Page 1 - Mid Valley Times 1-16-20 E-edition

Thursday, January 16, 2020
Vol. 1, No. 29
Sanger chief steps down
50 cents
Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
Ray Soleno, owner of the Golden Edge barber shop in Reedley, trims a little off the side of long- time customer Nick Pavlovich. Soleno is retiring from the shop on Friday, Jan. 17.
Soleno nears
his final haircut
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
This weekend, Ray Soleno will be putting away the clip- ping scissors and razor after the greater part of five de- cades of use.
Soleno, Reedley resident and longtime member of the Reedley City Council, is retir- ing at the end of the business day on Friday, Jan. 17, from the Golden Edge, the shop he has owned and operated since 1977 that's across North Avenue from Reedley High School..
"I was hoping to last two more years, that's what I have eft on the council, and then I could drop away from both of them," said Soleno, who turns 80 in March. "But my shoul- ders were giving out on me, that's the problem. For 56 years, raising my hands up and cutting. That has an effect on your body."
But barbering has been So- leno's livelihood for 56 years,
See SOLENO on page A6
Silver Rodriguez retires after 40 year career in law enforcement
By Rick Curiel
Mid Valley Times
Today is officially the first day of retirement for Sanger Police Chief Silver Rodriguez, as Jan. 15 was the chief’s last day on the job.
Chief Rodriguez steps away after 40 years in law enforcement, and at a pivot- al time for the Sanger Police Department as it undergoes reorganization at the leader- ship level.
Last week, two officers from the Sanger Police De- partment, sergeants Jason Boust and Reyes Carillo, were both promoted to lieu- tenant. The two new lieu- tenant positions are part of a change to the ranking of- ficers at the department, re- placing the former captain position, held by now-former Sanger Police Capt. Kent Matsuzaki.
Several community mem-
Rick Curiel / Mid Valley Times
Silver Rodriguez stood in front of the Sanger Police Department on Jan. 8, exactly 40 years to the day he began his career in law enforcement. Rodriguez retired as Sanger Police Chief on Jan. 15 after seven-and-half years in the position.
MVT Staff Report
A Dinuba jewelry store was broken into Jan. 10 as thieves made off with $100,000 worth of valuable items and cash. The break in was reported the morning of Jan. 11.
Thieves cut a hole into the roof of a vacant business next door to Rivera’s Joyeria at 131 E. Tulare St. before making their way into the jewelry store. Once thieves got into the jew- elry store, the criminals got into a safe and stole cash as well as jewelry.
It was reported the store did have cam- eras and a security system.
Businesses who do not have a security system in place are strongly encouraged to get one, according Abel Iriarte of the Dinuba Police Department. Iriarte also noted that the store had been robbed twice before.
Anyone with information is asked to call the department’s Anonymous Tip Line at (559) 591-TIP1 or call (559) 591-5911.
The Joyeria Rivera jewelry store in downtown Dinuba was broken into and burglarized some- time in the overnight hours Jan. 10 and 11. Thieves cut a hole into the roof of a vacant business next door to the store on East Tulare Street, entered the business and made off with $100,000 of items and cash from the store safe.
George M. Villagrana / Mid Valley Times
bers voiced their opposi- tion to the new changes at a Sanger City Council meeting in December, questioning the timing of the change while defending Captain Matsuzaki.
But the timing, according
to Rodriguez, was well in the works long ago.
“I always knew I was go- ing to retire after 40 years,” said Chief Rodriguez while speaking to the Times on Jan. 8, the 40-year anniversary of
his start in law enforcement. Rodriguez grew up in the South Valley, where he spent the majority of his life in Porterville. One of eight chil-
See RODRIGUEZonpageA12
Downtown Dinuba jewelry store burglarized
Dinuba top teen finalist says parents paved her path
By George M. Villagrana
Mid Valley Times
Karla Gonzalez is quick to acknowledge those who have paved the way for her to strive for the best.
Her parents, Joaquin and Alma Gonza- lez, are at the top of the list.
“My parents always work hard to pro- vide my siblings and I with what we need, so that we can prosper,” she wrote in her essay for the Dinuba Teenage Citizen of the Year application. “I’ve always been grateful for what I have, but I has been hard to see my parents struggle financial- ly throughout some seasons due to differ- ent obstacles. This plays a big role in as to why I strive for the best and want to pursue a career in computer science. That
way I can not only give back to my par- ents, but also to kids who are in a position where I find myself today.”
Gonzalez is one of three finalists for the Dinuba Teenage Citizen of the Year along with classmates Caleb Barba- Chavez and Chelan Tolentino. The winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Dinuba Women’s Club. Second and third place will each receive $500. The winners will be announced at the Dinuba Chamber of Commerce dinner on Friday, Jan. 31.
Gonzalez attended Wilson Elementa-
See TEEN on page A6
Karla Gonzalez, one of three finalist for Dinuba Teenage Citi- zen of the Year, said her parents have al- ways worked hard to provide her and her siblings with what they need to be able to prosper. Gonzalez is a senior at Dinuba High School.
George M. Villagrana / Mid Valley Times
This is the second of three profiles on the finalists for Dinuba Teenage Citizen of the Year.
Classifieds - B4 Directory - B5 Legals - B6-9
Sports - B1-2, B10 Lifestyle - A7-10
Lights & Sirens - A3
Obituaries - A2-3 Opinion - A4