Mid Valley Times 7-8-21 E-edition

Thursday, July 8, 2021
Vol. 3, No. 1
Police identify
shooting victim as
Jacob Encinia, 25
By Juanita Adame
Mid Valley Times
Residents in the 1400 block of North Columbia Avenue stood in shock and dis- belief as multiple patrol cars lined their streets and lit up their neighborhood with red and blue lights following a deadly shooting on the night of July 4.
The victim in the shooting was identi- fied as Jacob Encinia, 25 of Reedley.
According to the Reedley Police De- partment, the call came in at approxi- mately 10:30 p.m. When officers arrived they found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to Adventist Health in Reedley where he later died.
Juanita Adame / Mid Valley Times
Reedley Police Detectives investigate and cordone off the scene of a fatal shooting in the 1400 block of North Columbia Avenue the evening of July 4.
ABOVE: A family floated along the Kings River near Reedley Beach in a tied-together group of floating rafts and tubes on July 3.
LEFT: A personal watercraft traveled down- stream on the Kings River on July 3. The Fres- no County Sheriff's Office also had a boat on the river to monitor water activity and make sure swimmers. boaters and floaters were staying safe on the water.
Photos by Juanita Adame / Mid Valley Times
Hot weather
contributes to
large crowds
By Juanita Adame
Mid Valley Times
It was a busy weekend for the Reedley Police Depart- ment and deputies with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Of- fice as locals crowded the Reedley Beach and Cricket Hollow areas during the Fourth of July holiday.
“Because of how hot it’s been, there’s definitely been an uptick in people com- ing down here,” said Nathan Sweany, a deputy with the sheriff’s office who was pa- trolling the river.
“Everyone is looking for a way to cool down, so what we’re dealing with is an in- creased amount of people
See RIVERonpageA16
50 cents
Reedley
water
rate rise
takes
effect
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
Reedley residents began paying a 2.5 percent rate in- crease on their water and sew- er bills this month — keeping pace with annual rate hikes that began in 2016.
At its June 8 regular meet- ing, the Reedley City Coun- cil unanimously approved a 2.5 percent increase both in water and sewer rates, in accordance with respective resolutions implemented by the council in 2016 and 2020, respectively.
The regular 2.5 percent rise in water rates first began five years ago, when Public Works Director Russ Robertson ex- plained to the council that a comprehensive rate study showed that an annual infla- tionary increase was the way to go. He said by going with the 10-year rolling average of the Consumer Price Index, it would lessen the pain of poten- tial double digit hikes institut- ed in other cities that had held prices stable the previous year.
In 2020, the council added the city's annual sewer rates to the same price increase model, which always take effect on July 1 of each fiscal year.
The two resolutions state that neither increase for wa- ter or sewer services will ex- ceed 2.5 percent in a given year, even though the present 10-year CPI average is 2.83 percent. The increased costs cover inflationary rises in personnel, operations, main- tenance costs and infrastruc- ture replacement needs.
An active holiday on the river
Fatal shooting on Fourth in Reedley
“We heard what sounded like loud booms, but because of all the fireworks, we didn’t think much of it,” said one resi- dent who did not want to be identified.
The neighbor also added that the home where the shooting took place was
See HOMICIDEonpageA2
Fireworks shows return to region's communities
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
Fireworks shows returned to cities in the Mid Valley Times' coverage region for the Fourth of July weekend, with happy attendees cele- brating the traditional activi- ties after a lost year because of COVID-19.
Organized fireworks dis- plays were held on consecu- tive nights in Reedley (July 2), Dinuba (July 3) and Sanger (July 4); one a new event and the other two resumed after a year's absence.
Reedley's fireworks show, emanating from Washington Elementary School and light- ing up the downtown area,
capped off a successful July "Alive After 5" event hosted by the Greater Reedley Cham- ber of Commerce.
The monthly chamber event, held the first Friday of each month through the October, is designed to bring shoppers into downtown to frequent businesses that stayed open until 9 p.m. This month, the lure of fireworks brought hundreds to the area, with activity stretching from Pioneer Park by City Hall to 13th Street.
The bulk of activity was in the closed off portion of 11th Street just west of G Street in an area featuring food trucks,
See FIREWORKSonpageA16
One of the fireworks display lit the nighttime sky at the Sanger High School practice field as the city's annual 4th of July Spectacular returned this year following a year's absence. A large crowd turned out to enjoy music, food and an aerial fireworks show. Or- ganized fireworks shows also returned this year to downtown Reedley on July 2 and in Dinuba on July 3 at the Ridge Creek Golf Course.
George Armenta / Photo Contributed
Classifieds - A10 Directory - A6 Legals - A11-14 Sports - A9
Lifestyle - A7, A15
Lights & Sirens - A3, A5
Obituaries - A2
Opinion - A4