Valley Headlines

Proof: Floodplains work

River Partners. Floodplains at work. 
Synopsis: River Partners CEO Julie Rentner writes about how the storms hitting CA this year might seem unusual but are becoming the norm. They represent an opportunity we must embrace. “Our rivers already hold the key to resilience. By restoring habitat along rivers and reconnecting floodplains, we can create natural buffers that absorb floodwaters, reduce levee stress and protect people.” She’s not dreaming; it’s already happening. Restored floodplains are protecting Hamilton City, near Chico; they’re protecting the city of Sacramento through Bidwell State Park; they’re protecting Grayson, Patterson, Manteca and Lathrop due to Dos Rios State Park at the confluence of the San Joaquin Valley’s two largest rivers.

Answering California’s call

Patterson Irrigator. Local firefighters discuss SoCal wildfire.
Synopsis: Editor Jessica Wilkinson talks to the members of the Patterson and West Stanislaus fire departments who went down to Altadena, Pasadena and LA to help fight the fires. Alan Garcia talked about so much smoke and ash in the air that 8 a.m. looked like midnight. Anthony Cordova, Nicholas Jamieson, Vince Tomao and Shane Eddington fought “very crazy” flames side by side near the Coast Highway. Said Chief Jeff Frye: “Anytime the state of California calls, Patterson answers, or West Stanislaus answers or as a team we answer.”

Funding for Hwy 152 coming?

Sierra Sun Times. Assemblywoman Soria introduces AB707 to fund Hwy 152 improvements.
Synopsis: Esmaralda Soria’s bill would provide $455 million to improve Hwy 152 which is going to be altered to accommodate the expansion of San Luis Reservoir. Cannon Michael thanked Soria for supporting the reservoir project.
MAD Note: It would be nice if these improvements were designed to also reduce congestion on the highway.

Turlock OKs 114 new homes

Modesto Bee. Turlock approves 114 houses amid neighbor complaints; Site had grown strawberries.
Synopsis: The Turlock city council voted 3-1 to approve the Bright Homes development on 14 acres at Monte Vista Avenue and Walnut Road. With 8 homes per acre, the lots are tiny.

A (missing) sign of the times

Merced Focus. Newly installed sign stolen from Applegate Zoo.
Synopsis: Late Saturday night, a miscreant stole the new sign that featured a stag in the wilderness. If you live near the park, police are asking that you check your security cam footage. Three years ago, a metal plaque in the park honoring Steven Stayner was stolen and has never been recovered.

Protests in Yosemite, elsewhere

SF Chronicle. ‘Our parks are in danger’: Yosemite workers protest firings, hiring freeze.
Synopsis: National Park Service and US Forest Service workers are mad as hell after the Trump administration fired 3,400 over the weekend. They came out to protest at various points in the park, many holding signs explaining what is being lost. Some of those fired were told it was due to their performance, though many have job reviews showing they “exceeded standards.” Several in the Park Service say this is the first step toward privatization of services and, eventually, the parks themselves. An example of those fired are the technicians who keep the Yosemite Valley water filtration system running. The reservation system designed to reduce congestion in the park has been abandoned and is no longer operating online.

Successful Farming. Mass federal firings hit agriculture agencies.
Synopsis: Loan analysts, field agents, scientists and 1,200 members of the Natural Resources Conservation Service have been fired “according to sources.” There were 200,000 federal employees on probationary status across all departments, and all of their jobs have been eliminated. As in the National Park Service, many of the firing notices contained language saying the employees were not performing to standard – despite excellent work records. New Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins says she “fully supports President Trump’s directive to optimize government operations…” Among those fired are those involved in expediting loan applications for operating expenses to farmers and approvals of conservation-project expenditures on private farms.

GV Wire. Fresno joins national protests against Trump administration.
Synopsis: Hundreds of protestors turned “Presidents Day” into “No Kings Day” in Fresno – one of the dozens of communities to protest against Trump. Speakers included church leaders, supporters of immigrants and educators. Some are vowing to run for local office.

Cognitive dissonance explained

Valley Citizen. Trump in the Valley: Water, water … nowhere.
Synopsis: Eric Caine writes about the reaction to the release of 7,300-acre feet of water from two South Valley reservoirs. People hurt by this release (no one was helped by it) were muted in their reactions; why? “Rather than acknowledge that Trump’s actions were solely in service to his political and performative ambitions, the farmers reverted to (Orwellian) doublethink: They had to accept two contradictory facts: 1) Trump acted stupidly and in direct opposition to their welfare, and 2) They supported and continue to support Donald Trump in the belief he will act in their interests.” Eric, who taught philosophy and rhetoric at the collegiate level, points out: “It might behoove us all to consider carefully what he might do with ‘his’ water when his favored oligarchs decide it might have better uses elsewhere.”

No more pits on SJ River

Fresno Bee. CEMEX must be stopped from blasting 600-foot deep pit near SJ River.
Synopsis: Marek Warszawski writes about the multinational mineral company’s request for permits to expand gravel-mining operation next to the river. If you’re wondering, he’s against it: “CEMEX’s proposal is an atrocity against Fresno’s greatest natural resource, already scarred by a century of gravel mining the company previously agreed to wind down and should have been rejected point blank.”

Gran Fondo draws 500 riders

Merced Sun Star. Prestigious cycling event returns to Merced next month. 
Synopsis: The Gran Fondo Hincapie Race, featuring 500 riders in various classes, will roll through Merced on March 15. George Hincapie himself is expected to attend. Ivan Dominguez is also expected to ride; he won the MERCO Classic nearly 20 years ago. Doug Fluetsch says this is more than a race, it’s a celebration. It will start downtown and cover a course of 81 miles into Mariposa County.

More bird flu; vaccine news

Successful Farming. Wyoming identifies first human case of bird flu.
Synopsis: A backyard farmer required hospitalization this weekend, the 68^th person in the US known to have been infected.

Successful Farming. Ohio health officials report first human case of avian flu.
Synopsis: A man working on a poultry farm became the first person in Ohio to be exposed. He worked on a farm where more than 1 million birds were culled. He is victim No. 69 nationwide.

Successful Farming. US gives conditional nod to Zoetis’ bird-flu vaccine for poultry.
Synopsis: The approval is based “on reasonable expectation of efficacy.” Interesting note found fairly deep in this story: “The US had built a poultry vaccine stockpile after major bird flu outbreaks in 2014 and 2015, though they were never used.” Those vaccines were created by Merck, Ceva and Moderna at a cost of $766 million from taxpayers.

‘Voice of Fresno’ now silent

GV Wire. KMJ’s iconic ‘Voice of Fresno,’ Al Smith, dies at age 86.
Synopsis: The former KMJ general manager and longtime president of the Fresno Chamber was 86. “He wasn’t born here, but he loved Fresno and was a tireless champion of our city and our region,” said current chamber president Scott Miller.

Welcome home, Hazel

ABC30. Stolen French bulldog reunited with owner in Merced.
Synopsis: The incredibly wiggly Hazel was stolen from her yard last week and reported missing. The 9-month-old pup was found at the home of two men that police accuse of a series of thefts and burglaries (based on other stuff found in the home). They knew the pup was valuable.