Page 1 - Reedley Exponent 8-16-18 E-edition

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Vol. 129, No. 33 | Thursday, August 16, 2018
www.reedleyexponent.com
papers on Aug. 2.
Soleno and Ky will vie for
the District 4 seat in the Tues- day, Nov. 6, general election.
Mary Fast, veteran coun- cil member in District 2 — also was up for re-election but was unopposed by the filing deadline. The city took
Lee Ky formal steps to avoid having her on the ballot and planned to have her appointed to the
position for another four-year term.
Three seats on the Kings Canyon Unified School District board of trustees were up for
Reedley (Fresno County) CA 93654 | 50 cents Ky to challenge Soleno for District 4 Council seat
Fast unopposed in District 2, Brooks chooses not to seek re-election as KCUSD trustee
By Jon Earnest
jon@midvalleypublishing.com
There will be one contested race for a seat on the Reedley City Council this fall.
Ray Soleno — the longtime District 4 member who contemplated retirement fol- lowing his most recent term that featured initial steps of a recall by voters — is run-
ning for another term this fall. The 78-year-old — who has served 33 years on the council during two differ- ent runs that included two stints as mayor — decided in mid-July to run and filed formal nomination papers with the Fresno County Elections Office on Aug. 2.
Soleno will be chal-
lenged by Lee Ky, who has
been a longtime business leader and represen- tative in Reedley. Ky, 52, issued her candidate statement on July 23 and filed her nomination
vote in November, and it appeared that there was going to be one contested race. That was in District 3, with incumbent Connie Brooks and challenger Jim Mulligan both initially an- nouncing intentions to run.
But Brooks withdrew her name from can- didacy before the Aug. 10 filing deadline. In a text to The Exponent, Brooks said she decided not to run after initially filing. She plans to undergo knee replacement surgery in October and was uncertain about length of rehabilita- tion. She also plans to spend time with her four grandchildren.
See CANDIDATES on page A8
Council
OKs 3-year
fee waiver
for parade
Staff Report
The Reedley City Council has unanimously approved waiving city fees related to the annual Reed- ley Fiesta Parade for three years, through 2020.
At the Aug. 14 regular meeting, the council approved the request by the Greater Reedley Chamber of Commerce and the Reedley Rotary Club to waive fees directly related to the parade. It’s a three-year ex- tension of the initial request from fees relief to put on the parade, which was approved by the coun- cil in January 2016 and was good through 2017.
Both the Chamber and Rotary approached city leaders in 2015 and said how the expenses of putting on the parade were a hardship. Offi- cials said neither organization makes money on the parade, but recogniz- ing the value it brings to the city and community, continues to fund every- thing necessary to put it on.
During the three-year fee waiv- er, the city only has charged for direct, out-of-pocket costs. These costs have averaged between $1,500 and $2,000 per year through the last three Fiestas.
The item initially was on the council’s consent agenda, but Coun- cil Member Mary Fast asked that it moved to the general agenda for more discussion. She asked Sarah Reid, Community Services director, if the waivers were being used for regular Fiesta vendors.
Reid said that vendors and oth- ers involved in the general Fiesta activities were paying regular city fees. Fast then made a motion to ap- prove, and the waiver action passed on a 5-0 vote.
This year’s Reedley Fiesta will be held Friday and Saturday, Oct. 12-13, in downtown Reedley. The pa- rade will take place at 10 a.m. Oct. 13 along G Street.
Ray Soleno
New school year at St. La Salle
Jon Earnest / The Exponent
Monsignor John Esquivel, left, spoke to students at St. La Salle Catholic School during an outdoor gathering in the school courtyard before the first day of school on Aug. 13. Parents and family members joined the student body and school staff at the event.
Jon Earnest / The Exponent
Sister Lucy Cassarino, right, principal at St. La Salle Catholic School, introduces new teacher Sarah Rooney at the event. Rooney will teach math and science to students in grades 6 to 8.
Catholic school begins its year
with an opening day ceremony
By Jon Earnest
jon@midvalleypublishing.com
St. La Salle Catholic School got the jump on the 2018- 2019 school year in Reedley on Aug. 13, welcoming 281 students to the start of classes.
Students, parents, teachers and staff gathered in the front courtyard area west of the school office for the tra- ditional welcome back ceremony. Attendees listened to Monsignor John Esquivel deliver a message and lead in a prayer for the coming school year.
Sister Lucy Cassarino, starting her 22nd year as school principal, welcomed the children to the new school year with words of encouragement.
“Each one of you is very special,” she said. “You are special to your parents. To your teachers, the Monsignor and to all the sisters.”
During his prayer, Esquivel urged that the youngsters’ spiritual roots grow like a seed.
“Help us to listen carefully to your word,” he said. “Listen, so that it grows like the seed in our hearts. Keep
See ST. LA SALLE on page A8
Completion date for splash park facility revised to Oct. 1
By Jon Earnest
jon@midvalleypublishing.com
Construction continues this week on the splash park at the site formerly occupied by the old Luke Trimble Memorial Pool.
Excessive heat and bad air quality have limited hours and slowed the project some. Construction officials now say the splash pad should be completed by the start of October.
Workers were scheduled to bring a large crane in on Aug. 15 to begin building the rest- rooms at the facility, located at the northeast corner of Reed Avenue and 8th Street. Water pipes still were being installed this week that would operate the splash pads.
John Robertson, city engineer, said the re- strooms will be built at the same time the op- erating system of the splash pads are installed. Once that has been built and the splash pads put in place, the city will put in landscaping.
Classified - A6-7 Directory - A5
The new splash park will replace the for- mer pool, which was named after the late longtime Reedley swim coach and teacher in 1984. The pool was built in the early 1930s and remained in operation until closing in 2011.
The city initially had planned a contest to name the splash pad, but delayed doing so un- til the project is complete. A segment of senior residents who were involved in the naming of the Luke Trimble Memorial Pool want the new facility to be named the Luke Trimble Splash Park.
In other city projects, Robertson said that phase two of the Manning Avenue rehabilita- tion project begins on Friday, Aug. 17. Heavy maintenance work will start on Monday, Aug. 20, between Frankwood and Columbia av- enues.
“Initially, they’ll do some demolition
Jon Earnest / The Exponent
Juan Gonzalez with Steve Dovali Construction compacts dirt with a rammer in a trench where water pipes will be installed at the splash pad facility on the site of the former Luke Trimble pool.
See SPLASH PARK on page A2
Legals - B6-7 Sports - B3-4 Lights & Sirens - A3 Obituaries - A2 Opinion - A4