County News 2013

Tulare County’s Information & Communications Technology Department (TCiCT) is hosting its Second Annual Digital Photography Contest.

The purpose of the contest is to ask the public to help showcase the beauty of Tulare County in a variety of ways.  Photographers of all ages and skill levels are eligible to participate.  There are four different classes of photography: City, Agriculture, Mountains, and new this year, Instagram.  The photos must be images of Tulare County.  Contestants may submit up to five (5) photos total.  The purpose of the contest is to involve any and all citizens of Tulare County and any interested parties in capturing images that best depict the County of Tulare.

The Tulare & Kings Counties Suicide Prevention Task Force, in partnership with the Kings County and Tulare County Sheriff’s Department Coroner’s Offices and the Police Chiefs’ Association of Tulare County, announce the launch of the LOSS Team to assist those impacted by suicide deaths.

The Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors, or LOSS Team, was developed by Dr. Frank Campbell of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and is comprised of volunteers who serve as a primary support and referral resource to local survivors of suicide loss. The team will function around-the-clock and respond immediately to the scene of suspected suicide deaths. Team members will interact with loss survivors and provide them with resources and support so that they do not have to feel alone as they seek to deal with the emotions that accompany loosing someone to suicide.

In this year alone, Tulare County has lost 41 people and Kings County has lost 14 people to suicide: Law enforcement has long noted the need to support those who are impacted by suicide loss.

The Tulare County Probation Department has been awarded a new traffic safety grant for a year-long program aimed at preventing deaths and injuries resulting from driving under the influence (DUI).  

The $77,882 grant awarded by the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to Tulare County will aid in the county’s ongoing effort to improve traffic safety and the quality of life. Special probation supervision measures will target high-risk, felony and repeat DUI offenders in Tulare County.  The Probation Department will also work with other local law enforcement agencies on anti-DUI efforts as part of an ongoing commitment to keep our roadways safe through both enforcement and education.

The Tulare County Library is sponsoring a Home Renovations presentation by the Contractor’s State License Board of the California Department of Consumer Affairs on November 12 at 6:30 pm.

The Celtic/Folk/World music duo Four Shillings Short will present a multi-cultural educational concernt for all ages called "Around the World in 30 Instruments" at 7 p.m. on November 8 at the Tulare County Library Visalia Branch.

Tulare County Agricultural Commissioner Marilyn Kinoshita announced today that the walnut-buying period will begin Friday, November 1st as the County’s nut theft ordinance continues to be enforced.

“Commercial production and handling of walnuts constitute an important industry here in Tulare County” Kinoshita said. “Unfortunately, some people steal them from orchards and attempt to sell the walnuts illegally on the streets. County staff has been actively enforcing the nut theft ordinance by conducting compliance checks at places where walnuts are sold to ensure that this practice stops.”

The History of Tulare County Farm Labor & Agriculture Museum will debut a next exhibit on November 3 – Diligence Grown from Strong Roots: Honoring Croatian Experiences in Tulare County.

Tulare County residents who have library fines can get a break on what they owe  and help the hungry at the same time.

During the month of November, anyone who  brings in non-perishable food items to any branch of the Tulare County Library can have their fines reduced or eliminated.  One dollar per food donation will be deducted from existing fines, except for any charges for lost or damaged library items.  There is no limit to the amount of fine reduction.

Traver celebrates affordable healthy and nutritious food with a celebration at Traver Market & Gas on October 24, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  

Food Day is a nationwide celebration of healthy, affordable, and sustainably produced food and a grassroots campaign for better food policies. Food Day aims to help people eat real. That means cutting back on sugar drinks, overly salted packaged foods, and fatty, factory-farmed meats in favor of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and sustainably raised protein. Simple changes can help fight obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other health problems.

Tulare County Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector, Rita A. Woodard, would like to remind tax payers that the first installment of secured property taxes is due November 1, 2013, and of the convenient payment options available.

A variety of proposed medical marijuana policy changes will be brought to the Tulare County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday that range from a permanent ban on new dispensaries and cultivation sites to reducing the number of plants an individual can grow.

The proposed policy changes will be presented at 1:30 p.m. on October 22 during a “Marijuana Study Session” at the Board Chambers, located at 2800 W. Burrel Ave. in Visalia.

The study session is in response to a number of State Appellate Court decisions this year that provide clarification of State law regarding the ability of local governments to regulate or ban marijuana activity. For example, in May 2013 the State Appellate Court affirmed the right of cities’ and counties’ powers to regulate and ban medical marijuana operations. (City of Riverside v. Inland Empire Patient’s Health and Wellness Center, Inc.)

Board of Supervisors Chairman Pete Vander Poel said reviewing and strengthening local medical marijuana policy can be an important tool to combating illegal grow sites.

“Illegal medical marijuana grow sites pose a tremendous threat to the safety and well-being of Tulare County’s residents,” Chairman Vander Poel said. “The Board will ensure that our policies provide ample opportunity for County staff to continue to eradicate illegal marijuana.”

A new study by the California Center for Public Health Advocacy (CCPHA) and the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research shows that the overall consumption of sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) by children here in Tulare County has fallen from 54 to 49 percent.

“Limiting the consumption of SSBs, including sports and energy drinks, will help protect our children and adolescents from rising rates of obesity and early-onset diabetes and will lower the rates of children who must enter the health care system early for these health issues,” said Tulare County Public Health Officer, Dr. Karen Haught.

Waukena residents are invited to attend an informational workshop aimed to educate them of no-cost and low-cost programs that will lower their energy bill.

The workshop is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10 at Waukena Elementary School, located at 19113 Rd. 28, Tulare, CA 93274. The workshop is being offered by Tulare County, Pacific Gas & Electric, and Proteus, Inc.

Tulare County Registrar of Voters, Rita A. Woodard, is reminding all Tulare County residents that the Consolidated Districts Election will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2013 and there are a number of important upcoming election-related dates.

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday appointed Rhonda Sjostrom as the Human Resources & Development Director.

Sjostrom has worked for Tulare County for more than 26 years, where she has held management positions with the County Administrative Office and Human Resources & Development. Most recently, Sjostrom served as Assistant Human Resources Director since September 2009.

Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Pete Vander Poel said the Board was pleased to hire an internal candidate out of a pool of 50 applicants.

“Rhonda has been a dedicated employee for 26 years and knows our organization extremely well,” Chairman Vander Poel said. “She is committed to cutting edge improvements within the department to assure it functions at a high level.”

Two Tulare County Library programs have received statewide recognition for providing digital access to teens and more access to books for all residents.

The California State Association of Counties (CSAC) awarded Tulare County’s “Teen Digital Media Lab” with a Challenge Award and the “Your Library in More Places” program also received a Merit Award for its efforts to place book machines in rural, unincorporated communities as part of its annual Challenge Awards program. CSAC staff will attend Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting to present the awards.

“CSAC is validating something that we already knew here in Tulare County: our Library is doing a great job in finding innovative ways to promote their programs and keep the community engaged,” said Pete Vander Poel, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. “We are extremely honored to receive these accolades and are proud of the Library staff.”