Paper Trail Podcast

Paul and Ryan are joind by Serena Bettis for both topics today.

The three of them talk about the City of Sanger's move to declare an emergency for their water treatment plant. The move cuts through laborious red tape that may exacerbate an already delayed problem, and could lead to a more dangerous public health situation.

Then they discuss the Sequoia Safety Council's, Sierra Kings Health Care District's new chest compression apparatus. EMTs will be armed with a mechanical device that will maintain chest compressions during an emergency while they work on other patients, or keep the one patient alive until they arrive at a hospital.

Salt + Light Village CEO, Adrianne Hillman joins Paul on the podcast today.

Paul and Adrianne have known each other since she joined the Paper Trail Podcast in 2019 in light of the launch of her nonporift. Following administrative hurdles, utilities, funding and supply chain issues, Adrianne hopes to open the Salt + Light Village in Goshen this September.

Paul and Adrianne talk about the work her nonprofit has done in light of obstacles to opening the village on schedule. Instead of waiting, her team has helped locate folks with housing. And she discusses how they have to be careful who they pick for housing, because some are not ready to change their lives in favor of housing.

You can find Salt + Light on Facebook, Instagram, and on their website.

Paul is joined by well known radio host for MY97.5FM Mike Pesto.

Mike and Paul first met in 2020 with Mike began his pandemic podcast passion project (I didn't have to write it like that, but I love all the "P's"). But since then they had only reached out occassionally, despite the fact that Mike has been on stage with Paul's best friend, and best friend's wife, for Icehouse Theatre.

Nonetheless, Mike joined the Paper Trail Podcast after a full day of work on short notice. Together they talk about radio, Mike's new podcast with his program director, the Visalia Rawhide, the loss of Great Wolf Lodge, and more.

Everyone can find Mike on IG here, and MY97.5FM here.

Paul and Ryan begin the show by reading a couple of testimonies from folks who have been listeners of the podcast for its first 500 episodes.

But they bring in Karis Caddell to talk about her story from last week where the County Board of Supervisors voted to turn down a new ordinance that would restrict short term rentals in Tulare County.

Then Serena Bettis joins the pod to talk about the recent road developments in Dinuba, in particular new roundabouts.

Paul is joined by The Naxon Group's CEO Sam Ramirez.

Sam is more commonly known for the venues his company owns such as The Woodlands, Bello Vita, and plenty of others including The Hyde currently under renovation.

Together Paul and Sam talk about business, confidence and home in business and then service. And they aren't shy about talking about some of the biggest blunders they've seen and made in their respective industries.

To get to know the Paper Trail Podcast more visit @thesungazette and @midvalleytimes on social media.

And you can find Sam on IG, and learn even more about The Naxon Group here.

Ryan is out sick this week, but Paul brings on Karis Caddell to talk about her Springville water story that published this week.

Springville residents who receive water from Del Oro Water Company have been experiencing water quality issues and rate hikes for over a year. The county is now seeking ways to help, with Supervisor Dennis Townsend asking the Tulare County Health and Human Services Agency to investigate. Residents have sent personal testimonies to media outlets, highlighting the lack of clean drinking water, damage to their homes and appliances, and increased water rates. Del Oro attributes the problems to overconsumption and resident water usage, and does not plan to reimburse residents for damages. The company expects to address the issues with a new water treatment plant, but the project has been delayed. Meanwhile, the county is conducting surveys and pressuring the state to intervene. Residents are encouraged to continue reporting their issues to authorities.

Fresnoland Executive Director Dani Bergstrom joins Paul on the podcast today.

Dani began a career in city planning before pivoting toward local journalism. Observing an obvious lack of funding in the local journalism space, Dani began Fresnoland in 2019. Her plan was to plant a flag in the nonprofit journalism space for the Valley, and pull away from the withering advertising journalism model.

Perservering through the COVID-19 pandemic, Fresnoland has won several Valley and California journalism awards over the last five years. And while Dani is still establishing her Fresnoland brand, she is successfully punching abover her weight as the Fresno Bee goes from five days a week in print, to three.

See more from Fresnoland on Instagram here.

Paul and Ryan are joined by Serena Bettis to discuss why Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux dropped his bid for Congress and fell in line behind the presumptive winner in November, Vince Fong.

Karis Caddell joins Paul and Ryan next to give an update on Lindsay's administrative future after the council lands on former Exeter Public Works Director Daymon Qualls to take their top job.

Paul is joined by long-time Fresno TV/broadcast journalist Faith Sidlow.

Now as a mass communications and journalism professor at Fresno State, Faith's main career push is to prepare the next generation of journalists. Together they explore the nonprofit, educational and for profit role of journalism in the Valley.

Of course they also get into the long career Faith has had on radio, behind the anchor desk and now in the classroom.

And they end on the dwindling writing ability of students coming into college, and what that might mean for all mediums writ large.

Paul and Ryan welcome reporter Serena Bettis back to the pod.

Serena reported on the back and forth between Selma Mayor Scott Robertson and city manager Fernando Santillan. By the end of several allegation, Santillan accepted a settlement that included a 5-year extension, $350,000 and an apology from the council.

The Fresno Bee announced that they will reduce their print publication frequency from 6 days per week to 3 days per week. In addition to saving on the cost of print, they will focus on their e-edition moving forward.