Page 1 - Dinuba Sentinel 6-28-18 E-edition

Dinuba Sentinel Serving the communities of Dinuba, Cutler-Orosi and Monson-Sultana
Under Construction
City to begin work on several major projects throughout town
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Dinuba Cal Ripken All Stars advance to State Playoffs Sports, Page B1
News, Page A3
Established 1909, Dinuba, California
Thursday, June 28, 2018
50 Cents
Over 300 firework shots are expected to light up the night sky at Wednesday's Dinuba Independence Day Celebration at Centennial Park.
Fireworks set for Wednesday
Sentinel staff report
The city of Dinuba Independence Day Celebration will be held Wednesday, highlighted by the big aerial fireworks show.
The July 3 event at Centennial Park will also feature food vendors and live music entertainment by 3 and The Machine. Food vendors will open at 6:30 p.m., music will begin at 7:30 and the fireworks show will start at 9:15.
This will be the fourth year that the annual event will be held at Centennial Park since moving from Entertainment Plaza.
New this year, however, is the company that will be putting on this year’s fireworks show. The city agreed to contract Fireworks America, which offered to shoot 1,811 firework shots in all - about triple the amount of the city’s
recent firework shows. The show is expected to last for 25 to 30 minutes with a finale of 352 firework shots.
Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets to the event. Alcohol will not be allowed at the park.
Firework Safety
For those who will be lighting their own fireworks, the Dinuba Fire Department is reminding residents of the dangers of illegal fireworks, and the recently increased fine of $1,500 if caught using or possessing illegal fireworks in the city of Dinuba. Illegal fireworks can be reported to the Dinuba Police Department at 591-5911 or through the “Nail ‘em” smartphone application.
Sentinel file photo
Beating the summer heat
Bonus
Rick Curiel | The Sentinel
A group of young swimmers practice their kicking at the Dinuba High School Aquatics Center during a Monday morning lesson offered by the city of Dinuba's Parks and Community Services. Swim lessons are being held at the center through July 23. In addition to the swim lessons, the pool is open to the public on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays for a cost of $2. Tomorrow's temperature is expected to be in the high 90's.
According to Daniel Ceballos, who heads the swim program as well as the Dinuba Aqua Emps. The program not only serves as a valuable means of instructing children on the pool safety and technique, it also serves as a way to get kids more involved in the older swim program.
“The purpose of these lessons is not only for the kids to learn to swim and learn water safety,” said Ceballos. “But it also opens them to registrations into the recreation program, which is Aqua Emps.”
Monday morning Ceballos was at the pool training a few of those Aqua Emps in preparation for a swim meet at Sierra on Tuesday. The Aqua Emps also have a home swim meet today at the Dinuba High School Aquatics
By Jackson Moore
News@thedinubasentinel.com
Tentative agreements for salary increases to Dinuba Unified School District teachers, administration and confidential employees were approved at the June 21 Board of Trustees meeting.
In an agreement with the California School Employees’ Association Chapter 152 and the Salary Settlement Disclosure, the District will pay a retroactive two-percent salary increase for the 2017-18 school year and a one-time three-percent off-schedule payment to teachers.
In all, the payments are expected to cost the district $505,000.
An adjustment of a one-percent increase and additional benefits were also approved for certified and classified administration, and confidential employees.
Both items were approved with a 4-0 vote, with board member Sandra Kizirian absent.
• Four new Career Technical Education Pathway electives were approved for Dinuba High School. The new additions will include an animal science course and floral design 2 in the agriculture department, and introduction to multimedia and video game design classes for the visual and performing arts department.
• The Board decided to take an extra look at the proposed closed campus policy at Dinuba High School, which would take away off-campus lunch privileges from sophomores at DHS. The past 2017-18 school year was the first time that freshmen were not allowed off campus.
Board member Miriam Cendejas voiced that she felt the students should have more freedom and that sophomores could handle the responsibility. Other questions arose about proper notification for the food services department, which will likely have to provide several hundred more meals if the new policy is passed.
The item was tabled for a special meeting, which was scheduled for last night after publication.
• The District’s 2018-19 budget and Local Control and Accountability Plans were approved by the Board on 4-0 votes. A public hearing was held for the two items at the prior June 14 meeting. No public comments were made.
• The Board approved the board members to oversee the DUSD Student Foundation. The members were identified as James Carrillo, Crystal Diaz, Jose Gutierrez, Keven Huckaby, Katherine Lamb, Maria Rocca and Roderick Sorenson.
By Rick Curiel
Editor@thedinubasentinel.com
With temperatures expected to hover around triple digits for the foreseeable future, many locals are finding their way to a favorite summer pastime in Dinuba, the pool at the Dinuba High School Aquatics Center.
The city of Dinuba Parks and Community Services is currently in full swing of swim lessons at the Aquatics Center. The lessons started on June 3 and will run until the end of July, with lessons available in six levels ranging from beginners to advanced.
Lessons
are 30
minutes
long and
Sentinel sports editor Rick Curiel has been named the new editor of the Dinuba Sentinel.
He will take the vacant position previously filled by Jackson Moore, who has announced plans to pursue other opportunities.
The changeover will take place today, June 28.
Curiel worked at the Sentinel from 1998 to 2001, under former Sentinel owners Bob and Diane Raison. He graduated from Dinuba High School in 1993 and attended Fresno State. Curiel has served as the Sentinel’s sports
start
editor of the Sentinel
at 9
a.m.
Center. See Swim, Page A5 Rick Curiel named new
coming
for DUSD
teachers
Dinuba native Rick Curiel has been named the new editor of the Dinuba Sentinel.
Sentinel file photo
Sentinel staff report
editor since April 2017.
Former Mid Valley Publishing reporter George
Villagrana has been named the new sports editor of the Sentinel.
Villagrana will take the place vacated by Rick Curiel as he moves to the editor position.
Villagrana has more than 13 years of experience working as a sports editor, between stints at the Sanger Herald and Reedley Exponent. He recently served as an interim public information officer for Fresno City College and Reedley College and works as a photographer.
The changeover will be reflected beginning with the July 3 Sentinel.
thedinubasentinel.com
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