Mid Valley Times 11-12-20 E-edition

Thursday, November 12, 2020
Vol. 2, No. 20
Juanita Adame / Mid Valley Times
At left, Sharon Matsuzaki, principal at Grant Middle School in Reedley, greeted students returning to campus on Nov. 10.
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
COVID-19 cases numbers climbed last week in the Cen- tral Valley, but not enough in Fresno County to knock it out of the red (substantial) tier. Tulare County's numbers also increased, and remained in the purple (widespread) category meaning that state restrictions remained in place.
Fresno County's new CO- VID-19 daily positive case rate per 100,000 in population climbed to 8.3 in the Nov. 10 re-
port, a figure falling in the pur- ple tier status. But the overall positivity rate remained at 5.5, keeping Fresno still in the red and within just more than half a point from qualifying for the orange (moderate) tier.
Still, active cases in the county grew by nearly a thou- sand last week, to 11,417. Hospi- talizations crept up to 112 (30 in intensive care), with nine addi- tional deaths bringing the total to 456. As of Nov. 10, 21,289 had recovered, a 64.9 percent rate.
School districts gradually are letting more students re-
turn to campus for direct in- struction. In the Kings Can- yon Unified School District in Reedley and Orange Cove, seventh- and eighth-grade stu- dents returned to campus be- ginning on Nov. 9. (see story in Lifestyle, page A7).
Among Fresno County cities in the Mid Valley Times cover- age area, Sanger surpassed neighboring Reedley for total overall cases with 1,491 com- pared to 1,489. Reedley had more active or under investi-
SeeNUMBERSonpage A16
Dinuba, Tulare Co. vote leaders maintain top spots
By George M. Villagrana
Mid Valley Times
Incumbent Linda Launer continued to maintain a hefty lead in the Ward 5 Dinuba City Council race this week while in Ward 1, Rachel Nerio-Guer- rero held a 69-vote advantage over Joshua Huerta.
As of Monday night, Nov. 9, Launer — who was being chal- lenged by Andrea McComb- Sotelo and Geno Gomez, led by 24 percentage points with more than 590 votes. McComb-Sotelo received 302 votes and Gomez had gar- nered 262 votes. In Ward 1, Nerio-Guerrero has captured 53.74 percent of the vote with 496 while Huerta stood at 46.26 percent with 427.
Final certification should be completed in time for the council’s December meeting. The winner can be sworn in and formally takes their seat
See ELECTIONonpageA15
50 cents
Coronavirus Update — Fresno County's Red Tier Status In Jeopardy
Region continues battle to tame numbers
Weather finally takes a turn
Mid Valley Times Staff Report
The first major storm system of the season rolled through Fresno and Tulare Counties and the San Joaquin Valley this past weekend, bringing with it wind, rain, hail and much colder tempera- tures.
On Nov. 6, as the storm ap- proached, strong winds swept through the Valley causing a tree to topple over near 8th and N streets in Sanger.
Some areas on the east side of the Valley received a heavy deluge on Nov. 8, with marble- sized hail falling in some parts. The storm system also brought a freeze warning advisory to the region as temperatures dropped as low as 32 degrees the morning of Nov. 9.
Rick Curiel / Mid Valley Times
City workers secure the area around a tree that fell near 8th and N Streets in downtown Sanger on Nov. 6. The tree was blown over by high winds that preceded a brief storm the weekend of Nov. 7-8.
Another tax measure passes in Sanger
By Rick Curiel
Mid Valley Times
Taxes in the city of Sanger will again be going up after voters passed a new tax bond measure intended to help sup- port upgrades of school facilities in the
Sanger Unified School District.
Sanger residents came out in droves
for this year’s general election.
“We saw a lot more numbers than in previous years,” said Fresno County Elections Official Carmen Molina, who worked the voting center at the Sanger
Community Center. Molina said the cen- ter saw a steady stream of voters from Saturday, Oct. 31, through Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Nearly 20,000 people voted on Mea-
See MEASURE C on page A16
Reedley Electrical Christmas Parade to take place Nov. 28
Day's activities to feature reverse parade and arevamped tree lighting
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
Reedley's annual Electrical Christmas Pa- rade is switching to an earlier date and new format for this year because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions.
This year's event is being retitled Reed- ley's Holiday Lane-Reverse Parade, and will take place on Saturday, Nov. 28, along G Street in downtown Reedley. The parade's theme is "Miracle on G Street." The city's annual Tree Lighting Ceremony also will take place that evening, but it will be at a new site and the
public is not allowed to gather around the tree because of COVID concerns.
Erik Valencia, executive director for the Greater Reedley Chamber of Commerce, said the event is meant to inspire hope and joy as the community and world continues to deal with COVID-19.
Valencia said that the parade's "reverse" format is similar to last month's Reedley Fi- esta reverse parade, and is meant to directly address health and safety concerns for the community. the public will drive the four-block parade route along G Street from 8th to 12th streets, and a parade of displays will be set up along the street. Local businesses and commu- nity organizations will create the light displays and wave to the public as they drive past.
See PARADE on page A16
Greater Reedley Chamber of Commerce / Photo Contributed
Luminated parade entries like this lit fire truck will be on display at the Reedley Electrical Christmas Parade on Nov. 28. Because of COVID-19, this year's parade will be a reverse format similar to the Reedley Fiesta in October.
Classifieds - A6 Directory - A10 Legals - A11-14
Sports - A9
Lifestyle - A7-8
Lights & Sirens - A3, A5 Obituaries - A2-3 Opinion - A4