyon Unified District custodian, told the crowd that he’s proud to be from Reedley, and the community is a great place to live.
“From the past to the present, to the present, to the future, it’s al- ways been one main ingredient; the people,” Jimenez said.
“Whether you’ve lived here all your life or moved here to make it your home, moved to another city, state or country, this is our town.”
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Rob Terry, community development director for Reedley, held up a copy of the “Discover Reedley” 2019 Com- munity Guide and Business Directo- ry, printed by Mid Valley Publishing, during a Feb. 25 Town Hall meeting at the Reedley Community Center’s Senior Room.
Reedley’s business climate a hot topic
By Jon Earnest
jon@midvalleypublishing.com
Another strong turnout of people attended the second monthly Reedley Town Hall, ti- tled “Why Don’t We Have a Tar- get Yet?” on Feb. 25.
About 50 people attended the hour-long forum at Reedley Com- munity Center’s Senior Room, and learned a little bit from city leaders about truths and fallacies of economic development.
Rob Terry, Reedley’s commu- nity development director, and City Manager Nicole Zieba spoke at the Town Hall and answered questions from community mem- bers about the city’s development and attempts to draw businesses to Reedley.
“As a city, we seldom stand back and take account what our public understands economic de- velopment to be. Our goal is to give you just a snippet of what we consider economic development to be,” Zieba said. Using charts, she showed attendees that the city’s main sources of funding are property tax and sales tax. Those charts showed that Reedley keeps only a small amount of the fund- ing (11 cents per dollar for sales tax and 16 cents for property tax) after the state and Fresno County takes their cuts, as well as special districts.
Terry talked about four basic myths that the public has about cities in economic development. They are:
• Economic development is the city’s job.
• Companies come to commu- nities just because cities ask.
• All retail/commercial uses
See TOWN HALL on page A3
Sweet Six for Immanuel Eagles boys basketball
Immanuel High School basketball players, coaches and support- ers hold up their open hands to display six championships on Feb. 23 in Fresno’s Selland Arena. Moments earlier, the Eagles defeated Central Sequoia League rival Dinuba High, 70-39, for their sixth consecutive section title. It was the second straight in Division 3 after winning three straight Division 4 titles (2015-17) and one Division 5 title (2014). The Eagles (22-8) earned a North- ern California Regional playoff game against Leigh from San Jose pm Feb. 26; results of the game were unavailable at press time. For more on Immanuel’s section championship victory, see Sports on Page B3.
Jon Earnest / The Exponent
Denny Mason / Photo Contributed
Danny Jimenez, right, Reedley’s Citizen of the Year for 2019, smiled at Jim Patterson, 23rd District Assembly Member and an awards presenter, during the Business and Community Awards Gala on Feb. 23 at Reedley College.
Jimenez thanked the various local media outlets who highlight the Reed- ley Pirates in their newscasts and joked about how he landed the job of being “Ribberto’s” private chauffeur.
In 2018. the costumed frog be- came the mascot for the city’s annual Fiesta celebrations.
“I was looking for a job, there was an opening to be a driver for Ribberto,” said Jimenez. “I applied and he gave me an intense interview and even did a DOJ background.”
In his speech, Jimenez talked about the city’s young people.
“From kindergarten through high school,” he said. “The kids here
See AWARDS on page A6
Debbie Tingley, a longtime friend and co-worker with the late Pam Melville, posed with Patter- son as she accepted the Hall of Fame award on behalf of the Melville fam-
ily at the Feb. 23 awards gala.
Denny Mason / Photo Contributed
Law enforcement pays tribute to fallen Reedley police officer
Flag lowering ceremony honors
Javier Bejar 9 years after death
By Juanita Adame
juanita@midvalleypublishing.com
On the morning of Feb. 25, Fresno County Sher- iff Margaret Mims told Reedley Police Chief Joe Garza that the two departments will forever share an unfortunate connection.
“Because of the loss of Javier Bejar and Joel Wahlenmaier,” Mims said, “The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, as well as the Wahlenmaier and Bejar family, Chief Garza and I, will always have a bond. A bond of the kind we wished we didn’t have. A bond that we didn’t necessarily have before Feb. 25, 2010.”
Mims, along with members of several other law
enforcement agencies from throughout the state, attended the city’s annual flag lowering ceremony held in front of the Reedley Police Department to honor the lives of Javier Bejar and Joel Wahlen- maier.
It was just after 8:30 a.m. on that morning in 2010 when a man named Rick Liles shot at police af- ter they attempted to serve a search warrant at his mobile home in Minkler. Liles had been suspected in several arson and shooting incidents in the area.
According to reports, officers arrived at the home of Liles to serve the search warrant however when they ordered him to come out of the home, he refused. When police knocked down his door, Liles began shooting at officers.
More than 200 officers from surrounding areas responded to the area and nearby schools were put
See BEJAR on page A2
Juanita Adame / The Exponent
Margaret Mims, Fresno County Sheriff, was one of the speakers Feb. 25 at the flag lower- ing ceremony to honor the lives of Reedley Police Officer Javier Bejar and Fresno County Sheriff’s Deputy Joel Wahlenmaier. Also pictured is Joe Garza, Reedley chief of police.
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