Valley Solutions

Bird flu hurts Stanislaus ag

Ceres Courier. County ag production took big hit due to avian flu. 
Synopsis: The Stanislaus County ag commissioner’s annual report shows a drop of $216 million in gross receipts for farmers in 2024. All totaled, gross ag production came in at $3.15 billion, or about 6% below the 2023 figures. Commissioner Linda Pinfold said the drop was mainly due to lost poultry production, which fell from $400 million in 2023 to $291.8 million in 2024 – almost entirely due to bird flu losses. Last year bird flu jumped to cattle, also reducing milk production. Still, milk was No. 2 on the Top 10 list at $754 million. Almonds were No. 1, creating $825 million in gross value, up from $813 million in 2023. Pinfold noted increased value is not the same as increased profit since production costs have risen. Frank Hernandez of Vermeulen Almond Hulling was named Farmworker of the Year.

Doing the water math

Valley Citizen. Director’s pumping records ‘Ain’t possible’ says old-timer. 
Synopsis: Eric Caine continues his examination of the source of water that Modesto Irrigation District board member Larry Byrd is putting on some of his almond trees. Byrd has refused to divulge his pumping records, saying only that he has run the pumps almost daily. But even running two pumps every day might not be long enough to produce all the water he needed, says Caine’s source. Some people believe Byrd used MID water to irrigate trees that are outside district boundaries – which is against the district’s rules. While his groundwater pumping records are not public, records of water pumped from the Tuolumne River are. It helps to be a mathematician, or savvy farmer, to understand the pumping numbers and ramifications. Bottom line: Even if he pumped 24/7, there wouldn’t be enough water for a crop.

It’s official: Riggs is out

Merced Focus. Merced County chooses AMR as new ambulance service, severing ties with Riggs. 
Synopsis: Merced Supervisors voted 5-0 to end their contract with Riggs Ambulance Service and, starting next year, contract with Texas-based American Medical Response West. Before the vote, the board rejected a protest by Riggs over the process as employees wiped tears from their eyes. A county resident said the loss of the contract with Merced County would doom the Nevada-based non-profit that runs Riggs. The county was moved to act in May after Riggs repeatedly failed to reach minimum response times. County Health Director Dr. Kristynn Sullivan said Riggs failed to meet response-time compliance in 54 of the past 60 months. Riggs operations manager Mike Swenson said his group might consider legal action.

Prop 50 fight heating up

Cal Matters. In the Central Valley, Prop 50 is a fight between Newsom’s CA and GOP’s Washington.
Synopsis: Reporter Maya Miller reports on huge signs put up by Assemblymember David Tangipa urging people to vote against Prop 50. But she reports, “residents here would be the first to tell you they spend far more time thinking and worrying about the rising cost of living, access to water for their farms, homelessness and the threat of immigration raids than the shape of CA’s 52 congressional districts.” Most were quick to form an opinion when given a few facts. One undecided voter said, “We’ve got to stand up to Texas.” Most of the story focuses on CA 22 where Democrats are targeting David Valadao. Mayor Maria Pacheco of Kerman said many of her neighbors are disillusioned with politics and aren’t paying much attention. But she is disgusted by Gov. Greg Abbott and the way ICE treats people. “Harvest is coming to a close. So, is this when they’re gonna do it? When we’re no longer needed?”

Even Dan Walters undecided

Cal Matters. Gerrymander duelists, Newsom and Trump, deserve scorn for partisan power plays.
Synopsis: Dan Walters writes about Prop 50 and declares a pox on both their houses. He considers the cost of the election a gift of public funds to the Democratic Party. “However, President Trump is equally deserving of disgust.” Meanwhile, the PPIC says the Dems are likely to pick up only 4 seats, not 5. But with other red-state legislatures redrawing their boundaries, Republicans could end up with an even greater advantage. Bottom line: “I really don’t know.”

Western Farm Press. Farm advocates take aim at redistricting initiative.
Synopsis: The CA Farm Bureau is one of the state’s most strident Prop 50 opponents. Writes Senior Editor Tim Hearden: “We won’t tell you how to vote, either. But farmers and ranchers should engage on this issue, learn the arguments, talk to other producers and by all means vote.”

Shutdown: We can fix it

Ceres Courier. Local legislators Gray, McClintock weigh in on government shutdown. 
Synopsis: Rep. Adam Gray says the shutdown “is bad for our nation, dangerous for our security and devastating for our economy and Valley families.” But the only way out of it is to find some basis for “bipartisan compromise – not partisan threats or political games.” There is common ground if only folks will stand on it. Tom McClintock’s office issued a statement in which he referenced the impacts of past shutdowns.

Ex-Sheriff running for supervisor

GV Wire. Buddy Mendes will retire as Fresno County supervisor, endorses former sheriff for seat. 
Synopsis: Supervisor Ernest “Buddy” Mendes will not seek reelection in 2026, urging voters to choose former sheriff Margaret Mims. She has confirmed she is running. Already in the race are Danielle Para of Fowler and Parlier Mayor Alma Beltran. The district includes Reedley and Coalinga. Mims served four terms as sheriff, the first (and only) woman in that capacity.

Energy for everyone

GV Wire. Newsom approves Caballero-backed plan for Fusion Energy. 
Synopsis: Gov. Newsom signed AB-80, written by Sen. Anna Caballero and Assemblymember Jerry McNerney, to provide $100 million to labs researching fusion energy. Fusion has been the holy grail of energy production since first foreseen a century ago. So far, no one has made it a reality – though scientists at Lawrence Livermore Lab have come close. China has invested $1.5 billion in searching for fusion solutions. SB 80 would create a commission to distribute funding to California startups. The goal is functional energy by 2030.

Buy a ball, wait for drop

Turlock Journal. Balls of hope will be dropping soon.
Synopsis: The Sixth Annual Golf Ball Drop for Hope will be Nov. 15 at the Stanislaus Fairground in Turlock. Until then, you can “buy” a numbered golf ball for $25. The balls will be dropped from the SO’s helicopter onto a grid below. A few of the squares will be “loaded” with prizes. If your ball lands on a prize square, you win. If a bunch of balls land on that square, you have a random chance. Proceeds will support the Faith Home Adult & Teen Challenge, a residential program for young men, along with several other groups. “It’s not just a little event anymore,” said Brad Hansen. “It’s a big deal.”

Who will put out a fire?

Fox26. Darden Clean Energy project sparks fire-safety concerns in Fresno County. 
Synopsis: Roughly 3 million solar panels will pump power into lithium-ion batteries in a sparsely populated area of western Fresno County. But residents, including volunteer firefighters, are concerned that if the batteries ignite – which happened earlier this year near Moss Landing – there are no nearby firefighters standing by. The solar farm will cover 9,000 acres. Builders are installing fire mitigation procedures including thermal cameras for early detection. But without a local fire station, who will respond? Darden is “looking into” building and staffing a new fire station. More talks are promised.

Court decides groundwater rules

SJV Water. Ruling in groundwater case out of Kings County could have far-reaching effects.
Synopsis: The state appeals court heard arguments Tuesday in a highly watched dispute. They’re asked to decide two questions: 1) Did the state exceed its authority by putting the Tulare Lake subbasin on probation and imposing costly sanctions when member agencies failed to come up with an adequate plan to make groundwater pumping sustainable. 2) Did a Kings County judge err in refusing to dismiss the lawsuit against the state and keeping the state’s sanctions from taking effect. The ruling will inform virtually all groundwater rulemaking going forward across the entire San Joaquin Valley.

Will ‘flirty smile’ end case?

Merced Sun Star. US attorney accused of misconduct in CA kidnap case; was he hitting on her?
Synopsis: Federal prosecutor Michael Tierney is accused of improperly speaking to defendant Shana Gaviola of Clovis. The mother is on trial for hatching a scheme to kidnap her teenage son and have him taken to a boarding school for troubled youth in Missouri. That would have violated a protective order. Gaviola’s attorney wants the case dismissed because Gaviola felt uncomfortable and scared when Tierney approached her at a cocktail bar in Fresno during the case. He had a “flirty smile” and told her he would ask for a reduced sentence if he won. He suggested that after the case they should go for a drink. Tierney testified that Gavioloa “is not unattractive” but didn’t qualify as “hot.” He said his conversation in the bar was because he felt “social pressure to be polite.” He denied inviting Gaviola for a drink. Tierney has been nominated to become a US Magistrate Judge. The case has become a flashpoint for religious parental-rights groups.

Health agency moves to Salida

Modesto Bee. New home in Salida for Stanislaus County health agency. 
Synopsis: Stanislaus County will buy the four-story Northpoint Office Tower on Pirrone Avenue in Salida for $8.3 million then spend another $4.3 million to renovate it. The Health Services Agency will be able to vacate the old Scenic Drive modulars, whose ceilings are notoriously leaky. A new building would have cost $50 million, so $13 million is a bargain. The building has 5 current tenants, generating $464,000 annually. As their leases expire, more Health Services divisions will move into the building.

Area’s top team? Really?

Modesto Bee. High school football rankings: Second offensive onslaught puts new team at No. 1.
Synopsis: Sportswriter Quinton Hamilton offers his list of the best teams in the region. Interestingly, only half of them have winning records. The new No. 1 is Oakdale, which is 5-1 and beat East Union 71-55 last week. His Nos. 2, 4 and 5 teams (Central Catholic, Turlock and Patterson) have 6 wins and 13 losses between them. For some reason, The Bee does not include Sonora on its list. The Wildcats plays in the Trans Valley League whose other 6 teams are all considered part of Quinton’s region. Sonora is 7-0 and beat Oakdale in its first game this season.