Letter: Wife of 49 years killed on Mother’s Day

On May 12, 2019 (Mother’s Day), my wife, Kathryn Garges (67 years old), and whom I shared 49 years of marriage with, along with her best friend, Diana Whitfield (75 years old), were tragically killed by a drunk driver who was about three times the legal drinking limit. The drunk driver, Sergio Delfino Mendoza-Sanchez, was […]

Letter: Local media ignored Visalia Unified failures

“Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.” – Thomas Jefferson, third U.S. President. He set high expectations for their role as government watchdogs – but editors still choose what stories they will […]

Sierra View continues upward trend in patient safety

Sierra View Medical Center (SVMC) was given a third consecutive ‘B’ from the Leapfrog Group’s Hospital Safety Grade. The designation recognizes SVMC’s continued efforts in protecting patients from harm and meeting the highest safety standards in the United States. “Patient safety is always a top priority for us and we’ve consistently been working towards gaining […]

VUSD Superintendent Dr. Todd Oto Fired

Amidst jeering and booing from the crowd, Visalia Unified School District (VUSD) Board President John Crabtree read a statement of action taken during May 7’s closed session. In a 5-2 vote , VUSD Superintendent Dr. Todd Oto was ousted. Crabtree, along with Trustees Juan Guerrero, Bill Fulmer, Niessen Foster and Walta Gamoian, voted in favor […]