What’s Up, Clovis?

CHECK OUT THE BUZZ AROUND TOWN

Photos by Ron Sundquist

Book Signing for Local Author and Store Owner

Thursday Book Signing at 7pm at “A Book Barn”. Chuck and Lisa are seen having their books signed. Dan is the author and owner of the store.

Veterans Memorial District celebrates Veterans Day

Holly is seen by the wreath for Wreaths Across America. The Quilt was a raffle prize. The POW table representns our veterans that can’t be with us. Our veterans organizations came together and served a great breakfast.

(L to R): August and Jim greet people coming to our breakfast. Many raffle items!

2nd Annual Clovis Tailgate BBQ Throwdown

In the Clovis Elks Parking lot. Miriah and Emily at the table. Amanda is seen preparing chicken!

Freak Accident Puts Gottshalks Music Center on hold Tuesday Nov 22!

Elderly lady backed into the storefront window at a great speed! No one was injured in the store. Driver was examined by paramedics. No visible signs of any injuries. Happened around 9am. as coffee group heard the shattering of glass to the North of them.

City Approves EIR And Master Plan of 900+ Acres

J.T. Gomez

jt21gomez@gmail.com

Despite the dissatisfaction of multiple Clovis residents present at Monday’s City Council meeting, the Clovis Council decided to move forwards on an agreement with De Novo Planning Group.

The De Novo Planning Group originally had a plan to prepare an Environmental Impact Report over a year ago but were halted from doing so when an endangered salamander was found in the area.

Originally, 1050+ acres of land were in plans for the De Novo group but had that number reduced to around 155. Now, with Monday’s approval, +/- 923 acres of land has been given the go-ahead to continue with its Environmental Impact Report or (EIR).

Opponents to the plan came from several Clovis residents who had concerns regarding timing and reach of the reports. One citizen stated that not enough time was given to residents of the area to make a decision on whether or not they would approve of the plan. That same citizen also claimed that pamphlets that were delivered to the area were not delivered to everyone.

The area in question according to the Clovis City Council agenda is between Sunnyside Avenue and North Carson Avenue (Big Dry Creek Dam).

Other opponents to the plan claimed that with the planning and possible future construction of the area, traffic hazards and connection to the City’s water would be bothersome for residents.

Ultimately, the council decided to go ahead with the planning.

Citing mandates from the state, Councilman Vong Mouanoutoua stated, “There’s two ways to do it: One is, ‘Don’t grow anymore’, plant all of those 10,000 homes on top of each other…or we can be smart about it, increase the sphere, and plan for these 10,000 homes and allow it to grow and to develop in a smart way in that there’s developers, there’s our planners.”

Mouanoutoua was citing the second part of the administrative item that states that the City of Clovis would also increase their sphere of influence in order to industrialize these 900+ acres of land.

Mayor Jose Flores believes that problems such as these are uniquely owned by

Photo by J.T. Gomez, Clovis Roundup

Clovis City Council.

Clovis in how he calls the city “..one of the fastest growing cities in the Valley.”

“They come here for all kinds of reasons- education, safe streets, and an environment that people know that their families and businesses can thrive….It’s been this team’s effort that as we grow Clovis, it’s done in a smart way.”

Miss Clovis/Miss City of Fresno Competition Held at Clovis North High School

J.T. Gomez

jt21gomez@gmail.com

The 2023 Competition for Miss Clovis, Miss City of Fresno, and Miss Fresno County was held at the Paul Shaghoian Concert Hall, located at 2770 E International Ave, in Fresno, California on Saturday November 12th.

The competition lasted around three and a half hours, and invited contestants from all over the county to participate in their hopes of being crowned one of the three victors.

Winners of the event and now official 2023 Titleholders:

Miss Clovis- Loie Madsen

Miss Clovis’ Outstanding Teen-

Heavenly Carrillo

Miss City of Fresno- Bella Rodriguez

Miss City of Fresno’s Outstanding

Teen- Saiya Sohal

Miss Fresno County- Elita Damron

Miss Fresno County’s Outstanding

Teen- Jennifer Pan

During the first half of the event, contestants’ names were announced after a choreographed dance that they participated in together.

Then the 2023 Miss Clovis and Fresno princesses came out to stage and did a dance for the crowd that was met with tremendous applause.

The point of competitions such as the Miss Clovis and Miss City of Fresno competitions is to promote body positivity for young women, even prior to adolescence.

Judges for the event were then announced which included radio station personality Kimmie Marquez and television news anchor for KSEE 24, A.J.

Photo by JT Gomez, Clovis Roundup

Miss Clovis, Miss Fresno and Miss Fresno County nominees open their 2023 local competition together on November 12th.

Fox.

Scoring for the event was broken up into four sections. 15% of contestants’ final score was from their “Red Carpet walk” which they engaged in on stage in front of the crowd later on in the competition.

Another 15% came from an on-stage interview and social impact pitch that Miss and Teen contestants gave, respectively. 35% of contestants final score came from a backstage interview that was conducted pre-event with judges only, and the final 35% of scores came from, of course, the on-stage talent show that all contestants partook in.

Talents ranged from singing, to piano playing, to even ASL, (American Sign Language) musical interpretations.

Without comprising what percentage of the talent aspect went into contestants final scores, winning contestants talents went as follows:

Miss Clovis Loie Madsen sang a rendition of “Heart of Stone”.

Miss Clovis’ Outstanding Teen Heavenly Carrillo comprised an interpretive dance.

Miss City of Fresno Bella Rodriguez presented a dance to Jennifer Lopez’ “Let’s Get Loud”.

Miss City of Fresno’s Outstanding Teen Saiya Sohal wrote and performed a rap to the beat of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” all the while also performing a science experiment in front of judges and the 500 plus packed crowd.

Miss Fresno County Elita Damron played a lively version of the piano in her section.

Miss Fresno County’s Outstanding Teen Jennifer Pan also played the piano, closing out the talent portion for the teens in outstanding fashion.

After a brief intermission, Adam Smith, Director of the Miss Clovis, Miss City of Fresno, and Miss Fresno County competition honored a seventeen year veteran of the Miss competitions, Marie Theurich.

Marie, a former Executive Director for the Miss Fresno County and Miss Fresno County Outstanding Teen programs, was honored in her retirement from the competition with a video from past winners congratulating and thanking her for her tireless work.

The completion of the competition aspect of the event concluded with the social impact pitches from Teen candidates and the on-stage interview with Miss candidates.

Awards and distinctions were then given out after this portion. 2023 winners will now work with local organizations to help better and support younger generations.

In addition to this, they will also represent their cities, and their county in the 2023 Miss California competition, coming in June of 2023.