Page 2 - Reedley Exponent 1-4-18 E-edition

The Reedley Exponent A2 Thursday, January 4, 2018
Poll: marijuana use could become a safety issue on roads
Contributed
A new survey of more than 2,000 U.S. adults — conducted online by Harris Poll on behalf of the Proper- ty Casualty Insurers Association of America — claims that more Ameri- cans consider using social media and texting on a cell phone to be more dangerous while driving than being under the influence of marijuana.
But while the Dec. 28 survey shows a vast majority of Americans (91 percent) believe driving under the influence of marijuana is dan-
gerous and a similar percentage say those who do so are a hazard to oth- ers on the road, just two in five be- lieve it is contributing to more motor vehicle crashes.
The survey said distracted driv- ing —which includes actions such as using a cell phone, talking to passen- gers, eating and adjusting the radio — tops the list as the number one perceived contributor to the increase in crashes across the country.
“Driving under the influence of marijuana is extremely dangerous,” said Robert Gordon, senior vice pres-
ident for PCI. “In fact, driving under the influence of marijuana should be viewed with the same risks as drunk or distracted driving. When you’re high, it can impair your judgment, motor coordination, and reaction time.
“We need more research, public awareness, and better public policy to reduce the dangers of marijuana- impaired driving and to make our roads less dangerous.”
Twenty-nine states and the Dis- trict of Columbia currently have laws legalizing marijuana in some
form (medical and/or recreational). According to the Highway Loss Data Institute, collision rates were about 3 percent higher in three states that have approved the sale of marijuana for recreational use — Colorado, Or- egon, and Washington.
PCI officials say that while these laws allow for the use of marijuana, driving high is illegal. Evidence shows that cannabis use can impair critical abilities necessary for safe driving, such as divided attention, slow reaction time, lane tracking, and cognitive and executive functions.
The National Safety Council re- cently reported the worst two-year escalation in auto fatalities in more than 50 years. Marijuana-impaired driving is one of the many factors believed to be contributing to the recent increase in auto crash fre- quency —particularly as more states liberalize their marijuana laws.
But according to the new PCI poll, just 31 percent of parents have discussed the dangers of driving un- der the influence of marijuana with
See MARIJUANA on page A3
PG&E to offer more than 200 college scholarships
Senior volunteer appreciation
Contributed
Pacific Gas and Electric Company officials say that scholarship applications now are being accepted for col- lege-bound high schoolers as well as current college and continuing students liv- ing in Northern and Central California.
More than 200 awards totaling nearly $700,000 are available through PG&E Scholarships, which includes the Better Together STEM Scholarship Program, and Employee Resource Group scholarship programs.
PG&E Scholarships in- formation, including criteria and applications, is available on PG&E’s website. To be considered for a scholar- ship, all applications must be submitted by Feb. 5, 2018.
“Many PG&E Scholar- ship recipients are the first in their families to attend college,” said Dinyar Mis- try, PG&E senior vice presi- dent of human resources and chief diversity officer. “These scholarships will help the leaders and inno- vators of tomorrow achieve their education and career goals.
“We’re proud to invest in these promising students and to
Obituaries
Sammy Ceballos
Sammy A. Ceballos of Dinuba died Dec. 24 in Visalia. He was 81.
Mr. Ceballos worked on a production line.
He is survived by his wife, one son, one daughter, one brother, four grand- children and two great- grandchildren.
A Rosary will be at 10:30 a.m. followed by a Mass at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Dinu- ba. Burial will be at Smith Mountain Cemetery in Di- nuba.
Aubrey Maxwell
Aubrey Maxwell of Dinuba died Dec. 19 in Di- nuba. She was 82.
Mrs. Maxwell worked as a caregiver in a retire- ment home.
She is survived by two sons, two daughters, nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
No services were held.
Jose Lopez Mendoza
Jose Guadalupe Lopez
help build a better California.” PG&E Scholarships are awarded annually to help off- set the cost of higher educa- tion. Better Together STEM Scholarship recipients will receive a one-time scholar- ship of $10,000 to assist in their pursuit of higher edu- cation in engineering, com- puter science, cybersecurity or environmental sciences. ERG scholarship beneficia- ries will receive awards from $1,000 to $10,000 for exem- plary scholastic achievement
and community leadership. Since 2012, PG&E’s Bet- ter Together STEM Schol- arship Program has given nearly $3.6 million to accom- plished students based on a combined demonstration of community leadership, per- sonal triumph, financial need
and academic achievement. PG&E’s Better Together STEM Scholarship Program is part of the Better Together Giving Program. The com- pany said it is commited to building a better future to- gether. PG&E officials say the company works closely with local community organiza- tions to help create a strong, resilient and sustainable Cal- ifornia. Community invest- ments are funded entirely by
the company’s shareholders.
Mendoza of Cutler died Dec. 26 in San Francisco. He was 40.
Mr. Mendoza worked as a field laborer.
He is survived by his wife, two sons, one daugh- ter, his parents, one broth- er and two sisters.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. with a Rosary at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 4, at Dopkins Dinuba Funeral Chapel. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 5, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Cutler. Burial will be at Smith Mountain Cemetery in Dinuba.
Jereldena Weldon
Jereldena Mae Weldon of Dinuba died Dec. 22 in Stockton. She was 85.
Mrs. Weldon was a homemaker.
She is survived by one son, one daughter, five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
A funeral service was held Jan. 2 at Full Gospel Temple in Orange Cove. Burial was at Smith Moun- tain Cemetery in Dinuba.
About 95 people attended the annual Reedley Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on Dec. 12 at the Reedley Community Center. The Reedley Senior Center honored its volunteers for all their contributions in 2017. Passing out awards was Reedley Mayor Anita Betancourt along with City Council members Frank Pinon, Bob Beck and Mary Fast. The Reedley High School Madrigals sang a number of Christmas songs to the attendees. Volunteers received certificates of service while a handful of volunteers were presented with plaques. A list of this year’s honored volunteers is in Felicia Cousart Matlosz’s column on Page B1.
TOP: Attendees dine on lunch provided by Sierra View Homes.
MIDDLE ROW LEFT: Volunteer honoree Dan Ybarra smiles as he’s presented a certificate of service from Mayor Betancourt. MIDDLE ROW RIGHT: Plaques recognizing volunteers were placed on one of the tables before the ceremony.
ABOVE LEFT: Volunteer honoree Dolores Edwards shakes hands with Joel Glick, the city’s Community Services director. ABOVE RIGHT: Members of the Reedley High School Madrigals perform a Christmas song for the attendees.
Photos b y Jon Earnest / The Exponent
FRED HALL ............................................................................. Publisher JON EARNEST..............................................................................Editor CHRIS AGUIRRE .............................................................. Sports Editor FELICIA COUSART MATLOSZ..................................Panorama Editor DEBRA LEAK........................................................................Marketing JANIE LUCIO.....................................................................Advertising DUBY TREVINO..............................................................Graphic Artist CLINTON ANTONIO......................................................Graphic Artist TOM MONTIJO..............................................................Graphic Artist KATE ISAAK................................................................ Classified Sales STACY HAWKINS .............................................................Accounting ROSEMARY OCHOA........................................................Accounting
The Reedley Exponent (USPS 458-860) is published weekly on Thursdays for $20 a year, $24.50 other areas and $26.50 out-of-state by Mid-Valley Publishing Inc., 1130 G St., Reedley, CA 93654. Periodicals postage paid at Sanger, CA 93657. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Reedley Exponent, 1130 G St., Reedley, CA 93654
The Reedley Exponent is one of Fresno County’s oldest newspapers. It was established in March, 1891, in the Knauer residence on the corner of what now is F and 11th streets. In about 1893, it moved to the building where it is still located. The newspaper’s office is at 1130 G St, Reedley, CA 93654, Phone (559) 638-2244.
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