Covering stories that matter to the community Project’s Final Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration Report is Approved by Council HOLTVILLE — The Alamo River Trail Trestle Bridge project took a major step forward during the Holtville City Council meeting on Monday The project aims to rehabilitate the Trestle Bridge which endured significant damage from a nearby fire in 2009 It will create a safe non-motorized crossing for pedestrian bicycle and equestrian users over the Alamo River benches and signage will also be installed along the newly renovated pathway leading up to the bridge Holtville City Council adopted resolution no 25-11 which certified the Trestle Bridge project’s final initial study/mitigated negative declaration (IS/MND) report a critical step in moving the project ahead Because the Trestle Bridge project was awarded funding by the Recreational Trails and Gateway Grant Program administered by the California Natural Resources Agency it must comply with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act CEQA requires the submission of the IS/MND report to ensure any potential impacts to the environment are identified and addressed the city submitted the IS/MND report to the county and state receiving comment letters from the California Department of Transportation the Imperial County Air Pollution Control District and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife The comments received on the initial report included advice about transportation permits reminders about minimizing pollution during construction recommendations for contracting onsite biologists and updating environmental surveys who presented an overview of the final IS/MND report during the City Council meeting “All the recommended mitigation measures will be put into practice most likely prior to or during construction,” Amarillas said Councilmember Mike Pacheco motioned to approve the resolution following a few questions from council members and no comments from the public With the final IS/MND report now certified city staff will prepare and submit a notice of determination to the State Clearinghouse which deals with CEQA and CEQA-related matters Upon approval of the certified IS/MND report from the state including carrying out reimbursements for the planning phase and entering the bidding and construction phases Construction for the project is anticipated to begin July 2025 and will be completed July 2026 City Manager Nick Wells presented two projects underway which aim to receive funds from the Southern California Association of Governments under the Federal Highway Administration Surface Transportation Block and Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant programs Cedar Avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets was truncated during the last bridge support project on Orchid Avenue would address this section for improvement would add sidewalks to the eastside of Melon Avenue between Eighth and Ninth streets The city will submit these projects to SCAG for consideration by May 16 The motion to continue moving forward with these projects was approved by councilmember Munger and seconded by councilmember Vanessa Ramirez.  and website in this browser for the next time I comment For advertising and submission of legal notices or inquiries email: info@calexicochronicle.com You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience The Briarwood Lions used a potent offense to sweep the Holtville Bulldogs in a doubleheader and advance in the Class 5A playoffs NORTH SHELBY – The Briarwood Christian Lions used a potent offense to sweep a doubleheader against the Holtville Bulldogs winning game one 4-0 and game two 15-3 to advance in the Class 6A state playoffs Briarwood got off to a hot start offensively in the first contest and never looked back scoring all four of its runs in the first inning and riding shutdown pitching the rest of the way The Lions drew a walk in their first three at-bats quickly loading the bases before Houston Hartsfield hit a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0 Will Clark then hit into a fielder’s choice that brought in another run but made it two outs in the bottom of the first Brayden Robertson stroked a double to right field to make it 3-0 and Robbie Paulsen hit a line-drive single to make it 4-0 Briarwood Ivan Hand was lethal on the mound for the Lions pitching a complete-game shutout to start Briarwood’s playoff journey with a bang tallied zero walks and allowed only four hits throughout the game The Lions made sure that a potential Holtville answer in game two was silenced Parker Sfakianos and Sam Lanier combined for five innings of work on the mound and five strikeouts Clark opened the scoring for Briarwood with a two-run single in the first but Holtville responded in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single The Lions roared for five runs in the second inning to make it 7-1 and never looked back Briarwood used small ball throughout the inning as back-to-back RBI bunts drove in two runs to make it 4-1 Hand singled on a pop fly to left in the next at-bat to make it 5-1 with Parker Daniels and Robertson ripping two sacrifice flies to make it 7-1 Both offenses quieted down until the third when a Bulldogs’ error brought in two more Lions to make it 9-1 Hartfield then had the highlight of the game in the next at bat crushing a triple to right field that brought in two runs Back-to-back doubles from Clark and Robertson in the top of the fourth rounded out the scoring for Briarwood and put the game firmly out of reach The Lions’ season will continue after the two impressive wins Paul’s Episcopal Saints on the road next week in round two Just one AAC game is on Monday’s college basketball schedule That contest is the Wichita State Shockers squaring… The Memphis Grizzlies (38-22) face the Atlanta Hawks (27-33) as 8.5-point favorites on Monday take on the Brooklyn Nets (21-39).… The Wichita State Shockers versus the North Texas Mean Green is a game to catch on the Monday… The Monday college basketball slate has plenty of exciting matchups in store Our computer model has suggested picks… What would make you consider a digital subscription to Shelby County Reporter View Results How to watch Alabama high school girls soccer: Marbury vs April 25Data SkriveMarbury High School will host Holtville High School on Friday How to watch Holtville vs. Marbury girls soccerHoltville and Marbury will match up on Friday, April 25, at 6:30 p.m. CT. 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All NFHS Network events are available to watch online at and through the NFHS Network Mobile Apps for iOS and Android and TV Apps for ROKU KECY) - Holtville baseball gets a matinee with Cibola as the Raiders make up a game on their schedule and Yuma softball continues what has been an impressive season and a look at an upcoming basketball camp with Yuma Catholic Luis Lopez covers sports and weather for KYMA You can contact him at luis.lopez@kecytv.com 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 HOLTVILLE — Three seats are available on the Holtville City Council and six candidates have thrown their hat in the ring The incumbents are facing challengers Stacy Britschgi Five of the six candidates have provided campaign biographies Candy Anderson (28 years married); daughter Current employment/Employment history: Communications Manager for Innercare (2023-present) Political experience: Mayor city of Holtville (2024) Other affiliations/memberships/board positions: SCAG General Assembly Delegate (2024) Imperial Valley Housing Authority Boardmember (2023) Holtville High School Site Council (2020-2022) Holtville Green & Gold Hall of Fame Committee (2007-current) Reasons for running and top issues: One of the major issues I’d like to follow through with is the advancement of the new city of Holtville Public Safety Building The architectural plans are almost completed and I’d like to serve the city and make sure construction actually begins on the project We have been a fiscally responsible city and have not needed to raise water or sewer rates and have not needed to add a sales tax to get us out of a deficit As we see other cities around the Imperial Valley currently attempting to do We have to stay prudent financially and not overspend This is the city that raised me and having the ability to pay it back by serving the current city residents is something I take pride in.  Current employment/Employment history: Childcare provider for 23 years Political experience: No political experience Other affiliations/memberships/board position: 4-H Club community leader 2009 to present Pop Warner and American Youth Football & Cheer from 2016-to present Holtville Athletic Booster 2020 to present Education: Associate’s in business from Imperial Valley College Reason for running and top issues: The reason I am running is because I believe in Holtville and the future of our town.  My top issues are our public parks Family: Married to Cindy Pacheco; proud father of Alexis Pacheco; and companion to their loyal cocker spaniel Current employment/Employment history: Water Manager at the Imperial Irrigation District Political experience: Holtville CityCouncil member since 2018; past mayor of Holtville in 2022 Other affiliations/memberships/board positions: Active in community service and leadership for over 40 years holding various positions from 1984 to 2024 Notable roles include past Secretary/Treasurer for the Imperial County Sheriff’s Posse member of Brawley’s Development Review Committee and Little League Committee member in Holtville (1985) Education: Business/Imperial Valley College Reasons for running and top issues: If re-elected to the Holtville City Council my commitment remains focused on promoting transparency and accountability in local government as well as enhancing community services and infrastructure I ran with the goal of protecting the quality and efficiency of our water and sewer systems while keeping costs manageable for the benefit of our residents but there is still more to be done to ensure our city’s utilities are not only reliable but sustainable for future generations I am dedicated to maintaining a balanced budget to secure Holtville’s financial stability we can ensure long-term growth and stability for the city I also plan to support the growth of local businesses and continue investing in our parks and community spaces to create a vibrant and safe environment for families sustainable community where every resident can benefit from enhanced quality of life and opportunities for success Current employment/Employment history: current substitute teacher former County Environmental Health Inspector Nutrition Educator (Imperial County Public Health Department) former Administrator (Imperial Valley Food Bank) Political experience: current city of Holtville Planning Commissioner Other affiliations/memberships/board positions: Pine Community Club Education: Holtville High School; San Diego State University,B.S Reasons for running and top issues: As a lifelong resident of Holtville I am seeking a seat on City Council so that I can apply my education and work experience to serve my community I am a Planning Commissioner for the City of Holtville my tenure I have carefully reviewed proposals with our residents’ best interests in mind I am committed to bringing this thoughtful approach to the City Council My professional experience includes working as a Health Inspector and rivers at the County Health Department I worked for the Imperial Valley Food Bank where I helped secure and manage funds to feed people across our valley and remained focused on the needs of my community I am especially dedicated to supporting small businesses and enhancing resources for our young and aging population I vow to continue my dedication to Holtville as your City Councilwoman Current employment/Employment history: Lithium Valley associate; legal secretary; intake coordinator Political experience: Managed Yulil Alonso Garza’s 2024 campaign for Board of Supervisors District 4; volunteered on other political campaigns aligned with my values Well-versed in the politics of Imperial County Other affiliations/memberships/board positions: Housing Authority commissioner Volunteer: Imperial Valley Equity & Justice Coalition; Brown Bag Coalition; Brawley Feed the Need; Imperial County Democratic Central Committee; Elections Ad-Hoc Committee; Imperial Valley Social Justice Committee; Holtville Chamber of Commerce; Assistant Coach Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts; minor in American Ethnic Studies The Vega for Holtville campaign centers on three core issues: Energy I am committed to energizing Holtville by completing vital city projects promoting efficiency by building on the successes of past councils to secure a thriving future for generations to come and caring for our community by fostering a we can create a Holtville where innovation meets tradition To foster a thriving and sustainable Holtville we must prioritize completing key projects that benefit our community By championing initiatives like the Public Safety Building the Alamo River Habitat Restoration Project we can create valuable green spaces and improve our city’s infrastructure These efforts will ensure Holtville’s growth is both inclusive and environmentally conscious enhancing quality of life while preserving our commitment to a vibrant community By building on the successes of past city councils and making space to learn from the elders in our community we can inspire innovation that aligns with Holtville’s traditions We must invite the youth of Holtville back ensuring our progress honors the city’s heritage while guiding the next generation This approach blends respect for the past with forward-thinking strategies for a more efficient and vibrant future We will invigorate Holtville’s farm-to-table economy by ensuring that the Holtville Unified School District and the broader community have access to fresh We will foster economic development and create a thriving self-sustaining community by supporting local businesses and helping entrepreneurs start and grow their ventures in Holtville This holistic approach not only enhances food security but also promotes local entrepreneurship and economic vitality Best Side Dish and People’s Choice Go to Band of Misfits HOLTVILLE — The third annual Holtville Rib Cook-off hosted by the Holtville Athletic Boosters drew in hungry crowds on Saturday to raise money for Holtville High School athletics programs and the students who participate The event serves as a good fundraiser for sports in general Holtville High School’s baseball coach and organizer for the Rib Cook-off.  Ayon described how the cook-off is hosted for the athletics but simultaneously turns into an opportunity for the community to connect “All of the people that are cooking are all pretty much friends.” Holtville’s Rib Cook-off was a large-scale event with around 30 competing teams and attracting thousands of attendees alongside the Holtville Athletic Boosters and John Prock they wanted to keep the competition small so as to maintain the spirit of Holtville Everyone who is participating in the 2025 cook-off either lives in Holtville or has someone on their team who is from Holtville keeping the cook-off centered around the community “It’s cool to have a fun day for family and friends,” added Ayon who himself is on a cook-off team with some of his friends from high school The same camaraderie can be seen among the other teams competing at the Rib Cook-off whose team goes by “Baja Cochis,” describes his love for cooking and desire to support the athletics programs as his motivation for participating Each team gets to choose whether their proceeds go toward the Boosters overall or to specific athletics programs that they want to support “I was involved in sports here.” Irungaray said “my kids were involved when they were in high school and so all my stuff we make in this booth is going to Holtville baseball That’s where this is going.” He mentions that he won “People’s Choice” back in 2013 with the same rub and marinade recipe he uses on his ribs today “We’re out here to have fun and that’s it,” Irungaray states Mark Garewal of “The Three Amigos” team alongside his friends Tony Pacheco and George Hoy has been competing in the Rib Cook-off since back in the ’80s you know,” Garewal said when thinking of the tradition behind participating in the Rib Cook-off it’s “just a lot of fun.” While now a resident of Yuma anytime there is something happening in his hometown of Holtville but the community itself.” Garewal describes The warm spirit of Holtville has also welcomed newcomers into its fold as with “Los Compadres” team leader Hector Perez Perez began competing in Holtville’s Pulled Pork Cook-off hosted by the Rotary Club but this is his first year back in a cooking competition “It feels good,” said Perez when thinking of the support the Rib Cook-off will bring to the Athletic Boosters (and) we all show the love back for this small town.” While four judges rank the competitors in first it is the attendees who hold voting power for “People’s Choice” at the Holtville Rib Cook-off Whichever team sells the most ribs takes the prize for “People’s Choice,” however everyone holds a different opinion on what characteristics they think make for the best ribs described his preference as leaning toward sweet said he much prefers a savory flavor profile Erica Felix mentions she came from Mexicali to attend the cook-off and was most looking for a traditional barbecue style of ribs savored some ribs from “Baja Cochis,” describing them as having a tender a Louisiana dry rub is attendee Eddie Jordan’s personal favorite style of ribs said he comes to Imperial Valley for events regularly and used to love attending the Rib Cook-off in years prior “it’s not like San Diego where they get a lot of sponsorships but it’s a small step to help support athletics.” some of the sponsors who helped make the Holtville Rib Cook-off possible were Performance Medical Contractors Duflock Real Estate and Hot Rods & Beer It was also students from Holtville High School’s own Ag Department that designed and donated the trophies for the Rib Cook-off Winning teams of the 2025 Rib Cook-Off were as follows: City Hopes to Curb Early Spot Saving for Upcoming Carrot Festival Parade HOLTVILLE — The long-held practice of setting out seating days before the annual Carrot Festival Parade was abruptly put to an end with the passage of an emergency ordinance by the Holtville City Council on Monday Taking a page from the city of Brawley in how it deals with similar situations in the days before the Cattle Call Parade Holtville’s emergency ordinance takes effect immediately and doesn’t allow any seating of any kind to be placed along the parade route before noon on the Friday before the Saturday “The saving of seats are a function of people putting out chairs along the parade route which has always kind of bled into the week (before the parade) a little bit It’s kind of backed up further and further we observed some people Monday night prior to the parade putting out chairs,” City Manager Nick Wells said of the Fifth Street route.  Last year presented a few problems for the city the main one being that more merchants complained to the city about the difficulties of conducting business with chairs — and in some cases Wells said — blocking sidewalks and entrances for days at a time residents had chained and locked their chairs around posts and pillars along Fifth Street “That becomes a fire hazard for egress from those businesses if there was a problem,” Wells said of all efforts to have seating Another issue last year was a wind storm just days before the parade that sent white plastic chairs flying And so we had to have our staff pull them out and move them somewhere else,” Wells said adding the city had to expend overtime hours to collect the chairs executive manager with Holtville Chamber of Commerce showed her organization’s support for the emergency ordinance citing that some businesses were being adversely affected by the chairs on weeknights and right in the middle of the frenzy of saving spots it should be taken very seriously,” Allegranza said Wells mentioned that the California Department of Transportation has also shown distaste for the practice of putting out hairs In line with the preferences of the Holtville chamber City Councilmember Murray Anderson wanted to see the ordinance read no chairs until 5 p.m councilmember John Munger motioned for the ordinance to say noon Friday with Anderson and council member Vanessa Ramirez voting against With no punitive measures on the ordinance residents who have their chairs hauled away are expected to pick them up at the city’s Public Works yard during normal business hours The council appointed two new Planning Commission members and a new city treasurer on Monday night Residents Stacey Britchgi and Devron Gray were tabbed as new planning commissioners; one to replace councilmember Ramirez and one as Ramirez’s appointment Former city Treasurer George Morris was selected by the council on a 4-0 vote "Nothing Space" Identified As One of 36 Sites to Improve Alamo River Water Quality and Establish a Wetlands Habitat a project more than two decades in the making residents and representatives from partnering agencies Once a “nothing space,” the 31-acre site now stands as a symbol of environmental restoration and community collaboration “This is a vision that began in the early 2000s,” Holtville Mayor Murray Anderson said during his opening remarks at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday Nov “What you see today is the result of years of dedication a shared commitment to improving water quality and creating a haven for wildlife and recreation.” The vision for the Holtville Wetlands began more than 20 years ago identified as one of 36 priority sites to improve the Alamo River’s water quality and establish a wetlands habitat the Citizens Congressional Task Force partnered with the Bureau of Reclamation and the Imperial Irrigation District which donated a combined 31 acres of land for the project driving efforts to secure funding and maintain momentum “I think today he would be smiling ear to ear to be here for this,” said Anderson reflecting on Mellinger’s vision and tireless advocacy for the wetlands “He’s the one who kept the fire burning to get this project done.” including permitting delays and financial shortfalls the Bureau of Reclamation awarded the city a $3 million grant to begin construction but escalating costs during the COVID-19 pandemic left the project underfunded securing additional funds to bridge the gap “Collaboration like this doesn’t happen often,” remarked Anderson and community organizations — to make this a reality.” The Holtville Wetlands project is as much about environmental restoration as it is about community enrichment Designed to improve water quality in the Alamo River before it flows toward the Salton Sea the site now features sedimentation basins and wetland cells soon to be filled with more than 24,000 native plants Water flows through a series of switchbacks taking about 3.5 days to complete its journey through the wetlands This process not only cleanses the water but also creates a thriving habitat for birds and other wildlife “Everybody wants clean water and a clean habitat,” District 5 Imperial County Supervisor John Hawk said “This project serves the environment while benefiting the community.” The wetlands also provide new recreational opportunities with plans to connect walking trails across the site and beyond residents will be able to take everything from short strolls to five-mile walks through this beautiful space,” Anderson explained “It’s not just for Holtville — it’s for anyone who wants to enjoy nature while seeing the positive impact this project has on our river.” The journey to completing the Holtville Wetlands was not without its obstacles From bureaucratic delays to fluctuating river elevations the project demanded innovative engineering solutions and steadfast determination “One of the biggest challenges was dealing with the water table,” explained Dale Miller the construction firm in charge of building the project “The farmland around here causes water to wick in and we also had to manage a three-foot differential in the river’s elevation depending on irrigation schedules.” COVID-19 added another layer of complexity halting progress for a year and causing construction costs to skyrocket the Bureau of Reclamation secured additional funding to see the project through Miller noted that his team went above and beyond to ensure the site would not only meet its technical specifications but also provide long-term benefits to the community “My son and I would get out here an hour before everybody else got started making sure everything was ready to go,” Miller reflected “It’s cool to see this finished after all the blood almost heat stroke and all the hard work our team had to put in to make this happen.” The completion of the Holtville Wetlands stands as a testament to the power of collaboration Desert Wildlife Unlimited and the city of Holtville joined forces with local leaders and grant contributors to bring this ambitious vision to life “None of this would have been possible without everyone coming to the table,” said Murray Anderson “Holtville doesn’t have grant writers or the resources to take on something of this scale alone At the heart of the project was a shared commitment to improving Holtville’s environment and quality of life representing Congressman Raul Ruiz’s office emphasized the importance of multi-benefit projects in the face of climate change The city was presented with a certificate of congressional recognition for the project which aligns with larger climate and conservation goals within the state of California “I think it is important that we recognize that we have a moral duty to protect the wildlife,” he said during the ceremony “I want to congratulate the city of Holtville for the vision — for the commitment — to protect the wildlife but at the same time to provide access to recreation for the public which is highly needed in our communities.” The ribbon cutting marked not only the culmination of years of effort but also the beginning of new opportunities for the city and its residents “This isn’t just about cleaning up the Alamo River — it’s about creating a space where people can connect with nature and each other.” As native vegetation grows and wildlife begins to flourish the site is expected to become a haven for birdwatchers nature enthusiasts and families seeking outdoor recreation Plans to connect walking trails across the wetlands and into surrounding areas are already underway promising greater accessibility and engagement for residents Anderson expressed optimism for the site’s potential “Once the plants take hold and the birds start arriving It’s not just a win for Holtville — it’s a win for everyone upstream and downstream along the Alamo River.” Mariachi Night and Ends with Carnival Running Throughout HOLTVILLE — Imperial Valley’s mild 70-degree winter breeze partnered with the year-round sun’s warmth to provide the ideal weather for Holtville’s 78th annual Carrot Festival and Parade on Saturday “The Carrot Festival has been going on for 78 years and has grown a lot and yet there are a lot of people in the Valley who still don’t know we are here every year,” said Festival Coordinator Yvette Rios “Hop on the Carrot Express!” brought floats through Holtville’s main thoroughfare that looked like locomotives some filled with people and others made of people the carrot-loving representatives of the animal world were also integrated into the floats to celebrate Holtville’s history as a farming community.  Traditions like ending the parade by handing out carrots to the attendees along with the announcer singing the Holtville Vikings fight song as the band approached were in effect Traditions like taking part or watching a community event like the Carrot Festival parade are made because of the active participation of the Holtville community The parade was led by Grand Marshal Margaret Strahm local community leader and advocate for suicide prevention.  Strahm was followed by local law enforcement community-based organizations and the most anticipated Holtville Junior High School led the way followed by Brawley Union High School Barbara Worth Junior High School Cheer and Holtville High School Band of Pride The Band of Pride played the Holtville High School fight song and even inspired the announcer to burst into song.  Citizen of the Year for 2024 Jorge Padilla was honored and took part at the beginning of the parade and again in his own vehicle with his car club waving from the back of a restored classic car Students from Holtville High School’s FFA fundraised for their annual trip by selling bags of produce donated by local farmers many of the youths are instilled with the appreciation for farming that their families have done for generations and continue the tradition said the Carrot Festival is a Holtville tradition he hopes to come back to even as he gets older.  “The first time I came to the festival I was probably too young to remember,” said Andrew “Now I like coming to hang out with my friends to ride the carnival rides and seeing what new vendors come out.”  Andrew said he feels like he grew up with the carnival in that he remembers how much smaller it was before the carnival rides and all the food vendors His aunt and lifelong resident of Holtville added that Holtville has a small town feel and appeal “I’m excited to see old classmates who come back every year for the festival because this is one of those beautiful things that come from being in a small town.”  Mejorado advocates for her small town and others like it around the Imperial Valley She hopes traditions like the Carrot Festival and Parade continue to be celebrated and cherished “I hope the Valley continues to put together these kinds of community events so that we can see one another and build community around the people that you grew up with,” Mejorado added Festival Coordinator Rios agrees with local Holtville residents and has become involved in order to continue and grow the traditions of the small city “We’re always trying to grow and love to put on a family friendly event that gives the community something to look forward to doing every year,” said Rios.  Rios hopes this year’s theme inspires local community members and young people who is credited with being the father of the Imperial Valley because he helped fund the railroad coming to the Imperial Valley in the early 1900s when it seemed unthinkable,” said Rios “I think this example gives our community the chance to pursue things that seem unlikely because you never know what could happen; dream big the Carrot festival continued through the nighttime by hosting a mariachi night Local performers took to the stage including soloist Santi Alvarez The main performance of the night were Mariachi de Acero del Valle “Every year we try to make it bigger and nicer for the community to enjoy,” said Rios.  The coordinator’s aim to grow and expand the festival seems like an achievable goal since its start as a small parade and gathering for locals to enjoy has expanded into a small street fair that encompasses the downtown park and surrounding streets The tall shady trees of Holt Park canopied the various vendors from local artisans to community-based organizations providing information to the public Food and beverage vendors lined Holt Avenue from Fifth Street to Sixth Street where a 20-foot-tall mechanical wheel caps the corner ready for carnival riders to enter its tiny metal cages for a minute or two thrill ride Citizen of the Year and Parade Grand Marshal Announced at 78th Annual Banquet Mia Hernandez passed down the torch to the newly nominated 2025 Carrot Royalty and reached the hearts of the 78th annual Carrot Festival attendees as she spoke of the meaningful journey of being Holtville’s royal representative the overwhelming joy of knowing I had achieved something my younger self only dreamt of In that moment I wasn’t just celebrating a title the lessons and the honor of representing Holtville,” said Hernandez tearfully The Imperial Valley Swiss Club hosted the 78th annual Carrot Festival Coronation/Citizen of the Year Banquet on Friday and friends gathered to recognize the Citizen of the Year award “It’s a pleasure to hop on the ‘Carrot Express’ as it carries us to greater community success,” announced Holtville Mayor Michael Goodsell as he concluded the state of the city address The Junior Princesses were the first to take the stage as the 2025 Carrot Royalty contestants and the residing Carrot Royalty lined up as they waited to be called up by Rosie Allegranza Allegranza announced each contestant with a brief biography as they walked toward the stage After the announcement and eager anticipation the 2024 Royalty members were crowned: Junior Princess Avery May Sutter Adorned with their new sparkly crowns and bouquets of flowers the new Carrot Royalty posed and quickly got busy as their friends and family took pictures and congratulated them.  commented on how proud he was to see his daughter be announced Holtville’s Junior Princess Holtville chamber President Ian Wells took the stage to thank the chamber board before presenting the 2025 Presidential Award to Cassandra Vista “(She) has been on the board for several years and is always there for events and always willing to pitch in and we really appreciate her,” said Wells The Holtville Chamber of Commerce awarded Margaret Strahm with the honor of Parade Grand Marshal Strahm is mostly known in Holtville for her efforts in forming the Yellow Ribbon Club the local chapter of the suicide prevention and awareness program which she continues to passionately support of which I wasn’t deserving of,” said Strahm “I’ve been in the parade many times through the years was awarded the Holtville Citizen of the Year Award Padilla graduated from Holtville High and went on to Imperial Valley College and Cal State University Northridge to earn his two bachelor’s degrees in Spanish and Mexican American studies Padilla was a prominent figure in education in the Imperial Valley as he taught Spanish for 31 years at Central Union High School and Southwest High School when it opened in 1996 “After getting my bachelor’s degrees at Northridge Padilla stays very involved with his Holtville community by helping the Holtville Chamber of Commerce with activities but primarily enjoys his classic convertible cars a 1956 Bel-Air convertible and a 1965 Impala convertible which he uses to drive the Carrot Royalty through the Carrot Parade Padilla still contributes to growing the education of the Imperial Valley as a member of the Holtville Car Club and with the money we get from the car show we give the local high school students scholarships to help them with their education and that is one way for us to help their future education.” I don’t think I would want to live in any other place,” Padilla said with a smile Connection to Community Stressed at Solar Farm and Battery Storage Facility Opening  HOLTVILLE — Holtville’s landscape is now home to the Vikings Solar-plus-Storage Project a $529 million renewable energy facility hailed as a key step in California’s push for a renewable-powered future serving San Diego County with enough solar power for more than 100,000 homes At the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday local leaders noted the community contributions tied to the project including scholarships for Holtville High School students and sponsorship of the beloved Carrot Festival — though the energy itself is destined for homes far from Holtville’s borders always a Viking.’ Since its groundbreaking ceremony Vikings Solar-plus-Storage Project has been a good neighbor,” said Rosie Allegranza executive director of the Holtville Chamber of Commerce in an address to the ribbon cutting attendees The facility was named for the Holtville High Vikings a fact that speakers were sure to mention multiple times throughout the event The ceremony celebrated more than just the completion of the facility the project represents an economic and community investment the energy company behind the 604-acre facility and so it’s a huge investment for us We’re expecting to be here for decades as this project continues to provide reliable and clean energy into the grid.” the San Diego-based renewable energy company that led the engineering and construction of Vikings spoke about the economic impacts of the project “A project like the Vikings Solar Energy Project is unique because not only were we able to create 250 union jobs and over $25 million in wages but it also showcases the connective tissue that renewable energy brings to communities,” he said Smith added that the project will contribute an additional $17 million in tax revenue over its lifetime officials highlighted partnerships with Holtville High School and support for events like the Carrot Festival as examples of the project’s local involvement the facility relies on technology from leading domestic suppliers reflecting the use of American-made components in its design “The Viking Solar Project showcases top U.S reinforcing our commitment to American manufacturing and energy independence,” Smith said While the energy generated here will benefit homes far from Imperial County the advanced technology powering the facility represents the future of California’s renewable energy efforts The project pairs 157 megawatts of solar power with 150 megawatts/600 megawatt-hours of battery storage allowing it to store energy during the day and provide power during peak evening demand “To meet our climate goals and meet the energy demands of tomorrow and that means solar plus storage,” said Joe LaCava president pro tem of San Diego’s City Council “Projects like Vikings set the template for what we need to build in California.” the facility’s design to meet peak energy demands addresses one of California’s most pressing energy challenges By storing excess energy generated during the day the project can provide power when it’s needed most easing strain on the grid and reducing the likelihood of blackouts This capability not only improves grid reliability but also supports the state’s transition away from traditional energy sources during critical times These projects intend to move California closer to goals established in the 2018 “100 Percent Clean Energy Act,” to have all new energy production come from renewable sources by the year 2045 chief commercial officer of San Diego Community Power the utilities company purchasing the energy provided by Vikings this broader vision of renewable energy hinges on collaboration “The communities we serve and develop in are at the heart of what we do It’s important to reinvest in these communities and ensure that projects like Vikings benefit everyone involved,” Vosberg said Representatives from Arevon echoed this sentiment acknowledging the teamwork that brought the facility to life “The partnerships and support from Holtville’s community have made this project possible and we’re proud to be part of it,” said Jake Montgomery it becomes clear that when we come together we can achieve significant feats that have a positive impact on the world.” the Holtville chamber’s Allegranza brought the focus back to Holtville “Our Carrot Festival Parade is coming up in February and we look forward to continuing to work with Vikings Solar as a key sponsor and partner,” she said The Holtville High School Band won top honors at the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Festival on Monday HOLTVILLE — The Holtville High School Band won top honors at the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Festival on Monday receiving “excellent” and “superior” ratings from the judges the band director at Holtville High School explained that the band was slated to go to Oceanside to perform in the festival which is put on by the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association the association sent a group of adjudicators from San Diego and Palm Desert to the Valley instead to hold the festival at Calexico High School receiving ratings of “excellent” from two judges and “superior” from another Castro said that the focus was not only on the bands competing against each other but on each school trying to score higher than the rating it received the previous year Castro explained that throughout the school year along with practicing their music for parades and football games the musicians prepared to perform these classical music pieces Students worked on the pieces for about three months as an ensemble and each musician had an additional month of individual practice before that Castro said that of the 24 Holtville High band members The time before the performance was spent getting used to playing together as an ensemble she plans to get the music out to the kids as soon as possible in the years to come so that they are exposed to it early in the semester her goal is to get an overall “superior” rating at the band competition Two musicians in the Holtville High band are twin sophomores she was “overwhelmed with joy” to hear the Holtville band’s powerful sound especially alongside much larger bands like Calexico High School’s Mia and Leah are both dedicated to their music “They’re in the band room all the time,” Ramirez said explaining that Mia is a section leader for the drumline Along with being a first-chair clarinet player Leah just performed the national anthem at Petco Park on Thursday as part of Holtville High’s series of baseball games against Brawley Ramirez explained that she has seen her girls grow as leaders in the band noting that they have learned how to handle more responsibility She praised the unity between her daughters and the rest of the band overall Ramirez emphasized that she wants kids to be excited to join the band saying that there is a place for kids in the music program just like there is a spot for them in sports or other clubs “I’m just really proud of them,” Ramirez said of her daughters “I’m hoping that Holtville keeps music alive there.”  Several members of the band’s student leadership — sophomore Roberto Orozco and senior Alexander Gamboa — described their time at the festival as a positive experience somewhat nerve-wracking at the beginning but ultimately satisfying Castro explained that after the musicians finished playing they went into another room with one of the adjudicators a clinician who gave feedback and suggested various changes to their technique “I think it was pretty cool being able to experience the clinic and being able to get constructive criticism from somebody who knows a lot more than us,” Gamboa said “I honestly feel like that helped us know what we need to do better next time.”  The leadership students agreed that the clinic also gave them a new perspective on some musical vocabulary — instead of equating “forte” with “loud,” for example one of the adjudicators encouraged them to think of the term meaning “strong.” alto saxophone — shared that they learned how to get in tune quickly and make smooth adjustments as necessary while playing San Pedro said that the band learned about concepts like articulation which is the specific way notes are played in a piece and explained that the musicians will apply that knowledge in future performances Castro said that when Holtville High participates in parades and field shows the musicians hear comments about how small Holtville’s drumline is compared to other bands She explained that in scoring high at the competition the musicians “proved that they can hang in there with the bigger bands.” “We’re not just loud — we know how to play musically; we know how to play in tune,” Castro continued “Being able to receive feedback and confirmation of those things from professional adjudicators was like the icing on the cake.” Castro noted that the band members have nothing to prove to others but also described the satisfaction of being able to say but we got the same rating as this bigger band.”  “There’s this stigma — not just in the Valley but throughout the band world — that big is better,” Castro said “We’re very small; we’re smaller than we’ve been in many years Being able to be that small and sound big and receive compliments on our sound was very gratifying for me as a director because it shows me how powerful they are as individuals 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 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 Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: KECY) - Cibola baseball (12-9) took down Holtville (5-15) 3-2 at home on Friday afternoon It was a semi-last minute addition to the schedule for the Raiders who had to make up for a game against a different opponent that was cancelled due to weather Only one game remains on the season for Cibola who will head on the road to face Youngker on Monday Saints End Holtville’s Quest for CIF-San Diego Section Title HOLTVILLE — After a perfect 10-0 regular season the Holtville High football team ran into a stout defense and fell to St in the CIF-San Diego Section Division III quarterfinals at Birger Field here on Friday The second-seeded Vikings (10-1 overall) rolled through the regular season averaging 49 points per game while allowing less than five points per game The seventh-seeded Saints (2-10 overall) were the Division I champions in 2023 falling to Division III with the section’s new playoff seeding system winners of 17 straight games dating back to 2023 won the Division V-AA title in 2023 but found themselves pushed up into Division III after the successful regular season controlled the clock and didn’t turn the ball over.” After a scoreless and defense-dominated first quarter Augustine got on the scoreboard late in the second quarter after an impressive drive that took 10:02 off the clock scoring on a 1-yard touchdown push from sophomore Pai Polamalu Freshman Callen Moore booted the extra-point kick and St Augustine was up 7-0 with 17 seconds left in the half The Saints’ defensive coordinator is Polamalu’s father Holtville only managed four offensive plays in the second quarter and 15 offensive plays in the first half Augustine took the opening possession of the second half and drove the ball 66 yards to the Vikings’ 9-yard line where the Saints settled for a 26 yard field goal from Moore to increase their lead to 10-0 with 5:59 left in the third quarter “I’m proud of my team,” said Vikings’ senior Andres Fregoso “Those guys (Saints) were the best team we faced all season and we were right there with them.” Holtville would finally get on the scoreboard with 5:47 left in the game when junior running back Enrique Armas finished a 41-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run The Vikings failed on the two-point attempt The Vikings’ defense forced a quick three-and-out on the Saints’ next possession giving Holtville the ball back at their own 20-yard line with 3:42 left in the game After a big 19-yard pass completion from junior quarterback Alonso Cuevas to junior Bradyn Terrill and a few Armas runs the Vikings found themselves at their own 47-yard line with two and a half minutes left On a second-and-5 play from the 47-yard-line Cuevas rolled to his right and launched a pass downfield that was intercepted by the Saints’ Matt Weinpel at the St From there the Saints got a first down that allowed them to take a knee and run out the remaining clock Fregoso reflected on his career on the defensive side of the ball for the Vikings “It was awesome,” said the 18-year-old Fregoso “Coach (Gabriel) Ponce is the reason I’m here He got me out here and I have had so much fun From winning it all last year to 10-0 this season Vikings’ senior Smitty Hilfiker also wrapped up his four years of playing varsity football on Birger Field with the same emotion “I always say ‘drive forward’ and I am proud of every moment,” said the 17-year-old Hilfiker “Played four years on varsity and I gave everything I had and left it on the field Augustine moves on to the D-III semifinals where the Saints will travel to face third-seeded San Diego High at 7 p.m top-seeded Central will host fourth-seeded San Pasqual High of Escondido at Cal Jones Field in El Centro at 7 p.m Serving Holtville and surrounding areas since 1905Address:1122 West State Street, Ste. E, El Centro, CA 92243.Phone: (760) 356-2995, (760) 339-4899Email: info@calexicochronicle.com News Releases & TipsEmail: rbrown@calexicochronicle.com Manuel Baeza sold ribs to support the Holtville Takedown Club a wrestling club that he coaches for kids aged 6-12 during Holtville’s Rib Cookoff on Saturday poses during Holtville’s Rib Cookoff on Saturday pose for a photo during Holtville’s Rib Cookoff on Saturday Attendees enjoy food and conversation at the bustling outdoor Holtville Rib Cookoff event on Saturday The event featured various food stalls and a lively atmosphere under clear skies Los Compadres and Hector Perez prepare ribs under their tent during Holtville’s Rib Cookoff on Saturday known for their homemade curly fries and secret barbecue sauce were the second-place winners of the Best Ribs Holtville varsity wrestling students sold sodas and water to attendees at Holtville’s Rib Cookoff on Saturday The students participated in the event to support local student athletics and the Holtville Takedown Club HOLTVILLE— Smoke rose from grills and wafted over Cedar Street on Saturday savory scents of barbecue at Holtville’s reconstructed Rib Cookoff Ribs and various delectable sides like creamed corn and baked beans were ready for purchase at noon All proceeds from the rib sales went to student athletics in Holtville the baseball coach at Holtville High School said that nine teams competed in the rib cookoff Patton and Max Lira from the Bama Que team sold ribs and birria Lira said it was their second year competing and they won the award for the best side dish last year the family cooked up ribs to support the Holtville booster club Kaylin Mamer explained that it was the group’s third year involved with the cookoff Hector Perez with Los Compadres said that he has about 20 years of grilling experience starting with when he sold ribs for the Holtville Rotary rib cookoff at Holt Park Perez and his team of 15 people sold ribs and homemade curly fries with a secret barbecue sauce and three locally sourced types of honey Tony Pacheco with The Three Amigos sold onion rings as his team’s side dish to support the sports programs in Holtville Wrestling coach Manuel Baeza sold ribs to support the Holtville Takedown Club which teaches wrestling skills to kids aged 6-12 He said the club has a four-month wrestling season “We’re coming together to fundraise so that we can make sure we have tournaments and gear paid for,” Baeza said and third place teams for ribs and side dishes The “People’s Choice” award went to the group that sold the most ribs throughout the day As A Second Farmworker Apartment Complex is Planned Veteran City Manager Dissects Housing Issue HOLTVILLE — Housing in Holtville has been in an odd state for some time one that looks unfavorably on families looking to buy detached homes With new single-family home construction almost unheard of and the existing housing stock limited the city’s main catalyst for population growth in recent years has been low-income apartments City Manager Nick Wells would like to see Holtville reach the “magic number” of 10,000 residents a number that he says will give the city a better shot at the fast-food restaurants and small-chain grocery stores residents have said they want It’s also a number that helps flatten out the share residents pay for water and sewer service “Without 10,000 Starbucks won’t look at you I can’t even make my case to them,” Wells said But reaching 10,000 residents is a difficult sell with few housing options you know … market rate stuff or detached single-family homes we’re having a hard time finding people to build those is the economics of building single-family homes is becoming very difficult because of land values Wells opened up about the state of housing the morning after the Holtville City Council moved forward on some of the procedural and grant application work related to the prospective development of Pine Crossing a 40-plus unit low-income apartment complex at the northwest corner of Fourth Street and Holt Avenue Pine Crossing will take advantage of the same farmworker low-income funding from the state that facilitated the development of the mirror site just across the road — on the northeast corner of Fourth and Holt Both are being built by developer AMG & Associates The city of Holtville finds itself pinned against the wall in developing new housing land values in the area are too high to make home building attractive and on the other end state mandates are requiring Holtville — and other cities for that matter — to increase their affordable housing stock in the form of low-income apartments is finally ready for growth — which hasn’t always been the case “There was a certain amount of isolationism in Holtville for many years where it was like we don’t really want to grow.’ I would say that’s definitely changed now,” said Wells who has seen the attitudes shift during his 10-year tenure as city manager and three years before that as finance manager and they kind of cite the land value things.” but before that the city has had to deal with the threats from Gov Gavin Newsom’s administration over increasing its affordable housing increment a regional needs assessment conducted by the planning organization Southern California Association of Governments — to which Holtville belongs — apportioned a certain number of low-income housing units to each municipality to be developed per state law “Say (there were) 100 housing units that we were to build within seven years Newsom was going to steal money from transportation funding They were going to steal money from everything if you didn’t reach your housing assessment Wells said the courts have since put a stop to that threat: “His wings got a little bit clipped in some of it.” the most recent iterations of the City Council have been “very receptive to some of these apartment complexes,” the city manager said “We certainly would like to have more single-family homes We’d like to have a variety of housing options But in order to meet those (regional needs assessment) … we basically had to allow these apartments and we certainly weren’t looking to reject them anyway.” Farmworker funding has been the pot of money many developers in California have been using over the last few years Wells indicated that developer AMG has built complexes using the same funding source in the cities of Imperial and Brawley Farmworker funds have also built projects by other developers in Calexico and El Centro the Holtville council cleared the way for Wells to seek some of the $160 million in infill infrastructure grant funds made available through the California Department of Housing and Community for the project Overall funding sources for Pine Crossing Apartments are described as $10.17 million from the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee $595,000 from the infill grant and the key piece $6.45 million from the state Housing and Community Development’s Joe Serna Jr Wells acknowledged that the use of farmworker funding and the requirements that come with residents actually engaging in farm labor “There have been quite a few people in Holtville that have been a little — not the NIMBY thing or anything like that — but a little upset with it Because they wanted to be able to rent apartments there and they don’t qualify because of their job status,” he said The idea that the city should build more single-family detached housing to counterbalance the apartments has so far proved a difficult sell who evaluates the situation through his college degrees in the seemingly competing disciplines of agriculture (his bachelor’s) and land planning (master’s) Wells has entertained detached housing developers and investors in the city taking them to potential spots and attempting to recruit them to build housing tracts in Holtville but he has continually been sent the same message.  “I have spoken to myriad of developers and we’re a little bit behind the eight ball for a couple of reasons the ground here is better than other places So the land values in Holtville are (better) … Imperial where they built all those houses or whatever You couldn’t grow anything on that land,” Wells said “You’re standing on the Grand Canyon in Holtville.” He said the Colorado River basically broke through right in Holtville dumping silt all over the land and making it ripe for growing “This is the first place all that river water went on the east side of the Valley and so Holtville has some of the best farm ground anywhere The consequence is it’s more expensive for a developer to purchase the land around Holtville and farmers don’t want to take it out of rotation That’s not to say Holtville doesn’t have some available land Wells has taken developers out to the area just north of the Holtville wetlands west of town “There’s three properties that are just weeds right now “I’ve brought people to the site and say And this is going to be overlooking this wetland.’ Don’t you think you should build some bluff housing overlooking the riverbed ‘Can we slow down on the apartments?’ It’s like but we don’t have somebody coming to backfill those numbers with single family homes So in order to meet those (regional needs assessment) numbers you can’t really justify turning down somebody wanting to build when the state says you gotta do it,” said Wells adding Holtville has seen maybe 30 homes built in the last decade Falling tree limbs in Birmingham kills one person The Elmore County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an attempting kidnapping where a Hispanic man in the United States illegally reportedly attempted to coerce a young girl into his vehicle on New Year’s Eve in the parking lot of the Boy’s Store in Holtville a 17-year-old female was attempting to move a buggy later identified as Yordy Noe Centeno-Melchor who told investigators he lives in a trailer in Wetumpka He was driving a black Mitsubishi SUV and showed her something on his phone the girl could not understand everything he was saying as she stood by the car A passerby noticed the girl looking confused and walked over to her When he approached the individual she was talking to the suspect got back into his vehicle and fled the scene The owner of the Boy’s store assisted the sheriff’s office investigators in retrieving video footage of the incident “We were able to determine it was in fact a black Mitsubishi and displayed a Texas tag We ran that tag and put out a Be On Look Out (BOLO) Our investigative division worked with patrol and put the BOLO out across the River Region,” Sheriff Franklin said Clanton Police officers located the vehicle He was taken into custody for investigative detention and he is being held at the Elmore County Jail “He (the suspect) has been questioned and he does place himself there at the store during this time His account of what happened is something different He is saying he was just talking about fireworks The sheriff’s department contacted ICE (Immigration Customs and Enforcement) and learned that this particular subject has been deported five times but has continued to cross back into the United States illegally “We are not aware of the reasoning for ICE deporting him each time Franklin said investigators have been able to learn multiple areas where the suspect has been including Texas The suspect told investigators he is a self-employed construction worker is currently charged with attempted kidnapping second degree and ICE has been notified “We always tell people you cannot put a price on being aware of your surroundings If you are in a parking lot and going to your car always have your keys in your hand and be ready to use them You never want to approach a car and fumble with your keys to take time to find them or get the door open Franklin also cautioned anyone to walk with confidence and be constantly aware of what and who is around you at all times get back into a public space and ask for help Sheriff Franklin said if anyone out there has had a similar situation to please contact their local law enforcement agency “Sometimes I watch or read the news I think about what other people are going through with this kind of stuff But you just do not expect anything like this to happen here no one was injured and someone stepped in when they felt something didn’t look right in this situation at least,” Franklin said adding the store patron’s actions could have stopped any number of potential crimes Vikings Get Fourth Shutout in Five Games in 38-0 Victory CALEXICO — The Holtville High football team continued its dominant start to the 2024 season with a 38-0 victory over Calexico High at Ward Field in Calexico on Friday The Vikings (5-0 overall) have been a powerhouse on both sides of the ball outscoring the opposition 258-7 through five games Averaging more than 51 points per game is impressive but allowing only one touchdown in five games might be the more impressive feat The only points Holtville has given up came in week two of the season when the Vikings went to Mission Bay and scored a 46-7 victory Holtville allowed just five first downs and 86 yards of offense “The defense does a good job of swarming to the ball and making the tackle,” said Jason Turner “We knew Calexico wanted to run the ball so we were able to stuff the line of scrimmage and get aggressive against the run.” The Bulldogs were forced to be one-dimensional with the rushing game on Friday after losing senior quarterback Bobby Montejano to a knee injury after last week’s victory over Francis Parker High of San Diego the second quarterback to go down with a knee injury for Calexico after senior starter Sean Torres injured his knee in the opening game of the season “The injury is unfortunate but it’s something we have to fight through and have that ‘next man up’ mentality,” said Fernando Solano “There are a lot of nuances to our offense and the quarterback has to make reads and it is tough with Israel (Ruiz) being new to the position.” was tabbed the starter during the week when it was learned Montejano would be sidelined “We were limited with what we could do tonight Those guys really brought it tonight,” Solano said The Vikings were using a backup quarterback as well Starter Alonso Cuevas was injured in the first half of their victory over El Cajon Valley last week pressing receiver Raul Briseno into action at quarterback Briseno used his legs and arm to beat the Bulldogs on Friday rushing four times for 31 yards and two touchdowns and throwing for 189 yards and two more scores He got help from his running backs as senior Hector Sanchez finished the game with eight carries and 103 yards while junior Enrique Armas had seven carries for 59 yards and a touchdown Briseno’s favorite target was junior receiver Alan Carrillo who caught five passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns “We got to work together all week at practice and get our timing down and we were pretty comfortable with each other,” said the 17-year-old Carrillo about his quarterback “A lot of it has to do with timing and running the route we are supposed to.” Briseno scored the first two touchdowns with his legs scoring on a 13-yard run with 4:46 left in the first quarter to put Holtville ahead 8-0 after Armas ran in the two-point conversion Briseno had a seven-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter to cap a six-play The drive started when the Vikings’ Jackson Irungaray picked off an errant pass from Ruiz Briseno showed off his arm with a 58-yard touchdown pass to Carrillo who had gotten behind the Bulldogs’ defense Briseno hit junior Axel Gomez for a successful two-point conversion to give the Vikings a 22-0 lead 52-yard drive with a 32-yard touchdown run he ran in the two-point conversion and Holtville had a 30-0 lead it would take into halftime The only points of the second half came courtesy of a 16-yard touchdown pass from Briseno to Carrillo in the back corner of the end zone with 5:31 left in the third quarter Gomez ran in the two-point conversion and the final was set Briseno rolled to his left and lofted the ball for Carrillo who out-jumped the defender for the ball “On that play I’m supposed to go up and fake like I’m blocking and then release down the field,” Carrillo said “I did that and he (Briseno) threw a nice ball that let me go up and get it.” Holtville will be back at Birger Field in Holtville at 7 p.m when the Vikings host Lake Mead Christian Academy of Henderson The Eagles (1-2 overall) are coached by former Oakland Raiders and Washington Redskins quarterback Jay Schroeder Calexico begins Imperial Valley League play at 7 p.m when the Bulldogs host Brawley (4-0 overall) at Ward Field on the Calexico High campus Food Trucks and Local Vendors Marked the Latest Farmers Market in Holt Park HOLTVILLE — Warm days with a cool breezy afternoon is rare weather for the Imperial Valley and Holtville residents took advantage of just such luck on Thursday evening tents began to pop up at Holt Park while food trucks lined up and prepared for hungry patrons to arrive school fundraisers and community organizations were starting to arrive into the park “We want to have events like this that are not as big as our Carrot Festival but that give the community a place to come together,” said Yvette Rios “We expect to get a few hundred people whereas those other events usually see thousands of people attending.” residents enjoyed not only the good weather but also connected with one another and saw and purchased the types of services and goods available by local merchants these Farmers Market events are not a rarity Imperial Market Days has established a yearlong event schedule “It always feels like I’m coming home to see familiar faces which is always nice.” has a slightly different perspective as an Imperial native but can agree that these events provide a great space for locals to have something to participate in it’s really only to visit my Nana and we end up just at her house so it’s cool to walk around the park with my mom and nana and we get to spend quality time with her.” Grandmother Natalia is happy to spend time with her family reminiscing with her daughter and showing her granddaughter her hometown “It’s very nice to have these outdoor events right now that the weather is nice,” Natalia said in Spanish “I wish they happened more than once a month but it’s good to be able to walk around an event like this and share some stories along with some good food.” All three walked around with rainbow-colored shaved ice in white foam cups looking at the different food offerings From Mexican-style corn in a cup to traditionally made kettle corn the smooth music of Misery Whistle plays as background to the buzz of the growing crowds lining up to get tacos Rios was excited to see the turnout on a weeknight “The community likes to have things that can happen during the weekday,” said the city clerk “Sometimes people have other events that would take precedence on the weekend and they don’t have to split their commitments if we have these events during the week.”  the city hosts six monthly Farmers Market events throughout the year from March to May and September to November to accommodate the weather.  “November is our biggest Farmers Market event because it’s in conjunction with our Veterans Day celebration that happens in the morning,” Rios said and it’s a good time for the families We appreciate that the community is out here and enjoy this opportunity.” Holtville Middle School Band and its New Director Were Among the Highlights of the Annual Event in Holt Park HOLTVILLE — Holtville’s annual Christmas in the Park brought the holiday spirit to Holt Park on Thursday dazzling decorations and family-friendly activities that showcased the small community’s charm The event — hosted by the Holtville Chamber of Commerce — featured live performances raffles and a variety of vendors offering food including an indoor Christmas art exhibit displaying paintings and crafts by local students the night underscored Holtville’s strong community ties and organizations coming together to create a memorable celebration Santa Claus made a grand entrance on a Holtville Fire Department truck greeted by cheers from children and parents eager for free photos with the jolly figure a few volunteers from AmeriCorps managed the long line of families while others kept kids safe as they flew down the artificial snow hill in sleds and toboggans — a staple across the Valley’s various holiday celebrations “This event has been months in the making,” said Yvette Rios festival coordinator for the Holtville Chamber of Commerce and Holtville city clerk “We work closely with the city — from Public Works setting up all the decorations to the Fire Department bringing in Santa It’s all about making the park magical for our community.” The Holtville Middle School band quickly became the highlight of the evening delivering a performance that drew enthusiastic applause from the many guests in camping chairs and blankets surrounding the Holt Park gazebo Under the direction of first-year band director Sean Gibson the students showcased a mix of well-rehearsed holiday classics “They really got with the program I introduced to them,” Gibson said “I chose to challenge them right out the gate and I’m really happy with where they are now.” Gibson also shared how rewarding it has been to watch the students improve and gain confidence Parents played a key role in the band’s success assisting with logistics — carrying music stands and instruments from the gazebo at the center of Holt Park all the way out to Sixth Street — and consistently showing their unwavering support “They’ve been incredibly helpful and kind,” Gibson added “Seeing their kids thrive in something they’re passionate about is exciting for everyone involved.” the event provided a boost for local businesses which set up booths to connect with attendees The Chamber of Commerce made it a point to keep vendor fees affordable to encourage participation from businesses of all sizes “We try to give them the best opportunity to succeed,” Rios said get to share their work with the community.” Attractions like the snow hill and free photos with Santa serve as a draw for families from other cities in the Valley “We want to make this a destination event,” Rios said “It’s great to see families from other cities out here enjoying the festivities.” with Clinicas del Valle and the Holtville Car Club giving away bicycles to delighted winners The Chamber of Commerce’s 12 Days of Christmas raffle capped off the night with a grand prize of $1,500 Smaller prizes were awarded throughout the two-week run with tickets re-entered after each drawing for multiple chances to win it went right back into the mix for another chance to win “If I hadn’t been so busy with Christmas shopping The evening ended with laughter and joy as families savored the holiday spirit while kids shook off the last bits of snow from their clothing as they departed the dwindling mound “We’re always working to make it better and bigger each year,” she said “Holtville is special because of the way we come together to create something magical for the holidays.” CORRECTION: A quote in the previous version of the story was incorrectly attributed to Holtville chamber Executive Manager Rosie Allegranza John Munger is Bypassed As Mayor in Favor of Mike Goodsell; Murray Anderson Lays Out the Case Against Munger HOLTVILLE — The usually staid reorganization of a city council was upended in Holtville when the man in line to be the next mayor was bypassed by his fellow council members and likened to a “child” for conduct during the previous year This came during the same meeting on Monday night 5 General Election were sworn into office — incumbents Murray Anderson who replaced temporary appointee Richard Layton In the ceremonial succession that was to follow Mayor Anderson would end up turning over his gavel to councilmember Mike Goodsell but not before drama ensued that played out in front of a room of Holtville High School students some capturing the fireworks on cellphone video The scene started when a motion was made to select Munger as the new mayor in line with the succession of his position as mayor pro tem But that motion died procedurally for the lack of a second “What are we doing here?” and more specifically what was being done to him Anderson laid out the case against Munger: shouted expletives at a fellow council member and stormed out also attempting to embarrass (former councilmember) Ginger (Ward) in her last vote where you completely ignored the city attorney and his instructions to you and you were determined to get your opinion out there regardless of what the city is going to say have shown us that you don’t represent what the city of Holtville needs the mayor’s title should be a public servant to represent the city of Holtville Munger and Anderson briefly went back and forth on the record with Munger denying that he said any expletives and Anderson recalling the meeting where Munger stormed out grousing that the council was undertaking “piss poor planning.” Munger also told Anderson that he should have brought these concerns to Munger before Monday’s meeting You had the opportunity to apologize for acting like a child and storming out of the room picking up your papers and trying to embarrass Ginger (Ward) you haven’t even made one attempt to apologize for your childish tactics that night So to try and throw it back on me and say I had an opportunity to say anything I didn’t say anything wrong in the first place So that is not how a mayor should act for the city A motion was then made by Pacheco to name Goodsell as mayor Munger voted no and Ramirez abstained for what said earlier as not knowing enough about her fellow council members to make an informed choice Mayor Goodsell motioned for Pacheco to be named mayor pro tem The City Council awarded a $1.62 million bid of American Asphalt South Inc of Riverside to fog and slurry seal a large portion of Holtville’s 18 miles of streets work that includes repainting striping and other signage improvements the scale of which hasn’t been undertaken 2018-2019 will come from Measure D sales tax revenues “We’ve been working on this project for a few months now We got the assessment of the streets by our city engineer which included a probable cost … backing up the assessment that none of the streets needed major repair They’re basically all just maintenance and rehab which consists of the big piece of crack ceiling,” City Manager Nick Wells told the council before the unanimous vote HOLTVILLE — Desert Pro Wrestling took to the ring as part of a Carrot Mania showdown on Saturday 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.  Chas Messman joined KYMA in July 2023 as News 11’s Sports Director HOLTVILLE — The Holtville High football team continues to steamroll opponents finishing the regular season with a perfect 10-0 record after the Vikings punished Calipatria in the annual Axe Game at Birger Field in Holtville on Thursday 3-0 in Desert League) wrap up the Desert League championship and improve their record in Axe Games to 13-2 dating back to the rivalry game’s beginnings in 2009 Holtville has won eight straight Axe Games with the only wins for the Hornets coming in the inaugural game in 2009 and in 2016 2-1 in the DL) finishes in second place in the DL followed by Vincent Memorial Catholic (6-3 overall 1-2 in DL) in third and Palo Verde Valley of Blythe in fourth (2-8 overall Holtville has been a juggernaut through the 10-game season The Vikings’ winning streak sits at 17 after they won their final seven games of 2023 including the CIF-San Diego Section Division V-AA championship game over Army-Navy Academy of Carlsbad “We talked to them about them forever being linked in Holtville history with an undefeated season,” said Jason Turner I think there’s another gear these guys can get to and I hope we see it in the playoffs.” scoring on the fifth play of the game after taking the opening kickoff at their own 30-yard line including a 53-yard scamper from junior Enrique Armas and the Vikings were in the end zone when Armas scored on a five-yard run Junior Axel Gomez ran in the two-point conversion and Holtville was up 8-0 with 10:21 left in the opening quarter Calipatria found its offense with 5:30 to go in the first quarter when the Hornets went on an 11-play 47-yard march down the field that ended on the first play of the second quarter with a four-yard Jordan Potter touchdown run They failed to convert the two-point attempt leaving the score 8-6 with 11:56 left in the half That score seemed to inspire the Holtville team as the Vikings would rattle off three second-quarter touchdowns while allowing just two first downs to Calipatria in the quarter Holtville got an eight-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Alonso Cuevas to junior receiver Raul Briseno with 9:53 left in the half to make it 16-6 the Vikings got an 11-yard touchdown run from senior Hector Sanchez that came after an electrifying 65-yard catch-and-run from Briseno off a short Cuevas pass to put the Vikings at the Hornets’ 15-yard line “All of their defensive backs seemed to be pressing up so when I caught the ball I was able to make a few moves and get down the sideline,” Briseno said “Our team is like a family and we were going to work hard to get to 10-0 and get another championship.” Holtville took advantage of a final possession of the half to rattle off a six-play 45-yard drive that took less than a minute and finished with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Cuevas to Armas with 26 seconds left to increase the lead to 28-6 The Hornets took the second-half kickoff and marched 57 yards in seven plays with Potter finishing the drive with his second four-yard touchdown run to pull Calipatria to 28-12 with 7:58 left in the third quarter Holtville was able to answer that with its own eight-play 61-yard scoring drive that finished with Armas’ second rushing touchdown He also ran in the two-point conversion to make it 36-12 with 4:35 left in the quarter Calipatria fumbled on its next possession with the Vikings’ Andres Fregoso falling on the loose ball at the Hornets’ 19-yard line One play later Holtville cashed in the turnover with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Cuevas to junior Bradyn Terrill for a 42-12 lead with 2:03 left in the quarter The only score of the fourth quarter was a 40-yard touchdown run from Potter Potter finished the game with nine carries for 65 yards and three touchdowns Leading the way for the Vikings was Armas who rushed for 103 yards on 13 carries and two touchdowns Cuevas threw three touchdown passes and completed 9-of-15 passes for 169 yards Briseno was the leading receiver on the night with three catches for 86 yards and a touchdown Both teams will now wait and see where they are slotted for the playoffs Holtville was a top team in the CIF-SDS Division III bracket while Calipatria was the top seed in the Division V-AA playoff scenario HOLTVILLE — The Holtville Chamber of Commerce announces the 2025 Carrot Royalty Candidates for the 78th Annual Carrot Festival In the running are eleven young ladies vying to be named the 78th Annual Carrot Queen The Carrot Royalty Competition is open to all young ladies attending Imperial Valley Schools for a total of 100 possible points:               contestants receive educational materials on speech writing Each contestant will also receive 25% of their total ticket sales revenue in the form of a check at the end of the competition This competition is designed to engage young contestants by providing them with life skills Candidates will participate in the Speech Competition held in the Holtville Civic Center on January 16 public event open to family and friends of the candidates; reporters are welcome Successful candidates will be crowned at the 78th Annual Carrot Festival Coronation & Citizen of the Year Banquet held at the IV Swiss Club on January 31 The Banquet typically draws in roughly 175 attendees Event tickets are pre-sold at $40 and $45 at the door The public is welcome and media coverage is highly appreciated I like taking my dogs for sunset walks with my parents and I can’t wait because broccoli is my favorite vegetable I started 4-H this year and like to spend time with my bunny My favorite thing to do is go camping and make smores with my family I live in Holtville and would be blessed to represent my town as the Junior Princess and I am running for the 2025 Holtville Carrot Festival Junior Princess It would be an honor to be crowned the 2025 Holtville Carrot Festival Junior Princess I was born and raised in the beautiful Imperial Valley School is an exciting part of my life—I love learning new things and spending time with my friends and teachers One of my current big goals is to win the Jr and another is to totally rock my Lego fair project I dream of becoming a painter and a veterinarian I even want to follow in my dad’s footsteps and become a farmer one day I can take care of the animals while he looks after the land I’m excited to see what the future holds and look forward to learning I am 11 years old and a fifth grader at Pine Elementary school here in Holtville Some of my favorite hobbies include reading I am raising a feeder calf named Bartholomew that I will take to the Mid- Winter Fair I play the saxophone in our school band and am currently serving as an ASB class officer and the Verde 4H Sergeant of arms I enjoy meeting new people and spending time with my family I am excited to be running as a Junior Carrot Princess where I look forward to having the opportunity to serve our community and share with others about Holtville and its agriculture My name is Jocelyn Wells and I am running for the 2025 Holtville Carrot Festival I am 10 years old and I’m in the 4th grade at Pine Elementary My immediate family is my two younger sisters my mom who works from home as a Certified Medical Coder and my dad who is the Chief Financial Officer for Planter’s Hay in Brawley My favorite thing to do in my free time is art I want to be a content creator for the platform YouTube I love all my family a lot so I would like to stay in Holtville so I can visit whenever I want I am 13 years old and a 7th grader at Pine Elementary School and plan on going to cosmetology school after high school I have participated in many FFA activities including Creed I like to help my grandma with grocery shopping and cleaning I also like to help take care of my little cousin and play t-ball with him I have two dogs and one rabbit “Wiggles” (my rabbit) “Rex” and “Sydney” (my dogs) I plan on showing Rex and Wiggles at our 2025 annual fair I decided to run for Carrot Princess because it would bring me so much pride to represent my hometown I would be honored to be your 2025 Holtville Annual Carrot Princess Jade Gutiérrez- I am currently an 8th grader at Pine Elementary I love to play sports such as basketball and volleyball and I like to bond with my rabbit that I have through the FFA and I am running for Holtville Festival Carrot I am the daughter of Denisse and Steven Villa I am 13 years old and a 7th grader at Magnolia Union Elementary School located in Brawley I am an honor roll student and involved in various sports such as volleyball and flag football I would be honored to represent not only Holtville but the Imperial Valley as your 2025 Princess and I like to be involved in my community and in school and spending time with my friends & family Participating in the Carrot Queen festival has been a dream of mine and I would be happy and proud to represent Holtville and the Imperial Valley if selected I am a 16-year-old Junior at Holtville High School I enjoy spending time with my family and friends I am part of the Cheer Team at Holtville High School and recently got the opportunity to also be part of the comp team I am also the Shields Co-Captain for the Viking Band of Pride I like to keep myself involved with school activities; I am the Junior Class President I like to take initiative and will always put myself out to help where I see it’s needed Whether it’s giving a hand to my coach or helping my teammates by supporting and encouraging them I’m always available to be put where I’m needed without complaining even if it means having to learn something completely different I’m an Honor Student and have kept a GPA higher than 4.0 throughout High School The community makes it such a welcoming town where you can go anywhere and always feel safe and at home It would be an honor to represent this beautiful town as your 78th Annual Holtville Carrot Festival Queen I am a 16-year-old junior and honors student at I enjoy bonding with my family and friends I would be honored to represent Holtville as your 78th Annual Daylong Event Was Put on By Imperial County Young Farmers and Ranchers and University of California’s Farm Smart an event showcasing and celebrating everything Imperial County has to offer within the agricultural community was put on by the Imperial County Young Farmers and Ranchers in partnership with University of California’s Farm Smart at the Desert Research and Extension Center in Holtville on Saturday The event featured activities and games suitable for all ages Lawn games like corn hole and giant Jenga were available to test skills basil and romaine lettuce were all available for transplant There were hay rides to the “U-pick” field where participants were able to pick broccoli cabbage and other seasonal crops and take them home.  The day’s festivities were about “getting children and people familiar with farming and what goes into farming It is connecting people to where their food comes from You have to appreciate the farmer,” said Ben Abatti Harvestfest was about “letting people experience how to pick produce It is not the easiest job in the world and a lot of people rely on the work and this industry.” Leaving the city and seeing what the agricultural community of the Imperial Valley has to offer was a wonderful surprise for Hector Garcia “We came for a job and our older kids never wanted to go back Now we have this young one and we like to experience the agricultural side of the community,” said Garcia as he and his family picked up and carried a bountiful amount of produce The U-pick station was the highlight of the event What better way to show off on how it is all done Seeing the aisles of produce ripe for the picking Picking fresh produce from the earth and taking it home Something many take for granted when they see those neatly stacked rows of produce at stores and forget what a huge and important industry it is in the region Another popular station was the planting station Many people are interested in taking a live plant home with them Going for that satisfaction of nurturing a tiny plant the knowledgeable staff with their expertise assisted participants with adding a little bit of dirt to their newly decorated pot and making sure with the final touch that there was an appropriate amount of moisture with a mister where it comes from and this is a great place to learn about those things,” said John Molina of Holtville knowing what to look for,” Molina said of the experience his sons were getting out of today’s festival.  Many vendors and informational booths were set up Each table that was set up brought their products information and why that product is important to the ag industry Those vendors are a vital part of our local economy The public was also able to connect with representatives from different businesses a great way to learn what many of the local companies that are seen on a daily basis do.  was there to inform and let people know about USDA’s “Farmers to Families” program A program that brings produce to the people.  The Imperial Valley Cattlewomen’s Association’s Ellie Moiola was there to explain how important and the benefits that the cattle industry makes to our agricultural community Her passion and dedication were on display as she spoke about the cattle industry.  “This is the first year we are having this event This is a new idea Farm Smart and Farm Bureau came up with,” said Mariana Gonzalez “We have had different community events like our seniors’ U-pick and our farm to preschool festival but we wanted to do something for everyone “We want to highlight our agricultural industry We want to share with the community our values with agriculture and the local businesses associated with agriculture,” said Gonzalez KYMA) - After nearly 20 years in the making the 30-acre Alamo River Wetlands Project in Holtville has become a reality This transformative initiative not only aims to enhance the environment but also provides residents with a serene space to connect with nature The wetlands are designed to improve the water quality of the Alamo River The project also includes plans to integrate walking trails that will connect the wetlands to key Holtville landmarks creating a network of trails for outdoor enthusiasts "We got a little over a mile trail that we want to connect with the trestle bridge which will lead over here and give a lot of walking trails around this end of the City of Holtville," Mayor Anderson explained The wetlands are located along the Alamo River just behind the Holtville Truck Scale on Zenos Road Si tiene alguna idea de historia que le gustaría compartir Six Candidates for Three Seats Participated on Oct HOLTVILLE — With three seats up for grabs on the Holtville City Council candidates came together at a forum hosted by the Holtville Chamber of Commerce last week to tackle pressing local issues ahead of the Nov The six candidates shared their views on a variety of topics including how to fund the city’s long-stalled Public Safety Building project campaign efforts and funding transparency and addressing the housing shortage in town hosted by Holtville Chamber of Commerce Executive Manager Rosie Allegranza and moderated by Imperial City Attorney Katherine Turner aimed to foster civic engagement and inform voters about the choices before them The forum was held in the Holtville Civic Center on Thursday Here is how the candidates addressed some of the most important questions with each answer presented in the order they were given A major topic of discussion at the forum centered on the city’s long-stalled Public Safety Building project The candidates were given the following prompt: You’re aware that millions of dollars still need to be obtained to complete the Public Safety Building so please address your ideas or thoughts on how that can be done “Where is the actual funding coming from here Cities that are producing massive infrastructure projects like this are able to complete them … Can we create an opportunity by redesigning the project?”By prioritizing funding to complete the Fire Department portion of the Public Safety Building and subtracting the community room areas of the building design the project could become economically feasible “in a way that doesn’t put a strain on the average Holtvillian,” said Vega “I think getting a grant and hiring someone would be great let’s borrow the entire amount and make payments on it.”Because the Fire Department is able to respond to calls within two minutes “they deserve a nicer place,” said Castillo Munger “We’ve been looking at phasing in … At first we can kind of put a temporary structure there to house the fire trucks That’s probably the route we’re leaning towards … Obviously but that’s starting to look like it’s not going to be feasible.” Anderson cautioned that Holtville needs to push forward to get this project done to avoid repeating past mistakes “We don’t want to see what happened roughly 14 years ago … when we were a million and a half dollars short we backed away from the project,” Anderson added “I know that in the past the city has taken out loans for different projects so if that’s the step we need to take and pay it back over time I think we need to be aggressive in working with grants.” Because of her experience with funding the food bank building on Aten Road in Imperial Ramirez believes she can find the grants and other sources necessary to fund the Public Safety Building “I think we’re leaning toward looking at maybe phase one that route … One of the biggest focuses is to keep the city in good financial status.”  like raising water rates on Holtville residents “We don’t want to end up like other cities where all of a sudden the state comes in to run us because we’re in the red or even worse than that … I’d love to have the building but we need to be careful so we don’t put the city in a financial hole,” Pacheco said “It does definitely need to stop being just talked about and the land has been sitting there designated for this use We need to at least start building in stages and figure out what stages are feasible for us.” Britschgi believes that building in phases would get the project started and avoid hiking taxes on Holtville citizens She cites Holtville High School’s success in building a new multipurpose room in stages and that “we need to find the grants and get them sent in.” The candidates were asked about their campaign efforts and funding transparency: Please explain efforts you’ve made during this particular campaign to communicate with people and put your name out there are you willing to share the sources of any major funding contributions to your group or campaign-related efforts I’m recycling my signs from 2020 and using my hangers again … I don’t think it’s right to bother businesses that you’re going to be campaigning with I think if you can’t campaign and can’t fund your own campaign I’m not going to bother anybody else trying to fund my personal political stance here … I don’t believe in bothering anybody for campaign contributions I’m here to show up and put myself out there I have plenty of family and friends to help when needed.” “My campaign is a grassroots effort … Every house matters You’re probably sick of seeing my hanger on your doorknob I’m sorry for that … I’ve been fortunate and blessed to receive backing from two unions … I’m excited to share that I’ve had conversations with traditional businesses and I’m looking to attract new businesses as well.” and that’s when I really felt like I wanted to be part of this … I’m personally putting up my own signs but I’m going to participate in the farmers’ markets “We’re not one of the largest cities in the county … We shouldn’t be endorsed by a PAC What does that mean when an important vote comes up and I vote for the citizens of Holtville … I don’t owe anybody a vote.” “I’m not endorsed nor have received any sort of funding for my campaign together we’ve been saving money and making wise decisions at home … I’m a new generation and the community updated on what I’m doing The candidates were asked to address housing shortages in Holtville: Someone from the Holtville Unified School District was discussing with the Chamber of Commerce how kindergarten enrollment has been reduced and they believe it’s because of the housing market — not having adequate homes and possibly not having affordable homes available for people What is your take on the declining housing How would you incentivize and simplify the process for developers to build housing in Holtville “Holtville is a great place to raise your children and find ways to provide housing so people stay in Holtville and actually live here … The apartments off Holt … they’re supposed to be building them but I don’t know when they’re supposed to start that They’re supposed to build a mirror of the apartment complex on the other side and we can start building houses and utilize those for single-family homes.” “I’m the commissioner of housing for Holtville and recently I’ve had the privilege of attending the National Housing Conference which basically gives workshops and developments about the latest trends in housing and how to achieve housing shortages because this is … a problem that we’re dealing with at the national level There are projects in the pipeline for townhouses … some senior apartments over by Grape … and some apartments Stacy (Britschgi) mentioned but the tricky situation would be … how do we create capacity for the public safety building but at the same time build capacity for housing we need a grant writing machine or a committee of two or three council members.” “I recently talked to the director of the Housing Authority and he mentioned that there are 2,000 people on a waiting list for 700 units throughout Imperial County … It’s about finding developers I think if we can find developers … I think that’s great to bring new first-time homeowner housing to Holtville “We need to finish the housing projects that are currently in the pipeline I know that’s not going to help the kindergarten population by putting new senior housing We need to finish the apartments on Holt that were mentioned earlier That mirror project is going to bring 65 units right across the street from it We’re making everything possible for that land to be developed That land is zoned … That’s going to bring 50 single-family homes and townhomes according to plans that have been brought to the council … We’re landlocked let’s put houses here.’ And that’s the issue with housing.” “I find it interesting because I have a kindergartner myself who attends Pine School Pine School has one of the biggest kindergarten classes that they’ve had in a long time I know they went from 10 kids last year in TK One thing I think that’s really affecting the enrollment rate is … I think more families are choosing to homeschool their children … On the housing side … I know there are families who are moving to Holtville from El Centro and Imperial because they love the small town I’m pretty confident we’re going to continue to attract families who love the safety here because … we’re an awesome community to grow with we’ve discussed the apartments going up on Grape for seniors and phase two of the Fern Crossing apartments and get them up and running as soon as possible working with landowners to push and hopefully encourage them to build small subdivisions and increase housing for families here.” “I’m not going to repeat the rest of what the council candidates have said about Ninth Street … We’ve talked about the apartments here I think every city is running into this problem They’re running out of spaces to build new homes They’re taking farmland out of production to build homes has to be careful that we don’t grow too much That’s one of the gems of the city of Holtville because we can run into the kind of problems that come with growing too fast … I think Mr I think there’s some property to the east that we could talk to the landowner about and the city together in a meeting to talk things out The city can help with fees and permitting to help them out that’s going to be the number one challenge The full video of the Holtville candidates forum is available on the Holtville Chamber of Commerce Facebook page