Mid Valley Times 2-13-20 E-edition

Thursday, February 13, 2020
Vol. 1, No. 33
Teaching flight in Reedley
50 cents
Shooting
in Orange
Cove
wounds 3
MVT Staff Report
Orange Cove police this week continue to investigate a weekend shooting that wound- ed three people at a family gathering in the north end of the city.
According to OCPD Sgt. Jose Puga, officers responded to a shots fired report in the 100 block of 8th Street near Adams Avenue just after 8 p.m. on Feb. 7.
When police arrived, they discovered that two 21-year- old men had been wounded by a lone unidentified gun- man, according to Puga. One of the men, who had a wound to his lower body, was air- lifted to Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno. He remained hospitalized in fair condition as of Feb. 11.
Puga said during the ini- tial interview after the shoot- ing that a 27-year-old woman had suffered a minor gunshot wound. She and the other 21-year-old man were taken to Adventist Medical Center- Reedley, where they were treated for their injuries and later released.
Puga said that officers in- terviewed family members at the site of the shooting. They told officers that the group of 10 to 15 people was gathered outside in the backyard when the group heard a gunshot from out front.
When people moved to check out the scene, they saw the silhouette of a male dressed in dark clothing. The man shot at the family mem- bers, who scurried for cover in the backyard. The suspect
SeeSHOOTINGonpage A5
Programs at Jefferson, RC draw national attention
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
All the big hitters in play with Reedley's new electric airplane program — and the plans to introduce young people to develop a love for flying — came to Jefferson Elementary School on Feb. 5 to spread the good news to the public.
A media event attracted the region's television sta- tions, area public officials and other visitors to learn about the partnership between the city, Reedley College, Kings Canyon Unified School Dis- trict and the Boeing Company to fast-track opening the door for children and young people to learn about flying.
The program even has drawn national attention, as CBS News did an interview and report on the program that aired on the network.
Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
Jefferson Elementary School fifth-grader Leonardo Guevara, seated, tries his hand at the simulator on Feb. 5 while classmates (middle to right) Kaileigh Hirahara-Corona, Anthony Corona and Angel Zeferino look on. The four were the student contingent at the media event publicizing the city of Reedley's partnership with Boeing, Reedley College and the Kings Canyon Unified School District to train young pilots into general aviation and a new electric airplane program.
Jefferson was represent- ed by four students — fifth- graders Leonardo Guevara, Anthony Corona and Angel Zeferino along with fourth- grader Kaileigh Hirahara-Co-
rona — who demonstrated the school's new flight simulator that was installed two months back along with a large screen monitor.
Patty Ledesma, Jeffer-
son principal and one of the speakers at the event, said afterward that excitement on campus is shared by stu-
See FLIGHT on page A12
Dozens of iPads stolen from Sanger school
Thefts occurred after school on Feb. 1 at Fairmont Elementary
MVT Staff Report
The Fresno County Sher- iff’s Office is currently look- ing for a suspect who report- edly broke into a Sanger Uni- fied School District elemen- tary school and stole dozens of iPads.
Detectives say, shortly after 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 1, Fairmont Elementary School in the 3000 block of North Greenwood Avenue in Sanger
was burglarized. Surveillance cameras
from the school captured a black, mid-2000s extended cab Chevy Silverado pickup truck drove onto the campus, breaching a security gate be- fore parking in front of the school. Images from the sur- veillance footage show a male wearing a blue hooded sweat- shirt exit the vehicle.
See BURGLARY on page A6
Courtesy Fresno County Sheriff's Office / Image Contributed
A video from a surveillance camera at Fairmont Elementary School showed a black pickup truck driven by a male in a blue hooded sweatshirt who is believed to be involved in a burglary on campus.
MVT offices will close on Feb. 17 in observance of Presidents Day
The Mid Valley Times' business offices in Dinuba, Reedley and Sanger will be closed on Monday, Feb. 17, in observance of the Presidents Day holiday.
There will be early deadlines this week be- cause of the office clo- sure. Classified liner ads and legal notices are due by noon on Thursday, Feb. 13. Regular and classified display ads also are due by noon on Thursday, Feb. 13.
The Times' three of- fices will reopen for busi- ness at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 18.
OHS students' parents get actively involved
By George M. Villagrana
Mid Valley Times
Parents of Orosi High School students are becom- ing actively involved in their educational pathway, as ap- proximately 100 parents at- tended the PIQE orientation at the school on Feb. 4.
The nine-week program, called the Parent Institute for Quality Education [PIQE], aims for parents to better help their student succeed. The program launched in California in 1987.
Classes are offered twice a day to accommodate work schedules — from 8:30 to 10 a.m. in the school’s main of- fice staff lounge and 6 to 7:30
p.m. in the cafeteria, accord- ing to Principal Roberto Vaca. The curriculum programs
that will be studied are:
• Understanding the high
school system
• Identifying the classes
that form part of the “4 Year Plan”
• Recognizing the other important requirements and programs
• Discussing higher educa- tion options
• Identifying the different financial aid options
Vaca said this marks the fifth year the school has of- fered PIQE.
“PIQE is a proven program
See PIQE on page A6
Orosi High School / Photo Contributed
Parents gathered in Orosi High School's staff lounge as part of the PIQE orientation held on Feb. 4. The program helps parents support their students during their educational pathway.
Classifieds - B3
Directory - B4 Legals - B5-11 Sports - B102, B12 Lifestyle - A7-9
Lights & Sirens - A3 Obituaries - A2-3 Opinion - A4