Tulare County Round Up-

Weatherby’s could be out by fall

John Lindt

 July 8, 2016

Monterey developer, The Orosco Group, has closed escrow on the purchase of the Weatherby’s building at the corner of Mooney Boulevard and Walnut Avenue in Visalia.

Realtor Marty Zeeb, who represented the seller, confirmed the deal. The building was not owned by Weatherbys, which has a lease at least until September. Orosco plans to demolish the building to accommodate a new tenant, said officials close to the deal.

The 21,000 square-foot building has little parking as is. The Orosco team developed Packwood Creek shopping center and more recently purchased the Toys R Us property on Mooney. Weatherby’s store manager, Jay Rankin, says no official word has been given, but was glum about the news.

“We’ve been at this location for over 30 years,” he said.

In business since 1921, the Bakersfield-based chain has stores in Bakersfield, Porterville, Visalia and Santa Maria. Patrick Orosco did not return calls by press time.

Patio Place coming to Visalia

Patio Place, a small chain of patio furniture stores will open a 7,500 square-foot store at the Dick’s Sporting Goods shopping center next winter, said developer Dave Paynter. Patio Place has Valley locations already in Bakersfield and Fresno.

The new store will be located next to DWS in the center at Caldwell and Mooney. Paynter says the addition will mean the retail center is 100 percent full.

Citibank location to be transformed into restaurants

The vacant Citibank building on Mooney at Feemster is being developed for a new use.

Representing the developer, Jason Andrade of Commercial West in Fresno, says the building will likely be filled by two new restaurants.

“We will know more in about a month,” he said.

Milk/feed costs heading in right direction

Tulare County’s No. 1 industry got some good news in recent weeks as dairy farmers are breathing a little easier.

Milk prices are finally heading higher and feed costs going forward are falling fast. World milk futures prices are $1.50 to $2 higher and domestic sales of processed cheese for the food service industry are said to be reaching an all time high. Some say you can thank the popularity of Egg McMuffins.

On the feed front – September corn futures prices have tumbled from $4.40 a bushel to $3.50 in the past few weeks apparently based on forecasts for good rainfall in the corn belt. USDA says corn acreage is up 7 percent when compared to last year to 94.1 million acres.

Woodlake schools to receive $1 million solar loan

The California Energy Commission is expected to approve a $1 million, zero interest, solar energy loan to Woodlake Unified School District at their July board meeting.

The money would help install a 324.4 kilowatt rooftop-mounted panel system at the district's maintenance, operations, and transportation facility.

The district would save about $66,420 in utility costs each year.

California exports drop

Beacon Economics reports that California trade took a hit in May totaling $13.35 billion, 5.5 percent below the $14.13 billion recorded in same month last year.

Important to the local economy, exports of agricultural products dropped 17.6 percent from $3.73 billion to $3.08 billion. Food and kindred products exports were likewise off by 16.8 percent from $2.58 billion to $2.15 billion. Beacon’s analysis points out that “a strong dollar, it bears emphasizing, is not a positive development for California exporters even if our major trading partners were enjoying robust economic growth.”

Valley group heads back to drawing board for anti-rail/pro-water storage initiative

Kings County-based California Water Alliance announced this month they would give up efforts to continue collecting signatures on their proposed ballot initiative to yank money from the bullet train to build more water storage.

That measure had received some criticism from fellow farm groups that it hurt the current effort to build Temperance Flat. Now the group plans to rework the language and resubmit a new ballot initiative. The group had been trying to make a July 25 deadline to collect the required signatures to make the November 2018 ballot after missing an earlier deadline to get it on the ballot this November.

Now they will redo the language and submit it to the Secretary of State. One big fan is Congressman Devin Nunes (R-Tulare).

“I urge all Californians who want to restore the state’s dependable water operations to support the Water Priorities initiative.”

Micro brewery hearing in Visalia

The Visalia City Planning Commission will consider a request by the city of Visalia to amend zoning codes to allow a Microbrewery/Microwinery Overlay District –– making it easer to sell beer and wine in Visalia without full restaurant service.

Several pending projects await a decision. The meeting is set for July 11.

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