Bull Market
Local Beef Ranchers Applaud Lifting of Japanese Ban

By George Lurie

Tulare County - Tulare County beef ranchers got an early Christmas present when the Japanese government decided earlier this month to end its two-year ban on the import of American beef.

Lifting of the Japanese ban, announced December 11 by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, will allow area processors like Harris Ranch Beef in Selma and suppliers including Kayo Ranches of Visalia to resume exporting their products to Japan.

In reopening their markets, the Japanese are requiring that all U.S. beef coming into the country come from cattle certified to be no more than 20 months old.

The ban was put in place in December 2003 following the discovery on a Washington state ranch of a single case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy so-called “Mad Cow” disease and has resulted in more than $6 billion in U.S. industry losses according to the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

Chris Lange, owner of Beresford Ranch, headquartered in Woodlake, called the move by the Japanese “long overdue. I'm encouraged,” Lange said. “Lifting of the Japanese ban is a real positive. Open markets help everyone in the industry”

“We have the safest beef supply in the world,” said Marty Williamson, manager of the Yokohl Valley Cattle Company. “I hope we can get back to normal as soon as possible. We do business with people who do business with the Japanese and any meat exported out of the U.S. is beneficial to all cattle producers.”

Bruce Berven, vice president of marketing for Harris Ranch, which has already resumed shipments of beef to Japan, said: “We view this development very optimistically and have been working very actively with the USDA since last March so that when the Asian market was re-opened, we would be eligible to export.”

Beef is big business in Tulare County, ranking third just behind oranges and milk in terms of the county's most lucrative cash crops. In 2004, according to Farm Bureau statistics, the county's 572,000 cattle and calves had a total value of $436 million.

Harris Ranch is a fully integrated processor and only sells cattle raised in its own feed lots. In May, the company, which generates about $250 million in annual sales, became one of the first three U.S. beef-processors to obtain QSA (Quality System Assessment) certification from the USDA, a rigorous new multi-step inspection process adopted in response to the Mad Cow scare that monitors producers' food sources and verifies the age and health of every animal sold. Some three dozen U.S. processors have now been QSA certified.

Before the Asian markets were closed, exports to Japan accounted for about 4 percent of Harris Ranch's annual revenues. Exports to South Korea, a market that remains closed, made up another 4 percent of the company's sales.

Prior to December 2003, the U.S. sold beef and beef products to 119 countries. With the re-opening of the Japanese market, 70 countries now allow for the import of selected U.S. beef and beef products.

In addition to South Korea, bans on U.S. beef remain in place in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. Some European markets also continue to have partial restrictions in place on U.S. beef imports.

During the past two years, the U.S. beef industry's export-related losses have been Australia's gain. The Aussies have aggressively marketed their beef throughout Asia and one local ag official admitted U.S. producers would have a tough fight in winning back market share. “It's more than a little unfair,” he added. “Bans and restrictions should be science-based, not politically motivated or knee jerk reactions to isolated incidents.”

Harris Ranch's Berven agrees. “The fact that (U.S. beef) has not been in Japan for a couple of years will probably be a deterrent for a while to sales,” he said. “A lot of marketing will have to be done. I've heard estimates that it will take 3 to 5 years to build back to where we were but I don't think anyone knows for sure how long it will take. Clearly, the total amount of U.S. beef exported to Japan is going to be smaller for a while. But we think our eventual share of the pie could be even larger than before the ban because we have QSA certification and source- and age-verified cattle, which gives us an advantage over many of our competitors.”

Prior to the ban, U.S. beef had been gaining considerable market share in Asia, especially with the increasingly popular rice-bowl fast-food restaurants.

“Two years ago when we lost the export markets, the industry was very fortunate because domestic demand at the time was extremely strong and has remained so,” said Berven. “(Harris Ranch) didn't end up feeling the economic consequences as painfully as some people forecast we would. Most of the product that would have gone to Japan was sold here instead.”

In Dec 2003, the live fed-cattle price was 92 cents a pound. After some short-term volatility in cattle prices following the loss of the export markets, domestic demand stabilized and then strengthened. Although prices have dropped from recent highs in the past year, this week, almost two years to the day from when the Asian ban was imposed, live cattle are trading for 94 to 96 cents per pound.

“Prices are still in the very good range and we'd like to keep them that way,” said Jim Sullins, County Director at the University of California Cooperative Extension in Tulare. Sullins characterized Japan as a “high choice, prime beef market. My understanding,” he added, “is that with the exception of the rice bowl outfits, most of the buyers only want the very best cuts partly because it is so expensive to get the product over there in the first place.”

The Japanese announcement, Sullins said, was “more of a vote of confidence” than something that will have an immediate and direct economic impact on county ranchers. “It's certainly a step in the right direction,” he said. “But it's only a step.”

Sullins pegged the total value of U.S. beef exports to Japan prior to the ban at $1.4 billion “which is nothing to sneeze at,” he added. “But it's difficult to determine exactly how much of that came from Tulare County.”

Secretary Johanns is calling on the other major Asian countries to re-open their markets, and also to raise the age limit on imported animals to 30 months.

“Normalized trade based on scientifically sound, internationally recognized standards” is one of the keys to avoiding a repeat of the mad-cow scare, Johanns said. “Building bridges of understanding and collaboration between nations is an important part of ensuring food safety.”

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Most County Road Projects Stalled
Mooney Widening Could Start In About A Year

Tulare County - Many high priority Tulare County road projects face a bumpy and uncertain future, says one of the county’s top road officials, Ted Smalley. Challenges include a continued lack of funding from Sacramento and exploding right-of-way and construction costs, even as the valley’s population and vehicle miles traveled spirals higher.

The upshot is delays that may last years for some projects while even the priority projects like widening Mooney Blvd., expanding Rd. 80 and Ave. 416 face some uncertainty as well.

Key to moving ahead on the projects is whether Governor Schwarzenegger will follow through on a pledge not to take away Prop 42 funds again this year, which means an extra $32 million for our roads annually. Voter-mandated gas taxes must go to road repair, but the governor has the option of declaring an emergency to use the funding elsewhere - an option he has used in past years.

If he doesn’t take money this coming year, the Mooney Blvd. widening may actually start at the end of 2006, says Smalley. This is a project that will widen the big retail strip to six lanes. Mooney has been the county’s top road project and a boost in funding to get the job done comes after heavy lobbying by the City of Visalia. Tulare County Association of Governments (TCAG) is the county agency that decides road project priority and is headed up this year by former city council member - now county supervisor - Phil Cox. This week TCAG confirmed the top-priority project for the 2006 Transportation Improvement Program. The top three priorities were Mooney Blvd., Visalia Rd. construction in Farmersville, and Rd. 80 right-of-way acquisition.

City Engineer David Jacobs says work to widen Mooney will be done in phases and take some 18 months from Packwood Creek south to 198, likely starting around the new year or early 2007. To move the project ahead sooner, the city will tackle the widening of Walnut and Whitendale in 2006, says Jacobs. Altogether the Mooney project will cost $18 million - a project that has been in the works since 1998. “The site was supposed to widen Mooney in 2001, so like other projects this one has been delayed several years,” says Jacobs.

Jacobs says the shortage of state funds has hit several jurisdictions in the county that had requested road maintenance money through the California Transportation Commission approval process. “Now they’ve told us that they will no longer fund road maintenance but want to concentrate on projects that increase capacity,” he says.

Also in the same boat - awaiting the Prop 42 decision is a $1.7 million signalization project at Farmersville’s main crossroads, as well as moving forward on a five year plan to widen Ave. 416 - a key north county road that connects to Highway 99. Dinuba has been able to piece together $1.8 million in local monies, $1.2 million in a special federal designation and stands to move forward on the Ave. 416 project at least in its first phase in a project that will still need five years to complete, says Smalley. That includes widening the road through the city as well as planning a signal at Ave. 56. Still most of the Ave. 416 widening project will take an amazing 25 years to accomplish.

If Visalia and Dinuba salvage something this year, Porterville and much of the south county face years of delay for their priority projects including Highway 65 facing at least a six year delay and Spruce Ave. that Smalley says now is on “the way back burner.” How about Highway 137? Smalley told a TCAG meeting this past week that it may not get built for 25 years!

Even as uncertainty over funding continues, the cost for materials are up on road projects as much as 70%, says Smalley, and the real estate boom has taken land prices sky high for right-of-way. On Highway 65 Smalley says the right-of-way went up 100% for one year to another in a year’s time.

Smalley says Highway 99 is getting more state and federal attention with the county recently receiving $14 million to use for 99 and earmarking it to CalTrans for the stretch between Kingsburg and Goshen to widen it to six lanes. However, that’s just $14 million of a $130 million project. All seven valley COGs have filed support with CalTrans to earmark more funds for Highway 99, an idea that is gaining attention with Governor Schwarzenegger and California politicians. Schwarzenegger has suggested to do some sort of “superbond” that could fund state infrastructure projects like Highway 99. Meanwhile, there is a strong lobbying effort underway for more federal monies.

Other projects facing increased delays are Caldwell Ave. from 99 to Exeter, Road 109 Demaree from Visalia to Tulare and Plaza Dr.

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TALL IN THE SADDLE: VPD Has New Interim Chief

By George Lurie

Visalia - When Bob Williams moves into the chief's office at the Visalia police department this Friday, he isn't planning to get too comfortable.

Visalia's assistant police chief for the past seven years, Williams replaces Jerry Barker, who retires this week after leading the department since 1998. But Williams will only be top cop long enough for City Manager Steve Salomon to hire a permanent replacement, a process expected to be completed by March or April of next year.

Williams, 59, assumes command of the Visalia Police Department at a time when the 125-officer department has garnered widespread praise. Operating on an annual budget of $27 million, VPD has had remarkable crime-fighting success in recent years -- even as the city has experienced mushroom-like growth. While more cars have been stolen in Visalia this year than in any previous year and the city has eclipsed last year's number of homicides 11 in 2005 versus eight last year -- overall, crime rates have remained stable and in some categories including burglary and aggravated assault, have dropped considerably in recent years.

Williams had planned to retire himself on December 30 but agreed to postpone his departure after Barker announced he was stepping down. He said he never considered applying for the top job himself. “I have no interest in being a candidate,” he says. “I'm 59 and a half and have had a good career. If I leave now, I go out on top.”

City leaders are grateful Williams has agreed to stick around.

“Bob is highly respected within the department and in the community,” says City Manager Salomon. “He has the expertise to serve as the chief and provide a seamless transition while we complete the search for a new chief of police.”

Mayor Jesus Gamboa concurs. “Over the years, Bob has proven himself to be a very capable administrator and has earned the respect of the entire department as well as the community and city council. We are very confident he can step in and keep the department's positive momentum going during this time of transition.”

Gamboa said he does not expect Williams to make any major changes in the department. “He's got enough on his plate to keep him busy until a new chief is hired,” the mayor says. “We are trying to add a few new officers to the staff and continuing with plans to build two new (police) substations (with funding from Measure “T”) one on the south side behind the Packwood Creek Shopping Center and one on Northeast Third on the Visalia Community campus.”

A straight-forward, square-shouldered, look-you-in-the-eye kind of guy —“a cop's cop” said one officer who works for him — Williams says his decision not to apply for the chief's job has nothing to do with the heart attack he had on the job earlier this year.

“It wasn't that big a deal,” he says. “I had a sudden cardiac arrest at the end of a particularly stressful workday when we had two SWAT (team) callouts” one resulted in the suicide of a barricaded individual and the other involved an officer-involved fatal shooting of a suspect-at-large.

Emergency workers used a portable defibrillator to restart Williams' heart. “It went right back into perfect rhythm and I haven't had a problem since,” he says. “My doctors have given me a clean bill of health.”

Beginning Friday, Williams becomes a contract employee and will be paid $60 an hour roughly equal to the $132,015 salary Barker earned prior to his retirement.

When he does finally turn in his badge and service revolver, Williams plans to move to Pismo Beach, where he already has a home “not a beach house,” he says, “one on the wrong side of the railroad tracks.”

While he respectfully declines to discuss any other details regarding his post-retirement plans, he's chattier about his pre-law enforcement life, especially after being asked about the photographs of jet fighters that decorate his office wall.

“I enjoy airplanes,” he says. “I served in the navy in the mid-sixties on an aircraft carrier.” Prodded, he admits: “Yes, I served during the Vietnam War and did two tours in the Tonkin Gulf. Even though I have the medals to prove it, I wasn't in any real danger, not like the guys on the ground. We worked long hours but got to watch movies every night.”

Williams, born in Reedley and raised in Squaw Valley, graduated from Fresno City College with a degree in criminology and then went on to major in business at the University of Beverly Hills. His father was a Fresno County judge, his uncle an undersheriff in Merced County.

Williams' law enforcement career began unexpectedly in 1971. “I was living in Dinuba working as a firefighter for the U.S. Forest Service and went in to apply for a job as a fireman with the city,” he says. “The Dinuba police chief happened to be on the oral (exam) panel and midway through the interview, he started asking me law enforcement-related questions. By the end of the session, he offered me a job as police officer.”

After five years, Williams transferred from the Dinuba P.D. to Visalia and rose rapidly through the ranks. He made sergeant in 1979, lieutenant in 1994 and assistant chief in 1998.

As assistant chief, Williams has managed both the operations division, which includes uniformed patrol units and the administrative services division, which encompasses the department's budget, investigations, court and staff services, property and evidence department, communications, records, vehicle fleet management and crime lab.

Thirty three applicants, including some current VPD members, have applied for the chief's position. The city has contracted with local consulting firm Avery Associates to screen applicants and conduct reference checks. Gary Brown, a principal at the firm -- and former police chief in Monterey -- has culled the list of hopefuls to a handful of semi-finalists. City manager Salomon will conduct interviews with those candidates in January and then submit his top choice to city councilors for approval.

Reportedly, there are a number of strong candidates both from within the department and from various other law-enforcement agencies around the county and insiders predict the city's new chief could very well be home-grown.

“We were fortunate to attract some highly qualified applicants,” says Brown. “We are looking for someone who is committed to community-oriented policing and can provide leadership and direction for a growing community, mentor a predominantly younger staff and understands the city's strategies in combating gang activity.”

Williams calls gangs “one of the most complex social problems of our times…There is not one town, county or hamlet anywhere that has found a solution that solves the gang problem.”

Williams won't say which gangs are giving the city the worst problems right now. “We never provide the media with any more information on gangs than we absolutely have to because they just love to see their names in print,” he says. “But we have a very active gang unit and put a tremendous amount of effort into collecting information about gang activity.”

The VPD, Williams explains, has implemented a new program in city schools that has officers going directly into classrooms to deliver anti-gang messages. “We used to start the program at the sixth-grade level,” he says. “Now we start with second graders. And we may have to go younger than that.”

VPD's greatest challenge, says Williams, is “keeping the community abreast of what the needs of the department are and what our officers can and can't do…Every year, the courts need a little more evidence and documentation. Jurors are more sophisticated. New laws require that we fill out an increasing number of forms for things like domestic violence and drunk driving arrests. The whole law enforcement process is heavily weighted with paper.”

When citizens become crime victims, “they want their case investigated immediately,” Williams adds. “On TV, police investigators have to solve one case per episode. My investigators carry 50 to 75 cases at a time. Police work is rarely as simple and straight forward as it appears on television.”

On his office book shelf, Williams keeps a framed photograph of Roy Rogers -- “King of the cowboys,” he says, “and one of my heroes.” When Williams rides off into the sunset or, in his case, packs the moving van and motors over to Pismo he will have left his own indelible brand on Visalia.

“This is a community that has supported and been a true friend to law enforcement and public safety,” he says. “I'm certain that the chief that comes here after me will see that real quickly and be very appreciative.”

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Group Wants To Halt Big Rural Subdivision Plans

by Claudia Elliott

Springville - A Springville-based group has called for a moratorium on development projects that require a General Plan amendment or zone change until the county's General Plan update process is completed.

Peyton Ellas, communications assistant for the “ecological restoration and education” group WildPlaces, said the request was sent to Fifth District Supervisor Jim Maples and the county's Resource Management Agency (RMA) in advance of a December 13 meeting at which the Board of Supervisors heard a presentation from the county's long range planner, Theresa Szymanis concerning how it plans to handle the large-scale development projects.

“Thousands of homes and acres of land developed in just a single project is something we haven't seen out here,” Szymanis told supervisors as RMA suggested ways that the county might deal with the unprecedented development boom.

Some of the projects proposed by developers, including a new town on 36,000 acres owned by the J.G. Boswell Company in the Yokohl Valley, would require a General Plan amendment, meaning that before development could be considered the Board of Supervisors would have to amend the current General Plan, which includes elements that are more than 40 years old.

In the case of the Boswell project, for instance, the Yokohl Valley land was not included in the development corridor approved by the Board of Supervisors when it adopted the Foothill Growth Management Plan in 1981. Large-scale housing development which requires a General Plan Amendment has also been proposed for the unincorporated community of Earlimart.

Because the county is currently involved in an update of its General Plan, a process that has involved public input at meetings throughout the county for more than two years, Ellas said WildPlaces believes the county should finish the planning process instead of allowing amendments to the old plan.

The Sequoia Ranch project proposed for land just east of Springville does not require a General Plan Amendment because it meets the criteria established by the Board of Supervisors in the Foothill Growth Management Plan, according to documents filed with the RMA earlier this month.

Maples said Friday that he had not seen the WildPlaces communication, but noted that it may have been referred to RMA.

Szymanis acknowledged receipt of documents from WildPlaces, but said there is no reason for RMA to take the matter to supervisors because the board has already addressed how it intends to handle development proposals while the General Plan Update is in progress.

“Her group is the sole voice that we have heard from asking for a moratorium in the last two and a half years,” Szymanis said Monday. “No one has brought that issue up, they are the first.”

Szymanis said the process of considering General Plan Amendments (GPA) includes two parts: The General Plan Initiative (GPI) request, in which the applicant asks the county for permission to proceed with a GPA and the amendment process itself which requires environmental review and public involvement.

At the very beginning of the update the board discussed how it wanted to proceed with project review during the planning process and agreed to stick with established procedures, Szymanis said.

The planner said she expects that the board will consider a GPI request for the Earlimart development at its January 10 meeting, the next scheduled board meeting; the Yokohl Ranch GPI request could come before the board on January 24.

“Those are my target dates,” Szymanis said. “Nothing is for sure until the agenda is posted on the Thursday before each meeting.”

She noted that the county is on track with its plan to complete the General Plan Update by the end of next year.

“We'll be regrouping with the consultant in January,” she said. “The timeframe has always been at outside December 2006, so we have another year to finish policy documents and EIR; we have a schedule to make that timeframe.”

She added that additional staffing in her department will help relieve the workload that has “stacks” of paperwork on her desk.

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Citrus Firm Moving To Porterville Site; New Jobs Likely

By Miles Shuper

Porterville - A Southern California-based citrus packing co-op with 350 members plans to be in operation in Porterville this time next year.

Villa Park Orchards Association, which currently operates packing houses in Orange and Fillmore, is purchasing the former National Vitamin property near the Porterville airport. Earlier this year the vitamin maker moved to Arizona. Villa Park will move its City of Orange citrus packing operation to the Porterville location where about 70 percent of the 90 available jobs will be filled locally, according to Brad Leichtfuss, vice president of Villa Park, a Sunkist affiliate.

About two years ago, Villa Park sold its Orange property to Chapman College which owns adjacent land and currently is leasing the citrus packing site back to Villa Park until the packing operation is able to finalize its move, Leichtfuss said.

During the 2005 citrus season, Villa Park packed and shipped about 5 million field boxes, most of it exported, Leichtfuss said. On average, Villa Park packs about 4 million field boxes, he said. About two-thirds of the citrus comes from the Central Valley, from Kern County north, he explained. The move to Porterville will greatly reduce trucking costs, he said. Nearly all of the oranges and grapefruit grown in Southern California will be processed in the Fillmore plant with the new Porterville facility handing the bulk of the Valley-grown citrus. Leichtfuss said some workers will transfer to Porterville but the headquarters of Villa Park will remain at the Fillmore plant, which also employees about 90 workers. Leichtfuss said the company will use all three of the buildings, with a total of about 100,000 square feet. The packing operation will be done in the largest building which totals about 46,000 sq. ft. Leichtfuss said no major construction projects are planned at the Porterville site although refrigeration will be added to keep the fruit between 35 and 40 degrees. The Porterville site sits on a 17-acre location with buildings on a seven-acre portion.

Leichtfuss, who has been with the co-op for 27 years, said Villa Park recently completed its 93rd year, all of them as a Sunkist house.

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What's New

Visalia city council will have a key work session regarding the future of the Civic Center this week - after this paper goes to press. What will come out of it? First, the council will likely approve a plan to run water down Mill Creek all year using the city's ditch water rights. The city wants to use Jennings Ditch and Mill Creek as a focal point for the area and you need water to do it. Water also recharges the aquifer below Visalia. Second, they may expand the planning area all the way to Houston Ave. to the north and across Ben Maddox to the east talking about relocating the city's Corp Yard. Third, they may move the current preferred location for the Civic Center itself from the Tipton to Burke area - along Oak to the east across Burke. Staff report suggests that council might want to consider a design competition for the Civic Center properties.

This week Visalia city council approved the largest number for new projects since the city built the convention center. Council is expected to agree to bids for the new Sports Park - total cost $11.7 million and the West Acequia Parking Garage that will cost $16.2 million. Both projects are coming in above budget. Between the two it will cost the city an extra $3.8 million. In the case of the Sports Park, the extra cost will be made up in part with the sale of the Coopman property to VUSD for $873,000 and $1.2 million from the Parks and Rec Impact Fee. Funding the higher cost for the garage will come from $900,000 from CDBG and a loan that the city will make up from future parking fees.

City of Visalia is leasing space at the airport to Optimal Aviation Services who plan a new 15,000 sq. ft. hanger and aircraft charter service just south of the fire station.

Not enough Starbucks? That's the rumor that the ubiquitous coffee house plans to take over the vacant Krispy Kreme at Packwood Creek in Visalia. Starbucks is also working on a pad in front of In Shape City on north Mooney and the new Demaree and Caldwell shopping center anchored by the big Winco grocery warehouse store. That grocery store could break ground just after January 1.

Albertsons Monte Mart Grocery Warehouse in Hanford is expected to close soon due to major competition from a nearby Super Walmart under construction now in that town. The store also competes with nearby FoodsCo. Albertsons as a chain is on the sales block as well.

FoodsCo. appears to be the most active grocery chain in Visalia right now looking for a new site that includes Walnut and Lovers Lane and Demaree and Goshen Ave. Also looking for a new site in Visalia is Longs Drug at several locations around town including the same Demaree/Goshen proposed center.

Look for a new drug store chain - CVS - to enter the central valley marketplace as they are doing elsewhere with new stores to compete against Walgreens, Rite Aid and Longs. Drug stores these days can be very profitable.

MCS Frame Co. will take about 125,000 sf of a 175,000 sf industrial building on Plaza under construction now through Diversified Development of Fresno. MCS Frame makes picture frames. The distribution center will handle the company's west coast needs. Broker for the deal for both sides is Doug Burr of Burr Commercial. Burr says the company will hire about 30 employees for their distribution center. MCS will lease the building from Diversified. Diversified landed the new Hiland distribution center right next door on Plaza.

If housing inventory is building up in Visalia, the builders are still pulling new home permits at a rapid pace. Visalia's chief building official Dennis Lehman says he expects to permit 1450 homes in 2005 in Visalia, up about 30% this year compared to last and an all time record. As to valuation of all permits, Lehman predicts the valuation could reach $390 million maybe even $400 million depending on when a project pulls their permit.

Tulare County's unemployment rate fell to 9% in November from 11.15% in November 2004 but up from 8.9% in October 2005. The state report says there are just 15,900 unemployed in the county compared to a year ago when there were 20,600. What happened to 4700 people? From the report it doesn't seem they all got jobs. The total number of new jobs year to year was 1000 with farm jobs actually declining and non farm jobs up 1400. But in this category you could argue it may be the public sector that is making the difference. The report says that total private jobs are up just 700 and government jobs adds up to an increase of 700 as well year to year. That's a reality check to those that claim a booming economy is resulting in the low unemployment rate. Instead, it appears thousands of people left the area or are no longer looking for work.

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By Miles Shuper

Tulare County - Although they have made major strides in the fight against the manufacturing and distribution of methamphetamines in Tulare County and surrounding areas, law enforcement leaders say the problem remains serious.

But while meth is getting harder to find, cocaine appears to be making a comeback, with costs for both drugs becoming close to even.

Lawmen note that although a number of meth cookers have been sent to prison and others are taking their talents elsewhere, including back across the Mexican border, the drug situation still presents a major law enforcement concern.

Tulare County District Attorney Phillip Cline said "Because of a concerned effort by law enforcement agencies, we have had a great deal of success in busting up meth labs being operated on the Valley floor and sending many of the perpetrators off to prison."

But, he adds, "The meth labs and trafficking still present a significant problem. Narcotic importation, manufacturing and distribution in the Central Valley, whether it is marijuana cultivation in the national parks or a new up surge in cocaine trafficking, still demand the allocation of huge amounts of law enforcement resources - resources that could be used to combat gang violence and meet other law enforcement needs."

Tulare County Sheriff's Lt. Ron Castaneda, who has worked narcotics for nearly all his career, says meth producers are finding other places to do their work, including back across the border in Mexico. "They are finding out it is easier and safer to cook the meth in Mexico and smuggle it across the border into the U.S. like is done with other drugs."

So far this year, law enforcement agencies have put a big hit on meth labs and those who distribute it. Seventy three pounds of meth have been seized so far, more than double the 32.5 pounds seized in 2004, and nearly five times the amount in 2003. In 2003, a total of 44 labs were busted by the task forces. There were 10 in 2004 and only two this year. Only four "lab dumps" where trash, including chemical containers, is left, have been found this year. In 2003, there were 70 dumps found and 16 were found in 2004, Law officers said, proof that "cookers" have been caught, moved to other locations or are getting better at covering their tracks.

Castaneda said there is little doubt that the meth makers are "learning from their mistakes" or the mistakes of others in concealing their operations and there still are labs which have not been found. Castaneda believes the busting of meth labs and increase in arrests have squeezed the supply in the Valley and resulted in an upswing in the sales of cocaine which in the past had been the major drug of choice in the Valley.

He also sees the meth being used and sold in Valley as growing in strength as the cookers refine their skills and attempt to get higher prices for the illegal and more toxic drugs.

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Porterville - As part of a deal expected to see the nation's number two grocery chain sold to an investment group for $9.6 billion, Albertsons' officials confirmed late last week that their Monte Mart Grocery Warehouse store in Porterville will be closing next month.

However, the company denies reports they will also close their Hanford Grocery Warehouse.

Albertsons, the Boise, Idaho-based grocery retailer, has several thousands stores through out the country and its sale to an investment group that includes grocery chain SuperValu Inc., is expected to be finalized this week.

If completed, the sale, which would see the investor group taking on an additional $6.4 billion in debt, would be the second-largest leveraged buyout in U.S. corporate history and will spark massive layoffs and store closings, according to a Dec. 16 article in the Wall Street Journal.

Minneapolis-based SuperValu operates 1,553 grocery stores in the U.S. and has annual revenues of $20 billion.

Lilia Rodrieguez, an Albertsons spokesperson, confirmed that the company's Grocery Warehouse store at 1351 W. Henderson Ave. in Porterville would close January 19 and that the building would be sold back to the owner of the shopping center, which also includes anchor tenants Target and Mervyns. County records show the owner is David Paynter.

Thirty to 40 people are employed at the store.

Albertsons' smaller outlets, like the Grocery Warehouses in Porterville and Hanford, have been coming under increasing pressure from larger, big-box retails like Wal-Mart, which plans to open a superstore in both Porterville and Hanford in coming months.

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San Joaquin Valley - Developers in the San Joaquin Valley will begin reducing air-pollution emissions created by new projects under a rule adopted today by the governing board of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.

Rule 9510, Indirect Source Review, requires developers of larger residential, commercial and industrial projects to reduce smog-forming and particulate emissions from their projects' baselines. The rule will reduce nitrogen oxides and particulates throughout the Valley by 10.5 tons per day by 2010.

Of the 57 people who commented on the rule during today's meeting, 43 spoke in support of the rule and 14 opposed it. The Air District's 11-member governing board approved the rule by unanimous vote, with the stipulation that the rule be re-evaluated in 2010.

The rule takes effect March 1, 2006. "With the amount of expected growth in the Valley, every emission reduction from this rule is important," said Seyed Sadredin, deputy director of the Air District. "Although air quality has improved greatly over the years, we still have a severe problem, and innovative programs like this will help us clean the air."

New developments increase air pollution by prompting more vehicle trips and creating more pollution causing activities such as landscape maintenance, fuel combustion and use of consumer products, as well as creating emissions during construction. Each day, about 94 million vehicle miles are traveled on Valley roads and that number is expected to increase as the Valley grows.

The Indirect Source Review rule requires developers to reduce nitrogen oxides by 33 percent and particulates by 50 percent of a project's baseline. If projected emissions still exceed the minimum baseline reductions, a project's developer will mitigate the difference by paying an off-site fee to the Air District, which would then reduce emissions by funding clean-air projects.

For a typical Valley residential development of 120 single-family dwellings on 24 acres, the off-site fees would be significantly reduced with even modest on-site mitigation measures. For example:

" The developers' off-site fee would be about $780 per home if no on-site mitigation measures at all were employed.

" The developers' off-site would be about $557 per home with typical on-site mitigation, such as having a density of five dwellings per acre; not installing woodstoves; increasing energy efficiency by five percent; having retail outlets nearby; installing sidewalks on both sides of half the streets and one side of the other half of street; etc.)

" The developers' off-site would be about $454 per home with "more than typical" on-site mitigation, such as the improvements included in typical mitigation, plus: increasing energy efficiency by 10 percent; installing sidewalks on both sides of all the streets; and deed-restricting 10 percent as affordable housing. Off-site fees would be further reduced with even greater density (six or seven dwellings per acre), increasing the presence of local retail or building a mixed-use development.

The off-site mitigation fees would help fund projects such as:
- upgrading dirty engines to cleaner models;
- paving unpaved roads;
- helping purchase low-emission vehicles for public and non-profit fleets;
- bicycle infrastructure;
- public transportation subsidies;
- a planned vehicle-scrapping program;
- e-mobility.

The proposed rule would apply to new developments expected to create a significant amount of air pollution, such as those that are at least:
- 50 residential units;
- 2,000 square feet of commercial space;
- 10,000 square feet of government space;
- 20,000 feet of medical space;
- 25,000 square feet of industrial or educational space, or
- 50,000 square feet of general office space.

Despite years of improved air quality in the San Joaquin Valley, the air basin still fails to meet state and federal health-based standards.

Therefore, the Air District is required by federal law to adopt the most stringent control measures available to reduce emissions.

Additionally, California law (SB709) requires the Valley Air District to control emissions from indirect sources. The indirect-source measures also are commitments in the Air District's federally approved plan to meet standards for particulate matter ten microns and smaller, as well as the District-approved ozone attainment plan.

The Valley Air District serves San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and the valley portion of Kern counties.

For more information or a copy of the rules, visit www.valleyair.org or call the nearest District office: Modesto (209) 557-6400, Fresno (559) 230-6000 and Bakersfield (661) 326-6900.

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Local Fruit Becomes a Lesson Plan

by Cassandra Queen

Tulare County - Their raisins don't sing and dance, but a local nutrition program is adding a lot of life to Tulare County classrooms.

The Nutrition Network, managed through the Tulare County Office of Education, is a program that supports healthy eating and adequate physical exercise for Kindergarten through 12th grade students in school districts throughout Tulare County.

The program is a collaborative effort between TCOE, teachers, food service professionals, dietitians, school nurses, parents, administrators, community members and students. "We have a wonderful partnership between local businesses, kids who need to eat more fruits and vegetables, and schools that don't have the funds to provide nutrition education," said Project Coordinator Nani Rowland.

Partnering school districts include Porterville Unified School District, Alta Vista Elementary School District, Cutler-Orosi Unified School District, Exeter Union Elementary School District, Pixley Union School District, Dinuba Unified School District, and Strathmore Union Elementary School District.

According to Rowland, "These districts are the ones that have expressed the interest, commitment, and desire to get kids to eat fruits and vegetables and get them to increase their exercise, to get out and move."

The Nutrition Network's aim is to encourage nutrition education by providing children with the necessary information for making healthy, positive choices throughout their lives.

For example, Rowland said that this time of year is "particularly unhealthy" when it comes to making food choices. She said the Nutrition Network program is trying to change the train of thought in the classroom from "who can bring the cupcakes?" to one where healthy party ideas are encouraged. One idea Rowland shared was that of a dipping party, where students can dip fruits and vegetables in yogurt or low-fat ranch dips.

"Instead of candies and cookies, we're sharing healthy vegetable soup recipes," said Rowland as she described a recent project where students created a healthful gift as part of a lesson. During the activity, students put together the dry ingredients needed to make vegetable soup. Once packaged, the students added the recipe gift label, signed their names, and then presented a nourishing gift to their parents or recipients of choice.

Each week, the Nutrition Network provides a teacher from a partner district with a basket filled with a variety of locally grown, seasonal fruits and vegetables. Rowland said that this is an incentive for teachers who devote numerous hours to this program. The basket includes ideas and the tips related to the content of the basket; information such as nutritional facts that a teacher can incorporate into his or her classroom lessons.

TCOE purchases the baskets from one of its community partners, Family Farm Fresh located in Ivanhoe. Founded by local orange farmer, Bob McKellar, Family Farm Fresh has been delivering fresh-picked Tulare County produce to its customers' front doors since March of this year.

"The best thing we can do is bring them in physically," said Rowland in regard to the fruits and vegetables. She pointed out that children in this area grow up near the orchards and fields where fruits and vegetables are grown, yet many haven't been exposed to some of these foods. "For example, some students don't know that carrots have pretty, green, leafy tops," she said in reference to how children typically see carrots that are either cooked, cut up, or the packaged carrots found in the grocery store.

Carmen Gonzales, a Reading Specialist teacher from Olive Street School in Porterville received a produce basket from Nutrition Network about a month ago. 'The basket became a lesson it itself," she said. "I absolutely love it. It's a ready-made lesson and a welcomed one."

Gonzalez said that she used the basket and its contents in numerous ways, adapting each lesson to her students' varying language levels. "We used it for English writing lessons and to learn about plurals," she said. Further describing the lesson in which students learned about turning English words into their plurals, she explained in simple terms, "One squash, two squash, many squash. One orange, two oranges. One eggplant, two eggplants."

Gonzalez said that she started using the basket upon its arrival and advises other teachers, "Use it as long as you can. You can stretch it out for a week." She also noted that by making it easier for teachers, it encourages them to use it. "Not that we want everything to be easy, it just helps, because there's so much we need to teach," she added. 'Things like this bring back the fun in teaching."

Commenting on the basket's accompanying instructional materials, Gonzalez, who is in her 26th year of teaching, acknowledged that she used the information as a resource, drawing from the vocabulary words, nutritional content, and facts. "For a new teacher, the ready-made lessons would be great," she emphasized.

Rowland said that the Nutrition Network also provides staff development training for teachers in participating school districts. To help facilitate the hands-on learning process in the classroom, the Nutrition Network develops and distributes lesson plans that focus on teaching nutrition principles. "These lesson plans address California content standards and teach nutrition principles," added Rowland.

Other components of the Nutrition Network program are "Harvest of the Month" and "Farmer in the Dell." Focusing on increasing the enjoyment and consumption of fruits and vegetables, "Harvest of the Month" provides area students with an opportunity to taste and learn about a locally grown, seasonal fruit or vegetable each month. For example, the month of December's "Harvest of the Month" is sweet potatoes and yams.

For its "Farmer in the Dell" component its program, Nutrition Network partners with local farmers, ranchers and other agriculture professionals to provide opportunities develop students' knowledge and understanding of the agricultural opportunities in the Central Valley.

"The Nutrition Network has been a very successful part of our School Health Programs," said Tulare County Superintendent of Schools Jim Vidak. "We know that students with active lifestyles and healthy eating habits learn better. Thanks to support provided in the form of a California Department of Health Services grant - made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Stamp program - we are able to take an important message of health and fitness to Tulare County students and their families.

Rowland added that for every dollar that a participating school district spends on nutrition and physical activity promotion, it receives 50 cents back to devote to the same type of instruction.

For more information about the Nutrition Network, call 651-0130. For more information about Family Farm Fresh, call 798-0557.

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