Page 1 - Reedley Exponent 10-18-18 E-edition

Another successful open house for Reedley Fire
Panorama
Vol. 129, No. 42 | Thursday, October 18, 2018
Immanuel High football collects lopsided victory
Sports
www.reedleyexponent.com
Reedley (Fresno County) CA 93654 | 50 cents
Council
delays talk
on Royal
Valley fate
By Jon Earnest
jon@midvalleypublishing.com
The Reedley City Council was prepared to address the impend- ing demolition of the Royal Valley building during its Oct. 9 regular meeting.
But Scott Cross, the city’s legal counsel, told council members that discussion on the item was being pulled as changes were pending on the proposed resolution. Cross said those changes likely would mean an amended legal notice on the planned demolition would have to be filed with Fresno County.
The city bought the former Roy- al Valley Fruit Growers Association packing shed facility in 2001 with the idea of using the site for fur- ther expansion of public facilities. Recently, the location west of and behind the Reedley Police Depart- ment and City Hall was considered as a site for a new public library. The library is formalizing the pur- chase of property at another loca- tion, and the site now is likely to be converted to parking.
The issue will be brought before the council for discussion and a vote at a future meeting.
With discussion on the item tabled, the Oct. 9 council meeting ended up being one of the shortest in recent memory — about 30 min- utes. It was the only administrative business scheduled, although Coun- cil Member Mary Fast asked to pull two consent agenda items for fur- ther discussion.
The first was an update on the Luke Trimble Park splash pad facil- ity, which had an additional $35,000 of Measure C funds allocated to help complete construction of the splash pad. John Robertson, city engineer, said additional streetlights were added to the budget, and construction delays meant added consultant charges.
See COUNCIL on page A2
Fresno man
accused in
local robbery
Staff Report
A Fresno man was arrested last week in connection with multiple robberies in the past month that included a check cashing store in Reedley.
The Central Valley Fugitive Ap- prehension Team, consisting of law enforcement from different Valley agencies, arrested 38-year-old Dae- mond Keshon
Young at a south- west Fresno resi- dence, according to an Oct. 12 news release from the Reedley Police Department.
Police were
able to tie Young
to the Sept. 28
robbery of the
Advance Amer-
ica Check Cashing store at 985 W. Manning Ave. In that robbery, a man had entered the business and told employees he was armed with a firearm and demanded money. The suspect fled on foot after being giv- en an undisclosed amount of money.
The Reedley Detective Unit interviewed witnesses and victims of the robbery to obtain a general description. Police then learned that similar robberies had occurred in Kings County cities Lemoore and Corcoran. After meeting with de- tectives and gaining and identifi- cation, a warrant was acquired for
See ROBBERY on page A3
A Fiesta to remember
Jon Earnest / The Exponent
Eddie Vasquez, grand marshal for the 2018 Reedley Fiesta, coaxes a frog to jump during the 50th annual Frog Jump Contest after the parade on Oct. 13. Vasquez was an original founder of the contest and has been a volunteer for all 50 years the event has been held.
Annual fall event honors the 50th anniversary of Reedley’s first Frog Jump competition Staff Report
Jon Earnest / The Exponent
Luke Method of the Reedley High School Pirates Marching Band performs a trombone solo during the band’s parade down G Street at the Oct. 13 Fiesta Parade.
The 53rd annual Reedley Fiesta on Oct. 12-13 focused on tradition, in particular one tradition that turned 50 years old this year — the popular frog jump contest.
The golden anniversary of the event led to the cre- ation of a new mascot for the Fiesta and a frog-themed slo- gan of “Jump in on the fun!” from the Greater Reedley Chamber of Commerce.
The frog theme carried into the annual Fiesta Parade, which was led by Grand Mar- shal Eddie Vasquez, on Oct. 13. The longtime Reedley barber is the lone remaining founder of the event from 1968 who still remains in- volved.
Vasquez and his wife, Cookie, rode in the parade procession and helped se- lect the Grand Marshal award winning parade en- try. Vasquez then took his familiar position as “frog whisperer” for the after- noon contest.
This year’s Fiesta King & Queen were Ron and Carol Surabian, who were officially coronated on Friday night and then rode in the Fiesta Parade on Saturday.
More Fiesta photos are on Page A6.
Students and staff from Alta Elementary School walk alongside the the school’s float that was selected as the 2018 Fiesta Sweepstakes Trophy winner. Grant Junior High School was awarded the Grand Marshal Trophy, Lincoln Elementary School won the Top Float while Washington School won the Walking Division.
Jon Earnest / The Exponent
Daemond Young
Classifieds - B6-7 Directory - A5 Legals - B5 Sports - B3-4 Lights & Sirens - A3 Obituaries - A2 Opinion - A4