Clovis Roundup - April 27, 2023

WHAT’S INSIDE

Clovis Rodeo’ Demonstrates "Clovis Way of Life"

Preserving and learning from our history

Clovis Roundup Staff @ClovisRoundup

There are more things that the City of Clovis is known for and prideful of than you can count on your hands and feet. From the vintage Old Town Clovis, which is littered with top-rated restaurants and antique stores, to the beautiful

Clovis Botanical Gardens, there is quite literally something for everyone to enjoy.

The Clovis Rodeo is definitely no exception. The event itself is an ingrained piece of history and culture maintained by the City of Clovis, Fresno County, their people, and the Clovis Rodeo

Association, and has been going strong for the past 108 years, starting with its foundation in 1914. Although the rodeo took hits financially and, especially, morale in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic which forced the event to be canceled, it found new footing

See RODEO, Pg. 7

April 24, 2023 - Preserving our history is important for many reasons. Sometimes it’s a key to remembering who we are as a nation, as a people, or maybe just as a family. We can celebrate the things that make America great, and at the same time recognize that imperfect people acted imperfectly. America is a nation of indigenous peoples, colonists, and immigrants. As we moved west, we assimilated more Native Americans and Mexican people as we moved southwest. Africans were brought here as slaves and some, like the Chinese and the Irish, were brought here as laborers or indentured servants. Japanese-Americans, good and loyal Americans, were placed in camps following the attack on Pearl Harbor. Even great nations are imperfect.

We have seen waves of immigration throughout our history of those “yearning to live free.” America is still a destination for many reasons:

See HISTORY, Pg. 5

City of Clovis Celebrates Arbor Day with Tree Planting

J.T. Gomez jt21gomez@gmail.com

April 22, 2023 - For the past 13 years, the City of Clovis has participated in tree planting in celebration of the nationally recognized holiday, Arbor Day.

Arbor Day, which can be translated as “tree” day, is a day in which the public can celebrate and recognize the planting, maintenance, and preservation of trees.

This year, the City of Clovis planted trees at the Dry Creek Trailhead off of Sunnyside and Shepherd Avenues, as they do each year in celebration of the event, they invited the public to join them in planting the trees.

Members of the public helped plant more than fifty trees at the Dry Creek Trailhead, where the trees will remain for the span of their lives.

Drew Bessinger Clovis City Council

Photo by J.T. Gomez, Clovis Roundup

A Clovis family poses for a photo before they plant a tree in celebration of Arbor Day.

See ARBOR Pg. 4

Photo by Jose Romo Jr., Clovis Roundup Steer Wrestling portion of the 2019 Annual Clovis Rodeo at the Clovis Rodeo Grounds on Sunday, April 28, 2019.

What’s Up, Clovis?

CHECK OUT THE BUZZ AROUND TOWN

Dog of the Week

Clovis Rodeo of days past

A peek into the Clovis Antique Mall

Bubbles in Old Town

Photos by Ron Sundquist

Bobbie takes a walk in Old Town Clovis with his owner, Susan from Jackson Jewelry.

Sam Banuelos makes a toast to us! Sam is an Army Veteran and ExPOW from the Korean War. He was a prisoner for 2 years, minus 12 days from 1951-1953.

Roy Ogle smiles for the camera in the 5th Street Clovis Antique Mall. Roy has been selling model trains since 1989. The mall roof is currently under renovation, but is still open while repairs are being made. Renovation is expected to last a month.

Ms. Natalie and Bubbles walked the streets of Old Town Clovis talking with parents and kids to gain exposure for The Learning Experience, Academy of Early Education.

John Payne, the One-Armed Bandit, touches the Clovis Gateway sign during the 2018 Clovis Rodeo Parade.

Walking to represent the Cougars is Clovis High's Colorguard and band.

Len Addison driving his own vehicle in the parade.

Clovis Police ‘Go Live’ for virtual Town Hall

Animal Control Officer Appreciation Week were presented and elaborated on.

April 15, 2023 - On Thursday, April 13th the Clovis Police Department, represented by Clovis Police Chief Curt Fleming, answered questions from the public for a half an hour on the “Facebook Live” function that is used by the social media app.

This event acted as an opportunity for Chief Fleming to interact with the public of Clovis, much like in a Town Hall like setting, where viewers and commenters were allowed to ask questions via chat that were then answered simultaneously.

Questions ranged from age ranges of professional and police staffing to academy requirements to questions on homelessness population and city ordinances. Each of these questions and subsequent answers from Chief Fleming can be found online on the Facebook page named Clovis Police CA, an account which has been verified by Facebook.

In addition to the Q&A portion of the Facebook Live, events and information like the Cops and Kids Sports Camp, the 12th Annual Clovis Night Out, and National

The Cops and Kids Sports Camp will commence June 20th-21st of this year. Registration for this event looks to fill up quickly at 6 PM on May 1st.

The 12th Annual Clovis Night Out, will take place once again at the David McDonald Park on Saturday September 30th and registration for vendors can be found at clovisnightout.com.

Chief Fleming mentioned that the one of the top “most responded to” calls come from animal control related calls, and stated that work that the animal services officers do, does not go unnoticed.

Goals for the Police Department in 2023 were displayed and among one of the first mentioned was to “remain the safest city in the Valley.”

According to Chief Fleming this concept is becoming more difficult to measure because of Prop 47 and AB109 in California.

A second goal of Clovis PD for 2023 was to meet response time goals for priority calls. “We’ll move things around in the department to meet that priority,” said Chief

Fleming.

Finally, the third top goal for Clovis PD is to reach out to citizens to find out what “kind of job” the Clovis PD is doing, and attempt to reach an approval rating of 90% or higher. Satisfaction ratings can be given through surveys given after low priority calls. Chief Fleming also hopes to receive comments from the community that Clovis PD can work on for the future.

Towards the end of the meeting, Public

Information Officer Ty Wood made it evident that if a member of the public viewed the video at a later period of time, that viewer should feel free to ask any questions they may have in the comments section, as Clovis PD hopes to monitor the post with frequency.

There are also other avenues in which one can ask Clovis PD questions, including social media such as Facebook, or by visiting their website at cityofclovis.com/police.

Photo by J.T. Gomez, Clovis Roundup Clovis Mayor Pro-Tem Vong Mouanoutoua speaks to a crowd of Clovis residents who were present to plant trees in honor of Arbor Day.

Photo by J.T. Gomez, Clovis Roundup A Clovis family works on digging a hole in a planter to plant a tree at the Clovis Dry Creek Trailhead.

Photo by J.T. Gomez, Clovis Roundup Rows of planters and trees line up for Clovis families in hopes of participating in the annual Arbor Day celebration.

Photo by J.T. Gomez, Clovis Roundup City of Clovis Parks Manager Eric Aller demonstrates how to properly plant a tree in front of a gathered crowd.

Photo courtesy of Clovis Polive Department

Clovis City Council Hosts ‘Vision, Mission, and Goals’ Workshop

J.T. Gomez

jt21gomez@gmail.com

April 15, 2024 - On Friday morning, April 14th, the heads of City Staff from the City of Clovis sat down at a workshop hosted by the Clovis City Council.

The purpose of the workshop was to entertain ideas of updating the City Vision, Mission statement, and certain goals that the City intends to have within the next ten years.

Led by Mayor Lynne Ashbeck, it was asked of all city department leaders to first simply “think” about the city and goals that each leader may have for their own departments.

Mayor Ashbeck continued the thought that within the next ten to thirteen years, City Council will “leave behind” the next piece for a future City government to build with and to continue to make Clovis, what Ashbeck calls, “the best little City in California.”

With the knowledge that growth in the city is inevitable, the first topic spoken about at the workshop related to a prior meeting held in March with certain stakeholders of the City of Clovis.

The City Council believed that these

CONTINUED FROM FRONT PAGE

religious freedom, fleeing a system where they were relegated to poverty, or just wanting to make a better life for themselves and their families. My immigrant story began in 1849, when my great grandfather Andrew (Andreas) Bessinger came to America with his family from Germany at the age of 14. At the time, Germany was a tapestry of feudal kingdoms and those without title or property lived their lives in poverty and servitude. Andy served in the Union Army in the Civil War, and was later a fireman in Newark, NJ. My mother’s side came from Ireland in the 1870’s joining the hundreds of thousands of Irish that fled Ireland to escape famine and servitude.

“Big Andy” Bessinger is the engineer in the 1894 photo.

Many people have become interested in their own genealogy so that they can learn about the lives of family members they never knew, or things they never knew about people they did know. I know people who found out through DNA testing that there were family secrets. When I was young, my father spoke of an uncle who moved to a town called Madera in California. Through DNA, I found my great uncle’s daughter in nearby Raymond. I hope to visit with her soon. My father, who was a WW2 POW in Germany, died when I was 13. He was part of a generation who lived through the Depression and war and chose not to speak about the challenges. If I had a pocketful of granted wishes, I would want to ask him about his war experiences.

stakeholders brought to mind a feeling of an “underlying theme of pushing for the growth of the City of Clovis”.

With this came the issue of the workforce and City Staff’s inability to be able to recruit employees.

Fire Chief John Binaski reminisced on the time when he was an up and coming firefighter taking a test with 7000 other applicants and related that to the same test held this past year in which he stated only 70 applicants attempted.

A few members of City Staff aimed to blame the younger generation of employee hires and how most “aren’t willing to work” or provide the same “work ethic” as generations of the past.

However, Economic Housing and Development Director Chad McCollum stated that plenty of Millennials and Generation Z members are pessimistic when it comes to joining the workforce, citing issues such as unaffordable housing and having the difficulty seeing a future in employment if they can’t afford to live off the wages that they

make, “...especially in Clovis”, McCollum added.

One member of the public, Jeff Harris representing Wilson homes, was present at the workshop meeting, and suggested the idea that while Clovis will continue to grow, they consider the idea of creating districts of Clovis that coincide with separate neighborhoods throughout the city such as Harlan Ranch or Tarpey Village.

While these neighborhoods already exist, Harris proposed that each have their own representatives that work with the City to provide their own regions necessities that may not be the same from one end of the city to another.

However, Harris also warned against possible pitfalls of the idea, citing District Representatives that do the same in Fresno. The workshop members thought on that idea after a break and decided that having a spokesperson to relay certain items to Clovis could be beneficial in a number of ways.

The discussion then moved towards again, what type of City the members of the workshop would like to see in the next ten years. Features of the future discussed included investment in quality life, building on the maintenance of high quality customer service, whether that be from the Police Department or the Public Utilities Department, and the ideas of consistency, timeliness, and the ever growing module of instant gratification that staff believes is increasing amongst generations. Finally, the workshop ended with further discussion on what the updated version of the City of Clovis’ Mission Statement is to be and how else City government can get the residents of Clovis involved.

The idea of bringing up a Facebook Live Town Hall meeting or meetings was floated, just as Clovis Police Chief Curt Fleming had conducted the night before.

The meeting could be coming in the near future with the possibility for city residents to bring ideas of what they would like to see in Clovis and how they believe they can help it grow.

The City hopes to make this an official announcement at the Mayor’s Breakfast in May.

With the trend of late to “cancel” and topple the statues of historical figures who were imperfect people in an imperfect time, we lose the opportunity to understand the evolution of our nation and our culture. I am concerned that public discourse, the right of Americans to agree to disagree about issues, is becoming a thing of the past. People holding divergent opinions are harassed, menaced, and labeled with hateful names. Our media, including social media, is awash

DONNA MELCHOR Owner/Publisher dmelchor@clovisroundup.com

55 Shaw Avenue #106, Clovis, CA 93612 Ph: 559-324-8757

Email: info@clovisroundup.com

www.ClovisRoundup.com

Follow us on social media, @ClovisRoundup

BILLY XIONG Operations Manager ads@clovisroundup.com

STAFF REPORTERS: Samantha Golden J.T. Gomez Carole Grosch

with anger, accusations, and demagogy that appeals to the biases of ordinary people rather than by using rational argument to make their point. One has only to look at 1930’s Germany, as the rise of Nazism sanctioned the attack and silencing of all opposition, took over public institutions, and identified, deported and later killed millions of people they deemed “undesirable.” Other “Pogroms”, the officially mandated slaughter of people, have targeted peoples

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Peg Bos - Let’s Talk Clovis

ACCOUNTING SERVICES: Teresa Stevens, CPA (559) 326-7072 teresa@tmstevenscpa.com

STORY IDEAS/CALENDAR: Laurann Kanamu calendar@clovisroundup.com

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Catherine Kenney info@clovisroundup.com

FOR ADVERTISING AND SALES: Office: 559-324-8757 Email: info@clovisroundup.com

throughout the world, including our local Armenian community. We all need to be on guard for the incrementalism of extremism in all forms. We need to teach our history and the history of our world, especially an unbiased report of the uncomfortable “messy” chapters, so that we never repeat the painful remnants of the past. Those that fail to learn from the past are destined to repeat it.

The Clovis Roundup is a custom publication. Reproduction by any means of the entire contents or any portion of this publication without written permission is prohibited. The appearance of any advertisements in this publication does not constitute support or endorsement for any product, person, cause, business or organization named therein, unless specifically noted otherwise in the advertisement. All costs associated with producing, printing and mailing Clovis Roundup are entirely funded by our advertisers. To show your appreciation of their support, we ask you to consider patronizing these businesses and services as the need arise.

Photo courtesy of City of Clovis Firemen from Engine Company No. 6 line up in front of the steamer they called "Mount Pelee." It was named after the volcano of the same name because of the sparks that flew out of it as it traveled along the street. The firehouse was located on Springfield Avenue between Morris and Bergen Streets in 1894.

April 17, 2023 - Clovis Donuts, the donut shop located off of Fowler and Ashlan Avenues in Clovis was vandalized sometime during the night of April 13th.

Upon discovery of the vandalism on Friday April 14th, Clovis Donuts was forced to close its business to the public as electricity became an issue.

Thieves stole parts of a circuit breaker

running electricity to Clovis Donuts that now disallows any electric current to be run to the building.

The parts stolen were upwards of four to five thousand dollars each, and Clovis Donuts say that two parts were stolen.

Dy Hen of Clovis Donuts suspects that the burglary was conducted by a professional electrician, as the panel that these specific parts were stolen from was “hard to open”.

Clovis Donuts has been in contact with Pacific Gas & Electric and says that PG&E

believes that several other buildings in the area have been targets of the same attacks.

“This was definitely a targeted crime,” says Dy Hen.

Clovis Donuts will shut down for an uncertain amount of time, but hopes to be back to business within 1-2 weeks. They are also unsure about what this loss of income will do to their business.

On a Facebook post, it was recommended that a generator be brought in to keep the business going, but Clovis Donuts believes

Clovis Donuts forced to close after being vandalized Update: Clovis Donuts back in business after theft

that is up to the discretion of the landlord. They also believe that even if a generator is brought in, it will still be a lot of work to get back to business.

“It turns into a matter of finding the parts,” says Dy Hen, referencing the original parts stolen from this small business. “I just hope we will be able to make it back when we get the power back on.”

Clovis Donuts apologizes for the inconvenience and asks for the public's prayers and understanding during this difficult time.

April 22, 2023 - Clovis Donuts, the donut store located off of Fowler and Ashlan Avenues is officially back to business as of Sunday.

It was as early as Saturday April 22nd that the donut shop was able to receive electricity again, as theft of electrical equipment had put them out of business for over a week.

Sometime during the night of April 13th, Clovis Donuts was vandalized, having parts of a circuit breaker behind their building stolen, and causing an electrical outage for the business.

The business had to shut down, not being able to operate at full capacity without electricity. On the theft, Dy Hin of Clovis Donuts believes it was a targeted attack, and

cited multiple other thefts in the area. It was initially hoped that the business could come back within 1-2 weeks and now after eleven days the business has come back.

According to the Clovis Donuts Facebook page, the establishment is “excited to be back to business” and hopes that many will share the news with friends, family, and the

Clovis community.

Clovis Donuts opens from 6 AM-Noon and is open every day of the week. On Sundays, the store opens at 6:30 AM.

Photo by Ron Sundquist, Clovis Roundup Clovis Donuts is back open for business after being closed for 11 days.

Photo by Ron Sundquist, Clovis Roundup

A customer ordering donuts in the newly reopened store.

The boys are back in town for the 109th Clovis Rodeo

Clovis Roundup Staff

@ClovisRoundup

April 26, 2023 — It is once again Rodeo Week in Clovis, California and events are planned for the entirety of the week starting Monday and ending Sunday (4/24-4/30).

Inside of the Clovis Rodeo Hall, the 21st annual Clovis Rodeo Blood Drive will be held Monday and Tuesday from 7 AM-5 PM each day.

Alongside these two days will be qualification for the Breakaway Roping event. From 9-11 AM, the qualifier ran as a non-ticketed event on Monday morning.

The top twenty-four cowgirls will come back to compete during PRCA rodeo action Thursday through Sunday.

“Slack”, which is the term used for qualifying rodeo participants, will be held Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings. During these morning slack events, it is estimated that more than 800 cowboys and cowgirls will be trying to qualify for fifteen slots in each event during their respective rodeo performances.

The Professional Bull Riding Touring Pro Division looks to open the Rodeo officially on Wednesday, April 26th and will be followed by LOCASH, the country band, in concert. The 2023 Clovis Queen Coronation will take place during the intermission of Wednesday’s events.

On Thursday, the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Rodeo Performances begin at 6 PM with steer wrestling, bareback, women’s breakaway roping, tie-down roping, team roping, mutton bustin’, saddle bronc, barrel racing, and bull riding.

Thursday’s musician at the conclusion of the Rodeo events will be Nate Smith.

Friday will see more PRCA Rodeo Performances, again beginning at 6 PM followed with a concert by country artist Michael Ray.

Saturday is the day of the annual Clovis Rodeo Parade that will trace the streets of Old Town Clovis.

The parade starts at 9 AM and will head down Pollasky and Clovis Avenues. After the parade, performances begin at 2:00 PM with an after party to immediately follow the conclusion of the day’s events in the concession area.

The Clovis Rodeo Dance will begin Saturday evening in the Clovis Rodeo Hall at 7:30 PM with live music from Chris Curtice and the Wild Horses. Tickets for the dance can be bought for $15.

Finally, Sunday the Final Rodeo Performances beginning at 2 PM, preceded by a Special Kids Rodeo that is in partnership with Break the Barriers.

The Special Kids Rodeo plans to get started at around 12 PM on Sunday.

Tickets for the Rodeo range from $20-35. There is no additional charge for the KISS Country Concert Series.

The Clovis Rodeo Association encourages ticket buyers to “take advantage of a concert series ticket package,” where the purchase of any two-concert night tickets gets a $5-off coupon.

With the purchase of all three concert night tickets, a $10-off coupon can be applied.

The Rodeo Ticket Office is located at the rodeo grounds off of Clovis Avenue and is open 9 AM-5 PM daily. You can learn more at clovisrodeo.com

in its reboot last year- 2021. The estimated number for revenue generated for the City of Clovis last year was $12 million, but that number is expected to be much greater this year, as the rodeo association is projecting record numbers of attendees.

Ron Dunbar was the President of the Clovis Rodeo Association from 2010 to 2012, yet took a leave from the position until this last year in 2021.

“I mean I just enjoy it. [It’s] a bit of a passion. I grew up around the Clovis Rodeo. I never missed one as a kid; I was three months [or] four months [old] when I watched my first rodeo and ten was when I was actually in my first rodeo… it’s a

long family tradition,” Dunbar stated when prompted for an explanation on his return to the presidency.

With the rodeo projected to host significantly more attendees than years prior, it is no contest that the rodeo and its hard-working event organizers and volunteers are up to their horse necks in preparation. This is especially true due to this year being the first year of the pandemic that there are significantly looser restrictions for entry to the event.

“Yeah, we’ll expect a lot bigger turn-out this year... last year was a tough year but we did what we had to do to make it work and we’ll be expecting large crowds for all five days.”

Although the association is anxious about how the event will turn out, nothing tops the excitement for the event’s preparation and

the feedback from the attendees that hold the rodeo so near and dear to their hearts.

“The fruits of our labor are at the end of the day- we get a lot of great feedback. I’m right in front of the bucking chute so I can hear everything and it’s, uh, pretty amazing when you hear the crowd go off.”

The projected number of cowboys and cowgirls participating in the event and competing for the sum of prize money is the greatest it's been in recent history, with a staggering 741 competitors. “We got the greatest cowboys and cowgirls from across the country, and around the world, that come to Clovis, California. It’s a big event, so we want to make sure we give our fans only the best.”

Dunbar stated that the number of entries by cowboys and cowgirls submitted was

well over 800, closer to the 900 range, but the event could simply not host that many entries. He said, “It’s flattering.”

On top of the magnificent rodeo, the event also, in a way, showcases what Dunbar stated are “only the best in stock.” Animals are brought in from regions such as Canada, Montana, Wyoming, and Washington.

“We bring in good, strong animals for our cowboys and cowgirls to compete with.”

If the rodeo is not really your gig, the event also hosts a wonderful selection of ‘Clovis-famous’ entrees to enjoy and plenty of sights to help create memories that’ll last a lifetime.

The 108th Clovis Rodeo kicks off on April 20th and is here to stay until April 24th. For more information and ticket purchasing, you can visit ‘CLOVISRODEO.COM’.

4.65 4.70

4.75

Photo by Adam Ricardo Solis, Clovis Roundup

The Clovis community showed up in full force to support the Clovis Rodeo and other local organizations.

Photo by Seth Casey, Clovis Roundup Fresno State senior Rial Engelhart chases down a calf during the tie down event in the Fresno State College Rodeo at the Clovis Rodeo Grounds on March 9, 2019. Engelhart placed first in the competition with a combined time of 20.9 seconds in two runs.

American Legion Post 147 Centennial Plaza

Clovis Chamber of Commerce

Clovis Civic Center

Clovis Elks

Clovis Fire & Police Station

Clovis Fire Station No. 1

Clovis Library

Clovis Museum

Clovis Rodeo Grounds

Clovis Senior Activity Center

Clovis Veterans Memorial District

Community Heritage Center

Mercedes Theater/Clark Intermediate

Old Town Trail

Old Town Water Tower

San Joaquin College of Law

Tarpey Depot - Visitor’s Center

Old Town Service District

1. A1 Lock & Key

2. ABC Pack & Print

3. All American Smog

4. B and H Tire Automotive Shop

5. Boice Funeral, 308 Pollasky Ave, (559) 299-4372

6. Central Valley Community Bank

7. Classic Catering 8. Clovis Boot & Shoe Repair 9.

409 Bullard Ave, 322-1380 17.

FARMERS MARKET - FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS

Friday evenings, starting May 5th, from 5:30 PM Clovis on Pollasky between 3rd & 7th. The Old Town produce, with wonderful food selections and live foodies.

Saturday mornings from 9:00am to 11:30am. Located

GLORIOUS JUNK DAYS - MAY 28, 2023

In Old Town along Pollasky from 7AM to 3PM. Glorious items not normally seen at our Vintage & Antiques repurposed items, DIY projects, handcrafted artisan as well as the antiques you’ve come to enjoy in Old

to 8:30 PM. Located in the heart of Old Town Town Market Friday vibe is as fresh as the live music from our very own local artists and Located on Pollasky between 5th & Bullard.

Glorious Junk Days was created to showcase Antiques Market. Glorious Junk can include artisan items, rusty junk, and architectural finds –Old Town.

Boutique, Clothing, Accessories

1. Autumn Psalm

2. D A Designs Dancewear

3. Heart’s

Food and Drink

1. 559 Brewery

2. 500 Club

3. Blast & Brew

4. Bobby Salazar’s

5. Kuppa Joy

6. DiCicco’s Italian, 408 Clovis Ave, 299-3711, www.DiCiccosClovis.com

7. Full O Bull

8. House of Juju

9. Le Parisien Cafe

10. Luna Pizzeria, 349 Pollasky Ave, 299-4141, lunaclovis.com

11. Michaelangelo’s Pizzeria

12. Old Town Saloon

13. On the Edge Coffee Shop

14. Outlaw Tavern

15. Rodeo Coffee Shop, 535 Fifth St, 299-3750, rodeocoffeeshop.com

16. Roll Me Some - Handcrafted Roll Ice Cream, 530 Pollasky, 825-7204, rollmesomeice.com

17. Salsa’s Cantina

18. Soups and Scoops, 433 Pollasky, 299-9606

19. The Local, 401 Clovis Ave #102, 900-4253

20. Two Cities Coffee Roasters Organic coffee and tea - Rolled Ice Creamery, 608 4th St., 765-4652

Hair Salon and Spas

1. A Little Indulgence Salon and Day Spa

2. Elle Style Bar 3. Fifth Street Salon 4. Hairology

5. Head to Toe Beauty Salon

6. Moxie Salon

7. Re:Treat Color and Hair Design Studio

8. Salon Innovation

Recipe

(Family Features)

Between the welcome warmth of the sun’s rays and a nearly universal desire to get outdoors, springtime is a beloved season for enjoying an al fresco meal. Add in fresh produce to heighten the flavors of family favorites and the table is set for a delicious picnic.

Whether your warm-weather adventures take you to a nearby park, a neighbor’s patio or simply your own backyard, satisfying those spring cravings often starts with plant-forward dishes. From tomatoes and onions to mushrooms, Brussels sprouts and other fruits and veggies, you can rely on Mother Nature to give picnic recipes a boost.

For example, these fresh ideas from Aramark’s Feed Your Potential program offer easy solutions to take your loved ones outdoors for a meal all can enjoy. As a popular springtime lunch, sandwiches provide the opportunity to customize servings according to each person’s preferences.

These Portobello Mozzarella Sandwiches are a plant-forward version loaded with grilled mushrooms, fresh mozzarella, pesto mayo, arugula and a balsamic glaze on ciabatta rolls. For an added touch of freshness, a homemade tomato bruschetta topping combines tomatoes, red onions, basil and more to capitalize on a peak produce season.

No picnic is complete without a side that perfectly complements the main course. For a delicious solution that’s fast and easy to make, try a new twist on an al fresco classic: coleslaw. A healthy accompaniment to the sandwiches, this Apricot Brussels Sprouts Coleslaw is an ideal spring dish that calls for less than 10 ingredients and requires simple prep so you can make it fresh before heading out the door.

Visit Aramark’s Feed Your Potential website, fyp365.com, to find more picnic-worthy recipe ideas.

Apricot Brussels Sprouts Coleslaw

Recipe courtesy of Aramark

Servings: 4

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon honey

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 cups trimmed and shredded Brussels sprouts

1 cup dried apricot, diced

1 cup red onion, trimmed and diced

• Combine mustard, honey, sugar, salt and pepper. Mix well.

• Add Brussels sprouts, apricot and onion; toss to coat.

Portobello Mozzarella Sandwiches

Recipe courtesy of Aramark

Servings: 4

Tomato Bruschetta Topping:

1/4 pound fresh plum tomatoes, cored and diced

2 tablespoons red onion, peeled and minced

2 tablespoons fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced

1 teaspoon olive oil

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1 pinch ground black pepper

1 pinch fresh garlic, peeled and finely minced

Sandwiches:

1 pound fresh portobello mushrooms, cleaned, stems removed, sliced thin

3 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/4 cup mayonnaise

2 1/2 tablespoons prepared basil pesto

4 ciabatta rolls (4-by-4 inches), split in half

4 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced small

4 ounces tomato bruschetta topping

2 ounces fresh baby arugula

1/4 cup balsamic glaze

• To make tomato bruschetta topping: In bowl, combine tomatoes, onion, basil, olive oil, salt, pepper and garlic. Set aside.

• To make sandwiches: Preheat grill pan or grill to medium heat.

• Toss sliced mushrooms with olive oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper.

• Grill mushrooms until fork-tender, 3-4 minutes on each side. Let cool.

• Mix mayonnaise with pesto until combined. Spread 2 tablespoons pesto mayonnaise on cut sides of each roll.

• For each sandwich, layer 1/4 of grilled mushrooms, mozzarella slices, tomato bruschetta topping, arugula and balsamic glaze.

• Top with other roll halves. Cut diagonally in half to serve.

Apricot Brussels Sprouts Coleslaw

Portobello Mozzarella Sandwiches

LET’S TALK CLOVIS: It's Time to Rodeo!

Peg Bos & Elaine Bell Historian/Clovis Museum Contributed

We begin to experience an anticipation of something historical and special happening in Clovis as the last week end of April approaches. This year is extra special since the Clovis Rodeo Association will celebrate 103 years of preserving the unique American cowboy way of life that is a precious part of our “Clovis Way of Life.”

Our rich heritage began in the 1860s with early cattle and sheep barons who settled in the foothill area of Big Dry Creek (now Academy, 12 miles north of Clovis on Tollhouse Road). Their code of ethics included loyalty to family, church and country.

Cowboys were and remain skilled guardians of their stock, family and community.

We are sharing information that was published in the Clovis Festival and Horse Show official souvenir program on April 27-28, 1940. Their greetings: “Clovis, ‘The Friendly City,’ bids you welcome to its annual Festival and Horse Show.”

The program on Saturday the 27: ¼ mile Boy’s race, 5 buckers; ¾ mile free for all, 5 buckers; 3/8 mile maiden race; demonstration of thoroughbred jumpers owned by Victor McLaglen; ½ mile non winners 1940: and a single steer stop with a Montgomery-Ward saddle awarded for first prize.

Carl S. Merriman was Rodeo President, Travis Pendergrass was named Secretary and Dr. Clayton Pendergrass the Treasurer. Directors were Knox Blasingame, Henry

Ambrosia, Harry Owens and Dr. J.R. Hoop.

On Saturday evening a Grand Ball dance was held at the Clovis High School Gym and an Old Timer dance at John Good’s Hall (northwest corner of 5th & Clovis Avenue).

Mayor Wayne Rall gave the official Rodeo greeting in 1951. The officers were Joe T. Moore, President, Perry Root, Vice President, Lew Fortune, Treasurer and former Clovis Police Chief Henry Rose the Secretary. A special guest of the event was Reno Browne, a motion picture and radio star of Hollywood.

Local cowboys that were listed in the bell calf roping: Jack Estill, Emmett Rigsbee, Jay Robinson, Ralph Underwood, Knox Blasingame, and John Jones.

Local team roping entrants: Mark Mouliot and Waymond Wagoner; Jim Ingmire and

Harvey Moore; Bobby Qualls and Delbert Smith; Buster Smith and Bill Rohde; Gordon Baird and Lee Green; Jack Estill and Jay Robinson. Their descendants remain active in the Rodeo Association and our community.

The California Rangerettes, an all-girl precision riding group, was led by Captain and 1950 Rodeo Queen Sally Sample. The group was composed of girls from the ages of 9-18. The girls trained and owned their own horses that performed without signals. A new roping arena was built to encourage young men to learn the art of steer roping. The Clovis Roping Club, which was formed five years earlier, operated the arena. Their membership numbered 80 at this time. Roping was held Sunday and Wednesday evenings each week and admission was free.

The 1953 program listed cowboy language that was specific to their sport: critter, a man, woman or beast with a nasty disposition; dog-fall, throwing a steer down so that he is flat on his side with all four feet out; pulling leather, holding onto the saddle while riding a critter; sun-fisher, a bucker that twists his body in the air so that the sunlight hits his belly; and maverick, an unbranded stray. A tenderfoot is one who does not understand “cowboy” talk.

We credit the 1914 Clovis Women’s Club for starting the spring festival and rodeo activities that included foot and bicycle races, parade, barbecue, street dance and a makeshift corral where cowboys could compete. Water fights, a “fat” man’s race, climbing a greased pole and chasing greased pigs were part of the community games.

Photo courtesy of Clovis Museum, Lee Sassano 1950 Clovis Rodeo

March 2023: Clovis Property Crime Statistics

Contributed by Clovis Police

Below is information regarding property crimes in Clovis for March 2023. These March numbers are considered in the normal range, however theft reports have decreased slightly. CPD needs you to call us when you're the victim of a crime to report it. Any leads will be followed up on when possible, and we use these crime statistics to allocate our patrol officers and resources. Please remember to lock your doors, set your alarms, and call us immediately if you see something suspicious! Typically we will see an increase in mail theft during winter months due to tax season. Please check your mail daily.

Remember that a neighbor's surveillance camera may have recorded the suspect of a crime. Communicate with your neighbors, and make a police report when crimes occur. If we know what crime is occurring in your

neighborhoods, we are more prepared to combat it.

Crime Prevention Tips:

• Use motion sensor outdoor lighting or keep driveway lights on at night.

• Always lock your doors & roll your windows up.

• When parking at night, park in well-lit areas.

• Call us immediately when you see a crime in progress at 911.

• Get info on creating a Clovis Community Watch neighborhood in your area if one is not organized already. Get info here: https://cityofclovis.com/.../police.../ crime-prevention/

Crimes Explained:

• A residential burglary occurs when someone enters a home to commit a crime, such as stealing property. Doors do not

have to be locked even though we recommend it at all times for your safety. This is a felony.

• A vehicle burglary occurs when someone breaks into a locked vehicle, with their windows rolled up, and steals property. This is a felony.

• A theft from an unlocked vehicle is just that - Either a door is unlocked or a window is rolled down enough for someone to steal something without having to force their way inside. This is a misdemeanor if less than $950 worth of items are stolen. It's a felony if more than $950 worth of items is stolen.

• A theft of vehicle parts includes catalytic converters, tailgates, license plates, and other similar parts on the outside of the vehicle.

March 2023: Residential Burglaries: 8

Vehicle Burglaries: 9

Theft from Unlocked Vehicles: 10

Thefts of Vehicle Parts: 22

How do they compare?

February 2023 (Last month):

Residential Burglaries: 19

Vehicle Burglaries: 10

Theft from Unlocked Vehicles: 9

Thefts of Vehicle Parts: 11

March 2022 (Last year):

Residential Burglaries: 12

Vehicle Burglaries: 28

Theft from Unlocked Vehicles: 28

Thefts of Vehicle Parts: 24

To stay informed daily, download our mobile app "Clovis Police" and "Go Clovis". You'll have instant access to crime maps, City phone directory, news alerts, submit requests/report issues, and more!

As always, stay safe, stay vigilant, and have a great day, Clovis!

Driver Arrested & Car Impounded for Street Racing

Contributed by Clovis Police

@ClovisPolice_CA

Last night just after 11:00 P.M., an alert Clovis Police Officer noticed 2 cars street racing near Barstow & Minnewawa. The officer pulled over 1 of the 2 cars & arrested

the driver for street racing & having an illegal modification to their car. As you can see from the photo taken by the officer, the driver’s car was also impounded for 30 days. To our residents & business owners: We have seen the increase in reckless drivers on our roadways just as you have. Our officers

Woman killed in car accident by off-duty Clovis Police Officer

Contributed by Clovis Police

@ClovisPolice_CA

April 24, 2023 - Announced by California Highway Patrol, a woman walking her dog north of Sanger along Clinton Avenue at Bethel, was struck and killed by an off-duty Clovis Police Officer.

The name of the officer has not since been released to the public.

Just before 8 AM on the morning of April 19th, 51 year-old Ana Ortega of Sanger was walking her dog alongside a paved roadway when a “Chevrolet truck” traveling in the opposite direction collided with the pedestrian.

The Clovis Police Officer pulled over after the incident and performed CPR until first responders arrived on scene.

However, Ortega was pronounced dead at

the scene. Her dog survived the crash but has major injuries, and is currently being housed at the Fresno SPCA.

According to ABC 30, California Highway Patrol Officer Mike Salas stated that they are looking into the possibility of distracted driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Clovis PD also recently posted on the City of Clovis’ website the “Dangers of Distracted Driving.”

“We are looking into all of that as well as [the possibility of] being distracted from the sun as he was traveling directly into the sun,” said CHP Officer Salas.

CHP ensures that the Clovis Police Officer is cooperating with the investigation. Clovis PD has stated that they have no comment due to the impending investigation by the California Highway Patrol.

will continue to do their best to locate and arrest these drivers as much as possible. We ask that you continue to call and report them. If you witness the act & it’s happening now, call the non-emergency phone number at (559) 324-2800. If it’s an on-going problem & you have specific information as to a vehicle description and/ or location that it’s been occurring at, you can either call our Traffic Hotline anytime at (559) 324-3400, or provide a tip using our

free mobile “Clovis PD” app.

To those drivers who make a conscience decision to drive recklessly & put lives at risk: Our officers will continue to cite or arrest you when a violation is witnessed. They will also tow or impound your car for up to 30 days when applicable. Please, slow down, and obey the laws of the road, or you’ll eventually meet at least 1 of our officers.

Photo courtesy of Clovis Police Department

time to rodeo in clovis

Free Concert 2:30 p.m.

MAY

Friday, May 5

Thursday, May 11

SPRING RUMMAGE SALE

Clovis Senior Activity Center

850 4th St., Clovis, CA

8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Saturday, May 13

JEFFERSON 12TH ANNUAL CAR SHOW

Jefferson Elementary School 1880 Fowler Ave., Clovis, CA

9 a.m.

CLOVIS’ MAY-GARITA PUB CRAWL

Old Town Clovis

453 Clovis Ave, Clovis, CA 4:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Saturday, May 13 and Sunday, May 14

Friday, May 19 thru Sunday

May 21

CLOVIS OLD TOWN MOTORAMA CAR SHOW

Old Town Clovis on Pollasky

Saturday, May 20

SHREDFEST CLOVIS POLICE DEPARTMENT

Clovis Rodeo Grounds

748 Rodeo Dr., Clovis, CA

9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Saturday, May 27

CLOVIS MEMORIAL RUN

850 4th St., Clovis, CA

EARLY BIRD Registration now open at www.clovismemorialrun.com

7 a.m. – 10 a.m.

PLACES TO VISIT

CALIFORNIA 911

MEMORIAL 3485 Never Forget Ln., Clovis, CA

Open 365 days a year

COMMUNITY HERITAGE CENTER

3rd and Veterans Parkway

OPEN Tuesday thru Saturday

10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

CLOVIS MUSEUM

4th & Pollasky, Clovis, CA Open Tuesday thru Saturday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

29

109th CLOVIS RODEO PARADE Old Town Clovis

9:30 a.m.

Sunday, Apr. 30

WIND SYMPHONY OF CLOVIS CONCERT

Paul Shaghoian Memorial

Concert Hall

2770 E. International Ave., Fresno, CA

3 p.m.

CORO SOLARE SPRING CONCERT

“Singing New Life into our Musical Heritage” Willow Avenue Mennonite Church

2529 Willow Ave., Clovis, CA

FRIDAY NIGHT FARMERS MARKET (FRIDAY NIGHTS THRU OCT. 27) Old Town Clovis Pollasky & 5th 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 6

TRAILFEST Old Town Trail/ Dry Creek Trail 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.

SPRING WINE WALK Old Town Clovis 5 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 7

CLOVIS COMMUNITY BAND CONCERT Paul Shaghoian Memorial Concert Hall 2770 E. International Ave., Fresno, CA 3:30 p.m.

OLD TOWN FLEA MARKET (Rodeo Grounds) 748 Rodeo Dr., Clovis, CA 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

MAY 14

MOTHER’S DAY

Thursday, May 18

CLOVIS MAYORS’ BREAKFAST Clovis Veteran’s Memorial District 808 4th St., Clovis, CA 7 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.

Friday, May 19

BLUEGRASS IN THE PARK Clovis Veterans Memorial District 808 4th St., Clovis, CA 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

CLOVIS STREET FAIR Dry Creek Industrial Park 567 Park Creek Dr., Clovis, CA

5 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Sunday, May 28

GLORIOUS JUNK DAYS (Vintage Antiques and Glorious Junk) Old Town Clovis

7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

ALL MONTH LONG

FREE BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKUP Clovis Senior Activity Center 850 4th St., Clovis, CA

Mondays, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Tuesdays, 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.

FRESNO STREET EATS Sierra Vista Mall 1050 Shaw Ave., Clovis, CA

Saturdays, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Sundays, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

LITTLE FREE LIBRARY Take a Book – Share a Book Corner of Pollasky and Bullard 555 Bullard Ave., Clovis, CA

CLOVIS FARMERS’ MARKETS

CLOVIS OLD TOWN

FARMERS’ MARKET Polasky Ave., Clovis, CA

Every Saturday

Year-Round 9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (weather permitting)

HARLAN RANCH

FRESH MARKET/ HARLAN EATS

HARLAN RANCH COMMUNITY CENTER

1620 N. Leonard Ave., Clovis, CA

Every Wednesday

Year-Round 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. (weather permitting)

April 18, 2023 - At the Clovis Commons Shopping Plaza, a Burlington department store will be opened to the public on May 5th of this year.

The off-price retailer will bring the total number of locations in California to 102, and this will be the second in Clovis. The first Burlington is off of Shaw and Minnewawa.

Located at Willow and Herndon, the location for the new Burlington will be next to Target and T.J. Maxx in the prior Office Depot space. The store plans to be open from 9 AM-7 PM, Monday-Saturday, and 10 AM-6 PM on Sunday.

The Grand Opening hopes to entice customers with “Burlington WOW! bucks” that can be used as scratch offs revealing a certain prize amount to be used for a purchase.

These “WOW! bucks” will be given to the first 100 customers, aged 18 and up, on both Friday and Saturday, May 5th and 6th.

On Sunday, May 7th, Burlington will be handing out free Burlington canvas totes while supplies last, with no purchase

necessary.

According to Burlington, they will also be donating $5000 to a nearby school through their partnership with the non-profit organization AdoptAClassroom.org.

The presentation of the donation to a local school will take place at the ribbon cutting

ceremony on May 5th.

CEO Michael O’Sullivan says, “Our goal is to continue to offer communities low prices on brand name merchandise for the entire family and home….We’re continuing to expand our footprint across the country and are excited to be opening a new store in Clovis.

We look forward to giving local customers the chance to discover big savings on a wide range of products.”

You can find more information on Burlington and the grand opening that takes place on May 5th at www.Burlington.com/ grandopening.

It's official, Nordstrom Rack opens in Clovis at Clovis Crossing

April 13, 2023 - A line of shoppers stood in front of the doors to Nordstrom Rack, the department store chain opened its doors officially to Clovis residents.

Located in the Clovis Crossing Shopping Center, Nordstrom Rack replaces what was once Stein Mart near the west side of the center.

The crowd of people that gathered on the morning of Thursday, April 13th were greeted by Nordstrom Rack employees as well as prizes that were given away.

Included in this giveaway was a prize wheel where prospective customers got the chance to spin the wheel for a free prize.

In addition one lucky customer had a chance to win a $1000 gift card to Nordstrom Rack.

Second Burlington Coat Factory coming to a shopping center near you Clovis Soroptimist hosts 2023 Cottage Tea at Belmont Country Club

Nordstrom Rack is not new to the area of the Central Valley, as the outlet store is also located in Fresno near the Riverpark Shopping Center.

The department store was founded in 1973 and had its first store set in Seattle, where its headquarters remain today. According to the Nordstrom Rack website, the attempt was made to move business to Canada in recent years in order to push a “global” branding of their trade.

However, in March of this year they decided to “wind down” their Canadian businesses in efforts to “simplify business” and “focus on driving long-term profitable growth in core U.S. businesses”.

Nordstrom Rack will continue that focus in Clovis for the time being, and opens their store to customers from 10 am-9 pm Monday through Saturday, while opening at 10 am and closing at 7 pm on Sundays.

April 24, 2023 - Soroptimist International of Clovis celebrated "Live Your Dream" Award recipients during the Cottage Tea on April 15 at the Belmont Country Club. The lovely spring day welcomed Soroptimist members and their guests to an afternoon that promised "good food, celebration, fashion, and fun!"

Whimsical centerpieces sat at each table. Many of the attendees wore creative hats to participate in the hat contest.

An award ceremony recognized recipients from the annual "Live Your Dream" program. Hannah Rivizza, the recipient of the San Joaquin College of Law scholarship, spoke as did Lilly Kier, sponsored candidate for Miss Clovis Rodeo.

"We invest in dreams worldwide," said Sue Buckley, Soroptimist president. "We invest in each other's dreams. We need such leadership for women in our communities."

Thirty-five award recipients were acknowledged for the Live Your Dream program,

and over fifty teens participated in the 2023 Dream It Be It event.

After a delicious tea and luncheon, Nonnie's House Boutique presented a fashion show, followed by a fun hat contest and raffle. Soroptimist means "best for women." The global volunteer organization provides women and girls financial awards for the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. Nearly 95,000 volunteers are involved in almost 120 countries.

Soroptimist of Clovis invests resources through the Dream programs for girls and women: "Dream It Be It" for teens, "Live Your Dream" for women, and "Furthering the Dream" for higher education. A scholarship, the "Women's Advocate Award," is presented to a student at the San Joaquin College of Law.

Additionally, the Clovis branch works locally with the Marjoree Mason Center, the Evangel Home, Salvation Army, Family Healing Center and CUSD Kids in Transition, and other local projects. For more information, visit siclovis.org.

J.T. Gomez jt21gomez@gmail.com

Carole Grosch cgg266@comcast.net

J.T. Gomez jt21gomez@gmail.com

Photo by J.T. Gomez, Clovis Roundup

The new location is located between Target and T.J. Maxx at the Willow and Herndon shopping center.

Photo by Carole Grosch, Clovis Roundup Kaden Farretti, Cottage Tea Master of Ceremonies, congratulates new Soroptimist member Laurie Flanagan of Clovis on her prize-winning hat.

Photo by J.T. Gomez, Clovis Roundup Nordstrom Rack opens its doors to Clovis residents at the Clovis Crossing Shopping Center.

Clovis Unifed School District holds five special presentations

April 20, 2023 - At the April 19th CUSD School Board meeting, five different special presentations were given displaying different walks of Clovis Unified students and employees. After the CIF Winter Champions were honored, four different annual recognitions were highlighted, filling the months of April and May with plenty of acknowledgements.

2022-2023 CIF Winter Champions

Clovis Unified had several champions participate throughout the Winter season. Those teams and individuals ranged from the Buchanan Wrestling program, Clovis High Wrestling program, Clovis East Wrestling and Clovis East Dance Team, the Clovis North Cheer, Clovis North Boys and Girls Soccer teams, and finally the Clovis West Girls Basketball Team, and Clovis West Dance Team.

Each of these teams and individuals, more specifically from wrestling programs throughout the district, accomplished what they had set out to do before the season, and were recognized by the school board in doing so.

Annual School Lunch Hero Day

Second to be honored at the April 19th meeting were CUSD’s “School Lunch Heroes”. These heroes are those employees of CUSD that take care of school lunches and campus catering. CUSD takes it upon themselves to honor these school lunch caterers each year, and this year they will be celebrated on May 5th officially.

Annual School Bus Driver Appreciation Day

Much like the “School Lunch Heroes”,

School Bus Drivers were honored at the school board meeting. Susan Rutledge, Assistant Superintendent in charge of Business Services for CUSD, introduced a group of school bus drivers as well as future Director of Transportation for CUSD, Steve Morales.

Morales explained that this year was a “tough year” for bus drivers, but with the group of dedicated drivers that were present at the school board meeting, he believes they “...are there to respond to our kids wherever they are at.” April 25th will officially be

“Annual School Bus Driver Day” in CUSD.

Annual Recognition of Speech Language Pathologists

Speech Language Pathologists were

recognized for their efforts in bringing positive communication methods throughout CUSD. May will be recognized across the district as “Better Hearing and Speech Month”.

Representatives from the Speech Language Pathologists in CUSD thanked the school board for the opportunity and were “thrilled” that their department was being recognized. They also stated that there are a variety of communication needs throughout CUSD including the quote that “..Above all, your words matter.”

Annual Mental Health Awareness Month

Finally, it was proclaimed that May will be Mental Health Awareness month throughout the district. Lead psychologist of CUSD,

David Weber, stated that most importantly throughout CUSD, students themselves take the lead when talking about mental health amongst their peers. He stated that peer counselors are heavily involved in the planning of events for the month of May and also made it evident that this message has the utmost importance for all students K-12. Weber also presented the winner of a poster competition, student Gabby Gutierez, and her poster that depicts mental health awareness. This poster will be sent out across CUSD campuses throughout the month of May.

Clovis Community College “provides excellent academic preparation”

April 4, 2023 - In her first address to the Clovis City Council on Monday night, the President of Clovis Community College, Dr. Kim E. Armstrong, spoke about her goals for the college and how the campus can further serve the needs of the community.

“The value of a community college is that we provide excellent, rigorous academic preparation,” Dr. Armstrong told the Clovis Roundup on Monday night.

“We’re getting people to come back to college. Post-pandemic, we’ve seen quite a few people ready to go back to work and working three or four jobs, and we want to see them come back to college and get an education so they can have one liveable-wage job.”

The college president’s comments came at the beginning of National Community College Month, which was recognized by the city council this week.

According to a recent column by State Center Community College District Chancellor Dr. Carole Goldsmith, 7 million Americans, 1.8 million Californians and 53,000 residents of the San Joaquin Valley are pursuing higher education at community colleges across the country.

The community college district, which counts Clovis Community College in its ranks, is pivotal to resolving the many challenges residents of the valley face, Goldsmith said in her column.

“For far too long, our valley has struggled

with disparities in health and access to healthcare, employment, wealth, basic technology and education,” Goldsmith wrote.

“All these challenges stand a greater chance at resolution with an educated citizenry. State Center Community College District is central to that resolution.”

Approximately 7,115 students go to Clovis Community College, according to the latest numbers from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, with a 2-year graduation rate of 36 percent and an average annual cost of $1,643.

“A lot of us started our first two years of college at a community college,” City Manager John Holt told the Clovis Roundup.

“It’s pretty similar in terms of a quality education and about one-fifth of the cost of a university.”

The acknowledgement of Community

College Month is apropos, given the timing of Dr. Armstrong’s arrival in the community and in light of President Joe Biden recently unveiling his fiscal year 2024 proposal, which includes $500 million for community colleges nationwide.

Biden previously spoke publicly about his intention to allocate millions of dollars in funding for career and technical education programs at community colleges to help train the next generation of trade workers, although his 2024 budget proposal doesn’t restrict the money to trade education programs.

While it remains to be seen if the nation’s community colleges will see that $500 million allocation, Dr. Armstrong already knows how a portion of that money could be used at Clovis Community College, especially with some in the community

still reeling from the effects of COVID-19, Armstrong said.

“We could do a lot with that money,” Armstrong said. “We could really take advantage of the things that we know need to happen with our community’s students. We see an increase in food insecurity and an increase in homelessness with our students, and we could continue to provide those supports, have students come to college, finish college and be part of the workforce.”

Dr. Armstrong, who is originally from Oklahoma and worked in community college systems in Arkansas and Illinois, was hired by the State Center Community College Board in November 2022 and was sworn in in January. Her predecessor, Dr. Lori Bennett, retired last year after more than six years as the president of Clovis Community College.

Madeline Shannon @ClovisRoundup

Photo courtesy of Clovis Community College President Dr. Kim E. Armstrong addresses Clovis City Council on Monday April 3rd, 2023.

Photo by J.T. Gomez, Clovis Roundup “School Lunch Heroes” stand before the CUSD School Board, as they were honored for their efforts in assisting students across the district.

Clovis Rodeo Parade coming to Old Town April 29th

April 24, 2023 - Each year, one of the highlights of one of the most highlighted events of the year, the Clovis Rodeo Parade, takes place in Old Town Clovis, the Saturday of the Rodeo festivities.

The last weekend in April has historically been a time set aside in the town of Clovis for the Rodeo, and the Rodeo Parade persists as one of the more celebrated events. Giving those not participating in the actual Rodeo itself a chance to be a part of the “Clovis Way of Life” is what the Rodeo Parade gives an opportunity for, as well as memories to come for families and future generations.

Reported last year, more than 120 entries in twenty-seven different categories rounded the streets of Old Town, while crowds of thousands lined the route.

Marching bands, horse drawn vehicles, mounted groups, novelty acts and themed floats make it a time for all that’s “worth the trip”.

Different floats from the parade usually compete for prize money and overall awards, giving prizes such as Best in Show and 1st-3rd prizes.

As one of the more anticipated aspects of the Clovis Rodeo Weekend, spectators and fans of the Rodeo itself hope to find themselves a seat, and much like the Rodeo, sit back and enjoy the show

Photo courtesy of the Clovis Rodeo Association

Photo courtesy of Old Town Clovis, Facebook