Page 1 - Dinuba Sentinel 4-26-18 E-edition
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Dinuba Sentinel Serving the communities of Dinuba, Cutler-Orosi and Monson-Sultana
County Superintendent
OHS principal Robert Vaca moderates forum for three candidates
OHS Baseball makes push Cards win 4-2 over Laton in pursuit of 3rd place in ESL. Sports, Page B1
Established 1909, Dinuba, California
Thursday, April 26, 2018
50 Cents
Community, Page A6
Dinuba Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall paid off
and a committee of volunteers worked tirelessly to fundraise and organize events to help pay off the wall.
Moses Ibarra, Director of the Western Regional Vietnam Memorial Wall committee, said, “It was a relief. We were under a lot of pressure. There were times where we couldn’t even make our payments... We had a commitment every three months to send money. Sometimes we couldn’t make it, but we would call and they would say, ‘That’s OK keep working on it.’
“That was a relief when that came in. There was a whole lot of jubilation, and even now. We can joke around a little bit more now.”
When the idea was first proposed, Romelia Castillo handled many of the duties. The volunteers
Noche de Fiesta
Cinco de Mayo pageant will celebrate theme of "Noche de Fiesta"
summer
Watering to return to three days a week starting May 1
By Rick Curiel Sports@thedinubasentinel.com
Last summer the citizens of Dinuba were asked to make further restrictions when it came to their use of water. During the winter months, the city’s watering schedule permitted residents to water only once a week. In the summer months, the city afforded two days a week, all in an effort to preserve perhaps the most valuable resource we have, water.
This year gardeners and car wash enthusiasts will be delighted to hear that, even though we didn’t have the greatest year in terms of rainfall (season’s total of 7.91 inches), the city of Dinuba will be allowing three days a week for watering, come May 1.
This is because, according to Ismael Hernandez of the city of Dinuba Public Works Department, the state of California officially announced last summer that the state is no longer in a drought.
According to Hernandez, who has been with the city of Dinuba for 14 years, the state of California set minimum standards based on numbers from 2013.
“The state asked cities to cut x-amount,” said Hernandez. “Every year since this drought started was compared to the 2013 numbers.”
During drought years, each city in California was asked to develop their own ways of reducing water usage and then submit their results on a yearly basis. But because of California’s official announcement, cities are no longer required to submit their water numbers.
“We kind of feel we’re in a gray
See Water, Page A6
The 2018 Relay For Life event kicked off with the survivors' lap around the track at Dinuba High School's Claud Hebert Field.
Annual dedication ceremony on Monday
By Jackson Moore News@thedinubasentinel.com
Three years ago, the Dinuba Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall was introduced to the community. Now the final payments have been made to ensure that the stationed wall stays permanently in Dinuba.
The wall cost a total of $177,000 to purchase, a task that was met with doubt by some. About $40,000 had been paid when the wall first arrived,
then decided to create a committee - Joining Ibarra are president Joe Rivera, secretary Ruth Padilla, treasurer Frank Nunez and sergeant-at-arms Ray Quintana. Castillo took on media public relations duties. Other instrumental members were Jacob Huerta, Al Gonzales and the late Ronnie Castillo Sr. More members would join the cause, including Ernie Rubalcaba, Bob Refuerzo, Joe Martinez, Julio Rojas, Sandora Richardson Watson, Tamzin Wheatley and Emily Burnias.
A variety of events, dinners, concerts and more helped add to the committee’s funds, piece by piece. One of the biggest successes, Ibarra said, was a concert by Little Joe y La Familia which netted about $10,000. There is a chance that a return concert is scheduled this summer to help
with the next phase of the wall.
“We all started as beginners, and we’re still
beginners,” Ibarra said. “We tried a lot of things. Some things were successful, others we didn’t make much, but we kept on doing them. It was a little bit by a little bit. We got a lot of help from the community - A lot of the money was raised locally.”
Castillo added, “I don’t recall that I gave a penny to this wall, but I gave 110 percent to go out to the communities and raise money for this wall. I had no money, but there was a dream and a need for this wall for the people and the veterans. I’m an American and I have a lot of family members that went to war and are still in the service. It is very
Water
restrictions
relaxed for
WIS
See Wall, Page A2
student
makes
Eight girls will compete in Saturday's Cinco de Mayo pageant — six for queen and two for princess. In front are Celeste Plascencia, left, and Joanne Rubalcaba. In the second row, from left, are Gabriella Torres, Daisy Piñeiro, Yakaren Estrada and Brenda Mendoza. In the back row are, from left, Yaretzi Corpus Solis, outgoing Queen Aniceta Perez-Huerta, outgoing Princess Natalie Gonzalez and Melissa Valdez.
Sentinel staff report
The stage is set at Dinuba High School’s Hellbaum Auditorium for the 2018 Cinco de Mayo Pageant, on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
This year’s theme is “Noche de Fiesta,” which translates to “Night Out.”
The entertainment will include
singing, folkloric dances, monologues and more. Outgoing Queen Aniceta Perez-Huerta and outgoing Princess Natalie Gonzalez will perform a skit together before relinquishing their crowns later that night.
Ramon Rivera, Director of Information Technology at Dinuba Unified School District and Dinuba Chamber of Commerce Chair, will
be the master of ceremonies for the evening.
Running for princess are Celeste Plascencia and Yaretzi Corpus Solis. Queen candidates are Melissa Valdez, Joanne Rubalcaba, Gabriella Torres, Daisy Piñeiro, Yakaren Estrada and Brenda Mendoza.
Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door.
Jackson Moore | The Sentinel
By Jackson Moore News@thedinubasentinel.com
A Dinuba eighth-grader will be a leader among leaders, representing the entire northern region of California.
Andrew Santana, of Washington Intermediate, was elected as the California Association of Student Leaders (CASL) Northern Freshman Director for 2018-19. Andrew will be on the organization’s state board after campaigning, networking and performing a speech in front of 2,000 delegates who ultimately chose him as the winning candidate. He is the first from Dinuba to be elected.
“Oh my gosh, I cried, I cried so much,” Andrew said. “I’ve been working on this since November. You have to put in a resume, two essays, answer 10 to 15 questions. I worked super, super hard for this and it was so stress relieving when I found that out."
Andrew’s speech revolved around chasing dreams and accomplishing goals.
“I’ve always been the type of person that I love to strive for my goals,” Andrew said. “I love to achieve my goals. It makes me feel good in the end that I achieve my goals.
“It was really fun. It was a life changing experience all and all.”
Andrew’s trip was supported through a GoFundMe account that helped raise about $600 for the opportunity in Ontario, California. However, his upcoming experiences will come across the state and funded through CASL.
“My first board meeting in San Diego - They’re going to be flying me out,” Andrew explained. “We’re going to have
See Andrew, Page A8
history
Relay For Life raises $61,000
Rick Curiel | The Sentinel
By Rick Curiel Sports@thedinubasentinel.com
Television news anchors are known for keeping their emotions at bay when sharing stories over the air waves, but Saturday morning, when ABC 30’s Tony Cabrera shared his experience of how cancer has made an impact on his life, the anchor’s emotions got the best of him.
Cabrera was the keynote speaker at Dinuba’s Relay for Life, held Saturday on the track and field at Dinuba High School. In expressing his reasons for having been involved with Relay For Life for many years, Cabrera, who lives in Reedley, recounted the story of a friend from high school who was diagnosed with cancer and introduced him to Relay For Life.
“I thought, ok, he’ll go through chemotherapy, he’ll lose his hair, but we’ll be all good,” said Cabrera. “But he wasn’t, and we lost him.”
The cancer stories that effected Cabrera did not stop there, as he went on to tell the story of his college mentor.
“He’s the reason why I do broadcasting,” he said. “He’s the reason why I’m so passionate about being a news caster.”
Cabrera was so close to his college mentor that when it came time for him to get married he wanted him to be part of the joyous event.
“So when I called him he said, ‘I don’t think I’m going to make it Tony, I’m sick, I’ve got cancer.'” Cabrera paused to collect himself. “But he said, ‘I’m doing alright, don’t you worry about me, don’t you worry about me.'”
His voice cracking with emotion, Cabrera added, “He didn’t come to the wedding and he didn’t make it.”
The stories didn’t end there for Cabrera. He went
See Relay, Page A6
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