Page 1 - Dinuba Sentinel 4-25-19 E-edition

Dinuba Sentinel Serving the communities of Dinuba, Cutler-Orosi and Monson-Sultana
'To see their smile'
Prom for local disabled brings joy to both students and attendants
Established 1909, Dinuba, California
Sierra
Vista High
School a
nalist for
$75k art
award
Sentinel staff report
In an art competition put on by Vans with a grand prize of $75,000, Sierra Vista High School in Dinuba has been named a finalist.
Among the 500 qualifying schools, Vans chose 50 schools based on design, craftsmanship and overall execution to continue to the next competition phase. Each school designed two pairs of Vans shoes around themes representing ‘Local Flavor’ and ‘Off the Wall.’ Each school also submitted an Impact Document to further explain how the monetary donation would benefit their school’s art program and community.
“Each year, we’re blown away by the imagination of our youth across the country as they redefine Vans as a literal canvas for their creative expression,” stated Kristy Van Doren, Vans Senior Director Brand Marketing for North America. “Our 10th anniversary year was no exception, as each of the top 50 semi-finalists offered unique representation and distinct storytelling through their shoe designs. As the competition proceeds, we encourage communities to support these students so that they can continue to change the world of art and how it comes to life.”
Sierra Vista’s Jose Romero did the artwork for the theme ‘Local Flavor’, depicting a citrus motif. Hesvin Gonzalez did the artwork for the theme ‘Off the Wall’ and used outer space and an astronaut to express his art.
Andrew Delgado wrote the Impact Document, telling how the school would benefit from receiving the grand prize.
When asked what the school would do if they won, art teacher Amy Coats said, “Technology is driving every industry these days, so I’d like to invest in updated technology. Also, I would like to be able to expose the students to college campuses.”
Coats said the money would also go towards art supplies.
This year’s winner will be determined by online votes and voting started on
See Vans, Page A7
Community, A7
Thursday, April 25, 2019
50 Cents
'Baila Esta Cumbia'
Local youth
pastor faces
more child
molestation
charges
2018 Cinco de Mayo Queen Melissa Valdez and Princess Celeste Placencia (center) and this year's candidates would like to invite you to the 2019 Cinco de Mayo Pageant, to be held on Saturday, Apr. 27, at 7 p.m. at Dinuba High's Hellbaum Auditorium. Pictured with the 2018 Queen and Princess are (left to right) Felicity Morales, Alyiah Rangel, Natalie Gonzalez, Bianca Villanueva, (Valdez, Placencia) Melissa Valencia, Lucero Garcia, Jessica Leal, Maria Dominguez and Yakaren Estrada.
Nine contestants vie for Cinco de Mayo crown Saturday
into the youth
pastor from Calvary
Apostolic Church
in Dinuba started
in January of 2018
when, reportedly,
two sisters, both of
whom attended the
church with their
aunt came forward to reveal they were molested, even raped, by that same aunt’s husband, Bacerra.
In addition, the younger sister of that aunt also came forward claiming she too was abused by Bacerra, who served at the church as both a Sunday school teacher and a youth pastor during the time of the incidents.
The majority of Bacerra’s counts are for lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under 14. A few are for oral copulation and sexual penetration of a minor under
10B. acerra pleaded not guilty to the charges back at his arraignment in May of 2018 and bailed out of jail soon after he was arraigned. His original bail was set at $1 million.
He pleaded not guilty again to the new charges at a hearing last Wednesday, Apr. 17, at the Tulare County Superior Court. His bail was set at $500,000. A preliminary hearing confirmation is scheduled for Tuesday, with a preliminary examination scheduled for Wednesday.
Photo contributed
Fourth victim comes forward accusing Victor Bacerra of Calvary Apostolic Church
Sentinel staff report
A local youth pastor is currently looking at a maximum sentence of over 200 years with the current 17 child molestations charges against him. That number will only go up, as recently a fourth victim came forward, bringing the total charges against the youth pastor to 20.
The new charges include two counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under 14, with one having a special allegation for ‘substantial sexual conduct’. The third count is for dissuading a witness from testifying against him, with a special allegation of doing so while being a felon on bail.
Bacerra was originally charged with 18 sex offense charges
back in May of 2018.
An investigation
Sentinel staff report
Nine candidates will be competing on Saturday for the 2019 Cinco de Mayo crown, a tradition that goes back decades here in Dinuba.
Missing this year, however, will be the Cinco de Mayo Princess competition.
“We’re doing something a little different this year,” said pageant coordinator Debbie Rojas. “We want to focus on just the queens.”
Rojas explained that though the princess portion has been an important part of the pageant over the years, because there is scholarship money involved for the winners at the queen level she wanted to allow for more girls to have the opportunity.
And it worked.
Last year there were 11 total candidates in the Cinco de Mayo Pageant. Of those, six were running for queen and five ran for princess. This year, without the princess candidates, the number of candidates running for queen increased.
Running this year are Bianca Villanueva, Lucero Garcia, Yakaren Estrada, Alyiah Rangel, Maria Dominguez, Melissa Valencia, Natalie Gonzalez, Felicity Morales and Jessica Leal. (See profiles for Gonzalez, Morales and Leal on the Back Page of today’s Sentinel.)
For this year’s theme, the pageant board chose a tribute to the late Tejano music star Selena, with pageant entitled ‘Baila Esta Cumbia’ (Dance to this Cumbia).
Making a special appearance at Saturday’s pageant will be 2018 Cinco de Mayo Queen Melissa Valdez and Princess Celeste Placencia.
Valdez, who won last year's pageant after a provocative monologue regarding 'the wall', will be doing another
monologue on Saturday.
The contestants will be dancing their opening number to
a Selena medley. The number has been choreographed by Dinuba's Danielle Lester of Queen D'z Dance Studio.
"It's going to be a really good show," said Rojas of Saturday's pageant. "The girls have been working really hard and are very talented. We would love to have the community's support."
Master of Ceremonies for Saturday's pageant will be Yolanda Valdez.
The pageant will be held at Dinuba High School’s Hellbaum Auditorium and will begin at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $7 at Debbie’s Hair Fashions, located at 141 West Tulare Street. Tickets at the door will be sold for $10.
For more information, contact Debbie Rojas at 250-7933.
Victor Hugo Bacerra
Open Gate resurrected
Local shelter re-opens its doors with a fresh new look
added. “When Vivian Martzen opened it, it was because Jesus spoke to her very clearly and said ‘when I was hungry you fed me and when I was thirsty you gave me something to drink’ (Matt. 25). We have held to that mission all along.”
Jackson took over as the Executive Director for the shelter in February, after a reorganization of the Open Gate board of directors. She is originally from the Kingsburg area, but has spent the last 36 year living in Orange County, where she pastored a church for 32 of those years.
She most recently served as the Pastor of Outreach for the Vineyard Church of Anaheim.
Jackson said she heard from a niece of hers that the shelter was having problems and was in search of a new Executive Director. Given that she worked in some degree with shelters in Orange County, on the pastoral side, she felt compelled to look further into it.
See Open Gate, Page A3
By Rick Curiel
A Editor@thedinubasentinel.com
fter having to close its doors to the public several months ago due to lack of funding, the Open
Gate Ministries shelter has experienced a resurrection. Monday morning, the shelter opened its doors again, welcoming the local displaced into a completely renovated home.
From the outside the Open Gate Ministries Shelter on North K Street looks much like
it has over the past several decades. On the inside, however, the home has undergone
an extensive remodel, with updates in the bedrooms, family room, dining room and kitchen.
For new Executive Director of Operations Cheryl Jackson, the opening comes at just the right time.
“We were going to do just a soft opening last week,” said Jackson. “And I thought, it’s Easter weekend, it’s significant. It’s significant to do it the day after Easter.
“That’s what this place is for,” Jackson
Rick Curiel | The Sentinel
thedinubasentinel.com
Inside | Lights and SirensA2 | ObituariesA2 | OpinionA4 | SportsB1 | Classi edsB2
Emps on track
Dinuba Invitational will be held tomorrow afternoon
Sports, Page B1
If you go ...
• 2019 Cinco de Mayo Pageant
• Saturday, Apr. 27
• Dinuba High Scool Hellbaum Auditorium
• Pageant starts at 7 p.m., Doors open at 6 p.m.
• Tickets are $7 in advance, $10 at the door
Open Gate's new Executive Director of Operations Shelter Cheryl Jackson is happy to stand in the newly remodeled shelter home on North K Street. On Monday, after being closed for months due to financial issues, the Open Gate Shelter once again opened its doors to the public.
The newly renovated has had extensive work done to the living quarters, dining room, kitchen and bedrooms.