Valley Voice Issue 110 (1 February, 2018)

AG EXPO HOPING FOR 106K+ ATTENDANCE

HIGH TIMES IN WOODLAKE page 5

AGRICULTURE page 7

“I’ve never taken any type of campaign money..”

Correcting the record on Tulare mayor’s statements about the Voice page 14

Valley Voice

Volume XXXVIII No. 3 1 February, 2018 ourvalleyvoice.com

More turmoil at Tulare Public Cemetery

Nunes facing controversy over memo release

CATHERINE DOE

DAVE ADALIAN

dave@ourvalleyvoice.com

catherine@ourvalleyvoice.com

R

est in Peace is more of a suggestion than reality at the Tulare Public Cemetery District. After a first round of board resignations and longtime employee departures in September of 2017, a second round of resignations has hit the district.

Two newly appointed trustees have resigned, employees have been fired, and one more case of a misplaced body has surfaced.

High Turnover of Directors

Phil Deal and Vicki Gilson were appointed to the Tulare Public Cemetery District Board early in 2017. From the beginning, they complained that every vote was split 3-2, with longtime board members voting against the new members when they tried to make changes for the better.

After the Voice reported in September on problems concerning rude employees, lack of grounds maintenance, burial mix-ups, and mismanagement of district money, three longtime cemetery employees quit and two board member resigned, Trustees Patty

CEMETERY continued on 10 »

Whistleblower exposes Visalia truck stop plan

John Hall leaves Porterville PD as he takes on Exeter’s police chief position. Nancy Vigran/Valley Voice

John Hall begins chief position with Exeter PD NANCY VIGRAN

nancy@ourvalleyvoice.com

South Valley law enforcement is not new to Exeter’s new police chief, John Hall; but, the Exeter department is, as of January. Hall served with the Porterville Police Department for 24 years – leaving his position as captain to take on the Exeter top command.

DAVE ADALIAN

Hall said he was very happy in Porterville and was not looking to leave. But, late last year the position in Exeter became open, and his chief there told him about it. It was the first time he applied for a position as a police chief.

“Porterville is a great department with great people,” he said. “I absolutely have nothing negative to say about it. I

EXETER PD continued on 14 »

dave@ourvalleyvoice.com

Opponents of a 17,000-squarefoot gas station planned for their south Visalia neighborhood say they’ve learned the development is worse than they first feared after receiving a tip from a whistleblower at City Hall.

“This is going to be the biggest truck stop in town, even in the industrial park,” said neighborhood resident Robin Hernandez.

Fleet Service Planned

Hernandez — who is leading a group of her neighbors in a fight against the construction of a combination ARCO gas station, car wash and drive-through restaurant at the corner of Caldwell Avenue and West Street by the Chandi Group — says she and her neighbors only realized the scale of the project after they obtained plans submitted by Chandi for a similar station located in the city’s industrial park.

“They are going to be on the side of the scenic corridor (on State Route

ARCO continued on 11 »

Already at the center of national controversy, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Tulare) is drawing even greater criticism on the local front as the GOP-controlled House Intel Committee voted this week to release a controversial memo penned by Nunes.

Critics--including those running to unseat him, local political advocates, and a prominent county official--claim Nunes is acting recklessly, showing undue partisanship, and threatening the nation’s security by claiming the FBI and the Department of Justice acted inappropriately in the ongoing investigation into possible Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential elections.

“It’s a move that derails Congress, the press and all of us as citizens from focusing on all that does need the country’s attention and solutions,” said Valerie Ehrlich, a spokeswoman for South Valley Civics.

Ever Hotter Water

Controversy surrounding Nunes

NUNES continued on 11 »

Tulare County Animal Services gives supes a progress update STEVE PASTIS

steve@ourvalleyvoice.com

heels of the recently completed Majestic Homes project of 35 homes, Lara said.

“There’s a huge demand for single-family homes [in Woodlake],” he added.

The Castlerock extension homes are three to five bedroom custom-built homes that will range in the $200,000$250,000 price range.

“That’s what the market is in

Although the Tulare County Health and Human Services Agency’s Animal Services division has been serving the county since 2001, its representatives focused on its improvements over the past few years in their report to the Tulare County Board of Supervisors. Their presentation also included the 2016-2017 report of the Animal Services Advisory Committee.

Nilsa Gonzalez, Health and Human Services Agency representative, showed photos of the 2015-2016 facility remodel with the improved kennel area, isolation/quarantine area and auxiliary and shelter operations support equipment. “Blue kennels are available for foster or adopted animals, green kennels are for animals under assessment, and red is for sick or aggressive animals,” she said, adding that the offices at the facility were remodeled last year.

“In 2016, we started our rebranding initiative, demonstrating a new face to the community,” she contin-

SELF-HELP continued on 13 »

ANIMAL SERVICES continued on 15 »

Valencia Heights has a variety of floor plans for families in Self Help’s Mutual Self-Help Housing Program. Future homeowners may choose from renderings like this for their own home.

Self-Help working to bring housing to Tulare County communities

NANCY VIGRAN

nancy@ourvalleyvoice.com

Two residential developments are ready to break ground in Woodlake. Valencia Heights, a Self-Help development has pulled its first 10 building permits, said Woodlake City Manager Ramon Lara. The other, a Castlerock extension, is ready to start the first of 54 single-family homes by a private developer.

These developments are on the

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FROM THE PUBLISHER'S DESK

Ladies and Gentlemen — The Iceberg On January 18 the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence voted to publish the transcripts of testimony provided to the committee by Fusion GPS co-founder Glenn Simpson.

Congressman Devin Nunes’ Communications Director, Jack Langer, emailed the transcript to the Valley Voice that afternoon.

Simpson’s firm, Fusion GPS, was the outfit that contracted former British spy Christopher Steele to investigate the Russia side of the Trump/Russia equation. The result was the now famous dossier bandied about in the news media.

Simpson testified for six hours before the committee on November 14, fielding questions and interpreting the dossier.

Having read Simpson’s testimony, it is readily apparent that no commentary is necessary. The following, therefore, is lifted--in order--directly from the 165-page transcript. The elipsis are not for editorial purposes but to streamline the narrative.

According to Simpson: One of the very first things that I focused on was Donald Trump’s relationship with a convicted racketeer named Felix Sater, and who was alleged to have an organized crime, Russian organized crime background.

Over the course of the first phase… we developed a lot of additional information suggesting that the company that Donald Trump had been associated with and Felix Sater, Bayrock, was engaged in illicit financial business activity and had organized crime connections. …Mr. Trump had long time associations with Italian organized crime figures. And as we pieced together the early years of his biography, it seemed…during the early part of his career he had connections to a lot of Italian mafia figures, and then gradually during the nineties became associated with Russian mafia figures.

And so all of that had developed

by the spring of 2016 to the point where it was not a speculative piece of research; it was pretty well-established. …We also increasingly saw Mr. Trump’s business career had evolved over the prior decade into a lot of projects in overseas places, particularly in the former Soviet Union, that were very opaque, and that he had made a number of trips to Russia, but said he’d never done a business deal there. And I found that mysterious. …Lots of other issues came up during the primaries that raised concerns in my mind about whether there might be connections--Donald Trump might have unexplained connections to Russia or people involved in that part of the world. …The funding of Bayrock was, I think, much of what we initially were concerned about and focused on. The company seemed to have some sort of funding source from either Russia or the former Soviet Union that was opaque. So we spent a lot of time looking at the people around that and their backgrounds and why Mr. Trump would be in business with them. …The amazing number of people from the former Soviet Union who had purchased properties from Mr. Trump, including Dmitry Rybolovliev, who purchased a derelict estate at an extreme markup in Florida. And a number of other people bought into his properties.

I guess the general thing I would say is that …the Russians are far more sophisticated in their criminal organized crime activities than the Italians, and they’re a lot more global. They understand finance a lot better. And so they tend to use quite elaborate methods to move money. …The offshore system has grown in sophistication in the last decade or so, too, so they’ve taken advantage of that. …If you can think of a way to launder money, the Russians are pretty good at it. But they specifically

ICEBERG continued on 15 »

CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS In the previous issue, the article “Chinese New Year fair to be held in Visalia on February 17” erroneously states that the event will be held from 2 - 4pm. The event will be held from 12-4pm.

Valley Voice

The Valley Voice is your newspaper, published by The Valley Voice, LLC.

The Voice strives for accuracy in reporting.

Commentary or corrections regarding errors of fact in our printed, online, or social media content can be sent to the email and mailing address listed below.

Publisher/Editor:

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Use your voice: send letters, concerns, or corrections to editor@ourvalleyvoice.com PO Box 44064, Lemon Cove, CA 93244

Reporter/Sales:

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dave@ourvalleyvoice.com

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Production/Website: Tony Maldonado

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Valley Voice 1 February, 2018

POLITICAL FIX The Cost of Life

On January 30 the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) approved a request by State Senator Jean Fuller to audit Healthcare Conglomerate Associates (HCCA) and Tulare Regional Medical Center (TRMC.) The JLAC meeting started at 10am and the Voice got a call from Ms. Fuller’s staff at 10:10 letting us know that the audit was approved.

It’s been a long, emotional road and I found myself getting a little teary eyed, just like I did when I watched the video of the keys to the hospital being handed over to the new hospital board right before Thanksgiving.

The editor of the Voice yelled over to me from behind his computer and said that the vote was unanimous.

Then I started getting mad.

Tulare resident Alberto Aguilar asked State Assemblyman Devon Mathis to seek approval from JLAC for an audit of HCCA and TRMC in 2015. After a month of unreturned phone calls, Mr. Aguilar personally confronted Mr. Mathis at a public event in January of 2016.

Mr. Mathis told Mr. Aguilar that he could not ask for an audit because he owed HCCA’s Benny Benzeevi a favor. It seems Dr. Benzeevi had donated $15,400 to Mr. Mathis’ campaign in 2016.

So what would have happened if Mr. Mathis didn’t practice pay-toplay politics? What would have happened if he had requested the audit two years ago?

Under a JLAC audit would HCCA been forced to be more transparent?

Would discoveries from the audit have lead to Dr. Parmod Kumar’s dismissal?

Would the hospital board have felt more pressure to actually read the contracts before signing them?

Would Evolutions have a three million dollar lien?

Before Mr. Mathis was elected to the assembly he was an unemployed father of seven. Once elected, he needed to do anything he could to keep his job and the new lifestyle he had become accustomed to. He needed the assembly’s salary, HCCA’s donations, and didn’t mind flying around in Dr. Benzeevi’s private plane either.

What possessed Mr. Mathis to put his own needs in front of the lives of hundreds thousands of people? There are 500,000 people in Tulare County who at any one time might need the services of Tulare’s Hospital.

Apparently, I am not the only one feeling angry.

A few months ago, someone close to the Mathis camp sent me a heart wrenching email. A few days later we sat down for a long talk. The following is that email with some personal information deleted.

“What does shock me, and what troubles me the most, is Devon’s inaction with respect to the Tulare Hospital. When I read your article,(Dave Adalian, March 16, 2016) I knew instantly that he had said what Mr. Aguilar claimed. It just sounds like something Devon’s ego would compel him to say. Devon admitted that he had, in fact, made that statement

3 a column by CATHERINE DOE — catherine@ourvalleyvoice.com to Mr. Aguilar. Although it troubled my conscience, the consensus was that Devon should deny it.

“Sean’s (Doherty) strategy was always ‘deny, deny, deny.’

“At this point, I chalked it up to a slip and had every belief that Devon was going to follow through with requesting that JLAC conduct an audit. Sometime later, during another meeting, I was informed by Sean Doherty that Devon had requested an audit; however, JLAC refused to do it as the situation in Tulare ‘had no statewide implications and is therefore a local matter.’

“Indeed, this was the story I told to every constituent who asked me about TRMC during the course of the 2016 election cycle and, I believed it to be true. “(Later in 2017) I remarked to Devon how unfortunate that was that TRMC was about to close its doors.

He responded by saying, ‘Well, now that Benzeevi has pissed me off we can probably request an audit.’

“Catherine, my jaw just about hit the floor. I don’t know that I had ever been more angry or disappointed at anyone in my life. I specifically asked him, ‘I thought we already did that and JLAC said no.’

“He just shook his head and started making fundraising calls.

“For someone who was as proud as he was for ‘saving the Inyo hospital,’ I still cannot fathom how a campaign contribution can outweigh the lives of his constituents. I know that when dealing with trauma, time is critical. Some folks simply are not going to have the time for an ambu-

lance ride to Visalia, or Porterville.

“I fear that his inaction has, or will, cost someone their life.”

All Aboard!

Remember what inspired Visalia Mayor Warren Gubler to run for State Assembly District 26? He was furious about Assemblyman Devon Mathis’ yes votes on Cap and Trade and Bill 649 concerning the mini cell phone towers.

In both cases Mr. Mathis told his constituents that he was going to vote “no” on both bills, but then turned around and voted “yes.”

Mr. Gubler said angrily over the phone, “I wonder how much money he got from AT&T and Verizon.”

Well, recently filed campaign finance statements were posted on the California Secretary of State website this week, so now we know.

The Telecommunication industry gave Mr. Mathis $8000 in 2017.

These donations all came within a few months of his September 14 vote allowing the industry to erect their mini towers wherever they wanted without permission.

“Can you hear me now?”

Mr. Mathis certainly did.

The bill was ultimately vetoed by Governor Jerry Brown because it infringed on city’s rights.

Campaign finance statements show that from July to December of last year Mr. Mathis brought in $105,793.00.

Mr. Gubler raised $123.050.00, even though he did not start until September 28.

POLITICAL FIX continued on 15 »

1 February, 2018 Valley Voice

4

Randy Groom returns to the big city NANCY VIGRAN

nancy@ourvalleyvoice.com

It’s back to a suit and tie for Randy Groom, who admittedly had grown accustomed to the more relaxed and casual atmosphere of Exeter, where he served as city manager for seven years.

Following the retirement of Mike Olmos, Groom’s been hired as city manager for Visalia, where he formerly served as city clerk and deputy city manager.

It’s more formal and he has quite a bit more work to do.

After all, Exeter has a population of around 10,500 and Visalia, 130,000+. Groom said he was prepared and ready for the adjustment.

“It’s definitely a change,” he said, “I really did fully acclimate to that community [Exeter]. But, there’s the benefit of leaving work, here, for 18 years and coming back.”

Groom had worked in the private sector and for Visalia Unified School District inbetween management of the two cities.

“I found myself taking some of Visalia to Exeter,” he said. “Now I am bringing a little bit of Exeter to Visalia.

“Visalia is a big city and has big city problems, we can’t get away from that. But, we can also portray some of the small town qualities as well.”

One of the big city problems he refers to are the issues resulting

from homelessness, for a lot of reasons, he said. Homelessness is not a very big issue in Exeter. Another big problem is traffic.

“In Exeter, there are no two-lane streets, you just stay behind the other car. There’s no jockeying for position. Visalia is a big city – it has a faster lifestyle.”

Groom noted that, as city manager, it is his job to implement the policies of city council.

“It’s to bring reality to their visions,” he said.

And while it is not his job to come up with policy, he can express his concerns and ideas.

“It’s good to have a new perspective and having been in a number of places, you gain experiences from other areas.

“But, if something is working, well, there’s no concern. If there’s room for improvement, let’s think about it.”

Groom and his wife, Sally, live in the country outside of Exeter.

Their three children are grown and they have one grandchild.

On the weekend, Groom and his Australian Shepherd, Bandit, are training for search and rescue with the Sierra Central Team of the California Rescue Dog Association. They are the only team from Tulare County, Groom said, and are about six months away from being certified.

“It’s a two to three year commitment just to get certified,” he said.

During the weekends, Visalia City Manager Randy Groom trains with his dog, Bandit, for search and rescue work. Courtesy/Randy Groom

Team Groom will search for lost persons and is also being crosstrained for cadaver search.

When they first started, Groom said he went home to his wife and told her they couldn’t do it – it was just too time consuming.

She asked him why – their children were grown – he should have

time. So, he continued on.

He soon learned the time was not about training the dog, but rather training him.

“They may want to be able to drop you into the wilderness and be sure you’ll be OK for a few days,” he said.

They train in a variety of locations with the Sierra Mountain range.

Visalia’s fireworks will go on CATHERINE DOE

catherine@ourvalleyvoice.com

Visalia City Council voted at their January 16 meeting to grant $17,500 in cash, and $5000 in kind services such as police and fire, to put on the community’s free Fourth of July Fireworks Show.

The vote was 4-1 with Council member Steve Nelsen voting against.

Paul Moore, executive director of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), spoke at the city council meeting and encouraged them to fund the show. Mayor Warren Gulbler made reviving the fireworks show one of his priorities as mayor for 2017 and CASA stepped forward to be the show’s sponsor after a two year hiatus.

Both Gubler and Council Member Greg Collins commented that the show is what makes Visalia the jewel of the Valley and is a positive community event.

Last year festivities began at 11:30 a.m. with food vendors, games, and entertainment and ended with a 20-minute fireworks show. Vendors stayed

open after the fireworks until the official end of the event at 10:00pm CASA plans on having more activities for kids such as water slides and bounce houses so they do not have to wait in long lines.

Other sponsors beside the city include Lawrance Tractor, American Ambulance, Party City, We Are Sikhs, Sunset Rotary, Hyde Properties First 5 Tulare County, Family HealthCare Network and Franey’s.

Nelson objected to funding the show because there are two other fireworks events available to Visalians that night at the Visalia Country Club and Rawhide, though there is an entrance fee to the Rawhide and the Country Club is private.

He also stated that during the two years hiatus no one missed the event and that last year’s grant of $10,000 was supposed to be a one-time expenditure.

“We have other needs in the city and that would do great works for us instead of exploding it up in the air,” said Nelson.

Salas presents check to Corcoran HS STAFF REPORTS Assemblymember Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield) joined with Corcoran Mayor Ray Lerma, Kings County Supervisor Richard Valle, Bob Thomason, Bakersfield Distribution Center Manager, and John Tang, Director of Public Affairs and Communications at Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling, to present a check to Corcoran High School boys’ and girls’ soccer teams for the purchasing of new athletic equipment. Salas worked together with community leaders to facilitate the generous do-

nation from Coca-Cola after learning that both the boys’ and girls’ soccer teams were in need of new athletic equipment.

The check presentation took place at Corcoran High School. Both boys’ and girls’ soccer teams were present to receive the check for $900, which will be used to purchase new athletic equipment.

This donation comes on the heels of a $1,500 donation to Operation Gobble in Kings County, which fed hundreds of families during Thanksgiving.

Valley Voice 1 February, 2018

5

Woodlake passes last permits for pot businesses NANCY VIGRAN

nancy@ourvalleyvoice.com

Woodlake approved the final permits for four cannabis-related businesses with public hearings, and subsequent city council approvals for conditional use permits at its January 22 council meeting. Valley Pure, Green Bean Pharm, Green Smart and Top Crop are all moving toward opening business within the city, although with one question remaining – they don’t know exactly what the city tax will be.

Last November, Woodlake voters passed Measure S, a commercial cannabis business tax in the city on commercial cannabis businesses up to $25 per square foot (annually adjusted

by CPI) or 10% of gross receipts. However, council is still working out the rates for each type of cannabis-related business.

In a presentation during the January 22 council meeting, staff provided information on what other cities around the state are charging as city business taxes. The statewide cannabis tax is 15%; the Woodlake sales

tax is 8.75%.

Some cities, such as San Jacinto in Riverside County, are high, charging 15% on retail sales. More locally, Coalinga is charging 10%, and some other larger cities throughout the state are coming in less with Stockton charging 5%, Los Angeles 4% and Sacramento 4%.

“It’s all over the place,” said Jason Waters, Woodlake’s community services director.

Woodlake hopes to come up somewhere in the middle, Waters said in an interview following the council meeting.

“We’re going to try to be comGreen Smart petitive and won’t be on the extreme (manufacture, sides,” he said.

If the tax is toocultivation, high, either companies won’t opendistribution) in the city or they

of cannabis retailers to two, within by square footage, he said, but not a Valley Pure the city. Both are currently working on testing facility, nor a retail(retail store. only)Some getting their locations ready for busi- cities do not charge a tax on testing faness, without knowing just what the cilities – to date, no one has applied for city tax rate is, they will be paying. that type of business in Woodlake.

Top Crop at 457 S. Acacia, is lookTo date, Woodlake is the only city ing to cultivate and manufacture can- in Tulare & Kings Counties to allow Green Bean Farm retail sales of cannabis. The City of nabis products in Woodlake; Green (retail only) Smart at 1049 W. Ropes, is also wanting Farmersville is allowing cultivation to cultivate and manufacture, as well and manufacturing at $12/sq ft or 8.75% as distribute. The definition of a dis- (which happens to be the amount of tributor is to grow cannabis and send/ that city’s sales tax) taxation, accordsell that cannabis to a manufacturer, ing to Woodlake’s study. retailer, or distributor. It does not inWhile all licensing is now comclude retail sales. Each location has plete, each facility will need to meet proper zoning for its use. building and code standards prior to Crop Some cities, such as Sacramento,Topopening.

The city staff is looking to (manufacture, has a 4% tax on all types of cannabis bring its recommendations to council business. Woodlake will most like-cultivation) in a few weeks, at which time council ly set different taxation on differing should vote on its city taxation for can-

Four cannabis-related businesses have been approved, mapped above. Scribble Maps/Mapbox/OpenStreetMap

won’t be successful, but the city wants to earn some tax dollars, as well.

Valley Pure at 132 N. Valencia Blvd., and Green Bean Pharm at 515 W. Naranjo Blvd., are proposed retail businesses. Woodlake has limited the number

types of business.

“We’re definitely going to recommend to separate them,” Waters said.

“They operate differently.”

For example, it makes sense for tax on cultivation to be determined

nabis businesses. Each facility will be subject to an annual renewal.

“It’s an ever-evolving market,” said City Manager Ramon Lara. “The market may look very different in five years.”

Tulare hospital seeks to invalidate Evolutions deed TONY MALDONADO

tony@ourvalleyvoice.com

A federal bankruptcy court has been asked to decide whether a deed of trust placed on Tulare’s Evolutions gym, and its adjacent property, is legal.

The Tulare Local Healthcare District, which owns Evolutions, filed a new lawsuit against Healthcare Conglomerate Associates (HCCA) on January 23, claiming the company’s move to place a lien on the gym just one day before the district filed bankruptcy wasn’t authorized by the district or the contracts it had in place with HCCA. The district’s suit also claims that the lien constitutes a “preferential transfer” of assets, favoring the company over the district’s other debtors within 90 days of the bankruptcy filing.

Preferential transfers can be “clawed back” under the bankruptcy code.

“The board urgently is trying to obtain bridge financing in order to reopen our hospital. If there is any silver lining to our temporary closure, it is that we now know how critical our hospital is to the overall medical needs of our county,” said Kevin Northcraft, chairman of the hospital’s new board of directors.

“We hope to obtain a loan using Evolutions as a lien. There is an unauthorized loan and lien processed by HCCA that we are trying to cancel as soon as possible,” he added.

The deed, and new suit

That deed was signed September 22 by Dr. Benny Benzeevi, the CEO of HCCA, who represented himself on the form as the CEO of “Tulare Local Healthcare District d/b/a Tulare Regional Medical Center.”

The deed was to secure multiple promissory notes for money HCCA allegedly loaned to the hospital, which the hospital describes in its suit as “disputed.”

Marshall Grossman, an attorney representing HCCA, dismissed claims that the deed wasn’t authorized.

“Their position is one of fiction and a lack of accuracy, which is apparent to anybody who takes a minute to read the Management Services Agreement,” Grossman said. “The Management Services Agreement was in full force and effect at the time these bankruptcy proceedings were filed.

“Section 4(j)(i) 2-3 expressly provides that if HCCA advances funds, then the Management Services Agreements itself creates a security interest in all district assets, which HCCA can perfect through whatever instruments may be appropriate to do so.”

The Management Services Agreement, one of multiple contracts entered into by former hospital board members, allowed HCCA to unilaterally issue promissory notes if the hospital was unable to reimburse the company for day-to-day expenses.

The sections cited by Grossman appear to allow the company to place the deed against Evolutions.

In a prior filing, the district called those notes “fraudulent and void,” but their legitimacy isn’t disputed in the January 23 suit — nor is their legitimacy being confirmed.

“The issue about the notes will be determined in a different kind of proceeding,” Riley Walter, the district’s bankruptcy attorney, told the Voice.

“We’re not conceding that any money is owed to HCCA, but a court’s going to have to rule on that at some point.”

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HCCA claims the notes total $10,233,950.05; under the Management Services Agreement and its associated contracts, the company was authorized to unilaterally make interest-bearing loans to the district if it deemed that the district wasn’t able to repay the company.

“Manager shall have the right, but not the obligation, in its sole and absolute discretion, to advance funds or agree to undertake to advance funds to any Person, as a loan to the District and to meet the shortfall caused by the District’s failure,” the agreement reads.

The text of the contract also appears to have allowed the company to have power of attorney over the district, which it could use to “prepare and execute” security instruments, such as deeds, to “perfect and continue its security interest” on the loans it was able to unilaterally advance.

“What this adversary proceeding is about is to invalidate or avoid the deed of trust that was recorded against Evolutions; and, yes, the guts of the [proceeding] is that they were not authorized to do so, and it was a preferential transfer,” Walter said.

Grossman also dismisses claims that the promissory notes are fraudulent or unauthorized. The contract al-

lowed the notes to be extended to the district, and they exist, he said.

“The notes are not fraudulent — the notes exist, demand was made for the payment of the funds by HCCA on the district. The district didn’t pay its obligations — so, under their deal, there was the right on the part of HCCA to advance the funds necessary to meet obligations,” he said. “They exist. They were authorized under the terms of the contract. They were provided under the terms of the contract. The only thing that lacks credibility is the claim that they do not exist or were not authorized.”

HCCA files to move its suit back to Los Angeles County

Separately, the hospital’s former management company filed to move its lawsuit against the hospital back to Los Angeles County.

Under the terms of the Management Services Agreement, still in effect when HCCA’s suit was filed, any litigation regarding the agreement was to take place only in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.

“This is fairly common in a suit like this, where a lawsuit’s filed in one place

EVOLUTIONS continued on 12 »

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1 February, 2018 Valley Voice

6

AGRICULTURE

Tulare dairymen to compete in Land O’Lakes Farm Bowl NANCY VIGRAN

nancy@ourvalleyvoice.com

Two Tulare dairymen are traveling to Minnesota this week to participate in the Land O’Lakes Farm Bowl. Partaking of the Super Bowl hoopla there – Land O’Lakes thought it an exciting idea to “inspire the next generation of young leaders to consider careers in food and agriculture,” said Grace Fair, media contact for the Bowl.

Teams are comprised of one dairyman and a professional football player. Dave Ribeiro of Rib Arrow Dairy, and JJ Nunes of Nunes and Sons Dairy are participating, representing Tulare County’s dairy industry in the event.

Ribeiro is teamed up with Jason Brown, a former center for the St. Louis Rams. Nunes is partnered with Golden Tate, wide receiver for the Detroit Lions.

Ribeiro, 56, is a third-generation dairy farmer. He was asked to participate by Land O’Lakes as his dairy sells their milk to the company. He learned he was to participate around the first of January.

“The first thing I felt was anxiety,” he said. “It’s on a national stage!”

Once he got over his nerves, he started a bit of training, although he always tries to stay in shape. He was not big into athletics in school, but has always been physically active on the dairy. An Ag major at Fresno State, he minored in music, he said, playing the drums and percussion.

“I had to remind myself what it’s like to run. I think all of us [the participants] have upped our game a little bit.”

Ribeiro hopes that experience and intellect will help in the competition.

“Sometimes wisdom and treach-

ery trump youth and skills,” he said.

Ribeiro will meet his teammate, Brown, the day of the event. They will have a chance to walk the course and then to strategize.

“That what it’s all about,” he said, “working as a team.”

“As part of its Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee programming, Land O’Lakes Farm Bowl will showcase the intricacies and challenges of modern agriculture, testing the skills of professional football players on the farm,” Fair said.

It’s a “series of on-farm experiences and light-hearted farm-themed challenges to demonstrate the skill, determination and grit required to succeed as a farmer today,” she said.

Teams will compete four challenges exemplifying the core principles of football mixed with modern farming – strength, endurance, intelligence

Wildfires affect water testing requirements KEVIN HECTEMAN, CFBF In response to a request from agricultural and trade associations, state water officials have given partial regulatory relief to wineries and breweries in areas hit by Northern California wildfires. The action involves required stormwater sampling, which may be affected by ash and debris resulting from the fires.

Wineries and breweries are among the California businesses required to have stormwater samples tested during certain weather events. Ash and debris left behind by the October fires could show up in the samples and skew the results.

Adam Kotin, manager of environmental regulatory affairs for the Wine Institute, said a Statewide Industrial Storm Water General Permit applies to a number of industrial facilities. This testing must be carried out whenever a “qualifying storm event” occurs—defined as rainfall that produces a discharge in at least one drainage area and is preceded by at least 48 hours of dry weather.

“It captures wineries and breweries under it,” Kotin said, noting that vineyards themselves don’t report under this program.

“It’s basically a way of tracking the quality of stormwater that runs off of industrial facilities,” Kotin said. “Wineries and breweries are lumped into the same category as a bunch of other industrial facilities that are fairly dissimilar in a lot of ways.”

Recognizing that wildfire debris could affect the results, the Wine Institute, California Farm Bureau Federation and the California Craft Brewers Association sent a letter to the State Water Resources Control Board, the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board and the San Francisco Bay Re-

Samuel Brown, a lab technician at Alpha Analytical Laboratories in Elk Grove, looks over filters containing solids from stormwater samples. Wineries and breweries in California must have such testing done to comply with stormwater runoff permits. A state regulatory agency has offered partial relief to wineries and breweries near the wildfires in Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino counties, where runoff from the fires could affect test results. Kevin Hecteman/CFBF

gional Water Quality Control Board in November, asking for regulatory relief.

Danny Merkley, CFBF director of water resources, said wineries and breweries would likely experience runoff from rain this winter that is “not representative” of their operation. The stormwater samples, he said, would likely contain constituents that result from “an act of God, the result of a fire they had no control over.”

The three organizations asked the state and regional water boards to consider waiving the sampling requirement for this winter.

Instead, the State Water Resources Control Board issued a letter to industries in the wildfire areas late last month, saying it could not waive testing requirements, but offering an alternative.

“Dischargers may claim that their industrial stormwater runoff sampling is unrepresentative of their facility operations by documenting and reporting which stormwater samples are

impacted by wildfire conditions (including post-wildfire conditions) and information that serves as the basis for the samples being unrepresentative of their facility’s runoff from industrial activity areas,” the water board said.

Such documentation, the board said, should include photos of discharge location conditions; areas in and around the facility affected by fires; and areas of high erosion and ash deposits. Wineries and breweries also should provide copies of their management practices for runoff and for wildfire impacts, and comparisons of prefire and post-fire testing results.

Merkley said the board action should offer “some relief” to affected facilities.

“Even though you still have to take the samples, you still have to have them analyzed, you still have to report the analysis, you can put a caveat in there that, ‘This is not representative of our activities. This is as a result of the fires and subsequent rains after the

and coordination. Challenges include a course of hay bales, drones, mile pipes and tractor tires. The top two teams will compete to win the newly designed Farm Bowl Trophy for the first-ever competition of this event.

“Super Bowl LII offers an exciting stage to convey the importance of farming to feeding the world, and to show how Land O’Lakes’ member owners are impacting the entire food chain, farm to fork, from our iconic butter brand and far beyond,” said Chris Policinski, president and CEO of Land O’Lakes, Inc. “Less than two percent of the population touches farming and, as the voice of the farmer, we feel an obligation to tell their important story.”

The Land O’Lakes Farm Bowl takes place Thursday, Feb. 1 at Mariucci Arena on the campus of the University of Minnesota.

fact,’” he said.

“I think that the option that was made available is reasonable,” the Wine Institute’s Kotin said, “and hope that it is helpful to those who are dedicated to complying with their permits and want to be as open and comprehensive as possible in how they track the quality of their stormwater.”

Exactly how many wineries might be affected is unknown, he said.

“It’s really hard to know how many might actually see spikes in their samples, because they will be based so much on the level of ash that fell, on which surfaces, and how the stormwater flows, and whether or not local vegetation was burned to the degree that there’s increased debris,” Kotin said.

Ukiah-based Alpha Analytical Laboratories is among the labs that tests stormwater runoff samples. Adam Angulo, who works at Alpha’s Elk Grove lab, said the industrial permit requires testing for oil and grease; total suspended solids, which would include dust and other light solids; and pH levels, which measure the acid or alkaline levels of a solution.

Under the regulation, dischargers must test two samples between July 1 and Dec. 31, and two more between Jan. 1 and June 30, with the samples being taken while the plant is in operation, he added.

Although the normal turnaround time is 10 business days, samples exceeding a certain threshold for constituents are brought to a project manager’s attention immediately, Angulo said, so affected clients can be notified and can take action as needed.

(Kevin Hecteman is an assistant editor of Ag Alert. He may be contacted at khecteman@cfbf.com.)

This article reprinted with the permission of the California Farm Bureau Federation.

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Valley Voice 1 February, 2018

7

AGRICULTURE

World Ag Expo hoping to topple over 106k in attendance NANCY VIGRAN

nancy@ourvalleyvoice.com

The opening ceremonies for World Ag Expo ‘18 take place on Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 9:15am. In attendance just maybe, for the first time ever, will be the current Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue.

He’s scheduled to come, said Jennifer Fawkes, sponsorship manager for the show. But, whether his plane will arrive on time, and he will make it from the airport on time for the opening ceremonies remains to be seen.

However, Perdue is scheduled to visit various areas of the show and he will be at a town hall type meeting, which is an invitation-only event.

Seminars

As in every year, there is a lot going on with educational seminars, Fawkes said. The Seminar Center is located on U Street and Expo Lane. On Wednesday, Feb. 14, at 2:30pm, AbNeo will share information on calf performance in the dairy herd and livestock. With live calves on hand, company staff will demonstrate new and innovative ideas and methods for higher performance in raising calves.

Also on Wednesday, at 3pm, a seminar will be held by the Italian Trade Agency, representing 14 Italian companies and what’s new and different in Italian Ag. According to a representative, “Italy is the world leader in walking and specialized tractors, along with small and medium mechanization.” The best of the Italian agricultural technology will be shown at the Italian Pavilion (GS30 and GS41).

Automated spray system

One of the Top-10 New Products is a Kingsburg company, GUSS (Global Unmanned Spray System). “From a field of cutting-edge, cost-saving, and resource-managing products submitted for the Top-10 contest by exhibitors of the largest annual agricultural show of its kind” The contest judges are made up of farmers, ranchers and industry professionals.

According to GUSS, it is “the world’s first fully autonomous, driverless orchard sprayer. GUSS can be used to spray almond, pistachio, walnut, citrus and stone fruit trees. It utilizes GPS, lasers, and other vehicle sensors to guide itself through orchard rows.

GUSS helps alleviate the ever-growing labor challenges faced by the agricul-

Last year, right on schedule, World Ag Expo brought rain to Tulare County. However, it didn’t stop 106,000 people from attending. Courtesy/World Ag Expo

tural industry. A single operator in a control van can monitor four to eight GUSS sprayers at a time.” While not yet for sale, GUSS sprayers are available for rent in the South San Joaquin Valley, according to Fawkes. GUSS will be located in exhibit space Ride & Drive 5.

Further equipment will be found in the always popular Equipment Showcase held in the arena. Located in the southwest corner of the showgrounds, here is a chance to see many of World Ag Expo’s exhibitors and products at work. The Equipment Showcase will be held daily at 10:30am and 12pm, 1:30pm Tuesday and Wednesday; 1pm and 2pm on Thursday, and 3pm on Tuesday.

Thursday, Feb. 15 at 3pm in the Toyota exhibit space. OK, you can enter the drawing from the World Ag Expo website, www.worldagexpo.com.

Last year close to 106,000 people from 43 states and 71 countries attended World Ag Expo. This year staff would like to see even more.

World Ag Expo ‘18 is held Tuesday, Feb. 13 and Wednesday, Feb. 14 from

9am – 5pm; Thursday, Feb. 15 from 9am – 4pm. Tickets are $15 at the gate; $12 online with discount code ENEWS3.

Vans and buses will travel from the Exeter Memorial Building to Ag Expo every ½ hour all three days, as well as from Plaza Park in Visalia. Buses also run for various locations in Tulare to reduce parking congestion at the AgriCenter.

Entertainment & Toyota Tundra drawing

There’s musical entertainment, too. Bud Light offers the After-Hours Party featuring country star Craig Campbell on Wednesday, Feb. 14 from 4:30-7pm in the arena.

If all the exhibits, seminars and entertainment aren’t enough, attendees can enter to win a Toyota Tundra.

Tickets are $5 which, benefit the Guilds of Valley Children’s Hospital. Last year, more than $65,000 was raised. The drawing will be held on closing day on

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1 February, 2018 Valley Voice

8

Equity, fairness focus of local women’s march DAVE ADALIAN

dave@ourvalleyvoice.com

Drums banged, horns blared, and a crowd of a thousand or so activists of all stripes cheered, sang and chanted its way down Mooney Boulevard as Tulare County turned out for the 2018 Women’s March.

Underneath the festive atmosphere, however, was a more serious mood. Those gathered--as their colorful signs and placards revealed--were clearly there to voice their displeasure at the current political climate. Yet the day was party-like, and the sense of unity palpable.

‘A Lot of Fun’

“It is a lot of fun, but the most important thing is seeing all the other organizations that are fighting for their cause,” said attendee Maria Magaña of Visalia, who was visiting information booths at the College of the Sequoias, where the march was based. “There’s one for pesticides, and it’s not just effecting the farm workers, but the food and the environment. Isn’t that great?”

What brought Magaña to the march, however, was her desire to see her sex better represented in the halls of power.

“I’m a feminist, supporting all the women’s causes, social, health, education,” she said. “Without self-determination, we won’t accomplish anything.”

Keeping Momentum

The first Women’s March, held days after President Donald Trump’s inauguration and weeks after the rev-

elation of his comments about sexually assaulting women, was a direct reaction to the Republican president and his policies, and to those who support them.

Sarah Hutchinson--policy director for ACT for Women and Girls, the Visalia-based, nonpartisan activist group that organized the march--reiterated Magaña’s desire to see women continue to press for more power in the political arena.

“We know folks out here are partisan, and we’re just supporting (the idea) women lead the conversation about women, because we know that often times conversations around women’s health or women’s economic security, equity, whatever it is--women’s autonomy--are often dictated by men’s voices,” Hutchinson said. “ACT for Women and Girls and a few other organizations came together to make sure the Women’s March was organized here, because last year was really amazing.”

Cosponsors for the event included LUPAC, PUSH, Progressives United for Social Justice and Human Rights, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the League of Women Voters of Tulare County, South Valley Civics, and the Three Rivers Action Group.

Personal Politics

For Jonna Niblack Rasner, the reason to attend the rally was much more personal and immediate: the sustained GOP attempt to remove the Affordable Care Act. Rasner’s daughter suffers a neurological disorder that will require never-ending treatment, and her in-

Marchers gather to look at merchandize commemorating the Second Annual Women’s March at the College of the Sequoias in Visalia. More than 1,000 marchers gathered to call for women’s rights and equity. Dave Adalian/Valley Voice

surance has already played out. An adequate social support network is the only thing standing between the child and an endless struggle to meet her medical needs.

“She has a condition called Chiari malformation, and she will continue to need care for the rest of her life,” Rasner said. “My daughter has reached the lifetime cap on her insurance, and if we don’t keep the laws in place that protect her and her rights to health care, then we won’t have insurance for her.”

Taking Action

Rasner wasn’t content to merely turn out for the rally. She contacted ACT, volunteered to help organize the march, and ended up in charge of the day’s slate of speakers.

“I just kind of went to a meeting and asked how I could help,” she said.

“It’s important to me.”

Acting as the umbrella group for

events like the Woman’s March is a small part of the work ACT does.

The group began in the early 2000s as a forum for discussing issues important to women in Tulare County, and has since moved onto advocacy, as well as education and policy formation.

“It’s to build leaders,” said Hutchinson, ACT’s policy director.

“It’s to identify what barriers impact their (women and girls’) lives and how we can create change on the local and state level. That’s where our campaigns come through.”

ACT offers ongoing leadership classes for girls 13 to 24, and also hosts local candidate forums, cosponsors legislation in Sacramento, and acts as an advocate for women’s education.

ACT’s main point of contact is its website, actforwomenandgirls.org.

The group can be reached by phone at (559) 738-8037, and its office is located at 1900 N. Dinuba Boulevard in Visalia.

Former City Manager Olmos endorses Gubler for Assembly District 26 STAFF REPORTS Today, former Visalia City Manager Mike Olmos announced his endorsement of Warren Gubler for Assembly District 26. Olmos started with the City of Visalia as a planner, was named assistant city manager in 2005, and then city manager in 2013 until his retirement last month.

“During my years as Visalia’s City Manager, I was fortunate to have worked with Visalia Mayor Warren Gubler,” said Olmos. “Warren is a man of great integrity and he has a tremendous sense of responsibility toward the citizens he represents. We need the same kind of effective representation in Sacramento and Warren is the right man for the job. As our Assemblyman, we will know that our values and priorities are being represented.”

Olmos’ announcement is another key endorsement for Gubler for Assembly. Gubler has also received endorsements from Senator Andy Vidak, Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux, Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward, Supervisors Steve Worthley, Mike Ennis and Kuyler Crocker, and

former Visalia Mayor’s B, Greg Collins, and Steve Nelsen, and most recently, Visalia’s Man of the Year, Terry L. Ommen.

“I have a great deal of respect for Mike Olmos and enjoyed working with him all these years for the benefit of Visalia,” said Gubler. “Having his support and endorsement means a lot to me.”

Gubler states that his primary reason for running for the Assembly District 26 seat is that we have had ineffective representation in Sacramento with our current assemblyman.

“I strongly support Warren Gubler for State Assembly District 26, knowing he will be a capable and tireless advocate for our area, and I encourage you to do the same,” said Olmos.

In November 2009, Gubler was elected to the Visalia City Council, was Visalia’s vice-mayor from 2013 to 2016, and has been mayor of Visalia since 2016.

For a list of additional information or to learn more about Warren Gubler go to GublerForAssembly.com, email, Warren@GublerForAssembly. com, or call Warren at 559-788-7733.

Valley Voice 1 February, 2018

9

State of Tulare County is ‘strong,’ Worthley says in address STEVE PASTIS

steve@ourvalleyvoice.com

“First and foremost the county is strong, possessing great strength in its human and physical capital,” said Tulare County Board of Supervisors Chair Steven Worthley, early in the state of the county address he delivered at the board’s January 23rd meeting. “I believe, we are positioned to increase our strength if we remain true to our principles of stewardship and responsibility to the people of Tulare County.”

Worthley praised county employees, “who continually labor to improve the physical, emotional, and spiritual lives of our county residents,” as well as the board’s strategic policies that encourage and support economic development in the county, and use conservative estimates in spending taxpayers’ money.

“Leveraging that financial strength with private, state and federal funding opportunities has proven fruitful,” he said. “Over $1 billion of transportation projects have been delivered since the voters approved Measure R in 2006. This year, we will complete the construction of the largest county construction project in over a half of a century with the completion of the south county jail, a $66 million project. In 2018, we will break ground on another public safety facility in the north county, a $40 million state-funded project. The purchase of the Tulare-Akers Professional Facility last year and the $3.5 million renovations thereafter resulted in the sheriff’s command staff and several divisions move from the 1960 jail, and the entire fire administration department move from rented facilities.”

Worthley noted that these capital purchases, “have been and will be completed without incurring any additional debt to the county. In contrast, when Government Plaza was purchased in 1996, the entire transaction was financed by borrowing and only recently was the debt retired.”

He reported that the county has restored all of its employees’ deferred step increases and given 10% cost of living salary increases to general and safety employees in the last four years.

County employees will receive an additional 2% in July and safety employees will receive 3%.

“These increases have been made without incurring debt and in keeping with board policy of providing sustainable and reliable incomes to our valued employees,” he said.

The Challenges Ahead

Worthley then focused on the challenges facing Tulare County.

“While the county has substantially eliminated its formal debt, we face a mounting financial burden in our unfunded pension obligation to the Tulare County Retirement Association, which operates independently of the county,” he said. “It seems counterintuitive that after an incredible bull market economy in 2017, which saw a remarkable rise in the stock prices and real estate values, that our own funded ratio of assets needed to pay current and future pensions dropped from 83% to 78%.”

An independent analysis looked at such factors as how long people live after retirement, future inflation assumptions, increased labor cost assumptions and return on investments, said Worthley who, after explaining the numbers and the formulas used, reported, “the retirement assets suffered a $35 million loss last year, which was added to the previously existing $238 million unfunded liability.

“This might just seem like some abstract math problem except that it has real financial consequences to the county’s financial heath and ability to continue to pay competitive salaries to our employees and provide essential services to our residents,” Worthley explained. “Tulare County is obligated to pay the ongoing costs of retirement, which is currently equally matched by employee contributions. The county is also obligated to pay down the unfunded liability and interest charges thereon at the 7.25% annual rate. This interest charge alone will cost the county $17 to $20 million in the coming year and significant future increases are projected.

“Within a few short months, a strategic plan will be presented to the board for review and proposed implementation to greatly assist the county in meeting its future obligations,” he said. “The cornerstone of this plan is similar to refinancing a home mortgage with reduced interest rates. At current pension bond rates, the county expects to borrow money at 4 to

Macareno declines state endorsement STAFF REPORTS Ruben Macareno, a long time local Democratic leader who is running for the 14th State Senate seat, has decided to sit out his state party’s endorsement selection process this weekend in Delano citing he rather not be part of a process that had been plagued by national and state party political moves over allowing voters to make their own determinations.

Recognizing that the divisive Democratic National Committee’s controversial support of Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders and the party faithful’s battle for the state chairmanship had torn the base apart, Macareno would rather go at it on his own — for him, those intra-battles leave a sour taste.

“We’ve seen both parties in an very exposed light when it comes to party politics. People just want to vote for the best candidate they see fit to represent them best not by a group of political players which eventually create a divided front. When I seek an endorsement I go straight to the individual or organization I want to stand with. Not who

knows who, or who looks better, or who is whose’s friend. I had considered going to party delegates but quickly decided that the engagement is with the voter not the party.”

Macareno has obtain many personal endorsements which include California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. He is also a solid Democrat. President and Founder of Latino Democrats of Central California, former chair of the Tulare County Democratic Party, current member of the California Democratic Central Committee and a one time delegate for President Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention.

Recently the State’s Democratic Chairman Eric Bauman asked for the delegates to sit out the endorsements of state wide officers to keep the Democratic front united. It was not well received by the delegates who prefer to exercise their privilege of selecting their party’s nominee.

The 14th State Senate seat includes Tulare, Kings, Kern and Fresno counties.

The incumbent is Andy Vidak of Hanford and two Democratic challengers.

4.5%. Bond funds will be applied to the county’s unfunded liability on which we currently pay 7.25% interest. This difference in interest rates is projected to save the county approximately $52 million over the next 19 years, matching the time frame the board is obligated to pay off its liability.”

New Jail Staff and County Buildings

“Another looming financial challenge will be staffing needs for the new jail facilities now under construction and those expected to break ground this year,” said Worthley. “At full buildout, it is expected that this will add $2.5 million annually to the sheriff’s budget.”

He proposed that the board consider utilizing an independent third party review of the public safety departments and thereafter apply a similar review of all other departments.

“While there are costs to such an analysis, other county governments who have engaged in such a process are recognizing significant savings while seeing improved public service levels,” he said.

Worthley then turned his attention to county buildings.

“We have invested significant resources improving many of our building interiors,” he said. “Now it is time the board consider how we can beautify the exteriors of our facilities and their surroundings. I propose that a comprehensive plan be developed for future implementation that will accomplish this goal. Such a plan would include guidelines and policies setting forth principles of aesthetic beauty accomplished with drought-resistant landscaping, and viewing our facilities through the eyes of our residents.

In many cases, small things like a thorough cleaning, rearranging or disposing of unneeded personal property, and paint can go a long way. Removing dead or damaged vegetation and replanting with durable plants and aesthetically pleasing materials including the use of art will greatly enhance the appearance of our facilities.”

As an additional incentive to county employees, Worthley suggested, “that within 60 days of today’s date we select the best and most cost-effective suggestion for recognition at a public board meeting and honor the selected

employee with a $1,000.”

Worthley finished his state of the county address by briefly talking about “other challenges, which require active engagement by our residents and their elected representatives,” such as ensuring that agriculture, “the foundation of our economy,” has the water it needs.

“Building Temperance Flat reservoir on the San Joaquin River is critical to addressing the ground water stabilization required by the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act passed by the state legislature in 2014,” he said. “The San Joaquin Valley Water Infrastructure Authority, of which the county is an active participant, has submitted its application for funding for the Proposition 1 Water Bond.

We must remain vigilant in pursuing state bond and federal funding for this project.”

Another other challenge is the drought that left 29 million dead trees in Tulare County.

“While 2017 was a banner year for snow and rainfall in our region, nearly 5 million additional trees died from the lingering effects of the drought and the infestation of pests,” he said.

“The county must continue to advocate with the state and the federal governments to address this problem and reduce the risk of catastrophic wild fires, and to move beyond a passive management system which significantly contributed to the current crisis.”

After the applause that followed his address, Worthley then joked that, “Following the state of the county address, it’s become something of a tradition to allow board members to make their snide comments.” The four other supervisors instead offered positive words on the presentation.

“Having visually appealing buildings and landscaping is a very good thing,” said Supervisor Pete Vander Poel.

“I don’t think any of us can argue that there’s anything we don’t want to work on,” said Supervisor Amy Shuklian.

“I like that the board is trying to run the county like a business,” said Supervisor Mike Ennis.

Supervisor and Board Vice Chairman Kuyler Crocker praised the entire state of the county address, noting that he “didn’t see one person nod off.”

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1 February, 2018 Valley Voice

10

CEMETERY continued from 1

Colson and Phil Vandegrift .

A third longtime board member, Antonia Chavez, had resigned two months prior after a very contentious July board meeting.

Bill Postlewaite, Richard Johnson, and Alberto Aguilar were appointed to replace them.

The fresh faces apparently did not mean an end to the cemetery’s problems.

Trustee Deal is currently debating whether or not to resign, though individuals in the district have asked him to stay. He said that the current board ousted him as chair and does not adequately publicize the meetings. He said he hears of special meetings the night before they happen and then doesn’t even know what is on the agenda.

“Many times I only hear about what is going with the district second hand or from the employees,” said Deal.

Trustees Johnson and Postlewaite resigned in December after a dispute over Stay Green, the grounds maintenance company, and a possible Brown Act violation.

Problems with Johnson and Postlewaite started at the November 22 cemetery district meeting. Aguilar reported that Stay Green broke water lines, chipped grave markers, ran over a tree, and broke a bench in front of the office.

“They ran into it with the lawn mower. How do you do that?” he said.

Stay Green cost the public cemetery $19,000 a month for maintenance, in addition to extra charges for incidental costs to the tune of $3000 to $5000 a month.

One such incidental cost was the replanting of the tree they ran over.

INVESTMENT

That’s when Aguilar decided to bring the subject of canceling their contract to the board’s November meeting.

During the meeting, the board reviewed Stay Green’s performance and voted 4-1 to terminate the contract with Deal voting no.

According to Aguilar, Trustees Postlewaite and Johnson then met with members of Caring Cause, a facebook group formed to help the cemetery.

They thought it was premature to cancel the contract because the district did not have a backup plan. Postlewaite, in response, allegedly called Stay Green and told the manager not to accept the certified letter and to send it back to the cemetery without opening it.

Had the company opened the letter, their contract would have been terminated on December 31, 2017.

Aguilar discovered what had happened and put the incident on the December 6 agenda. At the meeting Aguilar explained that one board member can’t undermine decisions made by the board.

Aguilar said he would be seeking legal counsel.

On hearing that he might be facing legal problems, Postlewaite resigned at the meeting. Johnson, who did not attend the December meeting, resigned soon after, leaving only two members on the board.

Tulare County Supervisor Pete Vander Poel quickly appointed Carlene Ringuis so the cemetery board would have a quorum at their next regular January meeting. Ringuis had been putting in 20 to 25 hours of volunteer time to run the district office after manager Marilyn Correia surreptitiously quit.

Xavier Avila, who currently sits on the Tulare Regional Hospital Board, has applied for the other seat and might be appointed to the Tulare Public Cemetery District board in February.

At a special meeting in January, Stay Green’s contract was terminated and the board is looking to buy the necessary equipment and maintain the grounds themselves.

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On October 5, 2017 Aguilar asked the Tulare County District Attorney to investigate possible embezzlement of Tulare Public Cemetery funds by former office manager Marilyn Correia and Steven Cunningham, who are married.

After receiving blistering criticism from the public and board members on mismanagement of the cemetery, Correia and Cunningham quietly planned their exit. During the first two weeks of September the board members, public and the Voice were told that Correia and Cunningham were down south visiting their grandchildren. On September 15, Gilson and Deal heard from the grounds maintenance workers that Correia and Cunningham had left their employment with the district.

After realizing that the management team was gone, Deal and Gilson met at the cemetery district office on Kern Street early in the morning on September 18 to assess the situation.

A physical altercation with grounds foreman Phil Miller ensued when Miller tried to prevent them from entering the office. Gilson called the police and they were finally successful in gaining entrance.

According to a report written by Gilson, after reviewing the books, they discovered that payroll supporting records such as all employee time cards, sick leave and vacation accrual information, and three payroll checks for 10/1/17 were missing. When stop payments were ordered on the three checks two additional checks were

found by the Auditor’s Office.

All five of them had been cashed except for Geraldo Ramos’. Correia and Cunningham had cashed the other four.

According to Gilson’s write up on the possible embezzlement, “An outside technical firm later determined that financial files on the laptop computer that Marilyn had used had been deleted, and that two flash drives that had been utilized had been cleared.”

After a request by county council to return all cemetery property, Correia returned the vacation and sick leave records to the district office. After Gilson reviewed the records she discovered that, “Marilyn had updated her records, as well as Steve’s, and submitted requests to the Auditor’s Office utilizing a falsified and fraudulent disbursement form for the final payroll checks.”

On December 15, 2017 the Tulare cemetery district received a letter from the TCDA office informing them that the DA was not going to conduct an investigation into possible embezzling.

“After an investigation into the matter concerning Marilyn Louis Correia and the Tulare cemetery, our office has concluded that no criminal activity can be proved based on the witness interviews and evidence provided, therefore, our investigation is closed.”

According to Aguilar, none of the cemetery employees or board members were interviewed.

More Embezzlement Allegations Aguilar also suspects Correia and Cunningham of receiving money under the table in the form of rent.

Tulare Public Cemetery consists of two sections, the older section on Kern Street and the North Cemetery on J Street. During the last two years visitors to the North Cemetery noticed one of the gates always open and that it appears someone was living in the shed.

The issue was addressed at several district board meetings.

The suspected person was head grounds keeper for the North Cemetery, Ramos, who Correia admitted was very reluctant to fire after many serious infractions.

In an interview with the Voice on August 29, 2017 Correia stated that Ramos did not live at the North Cemetery.

She also said that Ramos was informed that if the office management continued to receive complaints that he was rude, or misplaced another body, there would be consequences.

Correia expressed fear that if Ramos, a 30-year employee, were fired he could sue the district.

Aguilar, who was sworn in as a Trustee on September 19, met with Ramos at the district office soon after to resolve the issue.

Ramos told Aguilar, “I just want you to know that rumors I have lived there (North Cemetery) are not true.”

Ramos then asked Aguilar, “Can you help me move my stuff?”

Aguilar helped Ramos move his furniture, a washing machine and his cable TV box, and witnessed a hole in the ceiling where wires led to the dish.

When Aguilar asked the grounds keepers about Ramos, they informed him that Ramos had been living in the shed for eight years. They told him Ramos had a dog, dog house, garden, and had moved in an undocumented friend or relative, Abraham, who worked for a short time for the district. When the board found out Abraham wasn’t documented they let him go.

“There is no way the old board did not know he lived there,” said Aguilar.

Three Guests Buried in the Wrong Plot and Counting

Three loved ones, and possibly more, were buried in the wrong grave

at Tulare Public Cemetery in 2017. According to the comments on Caring Cause’s Facebook page, this problem has been going on for years.

In April of 2016 Mathew Renteria’s father was buried in the wrong plot. They knew immediately because they had bought a large grave but his casket didn’t fit. The grounds keepers dropped the casket several times and then shoved it in, damaging the casket.

On April 5 Janice Ojeda passed away and Mary Lou, her daughter, chose a location three spaces from a large tree so there would be shade. Mary Lou knew immediately it was the wrong grave when she arrived at the cemetery because the plot was in the opposite location from what they had chosen and directly in the sun.

Trenity Monsibais was 14 years old and passed away in March, 2017 after a five-year battle with leukemia. Her family first became suspicious that someone else was buried in Trenity’s spot when they noticed the mementos they left were gone. Then in November Trenity’s mother, Alicia Monsibais, visited her daughter’s grave and saw Veterans’ memorabilia and happy birthday balloons, but it wasn’t her daughter’s birthday.

A grounds keeper recently admitted that, after Monsibais family left the cemetery, they moved Trenity’s casket to another plot three spaces over. Ramos had mistakenly dug grave #54 that belonged to someone else.

Alicia Monsibais was devastated to discover that for the last year she was grieving over someone else’s father’s grave.

Different faces, same lack of compassion.

When the cemetery office was first advised about Trenity, Gilson told the mother she would have to provide proof. After Monsibais provided the office with photos Gilson said she would get back to her, but did not return Monsibais phone calls.

Finally Monsibais and other family members came to the January 17 board meeting to complain about Trenity’s grave and the lack of compassion.

A few days later Monsibais received a call from Gilson informing her that her daughter’s grave was going to be dug up on Wednesday, January 24, and asked if she wanted to be there. Gilson also told the mother she would have to call Monday to find out what time.

Distraught over the lack of communication, lack of compassion and not asking permission first, Monsibais husband immediately went down to the cemetery office and told Gilson that under no circumstances is she to communicate his wife again.

Aguilar took over the investigation and resolved the issue.

The other two families got little to no sympathy from the former administration. Renteria’s family never received an apology from the district about putting his father in the wrong grave but instead said Correia blamed everything Ramos’ health problems.

“We weren’t in a drive through buying fast food. We expected some compassion,” said the cousin.

Mary Lou Ojeda said the maintenance man insisted that she was mistaken about her mother’s grave and that she and her family chose the plot that was currently open. Ojeda said the man was so rude she felt sick to her stomach.

After many phone calls, letters and board meetings, the cemetery agreed to give Ojeda a full refund of $3000.

Ojeda at first considered not fighting, but then just wanted her money back because she wanted to make sure this didn’t happen to another family.

“It’s just an experience that I would not want to happen to anyone else.”

Valley Voice 1 February, 2018

ARCO

continued from 1 198),” she said. “What we have realized, we got to the plans to that, and the one they’re proposing to put here on Caldwell is bigger than the one they’re putting in the Industrial Park.”

The 198 location has no restaurant or car wash, but a similar number of pumps.

Hernandez’s group also learned the Caldwell ARCO will be a refueling location for fleet vehicles.

She says that cleared up at least one mystery, how Chandi planned to make a profit with such a large facility in the middle of a residential area.

“We kept saying how are they going to make money in the middle of a neighborhood?” Hernandez said.

“That’s one way they’re going to do it.”

The result, she says, will be even more traffic and noise in an already busy area of town.

Booze, Traffic and Children

If the project is constructed, it will include the third car wash within a mile of the intersection.

It will also add another sales point for alcohol in an area that is already saturated.

“This is going to make 19 alcohol establishments within one mile of our neighborhood,” Hernandez said.

A gas station and convenience store already occupies the opposite corner where the new ARCO could be built, and its owners were denied a permit for a car wash when the business was originally constructed.

That corner of Caldwell and West could become quite congested if

NUNES

11 fuel deliveries begin at the proposed ARCO, at least according to one interpretation of a new map of the project submitted to the city by Chandi last month.

“That (map) shows them bringing in two different kinds of trucks to bring fuel in,” she said. “One is an 18-wheeler, a normal truck. The other has like 30 wheels. It’ll be a big tanker truck delivery. They’ll have to park it on West Street to bring in their fuel.”

The spot they’ll need to use is also the drop-off point for school buses in the neighborhood.

“We’ve got loads of kids in buses right there where they’re doing the trucks,” Hernandez said.

Property Sales Impact

The group has also learned the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) will not insure mortgages for homes within 300 feet of a 1,000-gallon or larger fuel storage tank. Some of the residents will be effected by the location of the ARCO. “We measured from the eastern side of the fuel tanks--and they’re over 30,000 gallons--and four of the houses on James Court fall into that,” Hernandez said. “It’s going to impact the ability of those folks to sell their homes.”

It’s unclear whether construction of the station will effect area residents who already have FHA-backed mortgages.

FHA insurance is the most popular program of its kind in the nation.

“That’ll be up to HUD and the FHA,” said Hernandez. “It’s going to make it an issue, because FHA loans are the most used by Americans.”

Poisoning the Well

continued from 1 began when the congressman was forced to remove himself from his role as head of the Intel Committee after it was revealed he may have inappropriately shared classified data with the Trump White House.

Nunes later lied to the press about his involvement in the exchange, leading to an ethics investigation that concluded in late 2017.

While claiming to have distanced himself from the work of the Intel Committee while the investigation of his behavior was ongoing, Nunes continued to be involved behind the scenes, running a parallel, but seemingly partisan investigation.

Nunes apparently sent staff members to England to contact Chris Steele, a former British intelligence agent who penned a dossier alleging Trump is vulnerable to blackmail by Russian agents.

Nunes also issued subpoenas demanding documents from the FBI and the DOJ, leading him to accuse the agencies of partisan corruption, and threatening to hold officials from those agencies in contempt of Congress.

Political leaders from the opposite side of the aisle, as well as pundits from many major national news outlets say the so-called “Nunes memo” is an attempt to discredit investigators from those agencies and derail the investigation into collusion between Russian agents and the Trump campaign.

“It’s a brainwashing memo,” Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Castro Valley) told MSNBC, following the vote to release the four-page document. “Its only purpose is to poison the well of the members who would have to hold the president accountable if he were to fire (Special Council Robert) Mueller by tainting their perception of the FBI.” Andrew Janz, a violent crimes prosecutor in Fresno County and Visalia native who is seeking the seat Nunes now holds, goes a step further, calling Nunes’ actions a threat to the safety of all Americans.

“Devin Nunes is a national security risk,” Janz said. “He has no business having a security clearance, let alone the job of leading the House Intelligence Committee.”

Janz is calling on Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-Wisconsin) to remove Nunes from his role as

Potential Buyer Rebuffed

Habib Wahid, co-owner of the Princess Market already located at the northeast corner of Caldwell and West, has a quick and ready solution to the situation: He wants to buy the land where the ARCO would be constructed and use it as the location for a family-style restaurant.

But, the agent offering the land for sale has stopped returning his phone calls.

“I’ve called the dude three times,” Wahid said. “He wants us to go to the corner by the Jack in the Box (Caldwell at Court Street).”

Wahid says he and his two partners are ready to begin the project immediately. They even have a chef ready to start cooking, but they are making no headway.

“I think the reason is money,” Wahid said. “It (the ARCO station) doesn’t belong in a neighborhood.”

Lackluster Response

While Hernandez and her group are getting help from a secret source at City Hall, they’re getting less action than they’d like from their elected representatives.

Councilman Bob Link, who represents the area, says he won’t talk to the group until after the Planning Commission has made its final decision. They got a similar response from Councilman Greg Collins, Hernandez said.

“He said he’d be happy to hear everything we have to say when we appeal,” Hernandez said. “The mayor is the only one who is listening.”

Mayor Warren Gubler has agreed to meet with the opponents to the ARCO later this month to hear their Intel Committee chair. He pulled no punches.

“If Devin Nunes wants to continue attacking law enforcement and cover up the Russia investigation by crafting a fake narrative to protect the president, I suggest that he join the other 30 Republicans who have already announced retirements so he can take a job with Fox News as a Trump defender,” Janz said.

Relentless Opposition

Meanwhile, the grassroots movement to push Nunes out of office shows no signs of slowing.

This week marked the first anniversary of weekly protests outside Nunes’ Clovis office.

Naming Nunes “an embarrassment to the voters of the 22nd Congressional District,” the Every Tuesday Vigil takes place at noon at Clovis Avenue and Third Street.

In Visalia, South Valley Civics continues to hold Nunes Watch Rallies outside Nunes’ Visalia office at Church and Main streets on the final Tuesday of each month.

“Nunes not only does not communicate in any meaningful way with his constituents,” Ehrlich said, “but he engages in reckless, dangerous activities that stand to undercut

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Chandi Not Talking

The project’s developer, Cochella Valley-based Chandi Group, has also cut off contact with Hernandez and her group, but only after offering to hear their concerns initially. “(An agent for Chandi) Tom Freeman wanted to negotiate with us, and we put him on hold to get some legal advice on where we should go,” Hernandez said. “He was, ‘Great! What are your ideas? It’ll take a little time, because it has to go to the head office.’”

Then he stopped responding. No one else from Chandi Group is talking to Hernandez either, even ignoring registered letters seeking their renewed attention. Chandi Group also stopped responding to requests for an interview from the Valley Voice after initially agreeing to speak on the record about their plans.

The developers have yet to submit a new project plan for for the ARCO station for consideration by the Planning Commission. Once it does, the public will be allowed to comment on the plan. No date has been set for a public hearing.

the laws, procedures and protections of this nation.”

The next Nunes Watch Rally will be 11:20am on Tuesday, February 20.

Local Power Shift

Members of the GOP, including Nunes, have long depended on unwavering support from Tulare County’s power base, including most officials, appointed and elected, but there are signs a shift is underway.

“He (Nunes) has shown a shockingly ‘un-independence’ in investigating the possibility of Russian interference in the US presidential election,” said one prominent Tulare County official who asked for anonymity to avoid fallout. “The Congress should be independent, and he’s acted in an extreme partisan manner.”

This attitude is reflected in recent poll numbers, which show Nunes leading any Democratic opponent by just 5 points. That compares to the more than 26 points Nunes won by in 2016.

That shift may reflect the increasingly widespread notion among his detractors that Nunes does not represent the best interest of his constituents or possess the independence expected of a congressman.

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concerns Henandez, however, won’t be ignored. She’s collected all the research her group has performed on the ARCO projects, calling attention to its alleged shortfalls, and delivered copies to each member of the City Council and the Planning Commission.

“This is my Plan B. I took a packet to each of them,” she said. “The ones to the councilmen got time-stamped.

The ones to the Planning Commission ended up on (City Planner Paul Bernal’s) desk. I wasn’t home for 20 minutes before I got a call.”

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12

Tulare Regional could open clinics before hospital TONY MALDONADO

tony@ourvalleyvoice.com

The Tulare Local Healthcare District could open its clinics before the hospital itself, the district’s board was told at its last meeting.

The plan to reopen the clinics before the hospital was still in the air, the hospital’s interim CEO, Larry Blitz, said, but it was being heavily pursued.

“Supposedly, there’s a rule that you can’t do it. We’re crying hardship, that we really need the clinics, and the community needs the clinics open,” Blitz said.

The decision has been pushed from the California Department of Public Health to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), he told the board.

Staff for the clinics would be hired one to two weeks before they were to open, and supplies would be ordered closer to the opening date as well.

“We have the paperwork ready to go, once we understand that we’re ready to go,” he said.

Blitz stated that he and his partners at Wipfli saw significant opportunity in the reopening of the clinics — and that physicians were interested as well.

“There’s a tremendous upside to the clinics, which the last management group didn’t pay any attention to,” Blitz said. “I think that [the clinics] could be a profit center in all of the different areas.”

“When we came here, there were very few M.D.s and D.O.s involved in oversight in the clinics — in fact, it wasn’t even legal,” he said. “We have a number of different groups now that are interested in staffing the clinics. I don’t believe we’re going to have an issue with doctor oversight of the clinics.”

Efforts to reopen the hospital and its emergency room weren’t being sidetracked, though.

“We’re working with three different emergency department groups that are interested in coming here and supplying emergency services. Our goal is to open up the emergency room at the same time the hospital opens — it’s not a requirement, but everybody really wants that, and the community really needs that,” he said.

There was still no concrete date on a reopening, though.

“We’re doing the best we can, but the obstacles just keep jumping up,” Mike Jamaica, a board member, told the public. “We’re hoping, maybe by March or April, or maybe sooner. Just bear with us.”

The Financials

The hospital, once open, could realize significant profits with as little as 40 patients per day, according to the district’s interim management team.

Daniel Heckathorne, the hospital’s interim CFO, presented a forecasted income statement based on numbers from 2016 — as 2017’s haven’t been audited yet.

EVOLUTIONS continued from 5

and a bankruptcy is pending in another, so you remove it to the place where the bankruptcy is, then people enter into battle over which court should hear it,” Walter said.

When the Voice spoke to Walter, he had not yet had a chance to read the suit.

“HCCA, to its credit, had told me it would be coming,” he said.

In a filing, the company’s lawyers

“We feel that there’s opportunity to save some costs. I think some of the obvious opportunities are — there were some pretty high management fees in the past,” he said, to chuckles from the crowd. “Secondly, we think there’s some areas where the hospital was overstaffed. We compared the staffing that has been at the hospital to the industry standards.”

Paired with other adjustments, the hospital could generate a $10m bottom line.

“We think it can go better than that,” he said. “We think this hospital can do well financially.”

But the road to reopening won’t be easy. The hospital could be out of cash

by February.

“We’re doing everything we possibly can — we’re looking at Medi-Cal, we’ve gone to the California Hospital Association to get advances on certain money,” Heckathorne said. “We believe we can make it, because we’re doing everything we can. The hospital association — we’ve got another $200k coming in, that’s going to help us out.”

Heckathorne stated that the hospital spends $1.4m per month to operate in its current state. There are “60 or so” people on the payroll, not all working full-time.

“We’ve asked many of those employees to take short paychecks — they’re not getting any benefits, they’re not getting anything else at this point in time,” he said.

Later in the meeting, Kevin Northcraft, the chairman of the board, said that Wipfli’s estimated management costs are $200,000 per month.

Wipfli charged over $8,000 in December to manage the hospital’s website and public relations, causing the board to vote unanimously to shift those responsibilities to volunteers.

Some of the hospital’s “professionals” would also “hold off on some of their payments” as well, he said.

“In terms of getting financing, two types of financing, we’re working vigorously on that, and there’s a lot of things that have to be met in order to qualify with the bankruptcy court,” Heckathorne said. “And we’re in that process.”

Heckathorne additionally stated the best estimate, as of Wednesday, was that the hospital owed $32m in accounts payable.

“If you divided $3m a month into $32m, on average, it’s probably about ten to twelve months of bills that are unpaid. That is why we are in such a very difficult situation. $27m of that number is pre-bankruptcy,” he said.

Additionally, the hospital board voted to not sell the Tulare Hospital Foundation’s current home at 906 Cherry Street.

“It’s not anything we’ve asked for; or, in my mind, even considered,” Northcraft said.

Physician Recruitment

The interim management group recently held a dinner for interested phyclaimed that the Tulare Local Healthcare District’s countersuit against HCCA was a “smorgasbord of claims and theories” and stated that moving the case back to Los Angeles was required by law.

“Here, remand of the Lawsuit is required because the removal of the Lawsuit was in direct violation of federal law,” the filing reads.

The company’s filing additionally states that even if the move from Los Angeles County were legal, it shouldn’t have been moved to the Fresno bankruptcy court.

sicians and attracted over 30 physicians, Blitz said. Physicians around the area are being provided with bi-weekly newsletters to keep them updated on the progress being made at the hospital as well.

“The great news is that — remember, the physicians are the foundations of your revenue. If you don’t have the physicians here, you won’t have the revenue,” he said.

A physician steering committee is in the works, he said, which would assist in forming a Medical Executive Committee (MEC) and Medical Staff to begin work at the hospital. The steering committee would also establish guidelines on recruitment and credentialing.

Outsourcing to Reopen Quickly

Among the more controversial items on the agenda were contracts to outsource accounts receivable functions to Healthcare Resource Group and engage in a co-employment agreement with Southeast Personnel Leasing.

The agreement with Southeast was tabled after attorneys discovered that, at least in writing, the company could have the power to manage employees.

In theory, a co-employment agreement would allow the district to get better rates on workers’ compensation insurance, avoid dealing with payroll, and push other legalities onto a third party.

The co-employment provider would be the “employer of record” on tax forms.

The board voted unanimously, however, to engage in agreements with Healthcare Resource Group to handle the hospital’s accounts receivable. The prior vendor, Navigant Cymetrix, claims to be owed $1.7m in outstanding payments from August, 2016 onward.

Heckathorne said that a rough estimate of outstanding accounts receivable was $40m.

The agreements with Healthcare Resource Group (HRG) would involve minimal to no out-of-pocket costs from the district: the company would simply take a percentage of balances collected.

The company would, under the approved agreements, provide “early out, self-pay” and accounts receivable services to the district for percentages ranging from 8% to 18% of the amounts collected.

The potential agreement drew significant criticism in the Voice’s comment section.

“The 3250 accounts are only the self pays, we have the space, we have the computers, why not set up a special collections department right in the hospital and employ the townspeople?

WHY go to the state of WASHINGTON,” one commenter wrote. HRG is based in Washington.

One citizen also spoke during the meeting.

“If you read through the self-pay contract, it says that they will look and find if there’s any charitable write-offs,” Jennifer Burcham said, “they’ll fill out

“The law is crystal clear. If you’re going to seek removal of a case from the state court to the federal court, you must remove it to the federal district court in that area. You can’t go forum shopping throughout the United States to find what you think may be a more favorable court,” Grossman said. “That’s a recipe for chaos. The lawyers for the district acted in direct violation of the applicable statute, which required removal to the local district court, which is the Central District in California. All they had to do was move it to that district court, instead of forum shop.”

the application, but they’ll send it back to the hospital to approve whatever charitable amount, and handle it.”

“If they’re sending it back to the hospital, you have to have people on staff to handle the rebilling of the insurances, to handle everything they’re saying is the [hospital’s] responsibility,” she added.

Heckathorne said that HRG had the people, the software, and the experience to get up and running quickly.

Blitz added that the deal was the best it could find — and that HRG’s offer even surpassed his own expectations.

The hospital didn’t have the money to hire on its own people, and HRG was willing to handle the accounts on a percentage basis.

“This is short-term,” Blitz said. “We want to hire existing, local staff if possible. But remember, existing staff right now — whether it’s their fault or not — we’re in a situation where the billing is in disarray.”

The initial agreement is for one year, according to the documents provided.

“There were payments that came in previously — the cash had came into the bank, but the payments weren’t posted onto the patients’ bills,” Heckathorne said. He later stated that staff with Wipfli/HFS Consultants are working to post those payments and readying the data to hand off to HRG. “We need that money now. And if there are millions of dollars out there, let’s give someone the incentive to collect it,” Blitz said. “This is a really good deal, it’s a short-term deal, and we do want to create a long-term solution by having our own staff.”

Evolutions Resurgent

Derek Jackson, the chairman of the Evolutions Oversight Committee, presented the committee’s first report regarding operations of the gym.

Perhaps more importantly — he presented a check of $11,153 to the board. That profit was after paying the gym’s obligations and the month’s rent in advance.

“I truly believe, personally, that this check will increase, because more and more members are coming back,” he added.

Steve Harrell, a member of the board, noted that members had some concern over leather in equipment needing reupholstering and concerns over bacteria being spread by cuts from leather.

Jayne Presnell, Evolutions’ director, said that most of those repairs should be done by the weekend.

Dennis Mederos, an attorney representing the Evo Management Group, which runs Evolutions, said that the district’s contract with Evo Management gives the board control over capital improvements.

“If you decide you want something repaired, that comes out of profits or reduces the check we just handed you, tell us,” he said. “When you bring that up, remember that it’s the board’s decision.”

The company’s filing accuses Northcraft of forum shopping, quoting prior statements regarding the contract between HCCA and the Tulare hospital.

“In his comment to the public and the media, the now Chair of TMRC Board expressed his disdain for Los Angeles in attacking HCCA, announcing that the District should ‘renegotiate or throw out the current HCCA contract…. [and] do it ‘the Tulare way’—not the Southern California divisive, divisive secretive, and machine politics way,’” the filing reads.

Valley Voice 1 February, 2018

13

Francisco Ramirez recalled by 61.6% in Hanford Ramirez also claimed that “if this were a regular vote, then he would have beaten Sharp by 10 votes.”

Shaka Sudds, a long-time supporter of Ramirez, said on the Eggs, Bacon and Joey Radio Show the morning of January 23 that there was “deeply seated corruption within our voting system in Kings County.”

She said that a group of people who never wanted Ramirez in office, and who didn’t live in the district, were the ones behind the recall.

Sudds said that many of the people who signed the petitions to recall were elderly and didn’t know what they were signing.

“One woman was mentally ill. I believe she had Down Syndrome. She agreed to sign that petition but she didn’t even know what it was about or who it was against. That was a very suspicious thing to me,” said Sudds.

The day before the recall Ramirez obtained the campaign finance forms filed by Hanford Now. Hanford Now is an organization run by Dan Chin who, along with Skip Athey, organized the recall.

Ramirez discovered that the group paid $13,000 to pay people to collect signatures. Ramirez said that when you add how much they paid for mailers, which he alleged was about $12,000, that means recall organizers spent $25,000 to get Ramirez off the city council.

“Ultimately, I do not believe this was the will of the people,” said Ramirez.

But others disagreed.

“They did not pay for voter’s signatures. Just to clarify in case anyone reads your caption. There were many unpaid volunteers that went door to door. This document (campaign finance forms) shows the professional that was hired to continue door to door in order to cover more area. He in turn, hired people under him. This is no surprise, its common procedure and these documents are available for the public to view,” one

commenter, Angela LiAntonio, countered on Facebook.

“Today, history is going to be made, good or bad. I’m going to be watching the election results with my head up high knowing that I stood up against the corrupted, and that mostly everything I promised the citizens of my great community I fulfilled. Let this be a lesson in your eyes. No matter what the outcome is if you don’t stand up for something, you will fall for anything. …At the end of the day that’s all I really wanted. For the corrupted to be out of the shadows and into the spotlight. Thanks to all the citizens of this wonderful community. I love you all,” Ramirez said on the afternoon of the recall election.

SELF-HELP

valued at $170,000-$190,000 when completed, she said.

Woodlake,” Lara said.

Valencia Heights is part of Self-Help Enterprises’ Mutual Self-Help Housing Program.

Self-Help is a non-profit agency that works, in part, with potential first-home owners. The total development site is for 70 homes – 10 of those are ready to be built.

Those approved into the program actually help build all of the homes in their phase of the development, dedicating 40-hours per week from each homeowner family until the entire development is completed, said Betsy McGovern-Garcia, real estate development program director.

Their work equals the down payment on their home. The first 10 families have filed all of their paperwork, qualified and are ready to dig in.

A ceremonial groundbreaking took place in December; however, the real work is actually just beginning. No one moves in until all 10 homes are finished.

A development of 70 homes is really larger than the average norm for SelfHelp projects, usually projects are more like 40-50 homes.

“It really makes sense in a city like Woodlake, where there is a tremendous demand,” McGovern-Garcia said. “The City of Woodlake is a really great partner – we’re really excited about the project.”

The Valencia Heights homes will be

In Dinuba, work is heading toward completion for the first phase of 44 affordable rental multi-family apartment units, projected to be ready for movein by July.

These are one, two and three-bedroom units, located at the corner of East Davis Dr. and North Crawford Ave., and the Sierra Village project includes a 3,000 square foot community building and a playground.

According to a Self-Help press release, “Sierra Village is being financed through a combination of HOME funds, Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) program funds, and low-income housing tax credits.

The AHSC program is administered through a partnership between the Strategic Growth Council and the Housing and Community Development Department (HCD) and is funded by Cap-andTrade proceeds.

“Sierra Village is a highly energy efficient and transit-friendly project. Sustainable features include solar PV, water conservation measures, and a vanpool program in partnership with the California Vanpool Authority that will transport residents from Sierra Village and the surrounding community to and from work.”

Self-Help will start accepting applications for Sierra Village apartments in mid-February. To qualify for affordable rental units, a family must earn 60% or

below of the median area income.

A second phase of the Sierra Village project will include another 64 units for a total of 108 units.

CATHERINE DOE

catherine@ourvalleyvoice.com

Hanford residents living in District D voted 61.6% to recall City Council Member Francisco Ramirez. The recall is effective immediately. Ramirez can attend city council meetings until the results are certified, but he cannot vote.

Business woman Diane Sharp beat out of the four candidates running to replace Ramirez.

Sharp was at the Kings County Registrar of Voters Tuesday night January 23, excitedly watching the final count.

Hearing the results she said, “I am honored to have been elected to the city council and am eager to serve the constituents of District D and Hanford as a whole. I think we have a lot to look forward to- a very bright future indeed.”

Turnout was very low with only 384 people voting out of 3475 registered voters.

234 residents voted in favor of the recall and146 voted against.

Sharp received 137 votes or a commanding 41%. Former Hanford Mayor Lou Martinez received 94 votes, Paula Massey, 50 and Shelly Barker 42.

Depending on when the election results are certified, Sharp will be sworn into office at either the regularly scheduled city council meeting on February 6 or February 20.

Days before the Vote

Ramirez said that by the time the last mailer arrived at District D resident’s doors many of the people who voted early regretted their vote.

342 residents voted early versus 42 on the day of the recall.

Ramirez said the mailer was the final straw revealing the amount of corruption going on in Hanford.

He plans on running for his seat again in November and feels comfortable that he will win now that the people are educated about the corruption.

continued from 1

Dinuba apartment complex

Recall’s Aftermath

About an hour after the results were released, candidate Shelly Barker posted a seven minute alcohol-fueled video of her, her friends and their children celebrating Ramirez’ recall.

Attendees of the party included, Tommy Barker, Ralph Barker, Tara Barker, Mark Cole, Stephen Cano, Kalish Morrow, Dough Morrow, and Mike Cuinn.

According to Barker, Lou Martinez arrived later in the evening..

In the video former city council candidate Mark Cole can be heard saying “bye bitch” two or three times.

Also in the video Barker, a former supporter of the ousted council member, accuses Ramirez of being an idiot, corrupt, plagiarizing and a liar.

She said that “charges are being pressed now. The paperwork has already been started so get used to silver bracelets.”

Barker is a former member of the Kings County Grand Jury.

Ramirez’ reaction to Barker’s video was disbelief that the Kings County Assessor, Kristi Lee, “liked” the video post on Facebook.

“It’s so unethical for the assessor to “like” that I am out of office. She is

Lindsay apartment complex

Similarly, in Lindsay, an apartment complex called Palm Terrace started last fall. Here, there are to be 50 units in the first phase, comprising of one, two and three bedrooms of affordable rental multi-family units at the corner of Westwood Ave. and Hermosa St. Financing is similar to that of Dinuba’s Sierra Village and so are the efficiencies including bike lanes and sidewalks, and the partnership with the California Van Pool Authority.

According to Self-Help, “In addition to securing $4.4 million of Cap and Trade Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) funding for the housing project, Self-Help Enterprises secured $1.4 million in grant funding for the City of Lindsay to construct a roundabout, sidewalks, and bike lanes at the intersection of Westwood Avenue and Hermosa Street. The roundabout will calm traffic and improve the safety for students accessing Jefferson Elementary School, located north of the site.

This intersection is a documented safety concern in the community, and the improvements will promote non-motorized transit to access the school, shopping center and bus stop, which are all located within a quarter mile of the site.”

Palm Terrace is the first affordable

an elected official. She should not take sides in any discussion especially the same night that you are counting the votes,” said Ramirez.

Ramirez pointed out during his radio interview the next morning on Eggs, Bacon and Joey Radio Show the extremely low voter turnout. The city spent around $20,000 to run the recall and Hanford Now spent about $25,000 to collect signatures and mailers against Ramirez, for an election where only 384 people voted.

Concerning the total amount of money spent Ramirez said, “There is something more than meets the eye of why you want me out of office,” he said.

That, in combination with the assessor liking Barker’s video, gave Ramirez concern.

“I believe this was rigged,” he said.

As for the future, Ramirez plans on taking the next month off and then gear up in June to start campaigning for the city council race. “I have a lot of supporters out there and I really think I am going to win.

Ramirez was noncommittal regarding attending the next Hanford City Council, simply stating “maybe, maybe not.”

He is considering going so he can thank the city staff for all their hard work and to ask the other city council members not to fire city manager Darrel Pyle.

“I feel in my heart that Darrel’s job is on the line now.”

Ramirez claims the fact that he refused to fire Pyle when elected sparked former Hanford Mayor Dan Chin to get him off the council.

As a result of Ramirez’ refusing to fire Pyle, Chin “said that he was going to make my life a living hell–and trust me, he kept his word,” Ramirez claims.

As far as his chances of beating Sharp when she runs to defend her seat?

“No doubt, I will be back in November.”

rental community built by Self-Help Enterprises in the City of Lindsay.

The second phase of the project will include 54 more units for a total of 104, expected to be completed in the fall of 2019.

The project will include Energy-star appliances, a playground, community room, computer lab, and resident services.

Goshen and beyond

Self-Help has just submitted an application for another affordable rental complex in Goshen consisting of 66 units in the first phase and an additional 60 units in a second phase.

This is in coordination with Tulare County, the Tulare County Association of Governments and the California Van Pool Authority, McGovern-Garcia said.

The location is at Riggin Ave. and Road 76.

Self-Help currently owns and operates 29 rental communities. in seven counties, up and down the Valley from Oildale and Arvin to Modesto.

The focus is affordable rental units with onsite residential services including after-school programs.

“It is an opportunity to be comprehensive in providing housing,” McGovern-Garcia said. “Some families are looking to rent, others are ready for ownership.”

To apply for a Dinuba apartment, or get on the “interest list” for Lindsay, call Self-Help at (559) 651-1000. The same number may be used for interest in Mutual Self-Help Housing Program.

1 February, 2018 Valley Voice

14

Correcting the record on Tulare Mayor’s statements TONY MALDONADO, CATHERINE DOE tony@ourvalleyvoice.com catherine@ourvalleyvoice.com

The Voice has been featured prominently across two of Tulare Mayor Carlton Jones’ on KTIP AM 1450, the Porterville-based news/talk radio station spanning Tulare County.

In dial-ins on January 15 and 22, Jones discussed — and took issue with — the Voice‘s coverage of him in Catherine Doe’s Political Fix opinion column that appears in each issue, and in the Voice‘s news coverage as well.

2012 Donations

On the 15th, Jones stated that he had “never taken any type of campaign money running for city council, especially HCCA.” After a request for comment from KTIP regarding its reporting, Doe responded stating that Jones had taken donations in his 2012 campaign; Doe conceded that there was no paperwork backing a claim of donations being received by HCCA, since Jones did not file official contribution paperwork in 2016.

She also provided a list of donors from the 2012 election.

P.K. Whitmire, a KTIP host, reiterated Doe’s statement on the air.

“I’ve been trying to get to talk to somebody from the Valley Voice, and have not been making contact directly,” P.K. said , “but I have gotten an email where they’d like to correct some of the things that they have heard you saying, and that had to do with back going back to donations that were made your campaign in 2012 and 2016. There’s a list, I guess, for 2012.

And, apparently you didn’t file for the last time for 2016.”

“So, I’ve never taken campaign contributions for my city council races,” Jones responded.

Additionally, Jones stated that he had never received contributions from a firefighters’ union. He did not clarify whether he meant Tulare’s firefighters’ association, or Fresno’s.

“So, the firefighters endorsed me and we made it clear that I don’t need their money. They never raised it. If she’s calling the firefighters a liar — if she says that firefighters raised mon-

EXETER PD continued from 1

thoroughly enjoyed it. I wasn’t looking for a chief’s position – I wasn’t looking to leave.”

“It’s a great opportunity,” he said. “It would be a great opportunity for anyone, but for me, I didn’t have to take my kids out of school. I didn’t have to move.

I would be able to continue teaching out at the college. There were a whole lot of reasons to put in and not really any reasons not to.”

Actually, it is just one child, his son, who is still in high school. Both of Hall’s daughters are now students at Fresno State.

Hall started in Exeter a few weeks ago and said the transition is going well.

“There’s always a little apprehension, anytime you have change”, he said, “but the men and women here are great – they’ve made the transition for me very, very easy.”

He was familiar with a few of the staff through joint law enforcement efforts and he does know the retired chief, Cliff Bush.

He also knew some of Exeter’s officers through his teaching of rifle classes at College of the Sequoias and Porter-

ey for me, you’re free to contact their union and ask them if they’ve ever raised money for the ad or giving any money,” Jones said on the air.

“That’s never been the case, and I’ve never asked for it, and they’ve never offered it. So there’s nothing wrong with that.”

Campaign finance documents publicly available at Tulare City Hall tell a different story.

Cindi Jones, Carlton’s wife, was listed as the treasurer for “Friends of Carlton Jones for Tulare City Council 2012,” a “recipient committee” formed under California law to accept donations for Jones’ 2012 run.

The records, signed by Jones’ wife as treasurer, show he did accept $1,000 from the Fresno Fire PAC on September 28, 2012.

A second set of documents show that Jones later accepted donations from Kevin Blain and Miguel Trujillo, both for $100; additionally, Jones lent his campaign $400.

Those donations, the documents show, were spent on yard signs, banners, stickers, and other promotional items with Insight Design & Printing in Fresno.

an endorsement from the Tulare Firefighters Association and Tulare Police Officers Association alongside Greg Nunley.

Both Jones and Councilman Nunley were promoted by the groups in a half-page ad in another local news source.

As for the 2016 election, the total contribution limit was raised to $2000 before candidates had to itemize their donations.

It does not mean that the candidate did not receive campaign donations, in kind donations, or did not do fundraisers. It means they either raised less than $2000 or did not report it.

If a candidate does not have a treasurer or a separate campaign bank account, which Jones apparently did not, then there is no public way to confirm how much that candidate raised or spent.

A Voice source, who lives in Tulare said at the time, Jones “had a flood of new signs after Phil Smith put up his signs.”

Smith, a Jones opponent, raised more than $3,000 in contributions, some of which went to signage.

2016 Elections

Re: Hensley Comments

Jones did, additionally, receive

“And the only issue I have is one

ville College. change, just to make things easier. We’ve So, he already had some familiarity got to increase in one of those areas. with the majority of the staff.

“And along those lines, we’re not Hall has fewer total staff in Exeter going to keep doing things the way they than he had in the Porterville patrol unit were, just to keep doing things that way.” he captained. Exeter has 17 sworn offiWhile Hall goes through his evalucers. Porterville has a total of 63. ation process, he is also asking officers Hall pointed out there are some and the support staff for their input, as benefits to a smaller agency and some well as those in the city offices and the challenges. community.

The men and women In a small agenThe motto of cy, everyone gets to here are great — they’ve the Exeter PD is “exknow each other, made the transition for ceeding the pubwhich he considlic’s expectation.” me very, very easy. ers a plus.

It is a great motto, However, evHall said and one eryone must take on more tasks, he said, which he takes seriously and wants because there are all the same jobs of a to maintain. larger agency.

“That’s got to be a philosophy that While still taking it all in, there we carry out,” he said. will be some changes under his As he is new to the top position, Hall leadership, although he is not sure said he has many advisers he can call just what as of yet. However, “any upon including his old boss, Porterville changes we may look at into Chief Eric Kroutil, recently retired Exeter changing are going to be based off of Chief Bush, and the recent interim Exthree things – will it increase efficiency, eter Chief Jeff McIntosh. will it increase effectiveness and will it inHall said he enjoys the support of crease professionalism. If it will increase the Exeter community and likes the one of those three areas, then we’ll look small town charm the city ascribes to. at making the change,” he said. “We’re And while residents may not be aware, not going to make change, just for the there have been a number of arrests sake of change. We’re not going to make since he has taken his position.

“

of the big things that they’re talking about is they say that I come on your radio show that I badmouth Chief Hensley,” Jones added. “So you guys can testify to that. I definitely can testify to that that none of it’s true. I would never say — especially, he’s a city employee — you never heard me come on and dog on any of our employees.”

Neither Doe nor Joseph Oldenbourg, the Voice‘s columnists, have stated that Jones’ comments on the radio “badmouth Chief Hensley.”

Statements to that effect have been printed in the Voice, but come from Michael Lampe, a local attorney representing Hensley. Lampe is not an employee of the newspaper.

“Every Monday for the last several weeks Mr. Jones has appeared on KTIP radio and made statements that violate Chief Hensley’s due process rights under both the Peace Officers Bill of Rights and the City of Tulare’s personnel rules,” a letter from Lampe, embedded in a recent article, read.

“Lampe also states, despite requests, the chief has not been allowed to view his own personnel file and was attacked by the mayor during a K-TIP radio interview,” another article read.

Jones’ audio comments are available at the Voice website.

Catherine Doe contributed all reporting on 2016 campaign donations.

It is because of the efficiency of those who work in the department that the community may not be aware of crimes, potential crimes, or those who have been arrested, he said.

In his off time, Hall enjoys teaching at the police academies. Other than that, it is all about his family, he said.

Although with the children growing up, that family time is getting harder to find, he said.

When Exeter put out the word it was searching for a new police chief, council members stipulated one thing – they were looking someone who wanted the position for only three to five years, said the city’s interim city manager Eric Frost.

The reasoning, he said, was that the city likes to promote from within.

This may have limited some potential applicants, Frost said.

However, it seems to suit Hall just fine.

Part of his job is to mentor others within the department and prepare them for future roles including that of police chief.

“I may want to be here longer, and you may want to keep me longer,” Hall told the council, according to Frost.

“They’re lucky to have gotten him,” Frost said.

Valley Voice 1 February, 2018

ANIMAL SERVICES continued from 1

ued. This signaled a new focus for Animal Services and included an enhanced web presence, she added.

“We implemented ‘Call Priority’ in December 2015,” said Animal Services Manager Patrick Hamblin. “Average response times were 43 hours in 2015, one hour in 2016, and 15 minutes in 2017.”

The number of pet rescues, adoptions and pets returned to owners improved from 1,437 in 2013 to 3,611

POLITICAL FIX continued from 3

Mr. Gubler also has $115,000 on hand while Mr. Mathis has $73,000.

An experienced fundraiser close to the Mathis campaign said, “It is unheard of for a challenger to out raise a two-term incumbent like Gubler did.”

On further inspection of the financial statements, Mr. Gubler received most of his donations, 75%, from individual donors who live in Tulare County - or what you would call constituents.

Mr. Mathis, on the other hand, received 75% of his donations from outside of Tulare County--from southern and northern California and out of state companies --or what you would call special interest. $67,100 of Mr. Mathis’ donations came from Political Actions Committees (PACs) working in Sacramento.

Mr. Gubler, on the other hand, took no PAC money.

Soliciting PACs are an interest-

ICEBERG

continued from 2 understand financial markets. …The thing that comes to mind, of course, is the real estate deals. And… it came to our attention…that there were a lot of real estate deals where you couldn’t really tell who was buying the property. …I think we saw patterns of buying and selling that we thought were suggestive of money laundering. …There was various criminals were buying the properties. So there was a gangster--a Russian gangster living in Trump Tower.

His gangster name is Taiwanchik…These are the kind of things that prompted us to hire Mr. Steele.

And when Mr. Trump went to the Miss Universe pageant in 2013, Taiwanchik was there in the VIP section with Mr. Trump and lots of other Kremlin biggies. So that kind of thing that raised questions with us. …The patterns of activity that we thought might be suggestive of money laundering were…fast turnover deals and deals where there seemed to have been efforts to disguise the identity of the buyer. …Some of the things that we… looked at that we thought were very concerning are existing investments in projects…specifically a project in Panama, the one in Toronto. These both got a lot of fraud associated with them, a lot of fraud allegations, a lot of activity that I would say smacks of fraud, and

15 in 2016, he said, before noting that Animal Services increased its focus on spaying and neutering, and rabies and license compliance.

Hamblin reported that Animal Services added a registered veterinary technician to perform public vaccinations and basic procedures.

A $35,000 grant from Petco enabled Animal Services to offer low-cost vaccinations and reduced cost adoption fees.

“We’re beginning to implement shelter management software,” he said about the new Chameleon software. “We’re providing onsite train-

ing and fully utilizing iPhones and iPads. We plan to purchase the software in the near future, he added, “to improve customer care and reduce operating costs.”

Gonzalez then showed supervisors a graphic with the previous and updated fees charged for such services as boarding, spay and neutering, vaccinations and licenses, comparing them to the fees charged

by Visalia, Tulare, Kings County and Kern County. “As you can see, we’re pretty reasonable,” she said.

The Animal Services Advisory Committee Report included an “ex-

ploration of fundraising opportunities and funding sources,” suggesting a partnership with Friends of Tulare County, the formation of a non-profit organization, and grant opportunities. It also listed education and outreach, spay and neuter efforts, and cats in the community as areas for future attention. Supervisors voted 5-0 to accept the report.

Tulare County Animal Services is located at 14131 Avenue 256, south of Visalia. For more information, call (559) 636-4050, email tcanimalshelter@tularehhsa.org or visit tcanimalservices.org.

ing way to raise campaign cash.

They do not know candidates individually. They do not know their families, constituents, or care where they live. There is only one thing PACs are interested in.

And that is the lawmaker’ vote.

Maybe I am missing something, but how is accepting PAC money putting “people over politics,” a motto Mr. Mathis has carried over from his 2014 campaign?

The Cannabis Action PAC out of Oakland was one of those organizations that give Mr. Mathis money.

Their stated mission is, “To promote the growth of a responsible and legitimate cannabis industry and work for a favorable social, economic, and legal environment for our industry in the state of California.”

So nice to know that Mr. Mathis has his finger on the pulse of Tulare County residents.

Mr. Mathis also got donations from such civic minded companies as HCCA, KOCH Industries, and Monsanto.

My pet peeve is when politicians use running for office to financially support themselves and their friends. I know that campaign donations can’t directly go into a politician’s pocket, but I know that some of it circuitously finds its way back there.

For the year 2017, Mr. Mathis spent $148,000 out of a total of $213,000 in donations.

Mr. Gubler spent $8,500 out of a total of $123,000.

What frosts my cake is that Mr. Mathis used campaign contributions to pay for his legal bills.

Maybe he is not guilty of sexual assault, but he is guilty of leading a lifestyle that put him in the position to be accused in the first place.

Though it seems that he reimbursed his campaign, it is illegal to use campaign donations to defend yourself during a criminal investigation.

Another interesting tidbit revealed in the financial statement is that, even after Chief of Staff Sean Doherty was fired, the Mathis gravy

train kept on rolling.

His consulting companies walked away with $50,000 of Mr. Mathis’ donations in 2017, many coming well after he was gone.

Interestingly, payments to Mr. Doherty’s consulting companies abruptly come to a halt in October after the allegations of a sexual assault of a young staffer by Mr. Mathis.

During those few weeks in October and November, after the assault story broke, the rumors were flying and one constant theme weaved through the gossip — Mr. Mathis and Mr. Doherty have so much dirt on each other it’s doubtful the full truth of what happened that night will ever be come out.

But the gossip, lies, and partying don’t stop the PAC money from coming or the gravy train from rolling.

Just the votes.

State Assembly District 26 Candidates Jack Lavers and Jose Sigala have not yet submitted their paperwork.

Campaign statements are due January 31.

a lot of Russian mafia figures listed as buyers who may or may not have put money into it.

The other one that is--was concerning to us was--is the golf courses in Scotland and Ireland. …We saw what Eric Trump said about Russian money being available…for the golf course projects, making remarks about having unlimited sums available. …Because the Irish courses and the Scottish are under UK…corporate law, they…file financial statements.

And they don’t, on their face, show Russian involvement, but what they do show is enormous amounts of capital flowing into these projects from unknown sources and …it’s hundreds of millions of dollars. And these golf courses are just…sinks. They don’t actually make any money. …If you’re familiar with Donald Trump’s finances and the litigation over whether he’s really a billionaire…there’s good reason to believe he doesn’t have enough money to do this and that he would have had to have outside financial support for these things. …Well established in criminology now is that the Russian mafia is essentially under the dominion of the Russian Government and Russian Intelligence Services. And many of the oligarchs are also mafia figures. …Basically everyone in Russia works for Putin now. …Essentially, if people who seem

to be associated with the Russian mafia are buying Trump properties or arranging for other people to buy Trump properties, it does raise a question about whether they’re doing it on behalf of the government. …One of the central mysteries of Donald Trump is that…beginning in the mid-2000s he was not a creditworthy businessman. …So if you’re analyzing…someone who says they’re a billionaire but can’t get a bank loan…there’s this whole issue of where is the credit coming from.

I think that the evidence that has developed over the last year, since President Trump took office, is that there is a well-established pattern of surreptitious contacts that occurred last year that supports the broad allegation of some sort of an undisclosed political or financial relationship between the Trump Organization and people in Russia. …The first thing that I would do would be to subpoena the brokers and…the other people that were involved in the transactions, and the title companies and the other intermediaries that would have that kind of information.

Then I would go to the banks next. But I actually think some of the intermediary entities in a lot of these transactions are going to be where a lot of the information is. …It’s these sort of intermediary entities that have no real interest in protecting the information, and all you have to do is ask for it and they just

sort of produce it by rote. …All dollar transactions are generally cleared through New York…

So…the main thing you have to do is identify the banks that were used. …By 2003, 2004, Donald Trump was not able to get bank credit…and if you’re a real estate developer and you can’t get bank loans…you’ve got a problem.

And then ultimately…what we came to realize was that the money was actually coming out of Russia and going into his properties in Florida and New York and Panama and Toronto and these other places.

One of the things we now know about how the condo projects were financed is that…you can get credit if you can show that you’ve sold a certain number of units. …So the real trick is to get people who say they’ve bought those units, and that’s where the Russians are to be found, in some of those pre-sales, is what they’re called. And that’s how… in Panama they got the credit of…they got…Bear Stearns to issue a bond by telling Bear Stearns that they’d sold a bunch of units… …There’s supposed to be contracts, down payments, all that sort of thing.

So in the case of Panama where the evidence was most vivid…the buyers were fake. I mean, they were real people. They just never paid.

This--it’s in the public records.

President Donald Trump is an active member of the Russian mafia.

— Joseph Oldenbourg

16

1 February, 2018

Valley Voice

Protesters greet Assemblyman Mathis at campaign kickoff CATHERINE DOE

catherine@ourvalleyvoice.com

Assemblyman Devon Mathis launched his campaign for Assembly District 26 today at an invitation-only event at the Visalia Veterans Memorial Building.

He was greeted by protesters asking him to resign.

A group of ten women holding signs saying “No means No” and “Put him in the slammer” lined the sidewalk outside the building.

One protester claimed Mathis approached them before his event started and said, “This is just the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.”

“I bet not as cute as the p***y you fingered,” the protester responded.

The protestors did not appreciate Mathis’ “cocky attitude.”

Three students from Redwood, who were part of the protest, were demanding his resignation because of an alleged sexual assault by Mathis against a young female staffer in April of 2016. The incident was first reported by the blog for American Children First, a nonprofit that “opposes illegal immigration and advances nationalist causes.”

“I’m sick of men taking advantage of their position of power. He is a bully,” said one student.

The protesters said that any office holder who inappropriately touches a woman should step down.

The attitude of the group of protesters was that the Sacramento police closed the case into the sexual assault but another investigation was about to open.

The attitude inside the Veterans Hall, where Mathis had just finished speaking, was the opposite. Mathis’ support-

ers believe that the Sacramento police didn’t just close the investigation, but exonerated him.

Visalia City Councilman Phil Cox has been a supporter of Mathis since he first ran for the California State Assembly in 2014.

His wife, Connie Cox, has attended many of Mathis’ events with her husband. She didn’t think it was fair for the protestors to say Mathis should resign over the alleged sexual assault if they don’t know him.

“I know him. I know his character.

You would think being a sexual assault victim myself that I would be jumping on the band wagon, but I am not. I just think it’s a fad going on right now,” Mrs. Cox said.

Mrs. Cox is skeptical of the reports of Mathis’ partying lifestyle in Sacramento.

She said she has spent hours talking with Mathis about family and sharing stories about their kids.

“He is a very good family man,” said Mrs. Cox. A group of about 50 supporters attended the event where Mathis laid out

the difficult issues of immigration, water and agriculture.

The consensus of the attendees was that Mathis was doing a good job on water and veterans issues, in particular during Porterville’s water crisis.

“He worked day and night trying to resolve Porterville’s water crisis. People were having to take showers at a church,” said Ruth Seeser, a family member and former staffer.

Cox said that during the crisis Mathis was the only one to have a direct line to the Governor Jerry Brown.

“He was very instrumental in getting water out to the east side of Porterville,” Phil Cox said.

Cox said that he has supported Mathis from the beginning because he always likes a new face in politics. He said that Mathis’ freshness was a benefit when first arriving in Sacramento.

Cox also said that he is an old time Visalian and did not appreciate the negative assembly campaigns in 2014 and in 2016 between Mathis and Woodlake Mayor Rudy Mendoza.

He admitted that a Republican Po-

litical Action Committee mailed out negative fliers about his opponent in the supervisor race about Amy Shuklian in their 2016 campaign, but that he personally asked them to stop.

Brett Taylor, Executive Officer of the Tulare County Association of Realtors attended the event and said that the association has never officially endorsed Mathis, but has always supported him.

He said that after the filing period is over in March that the association will be debating on whether to endorse him this year.

Taylor said that Mathis has always been very responsive to the association’s needs. When the association needed him to sponsor a bill outlining the differences between service animals and companion animals, he said Mathis acted quickly.

Taylor said that some renters had pet crocodiles that would tear up the home but that owners couldn’t evict because the animals were medically certified as “companions.” Mathis introduced a bill to clarify the issue “but Devon found out quickly – don’t mess with the animal lovers community and it didn’t go anywhere,” said Taylor.

Seeser said the Tulare County Republican Central Committee asking Mathis not to run for re-election was simply dirty politics.

“They haven’t wanted him from the beginning. They were never supportive.”

Towards the end of the event a supporter went outside with plates of food for the protesters.

“It’s hard to buy food when only getting paid $10 an hour,” the supporter said, referring to President Trump’s claims that protestors at his events were paid to be there.

VALLEYSCENE 1 February, 2018

MAIN STREET HANFORD HAS A NEW DIRECTOR

page B3

ourvalleyvoice.com

Boys & Girls Clubs of Sequoias seeks community funding STAFF REPORTS

“Boulders in Kings River” by Jane Ziegler.

Arts Visalia to present “Jane Ziegler Born to Paint: No Plan B” STAFF REPORTS In February 2018, Arts Visalia is pleased to exhibit the works of Jane Ziegler in an exhibition entitled, Born to Paint: No Plan B, Recent Paintings and Working Drawings. Ziegler is from Miramonte. She explores with drawing, pastels, and painting and is inspired by the works of Henri Matisse.

Ziegler explores what visual impact means through finding it in nature. The light, the color, and the composition connect with her senses before she identifies what is happening in nature. In looking for this impact, she is always hoping to stumble upon something of the everyday that may already have made an impression on her by its very existence. Things in our personal space, the innocuous objects, also speak to her; the unappealing that transcends to beauty.

She looks for the impact in things that might not offer impact initially, through its presentation. Ziegler is seeking to articulate the “aha” moment in her work.

The exhibition runs now through February 23. The opening reception

will be held on First Friday, February 2, from 6-8pm and is sponsored in part

by Bueno Beverage, Renewable Solar, Pita Kabob, and Valley PBS’s Articulate with Jim Cotter. Arts Visalia will host an Artist Talk on Saturday, February 10 at 2pm. There will be another Art Talk and Lunch on Monday, February 19 at 11:30am, at the Southern Pacific Depot Restaurant, with an opportunity to view Ziegler’s exhibition at Arts Visalia during that time. This particular Art Talk and Lunch is sponsored by Jack & Charlie’s, the Vintage Press and the Southern Pacific Depot Restaurant.

For March, Arts Visalia will be exhibiting Randy Ranger. Ranger is a black and white film photographer. In this exhibition, entitled Silver Light: Fifty Photographs, Ranger focuses on photography as the search for exciting light revealing form, texture, and shape.

Ranger states, “When I’m photographing, the last thing I need is a camera. I wander about with my eyes and mind, free of preconceived ideas.

My best photographs summon me, demanding their creation.”

ARTS VISALIA continued on B7 »

Taking sofas to the extreme STAFF REPORTS This year, sofas are moving to the extreme, in size that is, with the theme of the 23rd Annual Sofa Show in small or large art, or small or large sofas being featured. Being held, once again, in the John Ginsburg Gallery of The Creative Center, submissions are due in on Friday, Feb. 23 between 8am – 6pm.

According to the guidelines, a sofa must be incorporated into the artwork in some way, the sofa must be represented in extreme size – either gigantic or tiny, or the art piece itself must be large or small – art must be able to fit through a door, 41” x 83.” All forms of media will be accepted. All pieces must be ready to display or hang. Art

must be family-friendly.

If an exhibitor cannot enter on the submission date, he/she must make arrangements to enter early. No late submissions will be accepted. Artists may exhibit as many pieces as they like. Entries are $5/each. The Creative Center will retain a 20% commission for sales.

The Sofa Show runs March 2-22 – the opening on First Friday from 5-8pm. The Ginsburg Gallery is open to the public Monday-Friday from 10am – 3pm. The Gallery is located at 410 E. Race St. in Visalia.

For further details, please call (559) 733-9329. Exhibitors, please contact Stevi Daniels, stevid@thecreativecenter-visalia.org.

Over the past two years, hundreds of school-age children in Farmersville have been able to enjoy health and fitness programs, character and citizenship programs and academic enrichment programs under the direction of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias because of an agreement city leaders made in 2015 to provide grant funding to run the Club.

The city applied for and received a state Community Development Block Grant that would provide more than $223,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs over a three-year period because there was not a budget allotment from the city’s general fund to meet this need.

Now, before the grant funds are exhausted in January 2019, the Boys & Girls Clubs leaders are seeking alternative funding sources to enable them to continue those services.

“We are looking for people who just want to invest in the future of Farmersville through these kids,” Galen Quenzer, Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sequoias, said. “We have found it to be most successful and efficient to update the community about our kids’ progress and to encourage involvement and financial support.”

A public meeting is scheduled for 4pm on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018, at the Farmersville Boys & Girls Club located at 623 N. Avery Ave. in Farmersville. At that time, representatives from the Boys & Girls Clubs will be on hand to review the success of the program over the past two years and outline what club services can continue to do for children in their community.

The public is invited and encouraged to attend.

“We know that people like to support programs and projects dear to their heart, and for people who care about the future of children, the Boys & Girls Clubs provide much-needed support and encouragement to kids in rural communities,” Quenzer said. The Club already hosts several fund-raising events throughout the year to provide funding, but more help is needed.

Quenzer said that 93 percent of all funding goes directly to youth development programs, including professionals who work alongside the kids in the clubs. Some develop sports programs, some dedicate themselves to academic programs and homework support, and others help children develop their interest in the arts and technology.

BOYS & GIRLS continued on B7 »

Staff member, Austin Gilbert, leads a group discussion for young men on Jan. 17, 2018, at the Farmersville Boys & Girls Club.

“Wine, Cheese & Chocolate” tickets now available STAFF REPORTS Back for its sixth year, the Tulare Historical Museum’s elegant evening of wine, cheese, and chocolate tasting takes place Saturday, February 17th from 6:30-9:30pm, under the backdrop of the museum’s Historical and Art Galleries.

Tickets are $35 per person, and can be purchased by calling the Museum, online at www.tularehistoricalmuseum.org, or by speaking with any of the Museum’s Board of Trustees.

Tickets are limited, so purchase yours today!

1 February, 2018 Valley Voice

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Book Notes

The Second Coming of the KKK NEWELL BRINGHURST newellgb@hotmail.com

Most relevant for those seeking to comprehend the deep divisions currently plaguing the nation is The Second Coming of the KKK: The Ku Klux Klan of the 1920s and the American Political Tradition by Linda Gordon, award-winning author and professor of history at New York University.

Through the pages of her well-written, lucid work, Gordon astutely chronicles the rise and fall of the Hooded Order during the 1920s.

Most noteworthy she places her discussion within a broader historical context in drawing comparisons between the 1920s Klan and earlier as well as later nationalist, white supremist movements that have racially divided America.

The so-called Second Klan differed from its earlier post-Civil War counterpart which emerged in the South and whose main purpose was to intimidate and terrorize recently-emancipated African-American slaves. By contrast, the 1920s Klan attracted adherents from all regions.

The Hooded Order entered the political arena, successfully fellow Klansmen running for public office on the local, state, and national level.

Particularly strong in Indiana and

Oregon, it dominated state and local politics.

The revived Klan further broadened its appeal in attacking not only blacks but also Catholics, Jews, and recently-arrived Immigrants. In the Far West it targeted Mexican-Americans and Asian-Americans. The Klan also condemned Bootleggers and called for the reaffirmation of “traditional moral values.”

In general, the Klan appealed to anxious, white native-born citizens fearful of new Immigrants pouring into the country and upset over an ongoing “revolution in manners and morals” that characterized the “Roaring 20s.”

Also facilitating the Klan’s popularity was its breadth of membership drawn from all classes of socalled “100% Americans.” At its peak the Invisible Empire boasted a total membership of four to six million.

The Klan drew from “both the well and the poorly educated, professionals, businesspeople, farmers, and wage workers…” (2-3) Also joining were an “estimated forty thousand Protestant ministers,” many of whom served as Klan officers. (186) Such broad appeal provided the organization an aura of respectability.

Closer to home in Tulare County, the Klan presented itself as a respectable social group from the moment

Coming to the Hanford Fox Theater $5 Movies The Breakfast Club Saturday Feb. 3 @ 7 pm

Dirty Dancing Saturday, Feb. 10 @ 7 pm Saturday Night Fever Saturday Feb. 24 @ 7 pm

The Lion King Saturday, March 3 @ 2 pm

Silent Comedies W/Dean Mora on the Mighty Wurlitzer Saturday, March 10 @ 7:30 pm Tickets: $10 (559) 584-7823

www.foxhanford.com

its recruiters entered the region in 1923, carefully labeling itself a “Standard Fraternal Order.” (30) The Dinuba Klan chapter went so far as to recruit new members through an advertisement in the high school annual. (18) In all parts of the county, the Klan sponsored a variety of public events; continuing to do so throughout the 1920s and into the 1930s. In 1931, Visalia hosted the annual California state Klan Convention or Klan Klorero, which attracted more than 500 Klansmen from throughout the state.

Although the Second Klan rapidly declined by the end of the 1920s, it left a lasting legacy. Its most notable achievement was enactment of the 1924 Johnson-Reed Act, drastically limiting emigration from nonwhite, non-European nations. (195) More important, “The Klan’s brilliant melding of Christian values with racial bigotry” persisted.

(101) The 1920’s Klan and its successor movements “with their populist, racist, demagogic, and incitatory

orientation are a continuing part of our history…” (208-9) In sum, Linda Gordon’s recently-published The Second Coming of the KKK is well-worth reading.

Newell G. Bringhurst, a retired COS Professor of History and Political Science welcomes responses and comments at newellgb@hotmail.com

Valley Voice 1 February, 2018

Visalia Medical Center offers new imaging technology STAFF REPORTS

Patients with symptoms of liver damage can now receive a more detailed diagnostic imaging evaluation that decreases the need for liver biopsies, thanks to new technology at Visalia Medical Clinic.

Elastography uses ultrasound to identify and determine the extent of fibrosis in the liver, which can be caused by hepatitis C, obesity, diabetes and alcohol abuse, explained Darrin Smith, MD, a radiologist with VMC. Previously, in order to track the disease progression patients with significant liver disease had to undergo

an annual biopsy, which can result in internal bleeding or infections and is much more costly due to the required hospital setting, Dr. Smith explained.

A biopsy can also miss sampling the correct tissue, resulting in a misdiagnosis or requiring a repeat biopsy.

Liver disease is becoming increasingly common, and is often found incidentally when evaluating patients for other medical problems. Early liver disease may also be detected on screening blood tests or annual check-ups.

“We are the only medical facility in the area offering this technology and we are seeing quite a few patients, unfortunately largely because of the rate

of diabetes and obesity in our area,” Dr. Smith said.

Visalia Medical Clinic, an affiliate of the Kaweah Delta Medical Foundation, offers the expertise of more than 50 providers. VMC also offers a lab, imaging including CT and MRI, extended hours through the QuickCare walkin clinic, a Sleep Disorders Center, as well as a Physical Therapy Department all in one location at 5400 W. Hillsdale, Visalia.

The clinic is open Monday through Friday 8am to 5pm; with extended and weekend hours at QuickCare. For information, call 739-2000 or visit www. vmchealth.com.

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Dr. Darrin Smith.

Main Street Hanford names Michelle Brown as Executive Director STAFF REPORTS

Main Street Hanford is pleased to announce Michelle Brown has been chosen as its new Executive Director.

Brown was hired as Office Manager in 2016 and since December 2017 has been acting as Interim Executive Director. Born and raised in Hanford, Brown has been a Hanford resident most of her life.

“Growing up in Hanford, my roots are here and downtown Hanford has been the backdrop of many of my childhood memories,” Brown said. “I have lived and worked in downtown Hanford and will always serve as an enthusiastic advocate.”

Main Street Hanford is part of a nationwide program called Main Street America. Main Street America has recently launched “The Refreshed

Approach.”

The fundamental components of the Main Street Approach are Community Engagement, Transformation Strategies and Impact.

“We are confident in our selection of Michelle as our Executive Director as her actions and management skills as Interim Director speak volumes. She is confident, energetic, responsive and approachable. The Board of Directors believe with Brown’s experience and enthusiasm she will be a great fit for the “Refreshed Approach” Main Street Hanford has been seeking,” said Steve Banister, Board President.

Board Secretary, Jim Castleman stated, “I have been involved with Main Street Hanford since its beginning in 2000. Michelle is a great fit and I know she has what it takes to make our downtown a vibrant destination.”

Saturday, February 17 @ 8pm Tickets $23

Metalachi LIVE IN CONCERT

Thursday, March 1 @ 7:30pm Tickets $66 - $100

The Beach Boys VISALIA FOX THEATRE TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT THE VISALIA FOX BOX OFFICE

Brown added, “I absolutely love my job and I am grateful to be chosen as Executive Director. Main Street Hanford has been the leader in downtown revitalization for years and I am hoping to take it to the next level. I have a

strong board of directors and together we will do big things.”

To learn more about Main Street Hanford, visit www.mainstreethanford.com.

Calendar

1 February, 2018 Valley Voice

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Now through March 31: TCOE Student Art Exhibition The annual Student Art Exhibition is on display in the lobby of the TCOE Administration Building at 6200 South Mooney Blvd. in Visalia.

Now through February 23, visitors will be treated to artwork from schools in Tulare County districts A-P. In March, pieces selected as “Best of Show” from the November-December and January-February exhibitions will be displayed.

A public open house honoring the “Best of Show” student artists will be held 5-7pm on March 1 in the lobby.

February 1: Registration Opens for Jr. Pirates Track & Field Club Parks and Leisure Services and Porterville College team up for the 11th year to offer the Jr. Pirates Track & Field Club. The Track & Field Club welcomes all skill levels and develops fundamentals, character and sportsmanship.

The Club is designed for boys and girls ages 9-14 and offers training in running events as well as field events such as the long jump, high jump, triple jump, turbo javelin, discus and shot put. Participants will prepare to compete in track & field meets in Tulare and Porterville.

The cost is only $36 per child which includes a track uniform, practices and admission to the City track meet. Practices will be held at 4:30 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Porterville College beginning the first week of March. Register is available online or at the Heritage Center, 256 E. Orange Ave. in Porterville.

Volunteer coaches are needed to help make this league a success.

For more information on the league or coaching, call (559) 7917695 or visit the City of Porterville website, http://www.ci.porterville. ca.us/depts/ParksandLeisure/jrpirates.cfm February 1-3: Redwood High School presents Seussical the Musical Feb. 1, 2 & 3 at 7pm and Feb. 3 also at 2pm - Ticket Prices: $10 students, $12 general admission. A special Meet and Greet with the characters will take place in the Annie R. Mitchell Library (located next to the L.J. Williams Theater) on Feb. 3 at 1 pm. Tickets are $20 and include preferred seating to the matinee, snacks, a craft for kids, and photo opportunities with characters from the show. For more information, call (559) 730-7367.

February 2-17: Charlotte’s Web at the Enchanted Playhouse Theater Feb. 2, 9 & 16, 7pm; Feb. 3,10&17, 4pm; Feb. 4&11, 2pm - Join Wilbur, the irresistible young pig who desperately wants to avoid the butcher; Fern, a girl who understands what animals say to each other; Templeton, the gluttonous rat who

can occasionally be talked into a good deed; and, most of all, the extraordinary spider, Charlotte, who proves to be “a true friend and a good writer.” It’s the beginning of a victorious campaign which ultimately ends with the now-safe Wilbur doing what is most important to Charlotte. Tickets $7 in advance; $8 at the door. The Enchanted Playhouse Theater is located at 307 E. Main St. in Visalia. For more information, visit www.enchantedplayhouse.org/ticketing/index.html or call (559) 739-4600.

February 2-18: Jam Jar Sonnets at the Barn Theater February 2, 3, 9, 10, 16 & 17 @ 7:30pm; February 4, 11 & 18 @ 2:30pm Though Charles has outgrown his panic attacks and inability to speak after his father’s death, he is still haunted by the memory of Amanda, the childhood friend who helped him conquer his insecurities. As children, the two formed an intimate bond through poetry, and Charles still regrets losing touch when Amanda was moved away. When Charles, now a revered professor in psychology, finds one of Amanda’s poems on the back of a jam jar label (hence the title Jam Jar Sonnets), he is determined to overcome his personal barriers in an effort to find the girl who understood him when no one else could. Tickets $15/adults; $10/students. The Barn Theater is located at 42 S. Plano St. in Porterville.

February 3: Mt. Whitney Rummage Sale 7am-1pm — Mt. Whitney PRIDE Rummage sale February 3, 7am1pm, in Mt. Whitney’s north parking lot. PRIDE= Positivity; Respect; Integrity; Determination; Engagement Funds will support PRIDE on the Mt. Whitney campus. Donations welcome.

February 4: Moscow Festival Ballet Presents Cinderella 1pm - A fairy godmother, an evil stepmother, a charming prince and two wicked stepsisters all come to life on stage when Moscow Festival Ballet presents the classic rags-to-riches story of Cinderella.

Set to Prokofiev’s exquisite score, this timeless ballet fosters belief of a world where fairy tales really do come true! At the Visalia Fox Theatre. Tickets: $42-66. www.foxvisalia.org The Moscow Festival Ballet was founded in 1989 by former Bolshoi Ballet star Sergei Radchenko, who appeared in principal roles alongside such legends as Maya Plitsetskaya and Maris Liepa.

February 5: An Evening with President Thomas Jefferson 7pm - Presented by ProYouth Hamilton’s or Jefferson’s America? Thomas Jefferson portrayed by Clay Jenkinson, scholar, writer, historical interpreter and creator of the “Thomas Jefferson Hour.” Held

at the LJ Williams Theater, 1001 W. Main St in Visalia. General admission $25; Students $5. For more information, call (559) 920-1371.

Tickets available at www.proyouthexpandedlearning.org February 6: Date to Create 6-8pm - Date to Create is a one-ofa-kind workshop focused on the seven elements of art and principles of design. Each quarterly held workshop allows a group to be creative together for a fun-filled night of mingling with friends and family while creating fine art pieces for any occasion while learning the art fundamentals. Instructor: Gabbi Barnes. Tuirition: $30. For more information: visit www.artsvisalia. org or call (559) 739-0905.

February 7, 14, 21 & 28: Arts Visalia Watercolor Classes 6:30-8:30pm - During these classes, you will be taught the skill of using water-based paints and the the expression they place on the surface of the paper whether controlled or uncontrolled, as well as the history behind watercolor and its application. Instructor: Lynn Ramires. Tuition: $75. For more information: visit www.artsvisalia.org or call (559) 739-0905.

February 8-11: Green Acres Little Theatre Presents - Mary Poppins Feb. 8, 9, 10 @ 7:30pm; Feb. 10 also @ 1pm and Feb. 11 @ 2pm - It’s that time of year again! Green Acres Little Theatre is bringing the first production of the Broadway musical “Mary Poppins” to the Visalia Rotary Theatre! Including more than 80 students, this musical marks Green Acres Little Theatre’s 38th year in theatrical excellence.

On February 11, a special performance benefits the Green Acres Little Theatre Foundation. Tickets - $12 general, $15 preferred and may be purchased at https://marypoppins2018.brownpapertickets.com/ or by calling, 1-800-838-3006 February 10: Sasquatch Scurry 5k & Kid’s Fun Run 8:15-10:15am - Are the rumors true?

Does Sasquatch live at the Dry Creeks Preserve? Come find out for yourselves at the Sasquatch Scurry 5k & Kid’s Run. We have been told that he will be lurking in the trees...And might even be around for some pictures afterwards.

35220 Dry Creek Road in Woodlake.

Dry Creek Preserve is a 152-acre former gravel quarry located just northwest of Lemon Cove. This nature preserve, now fully restored, is the first example of an ecologically-based aggregate mine reclamation in Tulare County. It is also home to SRT’s native plant nursery.

For more information and sign-up, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/ CA/Exeter/SasquatchScrambleRun February 10: Movie Night: The Music of John Williams 7:30pm - Sequoia Symphony presents its traditional film music concert turning its attention to the best of the best: John Williams. His greatest music, new and old, will anchor what has become our most popular program. Tickets $22-45; at the Visalia Fox Theatre. www.fox-

visalia.org February 11: Children’s Tea Party in the Garden 1:30-2:30pm - Stories, Good Manners, Craft, Tea Party at Children’s Storybook Garden & Museum. Cost: Free with membership, non-members admission plus $1.00 Ages: 2-12. In the gardens at 175 Tenth St. in Hanford. Now taking reservations for 20 places, please call Meaghan at (252) 269-0005.

February 13-15: World Ag Expo 9am - 5pm Tuesday & Wednesday; 9am - 4pm Thursday. World Ag Expo is the world’s largest annual agricultural exposition. More than 1,500 exhibitors display the latest in farm equipment, communications and technology on 2.6 million square feet of exhibit space. Free seminars focus on a variety of topics important to dairy producers, farmers, ranchers and agribusiness professionals. World Ag Expo is a can’t miss show for anyone in ag. Admission: $15. International Agri-Center, 4500 South Laspina Street, Tulare.

February 14: Ash Wednesday, Drive By Ashes 12-1pm — First Congregational Church of Tulare, on the corner of Tulare Ave. and “H” Street will be offering Drive by Ashes on Ash Wednesday. This year Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine’s Day. If you aren’t sure you can get to a worship service that day, drive by and stop in our parking lot or walk over to the church.

February 16: Liberally Speaking, an Evening with Stephen Natoli 6:30-8pm — Mr. Natoli will be reading excerpts from his book, “Liberally Speaking,” and signing copies for those who wish to purchase the book. A donation of $15/person is requested. At the Lamp Liter Inn, 3300 W. Mineral King, Visalia. For more information, email kdodson@cacollegedems.org or tomtcdcc@gmail.com February 17: Chinese New Year Celebration 12-4pm - Celebrate Visalia Annual Chinese New Year Fair 2018, Year of the Dog! Sponsored by Center for Integrated Medicine and the Asian Cultural Society on Saturday, February 17, 2:00 - 4pm at 816 W. Oak Avenue in Visalia.

Bring your friends and family to this educational and cultural--and free--program.

February 17: A Night of Wine, Cheese & Chocolate!

6:30-9:30pm - Tickets are now available for THM’s popular, A Night of...

Wine, Cheese, & Chocolate! Back for its sixth year, this elegant evening of wine, cheese, and chocolate tasting takes place under the backdrop of THM’s beautiful Historical and Art Galleries, 444 W. Tulare Ave. in Tulare.

Tickets are $35 per person, and can be purchased by calling the Museum, (559) 686-2074, online at www. tularehistoricalmuseum.org, or by speaking with any of the Museum’s Board of Trustees. Tickets are limited, so purchase yours today.

Valley Voice 1 February, 2018 All proceeds benefit the Tulare Historical Museum and its mission of preserving the important heritage of our great city.

February 17: Metalachi 8pm - On a hot summer night in Veracruz Mexico circa 1982, Consuela Espinoza stumbled out of her dilapidated shanty and into Rock N Roll history. What began as an innocent night of snorting horse tranquilizers in a hotel room with seven members of the village jai alai team went on to produce the greatest metal band to ever live.

Tickets $23. At the Visalia Fox Theatre. www.foxvisalia.org February 18: Wine & Dine in Support of Habitat for Humanity 5pm - Karl Merten, chef and owner of Café 225, is hosting a fundrais-

B5 ing dinner to support Habitat for Humanity. Claudio Basei, winemaker for Cacciatore Fine Wine, will also join this event. Guests will learn about the winemaking process and taste the results with wine provided by Cacciatore Fine Wines. Join Habitat for Humanity at Café 225, 225 W. Main St. Visalia, for a wonderful evening of great food, great wine and a great cause!

Proceeds to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Tulare/Kings Counties.

more leads from the internet, how to rank on first page of Google, and use the power of Adwords and BingAds. Seating is limited so register early. Held at Brandman University, 649 S. Country Dr. in Visalia.

For registration, contact nicola@ visaliachamber.org. Presented by Chavez Web Design.

Tickets: $85 each and available for purchase on line at www.hfhtkc. org; for more information, contact Deanna at (559) 734-4040 ext 106, or email info@hfhtkc.org.

February 23-24: 14th Annual Valley Adult Day Services RockA-Thon 6pm - Noon - The Rock-a-thon is a fundraising event to support the people in our community who have Alzheimer’s disease or other related forms of dementia, and the families that take care of them.

February 22: Internet Marketing Workshop 9:30-10:30am - Learn how to get

Each Team’s Challenge is to be this year’s “Most Money Raised,” team winner. For more information, call

Senior Calendar The Visalia Senior Center is located at 310 N Locust, Visalia, and available by telephone at 559-713-4381. Lunch is served daily at 12pm; reservations are required by 11am the day before by dialing (559) 713-4481.

The Tulare Senior Center is located at 201 N F St, Tulare, and available by telephone at 559-685-2330. Lunch is served daily at 11:30am; reservations MUST be made by 12:30 PM the business day before by calling (559) 685-2330. $3 donation is requested.

Visalia Senior Center, Mondays: January 5, 12, & 26, 2018 10:30am — Volunteer Bureau (only on 5th) 11am — Corn Hole 1 - 4pm — Pinochle 1:30-2:30pm — Garden Club Mtg (only on 5th) 1 - 4pm — Tables Tennis Closed for holiday on 19th!

Tulare Senior Center, Mondays: February 5, 12, 19 & 26, 2018 8-11 AM — Abuse in Later Life Victim Advocate For an appointment, ask for Alberto Robles, Victim Advocate, 559-7327371. The free services are offered every Monday, 8-11 am at Tulare Senior Center.

9-11:30am — Open Paint Enjoy a very well-lit classroom with heating or air conditioning. The classroom is set up with tables and chairs. Participants must bring own painting supplies. $2 per person.

10-11:30am — Live Music Provided by the City of Tulare Senior Recreation Volunteer Program. FREE! Enjoy listening to or dancing to great live County Western Music by Ken Bridges, Senior Volunteer.

12:30 – 3:30pm — Community Bingo Provided by Tulare Senior Services Volunteers at Tulare Senior Community Center. Must be 18 years and older to play. Cost: 1st Half of Bingo is $1.25 per card, 2nd Half of

Bingo is $1 per card. This program is led by a senior volunteers.

12:30pm — Card Games Various card games are played. Everyone is welcome! FREE! Tables and chairs are provided in classroom or dining room.

Visalia Senior Center, Tuesdays: February 6, 13, 20 & 27, 2018 11am — Darts 1 - 4pm — Penny Bingo 10am - 1pm – Health Insurance & Counseling Advocacy Program (only on 20th) Tulare Senior Center, Tuesdays: February 6, 13, 20 & 27, 2018 9-11:30am; 12:30-4pm — Open Paint Enjoy a very well-lit classroom with heating or air conditioning. The classroom is set up with tables and chairs. Participants must bring own painting supplies. $2 per person.

pital and others. The crochet group makes infant and adult sized hats.

They are donated to the hospital/ clinics for cancer patients. This class is led by a senior volunteer.

10-11am — Blood Pressure Screening FREE Blood Pressure Screening!

Sponsored by Tulare Adult School and Tulare Nursing & Rehabilitation. Everyone is welcome!

10:30 - 11:15am — Ex-Chair-Cise Everyone is welcome! This recreation activity is FREE. Enjoy exercising in a very well-lit classroom with heating or air conditioning.

The classroom is set up with tables and chairs and exercise supplies is provided.

12:30pm — Card Games Various card games are played. Everyone is welcome! FREE! Tables and chairs are provided in classroom or dining room.

1:30 - 4pm — Mah Jong Tiles Participants must bring own Tiles.

Mah Jong is a tile-based game that originated in China. It is commonly played by four players. Mah Jong is a game of skill, strategy and calculation and involves a degree of chance.

12:30 – 3:30pm — Community Bingo Provided by Tulare Senior Services Volunteers at Tulare Senior Community Center. Must be 18 years and older to play. Cost: 1st Half of Bingo is $1.25 per card, 2nd Half of Bingo is $1 per card. This programs is led by a senior volunteers.

Visalia Senior Center, Wednesdays: February 7, 14, 21, & 28, 2018 10am — Family Services (7th, 14th only) 11:30am — Birthday Celebration (7th only) 12 - 3pm — Poker 12:45pm - 4pm — Contract Bridge

1 - 4pm — HICAP – Health Insurance & Counseling Advocacy Program Only by Appointment, MUST call 559-623-0199. HICAP provides FREE, confidential counseling and community education for California Medicare beneficiaries, their representatives, and people who will soon be eligible for Medicare.

Tulare Senior Center, Wednesdays: February 7, 14, 21, & 28, 2018 9:30-10:30 AM - Bible Study P9:30 - 10:30am — Bible Study Everyone is welcome! This is a FREE recreational activity. Enjoy studying in a very well-lit classroom with heating or air conditioning.

The classroom is set up with tables and chairs. This class is led by a senior volunteer.

9:30 - 10:30am — Crocheting The crochet is donated by the hos-

Visalia Senior Center, Thursdays: February 1, 8, 15 & 22, 2018 10am - 12pm — Chess Club 11am — Darts 11am — Brain Teasers 1 - 4pm — Penny Bingo Tulare Senior Center, Thursdays: February 1, 8, 15 & 22, 2018 10am - 12pm — Down Memory Lane (Writing Class) This class offered by Tulare Senior Recreation will help you organize

(559) 783-9815 and speak with Kayla or Valerie.

February 24: West Hills College Coalinga Rodeo Dinner 6pm - West Hills College Coalinga Rodeo Boosters are now selling tickets for their annual dinner fundraiser. The prime rib dinner is at the Coalinga Elks Lodge. Social hour begins at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $50, with all proceeds benefiting the WHCC rodeo team and scholarships for rodeo team members.

There will also be live and silent auctions and a prize drawing. To purchase tickets or for more information, contact Justin Hampton at (559) 908-6406 or justin.hampton@whccd.edu.

your memories and write down stories about them. You’ll be leaving a written legacy for your loved ones to cherish for many generations to come. $5 per month per student.

1 - 2pm — Tai Chi – for Health & Wellness This special 6-week course offered

by Tulare Senior Recreation will be held on Thursdays, next session is January 11-February 15, 2018. $25 for 6 week course.

2-3:30pm — Caregiver Support Group Session Group sessions are led by a Valley Caregiver Resource counselor. This activity is FREE. Visalia Senior Center, Fridays: February 2, 9, 16, & 23, 2018 10:30 - 11:15am — Fun Fitness (only on 2nd and 15th) 1pm — Bunco (only on 2nd) 1pm — Friday Movie 1 - 4pm — Table Tennis 1pm — Scrabble Club 1:30pm — Garden Club Tulare Senior Center, Fridays: February 2, 9, 16, & 23, 2018 8:30 - 11am — Table Tennis Come with a partner and have a fun game of Table Tennis in a welllit and spacious area. This is a FREE Tulare Senior Recreation activity!

9:30 – 11am — Wii Bowling Join this Friday Fun Tulare Senior Recreation activity enjoyed by many. It is FREE to participate! Experience is NOT REQUIRED! 10:30 - 11:15am — Ex-Chair-Cise Everyone is welcome! This recreation activity is FREE. Enjoy exercising in a very well-lit classroom with heating or air conditioning.

The classroom is set up with tables and chairs and exercise supplies is provided.

12:30pm — Card Games Various card games are played. Everyone is welcome! FREE! Tables and chairs are provided in classroom or dining room.

7-10pm — Senior Dance Anyone 18 years and older. Fee: $8 per person - Dance to Live Country Western music. Bring Potluck style foods to share.

1 February, 2018 Valley Voice

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Visalia Rawhide announce 2018 is the “Year of the Cowbell” STAFF REPORTS

The Visalia Rawhide announced today the 2018 season will be the “Year of the Cowbell” at Rawhide Ballpark.

The year-long celebration will be held to celebrate the tenth year since the Visalia franchise re-branded as the Rawhide.

A key feature of the announcement is the construction of America’s Largest Cowbell, which will be accessible to fans during the 2018 season on the Rawhide concourse.

“2018 is a monumental year for us because we’ve now been the Rawhide for 10 years,” said Rawhide General Manager Jennifer (Pendergraft) Reynolds. “Under the Rawhide brand, Recreation Park has undergone huge renovations that bring our fan expe-

rience up to the highest standards in Minor League Baseball, making the Rawhide brand synonymous with positive change in the local baseball community. This year, we are celebrating that achievement and inviting all of our fans to join the party.”

Since the Rawhide brand was introduced in 2009, Recreation Park has received numerous upgrades.

Most recently, the Rawhide and City of Visalia partnered to install a new playing surface in 2017, which was named the California League Field of the Year.

The Rawhide also made a complete renovation of the Kids Corral, surfacing it with artificial turf and painting the turf in the style of a whiffle ball field. Furthermore, the club

purchased dilapidated buildings directly adjacent from the ballpark and had them torn down to add more parking for fans.

Last season, Visalia hosted the California League All-Star Game for the first time in 28 years, which brought visitors and business from across the state to Visalia on June 19 and 20.

The Year of the Cowbell will also include promotional giveaways and special benefits for Rawhide Season Ticket Holders.

Fans interested in becoming season ticket holders may inquire by emailing Rawhide Director of Ticketing Heather Dominquez at heather@ rawhidebaseball.com “We continue to generate great support from this community, and we

thought that it would be in line with true Visalia fashion to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Rawhide by constructing a five-foot-tall cowbell – another nod to the dairy and agriculture industry which our county hangs its hat on,” said Rawhide President Tom Seidler. “We hope that our fans and the local community will enjoy the celebration as much as we will during the 2018 season.

The Rawhide begin the 2018 season on April 5 with a seven-game homestand and a series against the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (Advanced-A, Los Angeles Dodgers).

Season tickets and all ticket plans are now available for purchase on Rawhidebaseball.com or by calling 559-732-4433.

Porterville baseball registration Feb. 5 Ruiz 4 Kids scholarships available STAFF REPORTS

Sign up for Youth Co-Ed Baseball starting February 5. The league is hosted by Parks & Leisure Services and designed for boys and girls ages 4 – 13 with a low cost of $58. Practices will begin in April. Depending on the age of your child, games will either be Monday/ Wednesday or Tuesday/ Thursday at the Porterville Sports Complex.

The league welcomes all skill levels and develops fundamentals, character and sportsmanship. Coaches focus on keeping the game fun and helping players develop skills that will have long-term benefits as opposed to winning at all costs. The goal is to foster a positive, pressure-free environment.

It’s the perfect fit for your child to truly enjoy the sport and want to return the following season.

Register at the Heritage Center, 256 E. Orange Ave, or skip the lines and sign up online through the City of Porterville website. Open registration will continue until all divisions are full. Volunteer to coach or register additional siblings and receive $5 off.

Space is limited so early registration is advised.

For more information on Youth Co-Ed Baseball, call (559) 791-7695 or visit www.ci.porterville.ca.us. Stay up to date on all services and programs by following Parks & Leisure Services on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

STAFF REPORTS

Ruiz 4 Kids Scholarship applications are available online for high school seniors who attend a high school located within a 35 mile radius of Dinuba or Tulare, California. In addition, Ruiz 4 Kids is again welcoming scholarship applications from current community college students.

The scholarship application deadline is March 9, 2018.

In addition to the existing high school senior scholarship program, Ruiz 4 Kids is again offering a scholarship program specific to community college students who also are currently attending school within a 35-mile radius and who are planning to transfer to a 4-year university.

Ruiz 4 Kids, the non-profit organiza-

tion of Ruiz Food Products, Inc., is based in Dinuba, California. The Scholarship Program is available to select high schools in specific geographic areas where Ruiz Foods has manufacturing facilities: Dinuba/Tulare, California; Denison, Texas, and Florence, South Carolina.

High school applicants must have a 2.5 GPA or above to apply if they plan on attending a two-year college or vocational institution. Those who will be attending a four-year college or university must have a GPA of 3.0 or more. Community college students must have maintained a GPA of 3.0 or above at the community college level. To learn more about the Ruiz 4 Kids Scholarship Program and access the guidelines and application, visit www.ruiz4kids.org .

Valley Voice 1 February, 2018

Lindsay Diabetes Project aims to help people live healthier STAFF REPORTS

The Lindsay Hospital Board recently funded the Lindsay Diabetes Project with a mission to optimize the health of Lindsay residents affected by diabetes through a comprehensive, culturally sensitive, family-centered approach.

The project includes a free educational series, a diabetes support group, and opportunities for people with diabetes to review their medications with a pharmacist.

The Lindsay Diabetes Project is a collaborative effort through Healthy Kids-Healthy Lindsay, Kaweah Delta Community Outreach Program, and a number of stakeholders including healthcare providers, community-based organizations, and commu-

nity members.

The first education series will start on Wednesday, January 24 and continue through February 28, at the Healthy Start Family Resource Center, 400 E. Hermosa St., Lindsay.

For more information or to register for the workshops, please call Marisela Gonzalez at 559-667-3439 or Candy Silva at 559-280-8349.

The education series is a six-week program based on the Project Dulce curriculum conducted by bicultural and bilingual Promotoras, who will link participants to health and social services, physical activity opportunities and provide ongoing guidance through monthly support groups.

In addition, participants will have

the opportunity to work with a pharmacist to review their medications.

The program is comprised of interactive topics which include: getting to know your diabetes, healthy eating, healthy eating continued, coping with stress through physical activity, medication management, staying healthy with diabetes, as well as evaluation and celebration.

Morning and evening sessions are available in English and Spanish.

These educational sessions will take place during the following dates: • March 14 – April 25 • May 9 – June 20 Individuals with diabetes can also join the Lindsay Diabetes Support Group which takes place on the sec-

B7

ond Thursday of the each month from 5:30-7pm at the Healthy Start Family Resource Center, 400 E. Hermosa St., Lindsay.

Tulare County continues to exceed state averages for rates of diabetes, according to a recent study by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.

Adults diagnosed with diabetes – one of several diseases linked to obesity – has climbed since 2007, reaching 14 percent in 2014, compared to 11.3 percent statewide in 2007.

In Tulare County, prediabetes rates are at 44 percent and the total percentage of Tulare County residents with either diabetes or pre-diabetes is 58 percent compared to 55 percent for the State of California.

TSA implements new screening procedures for baggage at FYI STAFF REPORTS

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has implemented new, stronger screening procedures for carry-on items at Fresno Yosemite International Airport. The new procedures, which were announced last year, and are being implemented at airports across the country, require travelers to place all electronics larger than a cell phone in bins for X-ray screening in standard lanes.

TSA officers will begin to ask travelers to remove electronics larger than

a cell phone from their carry-on bags an place them in a bin with nothing on top or below, similarly to how laptops have been screened for years.

This simple step helps TSA officers obtain a clearer X-ray image. Passengers may experience moderate delays at the security checkpoint while TSA trains officers on the new screening procedures.

TSA continuously evaluates and updates security procedures to stay ahead of evolving threats. The screening of large electronics is similar to how laptop computers have been

College of the Sequoias offers Flute Choir and Pedagogy class STAFF REPORTS

The College of the Sequoias Training Resource Center is holding a Flute Choir and Pedagogy class. The class will be held on Tuesdays from February 6 – May 1 from 5:30-6:30pm on the COS Visalia campus.

Yamaha Performing Artist & Director of the nationally acclaimed Wyndfall Flute Orchestra, and COS adjunct instructor is offering a Flute Choir/ Pedagogy class. This will be a Flute Choir class open to all flutists, amateur or advanced, who reside in Tulare

Arts Visalia Continued from B1

Ranger’s interest in photography began in high school with a couple of basic photography classes. He became more involved in photography in the 1980’s.

After finding 35mm and medium format lacking, in 1993, Ranger began to use a large format view camera which proved to be the best tool for his work. “View cameras require quiet deliberation which, for me, results in superior photographs.”

Art classes for children and adults

and Kings counties.

The class will conclude with a Spring concert on May 4. The class will focus on all basic flute techniques and performance practices – there will also be rehearsing of work for concerts.

This class is great for someone who hasn’t picked up a flute since high school all the way to someone who is very advanced.

The cost for the class is $45 per person. For more information about the class, or to register, please visit www.cos.edu/communityed or call (559) 688-3130. have resumed. There is something for everyone this spring. Date to Create is a new Art and Conversation workshop that happens quarterly. The next Date to Create will be Tuesday, February 6 from 6–8pm. Each Date to Create focuses on the elements of art and the histories of art techniques as they pertain to these elements. Please download registration forms for classes and workshops from artsvisalia.org, or stop by and pick up the spring schedule at the gallery!

For more information and class descriptions, please visit artsvisalia. org, call (559) 739-0905 or visit the gallery, 214 East Oak Avenue, Visalia.

screened for years.

Passengers will be asked to remove electronics larger than a cell phone from carry-on bags and place them in a bin with nothing on top or below for better screening.

TSA officers also may suggest passengers remove other select items, including food, from their carry-on bags.

This is not required, but also helps x-ray operators get a clearer view of the contents of the bag and speeds up the screening process.

TSA officers will be stationed in front of checkpoint lanes to guide pas-

sengers through the divesting process.

Travelers are encouraged to listen closely to their instructions and to place large electronics at the top of their bag for easier removal.

There are no changes to what travelers can bring through the checkpoint.

Food and liquid items that comply with the 3-1-1 liquids rule, electronics, and books continue to be allowed in carry-on bags. The stronger security measures do not apply to passengers enrolled in TSA Pre® who are using the TSA Pre® lane

COS offers Excel classes STAFF REPORTS

The COS Training Resource Center is offering two different Microsoft Excel classes. The first is a Basic/Intermediate Microsoft Excel class on February 22 at the COS Tulare Center from 8:00 am – 12:00pm.

This class is a total of 4 hours and is $79/person. The second class is an Intermediate/Advanced Excel class on February 21, 28 and March 7 at the

Boys & Girls Continued from B1

The remaining 7 percent of funding covers overhead.

Another important aspect of the Boys & Girls’ services is the development of service projects that teach children the value of community and how to be good citizens and contributors. For example, children in all of the Club’s communities participated in a march to honor the life of slain civil-rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, the anniversary of his birth. On that day, kids also completed several community service projects throughout the Club’s network.

Other programs foster leadership, provide guidance on education and career choices, and provide support to

COS Visalia campus from 9:00 – 11:00 am each day. This class is a total of 6 hours and is $119/person. This class is designed to allow the participant time between each class to practice what they were taught. This class will be taught by Lemarr Treadwell, a certified Microsoft Innovative Educator.

For more information or to register, please visit our website at www. cos.edu/trainingcenter. For questions, please call us at 559.688.3130. help kids resist drugs and alcohol.

Quenzer said that about $80,000 is needed annually to continue the programs the full-service Club has provided over the past two years through the CDBG grant.

The Farmersville club alone services 360 children or nearly 80 children every day, year round.

“We’ve been successful in the time that we’ve been in Farmersville,” Quenzer said. “We would like to be able to grow and serve even more kids.”

How to attend

What: Farmersville Boys & Girls Club meeting When: 4pm, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018 Where: 623 N. Avery Ave., Farmersville Information: 559-594-1977 or 559-592-4074

Wine & Beer Tasting facebook.com/FindsDivineConsignment OPEN BI-MONTHLY & BY APPOINTMENT 1094 E. Walnut Ave. in TULARE Jennifer Hales 559)936-3511

Carol Gregory 559)972-3961

Serving Sellers and Shoppers Alike!

At

Redwood Wine Room

Totem Market & Gifts Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner

J&J Cellars - Kelsey See Canyon Vineyards

(559) 561-4463 45186 Sierra Drive, Three Rivers

1 February, 2018

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Valley Voice

What are dormant sprays?

MICHELLE LE STRANGE

UCCE MASTER GARDENER ADVISOR EMERITUS

Dormant sprays are a generic term for any spray applied to leafless deciduous trees during fall, winter, and early spring.

Some dormant sprays are applied to control over-wintering insects, while others are used to prevent disease infection.

Dormant sprays are applied from late November to the latter part of February. A delayed dormant spray (which is recommended for plum and prune trees) means February to the middle of March, depending upon when buds swell for the particular variety.

All fruit and nut trees and many landscape trees and roses are susceptible to aphids, mites, scale and specific insect and disease problems affecting fruit quality and tree health.

The dormant spray is the most important because it is the least disruptive to beneficial insects and the environment and it is the easiest to apply. In the commercial orchard (with the exception of walnuts) the dormant spray is essential.

In the backyard orchard a dormant spray may not be warranted every year, except where peach leaf curl is consistently a problem. Decide if you need to apply by noting the amount of insect and disease pressure during the previous grow-

ing season.

Insect & Mite Control: Dormant season applications of specially refined oils, often called insecticidal, horticultural, or narrow range oils (e.g. Safe-T-Side) are effective against many insects common to most deciduous fruit and landscape trees.

The oil smothers the insects. These sprays have no effect on diseases.

Dormant oil sprays DO control peach twig borer, European red and brown mite eggs, San Jose scale and most soft scales, aphid eggs, and mealybug.

For better control of peach twig borer add an insecticide to the dormant oil spray.

Dormant oil sprays alone DO NOT completely control codling moth, oriental fruit moth, navel orangeworm, or two-spotted and pacific spider mites.

Many deciduous landscape trees (like Chinese evergreen elms) are infested with soft scale and a dormant oil spray is particularly effective.

Disease Control: Dormant season applications of copper or a synthetic fungicide are used to limit infection and prevent the spread of certain bacterial and fungal diseases like fire blight, brown rot, leaf curl, powdery mildew, and shot hole.

A fixed copper fungicide (Liquicop, Microcop, etc.) contains elemental copper, such as tribasic copper sulfate, copper oxychloride

sulfate or cupric hydroxide.

Copper sprays with 50 percent copper are most effective, but harder to find.

For diseases with a long infection period like fire blight, it may be necessary to make several applications to protect new emerging shoots and flowers, especially during rainy spring weather.

Synthetic fungicides: Commercial fungicides containing chlorothalonil (daconil and others), iprodione (Chipco 26019), thiophanate methyl (Fungo, Cleary’s) and orchard sanitation are the solution to brown rot disease of peaches and nectarines, which is less of a problem in the southern part of the valley compared to the northern San Joaquin Valley where there is more rainfall.

Specific disease and insect pests for trees & shrubs in the San Joaquin Valley: • Brown rot (fungus) - almond, apricot, cherry, nectarine, and peach (sometimes plum).

• Codling moth – apple, pear, plum, and walnut.

• Downy mildew (fungus) – grape and rose.

• Fire blight (bacteria) – apple, crabapple, pear (ornamental and fruiting), pyracantha and quince. Leaf curl (fungus) – nectarine and peach.

• Peach twig borer – apricot, nectarine and peach (sometimes almond, plum, prune).

• Powdery mildew (fungus) – grape and rose (occasionally apricot, cherry, nectarine and peach). Rust and black spot (fungi) – rose. Shot hole (fungus) - almond, apricot, nectarine, and peach. Soft scale - many kinds of soft scale affect many kinds of landscape trees.

The UCCE Master Gardeners will be available to answer your gardening questions at the following venues: February 9-11, 2018 Visalia Home and Patio SpringFest, Visalia Convention Center You can also find us every Saturday from 8 am until noon at the Farmer’s Market in the Visalia Sear’s parking lot on Mooney.

For answers to all your home gardening questions, call the Master Gardeners in Tulare County at (559) 6843325, Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9:30 and 11:30am; or Kings County at (559) 852-2736, Thursday Only, 9:3011:30am; or visit our website to search past articles, find links to UC gardening information, or to email us with your questions: http://ucanr.edu/sites/UC_ Master_Gardeners/ Visit us on Facebook at: https:// www.facebook.com/mgtularekings14/

Phone: 559.685.3800 1425 E. Prosperity Avenue, Tulare CA 93274 #EVOStrong Find us on Facebook!