Page 1 - Mid Valley Times 6-4-20 E-edition

Thursday, June 4, 2020
Vol. 1, No. 49
takes precautions with masks
Class of 2020 honored during May 28 program
MVT Staff Report
The 120th Reedley High School ceremony on May 28 was like no other the school has hosted.
A "virtual" ceremony was presented on You Tube video, featuring pre-recorded mes- sages, music and finally the introduction of each of the Class of 2020's 397 graduates. Each senior pre-recorded video of them receiving dip- lomats and all were played in the video.
The school honored 32 valedictorians (grade point average of 4.0 or better) and 20 salutatorians. In addition, 10 Pirate Pillars were recog- nized for their prestigious ac- complishment.
Graduates Ximena Ramos and Roxana Ramos, were speakers, with Roxana deliv- ering remarks to the class. Grad Elicia Balladarez sang the national anthem while 10 seniors were part of the RHS Madrigals' video rendition of "Back Home."
The ceremony's airing was followed by a live fireworks show at the football stadium.
Both the Reedley High and Orange Cove High graduation ceremonies can be accessed on- line at the following link:
www.youtube.com/channel/ UCQEBHILzftCMHKoqUbM- N2YQ/videos.
ABOVE: Matthew Casarez, one of Reedley High School's 32 valedictorians, smiled and showed off his diploma as John Ahlin, RHS principal, looked on during the high school's virtual graduation ceremony video that was played on You Tube on May 28.
MIDDLE RIGHT: Graduate Elicia Balladarez, who will attend Fres- no City College this fall, sang the
national anthem. Standing next to her is Arlando Love, chief with the RHS Navy Junior ROTC program.
RIGHT: One tradition was unchanged at the virtual graduation — a post-ceremony fireworks display next to Sal Gonzalez Field at the end of the virtual ceremony on May 28.
Danny Jimenez / Photos Contributed
Rick Curiel / Mid Valley Times
Customers wore masks as they entered and exited the Sanger Walmart store on June 1. On May 22, Sanger City Manager Tim Chapa issued an emergency order requiring residents to wear face masks when out in public.
Reedley's salons, barbershops are back in business
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
Reedley's downtown has come to life in the last two weeks; first with restaurants opening again to dine-in service and then followed last week by the return of beauty salons and barbershops.
Like all cities during the CO- VID-19 crisis and resulting shelter- ion-place edict by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Reedley took a big economic jolt without many small businesses able to operate. The re- openings come as a relief to Nicole Zieba, Reedley city manager.
"It feels so good to be able to get businesses opening up again," Zieba said. "It was the worst feeling in the world as a city manager to tell the
See SALONSonpageA12
Dinuba
cancels
fireworks
event for
2020
By George M. Villagrana
Mid Valley Times
There will be no large fireworks show at Ridge Creek Golf Course in 2020, as the city of Dinuba can- celed the event.
The annual Indepen- dence Day Celebration was moved from Centennial Park to the golf course last year.
In its meeting last week, the Dinuba City Council voted to move forward with allowing booths to sale fire- works the week of Sunday, June 28 to Saturday, July 4. The city holds a lottery each year in order to select participants for fireworks booth sales for two years. There are seven groups who were selected through the lottery along with Pro- Youth Dinuba.
All participants have se- cured the necessary tempo- rary seller's permit and the permit from the State Fire Marshal. The state has not implemented any restric- tions on the issuance of fire- work sales permits despite Governor Newsom's stay- at-home order. All groups
See FIREWORKS on page A18
of cases to more than 100 in just more than two months.
For a time, the numbers made Sanger the second most affected city in Fres- no County, behind Fresno.
Selma passed Sanger in con- firmed positive coronavirus cases a few weeks back.
But recent numbers have been enough for city person- nel, council members and a
citizen’s advisory commit- tee made up local business owners to urge for the use of masks to help prevent fur-
See MASKS on page A12
50 cents
Sanger
City requiring its residents, visitors to wear face protection out in public
By Rick Curiel
Mid Valley Times
The city of Sanger is not taking chances when it comes to reopening retail stores and restaurants within city limits and is now requir- ing residents to wear masks when going out in public.
Facing the pressure to re- open, Sanger city staff and council have shown concern for moving too fast over the last several weeks as posi- tive cases of COVID-19 have jumped dramatically within the city. Since the city went into shelter-in-place back on March 19, the city of Sanger has gone from just a handful
Coronavirus Update — Road to Reopening California
Reedley High virtual graduation
Classifieds - A9 Directory - A10
Legals - A13-15 Sports - A11
Lifestyle - A7-8
Lights & Sirens - A3
Obituaries - A2-3 Opinion - A4