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Serving your community since 1904 VOL 115 No. 07 Thursday, February 14, 2019 CHANGE SERVICE IMPERIAL COUNTY, CA REQUESTED From Near And Far, All Love The Carrot Festival Parade the Holtville Chamber of BY WILLIAM ROLLER Commerce board. "I was so excited, I thought No matter how far native they'd made a mistake, bless their sons and daughters wander from hearts. I think they just went home, Holtville's Carrot Festival down their list and got the oldest Parade is the clarion call to make one," Munger said. them take the return journey to Munger said she most enjoys their small town. the marching bands, and said that One who is well acquainted the parade is for youngsters. with the hamlet's charms is 101- "When I was a teacher's aide year-old Virginia Munger, the at Finley (School), I walked with 2019 grand marshal at Saturday's the little ones in the parade," she (Feb. 9) parade. recalled. "They're so enthused She arrived here in 1925 from and I enjoyed the beautiful New Mexico. There was no music. And you see old friends Interstate 10 at the time and her you haven't seen in quite a while, family had to use the Old Plank so it's like a family reunion. Road to make their way to Waiting for the parade to kick Holtville. Like many settling in off in a camp chairs was Brittany the Golden State, they sought a Bye and her family. Brittany said better life. She married Willis she loves the horseback riders Louis Munger and had four chil- and the veterans' float. Her hus- dren, all of whom graduated from band, Jeremy, is an English Holtville High School. teacher at McCabe Elementary in Munger said being named El Centro and they were there to grand marshal was an honor and support the marching band. came as a surprise. She was 2019 CARROT FESTIVAL Parade Grand Marshal Virginia Munger waves to the crowds during selected unanimously to be the Continued on page 3 the parade in Holtville on Saturday, Feb. 9. WILLIAM ROLLER PHOTO 72nd Parade Grand Marshal by Calexico Council Green Lights Fire Damages Iconic Brooks Rehab Change Order, Boosts Jewelry Building In El Centro City Manager's Fiscal Authority announced the building is unsafe ed the street." with preventive maintenance BY WILLIAM ROLLER to occupy and has red-tagged the BY WILLIAM ROLLER Despite an additional now. property. $252,000 for pipe installation, In other city business, the A three-alarm fire caused sub- "Due to the construction type Cross-border traffic could retention basin and drywell con- council: stantial damage to the second of the building and the damage flow more freely this spring as struction, plus $2,650 for a "Authorized an increase of floor of the former Brooks sustained during the fire, it is the Calexico City Council Welcome to Calexico sign, a fiscal powers of the city manager Jewelry & Gifts, a building at necessary to limit access to the approved more funds for the Department of Transportation with a 4-0 vote. The action 598 W. Main St. in El Centro, in immediate area due to the poten- Cesar Chavez Boulevard grant the city received will cover increased his authority to make the early-morning hours of tial for collapse. As a result traf- improvement project. the added costs, also known as a city purchases from $10,000 to Monday, Feb. 11. Arson is sus- fic in the area has been restricted,” The lanes added by widening change order. $25,000. City Manager David pected in the blaze, according to Cesar Chavez Boulevard are "We don't have a welcome Dale supported the move, El Centro police. Continued on page 5 aimed to expedite traffic headed sign yet and this one will be explaining that one of the mis- On Wednesday, city officials to the West Port of Entry and placed at the traffic signal light at sions of city administration is to relieve congestion on Imperial Second Street and Cesar Chavez provide the most efficient servic- Avenue, said Lilly Falomir, pub- Boulevard so anyone crossing the es possible. lic works manager. border is greeted as soon as they "If we call a special meeting "We're still within our budget arrive," Falomir said. every time we have a warranted because the contractor, Pyramid The additional work had not expenditure, it costs the city extra (Construction Aggregate Inc.), been anticipated during the money," he said. came in with such a low bid," she design phase and the drainage said. "The change order came improvements at Pierce Avenue Continued on page 4 about because of the recent rains; and Cesar Chavez Boulevard will we saw how storm run-off flood- likely save money in the future County Supports Plan Calexico Fills That Addresses Salton Council Vacancy Sea Restoration candidate in the AMERICAN RED CROSS Disaster Relief volunteers provide BY November election. snacks to Calexico firefighters during Monday's fire in downtown randum of understand- WILLIAM ROLLER "I was very surprised El Centro. CAROL HANN PHOTO BY MARIO CONDE ing with IID agreeing at the unanimous vote," that there will be no The Calexico City he said. "It shows they The Imperial County more water transfers. He Council chose a well- have trust in me." Board of Supervisors said that in the meetings known merchant to fill Reisen said his first joined the Imperial between the county and the seat on the board left priority is to get together Irrigation District's IID there has been no vacant by former Mayor with the rest of the coun- efforts to help the Salton discussion about the Pro Tem Jesus Escobar, cil and conceive a way Sea get funding for its drought contingency who resigned after he to attract 40,000 local restoration. plan. was elected as Imperial residents and 1 million At its Tuesday, Feb. "I would like to hear County District 1 super- Mexicali residents to 12, meeting, the board a recommendation other visor. shop downtown unanimously approved a than the IID for the Morris Reisen, Calexico. resolution supporting a county as how to pro- owner of Sports "We have to bring in $200 million federal ceed on the transfer of International since 1979 anchor stores - Ross contribution to address our water," Kelley said. who has since left the Dress for Less," he said. the critical agricultural He added that he thinks business, was appointed "I want to contact JC and environmental con- the water transfer to to the council by a 4-0 Penney headquarters in cerns facing the Salton Lake Mead will be more vote. He will be sworn Texas and see if they'll Sea. beneficial to other dis- in at the next City come back." District 3 Supervisor tricts and not so much to Council meeting Feb. FIRE GUTS PARTS of the ceiling and upper walls of the Brooks Mike Kelley said the 20. Reisen was an Continued on page 3 Jewelry Building. CAROL HANN PHOTO county signed a memo- Continued on page 4 unsuccessful council Weekly-Chronicle Thursday, February 14, 2019, PAGE 2 Winners' Circle Of Talent Awes Grateful Carrot Fest Goers walk/jog that saw some competi- open one mile and a 5K. In the BY WILLIAM ROLLER tors pushing strollers. Rae latter, Holtville High School run- Polkinhorn from El Centro was ners took the top-three spots. Despite threatening skies, competing in her fifth event. Finishing first was Eddie runners were out in force, which "The 4K is lovely; you go Quintero; second, Fabian thrilled the crowd braving the under the railroad trellis and go Rendon; and third, Alan Jimenez. elements to cheer on competitors by the park - much easier on the Last year's winner, Autumn just after sunrise Saturday, Feb. feet," Polkinhorn said. Plourd, returned to try and repeat. 9, to kick off the 72nd Carrot Other races included a quarter "I've run this event at least Festival Parade. mile for ages 8 and under, a half five times," she said. "I'm train- The event began with a 4K mile for ages 12 and under, an ing for Iron Man in Tempe, Arizona, in November, so this will give me plenty of lead time." At the conclusion of the parade, Anita Martinez, chief executive officer of the Holtville Chamber of Commerce, announced the winning parade participants among the 84 entries. In the vehicle entry, it was the Border Patrol El Centro Sector THE CALEXICO HIGH School Mighty Bulldog Marching Band taking first; second was Don performs during the 2019 Carrot Festival Parade in Holtville on Stewart; and third was Maria and Saturday, Feb. 9. WILLIAM ROLLER PHOTO Mario Martinez. For the equestri- ans, first was the Hole-in-the- Dance Team; second, Finley Holtville Marching Warrior Pride Wall Gang; second, Valle del los ASES; and third, Desert Garden Band; second, McCabe Union of Caballos; and third, Victorian Elementary School of El Centro. El Centro; and third went to Roses Ladies Riding Society. For junior high schools, first was Meadows Union. As for high For the car clubs, first was the Meadows Union of El Centro. In schools, first was the Calexico Blu Knights Imperial Valley high schools, first went to High School Bulldog Marching chapter; second was the Calexico High School, with sec- Band; second, Holtville Vikings EDDIE QUINTERO, WINNER of the 5K race, crosses the finish Sunrunners; and third was the ond going to the Calexico Navy Band of Pride; and third, Brawley line to kick off the 2019 Carrot Festival Parade in Holtville on Holtville Car Club.