Valley Headlines

Huh? Trump pro-choice? Nah

Politico. California Playbook: The $100 million messaging melee.
Synopsis: Daily bloggers Lara Korte and Dustin Gardiner write about Democrats who have Republican friends, whom they hope to keep as voters. One of those is Adam Gray, who has gotten support from law enforcement in both Stanislaus and Merced counties and often worked with Republicans like Kristin Olsen and Anthony Cannella on shared priorities. “What you want to show voters is that you’re not going to Washington to vote for your party, you’re going to vote for your district and work with everybody in your district – Republicans included – to accomplish those goals,” Gray said. Such cross-party messaging, however, has twisted John Duarte into a rhetorical pretzel. Duarte told CNN that both he and his choice for president, Don Trump, are pro-choice. CNN, the Sacramento Bee, The Hill and others are finding that unbelievable, considering Trump has bragged that he got abortion rights overturned.

What’s popping up in Merced?

Merced Daily. Pop-up style food kitchen to open in Merced.
Synopsis: Ronnie Wallace Jr. will offer“a variety of culinary options” through Essence Catering at 260 W. 18^th Street. Wallace is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in SF and worked at Joe’s in Venice Beach and the Redfish Grill in New Orleans before coming to Merced. One cynical commenter held out little hope for the new restaurant, or any restaurant in Merced.

ABC30. Construction underway on ice skating rink in Atwater ahead of holiday season.
Synopsis: The Old Town Skating Rink on Cedar and Fourth streets will host skaters for the fourth year in a row, from Nov. 15 through Jan. 5.

Almond blotch is spreading

Ag Net West. Almond update: Red leaf blotch presence in CA has raised alarms.
Synopsis: UC Davis and the UC CE first found red-leaf blotch in orchards in both Merced and Madera counties (near their border) in late May. Now it’s popping up in a lot more places. “I’m actually quite surprised by how widespread the disease already is in that first year,” said UC Cooperative Extension’s Flourant Troullias. “The disease is definitely here to stay, which, unfortunately, brings a new challenge and another challenge for the industry.” The only research on this disease has been done in Spain. Oh, and once you see it, it’s too late.

Local politics getting attention

Merced Sun Star. Merced mayoral candidates share their views, plans during forum.
Synopsis: Mayor Matthew Serratto and challenger Anthony Martinez appeared Sept. 14 at the Boys & Girls Club. Their election contest is a rematch of sorts. In 2020, prosecutor Serratto won with 52.6% of the vote in a 4-way race; school teacher Martinez was third at 14.4%. They answered questions about housing, infrastructure improvements, parks, pedestrian safety and jobs.

Patterson Irrigator. City council candidate profiles.
Synopsis: New editor Jessica Wilkinson offers true community journalism through a Q&A with candidates This second story is focused on Shawun Anderson. The first profile, published last week, was all about Gabriella Hernandez.

No help wanted

Valley Citizen. Why homeless people don’t want help, Part II.
Synopsis: Eric Caine says every effort to help the homeless must be understood through the prism of “deficit.” There’s a deficit in housing, suitable jobs, treatment and political will. That alone, he notes, can’t explain why so many homeless people refuse help when it’s offered. Caine writes that homelessness contributes (or causes) mental illness, resulting in damage to the pre-frontal cortex. This PFC diminishes the ability to reason which manifests in rejection of the very things that can help victims. There are other issues, including the stigma of poverty and failure. “A great many homeless people will suffer extreme discomfort and want before asking for or accepting help. Asking for or accepting help can be painfully humiliating.”
MAD Take: As usual, Eric asks us to peer beyond effect to find cause then remedy. In trying to understand this great societal tragedy, Eric’s is a necessary – though troubling -- story. Unfortunately, it offers no hope for success on any level. Without hope, caring seems useless.

School threats aren’t funny

Modesto Bee. Three Modesto-area teens arrested in past week for threats against schools.
Synopsis: Modesto hasn’t been spared from kids taking part in the new national pastime of threatening to shoot up their schools. Last week, the Sheriff’s Office and MPD arrested students at Modesto High and Hanshaw Middle. In making one of those arrests, police got a bonus by finding narcotics. A Newman student was arrested on Friday.  

KSEE / CBS47. 13-year-old arrested after threatening to shoot up school in Orosi.
It was the fourth juvenile arrested on Wednesday for making threats to shoot up schools in Tulare.

KCRA. Superintendent urges people not to spread rumors after false alarms at Lodi High.
There was an “errant alarm” at the school on Wednesday, prompting a police response. But nothing had happened – no shooting, no violence, no incident. A substitute teacher inadvertently pushed the button, triggering the lockdown. Earlier this week, a 15-year-old was arrested for threatening to shoot up the school.  

Sports: Going nuts; MC drops out

Modesto Bee. Modesto Nuts claim back-to-back Cal League titles after Game 3 win.
Synopsis: The Mariners’ Single-A team won at home, beating the Lake Elsinore Storm 2-1. Being able to celebrate at home was important to GM Veronica Hernandez, whose team is in negotiations with the city on a longer-term stadium contract.

Modesto Bee. Modesto Christian football to compete as independent for rest of season.
Synopsis: The school has left the Trans-Valley League, said AD Brice Fantazia, because his team can’t reliably compete due to lack of players. “It’s not fair to the TVL schools for us to possibly have to forfeit a game a week before (it’s scheduled to be played).” Coach Mike McFadden says the Crusaders will play their first three games against Orestimba, Ripon and Ripon Christian, but after that it’s up in the air. Hughson and Escalon are already looking for opponents.

Assemi bankruptcy explained

Fresno Bee. Lenders seek control of Assemi family farming operations over millions in unpaid loans.
Synopsis: Reporter Robert Rodriguez follows on the Valley Sun’s reporting of Tuesday adding that Prudential Insurance is also going after one of the Assemi’s real estate companies. That’s new.  

GV Wire. Darius Assemi’s message on farming challenges.
Synopsis: The publisher of GV Wire bylines a story saying he isn’t really not involved in the farming side of the family business. But a combination of low commodity prices and the failure of “good-faith negotiations” with two creditors have brought his family to this point – though he’s not worried. “In football terms, we’re at the 1-year-line but disagree on the remaining technical details.” He says the Granville Home of Hope will not be impacted.

Stanislaus County’s $1.8B budget

Modesto Bee. Stanislaus leaders OK conservative budget; will county get potholes fixed?
Synopsis: The board voted 4-1 for the $1.85 billion budget, with Channce Condit voting no because he doesn’t think the county acts quickly enough to patch potholes. Supervisor Vito Chiesa called it “a good, solid budget for times that are more uncertain than they have been.” Apparently, the other supervisors agreed with Vito.

The piranha aren’t biting

Modesto Bee. Popular fishing spot has been fenced off for 20 years; what’s next for Naraghi Lake?
Young reporter Angela Rodriguez refers to the story 20 years ago that piranha had been caught in the manmade lake in northeast Modesto. It really wasn’t a piranha, but a relative that someone dumped in the lake after emptying their aquarium. The lake was created by Wendell Naraghi as part of a master-planned community effort. But it never panned out. The family says it is still planning to develop the area around the lake.