George Radanovich

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Marjaree Mason Center for Fresno for 20 years of service assisting victims of domestic violence, and for making a difference in the community and the lives of so many victims. Marjaree Mason, a well-known woman in this community and a native of Easton, was raped and murdered on November 13, 1978. She was 36 years old. Her death was the result of domestic violence. Marjaree lived in Fresno for 31 years and was a graduate of Washington Union High School and Reedley College. At the time of her death she was completing her degree in business administration at California State University, Fresno and was employed by the National Economic Development Association. Marjaree Mason was active in several organizations. She was a member of the National Council of Negro Women, the Ujima Ladies Group, Big Sisters of Fresno, the National Association of Women in Construction, and St. Rest Baptist Church. With the approval of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Neal Mason, the Marjaree Mason Center was named for her. Through community awareness, prevention and intervention--including education for both the victim and the batterer--they are working to lessen the kind of kind of domestic violence that tragically ended her life. The Center is committed to the belief that women have the right to live their lives in a safe and healthy environment. The individuals involved with the Center also believe it is imperative that victims of domestic violence have access to a protective support system, including emergency shelter, counseling, and comprehensive referrals to individuals and organizations that can help them live in health and safety. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the Marjaree Mason Center for serving the community of Fresno for 20 years. I also urge my colleagues to join me in wishing the Marjaree Mason Center many more years of continued success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Chowchilla CertainTeed Fiberglass Insulation Plant on their 20th Anniversary as a major contributor to the Chowchilla and Madera County communities. CertainTeed began construction in 1978 and started operation on May 15, 1979. Since then, the plant has generated over $200 million in wages and taxes, which have helped the local communities to grow and improve. CertainTeed has been an active member of these communities and has participated in various projects. They are strong supporters of the ``Bucks for Books'' campaign; have adopted a section of Highway 99 and kept it clean for 6 years; provided sandbags for flood support during the Chowchilla flood of 1997; have supported the Penn Literacy program for Fairmead School; are involved in the Madera County Industrial Group; and have made themselves available to many more programs in their community. CertainTeed has been recognized with many awards throughout the years: the CertainTeed Interplant Safety Award--Best Record in Accident Prevention, the National Safety Council Award, the Outstanding Safety Performance Award, 1,500,000 Hours with No Lost Time Accidents in 1966, 1,243,090 Hours with No Lost Time Accidents in 1985, Madera Economic Development Commission Recognition, the California Department of Conservation Award of Appreciation for Glass Recycling, and the Group President's Award. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate CertainTeed on their 20th Anniversary and for the service they have provided to their community. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing CertainTeed many more years of continued success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Private Chester Beymer upon his approval by the Government of France for the award of the National Order of The Legion of Honor. This award is the highest honor in France during World War I and is authorized in recognition of the 80th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice on November 11, 1918. Chester Beymer is 100 years old and a long time resident of Fresno. He served during World War I with the communications department of the U.S. Army Tank Corps, American Expeditionary Force. He enlisted in Los Angeles in August 1918 at age 19. Pvt. Beymer left for France that October as part of the Automatic Replacement Draft. Pvt. Beymer's duties in France involved working with two man French tanks at the U.S. Army Tank Corps Center in Langres, Haute Marne, France. He arrived shortly before the war ended and remembers being on a troop train on Armistice Day and seeing many French flags and townspeople cheering at the train stations. He came back to the United States in March 1919 on a Japanese troop ship. Chester Beymer was born on a farm in Tonganoxie, Kansas in 1898; he was one of six children in his family. In 1904 his family moved to El Modeno, California and by 1913 was settled in the San Joaquin Valley near Lindsey. After returning from World War I Chester worked in the Fresno area with the Southern Pacific Railroad and then the Alcohol and Tobacco Unit. He later worked with the Sugar Pine Lumber Company until the early 1930's. After prohibition he joined the Alcohol Tax Unit and later in 1941 the Income Tax Unit of the Treasury Department where he retired from in 1968. One hobby Chester enjoyed was being a ham radio operator. He still does his own taxes and considers the airplane and jet propulsion to be two of the most important inventions of the 20th century. His advice to the younger generation is to study hard while in school. Chester's extended family includes three sons, four grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Private Chester Beymer for his service to his country. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing Chester many more years of continued success and happiness.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Cosmo C. Insalaco, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures, upon his retirement after 21 years of service to Fresno County, the number one ranked agricultural county in the United States. Born and raised on a farm in Watterton Massachusetts, Cosmo has long been involved in the agriculture industry. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a degree in Horticulture, and continued his studies in Public Administration through the California college system. In addition to his participation in agriculture, Cosmo also served one year of active duty in the United States Air Force and five years in the Air Force Reserve. Cosmo served as Deputy Agricultural Commissioner with Santa Clara County, and Assistant Agricultural Commissioner for San Mateo County. He served as vice-president of Agribusiness in the Fresno County and City Chamber of Commerce, and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the California Agricultural Commissioners' and Sealers' Association. He was the originator of the Fresno County Blossom Trail in 1987, and is founder and past chairman of Fresno Ag Roundtable. Throughout his impressive career, Cosmo has actively participated in many organizations. He was President of the San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Commissioners' and Sealers' Association, a member of the National and Western Weights and Measures Association, the Rotary Club of Fresno, the Fresno County Farm Bureau and a charter member of the Clovis Elks. He was an advisor to the California State University Fresno Agriculture program for 20 years. He served on Governor Gerry Brown's and Governor Pete Wilson's Exotic Pest Task Force, and on Governor Wilson's Ag Land Task Force. Cosmo also served on the Fresno County Board of Supervisors' Ag Land Preservation Committee, and currently serves as Agricultural Commissioner representative for both the Standardization and Vertebrate Pest Advisory Boards for the Secretary of Agriculture and the California Commissioners' and Sealers Association. Because of his involvement and service, Cosmo was honored as the ``1989 Agriculturalist of the Year'' in Fresno County. Mr. Speaker, Cosmo C. Insalaco's many years of service and dedication to agriculture are worthy of great respect and recognition. I urge my colleagues to join me in extending to Cosmo best wishes for continued success and accomplishment following his retirement.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Finalists for the first ever California Family Business Award. Ten Businesses from Bakersfield to Atwater are among the finalists. Alert-O-Lite, Inc. in Fresno, provides traffic control and construction supply sales and rentals, and also operates a sign division, Signmax! The company has grown rapidly since its founding in 1971 by Eddie Hunsaker and Jake Jensen. Hunsaker bought out his partner in 1979 and brought his four children as partners in 1981. Revenues have doubled in the last seven years, and the company currently has three locations and 27 full-time employees. Alert-O-Lite was presented with the Top 5 Business Award in 1996. Droogh Dairy in Lemoore, presently milking 1,100 cows with a herd size of 2,200, was founded by Case Droogh and his wife Corrie. They started in the dairy business in 1953 with a small farm in Paramount, California and several years later built a dairy with a herd size of 350 in Chino. They moved their dairy from Chino to Lemoore in 1974. In 1987 they remodeled to accommodate more than 1,000 cows and added a state-of-the-art milking system, fully computerized machines, and 5,000 acres of farmland for growing feed. Ennis Homes in Porterville develops and builds single family and multifamily residential housing and professional offices and commercial complexes in the Central Valley. The company has grown tremendously in the past five years, with developments in Porterville, Tulare, Handford and Bakersfield. In 1995 it was named ``Builder of the Year'' by the Building Industry Association of Tulare and Kings County. Ennis Homes, founded in 1979 by Ben Ennis and his wife Roberta, was known as Ennis Development Corporation until March 1998. Gray Lift, Inc. in Fresno, which provides material handling equipment, was established in 1957 by John L. Waugh, Sr. and Will Gray. From a single location in Fresno with nine employees and five service vehicles, it presently operates throughout 14 counties with approximately 160 full-time employees and more than 70 service vehicles. It has added branches in Bakersfield, Santa Maria and Manteca, California. Three new divisions have been created since 1985; Forklift Wholesale Co., Warehouse Systems, and Construction Rental Services. Grimmway Farms in Bakersfield is a fully integrated carrot and processed operation, from planting and growing to packing, processing and marketing. Grimmway harvests carrots from a total of 40,000 acres annually, with nearly half of the acreage devoted to ``baby'' carrots. The cut-and-peeled carrots account for more than half of the total dollar volume. To provide their buyers with year-round supplies, the company sources carrots from Bakersfield, Lancaster, the Imperial Valley and the Cuyama area in California, as well as Colorado. Hester Orchard, Inc. in Visalia grows plums, walnuts, and oranges, dehydrates walnuts and pecans, and provides compost spreading and truck services. The farming operation started in 1940 with John Hester and his wife Ruth. In 1980, Hester Farms built a permanent office site to meet its growing needs. It is now farming 710 acres of owned and leased property in permanent tree crops. Commercial services include walnut harvesting; walnut hulling and drying at the rate of 220 tons per day; pecan hulling and drying; rental of dry storage space; and trucking. Horstmann Financial and Insurance Services in Fresno has been providing life insurance services to Valley residents since 1958. John E. Horstmann is the founder of the company and is run by two generations of the family. In 1990, John Horstmann and seven other estate and business planners from across the country founded a national resource center for estate and business succession planning, based in Dallas. From the original eight members, the group has grown to include more than 100 professionals. J.D. Heiskell & Co. in Tulare, has been in operation since 1886. They recently were named the highest volume single feed production facility in the United States, with nearly twice the volume of its nearest competitor. It was started by Jefferson Davis Heiskell as a branch of the Farmer's Union Warehouse Company of Stockton. Heiskell supervised the construction and operation of the Tulare Warehouse and a subsequent one in Delano. A decade later he bought the grain storage facility and later expanded into grain sales. In 1972, J.D. Heiskell and Co. built a modern computer-operated feed mill on its property. The company also owns and operates retail farm stores in Tulare, Visalia and Porterville. It is in its fourth generation of family operation. Joseph Gallo Farms in Atwater operates 12,000 acres of land, raising five varieties of wine grapes, dairy cattle, dairy feed and cheese. It was founded in 1946 by Joseph Gallo, who owns Joseph Gallo Farms with his son Michael, CEO, and daughter Linda Gallo Jelacich. Gallo started out growing wine grapes, then cultivated other crops, as well as cattle, for market. The farm moved into milking in 1979, built a cheese-processing plant in 1982, began generic cheese processing in 1983, and developed the Joseph Farms brand in 1984. Joseph Farms, which processes approximately one million pounds of milk daily into award winning cheese, is presently the largest selling, California-brand retail cheese. It is sold in more than 20 states and in Mexico, the South Pacific, Guam, the Caribbean, and Japan. Lyles Diversified, Inc. in Fresno, is involved in shopping center and business park developments, real estate rental operations, underground pipeline and utility construction, heavy concrete and mechanical construction, manufacturing of closed circuit television surveillance equipment, and agricultural operations. The business was started as a proprietorship in 1945 by W.M. Lyles and Elizabeth V. Lyles, as a contractor specializing in oil field underground pipelines. It soon expanded into other types of underground construction; added orchard in 1974; started acquiring apartment complexes in the early 1970's, and later added office and hotel properties; and in the mid to late 1970's began to develop land for industrial and commercial use. It has grown into an organization consisting of Lyles Diversified, Inc., seven subsidiary corporations, and numerous partnerships. Three generations of Lyles family members currently are involved. The winner of the California Family Business Award was J.D. Heiskell & Co. These businesses have all shown tremendous growth and achievement. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing J.D. Heiskell & Co. along with the finalists, many more years of continued success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Martha McKinley for being honored as Mother of the Year by the Fresno County Women in Chambers of Commerce. Martha is an outstanding and deserving mother in Fresno County. Martha McKinley was nominated by her daughter, Monna Romagnoli, three grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. Martha married Pete McKinley on February 6, 1937 and they shared their lives together for 40 years. In 1978 Pete passed away. Martha has worked most of her adult life in several different fields to support her parents and family. She was a nursery school teacher; office manager at Maier Island Naval Shipyard; department head of CA Industrial Division of Welfare. Martha was also active in community and civic organizations and volunteered on several political campaigns. She was a member of the Women's Zonta Club and the Coachella Valley Women's Club. In 1950, Martha McKinley was the first President of Fresno County Women in Chambers of Commerce. She remains an active member today as she enjoys her retirement. Martha is an exemplary mother who possesses the qualities of compassion, warmth, generosity, humor, and humility. Martha has also instilled these values in her entire family. Furthermore, her great spirit, integrity, loyalty, wit, and generosity are the reasons for her long-lasting friendships. Martha is quick to share herself with others in need, often times bringing them into her life and home. Martha became a second mother to her neighbor Sally, when she lost her mother. Martha made sure to include Sally in everything her family did. She guided and comforted Sally, treating her like a daughter. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleges to join me in congratulating Martha McKinley for being awarded Mother of the Year. Her desire to put family first, her love of God, life, and her neighbor make her truly deserving of this recognition.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the California Advocate Newspaper for their 32 years of service to the community. The California Advocate is a multi-cultural newspaper and is the voice for the minority community and the social conscious of the San Joaquin Valley. Former Fresno City Councilman Les Kimber and wife Pauline began publishing the California Advocate Newspaper in 1967. The paper continues to initiate action to promote justice and equality for the minority community with an emphasis on self-esteem and self- determination. The California Advocate Newspaper is also a resource for minorities seeking employment opportunities, especially at Fresno City College and in the city's police and fire departments. Les Kimber led the committee that hired the first African American on television in Fresno. He also headed the corporation that put together low income housing for West Fresnans, and helped to establish the Ethnic Studies Department at California State University, Fresno. As an advocate and publisher, Kimber founded the United Black Men of Fresno, which is comprised of 100 men who promote economic development by stressing opportunities for minorities to become employers as well as employees. The California Advocate Newspaper is a member of the West Coast Black Publishers Association and the National Newspaper Publishers Association. The Advocate has also received numerous awards: The ACLU Northern California Civil Liberties Award in 1975 for outstanding contributions; the Governors Award in 1985 for fighting crime; the Chicago Media Award in 1986; the West Coast Black Publishers Award in 1990; the NAACP Heritage Award in 1992; and the West Coast Black Publisher's Award in 1993. Mark Kimber is the second-generation publisher in charge of this family-owned newspaper. He has continued to maintain the quality and integrity of the California Advocate. Recently, there have been special sections added to the newspaper that focus on young people throughout the community and pages that have been devoted to schools and student activities. Mark Kimber has won numerous awards for his innovative design and promotion of his newspaper. He implemented the ``Drum Major for Justice Award,'' which honors the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The event at which the Award is presented has been referred to as the Central Valley's civil rights event of the year. This year's speaker and honoree is Harry Belafonte. Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate and thank The California Advocate for its 32 years of service to the community and I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing The Advocate many more years of continued success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for their past successes and continued effort to encourage small business development in the San Joaquin Valley. I want to congratulate the 1999 Board of Directors for the Central California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce at their 15th Annual Installation of Officers Dinner and Gala. The Board members are: Executive Committee: Gilbert Servin-President, Danny Parra-President Elect, Rosemarie Rosales-Secretary, Gustavo Corona-Treasurer. Board Members: Leonel Alvarado, Santiago Guvera, Olivia Hastings, Gloria Morales Palacios. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the Central Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for 15 years of outstanding service. I urge my colleges to join me in wishing them best wishes for many more years of continued success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognized the Center for Advanced Research and Technology (CART) for their efforts in developing a new model for high school education. CART is a joint project of the Fresno and Clovis Unified School Districts in California. CART is a collaborative effort between these diverse school districts to develop a new model for high school education. Fresno Unified shares the challenges of urban districts, poverty, gang violence and diversity. Clovis Unified is an affluent district, serving a student population that is college bound. By creating the Center For Advanced Research and Technology the Fresno and Clovis school districts are committed to changing the way high school curriculum is designed and delivered. In the wake of tragedies at Columbine High School in Denver, and Heritage High School in Conyers, GA, our entire nation has focused their energy on determining why these tragedies occurred. We must look at our nation's high schools. High schools persist in organizing instruction subject by subject with little effort to integrate knowledge to fit a precise time frame. High school graduates must be better prepared to compete for jobs, ready to move on to higher education and able to function in an increasingly technological society. High school education must be restructured to meet the present and future needs of students. Students need and require more and different instruction in science, mathematics and English, coupled with the emerging tools of technology. The Fresno and Clovis school districts are addressing the need to revamp our nation's high schools. These districts have resolved to commit the resources, share the decision-making, and leverage the assets of both communities to fundamentally change the way the high school curriculum is designed and delivered. The goal is to restructure the high school experience in a way that will contribute to the academic success and ultimately the success in life of all students. CART is moving forward as they celebrate a groundbreaking ceremony for this project in Fresno. The Center for Advanced Research and Technology represents the nation's largest, most comprehensive high school reform effort to date. CART is focused specifically on the high school program for eleventh and twelfth grade students. The Fresno and Clovis school districts are partnering with business and industry to create a real-world, real work environment. CART's long-term, community-based projects will engaged students in complex, real world issues that have meaning to the students and to the participating community partners. Through these projects, students achieve simultaneous outcomes by acquiring essential academic knowledge, practicing essential skills, and developing essential values. A major component of the CART vision is active partnerships with business and industry, and higher education. Leaders from business and industry are involved with CART at all levels providing leadership and fiscal support, consulting on instructional design, and collaborating as instructors and mentors. Mr. Speaker, the Center for Advanced Research and Technology represents a commitment from the Fresno and Clovis School Districts, the business and education community, parents and students to restructure a high school to provide real world academic and business centered programs designed to contribute to the academic success and ultimately the success in life of all students. I urge my colleagues to wish CART continued success in their effort toward better education.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Robert Taylor, coach of the Fresno chapter of the Monterey Bay Jaguars, for his outstanding achievements and dedication to the youth of his community. The Monterey Bay Jaguars is a track and field club for children ages six and up. Taylor, a Fresno parole officer, devotes his time twice a week, between February and July, to his ``star athletes.'' He started with about 15 athletes from Bethune Elementary school in Fresno, where he was a tutor. The chapter now has more than 40 athletes from Fresno County. Taylor recruited co-workers and parents to help him run the growing program. Despite what some may think, this is not an ``inner- city'' group of kids. ``We have a mixture,'' Taylor says. ``Most of these kids are on the honor roll. Some of those kids down there have some money. But I don't want it to be like they're the rich kids. These kids are talented.'' Indeed they are. Most of Taylor's kids had not participated until this year, but have won a combined 700 awards at the state and national levels since February. Taylor's secret to this success is a regimen of discipline and mental stability. Taylor designed a program that teaches the children the fundamental aspects of the sport and puts them through a college level workout twice per week. Taylor says he believes all of his athletes can compete in college and beyond and boasts about their speed. ``I've got a gold mine here,'' Taylor says. ``They're the all-star team.'' Mr. Speaker, I rise, with great pleasure, to recognize Robert Taylor and his team of ``all-stars.'' It is evident by the dedication of both coaches and athletes that there is a mutual respect, and genuine concern for the positive development of the community. I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Fresno chapter of the Monterey Bay Jaguars for many more years of continued success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Presley Sam, Kenneth Takeuchi, Barbara Taniguchi, Izumi Taniguchi, Camille Wing and Geryoung Yang, for being selected the 1999 Portraits of Success program Honorees by KSEE 24 and Companies that Care. In celebration of Asian-American Heritage Month for May, these six leaders were honored for their unique contributions to the betterment of their community. Presley Sam, a refugee from Cambodia, came to Fresno knowing no one. Through the offices of the Lao Family of Fresno, he became a Community worker and was later hired by the Police Department in Elkhorn Juvenile Boot Camp Facility. Presley serves as an executive member of the Board of Directors for the Cambodian Buddhist Society of Fresno. Kenneth Takeuchi worked for 32 years for the Fresno County Parks Department. He is a member of the San Joaquin River Parkway Trust, the Shinzen Garden Committee and the Fresno Buddist Church. Mr. Takeuchi is a marathon and ultra-marathon runner and race organizer. Over the past 16 years, he has directed runs for many fund raisers for organizations such as United Cerebral Palsy, the American Heart Association and Special Olympics. Barbara Taniguchi has been a member of the Japanese American Citizens League since 1955. Very involved in her community, Barbara has served on the Fresno Unified School District Desegregation Task Force, the Central California Nikkei Foundation and on several library boards. Izumi Taniguchi, Professor Emeritus of Economics at California State University Fresno since 1993, has been a board member of the Central California Nikkei Foundation since its inception. He has held many offices in the Japanese American Citizens League at the local, state and national levels and is active in numerous other community organizations. Camille Wing has served on the Board of Hanford's Taoist Temple Preservation Society since 1979 and has become a valuable resource on the history of early Chinese immigrants in Hanford. She is also active in serving Kings County Library, the Hanford Visitors Agency and community recycling efforts. Geryound Yang maintains a successful Fresno dental practice. He established a California State University, Fresno Hmong Student Association and has been active in the Sky Watch Project. Mr. Yang's goal is to be a mentor and role model for Hmong young people. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I pay tribute to the KSEE 24 Companies that Care 1999 Asian American Portraits of Success honorees. I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing these honorees many more years of success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Stacey Lee Baker, Michelle Lee Baker and Tamara Karakashian for being chosen to be presented to the Archbishop of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America, at the 28th annual Debutante Ball. To be chosen, these young women must be active members of their community and church. Stacey Lee Baker, age 19, of Fresno, has taught the pre-kindergarten Sunday School class at St. Paul Armenian Church, for three years, and is actively involved in the Armenian Christian Youth Organization (ACYO) as Assistant Treasurer, and previously as Secretary. In 1991, she was ordained an acolyte by Archbishop Vatche Hovsepian. She attended the Diocesan Armenian Camp from 1990 to 1992. Locally, she has volunteered at the Poverello House, a local homeless shelter. A 1997 graduate of Bullard High School, Stacey is currently attending Fresno City College where she majors in nursing. Michelle Lee Baker, age 18, Stacey's sister, has taught the pre- kindergarten Sunday School class for two years. Michelle is currently the Corresponding Secretary of the ACYO. She also attended the Armenian Camp for two years. In keeping with family tradition, she has volunteered at the Poverello House. Michelle is a senior at Bullard High School where she maintains a 3.8 grade point average and is a lifetime member of the California Scholarship Federation. She is an Algebra Lab Assistant and is currently a member of the Math Club and the Junior Larks. Upon graduation, she plans to attend the California State University Fresno, where she will major in accounting. Tamara Karakashian, age 19, of Visalia, is an active member of the St. Mary Armenian Apostolic Church in Yettem, where she was a choir member and served as the Easter Luncheon Committee Chair for four years. She was the Chair person of the ACYO, Recording Secretary, and General Assembly Delegate. Tamara has participated in the Armenian Camp for eight years as camper, counselor and Arts and Crafts Coordinator. In her local community, Tamara has been involved in DARE and served as an assistant for the Visalia Police Department Golf Tournament. Tamara participated with Visalians for Sober Graduation both as student representative and board member. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I congratulate Stacey and Michelle Lee Baker and Tamara Karakashian on their presentation. Their accomplishments and service are beneficial not only to their churches and communities, but to their own growth as mature, contributing adults. I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating these young women, and wishing them a bright future and much continued success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Roger Matlock upon his retirement from the Mariposa County Sheriff's Department as Sheriff-Coroner. Roger received a tile plaque from the County of Mariposa California commemorating his longtime service. Roger has dedicated thirty-two years to law enforcement. He first served for twenty years as a Highway Patrol Officer. On August 1, 1986 he took office as the newly elected Sheriff-Coroner. While fulfilling his duties as Sheriff-Coroner, Roger made numerous unselfish contributions to the community working with citizens, organizations, County and government agencies. A few of Roger's accomplishments and contributions are as follows: effectively administered Sheriff's Department programs, successfully upgraded the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office with the latest technology for both administrative and field operations; through his leadership, accomplished the financing and construction for a new Sheriff's Administration building and a new modern Adult Detention Facility, developed a number of community-based law enforcement programs which have more than 160 citizen volunteer participants, began the SCOPE program, bicycle patrol, twenty-four hour patrol, the Investigation Division, enhanced the Search Rescue Program, Posse and Reserves, and improved the Animal Control and Constable function which merged with the Sheriff's Department. Roger also found time to be an active member of the Lion's, serving as President and assisting with special barbeque meals for seniors. He was a Little League coach, is active with church activities and enjoys spending time with his family and traveling with his wife Becky. Mr. Speaker, Roger Matlock was a tremendous asset to Mariposa County, and his services will be greatly missed. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing Mr. Matlock many more years of continued success in his retirement.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Exceptional Parents Unlimited of Fresno for receiving the Daily Points of Light Award from the Points of Light Foundation in Washington, D.C. The Points of Light Foundation, established by President George Bush, recognizes individuals and groups that give service to their communities. Exceptional Parents was founded 22 years ago by a registered nurse Marion Karian, who still runs the organization today. It began as a support group at University Medical Center of Fresno, California, for parents of children with Down Syndrome, and has grown into a large, non-profit organization, which serves the family members of children with special needs. Marion states, ``When there is a child with disabilities it affects the whole family. Our approach is to help the whole family.'' The heart of the organization's program is providing support, education and advocacy assistance to families of disabled children, including siblings and grandparents. An early-intervention program targets families with children up to three years of age. It offers developmental assessment and assistance including occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy. It enhances the development of infants and toddlers with disabling conditions and minimizes their potential for developmental delays. There is also a Family Resource Network which provides multicultural parent training and information, a Safe and Healthy Families program and Child Abuse Prevention services which is one in seven in the state, funded by the Department of Social Services. All of these services are free to the public. ``We can give out lots of technical information, and we do,'' says Marion, ``but what parents can do for other parents is empowering. When a new parent gets together with an experienced parent and finds out he is not in isolation, not alone, they connect. We strengthen families and enables them to handle their own situations, that is the thread of who and what we are.'' Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Exceptional Parents Unlimited for receiving the Daily Points of Light Award. The service of emotional and educational empowerment is invaluable to families of disabled children. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing this organization many years of continued success and service to their community.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Exceptional Parents Unlimited of Fresno for receiving the Daily Points of Light Award from the Points of Light Foundation in Washington, D.C. The Points of Light Foundation, established by President George Bush, recognizes individuals and groups that give service to their communities. Exceptional Parents was founded 22 years ago by registered nurse Marion Karian, who still runs the organization today. It began as a support group at University Medical Center of Fresno, California, for parents of children with Down Syndrome, and has grown into a large, non-profit organization, which serves the family members of children with special needs. Marion states, ``When there is a child with disabilities it affects the whole family. Our approach is to help the whole family.'' The heart of the organization's program is providing support, education and advocacy assistance to families of disabled children, including siblings and grandparents. An early-intervention program targets families with children up to three years of age. It offers developmental assessments and assistance including occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy. It enhances the development of infants and toddlers with disabling conditions and minimizes their potential for development, delays. There is also a Family Resource Network which provides multicultural parent training and information, a Safe and Healthy Family program and Child Abuse Prevention services which is one in seven in the state, funded by the Department of Social Services. All of these services are free to the public. ``We can give out lots of technical information, and we do,'' says Marion, ``but what parents can do for other parents is empowering. When a new parent gets together with an experienced parent and finds out he is not in isolation, not alone, they connect. We strengthen families and enable them to handle their own situations, that is the thread of who and what we are.'' Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Exceptional Parents Unlimited for receiving the Daily Points of Light Award. The service of emotional and educational empowerment is invaluable to families of disabled children. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing this organization many years of continued success and service to their community.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Republic of Croatia for celebrating the 9th anniversary of its independence on May 30, 1999, and for opening a new Consulate General in Chicago on April 8, 1999. I am proud, and especially proud today, to be one of the more than 2 million people of Croatian descent living in the United States who have maintained their links with Croatia. Croatian Americans arrived in the United States with little except for the belief in the ``American Dream'' and a perseverance to succeed and watch their children excel. Since they first arrived in large numbers in the United States more than one hundred years ago, Croatian Americans have done well in all aspects of American historical, socio-cultural and political life. Their sons and daughters have grown up to be doctors, lawyers and other professionals who have served the country which welcomed their ancestors with open arms. Croatia is a country rich in history, culture and beauty. Its people have a special appreciation for the United States and Americans. A Croatian poet, Antun Gustav Matos, wrote in 1906 that ``America is presently the most important factor in the creation of Croatian democracy, the best school of Croatian vitality.'' Today these words are even more meaningful than they were in 1906. We all remember Croatia's lengthy war for independence that made headlines worldwide in the early part of this decade. We celebrated when Croatia finally broke from the Serbian-dominated Yugoslavia in 1991, after such great loss of human life, to become its own independent country. Today, we stand with the Croatians to pay tribute to their courage and perseverance. We pay tribute to Croatia's fully functioning, democratic political structure, and its commitment to further economic development. I also want to pay tribute to the Republic of Croatia's opening of a new Consulate General in Chicago on April 8, 1999. The three-day series of events entitled Croatia in Chicago was the largest gathering ever of the Croatian community in the U.S. and it demonstrated that the partnership between Croatia and the U.S. is constantly being strengthened. One particularly special event was a Gala Dinner organized by the Croatian community in Chicago. There were 1,400 guests in attendance and the revenues of the dinner went to benefit the children's hospitals in Croatia. Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I want to associate myself with the remarks of Ambassador Robert Gelbard at the Groatia in Chicago event. Mr. Gelbard said ``As our trade and business ties grow so must Groatia's integration into the full range of Western and Euro-Altantic institutions.'' I believe we must do all we can to help Croatia achieve these goals, and we must continue to reinforce to the Croatian people that our goal is a full partnership with Croatia. Finally, I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to th Republic of Croatia for celebrating the ninth anniversary of its independence and for opening a new Consulate General in Chicago.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to D. Mae Johnson, W. Ray Johnson, Myser James Keels, Pastor Chester Riggins, and James E. Walton, Ph.D., for being selected the 1999 Portraits of Success program Honorees by KSEE 24 and Companies that Care. In celebration of African-American History Month, these five leaders were honored for their unique contributions to the betterment of their community. D. Mae Johnson was a teacher in Fresno and Oakland for twenty years; during this time she also obtained a master's degree in both Counseling and Guidance from California State University, Fresno (CSUF) and Administration from Pepperdine University. For the past 20 years she has been executive director of Quality Group Homes one of the Central Valley's largest providers of residential treatment care for adolescents and children. Mrs. Johnson is involved with many professional, church and community organizations, including being a lifetime member of the NAACP. In 1997, she helped found the Fresno chapter of Links Inc., a nonprofit humanitarian organization that provides support services to enrich the quality of life through cultural, civic and educational activities. Inspired by her niece's long struggle with Sickle Cell Disease, she worked with Fresno Links and St. Agnes Hospital, to bring to Fresno, the only Sickle Cell Anemia program in the Valley. W. Ray Johnson has been a dedicated public servant for three decades. He is the Director of Community Resources for the City of Fresno. He reports to the City Manager, and works closely with the Mayor and City Council members. He was formerly the Fresno Deputy City Manager and Director of Human Resources. One of his proudest accomplishments was his role in establishing a facility for the African-American Museum for which he has helped to secure almost half-a-million dollars in funding over the years. He is currently instrumental in setting up the African- American Multi-Service Center as a one-stop facility to work with youth and gang members. Mr. Johnson has served on many boards and commissions, including two terms as vice president of the NAACP. His many awards include State of California Black Women Organized for Political Action, Man of the Year award, United Black Men Community Service award, California State Assembly Civic Involvement award, and the California State Senate Outstanding Community Contribution award. Myser James Keels has long given himself to benefit the Fresno community. For 27 years, he was a groundsman with the Fresno County Parks and Recreation Department until has retirement in 1995. Along with park upkeep and worker supervision, he also provided supervision of adult and youth offender programs. He gave ten years to the County of Fresno Social Security Board, eight to the County Human Services Advisory Board, and two to the Equal Opportunities Commission. Mr. Keels also served on the Conservation Corps Commission Community at Large Revitalization Board, Southwest Edison Planning Committee, Fresno Neighborhood Alliance, as a deacon for St. Joseph's Baptist Church, president of the Black Political Council, president of the Coalition for Cooperative Development & Community Development Corporation, treasurer of King of Kings Center Board of Directors, vice chairperson of Westside Fellowship and board member of Central California Legal Services. Honors and awards have come from these entities and many more including a special Certificate of Appreciation for 11 years of assisting alcoholics in their recovery. Pastor Chester Riggins has served the St. Rest Missionary Baptist Church since 1950 as a Sunday School teacher, Baptist training union instructor, church clerk, financial secretary, deacon, chairman of the Deacon Board and chairman of the Church Pulpit Committee. For many years he was a mail carrier for the Postal Services, but resigned in 1979 to serve the church full time. Pastor Riggins' activities outside the church have included being the temporary chairman for organizing the Fresno Model Cities Program, member and officer of the West Fresno Interdenominational Ministers' Alliance, charter member of the Fresno Police Program, member of the Concerned Citizens for Quality Education, secretary-treasurer of the Home Mission Board of the California State Convention and 1st Vice Moderator Emeritus of the St. John Missionary Baptist Association. Dr. James E. Walton, Ph.D., has been teaching since 1967 and has been a professor of English at CSUF since 1990. He previously taught at Mt. Union College for 20 years and was an exchange professor in Osaka, Japan in 1988. Dr. Walton served as a member of Search Committees at CSUF for the Dean of Education, Human Relations Director and vice president and has been a member of the Committee on Academic Policies and the Committee on Faculty and Strategic Planning. Apart from the university, he has served as Library Trustee, on the Fair Housing Board, and as a Board Member of the American Red Cross, Junior League, and the NAACP. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I pay tribute to D. Mae Johnson, W. Ray Johnson, Myser James Keels, Pastor Chester Riggins and Dr. James E. Walton, Ph.D. for being recognized as the KSEE 24 Companies that Care 1999 African-American Portraits of Success honorees. I applaud the contributions, ideas, and leadership they have exhibited in our community. I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing these fine people many more years of success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Fresno Elks Lodge as they continue in their 100th year of service. The Fresno Elks Lodge was founded May 12, 1898, and has remained true to the mission of the ``Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks,'' dedicated to responsible and charitable interaction in their communities, and the preservation of American heritage. Maintaining its emphasis on charity, justice, brotherly love, and fidelity, the order provides millions of dollars in charitable goods and services. It services disabled children through the Elks Major Project by offering scholarships and in-home therapies. It provides active youth programs, veterans assistance programs, community service programs, drug abuse awareness education and alternative activity programs for inner-city youth. Also, the Elks are second to the Federal Government in providing scholarships to students pursuing a college education. During times of national crisis such as natural disasters or the bombing of the Federal building in Oklahoma, the Elks are among the first to respond with offers of help both in manpower and money to communities and their families. Proud of its patriotism, the order is the first to come to the defense of its nation and flag. From building and staffing the first V.A. Hospital in the United States, to helping to restore the Statue of Liberty, Elks continue to guide America forward. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and pay tribute to the Fresno Elks Lodge #439 on occasion of its 100th year of continued service. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing the Fresno Elks Lodge continued success in their quest to uphold and improve the American community.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce a brief biography on Senator Rose Ann Vuich, who, for her ethical leadership, has been honored with an award in her namesake. The Rose Ann Vuich Ethical Leadership Award is designed to increase ethical sensitivity, raise expectations for behavior and acknowledge personal integrity. The first recipient of the award was Fresno County Supervisor Sharon Levy. This year's recipient is Lindsay Mayor Valeriano Saucedo. Rose Ann Vuich was the daughter of immigrant parents who grew up on a farm in rural Tulare County. She became a small-town accountant and went on to the California State Senate as the first woman ever to serve in that body. Although at first she was reluctant to run for the office, she eventually (in her own words) ``tore into that campaign and campaigned from morning till night, in my own grass-roots, down-to- earth way * * *'' Rose Ann won the primary by only 242 votes and faced an uphill battle in the run-off. Despite comments from political pros that said she didn't have a chance, she kept moving forward in a very simple and effective campaign and eventually won the election by more than 2,600 votes in 1976. Rose Ann's first election was the last hard-fought election she would face. She so handily beat her challengers in 1980 and 1984 that nobody ran against her in 1988. Had she chosen to run in 1992, it's likely she would have run unopposed again. The reason she became progressively more unbeatable came not only out of the deep roots and wide networks she had in her home district, but because she served in public office in exactly the way she promised she would. In 1992, after a 16-year career as one of the most respected and esteemed legislators in California history, Senator Vuich retired from office and returned to her home, here in the Valley. Rose Ann Vuich was more than honest. She was a person of extremely high integrity who took her public responsibilities very seriously and believed in giving the voter, the constituent, what they deserve: fair, ethical consideration of issues and conscientious, cost-effective delivery of service. In addendum to her biography, I would be remiss if I failed to recognize Rose Ann for the recent dedication to her of the Rose Ann Vuich Interchange. The Interchange, which links three major Fresno freeways, was named after the lawmaker who got it built. Vuich made the completion of Freeway 41 the centerpiece of her 1976 election campaign. Her vision has finally been realized. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I recognize Rose Ann Vuich, a woman of vision and integrity. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing her a bright future, and many years of continued success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Karl F. Baumann for his outstanding dedication to the growth of Mariposa County. Karl was a ``strong and commanding'' man who had a vision to develop the barren acres of Cathey's Valley into a town successful in both business and community. Karl ventured into Cathey's Valley from Southern California 16 years ago when he purchased an 800-acre ranch. It was then that Karl had a vision to develop this ranch into something more. To fulfill his vision of a sound and safe community, Karl subdivided his ranch and built The Whispering Oaks Estates, currently home to many Mariposans. The next project that Karl embarked upon led to the creation of the Cathey's Valley business park. Since then, the business park has contributed greatly to the economy of Cathey's Valley and Mariposa County. Karl's leadership was also noted by his membership in the #98 Masonic Lodge in Hornitos, the Mariposa County Board of Realtors, and as owner of the Cathey's Valley Realty and Development. Karl has been credited for the amazing growth of Cathey's Valley by many of his colleagues and friends. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I rise today to recognize Mr. Karl F. Baumann for his leadership and strength in paving the way for a successful community to grow and flourish. His contribution to the San Joaquin Valley is incomparable. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing the Baumann family and Cathey's Valley continued success for the years to come.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Matt Fong for his service to the state of California and the United States. Matt Fong's leadership and accomplishments in Republican politics has had a profound impact on the advancement and quality of life in California and America. Matt Fong has been committed to public service for many years, most recently as California Treasurer. As treasurer, Mr. Fong worked to create higher efficiency within the office, thereby saving California taxpayers millions of dollars. He earned additional funds for California schools, hospitals, and prisons through wise investments, and boosted California's ratings with investors. Mr. Fong has done much to increase funds for small business and education, and has also worked to revitalize California's inner cities. Aside from his many accomplishments as California treasurer, Matt Fong is a United States Air Force Academy graduate. He served as regent of Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, regent of Pepperdine University, where he received his master's degree in Business administration, and he was director of the Boy Scouts of America in the Los Angeles area. Other activities and awards include: National Commission on Economic Growth and Tax Reform, Congressional National Security Group, Chairman of the Governor's Task Force on State and Local Investment Practices, Chairman of the Pacific Rim Financial Summit, Distinguished Alumnus Award from both Pepperdine University and Southwestern University of Law where he received his jurist doctorate degree, Governing Magazine's Deal of the Year Award, Industry Award of Excellence from the National Federation of Municipal Analysts, honored for service to impoverished communities by the First AME Church of Los Angeles, excellence 2000 Award from the United States Pan Asian-American Chamber of Commerce, and the Simon Wiesenthal Center Award for efforts to promote restitution for Holocaust victims from Swiss banks. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor that I pay tribute to Matt Fong for his service to the state of California, and the United States. Mr. Fong is a faithful public servant who has shown care and dedication to business, education and the well being of California and the American community as a whole. I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing Matt Fong many more years of success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Nune Yesayan for her outstanding musical talent. Nune is considered to be a ``modern-day minstrel'' from Armenia, who herself has survived a traumatic personal history, but has emerged to breathe a new life of hope and beauty into the present day Armenian experience. Nune has been called the ``Armenian Madonna,'' however, love for her music and its message spans generations and cultures. Her extraordinary, emotion-provoking voice, reminiscent of one who has gained life-lessons from a long and tiring journey, and her use of ancient instruments appeals to a wide dynamic of fans, from ``hip'' Generation Xers to Baby Boomers, and from lovers of traditional music to those with more ``eccentric'' music tastes. It is her message, however, drawing Armenians world-wide, which provokes a connection to ``home,'' and delivers truths about the identity, language and culture of the Armenian people. They are songs about the beauty of the homeland, (Armenia) and of the people, the strength of the Armenian character, and the nostalgia of what once was with the hope that it can be reclaimed. At no other time in the modern-day Armenian experience has one performer captured so much attention in such a short period of time. Sold out concerts in Armenia launched the 29-year-old's career. Nune has performed for Armenian troops near the Azeri border, and in Yerevan, Lebanon, Syria and Cyprus. Nune's near-instant stardom led her to California where she performed for mobs of fans. She also appeared at an A.Y.F. picnic, at schools, and in record stores. Nune has produced two CDS and several innovative music videos. She was the only vocalist invited to participate in a 20-hour live broadcast commemorating the tenth anniversary of the December 7, 1988 Armenian earthquake. Adding to this impressive resume Nune's two Anoush Awards granted to her at the Armenian Music Awards in October, one for ``most popular album'' and the other for ``best female vocalist.'' Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Nune Yesayan for doing her part to rejuvenate the ``Armenian soul'' and bridge generational and cultural gaps, bringing families and strangers together with her music. Nune recently played at a concert in Fresno, in my district, at the Armenian Community Center. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing Nune many years of continued success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 1998 Virginia Wine Industry Person of the Year, Gordon Murchie. This honor was bestowed upon Mr. Murchie by the Virginia Winegrowers Advisory Board. Murchie holds several key positions including the Presidency of the Vinifera Wine Growers Association and the Executive Director position for the Licensed Beverage Information Council. Murchie tirelessly promotes the Virginia wine industry around the world. He is only the second East Coast wine industry individual to ever receive the coveted ranking of Supreme Knight by the Brotherhood of the Knights of the Vine. He organizes and manages many state and regional wine events including the Annual Virginia Wine Competition and festival in Northern Virginia which is one of the oldest running wine festivals on the East Coast. Murchie regularly conducts wine tasting of award-winning Virginia wines in California and other locations for wine enthusiasts and trade people. He also has conducted similar wine presentations at major U.S. Chamber of Commerce meetings and at U.S. Congressional receptions. As the former Executive Director of the National Wine Coalition, trade association umbrella for the U.S. wine industry, he served as an industry liaison and lobbyist during four sessions of the U.S. Congress, as well as organizing the first nationwide wine issues forum focusing on health and wine which contributed to the overall industry effort to gain national recognition of the potential health benefits of responsible, moderate consumption. ``Gordon's contributions to the Virginia wine industry has been invaluable,'' said Virginia Winegrowers Advisory Board Chairman Doug Flemer. ``Our industry is fortunate to have such an individual with his expertise and experience working on our behalf,'' added Flemer. Additionally, Murchie serves as a wine consultant and provides guidance and advice to Virginia wineries. He also acts as consultant for the very successful Mount Vernon wine festival, now in its third year. He is nationally considered an authority on many subjects relating to wine and is a frequent guest lecturer for groups on topics such as ``The History of the Virginia Wine Industry.'' Murchie is often selected to lead U.S. viticulture and enology delegations to international wine growing regions such as the People's Republic of China, South Africa, Australia, Argentina and Chile. Given Murchie's extensive U.S. Foreign Service background and his experience in international diplomacy, it is natural that he has chosen to pursue the Jeffersonian dream of promoting an American wine industry. The Virginia Wine Industry Person of the Year award annually recognizes outstanding contributions to the industry. This year's award was presented to Murchie at the Virginia Wine Honors at the Library of Virginia in downtown Richmond. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Gordon Murchie, Virginia Wine Industry Person of the Year. I applaud the invaluable contributions he has made to the American wine industry. I ask my colleagues to join me in wishing Gordon Murchie many more years of success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Kim Peek. Kim was the inspiration for screen writer Barry Morrow's 1988 Oscar-winning movie ``Rain Man.'' Though the movie plot is not about Kim's life, Kim was the original inspiration for the title character. Kim is a unique person. He was diagnosed as a megasavant born with fetal brain damage which affected his motor sensors. Kim is termed a megasavant because of his knowledge of remarkably diverse subject information and total recall capabilities of almost everything he has read since he was three-years old. Since March of 1989, when the movie ``Rain Man'' received four Oscars, Kim and his father Fran have traveled throughout the United States taking their message to those who will listen. Kim's message is ``Learn to recognize and respect differences in others, and treat them as you would like them to treat you. This will help give us the kind of world we hope for. Share, care, be your best!'' Kim has been featured on numerous television stations nationwide and in more than 430 newspaper articles. He has been on ABC's 20/20 and on Good Morning America. His story has been broadcast in nearly every state in the United States, as well as South Africa, Australia, England, and Japan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Kim Peek for his uniqueness, and for his contribution to society. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing Kim and his father many more years of continued success.

Mr. RADANOVICH

Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce an article by the Fresno Bee entitled ``McClatchy's bilingual weekly honored again.'' This article speaks of the achievements and past honors of Vida en el Valle, the Central Valley's primary bilingual newspaper. Vida en el Valle, the bilingual weekly owned by The Fresno Bee's parent company, McClatchy Co., was named the nation's outstanding newspaper in its category for the fourth time in seven years during the 11th annual Hispanic Print Awards sponsored by the National Association of Hispanic Publications. Vida en el Valle also received six other first-place awards for editorial excellence, four second-place awards and four honorable mentions. The newspaper was judged the Outstanding Bilingual Weekly for the third consecutive year by the nation's largest Latino newspaper organization. Vida en el Valle is the only newspaper that has won the award for three consecutive years. John Esparza, Vida editor and publisher, said the newspaper won its latest honors at the association's weekend convention. Vida competes among larger bilingual newspapers in the association. Only the daily newspaper El Nuevo, published by the Miami Herald, and the Los Angeles weekly publication Vida Nueva won more first-place awards than Vida, Esparza said. The category for larger publications is based on annual budget. Vida also took first-place honors for: ``Outstanding color photo,'' by former photographer Tommy Monreal, who left the newspaper to work on a master's degree, ``Outstanding color photo essay,'' by Monreal, ``Outstanding political and economics reporting,'' by reporter Maria Machuca, about the citizenship process, ``Outstanding entertainment column,'' by Andrew Landeros about comedian Carlos Mencia, ``Outstanding entertainment section '' and ``Outstanding sports section.'' ``This is the most first-place awards we've ever won,'' Esparza said. ``We want quality news coverage for our readers and for the Latino community. This shows we are on the right path.'' Mr. Speaker, Vida en el Valle has served a vital role in the Central Valley. I urge my colleagues to join me in congratulating Vida en el Valle, and wishing them many years of continued success.