Home Care In Lydick, IN

HOLTVILLE – The Holtville Chamber of Commerce has announced the candidates for the 76^th annual Carrot Festival Royal Court.

Three candidates are competing for the title of Carrot Jr. Princess, as well as for the Carrot Queen title. Two individuals are vying for the Carrot Princess title.

This year’s candidates are diverse, and include a couple student body presidents, an avid jewelry maker, an equestrian, a Brownie, cheer captain, a wrestling team hopeful, and national pageant contestant.

The Royal Court Coronation and Carrot Festival Citizen of the Year Banquet which will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, at the Imperial Valley Swiss Club. The festival’s Carrot Parade is scheduled at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11.

Carrot Jr. Princess Candidates:

Addison Lydick

My name is Addison Susanna Lydick and I am running for 2023 Holtville Carrot Festival Junior Princess! I am a 7-year-old, first grade student, enrolled in the dual language immersion curriculum at Emmett S. Finley Elementary School, and in October I was awarded Student of the Month. In addition, I participate in extracurricular activities including; horseback riding, Southwest Valley 4-H Club, Imperial Valley Girls Softball League, and the Holtville Stingrays Swim Team. I would be honored to represent our community as the 2023 Holtville Carrot Festival Junior Princess!

Alexandria Reeves

My name is Alexandria Reeves, but you can call me Lexi. I recently moved to Holtville and go to Pine Elementary. I like to play with all my animals which are, 3 dogs, 1 duck, 1 iguana, and 5 cows. I like to do fun things with my family. I would like to represent my new town of Holtville as a Jr. Princess. I want everyone to know how fun it is to live in Holtville. I also really like coming out in parades. I am a Brownie in Girl Scouts. I like to help people and make new friends. I have been in 4-H for 3 years. I really like to do arts and crafts. My future plans are to graduate as a Viking and become a veterinarian. I really like to help animals.

Aleeyah Aguilar

My name is Aleeyah Nullie Aguilar and I’m the daughter of Janelle Aguilar. I am 6 years old, and I currently attend first grade at Hedrick Elementary School. I participate in softball for Imperial Valley Girls Softball League and have been playing for 2 years. I also train in horseback riding at the Flying D Ranch. This year I have collected and donated many books to classmates, lending libraries and any other friends I come across. I have also helped clean up community parks and helped passed out toys to kids with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). I enjoy being with my friends and cousins. My favorite thing to do is art and crafts. Right now, I am the jewelry maker of the family. I would be honored to represent Holtville as your 2023 Carrot Festival Junior Princess.

Carrot Princess Candidates:

Natalie Garfio

My name is Natalie Garfio. I am 14 years old, and I believe I would be a great person to represent Holtville as your 2023 Carrot Princess. I am a good student and love helping others. My hobbies include softball, volleyball and basketball. I am also the ASB president for Holtville Middle School and a FFA Discovery officer. My future plans are to either be a veterinarian because I love animals or an elementary school teacher because I love kids. I like trying new things and I think running for Carrot Princess would be a great experience for me as well as the other candidates.

Jocelyn Ornelas

My name is Jocelyn Ornelas and I am 13 years old. I am involved in 4-H and cheer. I have a rabbit named “Shadow.” I have been in cheer since I was 5 years old and I am cheer captain at Holtville Middle School. I would like to represent Holtville in various events including the Carrot Festival because Holtville is my hometown. I would love to learn more about Holtville and strengthen the community. For fun I like to play Roblox with my friends, have sleepovers, watch movies, and cook. In the future I would like to be either an ultrasound technician, real estate broker, or marine biologist.

Carrot Queen Candidates:

Arielle Sotelo

Hi, my name is Arielle Sotelo, daughter of Mariel Ramos and Isaiah Sotelo. I am 17 years old and a senior at Holtville High School, and I plan to attend a four-year university and major in finance and economics. This year I decided to run for the 76th Annual Carrot Queen. I am running to be more engaged in my community and see Holtville outside of sports since I am an active participate in volleyball, softball, and soccer. I am also a member of the Holtville Band of Pride, and I am Senior Class President. I wanted to do more for my community and be more involved and what better way to represent Holtville then running for Carrot Queen! Thank you in advance for your continuous support.

Chloe Ponce

Hello, my name is Chloe Ponce. I’m a 15-year-old sophomore attending Brawley Union High School. I’m involved in the FFA program and plan to join the girls wrestling team. I enjoy baking, hanging out with friends, the outdoors and photography. I plan to go to college and attend medical school, where I would like to become a cardiac surgeon. I’m fun, easygoing, caring, responsible and a great friend! Being the Carrot Queen would give me the opportunity to bond with other girls, new friendships and create a new sense of confidence. By running for Carrot Queen, I can show my younger sister and other young woman that no matter what you put your mind to, you can do it! I have family roots in Holtville. I would be honored to represent the community and the City of Holtville.

Samantha Castaneda

My name is Samantha Castaneda, I am 16 years old and a junior at Holtville High School. I enjoy spending time with my dog Simba, sketching and spending time with my church family. I am an Honors and AP student, highly involved in my church, band, cheer and ASB. I have been playing the trumpet for the past seven years and I’ve been in the Holtville music program since the fifth grade. Last summer I decided to compete with the National American Miss competition in hopes to become the next Miss California in the Jr. Teen division and made it as a California finalist as well as bringing home 3rd place in talent. It was an honor to represent California and the Imperial County, as it will be an honor to continue representing if I make it as a Carrot Queen because I love my community.

Financially speaking, the Redwood Area Hospital is in great shape.

Yet, officials from the city-owned hospital also recognize that could change at any time. Challenges exist in healthcare, especially for smaller market hospitals like the one in Redwood Falls, and with reimbursements consistently coming in from providers to the hospital at lower rates, the reality is there is significant risk involved with running such an operation.

“Health care is changing at a dramatic pace,” said Bryan Lydick, Redwood Area Hospital CEO.

According to Lydick, the hospital recognized this reality and for the past two years had been in discussions with ACMC about the potential of bringing in its clinic in Redwood Falls on site at the hospital as part of its planned site expansion.

When ACMC opted to join in on a venture with Rice Memorial Hospital and CentraCare Health that has resulted in the formation of Carris Health, the hospital leadership opted to take a look at how it might fit in with that concept.

“We have great doctors at the clinic here, and we want to work with them, not compete against them,” said Lydick.

So, the hospital and city leadership began looking at other options, which resulted in interaction with CentraCare Health. That interaction led to the development of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that was presented to the Redwood Falls city council at its Jan. 2 meeting. The city council approved the MOU that now allows discussions to take place between the City of Redwood Falls, the Redwood Area Hospital and CentraCare Health in order to explore potential affiliation.

“It’s only prudent to look at partnering with organizations that can enhance healthcare delivery for our community now and in the future,” said Lydick.

The MOU is a formal agreement organizations use to outline a proposed affiliation process and typically involves a range of options and issues for all parties involved to explore.

Lydick told the council that entering into this MOU does not mean that one option or another has been determined. Rather it is about exploring all of the options, which he said could include everything from some form of collaboration, a lease agreement or even the outright acquisition of the hospital.

At the end of the dialogue it could also mean the hospital and city decide to do nothing, added Lydick.

According to Lydick, the Redwood Area Hospital received $1.3 million less in reimbursements this past year for the same business it provided the previous year. Continuing down that path is not a healthy financial option, he added.

Amy Busse, Redwood Falls city attorney, said a MOU is different than a contractual agreement in that there are no specific binding elements that have been reached.

One of the only stipulations as part of the MOU is that the city and hospital must agree to speak exclusively with CentraCare Health while that MOU is still in place.

For the City of Redwood Falls there is growing risk involved with operating a hospital, said Melissa Meyer, city finance director, adding the city has experienced a drop in its bond rating due to its operation of a hospital.

Despite the fact that the hospital is financially solid, the bond rating dropped, Meyer said, adding the reality is that investors see a city-owned hospital as a risk.

James Kanne, a Franklin area resident, and Paul Sobocinski, a Wabasso area resident, both spoke out against the requested MOU, adding their concerns about loss of local control.

“You have a real gem in this hospital,” said Kanne, adding it is a regional hospital that has served him and his family well over the years.

Sobocinski shared his concerns about the growing rate of corporate consolidation, adding there is no way to lose control of the hospital if it continues to be owned by the city.

Members of the city council recognized the importance of local control, but they also saw the reality of the impact continued loss of revenue could have on the city and its residents.

“Health care is not the same today as it was 10 years ago,” said John Buckley, city council member, adding 10 years from now it won’t be the same as it is today.

“There are many details to consider,’ said Keith Muetzel, city administrator. “The goal right now is to lay out all viable scenarios, so that we can ensure strong, sustainable healthcare for people in Redwood Falls and the surrounding area.”

As part of the MOU, with the Redwood Area Hospital and CentraCare have expressed that collaboration would likely ensure the delivery of coordinated, high-quality medical care through the implementation of a common electronic health record, as well as care that is delivered locally whenever possible with access to specialists throughout a larger network when necessary.

Corey Theis, Redwood Falls mayor, said the hospital has committed over the years to bringing in more specialists to serve the public, adding he appreciates the fact that means people don’t have to travel out of town for everything.

Theis added he can’t imagine that would change.

No one has a crystal ball, said Jim Sandgren, city council member, but he added the reality is that the local hospital is getting beat up every year by providers who hold the advantage over the small, local hospital.

“By collaborating, Redwood Area Hospital will be better positioned to preserve the long-standing legacy of community-based care,” said Lydick. “Through our initial discussions, I feel confident we have a shared commitment to rural healthcare and a forward-thinking approach to lead on quality, safety and care close to home.”

Lydick said the next step would be to negotiate a letter of intent, which he said will likely take into the middle of March of this year. He added while no specific timelines have been established beyond that point he does not see any official action taking place until the beginning of 2019 at the very soonest.

– Some information for this article was provided via a press release provided by the Redwood Area Hospital.

The following is a press statement issued by Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Kelly Hoover on Friday night:

Three suspects are in custody following a high speed pursuit that started in the City of Buellton and ended with the vehicle hitting a Sheriff’s patrol car and crashing into a tree in a City of Santa Barbara neighborhood. The two female suspects are the same ones involved in an October 3, 2014 pursuit on Highway 154 involving the same black Cherokee Jeep. 34-year-old Shane Lydick of Thousand Oaks, 36-year-old Kristy DeLaCerna of Thousand Oaks and 24-year-old Camilla DePerna aka: Jessica Walters of Los Osos. Both Lydick and DePerna, who were both believed to be drivers at different points in the pursuit, were arrested for felony evading with a motor vehicle. All three suspects were additionally booked for possession of burglary tools. DePerna also had a no bail felony warrant for burglary. All three suspects are acquaintances.

The incident began at approximately 2:45 p.m. today, October 17, at a gas station located in the 600 block of Avenue of the Flags in the City of Buellton. Sheriff’s deputies received a report of a male suspect, Lydick, who was reportedly hitting the windows of a black Cherokee jeep with his fists and was armed with a knife. When Sheriff’s deputies arrived, they observed the Jeep leaving the gas station. The vehicle then sped onto the 101 freeway heading southbound. Sheriff’s deputies recognized the Jeep as the same vehicle that was involved in a pursuit on October 3 on Highway 154. Sheriff’s deputies attempted to pull the vehicle over but the driver refused to yield and a pursuit began. A Santa Barbara County Air Support unit was brought in to assist.

California Highway Patrol officers out of the Buellton station joined in the pursuit which reached speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour. At several points while trying to evade authorities, the suspect vehicle drove on the right and left hand shoulder dangerously passing other vehicles. California Highway Patrol Officers out of the Santa Barbara office took over the pursuit in the Dos Pueblos Canyon area. The pursuit continued southbound on Highway 101 until the driver exited Turnpike Road and then traveled eastbound on Cathedral Oaks Road to Foothill Road driving recklessly with a complete disregard for public safety. In the La Colina Junior High School area, the driver crossed double yellow lines passing a school bus.

At approximately 3:10 p.m. the Jeep turned onto Alamar Road, a dead end street in the private ranch property of Willowbrook Ranch. The Air Support Unit then directed law enforcement ground units to the various locations where the Jeep was driving. At one point, DePerna exited the driver’s seat but then returned and continued driving on ranch roads trying to escape. Upon reaching the main ranch entrance, which had been blocked by law enforcement vehicles, DePerna rammed into an unoccupied Sheriff’s patrol unit then struck a pepper tree and the main ranch gate overhead sign causing it to fall down and crash. DePerna then attempted to put the vehicle in reverse at which time the Sheriff’s deputy, whose vehicle had been rammed, backed his patrol car into the Jeep pinning it between the tree and the patrol car.

Initially all three suspects refused to exit the Jeep. Law enforcement personnel broke several windows out of the vehicle and forcibly removed all three suspects, taking them into custody without further incident. No one was injured in the pursuit or crash. The Santa Barbara City Fire Department responded to assist with the crash and removal of the debris.

On October 3, DePerna and DeLaCerna were involved in a vehicle pursuit that began near the Chumash Casino and ended at Highway 154 and Cathedral Oaks. DeLaCerna was arrested and charged with possession of narcotics. Despite a lengthy search, DePerna was never located.

Photo by: Lupiani, Joyce

UPDATE 4:30 P.M. NOV. 3: The plane is being removed from the water.

UPDATE NOV. 3: The plane that crashed on Thursday into water at a local golf course belongs to Sin City Flying Club. It is a Beech B95 fixed-wing airplane.

The flying club, which provides instruction, is based at the North Las Vegas Airport.

It is still unknown at this time who was on the plane.

UPDATE, 11:51 P.M.: Vaughn Lydick and his buddies were walking back to a friend’s home when they heard the crash. “We heard a loud boom behind us.” Lydick said. “We see a plane hit and turn over slightly and fall, head-on into the lake.”

Lydick saw the plane clip a tree then plunge into this lake at Painted Desert Golf Club. “It looked very scary.”

The pilot and another man on board swam to safety, walking toward ambulances without needing help.

All this happened during the evening rush.

Tim Szymanski, a spokesman for Las Vegas Fire and Rescue, said the pilot decided to put the plane down in the water rather than risk injury or worse to commuters on the road or people in their homes.

“This person is probably making a decision in 15 second or less. I’ve got to go down some place, probably saw that lake and just thought, ‘if I go down here and won’t hurt anybody else.’” No one on the ground was hurt.

ORIGINAL STORY: Emergency crews responded after a plane crashed at Painted Desert Golf Course on Thursday, near Ann Road and U.S. Highway 95.

Reports at the scene indicate there were two people on board the small plane. Both were treated for minor injuries by medical crews at the scene.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the plane was on final approach to the North Las Vegas airport when they reported that they had lost their #1 engine.

The plane landed in a water hazard, though chunks of the aircraft were scattered throughout the course.

The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.

Copyright 2017 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

BROCKWAY, Pa. (EYT) – The Brockway Area School Board had a hard mission between school years, adding almost a dozen new faces to the classrooms.

(PICTURED: The new teachers at Brockway Area School District: Alec Shaffer-Doan, Jessie Zameroski, Bob Bateman, April Weaver, Debbie Snyder, Carly Wallock, Lindsay Zimmerman, Bret Zimmerman, Hunter Lydick, and Anthony Benson.)

Brockway had a series of retirements or resignations that Superintendent Jeff Vizza referred to as a “mass exodus” during his speech on the first day of the new school year.

Over the summer, Vizza thanked the school board for its work in finding the right teachers for the job.

“The board members put in a lot of effort and time,” Vizza said. “We had 11 retirements or resignations this past year. It takes a lot to find their replacements. We have many young educators coming in to take their positions, and that wouldn’t be possible without the board’s efforts.”

New kindergarten teacher Hunter Lydick is not exactly a new face. Lydick did his student teaching in Brockway, and when he graduated from Clarion University, he was asked to be a long-term substitute in first grade when one of the first of the “mass exodus” retired.

“I’m very excited to be staying here,” Lydick said. “The entire staff has treated me with nothing but respect and kindness during my block, student teaching, and substituting experiences. I am most excited to be starting the next part of my career with an awesome team of kindergarten teachers.”

Lydick is joined by another face familiar to Brockway. Anthony Benson graduated from Brockway Area School District and went on to graduate from Clarion University. Coming back to his old stomping grounds presented Benson with new excitement.

“I grew up here,” he said. “For a long time, I’ve wanted to give back to the community that has given me so much over the years. I want to be here in Brockway, and I want to make this school even better than it already is.”

Benson was a Brockway football star, like fourth-grade teacher Alec Shaffer-Doan. Doan also graduated from Clarion and is currently assisting with junior-high football at the school.

“The community involvement, the wonderful youth, and the excellent group of teachers are what excite me most about working here,” he said.

Debbie Snyder is the new Title I teacher in Brockway. She has substitute taught in Brockway for many years and has also been very involved in her church. She said she is excited to work with the Brockway district now as a full-time part of the community.

Lindsay Zimmerman is part of a new husband-and-wife team at Brockway. She worked at Jefferson-Clarion Head Start and is now teaching kindergarten. The Slippery Rock University graduate said teaching is her passion.

“Teaching is a true passion of mine and has been since I was very young,” she said. “Working for Head Start greatly prepared me for my new adventure.”

Her husband, Bret, is teaching economics and government at Brockway Area Junior-Senior High School. He went to Westminster College and subbed in Brockway before taking the full-time position.

Another new high school teacher is math teacher Carly Wallock. Wallock also went to Clarion and previously taught at Keystone School District. She student taught in Brockway and knew she wanted to work there.

“The faculty and staff were very welcoming and helpful, and it was very evident from the beginning that the faculty and students had very positive, professional relationships,” she said.

Another seasoned teacher came to Brockway, this time to teach technology. Bob Bateman spent six years at DuBois Area School District and is happy to take over some shop classes

“I am very excited to be working at Brockway because I have heard nothing but great things about the community, students, and staff here,” he said.

New home economics teacher April Weaver also has experience in teaching. Plus, she makes another husband-and-wife team in Brockway. Weaver’s husband teaches English in the district.

Jessie Zameroski brings a lot of experience to her job as a school psychologist. She has two master’s degrees from Edinboro University and is a nationally certified school psychologist. She said she is thrilled to join the team.

Bret Zimmerman summed up the experience of joining Brockway during the 2019-2020 school year.

“Brockway has a family atmosphere in the schools and town,” he said. “It’s hard to find this many great people in one place. The town supports the students and school district, and the staff has a very positive attitude. That is a key element to knowing that you have found the right place. I know that I have.”

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