Dinuba Sentinel 7-26-18 E-edition
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Dinuba Sentinel Serving the communities of Dinuba, Cutler-Orosi and Monson-Sultana
School's Yesterday
Library exhibit highlights the history of local schools
News, Page A2
Established 1909, Dinuba, California Thursday, July 26, 2018 50 Cents
New state water proposal strongly opposed
Local water agency will ght new plan that will drastically cut water supply
to take away 288,000 acre-feet of water from the San Joaquin River. The number is a staggering amount, considering that an acre-foot is 326,000 gallons of water.
The proposal, released July 13 by the state board, looks to increase the impeded water flow of the San Joaquin River from what is now just over 20 percent to 30 to 50 percent, meaning less water from the river will be diverted to the nation’s most fertile farm region. Initially, the plan will aim for a 40 percent unimpeded flow.
In speaking for the board’s unanimous opposition to the proposal, Board President
Steve Worthley said, “All agencies in the state of California need to be up in arms against this.
“If we let them take 40 percent now there will be nothing that stops them from taking 45 percent, or 50 percent.”
The state board is making the proposal in order to help preserve the natural flow of the rivers in California, claiming that it must be done in order to save the established ecosystem. The state water board began a study several years ago to look into the water flows into the Delta from the San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers and discovered
See Water, Page A3
By Rick Curiel
Editor@thedinubasentinel.com
Water continues to be a hot topic in California, and particularly in the San Joaquin Valley, where the resource is vital for preserving the rich agricultural economy. Now that resource is at
City offers
ways to
cool during
heat wave
Sentinel staff report
With temperatures expected to be well over 100 degrees for a third consecutive week, everyone is looking for ways to stay cool during these hot summer days. For those who struggle to stay cool during this current heat wave, there is relief in town in the way of cooling centers.
The city of Dinuba offers two cooling centers to escape the heat. One cooling center is the multipurpose room at the Parks and Community Services Department building on Elizabeth Way. The center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and has televisions set up for anyone looking to find relief from the high temperatures.
The other cooling center offered by the city is the Dinuba Transit Center, located on West Merced Street. The transit center is also open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and offers free Wi-Fi in a comfortable air conditioned environment.
Dinuba Parks and Community Services also extended their open swim at the Dinuba High School’s Aquatic Center over the past two weeks to help keep people cool. The open swim was held normally on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, but was extended to include Tuesday and Thursdays. Today marks the last day of open swim, and the pool will be open to the public from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. There is a $2 cost.
The other cooling center in town, though not sponsored by the city of Dinuba, is the local Walmart. The store offers extended hours to patrons and is open seven days a week.
So far, this was the hottest week of the year. Yesterday's high was expected to reach 106 degrees and today's high is expected to reach 105.
risk of being cut back even further, due to a new proposal by the California State Water Resources Control Board.
As last week’s Kings River East Groundwater Sustainability Agency regular board meeting, held Thursday at Dinuba City Hall, members of the agency heard of the recent proposal that threatens
Summer Night Lights
Two young girls enjoy themselves while listening to the band Triple Play at Friday's Summer Night Lights at the Entertainment Plaza in downtown Dinuba.
Just two Friday nights left of summer events at downtown plaza
Sentinel staff report
There’s only two Friday’s left in the city of Dinuba’s Summer Night Lights. The summer events have been going on since the middle of June and feature live entertainment, a farmer’s market, games, prizes, a bounce house for the kids and a variety of food
vendors.
Last Friday the band Triple Play of Visalia took
the stage and played a medley of music ranging from classic rock, country, blues, oldies, pop and R&B.
This Friday Thee Fabulous Enchantments, a band with members from the Fresno and Reedley area, will take the stage. If you like to dance, you won’t
want to miss tomorrow night’s entertainment. The band offers a mix of music that includes oldies, Latin, cumbias, funk, old school, country and more.
The band is scheduled to perform from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the gazebo at the Entertainment Plaza in
See SNL, Page A8
Kailey Nava, 6, Anthony Leon, 8, and Desiree Nava of Sheridan Elementary School in Orange Cove show off the new backpacks they received this past Saturday. A group led by Dinuba's Stephen "Buffy" Ruiz will be giving out more backpacks, 300 in all, to students at Monson- Sutlana School this Saturday. Another group will be handing out backpacks on Sunday in downtown Dinuba.
Rick Curiel | The Sentinel
By Rick Curiel
Editor@thedinubasentinel.com
Six years ago, when Stephen “Buffy” Ruiz started helping a Fresno bikers group with a backpack distribution for kids it was a way for him to serve. Four years ago, when the same group asked him if he would be interested in carrying on the program in the Dinuba area, it was a no-brainer for Ruiz.
“There’s a need everywhere,” said Ruiz. “But to be able to give back to the community I grew up, you can’t beat that.”
This past Saturday Ruiz, or as most people know him by “Buffy”, with the assistance of local sponsors and countless volunteers, gave out 300 backpacks to kids from the Orange Cove area. Along with those backpacks, kids also received school supplies such as notebooks, pencils and pens.
“We try to give kids the basic necessities they need to be just as successful as any other student,” said Ruiz.
Joining forces with him this year is the Christian ministry Cruising for Jesus, who brought out their trailer stage and band to provide entertainment – not to mention the lowriders and custom vehicles
they are so known for.
Saturday, the group will repeat their efforts
when they travel to Sultana to give away 300 more backpacks at Monson-Sultana School.
“I went to school in Sultana,” said Ruiz. “In fact, all my family went to school in Sultana, my kids too. So to be able to give back to them in this way means a lot to me.”
On top of giving out hundreds of backpacks, five bikes and two Star Wars drones will be raffled out as well. But it won’t be your typical raffle. Saturday’s raffle will be a dance-raffle, where participants can only enter the raffle by dancing.
“The best way to really get people involved is to get them on their feet,” said Ruiz.
The Monson-Sultana after school program FUEL will also be on site selling hot dogs. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The backpacks will be given to students who were selected by the Monson-Sultana school district. However, according to Ruiz, any unclaimed backpacks will be given out to the general public.
“Our goal is to come home with nothing,” said
See Backpacks, Page A6
Aqua Emps
Forbes takes rst in backstroke at CVRSL nals
Sports, Page B1
Giving back. . . packs
Rick Curiel | The Sentinel
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