Symptoms of Salmonella infection include fever, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea which may be bloody. Most infected people recover within a week. Some people may develop complications that require hospitalization. Infants, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are at highest risk for more severe illness. Routine surveillance samples of Banner Mountain Alfalfa Sprouts were found contaminated with Salmonella.

The recalled alfalfa sprouts are packaged in four-ounce, clear, flexible, clamshell plastic containers with green labels containing sell by dates from September 7 to October 8, 2010.

CDPH recommends consumers who experience symptoms of Salmonella infection after consuming Banner Mountain Alfalfa Sprouts should consult their health care provider. Consumers that observe the product being offered for sale are encouraged to report their findings to the CDPH toll free complaint line at (800) 495-3232.

By Chris Furguson
The local football action went from slow and tame to fast and furious last Friday as several teams prepared for the last pair of games before preseason ends and league action begins.
The Brawley Wildcats held their home opener against the Christian Academy Patriots, but lost 28-10.
Brawley’s scorers included Colton Tate, who scored off a 45 yd. pass from Donald Wharton, and Sergio Hernandez, who had a field goal and a PAT.
The Wildcats next host the Coachella Valley United Arabs at Warne Field at 7 pm tomorrow.
The Imperial Tigers finally got their heads out of the sand and managed the strong, entire game performance they were capable of as they defeated the Parker Lancers 20-12.
Imperial scored on three touchdowns, one from Preston Blincoe and two from Freddy Halton while kicker Jerry Martinez made two of three PATs.
Imperial (1-1-1) next plays the Desert Mirage Rams in Coachella Valley at 7 pm.
The Central Spartans found themselves with an easier game than expected as they routed the  Kofa Kings 75-32.
Central scored 11 touchdowns and one safety during the first three quarters.
Central (2-2) next hosts the Granite Hills Eagles at Cal Jones Field tomorrow at 7 pm.
The Calexico Bulldogs traveled to Yucca Valley after their first victory of the season the previous week.  Unfortunately, they met a roadblock in the Trojans as they lost 23-14.
Calexico (1-2) next plays the Coachella Valley Arabs in Calexico at 7 pm.
The Southwest Eagles bullied their way through the Holtville Vikings 45-6.
The Eagles had 6 touchdowns and one field goal while the Vikings scored one touchdown in the first quarter.
The Eagles (2-1) next play the University City Centurions in San Diego on Saturday.  The Holtville Vikings (2-1) will host the Escondido Charter White Tigers in Pacific League action tomorrow at 7 p.m.
The Palo Verde Yellow Jackets lost their undefeated streak against the Gila Ridge Hawks 35-14 in Blythe.
The Yellow Jackets (2-1) next play the Horizon Panthers in San Diego.
The Calipatria Hornets remained the only undefeated team in the Imperial Valley as they took down the Twin Pines Bobcats 33-0 in Calipatria.
The Hornets scored on three touchdowns from Cedric Thompson, including two rushing and one receiving from   quarterback Tanner Rollins.  Rollins also tossed a touchdown to Damion Allen and Nick Atonto scored a final rushing TD.
The Hornets next host Mountain Empire in Calipatria for the start of their Pacific League action.  Gametime is 7 pm.

Is Anybody Out There Paying Attention?
A Paraprosdokian World Awaits

IS ANYBODY OUT THERE PAYING ATTENTION? It would appear they aren’t.
Here in Holtville and in other places, such as Brawley, subcommittees to the City Council go along without much recognition and mostly without much purpose.
The Holtville Planning Commission is short members once again and finding those who want to service is getting to be a real chore.
Small town  living is supposed to mean participation in small town affairs. But not in Imperial Valley, apparently.
Participation ina Democracy is also supposed to mean participation in the governmental process.Once again, Imperial Valley doesn’t adhere to this cornerstone of Democracy. How come?
There are too many ways to entertain yourself these, for one thing. You can watch television just about anywhere and take the soupy, canned and corny opinions of dozens of “reporters’ over what the actual truth is on a daily basis.
You can also feel remorse and helplessness about the world and what goes on it as though your opinion doesn’t count for much. Some times it doesn’t.
But that is still no excuse for passing on a civic responsibility such as running for a public office. Or being appointed to one.
Or participating in the process somehow. The other guy won’t get it done if you don’t take the initiative to step forward and offer your services to the town you live in.
Holtville has a hard time keeping planners on the commission because there is hardly anything to plan. That which comes before it usually has a rubber stamp quality to it. Just nod your head and say yes, no matter what the issue is. Oh, and don’t expect to win a point, either. The administration sets the pace and dictates what should be done. it’s convenient and allows people to get back to their private worlds faster.
But it makes for government you may not care for and even further erodes the voice of the people.
SO, PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT’S GOING ON AROUND YOU and get involved with your city. It will only cost you a few hours a week. And you might actually get some satisfaction our of it if the system isn’t manipulated too much.
C’mon. It’s time for people out there in the communities of Imperial Valley to step up and pay attention to what goes on. Maybe they won’t be quite as frustrated with the system if they can participate in it.
CALL CITY HALL TODAY AND VOLUNTEER FOR A COMMITTEE!

Paraprosdokian–a figure of speech that uses an unexpected ending to a series or phrase.
I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn’t work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.
Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.
The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it’s still on the list.
Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
If I agreed with you we’d both be wrong.
We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.
War does not determine who is right – only who is left.
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
The early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.
Evening news is where they begin with ‘Good evening’, and then proceed to tell you why it isn’t.
To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research. A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station.
How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?
Dolphins are so smart that within a few weeks of captivity, they can train people to stand on the very edge of the pool and throw them fish.

(The following is a statement prepared and submitted by candidate Peter A. Martinez. It is presented in his own words.)
A Candidate who is Ready to meet the Challenges
Peter A. Martinez brings 15 years of academic experience working with California Community Colleges.  He is currently the Director of Extended Opportunity Programs & Services including overseeing the CARE Program for Palo Verde Community College in Blythe.  During his tenure at Palo Verde College, he has developed the growth of his college program to 650 students in 2009-2010 with a retention rate of 73% (fall to spring) 2008-2009 and 2009-2010, 84% (fall to spring) success rate.  Peter also extends his services to two successful state prison programs near Blythe; Ironwood State Prison and Chuckawalla State Prison where the inmate students are enrolled in a college program through Palo Verde College.
In the last six years, Peter Martinez has also served his region as Regional Coordinator under the statewide funded categorical program of EOPS, serving the following institutions through the coordination of services for the California Chancellor’s Office in the region:  San Bernardino Valley College, Crafton Hills College, Cerro Coso College, Barstow College, Mt. San Jacinto College, Moreno Valley College, Copper Mountain College, College of the Desert, Riverside College, Norco College, Chaffey College, and Victor Valley College, and his own campus at Palo Verde College.
Peter brings his experience not only teaching Business Management classes, but also 10 years working with workforce development programs and occupational ready to work programs with youth and adult services at the local and regional levels.
As to his experience and exposure with fiscal funding, he brings to the table knowledge of running three funding sources and experience sitting on the statewide budget taskforce with the Chancellor’s Office for EOP&S.  Most importantly, Peter has a sound fiscal and an excellent record of balancing his budgets during his tenure at Palo Verde College.  Peter understands the severe economic needs that Imperial County has endured in recent years.  It’s why he decided to be an applicant for the Imperial Valley College Board of Trustees where he can be a support system to the present challenges found in our education system.  Mr. Martinez contribution and devotion to education can be an effective voice, if given the opportunity to represent the communities at large.   Mr. Martinez stated that education is the heart-beat and solution to keeping a strong pulse, a needed rhythm for America.  He will make decisions that will protect resources, the future of students, and seek for collaboration of community resources.
The goal and campaign message of Mr. Martinez is his commitment to cast decisions that will place first and foremost students at the top of his priority.  “My commitment to the community will be to protect our funding resources, making it transparent to the community that every decision taken into consideration is carefully reviewed before expenditures are made in the interest of saving costs.”  This candidate is committed to working with local businesses, community partners, UC and CSU programs that will lead to higher transfer rates and pathways to student success.

By Luke Phillips

City Manager Laura Fischer announced at a meeting of the Holtville City Council Monday that Planning Commissioner Martin Castanon has submitted a letter of resignation.
Castanon is the second planning commissioner to resign over the summer after Jim Marquand left his position this past June, leaving two vacant seats which have yet to be filled.
Fischer says the Castanon decided to resign because of conflicts with his work schedule.
Fischer says that the two vacant seats offer a unique opportunity to residents of the city who would like to participate in shaping their community.
“You really get to have a hand in how the community develops and how the community really looks,” she said.
Planning Commissioners attend meetings on the third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall for about an hour.
Fischer says the commissioners receive a packet at the end of the week before a meeting describing any new ordinances or construction projects. The commissioners review the packets in detail and make recommendations for changes to the city council.
“Not all ordinances fit the niche of our community,” Fischer said. “So the commissioners make changes and edit the ordinances to fit our community.”
Planning Commissioners also have a hand in making sure all annexation and subdivision maps meet regulations and also handle requested variances to zoning rules.
“It’s really a learning experience, but you bring with you what you know and the experiences you’ve had in your life,” Fischer said.
Fischer says that a background in planning, construction or engineering can be helpful for potential planning commissioners, but are not necessarily required. Current and recent commissioners have had backgrounds in education, geothermal power, construction, environmental safety and one used to be a dog catcher.
Planning Commissioners are unpaid and serve 4-year terms.
“Obviously you can resign early from that, but we like to maintain continuity,” Fischer said, “Because when you have projects in the works you like to know where you are on that.”

SACRAMENTO – Following the recent success of licensing solar energy facilities, the California Energy Commission today approved nearly 1,000 megawatts (MW) of solar power in Southern California.

The Genesis Solar Energy Project and the Imperial Valley Solar Project, totaling 959 MW, are now the fifth and sixth solar power plants that the Energy Commission has licensed in the past five weeks. Since late August, the Commission has licensed 2,829 MW of renewable solar power in the California desert.

“These approved solar projects continue to demonstrate the importance of harnessing the power of the sun for clean, renewable energy for California’s communities,” said Energy Commission Chairman Karen Douglas. “By adding nearly 1,000 megawatts of renewable power we will reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and get the State closer to its goals of using more renewables by 2020. Today’s actions show how California is leading the nation by licensing nearly 3,000 megawatts this year with large-scale solar power plants,” Douglas added.

In two separate unanimous votes, the Energy Commission adopted the presiding member’s proposed decisions (PMPD) that recommended licensing the 250-MW Genesis project in Riverside County and the 709-MW Imperial Valley project in Imperial County. In order to qualify for federal stimulus funds, the projects needed to be approved by the Energy Commission before December 31, 2010.

These projects are a direct result of the successful partnership between California and the Department of the Interior (DOI). In October 2009, California was the first state to sign a memo of understanding with the DOI to develop long-term renewable energy plans through state and federal permitting processes that can receive 30 percent federal tax credits under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. The two projects would be among the first commercial solar thermal power plants permitted on federal public land in the United States. Both projects still require decisions from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which approves the use of federal public lands, before they can proceed. The BLM’s actions are scheduled for October.

The Genesis Solar Energy Project is being proposed by Genesis Solar LLC, a subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC. The project site is located in eastern Riverside County about 25 miles west of Blythe. The project is north of Ford Dry Lake and Interstate 10. The project is seeking a right-of-way grant from the BLM for 4,640 acres, with construction and operation of the facility taking up about 1,800 acres.

The proposed project would use parabolic trough technology where parabolic mirrors are used to heat a transfer fluid which is then used to generate steam. Electricity is produced from the steam expanding through steam turbine generators.

The Imperial Valley Solar Project is being developed by Imperial Valley Solar, LLC, a subsidiary of Tessera Solar, in Imperial County. The project is located about 14 miles west of El Centro.

The project would be located on approximately 6,140 acres of land managed by the BLM and about 360 acres of privately-owned land.

The facility would use solar dish Stirling systems, or “SunCatchers”, consisting of a solar receiver heat exchanger and a closed-cycle, high efficiency engine designed to convert solar power to rotary power, then driving an electrical generator to produce electricity.

The Genesis and Imperial Valley projects are among nine large solar thermal projects scheduled to go before the Commission before the end of the year. More than 4,100 megawatts of solar power will be added if all nine projects are approved. The nine projects would provide more than 8,000 construction jobs and more than 1,000 operational jobs.

The four previously licensed plants are: the 250-MW Beacon Solar Energy Project (Aug. 25); the 250-MW Abengoa Mojave Solar Project (Sept. 8); the 1,000-MW Blythe Solar Power Project (Sept. 15); and the 370-MW Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System project (Sept. 22). The 663.5-MW Calico Solar Project is scheduled for the Oct. 28 meeting. Two other projects, the 500-MW Palen Solar Power Project and the 150-MW Rice Solar Energy Project, are still under review.

The PMPDs for the Genesis and Imperial Valley projects said the facilities, even with mitigation measures, will have significant impacts on cultural resources, land use, and visual resources. The Imperial Valley project also will have significant impact on biological resources and would be inconsistent with an Imperial County land use ordinance.

However, the benefits of the projects would override those impacts. The Genesis project will require a peak workforce of 1,085 during construction, with another 50 jobs when the plant is in operation. The Imperial Valley project will need a peak workforce of 731 during construction, with another 164 operational jobs.

The PMPDs were based solely on the record of facts that were established during the facilities’ certification proceedings.

The proposed solar thermal power projects that the Energy Commission is considering will help meet the state’s Renewables Portfolio Standard, which requires California’s electricity utility companies to use renewable energy to produce 20 percent of their power by 2010 and 33 percent by 2020. Solar energy is a main source of renewable power.

The federal government and the State of California have established the need to increase the development and use of renewable energy in order to enhance the nation’s energy independence, meet environmental goals, and create new economic growth opportunities.

Genesis Solar Project: www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/genesis_solar/
Imperial Valley Solar Project: www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/solartwo/