Valley Headlines

Coolest summer ever. Why?

SF Chronicle. The world is sweltering, so why is CA so much cooler than normal?
Synopsis: The story begins, “Something strange is happening with California’s summer.” We’ve noticed. Not a single Bay Area location cracked 80 on Tuesday. Inland, few places topped 85 – making the temperatures unusually uniform for the region. Along the coast, the temps were 63 at Half Moon Bay. The reason? The North Pacific High, a seasonal dome, is sitting near Alaska and steering marine air inland. The high-pressure system hasn’t budged in two months. That’s making it hotter in Europe and Asia, but cooler here. Expect it to continue into August.
MAD Take: August? Hallelujah!

Sacramento Bee. Did summer take a break? Sacramento temperatures aren’t sizzling so far.
Synopsis: The story begins, “It’s not just you: Sacramento’s infamously scorching summer temperatures have been less scorching than usual this year.” It’s in stark contrast to last year’s record-breaking heat with 30-plus days of 100+ temperatures in the Valley. This year, we’ve broken 100 only twice – on June 28 and July 11. A former National Weather Service forecaster says the average high temperature in June was 88.9 degrees, just 0.6 degrees lower than the average over the last five years. This month, the average high has been 90.9 compared to 94.9 the past five years – a “polar opposite.”

Where will Salida get water?

Modesto Bee. Can Modesto provide water to big Salida growth area? Studies to assess supply.
Synopsis: Reporter Ken Carlson looks at the Salida Community Plan which would add 3,400 acres of housing and industry to the community. The county has hired West Yost Associates to evaluate how much water that will require and where it might be found. The firm will also look at development impacts on transportation and infrastructure. Oh, and whether or not Salida should be its own city. West Yost has a head start; it already is a water consultant for the county and city of Modesto. Currently, Modesto supplies Salida with water via its Del Este contract – a legacy water company the city acquired decades ago. (Del Este also sold water in Del Rio, Waterford and even a tiny pocket in Turlock.) All of this is necessary to determine how best to facilitate the Scannell warehouse project, which would put 2.5 million square feet of logistical centers at Dale and Kiernan. Will that be in Modesto or Salida?

Grub trucks OK’d in Ceres

Modesto Bee. Approval of two additional food-truck courts in Ceres comes with concerns. 
Synopsis: Ceres Planning Commission approved two more food-truck courts. All 4 commissioners loved the idea of a 10-truck court at Service Road across from Walmart. But the 20-truck court on Whitmore near Morgan was approved 3-1. Just don’t call them “grub hubs,” suggested the commission. It isn’t clear that either applicant is listening. Sukjinder Sanghera wants his 1-acre Service Road court to be called Sanghera Grub Hub and Ashley Ranuio is proposing her site will be called Truck Stop Grub Hub & Music Venue. Resident John Warren argued Ceres should figure out just how many food trucks it needs before the city moves forward. Applicants are being asked to prepare noise studies; if alcohol is allowed, security will be needed.

Apricot farmers need buyers

Turlock Journal. Fantozzi Farms urges community to take advantage of apricot bounty. 
Synopsis: The Patterson farm is offering apricots at $1 a pound after a major buyer backed out of a contract and left 500 tons still on the trees. Fantozzi extended its U-Pick hours and will even pick the fruit for you. They’ve also donated thousands of pounds to food banks.

Madera school founder charged

Fresno Bee. Fresno area school founder charged for using public funds to pay lavish expenses.
Synopsis: Nicolas Retana, who created the Ezequiel Tafoya Alvarado Academy in Madera in 2005 and served as its executive director until being fired, has been charged with embezzling from a program receiving federal money. Among charges is that he bought Ford F-150 pickups for each of his two sons and paid a sex worker $12,000. He also paid $38,000 for his daughter to attend college. The school, now called Liberty Charter, requested the investigation after dismissing Retana in 2020.

Attorney: Kern can’t deny water

SJV Water. Water district says Kern agency can’t kill agreement to supply homes 200 miles away. 
Synopsis: An attorney for Western Hills Water District – formed to supply homes in Diablo Grande – says Kern County Water Agency is obligated to continue supplying water to the community west of Patterson and cannot suspend deliveries for lack of payment. KCWA agreed to sell 8,000-acre feet of water each year to Diablo Grande’s developers – enough to supply a projected 5,000 homes and at least two golf courses. Through the housing downturn, Western Hills accumulated a $13 million debt. But the golf course closed several years ago and only 600 homes were built, meaning the community took far less water than contracted. As reporter Lois Henry points out, “How and where Western Hills’ water was used is important not just because of the agreement … but because this is state water with state rules attached to it, including where it can be used.” West Hills says it still owns 4,000-acre feet banked with Kern County.

Beef: It’s going to cost more

Ag Daily. Beef prices are breaking records, here’s what there is to know. 
Synopsis: Americans are facing record high prices at the meat counter with ground beef and steak leading the surge. Hamburger prices are up 9% since January and average $9.26 a pound while steak is 12.4% higher than it was a year ago. Herds have been shrinking since 2020 and now stand at 86.7 million head -- the lowest since 1951 when the US population was half what it is today. Trump’s threats to put tariffs on Brazil, which provides 8% of all US beef, are further increasing prices. So far, demand has not lessened as consumers are willing to pay higher prices. Experts say it will take several years for prices to come down.

Indian criminal found in Valley

Valley Sun. Infamous Indian fugitive among 8 arrested in Manteca for torture.
Synopsis: Pavittar Singh was arrested by the FBI in Manteca in connection with gang-related kidnapping and torture in the US. The SJ Sheriff’s Office worked with SWAT teams from Stockton, Stanislaus County and FBI. The crime occurred June 19 and the arrest was made July 14. Sheriff Pat Withrow says Singh is the leader of an international ring called Pavittar Maja Group and is wanted for multiple murders in India. He was arrested with 5 handguns, an assault rifle and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. The Times of India says Singh, aka “Chaura,” is considered the most wanted criminal in India.

Steered back to his seat

Fresnoland. Ousted Fresno member reinstated to Measure C panel after messy controversy.
Synopsis: Fresno paving company owner Brooke Ashjian was thrown off the Measure C steering committee last week after he publicly questioned why an activist group was being awarded 12 seats on the panel by Fresno COG chair Alma Beltran. She insisted that his public comments were personal attacks on the activists which broke the panel’s rules. So, she booted him. But Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer appointed him and pushed to have him reinstated. The purpose of the panel is to convince voters to continue the county’s half-cent sales tax dedicated to roads.

A couple of days off

Valley Solutions. Editor taking a couple of days off.
Synopsis: It’s vacation season and though the Valley’s weather is unbelievably beautiful, Valley Solutions editor Mike Dunbar will be getting away for a couple of days. The next edition of Valley Solutions should arrive Monday, July 28. In the meantime, to learn more about what’s happening in Congress, go to Congressman Adam Gray’s official website.

Correction

Valley Solutions. The amount was $60 an acre foot, not $200.
Synopsis: Modesto Irrigation District director Larry Byrd proposed that growers outside the district should be allowed to buy MID water at $60 an acre foot for 20 years. In a “MAD Take” on Tuesday, an incorrect figure was cited. As stated Tuesday, there was no escalator clause included in the original proposal – meaning the price of the water was significantly below market rates ($365 as of Wednesday) and would remain so for a generation.

Dine with a movie star

Modesto Bee. $10 could get you private dinner with Modesto’s Jeremy Renner. 
Synopsis: For $10 you can buy a chance to have dinner with Modesto’s most famous actor (apologies to Timmy Olyphant). The donation is to the Jeremy Renner’s RennerVation Foundation, which provides help for children in foster care and at-risk kids in Nevada. You’ve got until Sept. 4 to buy your ticket at prizeo.com. Renner was raised in Modesto, went to Beyer High and MJC and worked at a local bowling alley where he got pretty good at the game.