-April 29,2023-
JOB FAIR: While layoffs make the headlines across the nation,Visalia held a holding a job fair April 26 at the TCOE complex on Doe in the industrial park with around 20 companies looking to hire.Positions are in dispatch, welding, lab tech, drivers, warehouse work and more .
BACK IN THE BLACK: Kaweah Health‘s financial goal to get “Back in the Black” has now shown positive results in March says the latest report to the board. The health care district has suffered red ink for months but in March the district increased revenue and cut costs. The healthcare district reported a $4.7 million positive margin in March.Red ink this fiscal year has been more than $35 million.Now there is hope for a turnaround.
OLD JAIL COMING DOWN: Tulare County plans to demolish the old 5-story jail built in 1960 later this summer. Due to the construction of new jail facilities, the existing Main Jail no longer houses inmates and with the completion of a new Dispatch Facility, is mostly vacant. The remaining Tulare County Sheriff’s Office staff will be relocated to the new Porterville Substation.
On March 14, 2023, an agreement with Vanir Construction Management, Inc. was approved by the Board for services including structural review, demolition design, and construction management services. Potential use of the site post-demolition includes the construction of a smaller sherrif’s facility and additional new parking.
TULE RIVER RUNOFF AT 446%OF AVERAGE: Warm up will see mid 90 degrees on the Valley floor and 70s in the Sierra between now and early May. Concern over runoff is building in Tulare, Kings and Fresno counties with the Kaweah expected to be 300% of average, a record 446% of average on the Tule and 426% of average runoff coming down the Kern. Estimates are 50% exceedance as of April 18. Snowpack is largest ever. The LA Times may get some attention from Sacramento reporting this week that “The only thing keeping the rising lake from inundating homes, businesses and the prison in Corcoran is the 14.5-mile-long dirt levee. Local officials want to see the levee reinforced and raised by 3.5 feet.” Locals hope the state will help.