Valley Solutions

Fewer almond trees, gasp

CA Ag Net. Bearing almond acreage drops for first time in decades. 
Synopsis: The number of acres planted in almonds fell to 1,385,870 this year, according to Land IQ. That’s down from 1,401,097 acres last year. It is the first drop in almond acreage in 30 years. Land IQ estimated that 47,588 acres came out of production but roughly 31,000 acres were planted. “While we’re seeing stabilization in bearing acreage, global demand remains strong and is the foundation of our industry,” said Almond Board president Clarice Turner.
MAD Note: What does the loss of a few thousand acres of almonds mean? More than you might think. The average orchard has 140 trees per acre, meaning there are at least 194,020,000 almond trees growing in California. The average almond tree produces 260 pounds of oxygen a year. That’s 50 billion pounds of oxygen, give or take a few hundred million. Better yet, your typical acre of almond trees removes 2.6 tons of carbon-dioxide each year, storing it in the wood, roots and even dirt below. That means those 1.3 million acres of almonds have removed 7.2 billion pounds of CO2. Sounds like we’re growing clean-air machines here in the Valley. 

Valley gas is, uh, cheaper

KCRA. Map shows average gas price in each CA county. 
Synopsis: Using AAA data, KCRA reports that gas prices are up across the state – which is not news. But the Valley has much lower prices than coastal communities. LA averages $6.10 a gallon; SF is at $6.21. Stanislaus has some of the state’s lowest gas prices at $5.78 a gallon followed by San Joaquin at $5.83 and Merced $5.89. Madera drivers pay $6.01 and Fresno $5.91. The cheapest gas in CA is in Imperial County, $5.66 a gallon.
MAD Take: Why is it that gas costs 25 cents more per gallon in Kern – which has the most oil wells and most refineries of any CA county – than it does in Imperial? Can’t blame the state, the taxes are the same in both places.

Modesto council: A bargain

Modesto Bee. Modesto City Council votes toward raises, explores making positions full time.
Synopsis: The Modesto city council unanimously approved a 6.2% raise for itself, following the recommendation of the Citizen’s Salary Commission. It moves councilmember pay from $30,000 to $31,860. For the mayor, which is considered a full-time job, pay rises from $54,000 a year to $57,348. The city charter, passed a decade ago, set out strict limits on pay based on percentages of how much judges and others make.
MAD Note: Modesto’s citizens are getting a bargain. Stockton’s city council also voted to raise their pay this week. Like Modesto, the Stockton councilmembers were being paid $30,000 a year. But Stockton’s council approved a 33% raise, going to $40,000 a year. Maybe it’s justifiable, considering Stockton city council meetings frequently last 6 or 7 hours. By comparison, Modesto does its work in just 2 hours.

Love is love is love

Turlock Journal. Turlockers show the love during annual community service event. 
Synopsis: Hundreds of people participated in the Love Turlock event last weekend, including the Valdez family. Mom Rachel and daughters Danyelle and Daija choose a new project every year, and this year they made blankets for shelter dogs. Other volunteers cleaned, painted and planted across Turlock. Seeing all the volunteers inspired Mayor Amy Bublak: “It makes our job so easy to lead this community when you’re here doing these things for our community,” she said. Amazon Turlock sent out a crew along with the MCE1 Fulfillment Center Team. In all, 800 people registered for 40 projects across the city.

Ceres Courier. Volunteers spread love in Ceres.
Synopsis: About 130 people turned out for the Love Ceres event Saturday, picking up shovels, rakes, brushes and even scissors to help beautify the city. Organizers Brandy and Keith Meyer had hoped for 200 volunteers but were still grateful for those who came out. “They did get a lot of stuff done,” she said.

Patterson Irrigator. PHS students lead eight projects for Love Patterson Day. 
Synopsis: Students in the PLUS (Peer Leaders Uniting Students) program helped organize the Love Patterson events drawing volunteers for eight projects. There was a food donation booth for the animal shelter, the installation of a new backboard on a baseball diamond, repainting basketball courts and leveling soccer fields. Some students went to the Senior Center and organized activities to “lift spirits.”

Solar-canal test worked!

KSEE / CBS47. CA’s first solar-covered canal is finally complete; it all started at UC Merced. 
Synopsis: Gov. Newsom’s office announced the completion of the project to generate solar power from panels built atop irrigation canals. The concept was developed through a paper published by a UC Merced doctoral candidate and put into action by Turlock Irrigation District. What did we learn? If panels are placed on 4,000 miles of canals, we could generate enough power to supply 2 million homes a year. It would also slow evaporation of the water, conserving up to 65 billion gallons. There are also benefits to water quality with reduced weed and algae growth. The project cost $20 million and was judged a success.

Showing off Valley’s beauty

Turlock Journal. ‘Farm & Fields’ exhibit features local artists. 
Synopsis: The Carnegie Arts Center will unveil its new exhibit, “Farms & Fields,” on May 7. The juried show celebrates the importance and beauty of agriculture in the Valley. The show’s 150 submissions include landscapes, photography, prints, watercolors, ceramics and fabric arts among others medium. Rhett Regina Owings “Farm Near Tracy” has been judged Best of Show.

Wasting taxpayer’s money

Sacramento Bee. Criminal case against former FBI director is an outrage; 86 it now. 
Synopsis: Columnist Stephanie Finucane provides some eloquent outrage over the charges lodged against James Comey. “If any crime was committed here, it’s the waste of taxpayer money poured into this ridiculous case,” she writes. To get a conviction, Trump’s DOJ must prove there was “a true threat” to the president’s life. “Political hyperbole” or “emotionally charged rhetoric” is not enough to convict anyone, much less the former director of the FBI. This indictment “embodies the corruption of this administration” as it attacks free speech.
MAD Note: The Comey family is now involved in two cases with the Trumps. Maurene Comey, who was following in her father’s footsteps as a US attorney, was fired while she was in charge of a portion of the investigation into the Epstein files in New York. She is now suing over wrongful termination. 

22 TB infections in school

Fresno Bee. One confirmed tuberculosis case, 22 infections at Garza High School in Fresno.
Synopsis: The Fresno County Dept of Public Health confirmed that 169 people have been exposed to tuberculosis at Justin Garza High School. Twenty-two tested positive for infection. Exposure does not mean infection will occur, but treatment could be required to assure there is no latency.

The Valley’s mussel beach

KCRA. ‘Ground zero for mussels’: San Joaquin County details threats caused by invasive species. 
Synopsis: San Joaquin County Supervisors declared a state of emergency over the presence of pipe-clogging golden mussels. “They’re out of control,” said Supervisor Paul Canepa. “One mussel can produce, like, a million eggs.” When they hatch, those mussels colonize pipes, pumps, hoses, docks, boats – anything they can stick to. The county wants the state to provide permission to use better, more effective methods to control the mussels.

Two Golden Owl finalists

Ag Daily. 107 teachers named Golden Owl Award finalists.
Synopsis: The FFA and Nationwide Insurance have created the Golden Owl award to honor agriculture teachers. Six of the 107 nominated teachers are from CA, including Shelby Fishman of Atwater High and Tara Meade of El Capitan in Merced. Others included Jennifer Knight of Clovis-East, Heather Thomas of Colusa, Robyn Payne of Sunset High in Del Norte County, and Russell Zimmerman of Nipomo High. The 107 finalists were chosen from 4,900 nominees in 15 states. From the 107, one will be chosen as Ag Educator of the Year.

Fewer sign up for insurance

Modesto Focus. Medi-Cal immigrant enrollment is dropping; researchers point to Trump’s policies.
Synopsis: KFF Health News analyzed enrollment in the Medicaid-funded Medi-Cal program and found that enrollment is dropping. Though 14 million people in the state qualify for coverage, many immigrants – documented and undocumented -- are refusing because they believe enrolling will draw attention of immigration enforcement. The overwhelming majority are employed and are paying taxes to support the programs they no longer access. The state’s program for children has seen a 5.6% drop in the last 10 months.
MAD Note: What happens when someone who no longer has insurance becomes sick? They often go to the nearest emergency room, which is required to treat them. That leaves the hospitals, and eventually the county, on the hook to pay those costs. It leads to crowding, exhaustion of staff and cuts to services and equipment.

Bringing tech to tickets

Merced Focus. Merced County Sheriff’s Office plans to switch to an online ticketing system.
Synopsis: The Merced Sheriff’s Office will use Tyler Technologies to digitize its citation process, which will modernize processes in dispatch, patrol and records. One small perk is that it will eliminate a daily trip from Los Banos to Delhi just to deliver paperwork. The department has a $420,000 annual contract with the company that includes transferring that paperwork electronically. “We’re hoping that it’s going to improve efficiency across the board,” said Lt. Delray Shelton. Merced police already use similar tech.

Welcome to the dungeon

Modesto Bee. Ever been to a dungeon crawl? You’ll get your chance coming up soon in Modesto. 
Synopsis: The Queen Bean Coffee & Social House will be hosting a game day dedicated to dungeons & dragons. Owner Sam Pierstorf is encouraging gamers to come in costume, bring their battle music and step up their social-media game. The Modesto Artists Movement is sponsoring the event and there will be vendors, props, gaming tables and tutorials for the merely dungeon-curious. It goes from 4 to 10 p.m. and costs $10.