Visalia Tackles Homelessness

The city of Visalia, faith-based organizations and service providers are coming together to deal with the issue of homelessness in Visalia. A broad-based outreach plan kicks off this month with faith-based partners to discourage individuals from giving money to panhandlers with the “Change That Counts” campaign, urging support instead for those who help the homeless. […]

Behavioral Services Spreads Pilot Program to 21 Local Schools

This fall, the Tulare County Office of Education’s Behavior Health Services (BHS) program expanded the reach of its successful Intervention Resource Classroom (IRC), first piloted at Lindsay High School last semester. The Lindsay High School pilot, known as the Green Zone, is a safe and highly supportive classroom where students with identified behavior management issues […]

Visalia Rescue Mission Serves 300 Thanksgiving Dinners

The Visalia Rescue Mission (VRM), along with about 150 volunteers, served approximately 300 Thanksgiving dinners at its Annual Thanksgiving Banquet, according to Jessica Cavale, VRM director of development. The annual meal, which featured live music, desserts and a traditional Thanksgiving meal with “all the fixings,” was held at the mission’s chapel/community center at 741 N. […]

Plaza Drive Interchange Completion Celebrated

On November 19, Visalia city officials, engineers from TRC Companies, Inc., and other dignitaries celebrated the grand opening of the improved State Route 198/Plaza Drive Interchange. TRC performed the planning and design for this $26 million project, which will promote economic growth across Tulare County by improving access to employment centers and enhancing the movement […]

Porterville Looks Forward After Proclamation Debate

Following the last few months of controversy, Porterville’s City Council and those in its LGBT community are looking ahead to the future. Proclamation Debate and Controversy Beginning in June, the council placed itself in the middle of considerable controversy over its LGBT Pride Month proclamation and the actions following it. In June, then-mayor Virginia Gurrola […]