Visalia Times-Delta from Visalia, California • Page A1

HrmH edition 01 me visaua nmes-uena Advance-Register WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, 2014 A GANNETT COMPANY TULAREADVANCEREGISTER.COM TOT Mayor wants Chamber job be any conflict at all," Nelsen said. "I did my due diligence. I checked with the city attorney." Had he held both titles for the past five years, Nelsen said he can only recall one occasion when he would've recused himself from a vote. In 2012, the city purchased the chamber's office building at 220 N. Santa Fe St.

Built by the chamber during an economic boom in 2006, it became too costly for the organization to maintain through the Great Recession. The building was placed on the market and sold for more than $1 million to the city, which has leased a space to the Chamber ever since. While any future lease agreement would potentially be an issue, City Attorney Alex Peltzer said Tuesday evening that chamber business and city business don't overlap often enough to cause any significant conflict. "There isn't really, in my opinion, an inherent conflict of interest," he said. While individual issues may arise from time to time that See MAYOR, Page 5A moting business, the Visalia and Tulare chambers also each participate in a county-wide tourism and visitors organization.

Citing his voting record over the past five years, Nelsen says he's a natural fit for the position. "I represent the chamber ad hoc because I'm so pro-business anyway," he said. "I have tried to think of a position the chamber has taken that I haven't advocated for." Nelsen downplayed the perception that there may be a conflict of interests. "It would work being in both positions. I don't think there'd By Kyle Harvey kharveyvisaliatimesdelta.com If all goes as he hopes, Steve Nelsen soon will wear two hats Visalia mayor and president CEO of the Visalia Chamber of Commerce.

Nelsen confirmed Tuesday that he has submitted a resume to the chamber, which is actively seeking applicants to take over for Glenn Morris, who has taken another chamber position in Southern California. The City Council is a part-time job, the chamber position is full time. In addition to pro Terra Bella residents celebrate their first park More than 200 people came out Tuesday morning to a former vacant lot in the middle of Terra Bella to celebrate its conversion to the town's first park. The "Setton Pistachio Playground and Recreation" area sits on three acres at Avenue 96 and Road 236 that formerly belonged to the Union Pacific Ralroad. Its conversion has included the installation of two playgrounds by volunteers from the Setton Pistachio Terra Bella, a pistachio-processing plant and the south Tulare County town's largest employers, and town residents.

The site also includes five shaded areas with barbecues and tables for picnics, as well as grassy areas. "We were looking to give back to the community," by creating a fun, relaxing space for adults and children, said Lee Cohen, the Setton plant's general manager. "There were very few alternatives in this town." Though the site is park like, Cohen noted that it isn't a park, as it's not run by the county, but instead it's run by a nonprofit group managed by Set-ton, which will pay to maintain it. David Castellon Deputies seize in pot A month-long investigation into the cultivation and sale of marijuana near Lindsay culminated with the arrest of multiple suspects and seizure of hundreds of pounds of the drug. Detectives with the Sheriff's STEP team spent much of May investigating at least 15 residences in the southeast portion of Tulare County.

They were alerted to the homes after air surveillance raised red flags that marijuana may be growing at the sites. See full story, 3A Pam Coz-Hill, owner of Mike's Quality Cameras in Downtown Visalia, puts up window signs Monday after closing. The store is closed and will reopen Friday morning for a liquidation sale, ron holman End of an era Mike's Quality Cameras closing after nearly 40 years The liquidation process should take between 30 and 60 days. History Mike Coz's love of photography began shortly after his father purchased a farm in north Visalia in the 1930s. The property included a dark room, something the young Coz immediately set about learning.

He purchased his first camera from Sweet's Drug Store in Tulare and began developing his own prints, Coz-Hill said. In the 1940s, Coz went to war, fighting as a member of the Navy Armed Guard. As a member of the Guard, he worked with victory mail, letters between service members and their loved ones. By Kyle Harvey kharveyvisaliatimesdelta.com Mike's Quality Cameras, Tulare County's last standing camera store, is shutting its doors. Renowned nature photographer and co-owner Pam Coz-Hill daughter of founder Mike Coz is retiring, bringing to an end a business that the 21st century has all but destroyed elsewhere.

Mike's held on longer than most, diversifying and adapting to a rapidly changing market, Coz-Hill said, adding services like video transfers to DVDs, passport photos as well as classes and workshops. The store's last day of regular operation was Monday. It will re-open on Friday with all items marked down to the store's cost. Pam Coz-Hill, owner of Mike's Quality Cameras in Downtown Visalia. ron holman Unbeknownst to many today, personal letters to soldiers were actually photographed and sent as a roll of negatives to the combat zone.

The negatives were lighter, faster and cheaper to transport than thousands of pieces of paper. The letters were then developed upon arrival to the war theater, Coz-Hill said. With this experience to add to his photo resume, Coz returned home after the war See CAMERA, Page 4A High 93 Low: 59 Pollen forecast today: 5.1 I I I I 1 I I I I I Medium Low High Thursday: 5.4 Friday: 5.1 Predominant pollen: Olive, juniper, privet Source: Dr. A.M. Aminian California teacher tenure laws ruled unconstitutional Hp Bridge 5B Obituaries 10A Calendar 4A Opinion 6A Comics 6B Puzzles 5B Classified 8B Sports 1B Living 4B USA Today 8A Local 3 A Weather 2 A YOUR NEWSPAPER SINCE 1882 Subscribe: 1 (888) 487-9565 The Tulare Advance-Register (USPS 643-660), a Gannett Co.

Inc. Newspaper, is published Monday through Saturday by Visalia Newspapers P.O. Box 31, Visalia, CA 93279. Regular subscription price $9.75 per month. Periodical Postage Paid at Tulare, CA.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Tulare Advance-Register, P.O. Box 31, Visalia, CA 93279. 50 cents retai I See above for home delivery prices COPYRIGHT 2014, VISALIA NEWSPAPERS A GANNETT NEWSPAPER VOLUME 132, ISSUE 147 Discover The Park Professionally Managed Assisted Living Care staff on duty 24 hours a day A specific plan of assistance tailored to your requirements Safe and secure community School officials, teachers react Staff and wire reports Tenure for K-12 public school teachers was ruled unconstitutional Tuesday by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge who presided over a lawsuit brought by nine students. The ruling, written by Judge Rolf Treu, stated the tenure protections that dictate the way California educators are hired and fired denies the fundamental right of equality of education to all by placing ineffective teachers in minority and low-income students' schools. "Plaintiffs claim that the challenged statutes result in grossly inef- FILE PHOTO fective teachers obtaining and retaining permanent employment, and that these teachers are disproportionately situated in schools serving predominantly low-income and minority students," Treu wrote.

Under the state's tenure system, teachers are evaluated for two years See TENURE, Page 2A 111 3939 W. Walnut Avenue, Visalia 559-625-3388 www.parkvisalia.com H409D 1 "93 274.