Ralph Hinds

Although he is headed nearly halfway around the world from his desk in Dinuba, Ralph Hinds will soon find himself at the base of a large mountain range in an agricultural rich area.

If everything goes as planned, Hinds is leaving his post as the executive director of the Dinuba Chamber of Commerce and heading to the Middle East near the Iraq and Iran border.

Hinds, who is no stranger to the Middle East, having spent about 20 years there as an environmental health administrator, has accepted a 13-month assignment through the U.S. State Department.

For most of us Valley pholks, that would seem like a major change, going from Dinuba to the high desert of Iraq northeast of Baghdad. But Hinds says there are lots of similarities in the regions.

Hinds, who informed Dinuba officials he will be giving up his chamber job rather than taking a leave of absence, will be stationed with a Provincial Reconstruction Team in Diyala Province, which covers 6,828 square miles.

Hinds, who lives in Squaw Valley in the foothills of the majestic Sierra Nevada, said his new headquarters sits in the high desert foothills of the Hamrin Range. A large portion of the province is drained by the Diyala River, a major tributary of the Tigris. “Because of its proximity to two major sources of water, Diyala's main industry is agriculture, primarily dates grown in large date groves. It is also recognized as the orange capital of the Middle East,” he said.

Heat and humidity during much of the Middle East year should be old hat to Hinds who knows how hot the San Joaquin Valley can get. The humidity likely is the big difference.

Hinds' mission will be to facilitate the provincial government's effort to increase public access to essential services such as health care and create political and economic stability to the area.

Hinds holds Master's degree in Public Health and a Bachelor of Science degree from UCLA and knows the Middle East territory and the public health needs pretty well, working both in Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Although Hinds seems to know the Middle East pretty well and is looking ahead to his new task, I suspect it will take a little while to forget waking up each morning to the sun rising over the Sierra. That is something most of us Valley pholks would hate to miss.

SOMETHING ELSE WHICH WILL BE MISSING is Visalian Brad Thompson piloting his bright orange Nostalgia Top Fuel Dragster in Bakersfield in defense of his world championship.

Last week, doctors in Santa Barbara told Thompson is was a no-go for him to climb back into the reconstructed 300-mph machine which was practically demolished early this summer at the Boise Nightfire Nationals in Idaho when it went out of control at more than 260 miles per hour.

Disappointment by Thompson and his crew has been in abundance since the medical decision became official, but not the enthusiasm and perseverance in getting things put back together just in case.

Thompson and Larry Bless, the principles of Thompson & Bless Racing, will have to settle for only back-to-back Nostalgia Top Fuel Dragster championships, but will have their entry parked for display at the California Hot Rod Reunion at Famoso Raceway near Bakersfield.

But members of the Visalia-based, national points-leading racing team will still be involved this weekend. Crew chief and tuner Steve Faria will be helping the Tedford and McGee team with their Overtime Special which has basically the same tune-up as Thompson's car.

Miles can be reached at mshuper@valleyvoicenewspaper.com