Tulare County Jobless Rate below Double Digits
For the first time in years Tulare County’s’ jobless rate has dropped to single digits at 9.9% in September said EDD Friday.It was 10.9% in August and 11.4% in September 2014. The number of unemployed dropped an impressive 13.4% year-over-year. California unemployment also fell significantly down to 5.5% from 7% a year ago. Good growth in non farm jobs pushed the jobless rate lower and even farm jobs are surprisingly up slightly from September 2014 in our county.
The Visalia City Council has approved the sale of the northwest corner of Mineral King and Stevenson to Kaweah Delta for the price of of $645,000. The hospital will use the lot as it is now for 100-plus parking spaces next to their expanding campus.Ready to open in days is new managed-care clinic a block away. CEO Lindsay Mann says eventually they would build on the site but not until a second tower is moving to construction – some years out.
Among the handful of major initiatives at Kaweah Delta is the planned expansion of the residency program already slated to bring in 79 new physicians to the area as it moves forward year by year. Just approved – a Neurology residency program with the first class beginning in July 2017 as three new residents come on board. The hospital is working to beef up its neurology services as it applies for designation as a major stroke center. Also pending board approval to two more new residency programs.
Woodlake is seeing construction of several good size home subdivisions as Self Help will build a 70-lot project in the northern part of town and Mathias and Turner plan a 160-unit single family subdivision in the city’s southwest corner.
Just the beginning: NAS Lemoore broke ground on the first F-35 project in July, a major renovation of Hanger 5, and is the launch of a long multi-million dollar, military construction process.
More funding to widen Hwy 99: TCAG is applying to the state for annual funding through the state Transportation Commission at their October 22 meeting expecting approval for $4 million to add to $45 million approved to add third lanes to HWY 99 from Tagus to Prosperity starting in 2017. The next leg would be Prosperity to Ave 200 that would have to wait until 2020 to begin. Also delayed- funds to realign SR-65 from Lindsay to HWY 198 formerly scheduled to happen next year but now put off till 2018.
Mixed picture for Visalia crime statistics: Through August of this year a number of key crime offenses are up compared to the same period in 2014.Down are homicides, year-to-date, as well as motor vehicle theft. Up are forceable rape,assault and burglary. Total crime incidents in the city in July and Aug 2014 numbered 928 vs 1082 for the same months this year or about a 15% increase.
Visalia Senior Games could draw 200 to 300 entries with athletes from throughout the Central Valley. The launching of the first multi-sport, multi-day games is gaining momentum as the date approaches – October 21st and running through October 25th. The 2015 Visalia Senior Games will include the sports of tennis, bowling, table tennis, pickelball, horseshoes, archery, golf, the team sport of softball and a 5K/10K road race.Visalia vice mayor Warren Gubler says this first shot at what he hopes will be an annual event is “a great start” as he hopes they will add track and field events next year. Created under the umbrella of the California Senior Games Association (CSGA), the Visalia Senior Games promote healthy, active lifestyles for adults ages 50 and better.Events are planned at multi sports venues around town including Riverway and Plaza parks. For more info-559-713-4365.
HSR Rail could eliminate at least one expensive rail overpass over a Kings County street as residents along 7th at Elder, north of Hanford, petition to abandon the street. There are only 4 residents on the rural street and all have other access options.