Page 7 - 4-23-20 MVT e-edition

The View From Here
I would
like to thank
everyone
who sent us
their quar-
antine Eas-
ter photos.
It was good
to see resi-
dents cel-
ebrating the
holiday, even if we were stuck at home. We received photos of smiling children, and families on hikes, as well as Easter photoshoots. Again thank you to everyone who participated.
In other news, today while here at our Reedley office, I decided to take a walk around the block.
Sometimes sitting in front of a computer screen will take a toll on my vision. I figured it was a good time to take a break and went out- side to decompress for a bit.
Downtown Reedley has always been busy. I remem- ber that for me, Wednesdays would be the worst. For some reason there would be no parking in front of our of- fice. I’d leave for lunch, and return to a parking lot full of cars, nowhere to park.
I’d make a few trips around the block until fi- nally something opened up. Today as I walked through town, each stall (with the exception of a couple here and there) was empty.
During my walk I real- ized, there are no more frus- trating afternoons of maxed out parking spots. I wasn't quite sure how to feel about that.
Aside from the empty parking spaces, all the doors to each barber shop, beauty salonandrestaurants were also closed.
Today was the first day I felt a real sense of sadness from all this.
No people means no laughter, no activity, no con- versations, nothing.
I headed west on 11th Street and made my way in- side the new 99 cent store on the corner near the Burgess Hotel.
There was some music playing and a young girl greeted me. I made my way around the store and then continued on my walk.
I walked by Uncle Har- ry’s and then the Reedley Flower Shop. I looked at the window display at the flower shop. It’s almost like everything had been frozen in time.
There have been reports indicating negotiations to end the quarantine and re- open the country.
There have also been debates about how safe it would be to make that deci- sion at the peak of this pan-
SEE COLUMN on page A8
By Juanita Adame
Mid Valley Times
As she waited for pick up orders to arrive, Dolores Keeton sat behind a fold out table at the entrance to the American Legion Hall's Post 23 in Sanger.
Positioned in front of her, a money box, a notebook, pen, and a large bottle of hand sani- tizer.
Keeton, like the other volun- teers was also wearing a face mask and medical gloves.
The only other sound inside the building was coming from the caterers preparing orders as well as a couple of volun- teers having a conversation.
The dining room inside the building was empty. Chairs were stacked up against the wall. A stark contrast from last year’s dinner where nor- mally the dining room is filled with people, talking, laughing and enjoying a good meal.
“The dinner was originated back in January before this cri- sis came about, and we’re try- ing to fulfill the tickets that we sold,” said Clint Vance.
Vance, the First Vice Com- mander and chairman of the dinner said they were doing what they could to make the
Juanita Adame
Tradition continued at American Legion's Post 23
Parlier Post to continue sharing news on Facebook
Photo of the week
Contributed
A photo showing dark rain clouds was taken on April 20 at Huntsman Avenue near Wallace. It was sent by Marcos Salinas. Have a photo you want to share and would like to have featured? Email juanita@midvalleypublishing.com.
Photo by Juanita Adame / Mid Valley Times
From left, Dee Holiday, Dolores Keeton, Gordon Keeton, and Clint Vance volunteered their time during the event.
occasion a success regardless of the current crisis.
“Our sales before this entire pandemic were doing ok,” he said. “Once this pandemic hit the sales on our tickets went in- to the tank, they were dropped by at least 70 percent.”
This was the third year the dinner was held. Proceeds from the event are used to make improvements on the building and Memorial Day flags.
“The funds are split and
See DINNER on page A8
The American Legion Post 23 continued their annual dinner tradi- tion reserving the event for "take out only" because of the quar- antine.
KCUSD: NodecisiontoextendclosureatApril22meeting
By Juanita Adame
Mid Valley Times
The April 14 school board meeting for the Kings Can- yon Unified School District was held via teleconference, and aside from the standard procedures and presentations,
there also was no decision to cancel school based learn- ing for the remainder of the school year.
Superintendent, John Campbell said during his re- port that the COVID-19 situa- tion continues to be fluid and there is currently no decision
to extend the closure.
In a statement following
the announcement, the dis- trict also included details as to why they felt this was the right move. The statement read as follows:
“With the acknowledgment that there is a high likelihood that students will be unable to return to school campuses this year, and recognizing that this a very fluid situation, the Kings Canyon Unified School District governing board will refrain from making any de- cision on this topic before the April 28 board meeting.”
Campbell and the board agreed that they will continue to make decisions systemati- cally and with prudence.
The board will meet again on Tuesday, April 28.
It was back on March 24 that the district announced their home based learning would continue through Fri- day May 1.
The superintendent stated at the time and on the district website that the “shelter in place” order did not apply to the essential functions pro- vided by the district and that the delivery of a high quality education and the preparation of delivery of meals are con- sidered essential functions.
For more information on the Kings Canyon Unified School District’s decisions during the quarantine, visit kcusd.com.
"This is a fluid situation, the board will refrain from making any decisions on this topic before the April 28 meeting."
- John Campbell KCUSD Superintendent
Staff Report
The Parlier Post pub- lished its final paper edition back in January of 2018. The newspaper had a cor- responding Facebook page online and since printing had ceased, the online presence went dormant.
There was enough pub- lic interest from residents
in the community that staff at the Mid Valley Times de- cided to activate the page and continue sharing Parlier news to its followers.
Visit the Parlier Post at facebook.com/TheParlier- PostNews Feel or send any Parlier related story ideas to juanita@midvalleytimes.com or jon@midvalleytimes.com