Valley Headlines

A look at Tuolumne’s upgrades

Ag Alert. Tuolumne River salmon habitat enhanced.
Synopsis: Christine Souza writes about the $16 million project, directed by TID’s Michael Cooke with participation from MID, SFPUC, CDF&W and USFWS, that renovated 3 acres of floodplain, added 50,000 cubic yards of spawning gravel to the riverbed below the LaGrange Dam and excavated 200,000 yards of debris and gravel downstream. By 2030 there will be 77 acres of floodplain restored, 100,000 tons of fresh gravel and riverbank restoration creating better spawning and rearing habitat.

Chief now drives an EV

ABC30. Chat with the Chief: Atwater PD talks electric police vehicles.
Synopsis: Latest installment in this series is with Chief Michael Salvador. He talks about adding electric vehicles to his department through an Air Board grant. He’s so impressed with EV performance that he’s now driving an EV pickup.

How do cows get bird flu?

Ag Alert. How bird flu spreads among dairy cows remains a mystery.
Synopsis: Ching Lee writes about the rapid spread of bird flu among CA cows. There is evidence that it spreads through both respiratory and mammary systems, but no one’s sure which is more problematic. There is fear that flu can hitch a ride on milk tankers or on people. Bird flu in cows does not appear to spread through contact with wild birds. That’s why dairy farms within 6 miles of the Merced County turkey houses where infection was found two weeks ago have been tested; no H5N1 was found. BUT wild birds have contracted it from sick cows. Reinfection is also a concern. Nationwide, 242 cows have been infected across 14 states.

Ag Net West. H5Nx avian influenza in CA dairy herds: New research and prevention insights.
Synopsis: So far, 41 dairies have been hit in CA -- which means the rate of new infection is slowing. Dr. Kay Russo says epidemiologists are “racing” to find the virus’s pathways and how to intercept it. “The data so far indicates that cattle may be infected well before showing any clinical signs.”

Teaching women to fight fire

Modesto Bee. Modesto Fire Dept hosts first Women’s Empowerment Camp.
Synopsis: The MFD, which serves much of the region, collaborated with MJC to host a camp for 14- to 21-year-old women at the Regional Fire Training Center. Sign-ups were limited to 100 in advance, but more showed up. They talked about how fire spreads, engine ops, scaling a 105-foot ladder, rappelling down a 6-story tower and life in a firehouse. Nationwide there are 90,000 female firefighters, or 9% of the total. Elizabeth Mullis led the camp.

‘Keep doing what doesn’t work’

LA Times. Decision to reduce water flows in CA’s delta sparks debate over imperiled fish.
Synopsis: The state’s decision to re-evaluate “Fall X2” calculations is drawing fire from half a dozen people quoted in this story. Eventually, the reporter got around to mentioning that federal and state researchers agree that fresh-water releases every October – first implemented in 2008 -- have been insignificant in the smelt’s survival or in aiding salmon migration. So, they’ve decided to re-evaluate the releases.
MAD Take: When a reporter quotes people with the same ideological leanings at the beginning of a story and then again at the end, they’re tipping their personal ideological leanings. In this case, reporter Ian James started with Gary Bobker of Friends of the River saying, “we may be looking at the extinction of a fish species” and concludes with Chris Shutes of the CA Sportfishing Protection Alliance saying roughly the same thing. Both are assuming that any drop in X2 flows will result in fewer Delta smelt. That discounts the fact that delta smelt are already “functionally extinct” as determined by annual trawler counts and that similar reductions of flow occur naturally during drought.

Auditor gets endorsements

Modesto Bee. Stanislaus County leaders appoint career accountant as interim auditor-controller.
Synopsis: Ken Carlson reports that county exec Jody Hayes and supervisor Terry Withrow have recommended Mandip Dhillon to fill the unexpired term of Kashmir Gill, who has gone to work in Alameda County. Dhillon, a CPA who serves on the Stan CERA board, was judged the best from among 13 applicants. He would lead a department of 43 and intends to seek election if appointed.

Moderate? What’s your definition?

Merced Sun Star. Reality Check: Valley candidates in key House races cast as moderates: Are they?
Synopsis: John Duarte claims he’s a moderate, but The Lugar Center Bipartisan Index said Duarte ranked 201^st among all 435 House members. Basically, that means in the top half, but just barely. As Samara Klar of the University of Arizona put it, “Candidates are becoming more extreme. Voters are not.”

Top schools in Merced?

Merced Sun Star. What are the best public schools in Merced County?
Synopsis: The website “Niche,” which uses ratings as click bait, judged schools on 16 criteria. It rated Cressey Elementary No.1 overall among elementary schools followed by McSwain, which was No. 1 among middle schools. The best high school was El Capitan followed by Hilmar.

Emanuel MC gets new top boss

Turlock Journal. Emanuel Medical Center to welcome new CEO.
Synopsis: Mike Klepin will take over on Nov. 4, replacing Dr. Murali Naidu, who is becoming CEO of another Tenet location. Klepin is known for driving improvements, according to Central Valley Doctors Health System’s press release. The Ohio native is arriving from St. Joseph’s MC in Houston, where he was CEO.

Quoth the Raven: Another round

Modesto Bee. Traveling Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy coming to Modesto for only NorCal stop.
Synopsis: The nine seatings in this pop-up bar will be Nov. 1-3 for 90 minutes at a time. It pairs storytelling with cocktails. In this case, “The Masque of the Red Death,” “The Black Cat,” “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Raven.” Try the Twisted Brandy Milk Punch and The Nevermore. It will cost you at least $55.