Floor Statements

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Michelle Stauffer upon her retirement from Wawona School.

Mrs. Michelle Stauffer has spent the past 29 years serving as a teaching principal at Wawona School; a kindergarten through sixth grade, one-room elementary school in Yosemite National Park. Wawona School has been serving the children that live in the park since the late 1800's. Park rangers, firefighters and other National Park Service employees rely on this community school, and Mrs. Stauffer, to educate and nurture their children. During its existence, the school has educated the children of many Yosemite pioneer families, including the Washburn, Bruce and Gordon families.

Mrs. Stauffer is dedicated to providing a solid education for the students. Field trips to Washington DC, museums, live theater and the San Francisco Opera are part of the curriculum at Wawona School. Mrs. Stauffer believes these field trips are an important part of exposing her students to life outside of the park.

Mrs. Stauffer is an extraordinary person and educator. She is dedicated to the Yosemite community and especially to her students. She is committed to providing her students with the very best education in the most nurturing environment possible.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Michelle Stauffer for her dedicated service to the students of Wawona School. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Mrs. Stauffer many years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor Don and Dim Sambueso for receiving the 2010 Lifetime

Achievement Award. They have lived long and distinguished lives, adhering to extremely high standards of quality and integrity.

The Sambueso brothers were born in Madera, California in 1940. At the age of 15, the brothers went to work for the family business. They have stayed with that business since then, taking from a simple slaughtering company to a business that handles catering, barbequing and has a full service meat counter.

Don and Dim are well connected within their community. They have been involved with the Young Men's Institute, St. Joachim's School Sports Banquet, Madera Elks, 4-H and Holy Family Table.

Don and Dim are both proud husbands, parents and grandparents. Don and his wife Sharon have three children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Dim and his wife Julie have two children and two grandchildren. It is clear that they will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.

Madam Speaker, please join me in commending Don and Dim Sambueso for lives well-lived and in wishing them the best of luck and health as they continue setting the standard.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor Larry Powell for receiving the 2010 Distinguished Citizen Award from the Sequoia Council Boy Scouts of America. Larry has had a distinguished career as the Superintendent in the Fresno County Office of Education, adhering to extremely high standards of quality and integrity.

Larry is a lifetime resident of Fresno County who has created a legacy in his 40 years of service in public education. He has served students and lead community educational endeavors in Sanger Unified School District, Fresno Unified School District, and Central Unified School District.

Larry is also very involved and well connected within his community. He has participated in many civic and church activities, including membership on the Board of Trustees for Fresno Pacific University, the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association, Break the Barriers, the Sequoia Council of the Boy Scouts, and many others.

Larry's educational leadership has been recognized by the California School Administrators of Region 9, who awarded him as Superintendent of the Year. He has been recognized by Fresno State as a Noted Alumni.

Larry is married to Dot, a former principal and Executive Director of SALT Fresno and READ Fresno, Inc. He has a daughter and two grandchildren. It is clear that Larry will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.

Madam Speaker, please join me in commending Larry Powell for his distinguished career and community service, and in wishing him the best of luck and health as he continues to set standards in Fresno County.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Gregory Applegate on his retirement from his position as city administrator of Sonora, California, where he has served since 1990. His work and service has made a permanent mark on the community and he will be missed.

Greg has been married to his wife, Deborah, for 31 years, and they have 2 children, Caleb and Cassie. Prior to his service as city administrator in Sonora, Greg worked for the city of Dos Palos and the city of Merced in his successful career in public administration. Greg was involved in many local and federal associations such as the Tuolumne County Economic Development Board, the Historic Downtown Chamber of Commerce, the League of California Cities, the California Redevelopment Association, and the Central San Joaquin Valley Risk Management, where he was past president.

Aside from industry and municipal organizations, Greg spends much of his time and energy serving the community through school initiatives, measures to improve children's health, Rotary Club, and mentoring youth at his church. Greg was involved in the Tuolumne County Healthy Children's Project as well as served on the Summerville High School Bond Committee.

You don't have to walk far through the streets of Sonora to see for yourself the hard work and tireless effort that Greg has put into the city. He has played a pivotal role in the following projects: the Sonora Opera Hall, creating the Sonora Redevelopment Agency, the Rother's Corner Fire Museum, the new fire station, the renovations of City Hall, the Mono Way Pedestrian Facility, the Sonora Crossroads Project, among countless other valuable projects.

Greg has been awarded a number of accolades throughout his time as a city administrator. These include the Tuolumne County Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Government Award, which he received in both 1991 and 2006, the Tuolumne County ``Top Hand'' award in 2002, and was named President of the city managers section of the League of California Cities, Central Division. He was also President of the Central San Joaquin Valley Risk Management Authority from 2004-2006.

After a long and full career of helping communities by developing and managing cities in the Central Valley, Greg is leaving the world of city administration, but his legacy will forever stay with the city of Sonora through the continuation and development of projects he has worked on and implemented through his 30-plus years of service. I rise today to thank Greg Applegate for his hard work and congratulate him on his retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor Duane Furman for receiving the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award. He has lived a long and distinguished life and career, adhering to extremely high standards of quality and integrity.

Duane was born in Dinuba and moved to Madera in 1963 to become the superintendent of Madera School District. Under Duane's leadership, Madera Unified School District unified ten school districts into one and grew to serve a broad range of students and helping them reach their academic potential. Duane's background in education started in the classroom as a school teacher and then principal.

Duane is exceptionally well connected within his professional community. He is a life member of the National Education Association, the past president of the Madera County Chapter of the California Elementary Administrators Association, the state chairman of the California Elementary Schools Administrators Association. In addition, he was the past president of Phi Delta Kappa Delta Chapter, as well as the California Association of School Administrators. This just scratches the surface of Duane's contributions and participation in his professional career.

In addition to professional organizations, Duane is deeply involved in his community. He is past president of Madera Rotary Club, part of the Madera County Mental Health Advisory Board, and part of the Education and Ambassador Committee of the Madera Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, Duane was a founding board member of the Madera County Arts Council. He has been given numerous awards including the Fresno State Kremen School of Education Noted Alumni Award, the Phi Delta Kappa Service Award, and the San Joaquin River Trust Director Emeritus Award, all in 2007.

Duane is married to Patricia, also an educator, and they have three children. Presently, Duane serves on the Board of Directors for the Madera Community Hospital, as well as the San Joaquin Valley Paleontology Foundation.

Madam Speaker, please join me in commending Mr. Duane Furman for a life well-lived and wishing him the best of luck and health as he continues setting the standard.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor Bill Dawson for receiving the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award. He has lived a long and distinguished life, adhering to extremely high standards of quality and integrity.

Bill Dawson was born in Glendale, California and moved to Madera in 1985. He spend ten years as the production control manager for National Can. He was also a plant controller for Penata Foods and Industrial Blow Molding. In addition, he spent 25 years as the owner of Round Table Pizza and recounts the highlight of his careers as helping kids see the benefit of a good education.

Bill is well connected within his community. For almost twenty years, he has been a member of the Lions Clubs, both Breakfast and Evening Lions. He was awarded the Lion of the Year award seven times. Additionally, he was past president of Madera Linkage Foundation. He is currently the president of the Foundation for high school Athletic Needs and was the 1996 Homecoming Grand Marshall.

Bill is married to his wife, Brenda. It is clear that they will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come. Madam Speaker, please join me in commending Bill for a life well lived and wishing him the best of luck and health as he continues setting the standard.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor Don and Cathi Warnock for receiving the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award. They have lived a long and distinguished life, adhering to extremely high standards of quality and integrity.

The Warnocks meet at California State University, San Jose and married in 1965. They then moved to Cathi's hometown of Madera, where Don went to work for his father-in-law at Valley Grain Products in 1971. In 1986, Don left the company and with Cathi, founded Warnock Food Products. Today, Warnock Food Products is the largest snack food company in Madera.

The Warnocks are well connected within their community. They have been involved in Camp Fire USA, the Alegria Guild, and the Madera Sunrise Rotary. Additionally, Don has been involved with the Boy Scouts of America and was a founding member of the Madera Ag Boosters.

Don and Cathi are proud parents and grandparents of three children and five grandchildren. It is clear that they will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.

Madam Speaker, please join me in commending Mr. and Mrs. Warnock for a life well-lived and wishing him the best of luck and health as he continues setting the standard.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor Elvan and Eleanor Newcomb for receiving the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award. They have lived a long and distinguished life, adhering to extremely high standards of quality and integrity.

The Newcombs moved to California's Central Valley from Oklahoma in 1941, the year they married. Elvan started his career as a tractor dealer, salesman, partsman, and mechanic at a dealership in Madera and has expanded his management and ownership since his first job.

Elvan and Eleanor are well connected within their community. They have been involved in Warner Pacific College, Fourth Street Church of God, Madera Valley Bank, Cattlewomen's, Cow-bells, Republican Women, Madera Historical Society, and Women of the Church of God of the Central Valley. In 2007, Elvan and Eleanor were honored as Old-Timers Day's King and Queen and have been faithful and generous leaders at their church, and are committed to historic California events, such-as Mule Days in Bishop, California, where they have attended festivities for over 50 years.

Elvan and Eleanor are proud parents, grandparents, and great- grandparents of three children, five grandchildren, and seven great- grandchildren. It is clear that they will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.

Madam Speaker, please join me in commending Elvan and Eleanor Newcomb for a life well-lived and wishing them the best of luck and health as he continues setting the standard.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge and honor the life of Jerry Venturi, who is receiving the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award. Jerry lived a long and distinguished life, adhering to extremely high standards of quality and integrity.

Jerry Venturi passed away in 2008 at age 67 after a struggle with cancer. However, his legacy lives on in his Madera community. Jerry was a remarkable musician from his youth, a performer, a band leader, a music business owner, and a mentor for countless Madera musicians.

Jerry was well connected within his community. He was a faithful participant in St. Joachim Catholic Church and a first degree member of the Knights of Columbus, a fraternal Catholic service organization. In addition, Jerry and his band performed every year in the Madera County Arts Council ``Concert in the Park,'' where he assisted other performers set up their sound systems.

Jerry's musical legacy extended to all of the students that entered his mentorship through his store, performance and service. It is clear that Jerry's memory will continue to inspire music and community service for generations to come. Madam Speaker, please join me in commending Jerry Venturi for a life well-lived.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Roy John Spencer. Roy Spencer is a veteran of World War II and was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star medals. Roy was killed in action, at the age of 26, on January 12, 1945 in the Battle of the Bulge.

Roy Spencer was born in 1918 and he enlisted in the United States Army on January 12, 1945. He went on to serve as a member of the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment and fought in several battles in Europe, including the Battle of the Bulge.

In January 1945, Private Spencer and his company were attacked by German forces in the woods outside of the Belgium town of Flamizoulle. As Private Spencer and his bazooka team advanced forward, they were confronted by counterattacks from German tanks. Roy's bazooka was struck by pieces of flying shrapnel which resulted in holes being torn in the weapon's tube. Private Spencer and his teammate knew that the tanks must be stopped, despite the danger of using a faulty weapon. Without a thought for personal safety, they fired the bazooka in an attempt to stop the tanks. The weapon exploded and both men were killed instantly.

The bravery and heroism of Private Spencer inspired his company to successfully repulse the German counterattack. Private Spencer was laid to rest in the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial in Hamm, Luxembourg. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Anna Queen Spencer.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and honor Roy John Spencer for his service to our country, for his gallantry and for the sacrifice he made to protect his fellow soldiers. I invite my colleagues to join me in honoring Private Roy John Spencer.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Sergeant Wesley Dean Heinrichs, a United States Marine Corps Veteran of World War II.

Mr. Heinrichs was born on November 28, 1923 in a farming community in Kirk, Colorado. He worked on his family's farm before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. After hearing the news on the radio about the attack on Pearl Harbor and the outbreak of the War, Mr. Heinrichs came under deep conviction to join the Marines after seeing a billboard with a Marine's picture that stated: ``we need one more good man.'' It was Mr. Heinrichs' passion and love for his country that spurred him to join the Armed Forces to defend and protect our country. In December of 1942, at the age of 19, he traveled to the recruiting office in Denver, Colorado and enlisted in the Marine Corps.

After completion of basic training in San Diego, Mr. Heinrichs served in the commissary of Camp Pendleton distributing packed foods and serving on guard duty. In the same year, he was transferred to a motor transport unit where he worked with the 1st Amphibian Truck Company. His company worked on the Dukw, an experimental amphibious truck for traveling over water and landing on coral reefs. On December 22, 1943, Mr. Heinrich and his company were deployed to the Pacific Arena to provide support to the Marine Corps operations in the Mariana Islands.

Mr. Heinrichs and his company used the Dukws to carry 105 Howitzers and place them in strategic locations in the Mariana Islands. Additionally, Mr. Heinrichs assisted with the transportation of wounded Marines and Soldiers to medical ships and with the hauling of ammunition and supplies to Marine Bases. Mr. Heinrich and his company served in combat in the battles of Saipan and Tinnian in the Mariana Islands. After the islands were secured, Mr. Heinrichs and his company were transferred to Guam where they protected the island and began training for the invasion of Japan. In 1945, Mr. Heinrich was transferred back to San Diego and was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps on January 13, 1943.

Mr. Heinrichs now resides in Coarsegold, California and is an active member of the American Legion Post 110, the Griswold USMC League and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Mr. Heinrichs and his wife of 64 years, Anna Queen Spencer Heinrichs, have four daughters, eight grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and honor Wesley Heinrichs for his service and dedication to our country. I invite my colleagues to join me in honoring Sergeant Wesley Dean Heinrichs.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Pat Plummer upon his retirement as the Varsity Head Football Coach of Hoover High School in Fresno, California and his induction into the Hoover Hall of Fame. Coach Plummer will be inducted into the Hoover Hall Fame on Saturday, July 31, 2010.

Coach Pat Plummer was born in Glendale, California. At a young age, his family moved to northern California, where he graduated from Del Oro High School. Upon graduating from high school, Coach Plummer attended Sierra Junior College in Rocklin, California. In 1970, he transferred to California State University, Fresno, on a football scholarship. In 1972, Coach Plummer was named to the All-Pacific Coast Athletic Association team as an offensive guard. Coach Plummer graduated from CSU Fresno with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Physical Education and a minor in Geography; in 1974, he earned a teaching credential.

Upon obtaining his credential, Coach Plummer began teaching and coaching football at Tulare Western Union High School in Tulare, California. He was the defensive coordinator for two years before being named the head varsity coach. Coach Plummer remained at Tulare Western for eight years. In 1985, he

was offered the position of Head Varsity Football Coach at Hoover High School. Since taking that job, Coach Plummer has compiled a record of 132 wins, 116 losses and 3 ties. He led his teams to six Fresno City Championships (1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1993, and 1994) and two North Yosemite League Championships (1997 and 1999).

In 2005 and 2006, Coach Plummer took a hiatus from coaching varsity football so that he and his wife, Micki, would have more time to watch his son, Shawn, play varsity football at a rival school. For those two years, Coach Plummer was the head freshman football coach at Hoover. In 2007, Coach Plummer returned to the Head Varsity Coach position. In his 25 years as the head varsity coach, he has coached several All-Star games including the Tulare-Kings All Star Game in 1985, the Fresno City-County All-Star game in 1989, 1993, and 1999, and the North-South All-Star game in 2003 and 2007.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Pat Plummer upon his retirement from Hoover High School and induction into the Hoover Hall of Fame. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Coach Plummer many years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Michelle Stauffer upon her retirement from Wawona School.

Mrs. Michelle Stauffer has spent the past 29 years serving as a teaching principal at Wawona School; a kindergarten through sixth grade, one-room elementary school in Yosemite National Park. Wawona School has been serving the children that live in the park since the late 1800's. Park rangers, firefighters and other National Park Service employees rely on this community school, and Mrs. Stauffer, to educate and nurture their children. During its existence, the school has educated the children of many Yosemite pioneer families, including the Washburn, Bruce and Gordon families.

Mrs. Stauffer is dedicated to providing a solid education for the students. Field trips to Washington D.C., museums, live theater and the San Francisco Opera are part of the curriculum at Wawona School. Mrs. Stauffer believes these field trips are an important part of exposing her students to life outside of the park.

Mrs. Stauffer is an extraordinary person and educator. She is dedicated to the Yosemite community and especially to her students. She is committed to providing her students with the very best education in the most nurturing environment possible.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Michelle Stauffer for her dedicated service to the student of Wawona School. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Mrs. Stauffer many years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Johnny Deniz on being honored as the Madera Chamber of Commerce 2010 Senior Farmer of the Year. Mr. Deniz will be recognized at the annual Senior Farmer Dinner on Thursday, July 22, 2010.

Mr. Johnny Deniz was born on July 24, 1931 in Madera, California. At the age of 18, he began his farming career. During his 60 years of farming, he has grown almonds, cling peaches, nectarines, plums, table grapes, wine grapes, tomatoes, cotton, prunes and alfalfa. Throughout his career, Mr. Deniz has owned and operated farms of all sizes, ranging from 450 acres to 2,000 acres.

Mr. Deniz's legacy in Madera County agriculture has been his contribution toward protecting the county's water supplies, including fighting for historic water rights and federal contracts. Mr. Deniz has appeared before Congressional committees, as well as state and local water jurisdictions, as an expert on Madera County water rights. His honesty, integrity and knowledge in representing agriculture in the county and the Central San Joaquin Valley will continue to benefit future farming generations for years to come.

Outside of the farm, Mr. Deniz has served on the board of the Madera Irrigation District for over 20 years, and on the boards of the Friant Water Users Authority and the Association of California Water Agencies. He also served on the board and was chairperson of LAID-CWD Power Authority. Mr. Deniz has been a member of the Madera County Farm Bureau and Western Growers for 25 years, and the Almond Tree Huller and the California Association of Wine Growers for 15 years. He is the co-owner of Madera Pumps, Inc. Mr. Deniz also serves on the Saint Joachim's School Board. For his service, Mr. Deniz has been recognized by the Future Farmers of America, and has received the ``Recognition of Service'' award from the Madera Irrigation District and the Association of California Water Agencies.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Johnny Deniz on being named the Made Chamber of Commerce 2010 Senior Farmer of the Year. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Mr. Deniz many years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate the California Grizzlies Junior Rifle Team on winning the 2009 National Trophy Infantry Match at Camp Perry on August 7, 2009. The team will be recognized and honored at the annual National Rifle Association sanctioned high power match on Saturday, July 3, 2010.

The California Grizzlies Junior Rifle team consists of seven juniors from around the state of California; team captain Anthony Henderson, Sonora; David Bahten, Jamestown; Chad Kurgan, Sonora; Jim Minturn, San Diego; Joshua Lehn, Lemoore; Cheyanne Acebo, Vacaville; and Matthew Chezem, Simi Valley. The team is lead by coach Jim O'Connell. The 2009 National Trophy Infantry Match winners shot a 1284, becoming the first junior team to ever win the event and the first civilian team to win in 79 years. The team has been a tough competitor in recent years. They finished fifth at the event in 2008, setting a record with a score of 1233. The team won the junior title, setting new records in 2008 and 2009 in the National Trophy Team event, shooting a score of 2870 to finish eighth overall. The team consistently has members in the President's 100, a group of distinguished shooters and members that receive notable rankings and points in various competitions.

The competition at Camp Perry includes many different matches; the Infantry Team Match, established in the late 1920s, is the competition that most closely resembles battles from war. Teams of six shoot at eight targets, starting off at six hundred yards, moving

to five hundred yards, then three hundred yards and ending at two hundred yards. These shots are taken in the three shooting positions: prone, sitting and standing. Each member of the team fires sixty-four total rounds with just fifty seconds to get into each position and fire. The best competitors can fire a shot a second and hit the target.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend the California Grizzlies Junior Rifle Team upon their 2009 victory. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing the team many years of continued success.