County News 2014

Visalia’s Mayor Steve Nelsen will be speaking at the Tulare County Library’s Visalia Branch at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 27 as part of the “Getting To Know” series. 

The “Getting to Know” series is a Tulare County Library initiative that is designed to give residents an opportunity to get to know the people and issues affecting them.

South Tulare County residents now have another retail option in the unincorporated community of Earlimart. 

The nation’s newest Dollar General opened its doors at the White River Plaza located at the northeastern corner of Avenue 56 (Sierra Highway) and CA State Route 99, in Earlimart, CA.

Tulare County's Film Commission has produced a video to attract film makers to do business here. There are so many cool places in Tulare County featured in this video. Check it out!

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors today unanimously proclaimed a local emergency due to the statewide drought, called for state legislators to place a water bond on a future ballot, and formed an ad hoc committee to address future water advocacy strategy. 

The Tulare County Indian Gaming Local Community Benefit Committee (IGLCBC) is seeking grant applications from interested special districts and local governments who can mitigate impacts related to the Eagle Mountain Casino.

Senate Bill 621, which became law on January 1, 2004, makes grant funding available to counties, cities and special districts impacted by tribal gaming from the Indian Gaming Special Distribution Fund (SDF).  Gaming tribes that operated 200 or more gaming devices on or before September 1, 1999 contribute a variable portion of their net winnings into the SDF.  In Tulare County, the Tule River Tribe contributes winnings from the Eagle Mountain Casino. The seven-member Tulare County IGLCBC is responsible for selecting these grants.

In Tulare County, $268,177.87 in grant funding is available for distribution in Fiscal Year 2013-14. The Tule River Tribe must sponsor the grants and affirm that the proposed grant projects have a reasonable relationship to the impacts of their casino, in addition to other requirements.

Tulare County officials announced today the date for family members or next of kin to claim their deceased loved ones prior to internment has been extended 30 days.

Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Phil Cox said the date has been extended from February 25 to March 25 because of interest from the public. Tulare County sent out a notice two weeks ago regarding the County’s plans to conduct an internment of more than 210 cremains being held. Since then, interested residents have called about the indigent cremains and some have asked for the internment to be delayed.

“We are pleased with the amount of interest the public has given and we are glad some of the people cremated will be reunited with their families,” Chairman Cox said. 

In preparing for this speech during the last two months I found myself looking for the news. I read and reread the message I delivered five years ago and cannot find anything from that speech that compares to this time. There is good news and bad to share for the upcoming year, but mostly good. First I want to thank my family for their continuing support they give to me and especially my wife Connie. In just a few months it will be five years since she discovered she had cancer. Our family surrounded us with support and love to help her through the treatment. The community offered its support also. We will always remember those who showed their support through kind notes and prayers. Here we are today at the five year mark and cancer free. 

Family members or next of kin are encouraged to claim their deceased loved ones prior to a mass burial scheduled for February 28, 2014 at the Tulare County Potter’s Field, just north of Traver. 

Kingsburg Cemetery District Superintendent Carmen Rojas said more than 210 indigent cremains are being held at the Kingsburg Cemetery, located at 12782 E. Clarkson Ave. Kingsburg, CA 93631. The last day to claim the cremains is February 25. If the cremains aren’t claimed, they will be included in a mass burial, with a ceremony to follow at 10 a.m. on February 28 at Potter’s Field. A potter’s field is a term for a place for the burial of unknown or indigent people. 

The cremains are being held by the Kingsburg Cemetery District as part of Tulare County’s Indigent Burial Program. 

The last time a mass burial was conducted was 2006.

Family members or next of kin are encouraged to visit https://tchhsa.org/eng/index.cfm/human-services/indigent-cremation-program/ to view a list of indigent cremains being held by the Kingsburg Cemetery District. If a person is identified, family members or next of kin should contact Kingsburg Cemetery District Superintendent Carmen Rojas at 559/897-2426.

Tulare County officials say the number of building permits for both single family homes and commercial buildings increased sharply in 2013. County records show 3,363 building permits were issued in 2013 – up sharply from the 3,023 issued in 2012.

“The value of county building permits issued in 2013 increased by $40 million over the value of permits issued during 2012, “ said Phil Cox, Chairman of the Tulare County Board of Supervisors. “This is one sign the economy is improving in the area.”

Officials say the value of all building permits issued in 2013 increased approximately 32 % - to an estimated overall valuation of $166.3 million. Permits issued for houses increased by 23% while commercial building permits increased by 20%.

Residents, businesses, and government agencies who want to know more about how to prevent and protect themselves from cyber crimes are invited to attend a tech fair in Visalia.

The Tulare County Information & Communications Technology Department  (TCiCT) is hosting its annual tech fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday at the Visalia Convention Center. Registration will open at 9:30 a.m.

The theme for this year's fair is security and is setup to be the biggest one yet, with more than 25 vendors, a Digital Photo Contest Display, and security demos. TCiCT will offer attendees many opportunities to increase their cyber security knowledge from a work and personal level.