Dinuba Sentinel 6-13-19 E-edition
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Dinuba Sentinel Serving the communities of Dinuba, Cutler-Orosi and Monson-Sultana
New Leaders
Five graduate from Leadership Northern Tulare County program
News, A2
Established 1909, Dinuba, California Thursday, June 13, 2019
Cardinals ying free
Orosi High School graduates are congratulated by school faculty and staff at the school's graduation ceremony, held on June 6. The class was the first to graduate in the new state-of-the-art George Millhorn Stadium. Over 200 students graduated from Orosi High School this year.
Orosi High's Class of 2019 rst to graduate in new school stadium
50 Cents
Dinuba received just over 12 inches of rain this past season. Though not nearly the wettest season in the area’s history, the rain season did catch us by surprise at times, even lasting into later parts of May. That late-spring deluge reminded many in downtown Dinuba that the streets’ drainage systems are just not equipped to handle that much rain, and some merchants were again forced to break out the sand bags to avoid flooding.
That may soon change as the city of Dinuba was recently awarded a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) in the amount of $3 million, money Public Works Director Ismael Hernandez said will go along way in replacing the old drainage system.
“The downtown drainage problem is certainly a top concern,” said Hernandez. According to Hernandez, the total cost to replace the existing drainage system in the downtown area is estimated to be around $5 million.
He said that the city is currently evaluating how to pay for the remaining $2 million through other available city funds.
The CDBG program is one of the longest-running programs of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and funds community development projects with the stated goal of providing affordable housing, anti- poverty programs, and infrastructure development.
To qualify for CDBG funds, cities are required to submit a comprehensive report on the proposed project. With the highest possible score being 1,000 on the evaluation, Dinuba reportedly received a score of just under 900 points.
Other city projects in the works include a roundabout at the intersection of Nebraska Avenue and North Alta Avenue, the first of two roundabouts on Nebraska Avenue. A second roundabout is planned for the intersection at Viscaya Parkway.
And Hernandez said the Roosevelt Paseo project should be starting soon. The project will create a pathway for students who currently walk from the Viscaya home subdivisions to Roosevelt School. The pathway will connect the neighborhood near Rosemary Avenue and connect to Euclid Avenue. The pathway will be landscaped and be complete with pathway lighting.
is year's top winner a dream come true
belonged to Mark Olson, who passed away in June of 2011 of cancer. After his passing, Mark’s wife, Patty, sold the rough body of a vehicle to Rod Harms.
Over the next year, the car sat in Harm’s shop in Reedley, Rod’s Body and Paint.
“Rod is a friend of mine,” Sawatzky said, “ and I kept seeing the car in his shop. My life-long dream was to build a Hot Rod out of a 1929 Model A.”
So, after chewing on the idea for some time, Sawatzky came to the conclusion that this was his opportunity to make a dream come true. He bought the car from Harms in December of 2012 and immediately got to work on it. He joined the Nomads Car Club in Dinuba the same year, where Adron Scroggins helped him set up the entire drive train on the frame of the car.
In February of 2014, he talked to Greg Zulim of Double Z Hot Rods in Dinuba about building his dream Hot Rod. As it turned out, Zulim and Olson had a long-standing friendship, making the job an emotional job and even somewhat of a spiritual journey.
“This car is in memory of Mark Olson,” said
See Dream, Page A8
George M. Villagrana | The Sentinel
City awarded $3
million in CDBG
funds to help
start projects
Downtown drainage system a top priority
By Rick Curiel
Editor@thedinubasentinel.com
By George M. Villagrana
From the processional “Pomp and Circumstance” by the Cardinal Band to the posting of colors by the Tulare County Sheriff’s Explorers, the stadium was full of energy and enthusiasm.
The evening had a special feeling as historian Monica Quevedo noted that
George M. Villagrana | The Sentinel
the class is the first to graduate in the newly renovated stadium, which drew an applause from her classmates.
Quevedo listed the many accomplishments over the past four years that included the boys and girls basketball teams winning league. The girls’ soccer team that made history by winning Valley and the girls’ volleyball team winning league and setting a school record in wins.
Quevedo went on to say, “Don’t forget the people that had taught you to succeed and supported you to make your life better.”
Associated Student Body Presented Juan Manzo gave thanks to his teachers.
“I’d like to thank all my teachers for all the hard work that they have done for me and my classmates to help us succeed. You are all the best because you brought out the best in all of us.”
Manzo went on to thank his parents in Spanish drawing an applause from the crowd. In a touching tribute, Manzo, said a few words in remembrance of classmate Noelia Manzo.
with us, you deserve to be here just as much as we do,” Manzo said. “To many of us you were a caring friend, great student and a loving family member. I think I speak for the rest of us when I say we truly miss you, just know you will always have a place in my heart.”
After a few moments, Cutler- Orosi Joint Unified School District Superintendent Yolanda Valdez took the stage to address the students on behalf of the COJUSD board.
Valedictorian Marissa Quezada followed with her address encouraging her classmates to work hard.
“You are fully capable of anything you set your mind to,” Quezada said.
Quezada went on to say, “as we embark on this journey we must stick to our roots and remember where we came from.”
During the ceremony, Vaca had also recognized Laurie Stohl for her efforts with the school’s AVID program and later in the ceremony welcomed Jack Mohammad, who presented a check of $10,000 to the school.
Sports@thedinubasentinel.com
The tradition of family, friends and support staff gathered to fill the George Millhorn Stadium on June 6 as Orosi High School’s Class of 2019 bid their farewells.
Orosi High School Associated Student Body President Juan Manzo receives a high-five at Thursday's Orosi High School graduation ceremony.
By Rick Curiel
Editor@thedinubasentinel.com
Richard Sawatzky said it has been a life-long dream of his to own and build the Hot Rod he entered in this year’s Dinuba Car Show. That dream has now come to fruition, and thanks to collaboration of efforts from everything from the frame to the paint-job, his dream Hot Rod is now
the Best of Show. Sawatzky and his 1929 Model A Hot Rod received the Best of Show title at this year’s Cars in the Park event, beating out a myriad of other vehicles that filled Rose Ann Vuich Park on
Saturday morning. The car, he said, has a history that is tied to two friends from the Reedley area. It originally
Rick Curiel | The Sentinel
Photo contributed
Richard Sawatzky stands next to his 1929 Model A Hot Rod after winning Best of Show at this year's Cars in the Park Show, held Saturday at Rose Ann Vuich Park.
Sawatzky's Hot Rod when he first laid eyes on it.
See Cardinals, Page A8 2019 Dinuba Cars in the Park Best of Show
“Noelia, although you are no longer
Aqua Emps dive in
Swimmers have a busy schedule, with three meets in a week Sports, Page B1
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