Mid Valley Times 4-29-21 E-edition

Thursday, April 29, 2021
Vol. 2, No. 43
Gustafson, a Kingsburg native, posted
a 302-108 re-
cord — 191-50
in Central Val-
ley Confer-
ence play —
while winning
eight confer-
ence champi-
onships and
qualifying for
state tournament play four times (1987, 1988, 1991 and 1995). Her final season of 1995 was her best, as the Ti- gers went 20-3 overall and 14- 0 in conference capped by a fourth place state finish.
Upon her retirement in 1995, Gustafson was inducted into the California Coaches Hall of Fame. She later was inducted into the California Community College Women's Volleyball Athletic Associa- tion Hall (1998) as well as the Reedley College Tiger Athlet- ic Hall of Fame (1998).
Shirley (Valenti) Gus- tafson grew up in Kingsburg
See GUSTAFSON on page A2
Shirley Gustafson
50 cents
Volleyball coaching legend Gustafson dies at 85
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
Shirley Gustafson, who started the volleyball program at Reedley College and had a Hall of Fame coaching career for the Tigers from 1974 to 1995, died the early morning hours of April 26 at the age of 85.
Championship emotions
George Armenta / Photo Contributed
ABOVE: Sanger High quarterback John Pena smiled and shed a tear after learning he was named Player of the Game from KFRE 59 following the Apaches' 28-21 vic- tory over San Joaquin Memorial on April 23 in Fresno. The Apaches captured the outright County Metro Ath- letic Conference championship with the victory.
RIGHT: Reedley High School's Jackie Priese flexed his bi- cep muscles in celebration, moments after the PIrates defeated Sunnyside High by a 22-15 score at Sal Gon- zalez Field on April 23. Reedley rallied from a 15-0 defi- cit to post the program's first outright league football championship since 1973. Details in Sports, page A9.
Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
Coronavirus Update — Steady Orange As Numbers Remain Stable
Region experiences no spikes in new cases
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
The Central Valley continues to flash a steady hue of orange this week, but there's no impending signs of improve- ment to the yellow tier when it comes to COVID-19 cases.
New and active case numbers con- tinue to decline, but at a slower pace than in this past month where first Tu- lare and then Fresno counties improved from widespread purple to substantial red, and then to the moderate orange
tier. Fresno County saw its new COV- ID-19 cases per 100,000 in population drop from 5.3 to 4.9, with the positivity rate dipping from 2.9 to 2.5.
But in order to go into the yellow (minimal case) tier, numbers will have to drop below 2 percent for two weeks. So it appears the region will continue in a state where indoor businesses can conduct operations at 50 percent of ca- pacity.
Also slowing down is the rate of people getting the COVID-19 vaccine, although numbers in both counties con-
tinue to climb. Fresno County reported that 651,787 had received at least one vaccination as of April 26, with Tulare County showing 251,875 having received at least one shot as of April 27. Doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine are ex- pected to again be readily available for administering in coming days.
Fresno County had just 397 new CO- VID cases for the week, and hospitaliza- tions dipped to 102 before the weekend before climbing back to 112 by April 27.
See VIRUS on page A16
Victorio Rojas / Photo Contributed
Citlali Garcia smiled after she was named Dinuba Cinco de Mayo Queen for 2021 during the pageant taping on April 24. The event was streamed to the public on April 25.
MVT Staff Report
Citlali Garcia was crowned as queen of the 2021 Dinuba Cinco de Mayo Pageant; the first time the event has been held virtually.
The Dinuba high senior received the title, along with $2,500 in scholarship money. She wowed judg- es with what they called an amazing performance singing "EL Toro Relajo" in a traditional charro outfit
Garcia is a member of FFA and Ignite Club, and plays varsity sports in soc- cer and track and field. She also is taking AP Spanish courses.
The 1st Runner-up title
See PAGEANTonpageA16
Victorio Rojas / Photo Contributed
The Dinuba Cinco de Mayo Pageant royal court for 2021. From left, Victoria Garza, Melissa Valencia (2nd Runner-up), Evelyn Lopez Castellos (Miss Conge- niality), Citlali Garcia (Queen for 2021), Yaretzi Corpus Solis (1st Runner-up), Marina Velasquez, Emily Vargas. The pageant returned for 2021 after being canceled last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Citlali Garcia named Dinuba's Cinco de Mayo Queen for 2021
Classifieds - A10 Directory - A6 Legals - A11-14
Sports - A9, A15 Lifestyle - A7-8 Lights & Sirens - A3, A5 Obituaries - A2-3 Opinion - A4