The Lemoore Advance from Lemoore, California • 1

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FIFTY CENTS THURSDAY November 13 2003 VOL 115 NO 46 ne wzeentra I aamaimED creep Loss of Stratford IDES Hair won't stop local celebration VUIIIIIUUUJU pnuiu By Judy Finney without a place to celebrate and Advance Reporter meet had not been determined There may be questions as to The old dried wood in the why the hall burned but building was ftiel fin: the no question about flames Within two hours only whether the hall will be rebuild the floor and burnt embers and whether the group will con-were all that remained of a tinue its Festa beloved building die center of is written in many activities and a symbol of said Rodrigues will hold continuance that drew a small our Festa in town together The Stratford IDES Hall rep- On Thursday evening Nov resented a tradition of 6 the Stratford IDES Hall Portuguese heritage dating burned According to Ed back to the first settlers in the Rodriguez the cause of the fire Stratford area The IDES that left the club's 287 members (See 2004 Festa page 3) Alvin Graves and JA Freitas Library IDES HALL This early photograph of the Stratford IDES Hall shows the hall as it was prior to the addition of of a kitchen and eating area in 1957 UP IN FLAMES This photo taken by Straford resident Joe Neves was taken as flames broke through the roof The historic building was lost Judy Finney The Advance LHSO to spend funds on campus have plans prepared for the proposed project approved by the BACK AT HOME The Leals enjoy a deeper understanding of each other life and eternity after Jack's yearlong battle to recover from major head rfury resulting Vrom a fall in August of 2002 By Judy Finney Advance Reporter In what must have been some kind of record the Lemoore High School District board raced through its Nov 6 agenda in about an hour They approved $28000 to repaint nine relocatable classroom buildings a restroom and a storage building and gave the nod for the district to get plans ready ibr another modernization project which would includework on the cafeteria social studies wing and gym if the district can get ftrnds from toe state to do so According to Sean McGinn the district will apply fin hardship hinds to complete the project but a hitch no money at the state for this right McGinn explained when and if money does become available those districts at toe top of the list will get it first We need to be at the top of the the hitch To get on the list a district must already state That costs architectural money The district has already spent $111000 preparing the plans and the board approved the spending of another $174000 to continue with the plans There is no guarantee that funds will be available for this project or that LHSD will be awarded money if it does become available Funding for the project rests on the outcome of the state bond measure in the March 2004 election If the district receives the flinds next year the money will be used to modernize the main home economics social studies and eleo-tronics buildings the main gym cafeteria and woodshop The board also approved a change in the certificated staff contracts to pay $50 per month more this school year and $40 per month more in the next two school years There was no change in salary Medical benefits for certificated staff costs the district $7700 per year per employee Holiday Stroll is Nov 15 Special to The Advance The 14th Annual Christmas Stroll is scheduled for Saturday Nov IS from 3 8 pm in downtown Lemoore Sponsored by the Downtown Merchants Association the event is a public kickoff to the holiday season Merchants will offer free refreshments and door prizes for visitors that evening The downtown shops will be decorated in Christmas fantasies and many activities are being planned Call 924-3863 Wreaths available for Antlers Special to The Advance Those wishing to help decorate the Antlers Hotel for Christmas may purchase wreaths to place in the second-story windows for $15 each The decorations will grace the old hotel now being renovated during the Christmas Home Tour on Sunday Dec 7 According Joy Graham drive organizer 15 wreaths are needed Donations maybe left at The Advance 330 St edge Living Jack and Lane Leal on the dealt with life near death Antlers Hotel is on the 2003 Yule tour Inside By Judy Finney Advance Reporter A heart-pounding jolt wrenched Lane Leal from her sleep She bolted up in her bed It was August 2002 and she was about to live through a diabolical year was a loud she remembered something big had -Thinking that their English setter Blue had knocked something over she got up and scanned the house Nothing The phone rang and her daughter Katie now at WHCL answered Lane Leal could hear her sister-in-law voice across the room knew it was The helicopter taking Jack Leal to UMV flew over Lane Katie and Shelly car as they tried to get to the dairy near Idaho Avenue All Lane Leal knew was for the Leal family Jack Leal was conscious when they loaded him into the helicopter but by the time the three women reached UMV he was in trouble According to Lane Leal the specialists said Jack had the biggest subdural hematoma they had ever seen The blood clot was nearly as large as his head and growing By noon head had been spliced open and the blood drained to relieve pressure when the doctors sat Lane down and explained what she was in for head injuries a marathon" she said The Leal's marathon continued a few hours later when Jack returned to the operating room for one of six emergencies during his year-long recovery Besides the head trauma there was fluid filling Jack's abdomen and later his lungs would collapse from (See Near Death page 7) there had been accident Jack Leal know anything He for four months He even remember climbing the rick- breathing bn his own was the first good news heard ety ladder onto the roof to fix his air conditioner He remember the fall that changed everything Jsil Roy 1 8t6 2A By Jim Marvin Advance editor The historic Antlers Hotel will hold a sneak preview of what will become a Downtown Lemoore showplace when the renovation is finished by being part of the Sarah A Mooney Christmas Home Tour on Sunday Dec 7 The old hotel constructed in 1895 was a showplace in its youth noted Holly Smyth city planner street level quarters originally housed saloons then evolved into restaurants and finally into retail stores second floor was home to travelers and permanent tenants until the early she added and changing times left their marks on this once grand structure forcing complete renovation or removal of the entire building a few years down the Rents for the 10 apartments are expected to be in the $450 to $700 range but based on 26 to 30X of low income The cost according to Smyth includes all utilities The apartments serviced by a new elevator will be ready for renters about Feb 1 With fending from Lemoore RDA and $1 million Federal Community Development gant foe building has been rescued me of our landmarks Smyth said community room with its unique turret overlooking downtown will be decked out for the holidays and a team of hostesses will be awaiting the arrival of visitors on the home Smyth added Classified section J1B Editorialtcolumns 4A BA LPD Action 2A LVFD 2A Sports lM Obitu8ri68iiiiiitiMiiNMinNHiMl2A Our What's HappeningM6A i California first: Kings County and Tachis talking bonds hotel Later phases will include a multifaceted event center where a wide variety of programs from indoor football to concerts could be held The tribe asked the county to help with the project by issuing $95 million in the loan if issued through the county The interest would be tax free to investors The county could benefit from economic growth through increased tourist dollars when The Palace becomes a des-- tinatton resort A larger Palace would mean more Tony Oliveira is to have the county act as a go-between for the Tachis and investors The county would issue the braids on the stock market and investors would purchase them The tribe would repay investors over a 17-year period the length of the current gaming compact local jobs are here to give you a chance to join us in this said Tachi Tribal Chair Clarence Atwell prior to the presentation you don't want to go with us we will do this filing new jail? (3) what happens if the braids already sold are declared not tax exempt after an IRS audit? A tribal lawyer Robert Rosette said that file tribe would purchase insurance to cover non-repayment insurance will cover the county even if the bonds are found to be non-tax Rosette added Vee-Jay Brann Kings County tax cot lector cautioned the board to be certain there is no liability and seek information concerning the legality of the proposal since the Tachi project wasn't for the construction of public improvements such as housing Other concerns voiced by Supervisor Jon Rachford included the issue of more impact on county safety and quality of life issues when the plan is constructed tribe has already expressed knowledge of these said Adam Gonzales Palace Indian (See County Tachis page 3) Casino to become destination By Judy Finney Advance Reporter The first first-time-in-Califomia agreement between a county and a Native American nation was when the Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi Tribe penned a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Kings County topay the county $900000 annually to help safety impacts caused by their gaming facility Will the second first-time-in-Califomia agreement between a county and Native American nation come with Kings County agreeing to act as a to issue bonds to secure flinds to expand the Palace Indian Gaming Centra? The plan according to Supervisor Oliveira Brann and Rosette agreed that here would be' drain on county coffers because of this agreement That was what was under consideration at the Nov 4 Kings County Board of Superiors study session The goal of the local Tachi Tribe is to have The Palace Indian Gaming Center become a destination location fra vacationers wanting to enjoy more than gaming According to foe Tachi blueprints the local tribe will start the first phase of expansion soon That phase will include a larger casino water and sewage infrastructure fix file resort and the Rancheria and a seven-story no Supervisors asked: (1) would foe county would be liable for file $95 million should the tribe default on payments? (2) would the credit reputation be at stake if it needed to borrow money fra other projects including a bands through its economic development JPA According to supporters of the plan both the tribe and county will benefit from the agreement The tribe will pay lower interest on I.