Dinuba Sentinel 4-4-19 E-edition

Dinuba Sentinel Serving the communities of Dinuba, Cutler-Orosi and Monson-Sultana
Cinco De Mayo Contestants
Series of candidate pro les for upcoming pageant begins in today's edition
Back Page, A8
Established 1909, Dinuba, California Thursday, April 4, 2019
50 Cents
Nine road
projects up
for funding
next year
Sentinel staff report
Though the city of Dinuba hopes to be able to get to every road that needs repair, the reality is the that budget constraints may not allow for all repairs to be made, this year.
Every year the city submits a list of proposed projects to the State of California to qualify for SB1 funds, also known as the Road Repair and Accountability Act. The city anticipates receiving $411,689 in SB1 funds for the 2019-20 year, and have submitted nine proposed projects to the state.
Of the nine, the city hopes to fund four projects with the anticipated funds. One project will be a street reconstruction on Pamela Avenue, from Lillie Avenue to Quail Run Drive. The estimated cost of the project is $200,000.
The city is also looking to do a pavement rehabilitation project on North M Street, from Tulare Street to Fresno Street. That job will entail grinding down the pavement and adding a new overlay at a cost of about $100,000.
Kamm Avenue is also on the docket for the same treatment, however, covering much more ground (from Alta Avenue to College Avenue), the project is anticipated to cost $1.5 million.
And a street reconstruction is also planned for Monte Vista, from West El Monte Way to 800 feet south, at an estimated cost of $350,000.
“We realize the funds we receive will not cover every proposed project,” said Dinuba City Public Works Director Ismael Hernandez. “We have ways of making funds stretch, though.”
The five other projects proposed to the state were previously proposed and are being resubmitted to reaffirm the city’s intention of funding the projects through SB1 funds.
Those projects include street reconstructions on Tulare Street at the intersection of H Street, Olive Way from Crawford Avenue to Randle Avenue, Sierra Way from Monte Vista Drive to Alta Avenue, Euclid Avenue from Bloomingdale Avenue to Saginaw Avenue and the intersection of Nebraska Avenue and Crawford Avenue.
The city plans to start the projects this year.
Funds for the Road Repair and Accountability Act are gathered from an increase per-gallon fuel excise tax, diesel fuel sales tax and vehicle registration fees.
City deeds
Veterans, wall celebrated
library
property
to County
Sentinel staff report
In 1974, the city of Dinuba entered into a 50-year lease agreement with the County of Tulare for the property at 150 South I Street. It was there that the county built the Dinuba Branch Library.
Now, after 45 years, the city of Dinuba is deeding over the property to the County, a sign of good will after the County advised council and staff in February that they will be investing $2 million into a Dinuba Library Modernization Project. The Dinuba city council voted unanimously to deed over the property at the Mar. 26 meeting.
During the lease agreement, the county leased the real property where the library sits and agreed to build and maintain the building structure. The city agreed to maintain the parking lot and landscaping, something public works has done until recently.
The modernization project will call for improvements to the library, parking lot and landscaping.
“It seems only fitting,” said Dinuba City Manager Luis Patlan at the February meeting where the modernization project was discussed. “If the county is going to be investing that much money into the library, it’s only fitting that we deed the property over to them.”
As part of the move, the county will now assume responsibility for improving and maintaining the entire property.
Currently, the county is in the process of retaining an architect to begin the design work on the improvements for the library. They also plan to host a series of community outreach meetings to get feedback from the public on what improvements could be made there.
Some of the projects already mentioned by the county are a new roof, a new HVAC system, and updating the plumbing and electrical throughout the building.
On hand at last week’s meeting to thank council and staff was Tulare County Supervisor Eddie Valero, along with Tulare County Librarian Darla Wegener.
The $2 million modernization budget is nearly six times the amount it took to build the building. According to the original lease agreement, the county allocated $350,000 for the construction of the Dinuba Branch Library.
Rick Curiel | The Sentinel
The Dinuba Vietnam Veterans Chapter 643 stand guard at Saturday's Dinuba Vietnam Memorial Wall Ceremony after presenting colors.
local Vietnam soldiers from the Valley whose names are engraved on the wall. In total, 58,000 names are on the wall. The names were read by Veterans representing their respective districts.
As many as two million Americans served in the Vietnam War.
A free lunch was served after ther ceremony. The tri-tip was provided by the Clovis Veterans Memorial District. Hot dogs and hamburgers were provided by the Dinuba Vietnam Veterans, Chapter 643.
(Left) A Veteran searches the Vietnam Memorial Wall for the names of those he served with. (Right) The United States and California State flags are presented in front of the wall to open ceremonies.
Sentinel staff report
In what was perhaps the event's biggest turnout, hundreds of people attended Saturday's Fourth Annual Dinuba Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall Ceremony. Veteran representatives came from as far south as Bakersfield and as far north as Merced to attend the ceremony, recognizing the only Vietnam Veterans Wall replica in California.
Saturday's ceremony was highlighted by the reading of
Book signing a blast from local baseball's past
New book, 'Mexican American Baseball in Sacramento', features local baseball players from area's past leagues
was that of Cat Hernandez. Anyone who has ever been involved in baseball here in Dinuba has seen him, either behind the plate or scouting from just outside the backstop.
The local baseball legend spent many years working as a baseball scout for the Houston Astros. But being on the road fulltime was something Hernandez discovered was not for him.
“I got tired of eating at restaurants,” he said. He returned home to invest his talent
in local talents. The talent, according to
Hernandez, has always been here and he finds it even today.
And a local baseball reunion would not
be complete without the presence of one prominent family in the way of Dinuba’s baseball history, the Delgados. Luis Delgado,
See Baseball, Page A8
Photos by Rick Curiel | The Sentinel
By Rick Curiel
Editor@thedinubasentinel.com
A convergence of baseball’s past, present and future came together on Saturday, Mar. 30, in the patio of the Alta District Historical Society. They came from as far as San Jose, like Mario Estrada, who though he is now confined to a wheelchair, did not want to miss the historical event.
The event was a book signing that recognized him and many other local baseball players from the area who provided the backdrop to
a rich history of Mexican American baseball
in the Central Valley. Now that history is documented in a new book entitled Mexican American Baseball in Sacramento, chronicling early 20th century baseball in Central California.
One face that many would have recognized
Rick Curiel | The Sentinel
On a fast track
New Orosi High track is turning up great numbers
Sports, Page B1
Anita Betencourt points out a photo featuring Norman Krebbs, left, on the 1961-62 Dinuba Redskins Valley championship team. Krebbs, who was a pitcher on the team, was one of many in attendance at Saturday's book signing event, held at Alta District Historical Society.
thedinubasentinel.com
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