Visalia Oaks Eye Opening Day Roster

By Dan Besbris
Special to the Voice

Visalia - The eight to ten days leading up to the start of baseball's regular season make up one of the biggest anomalies in sports. On one hand, the throngs of young men that make up the entirety of a baseball organization are playing for a spot on a professional roster; on the other, fans across the globe are brimming with excitement, wild enough to submit their names into lotteries for the mere chance to see their favorites on Opening Day.

The Diamondbacks Spring Training Complex in Tucson manages to separate those worlds by a two-lane highway. On the north side, a baseball legend fails to get a laugh at a joke he's told countless times before; on the south, Justin Upton launches a game-winning home run in a contest started by Randy Johnson.

Opening Day rosters are still not set, and barring an injury to Upton or Johnson, they will not be in Visalia. However, based on the theories of coaches, idle chatter among players and the speculation of baseball pundits, it is pretty safe to say that the Oaks of 2008 will have a strong pitching staff that is set to post some gaudy strikeout totals.

One starter to watch is Wes Roemer, a first round sandwich pick, and an aggressive six-foot righthander making his way up the ranks quickly after an outstanding career at Cal State Fullerton. Roemer pitched just 12 innings in 2007, but notched 18 strikeouts, compared to just two walks against overmatched Northwest League batters. Roemer's stuff has been so dominant that Diamondbacks officials are trying to convince him to pitch more to contact and eat more innings. There are still question marks regarding Roemer, as his professional experience is limited, but his makeup and the buzz around spring training all point to great things – and soon. The number 11 prospect in the Diamondbacks organization will likely make the leap over South Bend to start the 2008 season in Visalia's rotation alongside a familiar name – Barry Enright.

Those who followed the Oaks playoff run last season remember Enright as the team's third (and final) closer, filling the enormous shoes left behind by Dan Stange and Reid Mahon. Enright never batted an eye, throwing five shutout innings at the High-A level during the regular season before putting on a clinic in the Oaks brief postseason run. Overall in 2007, Enright made three different stops (Yakima, South Bend and Visalia) and did not allow a run. Enright struck out 17 batters in 15 innings and held opposing hitters to a ridiculous .157 batting average.

Numbers aside, Enright is no longer on an innings limit and will make the transition back to starter, a role he relished in his collegiate career at Pepperdine. The 2007 second round selection slots in as the Diamondbacks number 10 prospect. He and Roemer should form a formidable one-two punch, and why not? Seated side by side in prospect ranking and draft position, Enright and Roemer form the core of the Oaks 2008 starting rotation.

Another returner who should make his way to the back end of the bullpen is Kyler Newby, a late season call-up last year that pitched very well despite a short-arm delivery and some injury troubles. Newby could very well become the closer of a completely revamped Oaks bullpen. After serving as such in South Bend, Newby picked up a pair of saves for the Oaks, pitching brilliantly as the backup when the usual stopper needed a day off. The good news does not stop with his solid work in 2007. Newby worked hard throughout the winter to get in shape, dropping 30 pounds to a svelte 6-foot-4, 220.

Newby noted, “I feel lighter, better and without the weight, it's just easier to throw the ball.” He posted a 1.50 earned run average in Visalia last year, so “better” would be an exciting encore performance.

These three hurlers make up key components of the Oaks pitching staff. The best story of Spring Training, though, comes from an electrifying left arm. Oaks fans (and broadcasters) were privy to more than a few jaw-dropping bullets from the 320-sign in right field, some clocked in excess of 100 miles per hour. The man attached to that arm: Leyson Septimo. Diamondbacks officials tried desperately to refine Septimo's whip-like swing which, when functioning properly, blasted the hardest line drives on the team. Ultimately, the combination of inconsistency at the plate and heart-stopping throws gave the Diamondbacks no choice but to make Septimo a pitcher.

Better known around the organization as just “Septi,” Leyson spent the entire offseason on a bullpen mound. Sporting a simple delivery that produces an effortless 95 on the radar gun, and a rapidly maturing slider and changeup, Septimo's arsenal seems to lend itself to ground balls and strikeouts. After only a few months on the mound, teammates are calling him “nasty.” After one half-inning on Saturday afternoon, fans at the D'backs Minor League camp would call that an understatement. Ask Septimo about the transition, and he will inevitably flash that million dollar grin and tell you “it's good.”

The move from 320 feet from home to 90 has not been without its speed bumps, though in the offseason the gaffs are often lighthearted. During a post-game chat, Septimo laughed and detailed taking his outfielder's glove to the pitching mound instead of his much smaller pitcher's mitt. One can imagine that same smile on his face as Septimo sheepishly walked back to the dugout.

Unfortunately for Oaks fans, though fortunately for the players' confidence, there will not likely be many more returning Oaks from the '07 team. The Diamondbacks are adamant about giving players a chance at higher levels, and though the final Major League Spring Training cuts may create a few more Visalia retreads, the team will be largely the 2007 South Bend Silverhawks (fear not, they made the playoffs). If some vague digging will not quite suffice, the Oaks new Field Manager Mike Bell made the point of reassuring all Visalians that not only are the players skilled, they are first-rate guys.

The season is almost here, and the waiting time grows terribly short. In the interim, the players will continue to fight for a roster spot, tense and anxious, and Justin Upton will continue to shine at the Major League level, just one year removed from Visalia. So prepare yourself, as the Oaks of 2008 rock on the mound and whip the ball home – it's going to be an excellent year!

Dan Besbris is media relations manager for the Visalia Oaks.

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City Looks for Ways to Corral Shopping Carts

By Rick Elkins

Visalia - During debate of an ordinance to clean the city of unsightly shopping carts, city officials acknowledged the best idea they heard of was WinCo Foods that has a monitoring system to thwart the theft of the carts.

WinCo installed a sensor system around the perimeter of its store on South Demaree Street and when one of its carts goes over that sensor, the right front wheel locks, making it nearly impossible to push.

However, like many of the other ideas that were shared during a city council study session, it also has its flaws and WinCo is no longer installing the system at its new stores.

“It's fairly costly to install and costly to maintain the wheels,” said Michael Read, spokesperson for WinCo Foods that is headquartered in Boise, Idaho. “It's just not cost effective.”

The WinCo plan was praised by city council members and city staff as possibly being the best solution to the ongoing problem of shopping carts popping up around town like weeds.

Tim Burns, city Neighborhood Preservation manager, said shopping carts can be found in almost every corner of the city and they come from nearly every store. He said WinCo “has done a terrific job,” with its sensor system and that Dollar Tree store has a system that requires customers to put down a deposit that they get back when they return the cart.

Still, the problem grows.

Burns said many of the carts are used by the city's transient population, but Carrie Blue of Visalia Grocery Outlet said much of the problem is people using the carts to haul their groceries home, then leave the cart outside. A photo of more than 15 carts stacked outside an apartment complex was shown by Burns.

“It's not the homeless. They keep the carts. It's the ones that take them for other reasons,” she said.

“I don't know what we can do to fix it, but I do know it's a problem,” said Blue, adding her store is short 25 carts right now, even though her husband goes around town every day looking for their stray carts.

Gordon Silkwood, who manages a Save Mart Store, said they don't have a solution, but they too liked the WinCo approach.

“We're doing our best to take a proactive approach,” he told the council. Save Mart utilizes a service to collect its carts. Silkwood added he loses about 200 carts a year, at $90 a cart.

Several of those who spoke, including Burns, indicated that confronting people taking carts, especially the transients, can be dangerous because many of that population have behavioral issues. Silkwood said they have instructed their employees to not confront anyone.

Council members were equally frustrated and expressed hesitation passing an ordinance that will cost the city at least $30,000 a year to round up the carts on a regular basis.

“I'm hesitant to hire someone, buy a truck, buy a trailer,” said Council member Don Landers, suggesting that maybe the store owners ought to be more responsible. He suggested looking into incentives for stores to deal with the problem, possibly a system which WinCo Foods uses.

Council member Amy Shuklian suggested maybe the city could require stores to install a system like WinCo.

However, Read said WinCo has found the system is not foolproof and it is costly to maintain. He said the system adds about $45,000 to $50,000 to the construction costs, and it would be more expensive to install the system after landscaping and parking lot improvements are made.

Most costly, said Read, is maintaining the carts which cost between $200 and $350. Often, he explained, someone tries to push the cart after the wheel is locked and that breaks the wheel, or, “they take off the wheels and you've got to replace them at $45 a pop.”

Mike Thompson, a night manager at the Visalia store, said they have only lost a couple of carts since the store opened. “It's beneficial,” he said, adding he feels that if all stores had such a system, “It would probably make Visalia a nicer place.”

The council was unable to agree on an ordinance and ordered staff to explore more options. City Attorney Alex Peltzer said the city's hands are tied as to what they can require existing stores to do.

Burns said the goal “is to work with the merchants and the community,” to come up with a solution that cleans up the city of the abandoned carts, while not penalizing the stores.

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Decision Nears on Plaza Business Park

By Rick Elkins

Visalia- Construction on the city's first large business park could begin early next year if city planners and the city council approve plans for the Plaza Business Park off of Highway 198 and Plaza Drive.

City planners are expected to vote on the large development that includes a Fresno Pacific University campus at their April 14 meeting. If the project is approved there, it will go before the city council later that month or in May for that body's approval.

The Plaza Business Park will cover 30 acres of 120 acres that have been designated for a business park, an area devoted to large business offices, complete with amenities such as hotels, restaurants, gas stations and small shops. The business park was established by the city in 1988, but to date nothing has been constructed on the site which sits north of Highway 198 and on both sides of Plaza Drive.

However, at least two city council members raised concerns with the business park concept, especially the development of hotels and other highway commercial.

Steve Peck, commercial development manager for Mangano Homes, told a joint meeting of the council and city planners recently that the plan his company is putting forward for approval “is in complete conformity” with the city's intent for the area.

Peck said phase one of the project would include the 35,000-square-foot Fresno Pacific University, a gas station, a hotel, some retail and about 20,000 square feet of office space. The second phase would include a restaurant, maybe a second hotel and approximately 50,000 square feet of office space. The third and fourth phases, which are probably three to four years away, said Peck, would add more than 130,000 square feet of office space. When built out, the area could be home to 5,000 workers.

In addition to questioning the development of hotels and restaurants, Councilmember Greg Collins said he has concerns what impacts the project west of town would have on the downtown core.

“This is a big thing and while we're going to focus on 30 acres, there's another 90 acres and I want to get it right,” said Collins. He suggested that the services noted in the establishment of the business park would be on-site services within each development, such as a cafeteria or day-care, not highway commercial.

Mayor Jesus Gamboa said he did not feel the intent of the park is highway commercial. “I'd like to see a nice, beautiful entry into the city,” he said.

However, several others, including planners and members of the council, endorsed the idea of providing ancillary services such as hotels and restaurants in the park. Peck said the city's general plan calls for the development of highway commercial in the area and that his company is following that plan.

Terese Lane, a planning commissioner, pointed out that it would be unfair to change the rules with a plan already before the city, explaining that amenities in that area are sorely lacking for the employees.

Norris McElroy, who has a business that employs 250 people in the industrial park just north of the proposed business park, supported the idea of restaurants, hotels and gas stations. “If you want a BRP (Business Research Park), you need to offer these other services. If you don't, I would not locate a business there,” he told the joint meeting.

Peck pointed out that Visalia needs 70-75,000 square feet of office space each year and there is not that much open space presently available to accommodate that need.

Another issue was the minimum size of offices. Peck said it appeared to be the consensus of the planners and council members to set that minimum at 10,000 square feet, although that, along with a few other clarifications to the BRP zoning, will be brought to the planning commission in the next few weeks. Peck said it is his understanding that city staff will recommend the 10,000-square-foot minimum.

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Kaweah Delta Hospital Gets New Name

By Steve Pastis

Visalia - Kaweah Delta Medical Center is officially the new name of Kaweah Delta District Hospital.

Monday, the board of directors of the Kaweah Delta Health Care District unanimously approved changing the name of the hospital, but decided not to change the organization's name.

The decisions follow focus groups with members of the community, medical staff and hospital employees that brainstormed the pluses and minuses of making a name change. These groups found that the word “district” was important in the name of the organization but not for the hospital.

The hospital will be known as a medical center to reflect the scope of services it provides, said Lindsay K. Mann, CEO. “This reflects not only who we are today but who we aspire to be,” Mann said. “We're bringing in new and very sophisticated technology that will allow us to live up to the name 'medical center.'”

The hospital is undergoing a huge growth spurt and a new tower will be opened early next year. The hospital is also seeking to become a Level II Trauma Center and is exploring adding a heliport on the hospital grounds.

The new hospital name will be appearing on new marquee and directional signs.
Keeping the name of the district was easy, said Mann. “'District' does not provide meaning as far as the services we offer,” he said, adding, however, that the word “conveys the meaning that Kaweah Delta is formally a governmental entity” with a publicly elected board and boundaries.

“There's a great deal of confidence in the name Kaweah Delta,” Mann said.
The Kaweah Delta name will become part of almost all of the district's facilities. The Sequoia Imagining Center will be known as Kaweah Delta Imaging Center, and its Exeter center will be renamed. “The San Juan Health Center in Exeter is named after the street it's on,” Mann said. “We want the center in Exeter to be known as a Kaweah Delta Health Center.”

“We wanted to make the key decisions so we could properly allocate the funding,” Mann said. “The cost is literally minimal to make the changes at this point.”

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New Library in Lindsay May Break from County System

By Steve Pastis

Lindsay - Local reaction to the firing of probationary library employee Brenda Biesterfeld – shortly after she reported to police that someone was viewing child pornography on the library computer – could cause the City of Lindsay to split from the Tulare County Library system.

A new state-of-the-art, 6,500-square-foot library is scheduled to open in June at the southwest corner of Samoa and Mirage in downtown Lindsay. It was built with the idea that it would be a branch of the Tulare County Public Library, replacing the current branch on North Gale Hill Avenue, but this could change if the county does not resolve some community concerns over the firing of Biesterfeld.

“We expect that things will be resolved,” said Lindsay City Manager Scot Townsend, downplaying the possibility. He said that the city has no current plans to separate its library from the county system, but acknowledged there are those in the community who support the idea.

In a letter to the Tulare County Board of Supervisors on March 12, the Lindsay City Council expressed “its concern over recent actions by senior (county library) management, most notably Mr. Brian Lewis and Ms. Judy Hill.... Of foremost concern, the City Council is appalled with the way Mr. Lewis and Ms. Hill have handled the recent events surrounding the arrest of adult male apprehended viewing child pornography in the Tulare County library located in Lindsay.”

“We just want to ensure that the county's policy and management of the library system is consistent with our beliefs on how a library should be run,” Townsend said. “If child pornography is being viewed, the librarian has the responsibility to contact law enforcement.”

In a March 18 statement, Connie Conway, chairman of the board of supervisors, wrote that Biesterfeld was released during her probationary period for “legitimate business reasons unrelated to her report to the police.” She added, “The fact that these two events occurred within a short time does not mean they are connected.”

Conway also stated that the county was “arranging to have an independent investigation performed.”

The city and county currently have no agreement in place regarding the new library facility.

“The city owns the building,” said Townsend, adding that the city also owns the building which houses the current library branch in Lindsay. The city leases the current library building to the county for a token fee, and expectations have been that a similar arrangement would be made for the new building.

“We have not made any arrangements yet,” Townsend said. “We talked about an up-front fee, but there is no contract yet.”

Meanwhile, Family Friendly Libraries, a national organization dedicated to maintaining safe public libraries, has granted a Gold Star Award to Biesterfeld, who “was fired after reporting a man to the local police who was allegedly viewing child pornography on a public library computer. Biesterfeld's supervisor, Judi Hill, had instructed Biesterfeld not to call the police.”

The award was presented Tuesday night by Lindsay Councilwoman Suzi Picaso.

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Red Flag at Lindcove
Survey Seeks to Protect Research Station from Citrus Virus

Exeter - Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) has been found in the foundation block of the UC Lindcove Station raising a big red flag over the future of the research station northeast of Exeter. Now there is some indication the virus may be a virulent variety.
Tristeza comes from the Spanish word “sadness” and lives up to its name as it has devastated much of the world's citrus trees.

The finding of the disease in Tulare County dates back many years and has split the citrus industry here over the best way to combat it. The only way to eradicate or even slow the spread, say scientists, is to remove the infected tree early.
That approach angered some growers and back in 1996 the Tulare Pest Control District decided to pull out of the Central California Tristeza Agency.

But now the red flag at Lindcove Station has given the group a new wake-up call since the UC research center is within the pest control district's boundary. About 50 trees on or near the station were found to have the disease. Not only does the pest control district not eradicate infected trees, but it no longer even surveys to see if the disease is spreading.

Pest control district board member Pete Alvitre says the pest control district has agreed to fund a survey that will cover about a four-mile radius around Lindcove Station to see just how widespread the citrus virus has spread.
The district is setting up a district within a district.

“They will be spending $300,000 to check the infection rate” knowing that if the disease is not held in check (at low level infection rates) the field station “may be lost.”

That would mean the loss of the world class research that goes on here to some other area, as well as essentially giving up to control of this disease in our area – California's richest citrus growing region.

Lindcove has had to spend money to protect its foundation groves and budwood from the aphids that spread the virus including adding more screened-in greenhouse space.

The pest control district will participate in the survey being advised by a scientific panel as well as in an eradication effort that could mean pulling infected trees.
Alvitre says results of a survey are about three to four months out.
Meanwhile, another red flag is out there, notes Alvitre.

A prominent UC scientist – Dr. Ray Yokomi, experienced in tristeza research – has found a potentially virulent strain of CTV within a half mile of the station, but will require some months to analyze until it is confirmed, says Ted Batkin of the California Citrus Research Board.

The strains of CTV now found in Tulare County are not one of the virulent varieties, so this find if positive, could be bad news.

George Vidalakis, director of the Citrus Clonal Protection Program, announced recently that he was urging quick action to protect the block of trees used as a disease-free source of budwood for the industry.

“Given the right conditions, the strain seen in Yokomi's research can become very hot. I've seen what it has done in Spain and South America,” he warns.

A more virulent strain could result in a much quicker decline of orange trees as seen in Florida, Brazil and other parts of the world. Alvitre says the indication is that the virus “may be mutating” perhaps rapidly.

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What's New

Eleven stationary closed circuit cameras will soon be installed along Highway 99 between Kingsburg and Fresno to monitor traffic and road conditions, Caltrans announced. Tami Conrado, a Caltrans spokesperson, said the 11 cameras will be spaced out from Herndon Avenue on the north end of Fresno to the State Route 201 exit south of Kingsburg. She said the cameras are for all safety uses, including monitoring fog and dust conditions. Conrado added that there may be four more cameras installed in the future, but that is just a proposal right now. Caltrans is spending $666,000 on the 11 cameras.

The City of Visalia was awarded two grants totaling $500,760 for projects designed to give children a safer way to get to school. The grants were awarded by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and were funded through the state's Safe Routes to School program, designed to give students in grades K-12 easier and healthier ways to safely travel to and from schools. The Veva Blunt Elementary School project will install sidewalks on both sides of Chinowth Street and an in-pavement lighted crosswalk at Chinowth Street and Meadow Avenue. A project at Four Creeks Elementary School will install sidewalks on Burke Street from Houston to Harold Avenues. The funding for the 10% local match will come in part from Measure R, a ballot measure approved by Tulare county citizens in November 2006. Measure R set aside $100,000 to be used in the City of Visalia for sidewalk projects near schools. Grants were also awarded to the cities of Lindsay, $241,830 for a traffic calming project near Steve Garvey Junior High; $156,500 to Tulare for flashing yellow beacons near Los Tules and Heritage schools, and $174,500 to construct sidewalk improvements near Monson-Sultana School.

Another glitch has surfaced in the effort to finally settle the San Joaquin River lawsuit. Friant Water Authority General Manager Ron Jacobsma said he is hopeful efforts to get a drainage agreement don't hang up the brittle agreement on the water settlement. He said all parties have signed off on the river settlement, but Westlands Water District is trying to negotiate a settlement over the west side drainage plan and that could hinder the river agreement. “We hope not. It's probably going to be a call by Sen. Feinstein and others,” said Jacobsma, explaining that the two issues have only recently been linked. “Up to now, the two issues have been advancing on their own,” he said. He said the river settlement will hopefully get a Senate committee hearing next month. At the same time, Jacobsma said east side water users are supportive of the west side's effort on drainage. “We are supportive of the draining efforts, including financing components, but they should remain on separate tracks.”

Plans are moving forward to demolish the old Porterville Hotel at the heart of downtown, say Porterville city officials. Brad Dunlap, city community development director, said the three-story hotel could be gone by the end of this year. The city has plans to construct another two or three-story complex, with retail space on the street floor and offices on the upper floors.

The city of Visalia will hold a groundbreaking at 3 p.m. Monday, April 7, for construction of the Northwest Visalia Fire Station and Training center at Shirk Street and Ferguson Avenue.

The City of Visalia's Park and Recreation Department, the Urban Tree Foundation, and the Visalia Beautification Committee will celebrate Arbor Day at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 5, at the riparian area of St. John's River, located just east of McAuliff Avenue on the setback of the St. John's River, with tree plants. The community is invited to bring shovels and join in the plantings.

The City of Visalia's Natural Resources Conservation Division will co-sponsor Earth Day 2008 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 19, at Recreation Park, 345 N. Jacob St., in Visalia. The free event features demonstrations, information booths, and collection for E-Waste and free compost for Tulare County residents (bring your own containers, gloves and shovel). Pre-registration is required. Call 713-4531.

Tulare County Superior Court Judge Lloyd Hicks issued the third injunction against local gangs last week as the county continues to crack down on gang activity. The latest injunction was targeted at the Oriental Troops gang and limits activities and where members of that gang can congregate. The other gangs served with injunctions have been the Southside Kings from Ivanhoe and Northside Visalia gangs.

Hanford was listed by Shigley's as having one of the best small-city downtowns in the Central Valley and Dinuba was listed as being close to the same designation. Paul Shigley, an editor with Planning & Development Report, listed the two cities on his blog of best small-city downtowns in the Central Valley. He rated Hanford No. 2. Saying, “Especially in smaller cities, downtowns often thrive if they are the county seat. In the old days, county seats were usually the regional center of commerce and culture, leaving behind a legacy of both architecture and activity. That's what makes Hanford a great downtown. Except for Visalia – similar in that it's an old county seat off the freeway – Hanford is the best downtown in the San Joaquin Valley. On Dinuba, wrote Shigley, “The water tower that looms over downtown Dinuba screams “Valley town.” Thanks in part to the high school at one end of downtown, and a vocational center several blocks away, downtown is a fairly busy place. A six-screen cinema and bowling alley, separated by a plaza and all fairly new, help generate activity after hours and reflect a willingness to invest in the place that is clearly the center of town.”

City officials took input from the community Saturday on plans to relocate the Porterville Fairgrounds to an area near the Porterville Municipal Airport. The city is in negotiations with the state for the sale of the Fairgrounds for a new Superior Court complex. Officials hope to open escrow next month, but it may be a year before that escrow closes.
Lemoore's Planning Commission continued debate on the city's controversial general plan Monday night to its April 14 meeting. At issue is a plan that calls for housing for approximately 7,000 people in the flight path to Lemoore Naval Air Station. Navy officials have protested the plan.

Jaye Street Crossing plans have resurfaced in Porterville, said Porterville Community Development Director Brad Dunlap. The shopping center, not on the scale of the Riverwalk Market Place across Jaye Street, has been discussed before but there appears to be renewed interest now that Lowe's has opened at Riverwalk and several other stores and restaurants are being developed.

Construction has begun on the new and larger Target Store in Porterville. Target demolished its existing store on Henderson Avenue in Porterville and has begun building its new store at the same site.