Gerardo Antonio accepts the $250 check for Best Salsa winning $750 and a championship belt during the Imperial Valley Taco Festival on May 2 The Brawley Union High School Band Boosters win $250 for the People’s Choice award during the Imperial Valley Taco Festival on May 2 Brawley Mayor Gil Rebollar congratulates Carlos Tabarez during the Imperial Valley Taco Festival on May 2 Gerardo Antonio and his team at Antonio’s Baja Catch food truck prepare carne asada shrimp and ribeye steak during the Imperial Valley Taco Festival on May 2 BRAWLEY — The sixth annual Imperial Valley Taco Festival brought upbeat music and delicious food to downtown Brawley pitted 10 teams against each other as each competed for the title of 2025 Taco King evaluated the tacos and announced the results Antonio’s Baja Catch was crowned the Taco King winning $750 and a Taco King championship belt Amy’s Snack Shack won $500 for the open category and the Brawley Union High School Band Boosters took home $250 for the People’s Choice award thanked his family and said it was the first big competition he had participated in with his taco business Antonio said that there needs to be more events like this one in the community and expressed his joy in attending the festival and we love seeing the happy faces” when people eat his team’s food Several participants said they were returning competitors fries and many other dishes in their quest for the top prize Guillermo Castillo with the El Jumping Bean Taqueria truck explained that his team was the defending champion from last year and he had been participating in the event with his business since 2019 gave customers a plain taco and let them fix it however they wanted with carne asada topping being the most popular Isabel Gonzalez ran The Three Brothers food truck which she described as a small family business named in honor of her three sons She said she started the business in October 2022 and enjoys cooking and working together with her sons and daughters-in-law “We do our best to provide them with the best.”  cook Adeli Perez said she had been attending the taco festival for the past seven years Antonio from the Baja Catch truck said he started participating in 2022 “just trying to see if people would like my food.” Antonio said a crowd lined up that year and he had an abundance of customers the treasurer with the Brawley Union High School Band Boosters said the group was selling quesabirrias to raise money for field trips and instruments that needed repair Molina explained that the booster club members are parents whose kids are in band and their goal was to raise enough money for the high school musicians to go on a field trip to Knott’s Berry Farm at the end of the school year Amy Flores of Amy’s Snack Shack said that she has been participating in the festival for five years said that every year of the competition was exciting and praised the organization of the event this year She said she has won an award for the best carne asada in the past the other big event of the night was the festival’s first-ever Taco Eating Contest presented by the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Brawley and El Jumping Bean Taquería each in front of a tray of 15 tacos and condiments that they had to polish off before their rivals did The crowd stood in a semicircle around the contestants with some people holding signs to support their favorite taco eater Each competitor devoured as many tacos as they could inhaling food and gulping down water until they had to tap out After Kayla Lee was disqualified following a valiant effort Keith Webster and Carlos Tabarez were the last men standing at 8:30 p.m. The judges decided that Tabarez had eaten more and declared him the Taco Titan awarding him a taquiza for 50 people — a $1,000-value prize with Banda Exclusiva de la S performing several songs and Valentin Garcia playing norteño music Email notifications are only sent once a day The Imperial County Board of Supervisors has refused to disclose why they fired the CEO and the Clerk of the Board there are no recent results for popular videos Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Covering stories that matter to the community Closure Means As Many As 400 Job Losses and An Uncertain Future for Imperial Valley Agriculture BRAWLEY — After nearly a century of sugar production in Imperial County — formerly Holly Sugar — will permanently close its Brawley facility this summer announced April 22 by parent company Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative (SMBSC) is set to begin in late July as the current processing season ends.During the same day’s Imperial County Board of Supervisors meeting Supervisor Ryan Kelley informed the public that notice of the closure had come not from the company Kelley described Spreckels as “one major piece of industry that we have in this valley,” tied to 28,000 acres of sugar beets 100 full-time positions and roughly 300 part-time jobs “This board and county of Imperial are trying to ascertain what are the causes for this choice,” Kelley said “Supervisor (Peggy) Price and Chairman (John) Hawk are hoping to be able to have a dialog with the parties involved and hopefully we will be able to find some kind of solution.” Supervisor Jesus Escobar echoed those concerns describing the closure as a significant setback for local economic development “You take the government sector and you take the ag sector out and we have very limited opportunities outside that sector,” Escobar said “So whenever we get hit hard by this type of news Board Chairman Hawk highlighted both job losses and agricultural impacts “There’s at least 400 jobs that will possibly be lost if indeed the Spreckels closes,” Hawk said “It puts a lot of pressure on other acres … probably over 100,000 acre-feet of water that will have to find a new use and so it is an economic issue for all of us.” SMBSC confirmed in a press release that financial pressures had forced the decision to shutter the nearly century-old facility “This was a difficult decision brought about by factors largely out of our control,” said SMBSC President and Chief Executive Officer Paul Fry.  Fry cited more than a decade of cumulative financial losses regulatory expenses and declining sugar prices as reasons the Brawley operation was no longer viable Despite investing nearly $100 million over the past decade to modernize the aging facility Fry stated that SMBSC would shift focus to its more efficient factory in Renville executive director of both the Imperial Valley Vegetable Growers Association and the California Beet Growers Association described the closure as a devastating development for the region’s agricultural economy “We don’t fully know what (the broader impact is) going to look like,” Trimm said “The direct job loss from the factory … is going to be really detrimental to the Imperial Valley but we also have thousands and thousands of jobs that rely on the sugar beet industry indirectly It’s going to be a huge ripple across the Valley.” which has long struggled with the highest unemployment rate in California now faces the loss of one of its most valuable crops “We’re already the highest unemployment rate in the (state) for so many years now Sugar beets rank as the eighth most valuable crop in Imperial County The region is California’s top sugar beet producer harvesting an average of 40 tons per acre and yielding about 14,000 pounds of sugar per acre The current growing season covers 28,000 acres using approximately 100,000 acre-feet of water I know a lot of people right now are saying 23,000 “And we do not know what we’re going to grow in place of that which you never want to happen because that’s really taking all those jobs out of production But we don’t have another crop right now that we could pivot to You can always put it in alfalfa or another hay crop but that market is already saturated as it is that would have a huge impact on that market as well So we really don’t know the direct impact right at this time.” SMBSC offered the California Beet Growers Association (CBGA) a final chance to propose a financial solution to keep the plant open but acknowledged that any adjustments would likely make beet farming unprofitable the company had issued WARN notices — formal notifications required under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act — to employees Trimm explained that hopes of saving the plant through a local purchase were quickly dismissed “Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative … have told us growers directly: ‘We will never We will only close it down.’ And why they’re saying that is because that sales quota to them is worth more than gold,” she said Could growers gather around together and buy the plant?’ They will not do that because they do not want to lose their allocation.” the prospect of relocating production is impractical I don’t know the nearest sugar plant but it would have to be in Colorado or Idaho Just already making it very unfeasible to send it there,” Trimm said “But we wouldn’t be able to process it here locally at our plant The idea of forming a cooperative to purchase and operate the plant has been raised before but was immediately rejected “It’s really unfortunate because that has been talked (about) all the farmers gathering together and joining a co-op or something along those lines and it’s just shut down immediately,” Trimm said With SMBSC consolidating operations in Minnesota “It sounds like they don’t really need us anymore.” The announcement came as a surprise to local growers and officials “It’s obvious Southern Min has known about this for quite a while What are we going to do long term?” Trimm said the guys were throwing around different ideas for that factory like retrofitting it for sugar cane or ethanol production But we’re still working only knowing within these 24 hours.” Trimm said growers remain determined to find a path forward “Growers want to continue growing sugar beets We’ve been growing sugar beets here in the Imperial Valley since 1946 It’s almost a hundred-year-long industry Efforts to secure outside funding have included outreach to state and federal representatives but Trimm said those conversations have not yielded results “We are still working on securing outside funding whether that’s through different state we can’t apply for that type of funding on behalf of another company They need to be the ones doing it themselves,” she said “We’ve had our local and our state representatives They’ve sent letters and they’ve tried to talk to Southern Min(nesota) to help identify this funding but I don’t think they were receptive to any of that outreach.” While SMBSC has stated that it will provide severance packages and retraining programs for affected workers the broader economic impact remains a pressing concern “We still want to protect those jobs there We still want to protect the Imperial Valley economy and we still want to work with them,” Trimm said As the community braces for the closure and its aftermath Trimm underscored the resolve of local farmers Shelby Trimm has been a very good Executive Director for the IVVGA and website in this browser for the next time I comment For advertising and submission of legal notices or inquiries email: info@calexicochronicle.com Dan May 1, 2025Agri-Business, Sugar The Spreckels Sugar plant in Brawley California has been around since 1946 and is a big part of the community They announced this week that the Brawley facility will be closing in late July This is the last Sugar processing plant in California KECY) - Six workers at Spreckels sugar traveled to bargain with Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative (SMBSC) as they still don't know what the future holds Workers at Spreckels Sugar Company received a warn notice letter Tuesday morning saying the factory will be closing The Spreckels Sugar Company in Brawley announced it will be closing and jobs will be eliminated in July Workers say they are now left in the dark as they still don't know why the company is closing We know it's going to affect a lot in the Imperial Valley It's not only four-hundred workers left without a job but their families as well," said Miguel Ramirez says the company reached out to them saying they were in negotiations with their sugar beet farmers over fees and how workers were getting paid "Stuck in the middle are the workers and the problem is that the company because of the contract with the sugar beet growers The company made the choice to go ahead and close down the factory," Walters added SMBSC mentioned in a press release that the facility has been facing long-term financial and operational challenges since the pandemic The company also added that there's inflation and pressure from foreign sugar sources in domestic markets due to the increased volume of tier-2 imports which provided us with a statement: "This was a difficult decision brought about by factors largely out of our control Despite our extensive investments in the facility the economic challenges facing the sugar industry have been building for several years as the costs of operating the Spreckels facility have continued to escalate." SMBSC says they are engaging with local stakeholders to repurpose the property to support economic development within the community They also say they want to continue to have a great relationship with the community Workers say about 26 employees will be let go in July 28 workers will be let go in August and the factory is expected to fully close June of next year.  "I am going to do everything I can to try and protect those jobs and keep them here if we can and that's working with elected officials to help bring both sides together," said Walters Spreckels Sugar Factory is the last sugar beet factory in California KYMA KECY is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation Please keep your comments respectful and relevant. You can review our Community Guidelines by clicking here If you would like to share a story idea, please submit it here Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Community Guidelines | FCC Applications | Jobs/Internships | Do Not Sell My Personal Information and shortly afterward picked leaders to preside over the 12-person body during its Tuesday night meeting Downtown member Christopher Constant was reelected as chair and which carries significant influence steering the Assembly’s priorities and agenda West Anchorage Assembly member Anna Brawley The position was previously held by Midtown’s Meg Zaletel Members officially certified the results of this April’s municipal election. That cleared the way for the four new first-term lawmakers to be sworn in: Jared Goecker of Eagle River, Erin Baldwin Day of Midtown, Yarrow Silvers of East Anchorage and Keith McCormick of South Anchorage. Incumbents Daniel Volland from the downtown district and Kameron Perez-Verdia of West Anchorage were also reelected this April. Both the chair and vice chair were picked unanimously after the new members had been sworn in. Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that members picked leadership through a secret ballot, which is how votes take place if there are multiple candidates. Zachariah Hughes covers Anchorage government, the military, dog mushing, subsistence issues and general assignments for the Anchorage Daily News. Prior to joining the ADN, he worked in Alaska’s public radio network, and got his start in journalism at KNOM in Nome. Opens in new windowOpens in new windowADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTMost read by subscribers1 Due to recent events, you can now leave online condolences with each obituary posted on the Kutis Funeral Home website. COVID-19 Funeral Assistance – FEMA is now helping those that have lost a loved one from COVID-19. Click HERE to review the information on eligibility and requirements on the COVID-19 Funeral Loving mother to daughter Kimberly (Tom) Hohman son Craig (Kelly) Brawley; adoring grandmother to Kara (Mike) Brown and DeLaney Brawley; great grandmother to Colton Brown Campbell Brown and another on the way; loving sister to Wanda Darr and late Joe (surviving Lynn) Britt; dearest aunt Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the light of her life solving puzzles and just about anything they wanted to do If you wanted to be invited into her house you simply needed to bring a fountain coke and a sweet treat She was strong in her faith and showed God’s love to everyone she met memorial contributions may be given to Camp Woodland Hills I’m sorry for the loss of your mother Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" For personalized and affordable funeral arrangements choose Kutis Funeral Home - a family-owned establishment serving St 2906 Gravois Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118314-772-3000 10151 Gravois Road, St. Louis, MO 63123314-842-4458 5255 Lemay Ferry Road, Mehlville, MO 63129314-894-4500 Arbor Day is a Holiday that Celebrates the Beauty and Importance of Trees and Encourages Those Who Celebrate to Plant Some BRAWLEY — “When’s the next best time to plant a tree 20 years ago,” Brawley Acting City Manager and Chief of Police Jimmy Duran shared during his opening speech of Brawley’s tree planting ceremony “But the next best time is today,” he added The Brawley Parks and Recreation Department planted seven trees at Hinojosa Park on Friday Arbor Day is a holiday that celebrates the beauty and importance of trees and encourages those who celebrate to plant some Councilmember Joseph Galvan spoke a bit about the benefits trees provide in our community “Shade is very important down here in the Valley All these trees planted today are really going to help.” city recreation coordinator and one of the event organizers said the event was about more than just planting trees “Today’s event is improving and beautifying our parks,” said Hodgson “We haven’t had an Arbor Day event in a very long time so we just thought it would be a good opportunity to try to engage the community and the city.” The Brawley Parks and Recreation Department was joined by Brawley Public Library West Coast Arborists and Brawley City Council members Joseph Galvan and Perry Monita The trees were donated by Green Patch Nursery and West Coast Arborists Roy Motter retired from farming in 2023 after 40 years in the industry recently retired from the California Wheat Commission after 28 years of service retired from farming in 2023 after 40 years He farmed on 2,500 acres in the Imperial Valley His most recent three-year term on the commission ended in April since I’m not growing wheat,” Motter told the Capital Press He leased his farmland and sold all his equipment “We didn’t have any younger people to come back and take over the farm,” he said “Me and my two brothers-in-law in-law are in our 70s Motter is now spending more time with family and playing golf The commission celebrated him during a recent board meeting the overseas marketing arm for the industry He pushed for a national checkoff program similar to the dairy and soybean industries to address consumer misconceptions in the domestic market “Once you start trying to do consumer education it’s quite expensive and we never have that much horsepower to attempt to do any of that.”  He recommends diversifying markets instead of selling bulk commodities That’s a weakness I think in the farming industry.” a trademarked variety of durum wheat raised under irrigation in California and Arizona to capture more of the market value Most durum wheat is grown in northern-tier states and Canada high-yielding variety was developed for the desert Southwest Several companies have since developed higher-quality varieties for pasta “The quality is less variable than the northern tier,” Motter said “We don’t have the weather that they do.” In 2024 Arizona produced nearly 172,000 metric tons and California produced nearly 66,000 metric tons of Desert Durum but Motter hoped to push Desert Durum to wheat mills but we never really got to the consumer to pool that demand,” he said  Consumers would need to request Desert Durum in order for mills to buy it to make flour That goes back to Motter’s national checkoff idea to promote particular varieties Wheat officer as a Desert Durum producer from an “important but rather small-volume wheat state,” U.S Wheat president and CEO Vince Peterson said Roy was very focused on budget matters at first but that evolved into a real enthusiasm for the broader export promotion activities that all of us on staff and customers really appreciated,” Peterson said “He and his wife Jaki traveled widely with the organization and his great sense of humor and fun made him a pleasure to work with.”   Motter’s impact has been “significant,” said Claudia Carter “He had a great way to communicate not only with his fellow growers He brought enthusiasm and all the knowledge he had growing wheat He was just an easy-going person that could come in a room full of people and have people laughing in a heartbeat.”   Motter encourages the next generation of growers to follow in his footsteps “Farmers pretty much have their heads down and are quite busy just doing the day-to-day farming but particularly younger farmers need to get out and get involved,” he said This article first appeared in Capital Press In a report from the Office of California’… Read moreWe applaud Assemblymembers Krell and Gonzalez for standing for sex-trafficated children  A groundbreaking report released yesterda… Read moreNew Study Proves Abortion Pill Harms Women At An Alarming Rate We are protesting the billionaire takeover… Read moreImperial Valley workers join #MayDayStrong to fight billionaire takeover, demand better future It was immigration day at the White House … Read moreImmigration Day at the White House BRAWLEY — An 18-year-old Brawley man died from a gunshot wound that occurred in the 600 block of South 17th Street in Brawley early Sunday morning Brawley police dispatch received a 911 call about the shooting at 2:18 a.m. according to the Brawley Police Department Officers immediately initiated life-saving measures until medical personnel reached the scene.   Despite the efforts of emergency medical personnel The Brawley Investigations Team was called to the scene and to investigate the shooting With the collaboration of the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office Scientific Investigations Unit the scene was processed and evidence was collected.    The Brawley PD press release makes no mention of a suspect This investigation remains active and ongoing; individuals with information regarding this incident are urged to contact Sgt Mike Crankshaw Was Chosen From A Field of 7 Candidates to Replace City Council Vacancy Left By Tomas Oliva EL CENTRO — Former Brawley and Imperial Police Chief Mike Crankshaw was appointed to fill the vacant El Centro City Council seat left open by Tomas Oliva Following interviews with seven candidates and a round of deliberation on Wednesday evening the council ultimately reached a consensus and voted unanimously to appoint Crankshaw The 2.5-hour special meeting marked the conclusion of a public application and interview process to select a new council member who worked for the El Centro Police Department for 26 years before serving in leadership roles in Brawley and Imperial was the first to be interviewed during the meeting Candidates were asked four predetermined questions and given three minutes each to respond followed by a three-minute personal statement council members discussed their preferred candidates Councilmember Marty Ellet and Mayor Pro Tem Sonia Carter both identified Crankshaw as their top choice Councilmember Sylvia Marroquin backed former Sheriff Raymond Loera while Councilmember Claudia Camarena initially voiced support for Richard Lopez before changing her vote during discussion “I have to say that we’ve been just chatting and that there are a lot of good candidates in the room,” Ellet said during the council’s deliberation “I personally really appreciate that … Mike is a family man I can just tell you that from the years and years that I’ve been around his family and at work situations who disclosed he had met Crankshaw decades ago while working at El Centro Regional Medical Center said he knew of Crankshaw’s professional background through mutual friends and associates including a colleague who works with Crankshaw at Imperial Valley College Crankshaw teaches there in addition to his law enforcement experience “He couldn’t say enough good things about Mike,” Ellet said would be the best fit for our board at this time.” noting that her final decision was based on a point system she used while listening to each of the candidates “I’m going to agree with one of my colleagues,” Carter said “And it’s because of the points I tallied the different remarks I tallied going back and forth in my head.” who had previously named Richard Lopez as her top pick acknowledged the difficulty of the decision and said she appreciated the detailed responses offered by several candidates “Though I understand that we’re new on the council and so forth I think right now it’s important also to the questions that we asked … being able to identify what the problems are and how to find a solution to them,” Camarena said citing his prior experience with city government and department leadership as critical qualities needed during a time of transition at City Hall “At this point in time we really need stability on the council,” Marroquin said “Sheriff Loera would offer that … not only in law enforcement and public safety but also because he has actually sat in that seat and he has worked directly with the City Council … he would understand the dynamics of what it is to work in a municipality and also with the department heads.” referencing the current leadership turnover at the city “Please keep in mind … we have an interim city manager that will be leaving us soon,” she said “We have a new city manager that will be coming in soon We also have an interim finance director … and a consultant who’s helping us until we can fill that seat with the permanent position … we need stability as well.” Camarena expressed a willingness to shift her position in the interest of reaching consensus but I also believe that given opportunity and the right support — and especially supporting one another and believing that we all have each other’s best interests at heart — not just for us individually to fulfill the duties that we were elected to fill but also for the city as well,” Camarena said “Seeing that no one’s willing to sway the other way The motion to appoint Crankshaw was made by Ellet and seconded by Camarena Carter and Marroquin joined in voting “yes,” bringing the final tally to 4-0 Marroquin acknowledged that while Loera had been her first choice “I think that we have come to a consensus,” Marroquin said “I’ve voiced what I feel would have been the best fit but ultimately it’s the consensus between this body.” and his approach to disagreement and public service In response to a question about the most pressing issues facing the city Crankshaw highlighted youth unemployment and the need for more community activities “We’ve always had … high teen pregnancy,” he said “One of the things that the city has done really well is create areas such as the … skate park But I think that’s always the biggest issue in the Valley — to continue to have activities When asked about how he would make difficult decisions Crankshaw described a collaborative and analytical process reasonable and consistent during my decisions,” he said gather all the information that you possibly can on a certain subject and then move forward … when we can put more minds on it … we can come up with a really good decision.” Crankshaw also cited a decision-making model he called “the ring of decisions,” describing it as a framework where “decisions that affect the community In response to a question about the council-manager form of government Crankshaw pointed to his decades of administrative and leadership experience in municipal settings “I’ve dealt with a lot of councils,” he said “And I’ve also been in these meetings with department heads … watching the give and take that occurs.” Asked how he would handle disagreements with staff Crankshaw said he would focus on understanding the issue and seeking common ground “I would basically really dive deep into whatever that subject matter is try to understand all the dynamics of it,” he said “Then I can speak intelligently on that … what is the outcome we’re looking for What is the end game that we’re trying to accomplish?” Crankshaw reflected on his ties to the community and his desire to serve El Centro with integrity “I’m all about representing the community in a fair manner — not just from one particular group or area,” he said I’ve culminated a great deal of relationships I have relationships with a lot of the current staff on board as well as some of the other outside agencies — state “I truly want to do the right thing for the right reason I am a true stakeholder in the performance of the city.” Public comment during the meeting included support for Raymond Loera from an El Centro resident who praised his experience as El Centro’s former police chief and four-term sheriff of Imperial County “I truly believe his knowledge and experience far exceeds that of the other candidates,” said the resident The meeting concluded shortly after the council’s final vote with Carter thanking the candidates and staff for their efforts “It was a very difficult decision,” she said The appointment fills the vacancy left by Oliva’s departure and restores the council to five members Crankshaw is expected to be sworn in at the reorganizational meeting at El Centro City Hall on Monday BRAWLEY — A 17-year-old Brawley resident was shot in the thigh on Sunday in the area of the 1000 block of North Imperial Avenue in Brawley police received multiple 911 calls reporting multiple gunshots in the vicinity of the 1000 block of North Imperial police discovered the teenage shootinh victim who was transported to a medical facility for treatment a Brawley Police Department press release said The press release makes no mention of a suspect But the investigation remains active and ongoing Individuals with information regarding this incident are urged to contact Sgt BRAWLEY  — A drive-by shooting in which one bullet went through the window of a home resulted in the attempted murder arrest of a Brawley man in his home late Friday Fernandez was booked in the Imperial County jail around 2 a.m 21 on counts of willfully discharging a firearm at an inhabited dwelling the Brawley Police Department responded to reports of a shooting in the vicinity of D Street and North Imperial Avenue The investigation revealed that a white Honda Civic was seen leaving the scene after discharging numerous rounds according to a Brawley police press release Officers discovered a bullet hole in the window of a nearby residence and found 12 spent shell casings.  police identified a potential match for the vehicle: a white Acura Integra which led officers to a residence in Brawley Within the garage of this residence was a recently washed white Acura Integra Fernandez was then identified as an individual involved in the shooting The investigation remains ongoing; anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to call the Brawley Police Department at 760-344-2111 BRAWLEY — A suspect in the shooting at the Fillco Gas Station in Brawley has been arrested and is in custody in the Yuma County Detention Center and left a 21-year-old Brawley man with multiple gunshot wounds to different areas of his body He was airlifted to a medical facility for treatment and was expected to survive.  The Brawley Police Department coordinated with Yuma Probation and the Yuma Police Department the suspect was arrested without incident and transported to the Yuma County Detention Center.  will be extradited to Imperial County to face charges for attempted murder BRAWLEY — The Brawley City Council convened on Tuesday discuss key infrastructure projects and approve measures aimed at improving city services and community development the council presented a proclamation recognizing former Mayor Don Campbell for his contributions to the city and his role as a dedicated public servant.  The council also recognized Nicholas Navarro for his outstanding service with the Eagle Scouts Navarro’s efforts in spearheading community projects throughout Brawley were acknowledged as instrumental in fostering civic engagement and local improvement initiatives according to a press release from Mayor Gil Rebollar.  As part of an ongoing dialogue regarding water and energy issues affecting Brawley Imperial Irrigation District Chairperson Gina Young Dockstader and IID administration provided a presentation at the invitation of Mayor Rebollar The presentation focused on available assistance programs resource management and collaboration with the city to address community concerns IID administration committed to providing outreach to the Brawley Senior Citizens Get-Together Club to provide information on available programs.  the council approved the first reading of Zone Change Ordinance ZC 24-04 allowing two parcels on Palm Avenue to be rezoned from Neighborhood Commercial (C-1) to Single Family Residential (R-1) This zoning change will facilitate the construction of new single-family homes aligning with the city’s General Plan and ongoing efforts to expand housing availability The council approved a budget adjustment for the purchase of two variable frequency drives for the wastewater treatment plant These replacements are essential for maintaining the facility’s aeration system and ensuring compliance with environmental standards for wastewater treatment as part of its commitment to improving city streets the council awarded a contract to The Holt Group for the design of Phase 1 of the Street Rehabilitation Project This action will support the development of construction plans and cost estimates based on the city’s Pavement Management System ensuring targeted and effective road improvements The council approved an amendment to the Fiscal 2024-25 budget to reflect an increase in revenue for the Brawley Fire Department totaling $140,419.23 reimbursed through the California Fire Assistance Agreement for the department’s response to major wildfire incidents in Fresno and San Bernardino counties will be allocated toward overtime expenditures and equipment purchases to enhance daily operations The Feb. 18 meeting reaffirmed the council’s focus on strengthening Brawley’s infrastructure, fostering community engagement and ensuring city departments have the resources needed to serve residents effectively, according to Mayor Rebollar’s press release. For additional details and full meeting documentation, visit www.brawley-ca.gov Proposed Facility Aims to Address Rising Opioid-related Deaths But Some Residents Worry About its Impact on Downtown Brawley BRAWLEY — The Imperial County Behavioral Health Services department presented its plan to renovate 220 Main St in Brawley into a substance abuse treatment clinic at the Brawley City Council meeting on Tuesday has faced community resistance despite county officials citing the clinic as a critical response to high overdose rates in the region The presentation was meant to inform the public and did not involve a council vote as the final decision to move forward with this project rests with the Imperial County Board of Supervisors Officials outlined the need for expanded services in northern Imperial County where opioid-related deaths and emergency room visits surpass state averages but opponents voiced concerns about the clinic’s proposed location the cost of the renovation and its potential impact on nearby businesses “This is an informational presentation,” Mayor Gil Rebollar said at the start of the meeting “This council is not the deciding body for this matter … We’re here to get informed and to be engaged.” Director of Imperial County Behavioral Health Services Leticia Plancarte-Garcia pointed to public health data showing that northern Imperial County has some of the highest overdose and emergency department visit rates in California an emergency and addiction medicine physician spoke about how the lack of local treatment options has impacted the hospital system overdose deaths in California actually declined And the reason they declined is because more people are getting treatment more people are getting access to life-saving medications more people are getting access to harm reduction services,” Gonzalez said.  “The rates of death did not go down in places like Brawley Gonzalez went on to explain how the lack of access to treatment in northern Imperial County contributes to continued overdose deaths “We see patients who come into the ER in withdrawal or who have overdosed We start those patients on buprenorphine and then we try to get them into outpatient treatment ‘I’m running out of my medicine and I don’t know where to go.’ We try to send them to El Centro and lots of them can’t get there,” she said Buprenorphine is a medication-assisted treatment known as a partial opioid agonist meaning it binds to opioid receptors but does not produce the same high as drugs like heroin which is a full opioid agonist and can still cause euphoria at high doses It helps reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings allowing patients to stabilize without experiencing the intense highs and lows of addiction.  Gonzalez stressed that buprenorphine is a proven harm reduction tool that can prevent overdoses and keep people in recovery This medication would be the basis for treatment at the proposed Brawley clinic without a local clinic serving the Northend many patients lose access to it and relapse before they can fully recover would convert the former courthouse at 220 Main St into a dual-purpose behavioral health facility with substance abuse treatment on the first floor and mental health services on the second floor with $15.1 million dedicated to construction with a 20 percent contingency The building requires a new HVAC system estimated at $1.5 million The sheriff’s office and the air pollution department will continue to occupy parts of the facility.  Several residents and business owners questioned why the county was investing millions into remodeling an existing building instead of constructing a new facility at a lower cost “Why can’t you spend about a third or a quarter of that money buying a lot somewhere in town and building ground-up exactly what you need?” asked Brawley resident Robert Trimm during the public comment portion of the presentation Plancarte-Garcia countered that renovating the county-owned building offsets costs through in-kind contributions required by the grant “One of the benefits to using a building that already exists is that it’s a dollar amount that isn’t actual money being given by the county to the purpose,” she explained She also noted that government project costs are significantly higher than private-sector estimates due to prevailing wages legal fees and the complexity of grant-funded construction we’re thinking that eventually it’s probably not going to be enough,” she said The most vocal objections centered on location community impact and transparency in the planning process including former Brawley City Councilmember Sam Couchman said a substance abuse clinic does not belong in a commercial corridor “When you put a clinic like this into a mainly commercial area with thriving businesses it does have a negative impact,” Couchman said “I believe that it does negatively affect some property values especially those related to commercial businesses that are open to the public.” He also cited concerns that the county could later expand the clinic into a methadone program stating that the grant agreement legally prohibits the county from converting the clinic into a methadone facility Behavioral Health cannot operate a methadone clinic,” she said “And then the commitment is that for 30 years we’re only going to provide the services that are indicated in the grant.” Some residents worried that the clinic would attract loitering and the ready-teller is used constantly at all times of the day and night,” one speaker said “I think we’re going to have problems in that area.” Plancarte-Garcia pushed back on this claim saying that homeless individuals seen near behavioral health facilities are not typically clients “We see those individuals that are homeless camping outside some of our clinics Councilmember Tim Kelley voiced skepticism toward the project aligning with concerns raised by business owners and residents His opposition stemmed in part from past experiences with county-led projects particularly those related to the courthouse property itself and there were a lot of promises that were not kept,” Kelley said referencing previous commitments made by the county regarding the use of 220 Main St local officials had floated different ideas for repurposing the building leading some in the community to feel misled or excluded from decision-making with the county pushing for its transformation into a substance abuse treatment clinic Kelley expressed frustration over the lack of transparency and follow-through on prior discussions Beyond concerns about the county’s track record Kelley also raised questions about the unintended consequences of placing a clinic in that location particularly the potential for loitering or encampments around the facility He pointed to issues seen near other behavioral health sites where individuals who may not even be receiving services gathered in the surrounding area “There’s an impact that comes with these kinds of facilities,” Kelley said questioning whether the county had considered how the presence of a treatment center might affect businesses and pedestrian activity nearby Kelley also questioned whether the clinic truly needed to be placed at 220 Main St He suggested that other locations might better serve both the needs of the patients and the concerns of the community “Did we even look at alternative sites?” he asked “Is there another location that would have less impact?” Kelley pointed out that northern Imperial County has other available spaces that could potentially house the clinic including properties that might be further from the city’s commercial corridor arguing that a site outside of the city center — or even a new construction project — could offer the same services while avoiding disruption to local businesses.  Mayor Rebollar closed the discussion by reminding the public that Brawley has struggled with drug addiction for decades “I know there was a comment about how they saw the numbers and they were amazed by the numbers 1970s — Brawley was the heroin capital of the world 1980s — highest per capita heroin use in the state 1990s — Brawley was called a hot spot for heroin It’s killing young people.“I do really feel strongly about this I’m not woke … it’s because the people you serve are me I had to seek services … I had to leave the Valley My parents had the means to afford for me to leave and if they didn’t I would’ve had to stay here and I don’t think we should other people … because they are us and they’re just trying to better themselves They’re trying to get better by seeking help That’s something I think should be commended and respected people seeking help for a problem they have.” He stressed that the county must address community concerns while providing access to treatment services.  Imperial County Behavioral Health Services will do your due diligence to address these concerns and put in the work … We may be pushing a bit because there are serious concerns that we want to make sure our residents not just feel safe — but are safe.” Community outreach meetings in the city of Brawley will be scheduled in the coming weeks This story has repeated itself many times in the 30 years I’ve lived here “Not in My City” ” Can’t you put it somewhere else” “I don’t want those people in that area” I have spent close to 35 years in Law Enforcement And the one thing that has let this county down year after year are the lack of resources for drug addiction Which is sort of odd given the horrendous number of addicts in this county far exceeds per capita Los Angelses and San Diego County Suboxone Therapy has a fantastic success rate when used in conjunction with counseling and group meetings But this program being recommended by BHS is just part of the bigger picture The judicial system will have options to defer people to versus just locking them up in a bed in the county jail I can assure you Locking up an addict in jail for drug related crimes is a model that has failed over and over Treatment is not a silver bullet for everyone but isn’t it about time this valley was open to treating their own children moms and dads for the addiction issue that has plagued this region for decades Celebration Remembers Chicano Rights Leader Cesar Chavez and Honoring Unity Between Mexican and Filipino Farmworkers BRAWLEY — Leading up to Cesar Chavez Day on March 31 the Imperial Valley College Chicana/o Studies joined the Brawley community during the annual Cesar Chavez March starting at Brawley’s Hinojosa Park and ending at Plaza Park on Saturday The large group was adorned in matching red shirts displaying the words “huelga” and “si se puede,” calling back to Chavez’s mottos and the flag of the United Farm Workers a labor union that Chavez helped found to improve the working conditions of farmworkers in the United States the group was joined by a special guest speaker son of farmworker labor leader Larry Itliong Larry Itliong was a prominent Filipino farmworker leader on the West Coast and founded the Agricultural Worker’s Organizing Committee and organized many strikes such as the Delano Grape Strike in which more than 800 Filipino farmworkers struck for better wages The AWOC would soon join Chavez’s National Farm Workers Association to create the United Farm Workers Union that is best known today continuing the legacy of the Farm Workers Union and all those who have passed on for us to be here along with all the Mexicans who died working their hands to death helped organize the march in Brawley and highly encouraged his own students to join the march to keep the awareness of improving the rights of farmworkers alive and well “It’s important to come out annually and support our community because that is the type of support that empowers our future generation It’s important that our future generation underestands that our living conditions now was difficult to achieve historically are an exploited source of labor It’s important to be conscious and aware of that and it’s important our future generation is aware of that Chavez also pointed out the similarities in the history of Mexicans and Filipinos highlighting the need to support one another our Filipinos historically have been conquered and colonized by the same imperial forces we have the United States colonized the Philipines the United States colonized Mexico in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo We have gone through the same historical processes that we share in common and that’s being subject to a power structure that has historically marginilized our folks,” explained Chavez Chavez’s lasting impact on the Imperial Valley is still represented as people march in his memory chanting his motto “Si Se Puede” (“Yes We Can”) showing that the change for social justice is possible and should always be fought for.  a Brawley native and Chavez’s right hand man was also honored during the march for his contributions to the Chicano movement His advocacy still continues strong through his daughters and granddaughters who join the march each year in their father’s memory explained her father’s contributions to the farmworkers movement who would often take her to strikes and parades during her childhood She also explained that because her father was Chavez’s bodyguard an IVC alumni and student at San Diego State University-Imperial Valley highlighted the importance of Chicana/o Studies at IVC and why many Mexican-Americans need to reconnect with their culture through education “It’s very important for people of Mexican descent Mexican Americans to keep focus on their heritages because there are governments but in other states that have made it a point to remove Chicano studies from their curriculums from where your people come from then you don’t have that identity of yourself “In a land that makes them less for who they are Current IVC student Nayeli Avila is enrolled in a Chicana/o Studies course and joined the march to support the movement and reconnect with her own culture “If there’s any students who want to venture into their own culture it helps you feel less disconnected from it,” said Avila BRAWLEY — There were no injuries when a two-seat single-engine “light sport” airplane crash landed outside the runway at Brawley Municipal Airport sometime on Saturday night All Brawley fire officials could confirm about the crash is that it occurred at the city’s airport Brawley Fire Department has a station on Jones Street not far from the entrance to the airport located on Ken Bemis Drive off Jones and North Best Road “We are investigating,” Brawley Deputy Fire Chief Juan Rodelo told the Calexico Chronicle on Sunday afternoon a landing on the runway was being attempted when the crash occurred The plane is a German-manuafactured Remos Model No G-3/600 with a single 100-horsepower engine and a weight just under 700 pounds The plane was registered to a man out of Valley Center according to the Federal Aviation Administration tail number lookup No other information was immediately available Fast-charging Stations Aim to Address Infrastructure Gaps in Imperial County Where EV Access has Been Limited EL CENTRO — Electric vehicle infrastructure in the Imperial Valley expanded with the introduction of new electric vehicle fast-charging stations at ribbon-cutting ceremonies on Jan 21 and 22 in the cities of El Centro and Brawley located at the El Centro Public Library and Comite Civico del Valle’s headquarters in Brawley are part of the Lithium Valley EV Charger Equity Initiative The initiative aims to install 40 publicly accessible charging stations throughout the region said the project is meant to address infrastructure disparities in the Imperial Valley where access to EV chargers has been limited “With Imperial County having the lowest rate of EV chargers per capita in all 58 counties in California Comite Civico del Valle’s goal is to install 40 publicly accessible charging stations across the Imperial Valley,” Olmedo said Imperial County has had fewer public EV chargers than other regions in California Olmedo said there were only three fast-charging public stations in the county before the project launched only three fast-charging public stations existed in Imperial Valley,” Olmedo said the number of fast-charging electric vehicle charging stations in the Imperial Valley now sits at 18.” Olmedo said the initiative is centered on principles of environmental justice and accessibility “Comite Civico is committed to ensure that Imperial Valley’s underserved communities have access to clean energy technologies,” he said “While also supporting the broader goal of equitable access to electric vehicle infrastructure across California’s rural communities.” City and state officials said expanding EV infrastructure in the region is necessary to provide options for residents El Centro Mayor Tomas Oliva spoke on the city’s position on this expansion “This project should show you that the city of El Centro is looking for solutions into making sure that you have equity — that you have access,” he said He said a lack of home charging options prevents some residents from considering electric vehicles right?’ So the infrastructure and sometimes the systems don’t exactly work for you,” Oliva said the location of the chargers at the El Centro Public Library was chosen for accessibility and to increase public engagement and education “What better location than a location that should be the future educational space for the city of El Centro,” he said We have a future collaboration with the County Office of Education We have future development that’s going to be placed here.” Olmedo said the project has already supported local workers and will continue to create employment opportunities “With high unemployment rates in the Imperial Valley this project helped to spur local construction jobs — with future opportunities in maintenance and operations,” he said Labor unions also spoke about the role of workers in EV infrastructure development a representative from United Auto Workers Region 6 addressed the crowd on the potential of Lithium Valley for workers in Imperial County as well as the growing electric vehicle industry “One of our biggest priorities as a union is to make sure that the transition to the production of electric vehicles benefits workers and communities and not just the corporations that build and sell the products,” Dexter said He shared that continued investment in workforce development will be necessary to ensure that industry growth benefits local communities “There’s a big risk that people are going to try to make the minimum amount of investments possible and then call it a day and say that they’re done,” Dexter said Addressing the broader implications for workers in the region he noted that many are closely watching how lithium extraction and EV infrastructure will impact local jobs “We’ve seen other communities that have been left behind by economic transitions before,” he said “We’re here to make sure that doesn’t happen again.” California Energy Commissioner Noemí Gallardo spoke about the initiative’s role in EV infrastructure expansion in Imperial County in a press release from CCV “The state of California is aiming to have lithium development that enables the co-location of manufacturing EV batteries and eventually EV cars,” Gallardo said “We want the community to have access to those EVs and to be able to conveniently charge their vehicles.” Steve Padilla said investing in EV infrastructure aligns with state goals for clean energy “Expanding our charging infrastructure is essential to powering our transition to a clean energy future,” Padilla said “These projects will bring economic opportunity and good-paying union jobs to our community — while cleaning our air and protecting our environment.” Olmedo said the initiative is designed to promote clean energy while addressing infrastructure gaps in rural communities “This is an opportunity to come together as a community to mark the beginning of a new era of clean transportation and environmental stewardship for the Imperial Valley,” he said He also acknowledged the support of the organizations and funding partners that contributed to the project “This project would not be possible without the incredible support of General Motors and the 11th Hour Schmidt Family Foundation,” he said with a goal of installing 40 publicly accessible EV charging stations in the Imperial Valley BRAWLEY — Five candidates are vying for three seats on the Brawley Elementary School District Board of Trustees including several incumbents Jose Luis Barrera They are challenged by Patty Larios and Ruben Villa Four of the five candidates have turned in candidate biographies Current employment: Brawley Union High School Political experience: Brawley Elementary School District trustee Membership: Brawley Elks Lodge 1420 member Education: BS from San Diego State in Psychology Mathematics Course Completion from San Diego State Master’s Degree from University of Phoenix in Secondary Education Reasons for running and top issues: Looking for reelection to continue being an advocate for our students and families in our community by being a voice in the educational decision making Keep striving to provide high quality and diverse programs for all our students so they can achieve and be ready for higher education and/or other possible vocations with 21st century skills professional development opportunities so they can keep providing high quality education to our students I have been married since 1976 to Robert Prior for 48 years I retired in 2021 after being employed by D & H body shop for 46 years I have served on the BESD board for 20 years I want to be re-elected to see the completion of the new Padilla Pace middle school This is one of our proudest accomplishments at BESD Continue to provide our staff with the necessary tools to teach our students Provide a safe and healthy environment for all students and staff Kaylee Duran and Kamrynn Banda; grandchildren Current employment/Employment history: Brawley Union High School security aide/proctor Imperial Valley College adjunct instructor (public safety) Centinela State Prison retired correctional officer Political experience: BESD Board of Trustee since 2015 California Schools Employees Association (CSEA) Union President Other Affiliations: Hidalgo Society Board president Associates in Administration of Justice- IVC Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice w/minor in Sociology- SDSU Masters Degree in Criminal Justice- National University Reasons for running: I am seeking re-election to the BESD Board of Trustees and enriching learning environment for all students My candidacy is driven by a passion for education and commitment to our community’s children I am committed to working inclusively with parents staff and fellow board members to collaborate and continue relationships that create a nurturing and effective educational environment My only interest in seeking re-election to the Brawley Elementary School Board of Trustees is to continue providing the best education possible for the children of BESD Your vote for me is a vote for our community’s children Current employment/Employment history: Brawley Union High School District security aide Political experience: I have not held political office Other affiliations/memberships/board positions: I currently serve as leading knight (Vice-President) of Brawley Elks Lodge 1420 and also as the youth activities and scholarship chairman I currently serve as the Brawley Union High School Class of 2028 Adviser and have previously served as the Class of 2022 and 2024 Adviser I am also involved in the Brawley Union High School Associated Student Body I also was involved in the SDSU-IV Associated Students Council for two years as Campus Safety Commissioner I also was involved in the Imperial Valley College Associated Student Government as a Senior Senator I am a current member of American Legion Brawley Post 60 as a Sons of the American Legion I was recently appointed as a scholarship committee member for the California School Employees Association.  Education: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from SDSU-IV Reasons for running and top issues: My reasons for running are to provide career technical resources for students to have better foundations for career preparation because not every student is college bound so I want to help provide different avenues for them Another reason is because I believe the district has a lot of great staff but I want to work with administrators to address the concerns and needs of staff Top issues for me are the incompleteness of Padilla-Pace Middle School It should not have been opened in August 2024 it concerns me having all the construction equipment and tools around the school BRAWLEY — Brawley police have arrested three male adults and one juvenile in connection with a shooting incident at North Imperial Avenue and River Drive on Sunday 23 and 17 and “have been formally charged with attempted murder and unlawful possession of firearms,” the Brawley police press release states.  The Brawley Police Department sincerely thanks those who assisted with the investigation The relentless pursuit of justice has facilitated the prompt apprehension of the suspects The First-time Fair Performers Play Everything from Pop IMPERIAL — The Brawley High School Rock Band set the stage for its biggest performance yet at the California Mid-Winter Fair with its impressive multi-genre playlist and large lineup of musicians ready to entertain on Wednesday The ensemble of 12 students performed numerous hit songs such as “Locked Out of Heaven” by Bruno Mars The Rock Band class meets during the regular school day for around an hour and a half to rehearse and practice for upcoming gigs.  a junior at Brawley High and one of the lead singers of the Rock Band explained how although performing at the Mid-Winter Fair was one of its biggest venues yet having performed and practiced many times before certainly prepared her.  “It doesn’t really compare to the smaller ones but I think it prepared us more leading up to this bigger one so I was less nervous than I would have been if I didn’t do the smaller gigs,” said Velez described his students’ progress over the school year The Rock Band had gotten a lot of practice performing at Brawley Elementary School District schools as well as their own high school’s assemblies “They’ve been pretty busy for a first-year group and we had an early start so by the time we got the band started we just put kids together that were already musicians in band and other places they did very very well for their first year the Rock Band’s stage presence and versatility in performing diverse genres of music reflected its practice and hard work hopes to use the experience from the Rock Band class to fuel his passion to become a singer and this class has brought me to many levels,” said Jimenez It is the first year the Rock Band class has been offered at Brawley High and was implemented as part of the Career Technical Education program which offers career specific classes such as culinary arts “We were looking to expand the music program so (Brawley Union High School District) got a grant to work on the CTE Rock Band class We established this along with another class called Music Industry students that create music using technology so we got two different classes going,” said Tomboc.  “All of this wouldn’t be possible without our staff We’ve been really fortunate to have so much help and support,” Tomboc added The Brawley High Rock Band posts regular updates on their progress and upcoming events on Instagram BRAWLEY — All three incumbents are running for reelection to the Brawley Union High School District Board of Trustees Seeking the three seats are incumbents Joel A Santillan and appointed incumbent Audrey Noriega and challengers Patrick Lauterio and Antonio “Tony” Leon Three of the five candidates have submitted biographies Political experience: Brawley Union High School Board of Trustees 2020-2024 Other affiliations/memberships/board positions: President Brawley Police Foundation; Volunteer Coach City of Brawley Parks and Recreation Board Education: Brawley Union High School alumni Reasons for running and top issues: I recognize the critical role that quality education and a nurturing environment play in our students’ success I am dedicated to fostering academic excellence and ensuring a safe and inclusive atmosphere for every student One of the top items I would like to propose is an emphasis on trade school/training.  Trade schools play a crucial role for students not pursuing college by providing specialized training and practical skills that lead directly to employment opportunities They offer hands-on learning in fields such as automotive repair equipping students with the expertise needed for high-demand jobs This focused education helps students enter the workforce more quickly and with relevant qualifications offering a viable and rewarding option for students not pursuing a college degree Inclusivity and diverse options for all high school students are essential because they ensure that every student has the opportunity to pursue their individual interests and talents Current employment/Employment history: Sales/artist at Pako Lazo Pottery Experience: I have run business organizations for many years throughout Riverside I have been a member of parent committees for BESD Other affiliations/memberships/board positions: VP BESD GATE Parent association ‘20 Reasons for running and top issues: Lauterio is prepared to make Brawley Union High school district Lauterio is committed to BUHS stakeholders and will work toward policies that inspire and nurture every student Bruce (21 years) and Brandon (13 years) Ybarra Current employment/Employment history: Lead Compliance Officer I’ve been employed in the banking industry for over 20 years I was a short-term substitute teacher in 2001 and an Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program Project Specialist in 2002 Political experience: Current Board of Trustee – appointed February 2023  Other affiliations/memberships/board positions: Hidalgo Society Secretary 2024/2025 BESD Measure M Bond Oversight Committee 2023/2024 School Site Council Padilla-Pace Middle School 2024/2025 Imperial County Civil Grand Jury 2021/2022 City of Brawley Parks & Rec Basketball Coach 2018 School Site Council Miguel Hidalgo School 2011 GATE Parent Organization – Past President and Secretary 2013-2017 City of Brawley Business Advisor Committee  Education: BA from the University of San Diego in Business Administration Reasons for running and top issues: I am running for election to continue to be the voice for students I have consistently voiced concerns and provided feedback while maintaining a professional and collaborative demeanor I have asked crucial questions to ensure accountability and transparency fostering a culture of trust and collaboration I enjoy giving back to my community through volunteer services I am committed to advocating for the needs of our high school students and ensure that they are well-prepared to become productive and engaged citizens to allow me to continue to serve as a BUHSD Board of Trustee Imperial County Board OKs Grant Applications for Clinic Despite Community Opposition EL CENTRO — A plan to open a substance abuse clinic in Brawley has stirred fierce debate with supporters calling it a vital resource for northern Imperial County and critics warning of its potential harm to the community The Imperial County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a request from the Behavioral Health Services Department to apply for a state grant to renovate the county-owned building at 220 Main St The proposed renovation would convert the facility into a substance abuse outpatient clinic a plan that has sparked a debate over the project’s potential benefits and its impact on the community The project would be funded through the Behavioral Health Continuum Infrastructure Program part of the bond funding authorized by Proposition 1 which aims to expand behavioral health facilities across California the grant would cover the renovation of the county-owned building to house a new substance abuse clinic While county officials argue the facility is critical to addressing rising overdose rates and gaps in northern Imperial County’s services residents have raised concerns about its location transparency in the planning process and potential community impacts.Leticia Plancarte-Garcia director of Imperial County Behavioral Health Services describing plans to remodel the two-story building “One of the proposals that we have for this facility is to use the funding to rehab and remodel the first and the second floor,” she said “The second floor will remain as an adult outpatient clinic which is what we have been doing in the past which was previously occupied by the courts and that’s where we would intend to open a substance use disorder outpatient clinic where we would provide medication support services prevention services — all the services that come with a substance use clinic.”Plancarte-Garcia acknowledged community concerns about the proposed location particularly fears related to safety and the stigma surrounding substance abuse treatment “There is a concern that these people are dangerous that these individuals are unpredictable,” she said having those clinics in Calexico and El Centro former Brawley City Council member and Mayor Sam Couchman criticized the choice of location citing its proximity to schools and businesses He drew comparisons to methadone clinics in other areas “If you look at some of the drug dispensing say methadone clinics in those areas and stuff you can see the detrimental effects they have had on businesses,” Couchman said “We believe that the location is simply not suitable for that type of facility.”Couchman also expressed skepticism about the behavior of clinic clients and the facility’s overall impact on the area “The public perception is that it’s going to be a negative,” he said that these types of facilities attract vagrancy and create problems for surrounding businesses.” He added and schoolchildren walk by that location on an ongoing basis.” District 5 Supervisor John Hawk also voiced skepticism about the broader impact of behavioral health initiatives on issues like homelessness and substance abuse They want to continue with their drug use and alcohol,” Hawk said “It seems like we just keep giving more drugs and more drugs Hawk criticized what he perceived as a lack of accountability and metrics in existing programs “We have no parameters within behavioral health to minimize and keep them going down,” he said and people start moving to California because we have these liberal things.” Brawley resident Kay Pricola raised concerns about the planning process highlighting what she called a lack of transparency and community engagement “My concern is the lack of transparency and bringing this forward to the residents and the community in Brawley,” Pricola said She pointed to previous efforts to place similar clinics near schools “This location is three blocks closer to that elementary school and now includes the junior high the middle school and the high school in a proximity.” Pricola also noted significant opposition from local businesses “There is a petition that had been circulated and I believe there is at least 19 business owners adjacent to it that object to it.” District 4 Supervisor Ryan Kelley also questioned whether the Main Street building was the best location for the proposed clinic suggesting alternative uses that might better serve the community “That building could serve in many other roles,” he said “It could be a Northend holding facility for law enforcement that serves everywhere to the Riverside and San Diego County lines It could also be a new venue for assembly.” He emphasized that such decisions require careful consideration and input from the community Board Chair and District 2 Supervisor Luis Plancarte echoed the need for community involvement pushing back against the perception that the county was imposing the project on Brawley “It’s not the way that we’re supposed to work “Make sure that you have the community — that’s who we’re serving — represented and know that this is something for their benefit.” the board clarified that this vote was only to approve the department’s application for a grant Behavioral Health Services will need to return to the board for authorization to accept the funding Plancarte-Garcia said the grant is a rare opportunity to expand local services “Behavioral health is getting that opportunity right now to expand to really take advantage of this funding opportunity because they don’t come that frequently,” she said District 3 Supervisor Michael Kelley spoke to the broader concerns about the facility arguing that the project’s success would depend on combating the stigma associated with behavioral health services “There’s an unfair stigma attached to behavioral health and what they propose to do,” Kelley said “It’s going to be a professional building with professional people It’s going to be a benefit to the community of Brawley leaders of communities are forced or expected to look out for the health and I think this facility will actually reduce crime and improve the safety of the entire community as a whole.” Supervisor Ryan Kelley responded that the onus is on Behavioral Health to demonstrate that the clinic would be a positive addition to the area The Board of Supervisors ultimately voted 5-0 to allow Behavioral Health Services to apply for the grant with the condition that at least two public forums be held in Brawley to address community concerns before any final decisions are made Residents Come Out to Share Concerns About Imperial County Behavioral Health Substance Use Disorder Clinic BRAWLEY — And then there was one … for now With three Brawley City Council members due to give up their seats next month a fourth — Luke Hamby — has announced his intention to resign in December leaving just one of the current council in place “I want to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to each of my fellow council members … that I’ve served with over the last seven years … I’m proud to be a Brawley council member,” Luke Hamby shared after thanking city staff for all its hard work it’s been gratifying and fulfilling; it’s been amazing these last seven years.” Hamby took a moment to clarify that his intentions for the upcoming year will not include City Council duties he will be looking toward supporting his two small children as a father “I am announcing tonight that I am going to be resigning from City Council effective next month,” Hamby said assuring Brawley residents: “It has been a complete honor this has impacted my life and it will forever My heart will always be for the city of Brawley my prayers will always be for the city of Brawley as they always have been here behind this dais.” Donald Wharton and Ramon Castro in leaving the council — Nava and Wharton stepping down and Castro about to lose his re-election bid While the county of Imperial has until early December to certify the Nov the leading vote-getters are Joseph “J.J.” Galvan Timothy Kelley and John Grass; in the fourth position is Perry J Who will fill the fourth seat will be hotly debated at a later date It will most likely be deliberated by the incoming council along with current council member who will hold interviews for the appropriate candidate With Hamby just half way through his current term the city will likely be forced to hold an election to fill the post per election codes either a special election or during the next available election if it occurs within four months of declaring a vacancy obviously sad news for the city of Brawley but I think it’s also important to recognize that Luke has been a fantastic council member over the past seven years and he’s done tremendous work for the city he’s become a friend of mine,” council member George Nava said expressing his gratitude toward his colleague’s decision choosing not to run for re-election on Nov “Congratulations on making an important decision for your family … This is a important time for you and it’s a big decision so I applaud you for making it and I thank you very much from the bottom of my heart … You’ve done great work and I’m proud of you,” said Nava embracing his fellow council member with a hug and resounding pat on the back “That seven years just seems like the blink of an eye and I can truly say where we were as a city there were some rough waters there,” Mayor Pro Tem Donnie Wharton said also choosing not to run for re-election this year “A lot of your influence has helped this council to lead with humility … I know you are making the right decision these priorities matter and I hope the public understands and extends that grace and you should have absolutely nothing but pride for what you’ve been able to do.”  Mayor Ramon Castro closed with his deepest respects for Hamby in light of the councilman’s resignation I’ve hardly met people who are willing to say these are my priorities and this is why I’m moving on and I admire that … everybody’s looking for a seat and very few want to give it up,” Castro said I’ve admired you since the day I met you … thank you for having the courage and being an example because not everyone is willing to do what you just did,” closed Castro Several Brawley residents came out to voice their concerns in a recent change in potential location for an Imperial County Behavioral Health Services substance use disorder treatment program clinic previously meant to be housed near Pioneers Memorial Hospital along Legion Road The clinic has since been planned for 220 E some of them were addressed but some have yet to be … there are a number of folks here (that) are interested in having an official city meeting or town hall where questions can be asked,” said Brawley resident Kay Pricola who asked several in attendance to stand in support of holding a meeting to discuss the clinic Former Brawley Mayor Sam Couchman shared his insight on the issue “I’m not opposed to a substance clinic for mental health “From my research … I’ve found it is not an enhancement to your downtown or for businesses close to these types of clinics I’m not saying this one’s gonna be bad … but what I’ve seen is it’s a detriment to your business district,” Couchman said “We’re not trying to hide anything as well we requested a presentation and outreach in understanding this as well,” adding that the proposal won’t be decided until May 2025 should the council and county decide to support the project Other news included an increase for the juror pay to be increased from $100 by including potential lost wages with a per diem some $10,000 is going to be funded toward the patio area of the Senior Center in Brawley along with $25,000 for the Lions Center stage renovations A lighter portion of the meeting featured an update by the Imperial Valley Pickleball Association on the progress toward rehabilitating Meserve Park in Brawley is a sport several residents have been pushing proactively for proper courts to host their games since 2023 teaches pickleball at Barbara Worth Junior High and was previously a teacher there my husband just painted a court for us and people would drive by and (from there) got the community interested,” she said The Imperial Valley Pickleball Association is sharing space in the Lions Center while Meserve Park is worked on Stills added Meserve could still double as a play space for tennis “I really appreciate what you’re doing … you saw an issue and you were proactive and came before us to catch us up,” council member Rebollar said BRAWLEY — A worker at the city of Brawley’s wastewater treatment plant appears to have died on the job on midday Saturday according to the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office activity logs Little information was available on Sunday morning but the logs state the man was injured around noon and was a 64-year-old sewer plant worker Fire crews were on scene when the Imperial County Coroner’s Office was requested at 12:18 p.m at the plant on 5015 Best Road north of Brawley The plant is accessible from a dirt road off Best Road and about 2,000 feet west of Best Presumably investigators with Cal/OSHA-Division of Occupational Safety and Health BRAWLEY — Nine candidates are in a dogfight for three open seats on the Brawley City Council Mayor Ramon Castro is being challenged by Joseph “J.J.” Galvan Terry Partida Rodriguez and Joseph Salazar Four of the nine candidates have submitted a campaign biography Current Employment: Retired Deputy Director for Imperial County Behavioral Health Political experience: I have not previously served in an elected position Other affiliations/memberships/ board positions: Reasons for running and top issues: I was raised in Brawley Scouting and Church activities.  All of these experiences have contributed to the person I am today.  I believe in Brawley’s strengths as a community and its potential for future growth.  The top issues for my platform are: Current employment/Employment history: President and CEO of Imperial Valley Economic Development Corp Political experience: I have served on the Imperial County Workforce Development Board Comprehensive Economic Development Strategic Planning Committee Other affiliations/memberships/board positions: California Association of Local Economic Development Reasons for running and top issues: I am running for Brawley City Council because I am aware of many of the challenges we are facing in our community A budget shortfall is eminent if we do not streamline our process and eliminate waste I will implement programs that will make Brawley more business friendly and welcoming to new development while developing strategies to eliminate blight and revitalize our historic downtown We need to retain and expand our police and fire departments and develop a sustainable management public works program Brawley has beautiful parks but lacks the resources to maintain and make improvements to our Parks and Recreation department It can be done by encouraging private investment as has been done to Meserve Park and Volunteer Park where the little league plays I am a proven leader and have the economic development experience to help the city of Brawley prosper Current employment/Employment history: Retired Chief of Police 27 of those years serving the city of Brawley Other affiliations/memberships/board positions: six years on the board for the Narcotic Task Force Brawley Cattle Call Committee for two years six-year member of the California Chiefs Association six years on the IVC Academy Advisory Committee 10 years as liaison officer for Brawley PD Terrorism Task Force Education: BS from UC Irvine in Biology and a BA in Social Ecology Reasons for running and top issues: I recently retired after 35 years in law enforcement and would like to continue serving the Brawley community that I have resided in My priorities for the city of Brawley include the training and retention of officers in our police and fire departments To fully staff these departments as the city grows and needs additional services To improve the quality of life for our citizens and economic development that supports existing businesses while encouraging new opportunities I would also like to support the city in the continuation of youth sports and programs for the city’s youth Current employment/Employment history: Outreach Specialist Other affiliations/memberships/board positions: UC Berkeley and UC San Diego Ambassador UnderGround Scholars Initiative Imperial Valley Chapter Founder Imperial Valley College Club Succeeding Over Adversity Founder Economic and Workforce Development Department Award Winner for Cooperative Work Experience Student Leader Recognition Imperial Valley College Business Club Imperial Valley College Member Education: AA Degree in Business Administration Reasons for running and top issues: The reason for running Brawley is the place I call home and I want to see my community advance with adequate resources that build a strong infrastructure To provide Low and moderate-income housing opportunities for families to feel secure in a world of uncertainty A fully staffed police department to increase police presence and patrols within our city stopping gang violence and drugs which pose great health risks and danger amongst the city of Brawley Manned and operational fire departments with first responders ready to save lives Open parks with programs with the educational purpose of civic engagement Restored high-risk areas of damage to public roads address the homeless crisis in Brawley which is a threat to business in the City of Brawley by offering solutions to help the homeless with behavioral health programs and sober living homes that guarantee the individual employment upon completion and a secure umbrella of protection with housing to reintegrate individuals into society contributing to city growth Help the small business development sector by supporting entrepreneurship classes and workshops to educate business owners and future business owners The new revenue in the community will assist these infrastructures with taxes I mean the basic needs of the city to be operational and funds should be dispersed wherever needed to help support areas that need help suppose we need to fix certain light fixtures at the parks during softball games and tournaments we should easily be able to put money into these infrastructures that serve the greater good of the community Grants and Infrastructure Improvements to Shape Brawley’s Future BRAWLEY — The Brawley City Council approved the timeline for its fiscal 2025-2026 budget process which will incorporate funds from the newly passed Measure J a 1 percent sales tax increase expected to generate $3.8 million annually Council members discussed the importance of transparency and public participation in determining priorities for the use of these new revenues The approved budget timeline outlines a series of public meetings and study sessions beginning in February aimed at ensuring community involvement in financial decisions with the council planning to revisit a public survey conducted prior to the tax measure’s approval to guide funding allocations city staff will present updates on ongoing projects and propose new initiatives for consideration aligning with the start of the fiscal year on July 1 Finance Director Silvia Luna explained that Measure J’s 1 percent sales tax increase will take effect on April 1 with the city receiving its first collections in June or July “This (fiscal year) ’24-’25 budget is going to get that little extra benefit from those additional tax revenues,” Luna said adding that the 2025-26 fiscal year is projected to see $3.8 million in revenue from the measure City Manager Jimmy Duran noted that a public survey conducted prior to the passage of Measure J will serve as a baseline for determining funding priorities “We believe the public spoke at that point so we’re definitely going to use that as a baseline of where the funding should be used,” Duran said He committed to sharing the survey results with the council in order to align budget decisions with community expectations Councilmember Timothy Kelley discussed how the city could leverage Measure J funds to drive economic growth focusing on strategic investments to attract businesses and tourism noting that expanding the city’s revenue base requires proactive steps Kelley also brought up the potential for auditing transient occupancy tax collections explaining that these funds collected from hotels and short-term rentals could be better utilized to attract investment and increase tourism in Brawley Council members also touched on the city’s reserves during the budget discussion Luna explained that while the city has about $10 million in reserves these funds are allocated for specific purposes such as capital improvements and emergencies “Those $10 million are not just available to spend,” Luna said clarifying that the council has the discretion to designate unrestricted portions of these funds but that current Brawley policy dictates a financial reserve of 15 percent.  Councilmember John Grass inquired whether some of the unrestricted reserve funds could be utilized in the upcoming budget to support general fund projects City Attorney William Smerdon confirmed that this practice is typical The next meeting in the budget process is scheduled for Feb during which city staff will present an updated capital improvement plan This session will include updates on current projects as well as new proposals from various departments for Measure J funding consideration The council and public will have the opportunity to provide input and discuss potential priorities continuing the collaborative approach outlined in the approved timeline The council also approved an amendment to extend the city’s contract with AE Consulting Inc for professional engineering services related to the reconstruction of Runway 8/26 at the Brawley Municipal Airport Public Works Director Rom Medina explained that the amendment extends the project timeline by an additional year The extension allows for additional design work and addresses unforeseen challenges in the original timeline The project is partially funded through state and federal grants Council members voiced support for the extension acknowledging the importance of the airport as a vital community asset also chairman of the Brawley Airport Advisory Commission explained that the runway reconstruction project is mostly reimbursed by the airport’s funding sources “Where the airport funding comes from is from the airport users and that money stays in that account to be used for the matching funds that the city receives,” Kelley said “And so a lot of times it will come up that the city is spending a lot of money on the airport is that the airport is actually a cost-benefit and the only projects we can do is based upon what that cash match is I wanted to bring that to the attention so the public does know that the city airport is actually funding itself.” The council authorized an agreement with STC for professional engineering services for the Dogwood Road and Mead Road improvement project “This is to do the design and the planning We’re looking to improve the roadways for better safety and efficiency.” The agreement valued at $114,858 with a 10 percent contingency will fund the design phase for road improvements to address traffic and safety concerns in the area Medina clarified that the goal of the project is to enhance the roadways and alleviate congestion “The roads need to be updated to improve traffic flow and ensure safety for everyone using them.” He also confirmed that construction would be considered after the design phase is completed The council approved a contract change order for the roadway surface improvements on Main Street from First to Ninth streets and at the intersection of Main and Eighth streets The total cost of the change order for the entire project is $218,475.10 which brings the total contract amount to $2,653,740.10 Medina explained that the change order will fund additional work the installation of continental-style crosswalks and new pavement markings to improve safety and traffic flow The work at the intersection of Main and Eighth is part of the same project and will include traffic signal upgrades including the relocation of signal heads and the installation of a new signal arm assembly The project also includes the replacement of existing lighting with energy-efficient LED fixtures and the addition of American with Disabilities Act-compliant directional ramps for pedestrians These upgrades are funded through a combination of city funds and state grants with a total of $46,900 in grant money received for the intersection improvements including a local match of $4,690 in Measure D funds The project is part of the city’s ongoing efforts to maintain and modernize infrastructure (WCHS) — City officials have released plans to celebrate the holiday season in downtown Charleston with a tree-lighting ceremony and Holly Jolly Brawley the capital city’s annual Christmas festival Holly Jolly Brawley is entering its fourth year of operation vending and more than 150 decorated trees along with visits from Santa Claus Nov An awards presentation for tree decorating is set for 5:45 p.m The tree lighting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. The news release noted before and after the drone show traffic and pedestrians will be cleared from a designated safety zone along with Quarrier Street from Summers to Court Street and Laidley Street from Lee to Virginia Street City officials have announced additional street closures for the Holly Joly Brawley starting at 11 a.m City officials noted the Summers Street parking garage may only be accessed by Quarrier Street City-owned parking meters and garages are free Nov More information on parking may be found on the city’s website The Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority will be providing free trolley services Fridays Trolleys are scheduled to loop City Center GoMart Ball Park and Capitol Market every half hour KECY) - The Brawley Police Department (BPD) is investigating a shooting which left a teen injured "Like around 12 we heard like about ten shots around one a police officer came he knocked to check around our area," said a neighbor who wishes not say her name the shooting happened Sunday after midnight in the area of Imperial Avenue and River Drive after neighbors heard several gunshots suffered a gunshot wound to the upper thigh area and says a white sedan was seen leaving the area was taken to Pioneers Memorial to be treated and is expected to survive BPD says officers found several shell casings leading them to believe a handgun was used in the shooting Brawley police says they don't have indications of a possible connection between the deadly shooting that killed an 18-year-old and Sunday morning's shooting The investigation is ongoing and the suspect If anyone has any information regarding the case reach out to him at dillon.fuhrman@kecytv.com City Takes Action to Improve Parks and Public Safety to discuss and take action on several agenda items Assistant Chief of Police Jonathan Blackstone and Code Enforcement Officer Myra Soto provided a comprehensive code enforcement activity report covering the period from October to February the department received 720 calls and 715 emails leading to the issuance of 49 violation notices across various categories A total of 37 abandoned properties were identified Increased enforcement efforts are scheduled for April and the department has identified 13 potential new ordinances for future consideration.  In response to delays and unanticipated costs that rendered a previous project unfeasible the council approved the reallocation of a $33,310 grant from the Major League Baseball Youth Development Foundation The funds will now be used to improve the infields at Hinojosa and Gonzalez parks A resolution was adopted to implement educational and administrative leave policies aimed at enhancing employee development The council also approved the purchase of five new License Plate Recognition cameras and the renewal of software support for the city’s 16 existing cameras for another year The first-year funding for this initiative will be provided by the Stonegarden grant In a move to enhance outdoor recreation opportunities the council approved a resolution authorizing a grant application for the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program through the National Park Service This highly competitive national grant aims to provide funding for economically disadvantaged urban communities with limited access to outdoor recreation with assistance from the Institute for Local Government through their BOOST technical assistance program identified Meserve Park as a suitable project site based on the grant’s eligibility criteria The application process included extensive community engagement with residents expressing a strong interest in upgrades such as a walking and exercise trail new playground equipment with accessible features a community garden and additional park amenities The city is required to submit a site plan reflecting these priorities as part of the application the city must fully fund the estimated $1 million project cost upfront with the grant reimbursing 50 percent upon project completion The proposed funding sources include $200,000 from the Parks DIF Fund the application will undergo two rounds of review at the state and national levels with final decisions expected by September the project is expected to be completed within five years of the funding agreement’s start date “While there is no guarantee we will secure the grant for Meserve Park I am proud that we as a council can say that we made a collective effort to improve this park for our community we are committed to enhancing our public spaces and thank our staff for their work on this,” stated Mayor and approval of new license plate readers reinforces our commitment to public safety by equipping law enforcement with the tools they need to protect our residents.” Late Morning Altercation Between Three Males Students Ends with BUHS Campus on “Hold”/Lockdown While Student Treated BRAWLEY — A fight on campus between three Brawley Union High students has left one teen with a knife wound and some parents with questions and concerns over increasing school violence late Monday Outside the main entrance of Brawley Union High concerned parents lined up at the gate to safely take their children home BUHS administration was accompanying students from the attendance office to the front gate providing safety escorts to each student who was being checked out by their parents word of the violent incident had spread across town quickly “(The students) were on lockdown for more than an hour,” said Heather Allison who stood outside the gates waiting for her child “We found out because our kids called us and messaged us that’s how most of the parents found out,” Allison said grateful for the confirmation of her own child’s safety amidst the disorder on campus Around the time Allison was speaking to a reporter at the school Brawley Police Department was issuing a press release with limited details on the altercation after which a Brawley police school resource officer who was already on campus came upon the scene once the altercation was over The victim received medical treatment for the stab wound by paramedics and the other two involved in the fight were identified and subsequently taken into police custody Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is encouraged to call School Resource Officer Ayala at 760-344-2111,” according to police No further information on what might have led to the violence or whether security would be heightened at the school was immediately available no information was available on the condition of the victim … The freshman kid pulled out a knife and stabbed the sophomore kid The sophomore kid went to Brawley hospital and from there they’re lifelighting him to San Diego because we’re not a trauma center,” Allison shared “Some of the kids were there when it happened and were helping the kid that got stabbed,” she added “He fled at first so they were looking for him I don’t know where he went but they found him Brawley Police Department and Brawley Fire Department could be seen with a ladder one firefighter seen climbing atop the building to the roof No officials were able to comment at the scene All around campus the gates were locked at every entrance and BUHS security was present at the main entrances to stop foot traffic An announcement on the campus PA system from BUHS staff member Sandra Cortez came on around 11:30 and announced “we are resuming on a regular schedule,” confirming that classes were set to continue for the remainder of the day parents chatted about the safety concerns they have with BUHS right now with continuous fighting on and around the high school campus becoming an increasingly more relevant issue Johnny’s Burritos made an announcement earlier today that due to a “serious incident” the restaurant would be closed to dine-in and take out from 12:15 p.m “They should have precautions for them to even bring weapons on campus … We’re going to end up going on lockdown for lunch now too watch,” Allison said even Johnny’s is closing during lunch because of the fights.” As if a weather vane for potential violence two weeks ago Johnny’s Burrito’s went to social media to warn that it would close its doors to the lunch crowd in anticipation that fights were expected 8 post stated police were also aware and dealing with the issue This newspaper asked Brawley police about the issue that day but never received an answer sent out a message to parents and staff informing of what had happened that read in part: an altercation occurred on the premises of BUHS which resulted in a student being seriously injured The injured student is currently receiving medical care and we are in close contact with medical personnel to ensure their well-being “The suspect involved in the incident has been taken into custody by law enforcement to ensure the safety of all students and staff The school has been placed on a ‘hold’ status students will remain in locked classrooms while medical teams and law enforcement work to resolve the situation We are fully cooperating with authorities and will provide updates as more information becomes available The safety and security of our students remain our top priority.” (CORRECTION: Heather Allison’s last name was spelled incorrectly We strive to be as accurate as possible at all times.) Mother-daughter Team of Sandra and Jennyffer Zepeda of Asadero Neighborhood Captured First Place and Won the Best Chili Trophy and $1,000 BRAWLEY — As the wind gusts picked up on Saturday night thousands of Valley residents blew into Plaza Park to celebrate the annual chili cook-off The event drew crowds eager to taste the best chili the Imperial Valley had to offer with eight contestants vying for top honors Set to a soundtrack of country hits provided by San Diego cover band Lefty Martin & His Right Hand Band kettle corn and other street fair mainstays while still others lined up to square dance under the flashing stage lights on Saturday A new addition to the chili cook-off was the Dia De Los Muertos-themed chalk art festival sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Brawley and Pioneers’ Museum Local artists transformed the asphalt near the stage into vibrant sidewalk chalk murals A museum organizer mentioned plans to promote the event more extensively in the future to attract greater attention to this artistic showcase Its humble corner of the event was overshadowed by the larger spectacle of the cook-off manned its newly renovated fire truck booth for yet another year drawing crowds in with friendly banter and history of chili victories.  “People know they’re going to get good chili from us so we see a lot of repeat customers year after year,” one firefighter said An old firehouse tradition mandates that firefighters buy ice cream for the entire station if their name is mentioned in the newspaper and we get to come out and have fun with everyone else in the community,” he said Though the Brawley Firefighters Association did not place in the competition this year its booth had steady traffic the whole night “It’s great to see all these families year after year it’s just an awesome thing to be a part of.” Newcomers Asadero Neighborhood made a splash in its first-ever competition capturing first place and winning the coveted Best Chili Trophy The mother-daughter team of Sandra and Jennyffer Zepeda took the stage to claim their trophy and ceremonial oversized check proving that the best chili triumphs regardless of experience or elaborate booth decorations Daughter Jennyffer Zepeda expressed her surprise and joy at their victory because it’s one thing when your family is like you make really good food.’ But when people are walking up to you like I’m doing something right,’” she said Zepeda also reflected on the influence of her family “He’s always pushing you to do better at whatever you’re doing you’re not doing it right,’ but it’s more about how you could do so much better,” she said which will be opening soon in El Centro after a move from Calexico strives to always deliver the highest quality food for their customers The People’s Choice award went to Simply Chillin’ which also took second place in the judges’ rankings helmed by Ricardo Torres and affectionately named after his grandpa while the Best Booth award was snagged by Thermal Chili fosters a sense of unity among Brawley residents summed it up beautifully as she accepted the first place trophy: “This is a family effort She always puts her heart into it,” she said Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application at the Gordon Hospice House following a brief illness to the late Joseph Mott Brawley and Lois Rary Brawley He was also preceded in death by his beloved wife Joe served his country in the US Air Force He was a truck driver for many years and earned the One Million Safe Driving Award several times He was a wonderful father and grandfather and had the best mustache More than anything else he loved life and spending his time with his family Those left to cherish his memory include a son A Celebration of Life Service will be held Tuesday at 1:00 pm at the Nicholson Funeral Home Chapel with Rev The family will visit with friends Monday evening from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Nicholson Funeral Home Burial will be at the National Cemetery in Salisbury Nicholson Funeral Home is honored to serve the Brawley family Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (KYMA,KECY)- A 15-year-old boy accused of shooting a man at a gas station in Brawley last month appeared in court on Monday The shooting took place at a Fillco Gas Station in Brawley on Saturday after a man was found suffering multiple gunshot wounds "to different areas of his body," but has since been in stable condition according to a Brawley Police Department (BPD) press release identifying the suspect and an arrest warrant was made This eventually led to the suspect being found in Yuma on Thursday was arrested without incident and was extradited to Imperial County with a charge of attempted murder BRAWLEY — Brawley’s city council began a transformative new chapter this week with the swearing-in of Mayor Gil Rebollar and three incoming council members marking a complete overhaul of city leadership The grand ceremony also honored outgoing council members who stepped down to focus on family before completing his term held at the historic Hidalgo Hall on Wednesday brought together more than 150 residents and introduced the city’s new leadership and Timothy Kelley and John Grass joining the council the event marked a notable shift in Brawley’s governance The ceremony also recognized outgoing council members Ramon Castro George Nava and Hamby for their years of service who resigned with two years remaining on his term to focus on raising his sons leaves a vacancy that the council will address in the coming weeks “Change is hard,” Rebollar said during his remarks Rebollar spoke about the role of collaboration and community engagement in his vision for the council’s future assuring the audience that his term would focus on building trust and unity The outgoing council expressed its belief that Brawley is positioned for a period of positive growth reflecting on the progress achieved during its tenure highlighted the collaborative efforts that strengthened the city “Together we’ve accomplished so much,” he said “From the opening of Wildcat Drive and all the improvements we’re seeing there to building a $10 million reserve account for the future stability of the city Thank you all for being part of this journey.” who called the council’s work “a high calling” and praised the dedication of his colleagues they reflected on the strides made and the challenges overcome leaving the city in a strong position for its next chapter.  “I feel happy to leave the city in good shape,” Castro said what that’s going to do for the city moving forward.”  The outgoing council sees these two issues as foundational for the future of Brawley is projected to bring approximately $300,000 in additional revenue to the city per year Removing the sunset date on the utility tax retains a 4 percent tax on telecommunications and provides revenue for the city to use on a wide variety of services The council’s optimism for Brawley’s next chapter came with a bittersweet note as Hamby One of the more memorable moments from the ceremony came from a tribute video put together by Rebollar which opened with Luke Hamby strumming an acoustic guitar and singing a heartfelt song about Brawley’s iconic Cattle Call underscored the camaraderie and dedication that Hamby and the other outgoing council members brought to the city I’m thankful to have been able to serve with all of you and to leave the city of Brawley in better shape than we found it.” His colleagues praised Hamby’s work during his seven-year tenure throughout the evening Nava called Hamby “a fantastic council member” whose work “strengthened our city.”  Outgoing Mayor Pro Tem Donald Wharton added but folks I can tell you through some very difficult decisions he was grace under fire That wisdom and calming effect he brought was very important.” Rebollar expressed his appreciation for Hamby’s leadership “Your years of work have laid the foundation for the road ahead.” The ceremony continued with the swearing in of Brawley’s newly elected council members marking a shift in leadership aimed at steering the city forward took their oaths of office before the crowd “Winning this election was not just a personal achievement “I’m deeply humbled and honored to have earned your trust and support.” speaking about his vision for collaboration And the other cities are as important as we are And I think that if we can make Brawley the shining star You know that it’s very important that our entire county prospers and I hope to bring that knowledge and experience to the city and make that happen.” Grass added his perspective on the path ahead: “We all have ideas and plans and dreams for the city My prayer is for wisdom to tackle all the challenges that lie ahead and to continue building on the foundations that have been provided to us by previous council members.” Mayor Rebollar noted the unique dynamic of the incoming council in an interview after the ceremony “They all bring different perspectives — economic community … And then we’re also going to have to appoint a new council member It’s an opportunity to bring us together you have to have consensus because it can easily be divided “I do think the fact that we’re an even amount of people is going to somewhat force us to work to have consensus.” will team up to "inspire and educate attendees" during the Brawley High School Career Day taking place this Thursday at 480 North Imperial Avenue in Brawley is for them to highlight "their personal journeys and professional experiences in the filmmaking industry." is a former theatre actor and multimedia journalist who "turned to filmmaking as a way to address pressing social issues." Dorantes will discuss his multi-award-winning film "Not One More!," with the film's social issue covering domestic violence as well as share his "personal journey as an independent filmmaker." "I'm always happy to share my filmmaking experiences with others hoping to encourage them to use their artistic skills to improve our world," Dorantes expressed is offering his perspective "on the performing arts and the creative process." "I want to take the opportunity to share my knowledge and experience with those interested and especially with those who think it's impossible to enter the acting profession if you're from a small town in the desert," De La Cruz said Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District is No More; But Action After That is Pending Outcome of Challenge to AB 918 EL CENTRO — Nearly 75 years after it was established Pioneers Memorial Healthcare District was dissolved per the state law in place — Assembly Bill 918 — to create a single Imperial County healthcare district are on hold while an Imperial County Superior Court lawsuit filed by Pioneers challenges the implementation of AB 918 the Imperial County Local Agency Formation Commission dissolved the district which oversees special districts in the county heard an explanation of the dissolution and what it means.   authored by Assembly member Eduardo Garcia the Imperial Valley Healthcare District called for the dissolution of Pioneers Memorial by Jan LAFCO Executive Director Tyler Salcido said that IVHD requested that LAFCO dissolve PMHD no later than Dec but he told the commissioners they were “not obligated to select that date; we can select another date.” Salcido explained that as a result of a recent court hearing Superior Court Judge Brooks Anderholt had ordered a “stay” with respect to the dissolution was that the dissolution itself could proceed but that the effects from that dissolution could not licenses and anything as of the last court hearing cannot be implemented until the final courts decide whatever they’re going to do,” Salcido said The dissolution exists to bring together the assets and documentation of PMHD and Heffernan Memorial Healthcare District under the banner of the Imperial Valley Healthcare District which is also negotiating a transfer of assets with El Centro Regional Medical Center president of Imperial Valley Coalition for Sustainable Healthcare Facilities urged against a vote by LAFCO while AB 918 is under legal scrutiny No dissolution of PMHD should occur until the issue of AB 918’s legality is properly and fully adjudicated,” Grass said He added the thousands of residents who signed a petition to show their support for keeping the healthcare system intact will feel an “erosion of rights” if LAFCO acts before the legal process has run its course “AB 918 is under legal scrutiny because it undermines community self-determination “That is the antithesis of advocating for a more inclusive process to create a fair and sustainable healthcare system.”  Lupe Garcia was among those who continue to take issue with Brawley residents footing the bill for ECRMC’s financial mismanagement IVHD “will have the burden of demonstrating to the entire Imperial Valley how it will pay for the over $200 million of debt of ECRMC” has run up “IVHD has not yet completed and made public any independent study regarding the additional taxes that Imperial County residents will need to pay if and when the ECRMC acquisition is approved,” she said referring to the still-undecided mechanism that will fund the district as a whole.  Brawley resident Karen Smith said LAFCO should add to the dissolution resolution the suspension of the property levy for PMHD on Brawley residents “until a new IVHD tax is approved by a countywide vote,” she said said IVHD has not held a single meeting in the Brawley district and “they’ve not sought to hear from us or welcome our public comments at their monthly regular meetings and this so deeply concerning considering the power that they want to have over us and our tax dollars What we do know is they want our tax revenue,” Kalin said Roy Motter read letters on behalf of Brawley-area physicians “I have seen how the uncertainty of new management under IVHD or (UCSD Health) has caused fear and anger in many of my coworkers I understand the need to ensure hospitals stay open The abrupt dissolution of a healthy and profitable hospital in hopes of propping up another failing hospital is nonsensical and puts all healthcare in the Valley at risk.” said the dissolution process will compromise women’s health in the Imperial Valley,” among a few other comments politicians and some healthcare workers — came from the Pioneers supporters No one from the Imperial Valley Healthcare District said anything Also absent from the LAFCO meeting was AB 918 architect Assembly member Garcia IVHD President Katie Burnworth told the Chronicle “We commend Imperial County LAFCO for their actions today which will move us closer to our goals of bringing Imperial Valley residents the quality healthcare they deserve.” “Creating one united healthcare system in Imperial County will lead to more sustainable and expanded health services for residents … We expect the unified healthcare district to both improve access to care and not only save taxpayers money but potentially attract new resources through increased medicare reimbursements.” the part-time executive director of the IVHD and terminated manager of Pioneers Memorial “Today would be no different than tomorrow … nothing changes The biggest change that happens is there will be new leadership there and people will continue to have their jobs IVHD stands ready right now to be ready to receive.”  Bjornberg said the IVHD is the state Department of Public Health to ensure a seamless transition of services two local conservative candidates were in attendance at the LAFCO meeting Republican Assembly candidate Jeff Gonzalez and Republican Congressional candidate Ian Weeks Pioneers Memorial board President Katie Santillan who has been the most vocal opponent of AB 918 since early in the process urged more caution before LAFCO took its vote.  Trying to put hospitals together doesn’t take 10 or 11 months And that’s the advice that we gave to the author of AB 918,” she said “There would have been no lawsuits if you would have extended Pioneers across the board in the district And it’s very sad that it’s not being told in the public that El Centro right now has lost quite a bit of money Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInHUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) - Florence police arrested two people suspected of a recent car burglary police responded to the Redfern Apartments after a report of two people trying to get into cars in the parking lot they found two people who matched the description given by witnesses A subsequent investigation found that the suspects entered at least one car and tried to get access to others and a 16-year-old boy were arrested on one count of unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle and three counts of attempted unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle Brawley is in the Lauderdale County Detention Center on a $10,000 bond The teen is in the Tennessee Valley Juvenile Detention Center Click Here to Subscribe on YouTube: Watch the latest WAFF 48 news sports & weather videos on our YouTube channel KECY) - Brawley baseball (7-8) took down Holtville (5-11) 6-4 at Petco Park on Thursday night.  it looked like Thursday’s game would be all Vikings Holtville got on the board with an RBI single from junior Matthew Pacheco in the bottom of the first.  The Vikings would then add three more runs to take a 4-0 lead causing Brawley pitcher Bryan Vitral to come in for starter Sergio Garcia.  Brawley was able to mount a comeback.  eventually senior Matthew Gutierrez would come through with a go ahead two-run single as the junior threw six shutout innings to clinch the victory.  Luis Lopez covers sports and weather for KYMA You can contact him at luis.lopez@kecytv.com Chas Messman joined KYMA in July 2023 as News 11’s Sports Director KECY) - A Calexico man accused of attempted murder was arrested in Brawley A 33-year-old man tried to throw a gun over the roof as an officer tried to stop him Monday night in Brawley Calexico police officers spotted [the suspect] in Calexico in a vehicle A short pursuit happened where he was able to get away from officers," said Lt Sean Acuña of the Calexico Police Department Calexico and Brawley police caught up to the suspect and arrested him He's accused of attempted murder after his girlfriend claims he strangled her and pointed a handgun at her back in February The suspect is being held at the Imperial County Jail He's being charged with five felonies including attempted murder Scott Gross joins the KYMA team as the Anchor KECY) - The Brawley Police Department (BPD) is investigating a shooting that left one man injured the incident took place at around 7:20 p.m after BPD's Communications Center received a 911 call regarding a shooting in the area BPD said the caller said a person suffered injuries after being shot "in the parking lot area." identified as a 21-year-old man from Brawley suffering multiple gunshot wounds "to different areas of his body," and "was airlifted" to a hospital to be treated BPD said the man is currently in stable condition and is expected to survive and that the Brawley Investigations Team responded and took over the investigation The team has been "examining all evidence and conducting extensive follow-up investigations to identify the identity of the individual(s) involved," BPD says The investigation remains ongoing and if anyone has any information regarding the case BRAWLEY — A Brawley man was arrested for groping a local woman outside a school he allegedly attempted to grab an officer’s firearm near Witter Elementary School at 150 K St. when a sexual battery was reported to Brawley police via 9-1-1 The adult female victim in the battery was waiting outside the school for her children and reported that a male later identified as 31-year-old Felipe Garcia second 9-1-1 call reported that Garcia had allegedly entered the backseat of the woman’s vehicle and when Garcia saw the woman on the phone Officers arrived minutes later and attempted to detain Garcia which is when Garcia became combative and began to fight the officers While attempting to take Garcia into custody he reportedly grabbed one of the officer’s firearms Garcia was booked into the Imperial County jail for violation of probation on suspicion of attempting to remove a firearm from a peace officer resisting and obstruction of a peace officer touching an intimate part of another person and battery on school grounds