-September 9,2021-
Electric car start-up Faraday Future is getting serious about retooling the old Pirelli Tire facility in Hanford into a state-of-the art automobile manufacturing plant, announcing last week they hired Matt Tall as the new Vice President of Manufacturing. Tall is responsible for all aspects of production and manufacturing and “giving priority to the Hanford manufacturing plant, where he will oversee the final phases of the site’s upgrade, installation of component tooling, hiring, and the production of the FF 91.”
Tall previously served as manufacturing VP at Rivian and has accumulated 29 years of manufacturing experience at a number of ICE and EV automotive companies, including Ford, GM, and Mercedes Benz, says the company.
Faraday Future says in a news release that “The Hanford manufacturing site is currently being prepared for the installation of manufacturing equipment, a process which is now expected to accelerate since its recent listing as a public company on Nasdaq.
The resources to complete the Hanford facility are now available, with construction and equipment installation set to meet its production goal, which is within 12 months of the closing of its merger in late July 2021.
FF is currently recruiting staff for the new plant and says it expects to continue its hiring process throughout the coming months.”
Hanford 100 degree days in 2021 hit 70
Fresno hit the record books with the number of the days over 100 degrees in one year numbering 64 as Sept 3- news repeated widely in the press. But Hanford is no slouch when it comes to excess heat, thank you very much.
As of this week the number of days 100 degrees or above is 70 as of this Thursday – far above the average for one year – 31 days. As to record, NWS has some uncertain data from 1919 that saw 84 days above 100-a suspect number considering nearby Fresno had only a number in the 30s that year. A spokesperson says it is possible we will see more than 70 days over 100 this year even though it is now finally cooling down into this weekend.
Ice rink will celebrate winter
Here’s something to look forward to to forget about the heat.Ice skating in Downtown’s Civic Park this November.The City of Hanford has approved a plan to pay nearly $100,000 to rent a 50 by 70 foot ice rink from late November to January 9. The rental from Magic Ice USA includes 300 pairs of skates, string lighting, 1,000 square feet of rubber matting to cushion that inevitable tumble.City will train staff for what they are calling Winter Wonderland, Opening Night will be Saturday, November 20th from noon to 10:00 pm. The ice rink will be open 7 days a week and guests can enjoy ice skating, food vendors, hot cocoa, photos with Santa, live entertainment, full bar (Thursday- Saturday), activities for the whole family and more.
Covid rates in Kings County
Kings County’s Covid vaccination rate continues to lag the state and surrounding counties. Kings County’s one-dose rate is 39.9% vs 48% for Tulare County and 59% for Fresno County The state says 69.6% of residents have had at least one dose. On the other hand ,new cases of Covid-19 are falling in Kings County in early September, numbering just 10 on 09/06/21 vs 148 new cases as of 08/31/21.