December 17 Newsletter
Central Valley Christian School Girls Volleyball team lauded: At Monday's meeting, the City Council recognized the 17-member team, who earned the Central Sequoia League Championship title, Division 3 CIF/Central Section Championship and CIF/Southern California Division 3 Championship and were runners up for the Division 3 State title. Team members are: Tess Van Grouw; Hannah Wilgenberg; Veronica Nederend; Sara Vander Poel; Taylor Van Den Berg; Katelyn Vander Tuig; Erica Roeloffs; Marissa Koster; Hailey Hilvers; Madelyn Souza; Lindsey Calvin; Hannah Fluegel; Jenna Moisi; and Sky Griffin. Head coach Megan Warkentin commended the girls as the best team for their commitment and their faith.
City earns spot on Governing's Most Walkable Cities Map: In the latest issue of Governing Magazine, the City of Visalia was included on a map of the 300 most walkable cities in the nation. The map estimates a total of 769 walk to work, an estimated 1.5% of all commuters. The median age is estimated at 37.4. GOVERNING is the nation's leading media platform covering politics, policy and management for state and local government leaders. Recognized as the most credible and authoritative voice in its field, GOVERNING provides nonpartisan news, insight and analysis on such issues as public finance, transportation, economic development, health, energy, the environment and technology. To view the map, click here.
Police beef up DUI patrols: Visalia Police Department will head a multi-agency effort to curb drunken driving during the holidays in Tulare and Kings counties. The Holiday Winter Mobilization runs through Jan. 1 with a DUI saturation patrol, which will put more officers on the road looking for one thing — drunken drivers. A total of 25 checkpoints will be conducted in Tulare and Kings counties. The task force, which includes 18 law enforcement agencies in Tulare and Kings counties, is part of the state grant-funded “Avoid the 18.” With more than $204,000 in grant money, the team’s sole purpose is reducing drunken driving. While saturation patrols and DUI checkpoints will take priority during the Winter Mobilization, the task force in both counties will also focus on efforts to nab those who’ve already been convicted of DUI or are due in court on DUI charges. Visalia Sgt. Chris McLain, who oversees the patrols and traffic divisions of Visalia police, said officers will also be conducting warrant checks at the homes of DUI offenders and court stings that focus on reducing the number of people driving on a suspended license. The task force includes Tulare Police Department, which has been part of the Avoid the 18 team since it started. Sgt. Darron Altermatt said a task force such as Avoid the 18 can benefit several counties. As motorists drive between cities and counties, the task force will target within city limits, as well as in rural areas of Cutler-Orosi and southern Tulare County.
Refuse services for holidays: City of Visalia offices will be closed on Wednesday, Dec. 25th and Wednesday, Jan. 1st, 2014. Christmas residential service normally scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 25 and 26, will be collected one day later on Thursday and Friday, Dec. 26 and 27, respectively. Christmas commercial service normally scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Dec. 25-27 will be collected one day later on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 26-28. New Year's residential service normally scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, Jan. 1 and 2, will be collected one day later on Thursday and Friday, Jan. 2 and 3. Commercial service normally scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Jan. 1-3, will be collected one day later on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Jan. 2-4.
Winter Volleyball League heats up: Get a team of friends, family or co-workers together and enjoy the game of volleyball. Coed leagues are offered in both intermediate and open divisions and games are played six on six with a maximum of 12 players per team. All matches are played indoors at the Anthony Community Center Gymnasium. Team registration is open until Friday, Dec. 27, and the cost is $235. Registrations submitted after the deadline will be accepted as space permits and will be charged a $25 late fee. A managers meeting will be held at 6:30 pm Thursday, Jan. 2, at the Anthony Center, 345 N. Jacob St. For information, go to www.liveandplayvisalia.com or call Adult Sports Coordinator Ramsey Ochoa at [email protected].