W e e k l y RIALTO RECORD
October 31, 201 9
Vol 18, N O. 0 7
Bemis Elementary hosts Fall Literacy Parade Celebration
www.iecn.com Gloria’s Corner Pg. 3
Domestic violence conference empowers, heals Pg. 5
PHOTO RUSD
Bemis Elementary School, the “Bobcats” held their Fall Literacy Parade Celebration, where many students and staff members dressed up as their favorite storybook characters. Kindergarten teacher, Mr. Cauldren (middle) dressed as a “bus driver”joined with some “characters” from his classroom, with Bemis Principal, Mrs. Osonduagwike, (far right) dressed as “Doc McStuffins,” and Bemis Assistant Principal, Mrs. Lara, (far left) who dressed as “The Giving Tree.”
Caden inter views E r nie Jo hns o n ho s t o f Inside the NBA
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INSIDE Gloria’s Corner
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Words To Think About 5 Opinion
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Legal Notices
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We s t Va l l e y Wa t e r D i s t r i c t u s e r s h a v e a n e l e c t i o n N o v. 5 By David Phillips
O
ver the last six years the West Valley Water District has gone through some turbulence and power changes. Those changes included long term Director and President Betty Gosney leaving after her last term, Linda Gonzalez losing a contentious election and former Water Director Don Olinger running and winning a seat back on the water board. Director Olinger was once on the board and then left only to come back four years ago, “To restore harmony and the luster to the small water district,” he said, due to a series of decisions that have not rubbed certain ratepayers the right way. Things were so bad that late Rialto City Councilman Shawn O’Connell
got involved in what he saw were questionable practices by the board. Fast forward to today the board is looking down the barrel of audits conducted by the office of the California State Controller, ethics questions over campaign materials and a reported $1 million in spending on lawsuits stemming from actions taken by the current board. Some say it is time for a change. With regards to the 4th District seat many see incumbent Don Olinger as a lone voice of reason who hasn’t been involved in any of the questionable actions. People like Gosney said that Don Olinger “is an honest man and not self serving, he is what more board members need to embody.” Yet there are others who say that Olinger has little to show for his four years on the board and has not done anything to create better
transparency. According to Channing Hawkins, the person looking to fill the 4th District seat on the West Valley Board that Olinger currently holds, what is lacking with West Valley is that they are the last elected body to not live stream or store recordings of their meetings for the public. “I don’t believe he made a motion or called for a vote of the matter. We are in 2019, and it is common practice for public agencies to broadcast their meetings,” said Hawkins.
Local labor advocate and Nurse Dejone Shaw agrees that Hawkins is the right choice for the West Valley Water Board. “I like Channing as a candidate and think he could jump start the necessary changes that the water board needs,” she said. When Hawkins was asked why
he was running for the water board he replied, “My kids literally brush their teeth and bathe in the water daily. My concern for our district starts with my family and other families like mine, who rely on the water to be safe, affordable and reliable.” There are two other seats up for election on November 5th with regards to the West Valley Water District. The 1st District seat currently held by Director Kyle Crowther who is also the vice president on the board is up against two seasoned challengers - Gosney and former director Linda Gonzalez. When Gosney was asked why she was looking to return to the West Valley Water Board, she answered, “The board needs honest, caring people, the board needs public servants and we WVWD, cont. on next pg.