This is a collection of local news concisely presented to provide a quick overview of what you might otherwise have missed.
Fire season continues in Tulare County
According to Cal Fire, the Flume Fire, at Highway 190 and Wishon Drive in Sequoia Crest, began at 1:52 p.m. on July 6, and had already burned 65 acres by 10 a.m. the following morning.
The Tractor Fire, north of Springville, first reported at 10:41 a.m. on July 7, had burned 10 acres in its first hour. Other fires discovered this week include the Hornet Fire and the Stairs Fire, both first reported on July 6.
Eagle Mountain Casino holds groundbreaking ceremony for new hotel and resort
On July 1, Eagle Mountain Casino officially begin construction of a hotel and resort that will be added to the current casino property next to the Porterville Fairgrounds off Highway 65.
The $220 million project includes construction of a new 193-room tower with a rooftop restaurant, a central warehouse and offices, expansion of an existing restaurant, a new 2,000-seat events center with convention space, breakout meeting rooms, pre-function space, and new hotel amenities, including a new spa, arcade, and resort pool.
Visalia makes the least educated city list
Visalia was named the least educated city in the U.S. for 2025. WalletHub used 11 metrics to compare the 150 largest metropolitan statistical areas, including the percentage of adults 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Central Valley cities dominated the “top 10,” with Bakersfield, Modesto, Fresno and Stockton placing numbers fourth through seventh.
Tulare County Fire Department welcomes six firefighters
On June 27, six new firefighters were welcomed by Tulare County Fire Chief Charlie Norman, and read their oaths by Tulare County Supervisor Amy Shuklian.
The new firefighters are Andrew Wright, Jonas Reynolds, Clayton Hulsey, Burke Bardonnex, Francisco Sarabia and Steve Coreas.
JD Dix joins Visalia Rawhide
JD Dix, the 35th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks, joined the Visalia Rawhide after being promoted from the D-backs’ Arizona Complex League team.
Dix made his Valley Strong Ballpark debut on July 4 and had four hits, scored four runs, and drove in four runs as the Rawhide beat the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 15-3 in front of a sold out holiday crowd.
Where did the ‘giant ants’ on Galaxy Theatres go?
The “giant ants” that had decorated the Galaxy Theatres in Tulare now have a new home.
After being hidden away in a warehouse, Galaxy Theatres CEO Frank Rimkus sent them to Monroe, Washington, where they were painted by members of the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Boys and Girls Clubs and Monroe Chamber of Commerce, before being used to decorate the Monroe Galaxy Theaters.
Azorean writer dies at age 80
Álamo de Oliveira, prolific Azorean writer, playwright, and cultural advocate, died on July 6 at the age of 80. His book, “Through the Walls of Solitude,” which was published on April 7, was translated into English by Diniz Borges, who taught at Tulare High School.
Borges is the director of the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute at Fresno State University and serves as Portugal’s honorary consul in California.
Lefty Holman scores big at Calgary Stampede
Day three of the Calgary Stampede attracted a reported 182,000 people to the rodeo events in Alberta, Canada, on July 6.
Live Wire Canada reported that, “The big ride of the day was from Lefty Holman from Visalia, California, who scored an 89.5 aboard Crocket to take the Sunday payday in Saddle Bronc.”
Utility scams reported at ‘alarming rate’
The Pacific Gas and Electric Company, which serves parts of Tulare County, issued a press release on June 25 warning that, “Utility scams have continued at an alarming rate during 2025, with PG&E customers reporting over $190,000 in losses to scammers.”
PG&E stated that it, “will never send a single notification to a customer within one hour of a service interruption, and will never ask customers to make payments with a pre-paid debit card, gift card, any form of cryptocurrency, or instant mobile payment applications.”
New report details gray wolf conservation efforts in California
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife released the report “Ten Years of Gray Wolf Conservation and Management in California” on July 2. The report includes information about the Yowlumni wolf pack in the southern Sierra in Tulare County, as well as about wolf attacks on cattle.
“The return of wolves to California is an epic tale and this report marks an important milestone in that story,” said Amaroq Weiss, a senior wolf advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity.
Don’t sleep on recycling your mattress
The City of Porterville Public Works announced on July 7 that it has recycled more than 1,000 mattresses in its first six months of operation in partnership with the Bye Bye Mattress program.
“We are incredibly proud of how many mattresses we’ve prevented from ending up in landfills or illegally dumped around Tulare County,” said Tulare County Supervisor Dennis Townsend. “Together we’ve prevented 1,000 mattresses from ending up in our landfills.”
Mattresses are also being collected at 335 N. Cain St. and 8614 Ave. 328 in Visalia; 3989 South K St., Tulare; 873 S. Farmersville Blvd., Farmersville; 350 W. Firebaugh Ave., Exeter; and 595 S. Valencia Blvd., Woodlake. Other locations can be found on the Bye Bye Mattress website.
Tim Hire named president-elect of California County Superintendents
Tulare County Superintendent of Schools Tim Hire has been named president-elect of the 2025-26 executive committee of the California County Superintendents.
The organization of 58 county school superintendents designs and implements statewide programs to promote quality cost-effective educational practices and services, and to provide support to school districts.
Boaz Aquatics reopens in Earlimart
The renovated Boaz Aquatics Center in Earlimart opened on July 7. The pool is at Earlimart Middle School and will be open Monday through Thursday until July 31.
For more information, call (661) 849-3386, ext. 5102.
National Pygmy Goat Association holds annual convention in Porterville
The Sequoia Pygmy Goat Association hosted “How the West Was Won,” the National Pygmy Goat Association National Convention in Porterville on June 20.
The 2025 Champion Challenge at the event brought together animals from across the country to compete for the title of national champion.
Visalia makes top 10 list of ‘fun’ places to retire in California
Family Destinations Guide named Visalia as No. 3 on its list of “10 Fun Cities in California where You Can Still Live Large in Retirement.”
Fresno topped the list, followed by Bakersfield.
Article author Lyam Lavigne wrote, “Visalia offers a charming retirement option with housing costs that won’t devour your savings. This Central Valley gem remains one of California’s best-kept secrets for affordable living.” She added, “Grocery stores in Visalia offer prices that might make you think you’ve traveled back in time. Your food budget stretches further when you’re shopping in the heart of California’s agricultural region.”
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Rural County Representatives of California accepting entries for digital photography contest
The Rural County Representatives of California is accepting entries for its digital photography contest through July 31.
The annual contest invites participants “to share captivating images that showcase the incredible diversity, breathtaking scenery, vibrant activities, rich history, and undeniable charm that make RCRC’s member counties truly special.”
The RCRC website suggests submitting photos of “serene waterways, fascinating wildlife, majestic livestock or distinctive architecture.”
California hands-free driving law is now in effect
It’s not just in Tulare County, but drivers all over the state need to be aware of a major change that went into effect on July 1.
Under California’s new hands-free driving law, it is now illegal to hold or even touch your phone for any reason while driving, whether it’s for music, navigation, or notifications.
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: In Brief: Fire season, Eagle Mountain, least educated city, Rawhide rookie, ‘giant ants’
Reporting by Steve Pastis, Visalia Times-Delta / Visalia Times-Delta
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
