Page 2 - Mid Valley Times 2-13-20 E-edition

Obituaries
Martha Abarca
Martha Abarca of Reedley died Feb. 9. She was 84.
Mrs. Abarca was a homemaker.
She is survived by four daughters, three sons, 27 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchil- dren.
Services will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18, at Dopkins Di- nuba Funeral Chapel. A graveside service will follow at Reedley Cem- etery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society.
Frank Adame
Frank M. Adame of Fresno died Feb. 1 in Fresno. He was 46.
Mr. Adame worked as a sales representa- tive.
He is survived by his wife Monica Obeso, one son, two daughters, his mother, two broth- ers, three sisters and one grandchild.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. fol- lowed by a church ser- vice at 11 a.m. Thurs- day, Feb. 13, at Faith Chapel Church in Fres- no. Burial will follow at Sanger Cemetery.
Dopkins Dinuba Fu- neral Chapel handled the services.
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco of Orosi died Dec. 18, 2019. He was 44.
Mr. Franco is sur- vived by one daughter, one brother and one sis- ter.
Services were held Feb. 7 at Sterling & Smith Funeral Home
Sterling & Smith Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Larry Marquez
Larry R. Marquez of Orange Cove died Feb. 2 in Orange Cove. He was 48.
Mr. Marquez worked
Thursday, February 13, 2020 | A2 | Mid Valley TiMes
Another tree pruning title for IHS
as a landscaping owner. He is survived by his wife Patricia Renteria, two sons, one daughter and two grandchildren. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20 at Dopkins Funeral Cha-
pel.
Helen Pauls
Helen Rogalsky Pauls of Reedley died Jan. 31 in Reedley. She was 93.
Mrs. Pauls worked as a bookkeeper.
She is survived by two sons, one daughter, three brothers and two grandchildren.
A memorial service was held Feb. 5 at Palm Village Retirement Center. Burial followed at Reedley Cemetery.
Cairns Funeral Home handled the ser- vices.
Olga Rusconi
Olga Rusconi of Clo- vis died Feb. 5. She was 102.
Mrs. Rusconi was a homemaker.
She is survived by one son, two daughters, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
No services were held.
Wallin’s Sanger Fu- neral Home handled funeral arrangements.
Lorena Valdez
Lorena Valdez of Orosi died Feb. 3. She was 43.
Mrs. Valdez worked as a medical assistant.
She is survived by her spouse Alvaro Val- dez, one son, one par- ent, one brother, two sisters and two grand- children.
A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Orosi.
Sterling & Smith Home Funeral Home is handling the arrange- ments.
Immanuel team wins third state crown in 4 years
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
After a one-year hic- cup, Immanuel High School is back atop the pack in California when it comes to high school Fruit Tree Pruning.
The school's team of sophomores Nicole Ward, Shyanna Ward and Adrian Herrera and junior Jaden Paboojian became the third Im- manuel squad to earn a state title in the pro- gram's six-year history. The latest triumph came in competition on Feb. 1 at Fresno State.
"I am extremely proud of this team. They had a rough state finals last year pruning in the rain and getting fourth in the state in 2019," said Jean Myers, IHS agriculture teach- er and team coach. "To come back a year later with drive, passion and tenacity proves they worked hard for this win."
Jon Earnest / Mid Valley Times
Immanuel High's state champiion tree pruning team for 2020. From left, Niocole Ward, Shyanna Ward, Adrian Herrera and Jaden Paboojian. The team captured the school's third state title in four years during Feb. 1 competition in Fresno.
Immanuel won two years straight (2017- 18) before finishing in fourth place last year. This time around, the team excelled both in written and the actual pruning of stone fruit trees to beat out city rival Reedley High for the top prize.
"We've put a lot of hard work the last two years, not just one year," Shyanna Ward said. "So
it made it more reward- ing."
Paboojian took home first place in the writ- ten test portion, which includes 50 questions about the process. Teams then had about 30 min- utes before splitting up into small groups for the competition.
"This team was spe- cial because of the hard work and dedication
they put into preparing, but also because of our coaches," Myers said. "The three coaches are all alumni of Immanuel FFA and earned their own state championship title in fruit tree pruning during their FFA career."
After their victory, the team celebrated in style — eating peach ice cream from the Fresno State Farmers Market.
Nominations continue for annual Sanger Chamber awards
MVT Staff Report
The Sanger Chamber of Commerce continues to accept nominations for their annual awards banquet, which will be held on Friday, March 27, from6to9p.m.
Nominations are be- ing accepted for Hall of Fame, Mr. and Mrs. Farmer of the Year, Mother of the Year and Citizen of the Year.
The chamber will also be celebrating Fire and Police Personnel of the
Year, Rotary Youth of the Year, Veteran of the Year and Teacher of the Year. Those winners are selected by their respec- tive agencies and organi- zations.
Deadline to submit a nomination to the chamber is Sunday, March 15. For more in- formation or to make a nomination, contact the Sanger Chamber of Commerce at 875-4575, or email to sanger- chamber@gmail.com.
•••
Tickets now are on
sale for the upcom- ing Greater Reedley Chamber of Commerce Awards Gala. The annual event will take place Sat- urday, Feb 29, at Reedley College.
The gala will honor the Citizen of the Year, recognizing a Reed- ley citizen involved in growing the community through their volun- teerism, vision and lead- ership. Also honored will be the Junior Citizen of the Year, Large Business of the Year, Small Busi- ness of the Year, Entre- preneur of the Year, Pub- lic Safety Professional of the Year, Educator of the Year, Health Professional of the Year, and Reedley Beautification Award.
For ticket informa- tion, contact the Greater Reedley Chamber of Commerce at 638-3548.
The Feb. 6 article on the Reedley City Council considering a donation to the Dinuba Vietnam Vet- erans wall incorrectly
listed Emily Burnias as a veteran of the Gulf War. Burnias, a U.S. Navy vet- eran, served in Lebanon and Grenada.
For the Record
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•••••••
Mid Valley Times Staff
Fred Hall
Jon Earnest
Rick Curiel
George M. Villagrana Juanita Adame
Dick Sheppard
Duby Treviño Clinton Antonio
Tom Montijo
Susie House
Janie Lucio
Paulette Garcia Debra Leak
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Margaret Mary Kovacev ich
Margaret Mary Kovacevich of Reedley died January 21 in Reedley. She was 93.
Mrs. Kovacevich was a homemaker.
She is survived by her husband John Joseph Kovacevich, one son, two daughters, one brother, ve grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Private services will be held at a later date.
Dopkins Funeral Chapel in Reedley handled the arrangements.
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