Page 4 - Mid Valley Times 2-18-21 E-edition

Serving the Readers of the Reedley Exponent, Dimuba Sentinel and Sanger Herald.
A Mid Valley Publishing Newspaper
Founded March 26, 1891, in a two-story building on the corner of 11th and F streets, by A.S. Jones
Fred Hall — Publisher
In my OPINION We could use a little more
honesty, morality, integrity
Working with Dick Sheppard a highlight of my journalism career
Jon Earnest — Reedley Editor Dick Sheppard — Editor Emeritus
Thursday, February 18, 2021 | A4 | Mid Valley TiMes Editorial & Opinions
With an absolute inundation of opin- ions and information each week from television talking heads, newspaper columnists whose bias is obvious, trade publications and social media we still find that some of the purest, most profound thinking arrives from our readers. We love and appreciate the contributions, whether they are pro or con. That's truly what a free press and freedom of speech is all about.
The news that I've feared hearing for the past few weeks sadly came last week. We lost Dick Sheppard.
Nine years ago, my per- sonal journalism career took a jolt when I was laid off by Lee Enterprises in a round of cuts spurred by a reduction in hours and finally an elimination of job. Amazingly, I didn't miss a work day in the newspaper industry, as Mid Valley Publishing hired me on a temporary basis to fill in as editor/reporter for the Reedley Exponent's Panorama feature section. I worked for three months, then expected to head to the unemployment line in June 2012 when I was noti- fied that the Lifestyle feature section for the Exponent's sis- ter publication, Sanger Herald, had come open. That's when I met and really got to know the amazing Mr. Sheppard.
I put in a year doing the Life- style section, and saw the man in action as a reporting work- horse with a flair and aggres- sion that couldn't be ignored. Not to mention, Dick was known by seemingly everyone in town and had quite the reputation for stirring the pot with city lead- ers. I witnessed first-hand his deep community involvement, especially with the Rotary Club of Sanger and the city's veter- ans organizations (AMVETS and VFW).
I also witness a man who — like me — loved his vari- ous forms of food (and drink). I used to love watching how his eyes would light up when the Herald would put on its an- nual Cookie contest and he got to feast his eyes on community members' sweet and tasty sub- missions. He also used to let out a happy groan when I would bring by Superior Ice Cream from my hometown in Hanford or other culinary delights.
Much of my newspaper background has been in sports,
so I would impress Dick with some obscure trivial piece of knowledge or the ability to name off old baseball, football and basketball names. But I was more impressed by the fact he had such a history with many of well-known regional sports fig- ures because of his many years in radio and television.
Then came the real treat, when I added sports to my fea- ture editorial duties in 2013. For the 2013 and 2014 football season, I had the privilege of roaming the sidelines with a camera and Mr. Sheppard as we followed the exploits of the Apaches and renowned coach Chuck Shidan. I was by his side working two successful sea- sons that finished with painful playoff losses in Visalia (to El Diamante High) and Bakers- field (to Ridgeview High). Fit- tingly, after I went to Reedley and the Exponent, Dick got to savor the championship success of the Apaches in a memorable 2016 season. I even remember watching a televised Apaches game when Dick was bowled over by a hard charging run- ning back out of bounds right near the goal-line. This near- 80-year-old rolled right back up and didn't seem the worst for wear.
•••
I saw Dick on fewer occa-
sions when I began working in Reedley — usually at annual holiday parties or occasional staff meetings — but when the MId Valley Times' three week- lies merged in the summer of 2019 I began seeing him again on a weekly basis for staff meetings. He still was very ac- tive at the job, but was giving the rumblings about how he was ready to retire. He finally did so in September 2019, and gave us a classic Dick Sheppard column for his sendoff (We will re-run the column in next week's issue).
I was thrilled
for Dick, and
got to enjoy
spending some
time with him at
a special gath-
ering in tribute
to Chuck Shi-
dan in October
that year. After watching Dick honored as grand marshal for the Sanger Veterans Parade in early November, I and the Mid CaLwas jolted just days later by his medical crisis that included him describing how he actually flatlined (heart stopped beat- ing).
Dick spent about three months in the hospital, then was transferred to Dycora Transitional Home in Reedley. It was there I got to spend per- sonal time with him one last time (before COVID-19 struck and affected all our lives). Ever since, I faithfully attempted to bring Dick a copy of the paper each week. But I was concerned that things weren't well when I hadn't heard back from him by text or social media posts in late fall.
I sincerely hope Dick was able to be aware of the news his friend Tom Flores received another nomination for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. If he wasn't able to acknowledge Mr. Flores' induction, I know he's looking down on the situation with a smile on his face.
While I'm sad he's no longer with us, I'm sincerely honored to have known Dick and be able to call him a friend and men- tor. Getting to work with him undoubtedly was a highlight of my career.
Rest easy, and see you on the other side.
Jon Earnest is news/sports editor for The Times.
Fred Hall
QUOTE
“Another flaw in the human character is that everybody wants to build and no- body wants to do maintenance.”
— Kurt Vonnegut (1922-2007) Hocus Pocus
Jon Earnest
I received a wonderful hand-delivered letter this week asking that we speak more often of honesty, mo- rality and integrity. Given the current state of affairs, this writer couldn't be more correct and I promise to delve deeper into the subject. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and opinions. That is the very definition of community journalism!
Thank heaven, when common sense was being com- pletely ignored and everything was looking the darkest, a Democratic U.S. senator from West Virginia stepped up when no one else had the intestinal fortitude. Joe Manchin had the political willpower, completely absent with most in Washington, to step forward, writing a let- ter to President Joe Biden questioning the advisability of shutting down the Keystone pipeline.
Manchin presented inconvenient facts to support fin- ishing the project rather than a knee-jerk “green” deci- sion to stop the work in its tracks and cost thousands of high paying jobs. These workers were dismissively assured by John Kerry that they could simply go get a job making solar panels. Hollywood approved, and its denizens asked for more pipelines to be shut down. I sup- pose that would be alright if one can afford even more expensive gasoline for one's chauffeur driven limousine. Foreign dependence is not a pretty picture.
Contrast that action of "manning up” by Manchin with the actions of six weak-kneed Republicans who crossed over and felt that it was constitutional to impeach a private citizen. Let's face it, that's exactly what Donald Trump now is since he left office. What's the possibility of some goofy House deciding to impeach George Wash- ington or Abraham Lincoln, especially in the face of the growing strength of socialists and left wing loons? Even Jimmie Carter or Lyndon Johnson would not be safe!
About one more generation of useful idiots trained by our school system should be enough to get the job done. It's sad to think that educational institutions could so ef- fectively alter the trajectory of a great nation.
One has to be careful to temper uncontrolled encour- agement because of this one simple example of common sense.
The pipeline issue represents only one of the presi- dent's executive orders. The plethora of other edicts by the swipe of a pen include the complete opening of our southern border during a pandemic. These illegals will not be subject to COVID testing before they are released into America's general population. Biden essentially neu- tered the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency. Enforcement has been stripped away, and ICE can do little more than help these people get settled. Jobs are disappearing and we welcome more workers — where's the rationale?
In politics — whether you're a Republican or Demo- crat — as in our daily lives, it always comes down to common sense dictating the best course of action. With that in mind, I would like to offer six Republicans for your consideration. They would be Ben Sasse of Ne- braska, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, Mitt Romney of Utah (no surprise here), Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Bill Cassidy from Louisiana. Those are all Republican senators who — predictably — broke ranks in declaring this impeachment was con- stitutional and the Senate circus trial should proceed to frivolously waste precious time and resources on a political stunt.
But, as always, that's only one man's opinion.
Letters from readers
Status on Reedley branch library
The Reedley Branch Library is currently closed due to re- ports of a persistent smell from inside the building. Our staff and our community's safety is our top priority, and because of this, we had to close the build- ing until we can understand the nature of this smell.
We have had four different atmospheric tests that, unfortu- nately, have all been inconclu- sive. Initial tests and findings
as far back as February 2020 indicated that more data was needed to determine the issues and level of possible contami- nants in the air. Out of an abun- dance of caution and a desire to potentially allow the building to “reset” the location was closed and has remain closed since.
Even after multiple tests and the direct involvement of mul- tiple air quality experts all tests are inconclusive, but the latest findings indicate the odor is a nuisance as opposed to a genu- ine risk. That said, until we can
confirm beyond all reasonable doubt that it is safe for both staff and the community to enter the building, the Reedley Branch Li- brary will remain closed.
In the meantime, we have opened up a satellite location at the Reedley Community Cen- ter in the Senior Room located at 100 N. East Ave. in Reedley. Hours of operation are Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with an hour clo- sure from 1 to 2 p.m.
Raman Bath Fresno County Librarian