WARRIORS OFF BUT BEAT CELTICS 114-111 POLICE: HIT-AND-RUN KILLED ATWATER TEEN LOCAL & REGION A2 TIME FOR CONGRESS TO VALUE FAMILIES Home winning streak extended to 19 OPINION A4 SPORTS B1 SHINING 75 cents Newsstand price, less with home delivery O V E R C A L I F O R N I A’ S GREAT CENTRAL VA L L E Y SINCE 1869 MERCED SUN-STAR MONDAY, January 26, 2015 BREAKING NEWS ONLINE AT MERCEDSUNSTAR.COM Arrest made in arson fire 11 ELDERLY, DISABLED RESIDENTS LOST HOMES IN APARTMENT BLAZE By Rob Parsons [email protected] Andrew Kuhn [email protected] Merced city and county fire crews work to secure the scene of the apartment fire in the 300 block of T Street on Wednesday. City names interim manager Miss Merced’s moving journey WRESTLER FACED OBSTACLES OF LIFE IN FOSTER CARE By Doane Yawger [email protected] Not only is Rose Beltran of Atwater the new Miss Merced County 2015, she’s also an accomplished high school wrestler who has grappled with many obstacles during her 17 years. In and out of the foster care system since she was 6 years old, Beltran lived in seven homes growing up. She was adopted into her “forever” home in September but still has a heart for foster children. The Buhach Colony High School senior won the county beauty pageant Jan. 17. Initially there were 14 contestants, and Beltran was selected among four finalists. She received a $1,000 scholarship and will take part in the Miss California pageant in June in Fresno. Beltran is undefeated in league wrestling competition. She also enjoys varsity softball, water polo, track, cheerleading, gymnastics and participating in Playhouse Merced productions. Besides the $1,000 scholarship, Beltran was led to enter the pageant in November by the hope she could bring the foster care situation to the forefront if she won. She wants to earn a master’s degree in clinical psychology at California State University, Fresno, and perhaps go for a doctorate and become a psychologist. When she finishes college, she said, she is leaning toward a career working with children. “The world that I have come from has made me mentally and emotionally stronger and it caused me to grow this fire in my heart to be better,” Beltran said. “I am always reaching for the brightest star. I experienced the hurt and feeling of neglect other foster children have felt, and it has made me want to give back. I want them to know that dreams can come true if you PAGEANT | Back page, A5 By Ramona Giwargis [email protected] The Livingston City Council named an interim city manager this month, in addition to adopting two new ordinances – one allowing smoke shops to open in town and another prohibiting trash scavengers. Odi Ortiz, assistant city manager and finance director, was unanimously appointed by the council on Tuesday after several closeddoor meetings. Councilmen Jim Soria and David Mendoza were absent for Tuesday’s closed session. Ortiz, 42, replaces City Manager Jose Ramirez who resigned last month after nearly four years on the job. Ramirez’s last day with the city is Jan. 31. Ortiz, who’s been with Livingston more than three years, said he’s looking forward to the new challenge until a permanent city manager is hired. “It’s going to be a little different, but I’m ready to take that challenge,” Ortiz said, adding that he wants to tackle next year’s fiscal budget, hire a Public Works director and keep a close eye on city finances. Ortiz will receive a 10 percent bump in salary for the temporary appointment. His current salary is $97,000 a year. In other business last week, the City Council voted 3-1 to pass an ordinance prohibiting people from rummaging through someone else’s trash, despite opposition from one councilman. Mendoza, who voted against it, took issue with overburdened police officers being required to enforce the new law. “Cops have a lot going on, and I don’t want to see LIVINGSTON | Page A5 News outside Merced County NUCLEAR DEAL: President Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a deal to clear the way for U.S. companies to help build India’s energy sector, potentially bringing tens of billions of dollars and thousands of jobs to the United States. A3 BLIZZARD: Residents in the Northeast scrambled to pick up emergency supplies as forecasters warned that a “crippling and potentially historic blizzard” could dump as much as 3 feet of snow from Philadelphia to Boston. A3 WEATHER Early fog, then partly sunny today; showers developing tonight. High of 53, low of 48. Salvadori is the prime suspect in the fire, which was reported Wednesday morning at Merced Golden Manor apartment complex in the 300 block of T Street, Merced Fire Department Battalion Chief Billy Alcorn said. A total of 11 elderly and disabled residents lost their homes in the blaze. All the ARSON | Back page, A6 MERCED MATTERS LIVINGSTON COUNCIL ALSO PASSES TWO LAWS QUICKTAKE A 31-year-old Merced man has been arrested in connection with an arson fire last week at an apartment complex that displaced 11 people, the Merced Fire Department confirmed Sunday. James D. Salvadori was arrested Saturday in the area of Seventh and V streets. He was booked into the John Latorraca Correctional Center on suspicion of arson – intentionally setting fire to an in- habited structure, which is a felony. He was still in custody as of Sunday morning with bail set at James D. $100,000, acSalvadori cording to Merced County jail booking records. Andrew Kuhn [email protected] Rose Beltran, 17, says, “I try to excel in everything I do.” That involves a wide range of activities. She’s an aspiring psychologist, a gifted high school wrestler and – since the Buhach Colony High School senior was named pageant winner, left, earlier this month at her school in Atwater – Miss Merced County 2015. Beltran is making her mark despite being in and out of the foster care system since she was 6 years old. Christopher Winterfeldt [email protected] Schools to get help with USDA could drop fees for more organic growers broadband upgrades By Doane Yawger [email protected] Four area schools will benefit from part of $27 million awarded to 227 California campuses to help enhance their broadband infrastructure, according to the state Department of Education. El Nido and Plainsburg elementary schools, Romero Elementary School in Santa Nella and Lake Don Pedro Elementary School in Mariposa County are getting Broadband Infrastruc- CONTACT US For customer service, call (800) 540-4200 www.facebook.com/mercedsunstar www.twitter.com/mercedsunstar ture Improvement Grants from the state. They are intended to help isolated schools administer the new Smarter Balance state achievement tests. Rae Ann Jimenez, El Nido superintendent-principal, called the state grant a huge step in the right direction for her district 15 miles south of Merced. They applied for funding last fall. “Our students deserve to be connected to the outside world,” Jimenez BROADBAND | Back page, A6 INDEX Classified B3 Comics B6 Crossword B6 By Michael Doyle McClatchy Washington Bureau WASHINGTON – Organic farmers are fertilizing a proposal to broaden their exemption from paying industry fees that largely support conventional agriculture. Hundreds of organic growers and their supporters have urged the Agriculture Department to grant the broader fee exemption. The proposal would free more growers from the industry fees COMING TOMORROW Dear Abby A6 Horoscope A6 Lottery A2 Opinion A4 Sports B1 Weather A6 The California Department of Transportation will remove a homeless camp near Kelly Avenue and Highway 140 on the east side of Merced. used to promote the likes of almonds, beef and raisins, and would potentially cut some conventional agriculture advertising budgets. USDA officials are now giving all sides more time to comment on the proposed fee exemption. “The organic producers should be in control of their own money,” Laura Batcha, executive director and CEO of the Organic Trade Association, said in an interview FriORGANIC | Page A5