Powell, Cruz, Fieber ‘Hometown Heroes’

Editor’s note: The Recorder will periodically feature local heroes who are making a difference when it comes to the COVID-19 response.

Readers are encouraged to recognize their heroes whether they be a postal worker, medical professional, grocery store worker, teacher or any essential worker.

Send a photo of the person and their name along with why they are a hero to cwhisnand@portervillerecorder. com. Submissions can also be mailed to 115 E. Oak Ave., Porterville 93257.

Juanita Powell

A special shout out to our home town hero Juanita Powell who is celebrating her 79th birthday. Juanita is a women of faith who encourages young and old to exercise and eat healthy, a philosophy she lives by. She leads a walking group in Porterville known as the Porterville Walkers, which walks approximately four miles a day rain or shine. She also leads a weight lifting exercise group and attends yoga faithfully.

Juanita believes in giving back to the community she lives in. She can be found at Porterville’s Saint Anne’s Food Pantry every Thursday as well as at other outreaches that helps the homeless in our community.

She is an inspiration to many and we are proud to call her our friend.

Sonia Cruz

Lupita Ruiz says her hero is Sonia Cruz who she says is an excellent Spanish teacher.

Kristi Fieber

Jim Maples Academy shared this about teacher Kristi Fieber: “Ms. Fieber is one of the most caring, passionate, and relationship focused educators in Burton Unified School District. Ms. Fieber always implements ways to include all students in class through building rapport and through her classroom instruction whether it was in person or through distance learning. Her focus on supporting the needs of each student has made her classroom one of the most positive, engaged, and rigorous on campus and in the district. She is a true educator in every sense of the word.”