Visalians May Vote On Westside Auto Mall

Time For Local Compact?

Tulare & Kings County - Indian casinos in both Kings and Tulare counties are considering working closer with their county government as they try to come up with a formula that might help pay for the impacts that today’s mega casinos bring. The impacts include road widening and repair and public safety calls of both police and fire service that must be paid for by local jurisdictions.

In the case of the big 2000 slot Palace Indian Gaming Facility there is an effort to forge a memorandum of understanding between Kings County and the Yokut tribe who owns the Palace, says county supervisor Tony Oliveira.

Both the Palace and Eagle Mountain casinos pay into a state compact fund. In each case virtually none of that money comes back to the local jurisdictions, says Oliveira.

In both cases the casinos are far off the beaten track - away from towns and major highways making the road improvement and public safety calls for service that much more expensive. The places are so popular that the customers keep coming anyway with the Palace getting a reported 12,000 visitors on any given day.

Kings County administrator Larry Spikes confirms that “we’re working with the tribe to get a deal done,” that could result in some of the money that currently goes to the state now coming back to fund the local services. “The attorney for the tribe told us he thought it would have a chance of being successful in Sacramento if we had the MOU.”

When the state compact that allowed for casino expansion was adopted it said some of the money paid by tribes should go to the non casino Indian reservations, pay the state for management of the programs and finally pay for the local impacts. “They got two out of three,” says Spikes.

Sources say that the Palace is working on a multi story hotel resort complex that is likely to bring more visitors to Kings County and the tribe wants to use an agreement to mitigate the cost of road work and other impacts that the project will bring.

“The tax payers of Kings County can’t afford to shoulder that burden,” admits county supervisor Tony Oliveira. “Fortunately we are working on a memorandum of understanding with the ranchiera to fund the improvements,” he says.

In Tulare County Tule River tribal administrator Dave Nenna says they too, are considering a possible memorandum of understanding with the locals. “That’s up to the tribe but we are talking about it. We are holding our card pretty close to the chest,” Nenna says. “The issue of lack of local funding was one of the arguments we made in our lawsuit against the state compact.”

Helping to push the expansion of Indian gaming forward is increased competition - more tribes are building casinos - and state deadlines on so-called compacts that require tribes put in service the number of slot machines they are entitled to or lose them - even if they aren’t quite ready for the long term plan. That’s the case with Eagle Mountain Casino who just opened a new 25,000 sq. ft. expansion to their reservation casino last week doubling the number of slot machines available to them - now 1500. Eagle Mountain would really like top open a new casino down on Highway 190 but to date they don’t have all approvals in place.

Still, it is quite a jump from where they started in the mid 90s when they opened the casino in a double wide trailer.

In terms of competition, the Chuchansi tribe in Madera County recently opened their new Chuchansi Gold resort and casino - marketing the destination to Central Valley residents who would otherwise travel to at least four other nearby Indian casinos.

Chuchansi Gold is staking out the high ground suggesting that “only here” is the “comfort and elegance” in the 192 room hotel including jacuzzi suites with the “qualities of a mountain lodge with breath taking sunrise or sunset view.”

This Madera tribe also pioneered a voluntary impact agreement with that county to pay for more than $346,000 for off reservation impacts.

In Roenert Park, too, a proposed new casino on the edge of town and that an environmental review of the project would mean the tribe pays some $22 million for police, fire and road work related to the casino. That project is expected to infuse some $180 million into the local economy.

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Battle For Saddle - Birth Of New
Cross-Town Rivalry

Visalia - Let’s get ready to rrr’umble Visalia. There’s a new rivalry and a new tradition based on the struggle over who gets to possess the hide of a dead animal.

Redwood and Mt. Whitney high schools have their traditional cross-town rivalry - the Cowhide game at Mineral King Bowl. Now El Diamante and Golden West will face off in the new stadium on the Golden West campus in the “Battle for the Saddle” announced school superintendent Stan Carrizosa recently.

El Diamante High School Principal Drew Sorensen and Golden West Principal Bob Cesena recently announced the foundation of the new athletic rivalry in Visalia. This new rivalry was announced when El Diamante High School, and Golden West High School parents and athletic boosters came together a fund raiser for the new Visalia Community Stadium on August 23rd.

Fund raising efforts for the new 3000 seat stadium to be ready for use for next year’s football season has been moving forward and announcing the rivalry now may get the juices flowing even more. The new Groppetti stadium, named for the Visalia car dealership that donated $25,000 to the project early on, will be the home of the new grudge match - the home stadium for both teams. Already about $160,000 of the $500,000 needed for the construction of the stadium has been pledged. The school district is funding the remainder of the $2.1 million stadium.

Whoever wins the big fall classic between the two high schools will own a real Visalia saddle - the famous brand name made here in the 1800s that proved to the model for the western saddle.

For the event they will get a real Visalia stock saddle donated from the manufacturer who still makes the model - not here but in Fresno.

Principals Sorensen and Cesena were looking for a artifact that would symbolize both the Trailblazers and the Miners and serve as a rallying theme for their last regular football contest for the year. The saddle seemed to meet both their criteria. Drew Sorensen had researched regional rivalries and come across the "Pig Bowl" in Fresno, the "Milk Can" in Hanford/Lemoore, the "Dog Bowl" in Hanford, the "Victory Bell" in Tulare and the "Cowhide" game between Mt. Whitney and Redwood. The symbol of victory idea typically makes these games the most exciting of the season.

Now the Visalia saddle will be held high at the end of a football game each year.

Sorensen and Cesena reported to the group that The "Visalia Saddle" was chosen because it was developed here in Visalia and is recognized as one of the finest saddles made in the world.

A history book on California told how important a Visalia saddle was for the western cowboy. In order to be equipped for work, a cowboy needed a Western stock horse, a Visalia saddle, a colt revolver, a Stetson hat and a pair of Levi overalls. Pretty good company for the innovators from Visalia who first redesigned the old Mexican Vaquero saddles beginning in the 1860s.

Alex Gluckmann of Golden West told the boosters the history of the saddle. Mr. Guzman told the group that saddles used before the Visalia Saddle followed designs brought by the vaqueros from Mexico. Saddle makers in California were looking for ways to improve the saddle. John Martel had a saddle making shop in Merced County and in the early 1860's he hired man by the name of Ricardo Mattley in his shop. Martarel had immigrated to California from San Salvador and Mattley was Mexico. As they worked together to repair the saddles brought in by cattlemen, they began to change the saddles, making improvement. In 1869 Matarel and Mattley moved their operation to Visalia.

Their business struggled but they were eventually joined by David Walker and Henry Shuham. Together these men built what became the most successful saddle making firm in California. Their Visalia Stock Saddle was in demand by cowboys not only in the United States but in other countries as well.

The Visalia Saddle set the standard. The firm eventually became know as the Visalia Stock Saddle Company. The firm has moved several times since its founding in Visalia, first to the San Francisco area in 1887, then to the Sacramento area in 1958, and then most recently, in 1983, to Fresno where they continue to make the famous Visalia Saddle.

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Woodlake Citrus Farmers Squeezing More From Crop

by Miles Shuper

Woodlake - A fourth generation farming family is launching a new venture in an attempt to squeeze some profits from a crop known for its ups and downs in recent years.

Bill Ferry and son Bill Ferry Jr. and their families, who for several years have been selling fresh fruit at more than a dozen Bay Area farmers markets and other sites, are now peddling fresh squeezed Valencia orange juice.

It’s starting out as a small operation but hopes are high that it can buck a peaks and valleys market trend experienced in the industry.

In a rented 20 by 30 foot store front in downtown Woodlake, the Ferrys now are processing a portion of their oranges into pure juice, bottling it, chilling it and selling ti by the pint and quart.

On Labor Day Weekend they sold about 90 gallons of juice during their weekly treks to San Francisco. And, much to their surprise, in their first official week of operation they sold nearly 20 gallons in their new rented “juice headquarters” with no advertising other than word of mouth.

In recent years the elder Ferry often has noted financial returns from the 15 to 20 acres of oranges he sells in the Bay Area match, and at times, surpass the returns of the remaining 80-plus acres.

And, he says, the income from selling directly to consumers and fruit stands is more consistent than the fickle citrus market. He believes the prospects of making a profit from oranges which don’t make it through the normal packing house and shipping process are brighter. Fruit which isn’t packed generally brings little, if any, profit and often results in a loss to the grower, he explains.

His son adds that the citrus marketing generally is slow in thin summer months when other crops compete for the consumers attention. “Basically there is not much of a market for Valencias in the summer. We are trying to make better use of our crop in what normally is a slow time for oranges,” he said. “Instead of giving them to the packinghouse for nothing or taking a loss, we hope to do better than we would normally do on the export of fresh packed produce.”

The Ferrys know the citrus industry well. Their roots go deep and the family is among the most respected in Tulare County and surrounding area. In Woodlake they ranch 115 acres of Valencias and Navels and 76 acres of olives. They also manage another 800 acres of citrus and olives throughout the county.

Bill Ferry Jr. is spearheading the juice venture, finding time to set up the operation in Woodlake Plaza, while at the same time juggling his daily ranch duties.

The juicing operation is a simple one which can produce five gallons of pure juice in about 10 minutes. The juicing machine is about the size of a soda pop vending machine. The process starts with a crate of cleansed Valencias being poured into the top of the machine. One at a time the oranges are peeled and juiced. The pulp and peels are dropped into plastic bags and the juice flows into a five gallon container, with a spicket on front. The plastic bottles are filled from the spicket, capped and labeled and stacked in an ice chest.

The juice is not pasturized and must be refrigerated. The label, which feature a picture of the senior Bill Ferry in front of a ranch grove, lists only one ingredient “100 percent orange juice.”

To reduce chilling time, the Ferrys are taking their orange bins to area cold storage facilities for a day or two to cut down the chilling process.

The initial goal is to squeeze 300 gallons per week. It will take several weeks to determine just how much juice can be marketed, says Bill Ferry, Jr., but so far he has been pleased. If all goes as planned, Ferry Farms may expand further north in California and possibly into Oregon. A further indication of the full use of a crop is the prospect of using the left-over peels from the juicing process as a livestock supplement.

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Kings/Tulare
Dairy Permits Start To Roll Again

Tulare & Kings County - The Tulare County Planning Commission approved the big 3000 cow VanBeek dairy near Tipton last week without much fuss. This was in marked contrast to the last permit request by the Hilarides dairy that was finally approved after much controversy last fall. “The VanBeek permit was approved and the EIR certified without any objection,” says county planner Mary Beatie. It took nearly four years to get that permit, however.

Without an approved county plan to permit new and expanding dairies as a result of a settlement with the environmental group CRPE (Center for Race, Poverty and the Environment) in 1999 - the county has put more than 90 permits on hold as it works to complete a supplemental program EIR.

“We believe we will complete that by the end of this year,” says Roberto Brady - the county’s project review manager. The consultant driven plan will be shared with county ag advisory committee later this year before it comes to the Board of Supervisors. Once that is complete - the backlog of projects may be able to move forward after years of delay.

The improvement in milk prices has stimulated more activity than seen in a long time here. California cheese prices for supermarkets are expected to hit over $14 per cwt about $4.20 more than one year earlier when prices were in the tank.

The increase in demand has also meant local dairy processors are dusting off plans to increase production of milk based products.

In the meantime, the strategy by Tulare County dairymen to do their own site specific EIR based on the work by Visalia consultant firm Quad Knopf for Hilarides and VanBeek has prompted four more dairies to sign up in the county choosing not to wait for the completion of the county’s EIR process but to do their own with Quad Knopf’s help.

“Much of the work that went into the early dairy EIRs can be used by other dairymen,” explains county planner Brady. That translates into a cost savings for the dairymen.

Next in line is a Woodville dairy, Harmony Farms to be heard by the planning commission September 10 with their own EIR.

In Kings County, where the Board of Supervisors approved a new dairy plan that allows approval of new dairies and expansion through a simple administrative process, chief planner Bill Zumwalt says in recent months the county has approved one new dairy around Lansing and Highway 43 with around 9000 animals operated by the Martella family.

It also approved a calf ranch operated by the Grimmius family and are in the process of approving two new dairy expansions. The county has designated in what area expansion can take place allowing them to move forward if they meet all prescribed conditions.

In both Kings and Tulare counties where the group CRPE has legally challenged the projects, the tide appears to be turning even as the market for more milk may make it attractive to build more milking parlors in the nation’s most productive dairy region.

Just what next will be coming down from the state level could slow the momentum down, however, even the environmental groups have backed off their legal challenges for many valley dairies. The state is looking at tougher rules to cut dairy pollution even though scientists don’t know for sure just how big a problem air emissions are - related to dairies.

“We probably won’t see much effect of the new Flores bills if they become laws until a few years down the line when dairymen will have to cut their emissions,” says one source. The state may require best available technology to do the job meaning either adopt methane digesters to capture and use the methane or adopt a management program handling manure before it becomes a problem in a dairy lagoons. Some prototype plans have shown success.

Despite all efforts by the dairy industry to get dairymen to test methane digesters most are not likely to invest big time in this technology until it is both proven and mandated.

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What's New

The Sequoia Kings Natural History Association will open a "Nature Store" in Downtown Visalia next month. The nonprofit educational group provides books and educational materials about our national parks, particularly Sequoia, Kings Canyon and Devil's Postpile. They currently run the visitor center in the parks but will now offer a variety of materials and classes for children in Visalia concerning nature. The new store will be located at 218 W. Main and open for business October 8th.

Talk is getting more serious about a permanent RV Park in Tulare near the Agri-Center, says consultant to the property owner Manuel Faria - Lynn Dredge. Chamber activist Bob Reynolds says 15 acres have been identified next to the golf course that would be ideal for a 160 unit park. The park would service visitors who come to the area for ag events and tourists.

Some of the friars have left the St. Anthony's Retreat in Three Rivers already in anticipation of vacating the place by October 1. Sources say it is likely that the retreat will be leased to the Fresno diocese and remain a Catholic retreat center. "We're booked up through mid next year," says one source at the retreat. There had been talk the place could be sold. Father Richard Juzix who oversees the facility says he will be soon transferred to Santa Barbara mission by his order.

JD Heiskell is relocating all its dairy feed manufacturing to its big Pixley facility on Highway 99. CEO Scott Hillman says the company has put some $6.3 million into the facility to upgrade it including new rail. The Tulare plant will be used more for offloading and storage of materials for customers, says Hillman. The company is the country's largest volume feed manufacturer, also supplies Land O'Lakes patrons. The company bought the Pixley plant in June 2000 from PM Ag, Inc. Hillman says work on the upgrades to the Pixley facility "are being completed right now." He says the company found it easier to expand operations in Pixley than in downtown Tulare where it is surrounded by other city uses.

Lemoore will get a new Motel 6 - now under construction on 198 at 19th Ave. near Highway 41. The project is being built next to the car dealers, says city economic development analyst Judy Narbaitz.

Chuck Glenn has announced he will run for the Board of Supervisors. "After weeks of thoughtful consideration, I have decided to officially announce my intention to run for Tulare County Board of Supervisors representing District 3," Glenn said. Glenn, a third generation Hispanic, was born and raised in the Valley. Glenn has owned and operated CMG Media Concepts, an advertising, marketing and public relations firm in Visalia since 1990.

VUSD would join in new nonprofit plaza on NE Third. Visalia Unified would put a new building in the planned nonprofit plaza design development on North East Third on Visalia's northside, says assistant superintendent Mark Fulmer. The two classroom building would house classroom space for English language tutoring and adult school classes in the evening. The plaza, being developed by the city, includes new office for CSET, Proteus and others next to what will be new city police substation.

Fresno Pacific wants to build a permanent campus in Visalia. The school will be offering classes this fall at El Diamante high school. City manager Steve Salomon is working with the school in finding a location they may build a new 7000 sq. ft. office and classroom complex.

The Visalia community is stepping up the plate to fund the new community stadium on the Golden West campus with pledges of over $163,555 so far, says superintendent Stan Carrizosa. They hope to bring in a total of $500,000 to build the place this coming year. First in line was Don and Shelly Groppetti with a donation of $25,000 to kick it off. Now other community members are being asked to pledge funds - about 50 so far ranging from $200 up. Carrizosa told the Rotary this past week that the new 3000 seat stadium should open next school year - hopefully with an all weather track besides the football and soccer field. Why is the home team on the west side of the stadium? Let the visitors and their fans look into the sun.

Urban Tree Foundation director Brian Kempf says he is planting valley oak trees on the CalTrans right-of-way from Mooney to Akers on both Mineral King and Noble - part of a grant received recently. Planting should happen this fall. Kempf has overseen the planting of "street trees" in town in the past few years.

The first contract for work on Woodlake's Bravo Lake garden project has been awarded and work is expected to start next week. Manuel Jimenez, whose years of dreaming and working to make the project a reality, says Lee's Paving of Visalia will start moving dirt and paving two trails on the north edge of Bravo Lake where the ambitious project will take shape. A bike path will be built along the levee of the lake and a walking path will be created throughout the garden areas and surrounding site. Several area companies have donated sand, rock, gravel and other materials and trucking service.

Goshen Mounted Police will assist in the annual Civil War Re-enactment to be held at Mooney Grove Park September 19-21 this year.

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Biz Notes

Gas prices are at record levels in California as every driver knows - $2.20 per gallon at many valley gas stations this past week. But industry source including the Lundberg Survey are predicting prices will now drop after Labor Day - the end of the historically heavy driving period. Spurring the high prices late last month was the failure of a Texas pipeline that brings gas to the Phoenix market. That failure affected our market because California supplies 70% of the gasoline to Arizona. So the California Energy Commission is now urging Texas increase its pipeline capacity to Arizona reducing Arizona's dependence on our scarce gas supplies.

Oil analysts at Oil-gasoline.com says gasoline prices rose in the US with higher crude oil prices though made worse because the US government was buying oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve incorrectly boosting demand forecasts. That has ended now though prices remain well above $30 per barrel. But the analysts predict as we go into an election year, consumers will get a break with lower oil prices that will put some cash back in their pockets. They predict $20 per barrel oil costs for early 2004.

Local retail players like Gottschalks and General Growth Properties - owner of the Visalia Mall - are showing signs of investor confidence recently as the pickup in the economy may yet spill over into our neck of the woods. Fresno based Gottschalks, whose stock has been on a long decline since 1999 down to under $1 per share earlier this year, is now up over $3 per share testing a 52 week high reporting improved second quarter results. General Growth, reflecting a nationwide retail uptick, has increased its share price from $45 per share to near $70 since last October - considered to be the low point in the economy as measured by stock traders. Visalia Mall manager Aaron Klennert says the mall is 97% full right now and renting its spaces for $3.70 per sq. ft. average rent. Another local player seeing improved returns is Horizon Properties who has just expanded its outlet mall in Tulare (see other article). Their stock is up 60% in recent weeks.

Speaking of the Visalia Mall - they aren't worried about the opening of the new Packwood Creek sugary powerhouse Krispy Kreme outlet on south Mooney because they have Cinnabon - a cinnamon roll shop with a national following opening up. Visalians may be less excited about getting that first taste of Krispy Kreme now that all the Save Mart's in the valley offer the doughnuts right around the corner.

Wagon Wheel Restaurant, a landmark in Visalia on Willis will be sold to Alan P. and Pamela Sue Nielsen according to real estate sources. The steakhouse downtown is in escrow expecting to close in October. Notices have been filed for transfer of the liquor licenses. The restaurant has been owned for decades by Tom and Doris Chester.

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Nunes' Pushes ER Rule Change

Stemming from legislation introduced by Rep. Devin Nunes, federal health officials announced a rule change today that gives hospitals more options in how they handle patients who enter the emergency room with non-urgent medical needs.

Federal law (Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, or EMTALA) requires hospital emergency rooms to treat everyone regardless of their ability to pay, a provision that often strains medical resources because of patients who seek help for non-urgent needs.

The rule change made by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will allow hospitals to screen patients entering their emergency room and divert those whose medical needs are not urgent to other health care services within the hospital or outside medical services.

Mr. Nunes sought this flexibility earlier this year with a bill he introduced as a result of a regional health care summit. His legislation was later folded into the national Medicare bill.

"I'm gratified the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recognize that our emergency rooms are in dire need of help," said Mr. Nunes, who is a member of the Prescription Drug Action Team in the House.

"This change in the regulations is a step in the right direction. It continues to ensure people will get the appropriate medical treatment regardless of their ability to pay, while at the same time giving health officials more flexibility in handling increasing numbers of patients."

The rule change goes into effect November 10.

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Art Nugent Back On The Air

Radio host Art Nugent will be returning to the local air waves September 15 on KJUG 1270 AM - from 5:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., Monday through Friday. "We'll be playing old country music - no big band this time," says Nugent who says KJUG "wants to recreate the sound of the radio station back in the 1970s." The show - Art Nugent in the morning - features "the best memories in the country."

Nugent lost his job last year when the radio network the station was part of - Caler Channel - decided to discontinue his popular show.

Nugent says he is pleased that KJUG offered this opportunity and says he wants to thank his listeners "for talking me into this." When his show shut down last year many locals supporters wrote letters to the editor upset that the radio network didn't appreciate how much his show - particularly popular with seniors - would be shut down.

Nugent says other than the country twang his "usual cast of characters will be back talking about community affairs and the day's activities."

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Water Notes

Irrigation interests urge Tulare County join in San Joaquin River Restoration Effort.

Terra Bella Irrigation District general manager Sean Geivet addressed the San Joaquin River Task Force this week asking if the multi county group would welcome Tulare County to the table as well. The task force is made up of county officials from Fresno, Madera and Merced counties as well as property owners and other stakeholders on the river. Geivet got the word that the group would welcome Tulare County to join the effort as well, he says. "Tulare County has a huge long term interest in what happens to the San Joaquin River," says Geivet. The river supplies water that greens up much of the east side of Tulare County through the Friant Kern canal. The task force is working on a census plan to restore the river on a separate track from the NRDC and Friant Water Users legal battle over its future. Geivet says he will address the Board of Supervisors here to see if they will appoint a standing member to the task force.

Recently Metropolitan Water District began attending the river meetings as well. The LA water district has been working on ways to do water exchanges with valley districts that would improve each water picture.

This past month MET sat with state and federal officials to push for a closer partnership between federal and state water storage and delivery systems that could bring another 100,000 acre feet of water to Westlands Water District - good news for the westside interests as part of the Cal Fed effort. MET officials say the deal could be beneficial to themselves as they work to promote more water exchanges in the Sacramento area to bring more water to the southland.

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