Page 7 - Mid Valley Times 6-4-20 E-edition

The View From Here
I could sit here and write a story about year- end events in Reedley.
Maybe,
even write
about the re-
cent gradua-
tion ceremo-
nies in Sanger. Or perhaps the virtual graduations held by our local junior high schools, or the "drive thru" pick up events.
It would be easy to sit here and write about the new numbers on the COV- ID-19 crisis and how we as a community need to be safe to ensure our health.
I could sit here and write about those stories, but I won't.
As we all know by now, a Minnesota police officer, now identified as Derek Chauvin, detained a man named George Floyd on May 25.
The video that followed was taken by a bystander. It showed Floyd on the ground, in handcuffs while Chauvin knelt on his neck.
He knelt for 8 minutes. During those 8 minutes, none of the police officers on scene, or even the by- standers tried to help.
What followed, we all know was Floyd's death and then rioting and looting all across the country, includ- ing Fresno.
I watched a video circu- lating on Facebook during the initial days of the ri- ots. In the video, a county sheriff in Minnesota spoke to crowds. “Don’t think for a second that he [Chauvin] represents who these cops are, all over the county and across this nation. We are here to help people not do that nonsense.” said Chris Swanson, the Genesee Coun- ty Sheriff.
The sad part is, most of the people rioting are using the name of George Floyd to destroy property. They give minorities, people of color a bad name. The sad part is, corrupt police officers like Derek Chauvin and his ac- tions, give good cops a bad name.
What’s left? The civil un- rest in our country. Another race war and the inability to listen to eachother. What's left? The emphasis on our differences rather than our similarities.
I know a handful of po- lice officers who, first and foremost are not white. I also know some who are white and who would nev- er behave in the way that Chauvin did. Those officers represent the larger major- ity of law enformcent per- sonnel in our country.
SEE COLUMN on page A8
ily,” said Joe Garza, Reedley’s Police Chief. “So the family, this is why they must be part of this.”
Garza introduced the two and gave a brief history of where they are from, their families, and their prior ca- reers in law enforcement.
“Kyle served five years in the United States Marine Corps.,” said Garza. “So this is very appropriate that we have this swearing in around Me- morial Day for us to remem- ber the service and those who made the sacrifice and the service to our country.”
Carey’s father, Robert Car- ey also works in law enforce- ment. Robert is a sergeant with the Fresno County Sher- iff’s Office.
"Kyle had some experience with the Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Department and he felt that he was too far away from home, so he decided to come back closer,” said Garza.
“We were fortunate enough to get Kyle to come to Reed-
SEE POLICE on page A8
Juanita Adame
Reedley Police welcomes new officers
Juanita Adame / Mid Valley Times
From left, Antonio Martinez and Kyle Carey were given some words of advice by Reedley Police Chief Joe Garza shortly before their swearing in on May 27.
By Juanita Adame
Mid Valley Times
The city of Reedley’s coun- cil chambers were filled with
the family and friends of two newly sworn officers, Antonio Martinez and Kyle Carey.
The two men are the latest addition to the Reedley Police
Department and were sworn in on the morning of May 27.
“It is said that the offi- cer wears the badge but the weight is carried by the fam-
Sanger native selected for Growmark scholarship
Contributed
Fifteen agriculture stu- dents have been selected as the fourth class of recipients of the Growmark Foundation scholarship. One of those selected was Mason Tarr, of Sanger.
Tarr is currently studying agribusiness at Fresno State University.
Growmark is a nationwide company that supplies cus- tomers with agriculture tools and services like fuels, lubri- cants, and crop nutrients.
More than 260 students from across the United States and Ontario, Canada, applied for the award.
Applications were evaluat-
ed by a panel of agribusiness professionals, and the funds are available for the fall 2020 semester.
“We are pleased to provide financial support to these fif- teen outstanding students,” said Amy Bradford, Grow- mark Manager, Corporate Communications and Manager of the Growmark Foundation.
“Their pursuit of higher education in agriculture will position them well to poten- tially become a part of the Growmark System in the fu- ture, whether that may be em- ployment at Growmark or an FS member cooperative, or as a farmer-owner of their local cooperative.”
Contributed
Mason Tarr, a Fresno State student and Sanger native was se- lected as a scholarship recepient for the Growmark Foundation.
Photo of the week
Sanger High teachers share message to grads
Photo Courtesy / Sanger High School Facebook Page
A message of encouragement, "just want our senior class to know that we are thinking of you and we miss you," wrote Reyna Sanchez. Sanger High School teachers shared the message to their graduating seniors on the school's Facebook page.
Contributed
A photo of Reedley couple, Jaime Camargo and Pita Mendoza was sentinbythecouple.Thecoupleisengagedtobemarried. Have a photo you'd like featured? Email juanita@midvalleypublishing. com.