Page 1 - Reedley Exponent 5-16-19 E-edition

Annual Boldt family reunion a half-century tradition
Panorama
Early playoff exits for local baseball, softball teams
Sports
Vol. 130, No. 19 | Thursday, May 16, 2019
www.reedleyexponent.com
Reedley (Fresno County) CA 93654 | 50 cents Council OKs another step for Almond Grove
Leaders support final maps for Phase 1 of subdivision
By Jon Earnest
jon@midvalleypublishing.com
The Reedley City Council greased the wheels a bit when it came to the Almond Grove subdivision in south Reedley.
At the May 14 meeting, the council unani- mously approved a subdivision map improve- ment agreement and final map of what is now
Graduation begins with RC program on May 24
Staff Report
A busy two weeks of student graduations in the Reedley area begins on Friday, May 24, with the Reedley College commencement ceremony for graduating students beginning at 6:30 p.m. on the south lawn next to the college cafeteria.
The college’s 91st annual com- mencement ceremony will feature students
who have
completed their scho- lastic re- quirements for gradua- tion and cer- tificates of completion.
That’s just the start of sched- uled graduations. Immanuel High School will send off its Class of 2019 in a 7 p.m. ceremony on Thursday, May 30, at Reedley Men- nonite Brethren Church. That same evening, the first Kings Canyon Unified School District high school graduation will honor Orange Cove High seniors. The ceremony begins at 8 p.m. inside the Titan football stadium.
Reedley High School’s gradua- tion takes the spotlight beginning at 8 p.m. Friday, May 31, at Sal Gonzalez Field in the RHS football stadium. Students will gather be- forehand in the Performing Arts Theatre and gym area and enter the stadium in a procession.
Kings Canyon High School and Mountain View School will partici- pate in their 2019 Educational Op- tions graduation at 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 4, at RHS football stadium.
Graduations conclude on Wednesday, June 5, with Reedley Middle College High School’s grad- uation at 8 p.m. in the Performing Arts Theatre. The Class of 2019 is the first RMCHS class to have had classes in the newly-completed campus at Reedley College.
The Exponent will provide cov- erage of all the graduations and run lists of all graduating seniors.
phase one of the project that eventually will bring 45 single-family houses to the develop- ment site at the northwest corner of Frank- wood and Olson Avenues.
The new resolutions will allow the fast- track for the periphery areas of the develop- ment, allowing for earlier construction of 18 initial lots by the developer.
“Right now, they are about 75 to 85 percent done with all of the public improvements,” said Rob Terry, community development director for the city. “Regardless, this actually saves
them a month and a half to two months of time to actually start building homes.”
Terry said most of the improvements have already been done to the portion of the project now pushed forward. He said the developerini- tially intended to provide all public improvement before approaching the city for a final map.
“However, our municipal code does allow for projects to be phased and multiple final maps to be submitted to the council,” Terry said.
Council Member Mary Fast asked if alleys were not going to be part of the project. Terry
said alleys no longer are required under city guidelines. and it will be an improvement to the subdivision’s appearance.
Mayor Frank Pinon told Terry that the proj- ect will help improve the city’s appearance at its south entrance to town from Frankwood Avenue. Terry agreed.
“We’ve been pleased very much to this point,” he said. “It’s been an area that over the years [that] city staff and [the] council has re-
See COUNCIL on page A3
Getting airborne at Fly In
Orange Cove woman receives Fresno State honors, Page A8
Jon Earnest / The Exponent
A plane came in for a landing at Reedley Municiopal Airport while another plane taxied in preparation for takeoff during the Korky Kevorkian Memorial Barbecue and Fly In on May 11. The 41st annual event drew crowds of people who took advantage of free airplane rides over the greater Reedley area.
Kevorkian Memorial event attracts fans for 41st year
By Jon Earnest
jon@midvalleypublishing.com
A streamlined Korky Kevorkian Memorial Bar- becue and Fly In once again provided thrills for first- time and repeat flyers young and old alike on May 11 as it entered its fifth decade giving attendees an up-close look at aviation.
Hundreds turned out to the Reedley Municipal Airport to enjoy free airplane rides, a free hot dog barbecue lunch, and flying experiences from guest speaker Raymond McClure. This was the 41st annual Fly In, which began not as a Fly In but as a “Salute to Reedley Aviation Night” in April 1979.
There were a few tweaks to the operation of the event. Parking for the airplanes moved north of the
See FLY IN on page A8
Raymond McClure was
this year’s guest speaker at the Fly In. The 94-year-old Army Air Corps veteran shared his experiences flying B-17 planes after World War II and during the Korean War. McClure is the father of Lori Oken, ac- counting manager for the city of Reedley. He’s flown more than 50 different aircraft and has instructed hundreds of flight students during more than seven decades in the air.
Jon Earnest / The Exponent
Public sways topic at April Town Hall
Last month’s meeting
addressed road
fixtures, park upgrades
By Juanita Adame
juanita@midvalleypublishing.com
The theme for the April 30 Reedley Town Hall meeting was supposed to be targeted at helping citizens become fa- miliarized with how City Hall operates, who their public officials are and other city-related items.
However, a reoccurring question from audience members had to do with road fixtures and park upgrades.
also were wondering when parks in town would be upgraded and roads fixed.
“Ask about Citizens Park, please,” said Junior Cortez, a Facebook viewer. “The courts are slippery with cracks, and that is very dangerous.”
City Manager Nicole Zieba was quick to answer questions and address every- one’s concerns.
“I will answer the Citizens Park questions right now,” she said. “We are very aggressive going after grants. We received one million dollars from the state of California to transform the [Luke Trimble] splash park from an old dilapidated into a brand new safe splash pad.”
“We also received funding to up- grade Mueller park, to put in LED light- ing [and] to put in tables,” she continued.
Jon Earnest / The Exponent
Paul Melikian, Reedley’s assistant city manager, called city officials a “small-but-mighty team” while addressing attendees at the April Reed- ley Town Hall meeting at the Reedley Community Center Senior Room.
People who were in attendance at the meeting asked questions as well as those watching the town hall meeting via The Exponent’s Facebook livestream
See TOWN HALL on page A2
Classifieds - A5 Directory - A6 Legals - B6-7 Sports - B3-4 Lights & Sirens - A3 Obituaries - A2
Opinion - A4
Next Town Hall meeting May 20 Staff Report
The next Reedley Town Hall meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Monday, May 20, at the Reedley Community Center’s Senior Room.
The topic “Where the Rub- ber Hits the Road” will inform the public about street and road conditions in Reedley. You can learn how road projects are pri- oritized and funded in the city.
This scheduled Town Hall is a week earlier than usual be- cause of the Memorial Day holi- day. Meetings usually are held the last Monday of each month.
The public is invited to at- tend. For more information, call City Hall at 637-4200, ext. 212.