Page 5 - Mid Valley Times 7-9-20 e-edition

Thursday, July 9, 2020
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A5 | Mid Valley TiMes
COUNCIL Continued from page A1
sentation in the project, Councilmember Eli On- tiveros told Rogers, “We have a hard enough time supplying water to the east side of Sanger, I don’t see how we are going to supply water a mile-and- a-half or two miles out of town without it making an impact to our residents. There’s no way.”
Rogers attributed the low water pressure on the east side of town to a well that went off line. He noted that work is cur- rently being done to re- solve the issue and added that a new well and the addition of the city’s new water tower will provide the additional water and pressure necessary for the project.
The new water well, which will be drilled on the southwest corner of 8th Street and Quality Av- enue, was also addressed at the city council meet- ing. That project is cur- rently in the second phase of a three-phase project.
On Thursday, the city council agreed to award the well project to Nor-Cal Pump & Well Drilling, Inc. at a cost of $411,589. The well project is expected to be completed by the end of next year.
Also on the agenda was an amendment to the City Manager Employ- ment Agreement that
DINUBA Continued from page A3
the area of Alta Avenue and El Monte Way at 11:14 a.m.
• An abandoned vehicle was reported in the area of Greene and Kamm Avenue at 3:24 a.m.
• A hit and run was reported in
FIREWORKS Continued from page A1
average Saturday night during the 9 to 10 hour sees 45 calls.”
Saturday’s calls dur- ing peak hours were up by 140 percent com- pared to last year’s num- bers, when only 182 calls were received during the same time period. Of this year’s calls during peak hours, 234 of them were regarding fireworks, fires or public hazards. Botti also noted that calls reporting fireworks in the same area were merged and counted as one, so the numbers don’t reflect the entire volume of calls.
Dispatchers with the Fresno County Sher- riff’s Office handle calls for deputies as well as officers in Sanger, Ker- man, Parlier, Kingsburg, Orange Cove and Fowler.
In Sanger, illegal fireworks are believed tobetoblamefora fire that erupted near Academy and Church avenues. The fire re- portedly began in a lot behind the Town House Motel where it initially caused nearby trees to catch fire and later spread to the hotel. Fire crews from the Sanger Fire Department were able to knock out the fire quickly, though there was extensive
damage to one room at the hotel.
The Sanger Police Department reported a busy Saturday night as well as officers con- fiscated a myriad of contraband and issued 20 citations for illegal fireworks.
In Dinuba, the police department received 37 calls of illegal fireworks on Saturday night with an additional 15 calls be- tween the hours of mid- night and 2:30 a.m. on July 5. The department also received 65 com- plaints in the week lead- ing up to Fourth of July.
The Dinuba Fire Department was busy patrolling the city with three teams working on fireworks detail. The teams were able to confiscate 13 mortars and a variety of illegal fireworks.
But the fireworks detail took a backseat af- ter Dinuba fire person- nel were called out to a number of service calls.
“We were hampered with out detail due to four fires within the city and a request for assis- tance with a fire in the city of Reedley and a ve- hicle versus two pedes- trians traffic accident,” said Dinuba Fire Battal- ion Chief Sean Doyle.
A total of three cita- tions were issued in Dinu- ba for illegal fireworks.
In Reedley, police were able to issue 20 ci- tations related to illegal fireworks on the Fourth, and 58 calls for service regarding illegal fire- works were received in that time period.
"We will continue to educate the public and stress the importance of refraining from the use of illegal fireworks," RPD Chief Joe Garza said in a news release. "The dangers they pose to public safety and the damage caused by fires will continue to make this type of enforce- ment a priority in the city of Reedley.."
There were no in- juries related to the illegal fireworks, but an abandoned house fire on I Street and a vegetation fire on East Early Avenue were re- ported within minutes shortly after 8 p.m.. Both blazes resulted in property damage.
The Reedley Fire De- partment usually works with Reedley police on patrol issuing citations for illegal fireworks, but Chief Jerry Isaak said that the two blazes diverted their priorities and prevented any per- sonnel from assisting on that particular detail.
"It’s a real shame that folks discharge il-
SeeFIREWORKSonpage A6
Rick Curiel / Mid Valley Times
The small unincorporated community of Tombstone, just south of Sanger city limits, currently depends on wells for its water supply. But thanks to funds secured by Califor- nia State Sen. Melissa Hurtado of Sanger and grant funds made available by Self-Help of Visalia, the city of Sanger is now working on supplying water service to the community.
would extend the city’s contract with current City Manager Tim Chapa by one year, to 2023.
After a satisfactory evaluation this year, Cha- pa engaged in negotia- tion with the council re- garding his employment agreement. The agreed upon amendment would offer no pay raise or in- crease in benefits, as was the case last year, and would only allow the one- year extension.
Yet, despite the mod- est concession, there were still some citizens who disagreed with the action – in at least the timing.
“I don’t see the rush,” said Planning Commis- sion Vice Chair Vince Wall.
“This is just not the right time,” said another citizen via teleconference. “Right now, it would be ir-
responsible.”
Another caller said, “I
think, given the uncertain- ty of the times, we should hold off on this decision.”
Mayor Pro Tem Daniel Martinez backed the de- cision to extend Chapa’s contract.
“I’ve had nothing but good experiences with Chapa,” said Martinez as he further noted that city officials from other cities have expressed interest in acquiring Sanger’s city manager.
“I think we’re getting a bargain,” he added.
Ontiveros called the action ‘premature’ and said the people will speak out come election time.
“Action will be taken in November,” he said.
Councilmembers Es- meralda Hurtado and
See COUNCIL on page A6
REEDLEY Continued from page A3
rest, Reed Avenue and Manning Avenue, 11:35 p.m.
Friday, July 3
• DUI arrest, 1000 block of G Street, 12:50 a.m.
• Vandalism, Dinuba Av- enue and I Street, 2:55 a.m. • Vandalism, 1400 block of 10th Street, 2:56 a.m.
• Disturbance, intersec- tion of Reed and Olson av- enues, 8:12 a.m.
• Disturbance/arrest, 1100 block of West Olson Av- enue, 1:01 p.m.
• DUI arrest, 800 block of 11th Street, 2:34 p.m.
• Outstanding warrant/ arrest, 1500 block of East Manning Avenue, 5:05 p.m. • Narcotics violation/ar- rest, Springfield Avenue and Sunset Avenue, 9:23 p.m.
• DUI arrest, 800 block of Kings River Road, 11:05
p.m.
• Non-injury traffic colli- sion, 1100 block of I Street, 12:01 p.m.
• Driving without a license/ citation, Manning Avenue and Acacia Avenue, 2:36 p.m.
• Theft report, 700 block of
I Street, 2:54 p.m.
• DUI arrest, Reed Avenue and Manning Avenue, 7:44 p.m.
• Reedley police received 58 reports of illegal fire- works, resulting in offi- cers issuing 20 citations ($1,000 each) to various residents in the city be- tween the hours of 7 and 11 p.m. In total, 25 cita- tions were issues over the past 28 days.
• Structure fire (Reedley
fire responded), 800 block of I Street, 8:31 p.m.
• House fire (Reedley fire responded), intersection of Early Avenue and But- tonwillow Avenue, 8:33 p.m.
• Report of gunshots, 1000 block of K Street, 11:58 p.m. Officers located sev- eral pistol casings in the area.
Sunday, July 5
• DUI arrest, Dinuba Av-
enue and Klein Avenue, 1:03 p.m.
• Public intoxication/ar- rest, 1400 block of East Cypress Avenue, 2:25 a.m.
• DUI arrest, Floral Av- enue and Reed Avenue, 5:29 a.m.
• Residential burglary, 1100 block of East Dinuba Avenue, 11:28 a.m.
• Disturbance/arrest, 1400 block of 12th Street, 2:51 p.m. One person arrested
on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and a probation violation.
• Non-injury traffic colli- sion, Manning Avenue and Columbia Avenue, 8:22 p.m.
(Unless otherwise noted, the Reedley Police Depart- ment handled the calls. The department reminds the public to practice so- cial distancing, wash your hands regularly, and if you feel sick, stay home!)
the 1700 block of East El Monte Way at 8:09 p.m.
• Shots fired was reported in the 1800 block of South College Av- enue at 9:01 p.m.
Saturday, July 4
• A blue Dodge truck was re- ported partially burned in the roadway at Avenue 432 and Road 96. It was reported at 8:08 a.m.
• A possible DUI was reported in the 700 block of West El Mon- te Way at 12:26 p.m.
• An assault was reported in the 1600 block of Magnolia Way at 5:56 p.m.
• Trespassing was reported in the 100 block of North L Street at 7:12 p.m.
• A grass fire was reported in the area of Rosemary Avenue
and Veronica Avenue at 8:35 p.m.
• A tree was reported on fire in the 800 block of East Northridge at 10:50 p.m.
Sunday, July 5
• Illegal fireworks was reported in the 700 block of Jade Avenue at 1:03 a.m.
• Domestic violence was re-
ported in the 800 block of Cedar Lane at 3:44 a.m.
• Vandalism was reported in the 1800 block of East Mountain View Way at 1:08 p.m.
• A reckless driver was report- ed in the area of West El Monte Way at 4:11 p.m.
• Harassment was reported in the 600 block of South Alta Av- enue at 8:43 p.m.
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