By Jim Predmore
Two Resolutions were brought before the City Council Monday night related to the proposed Imperial County Detention Center, a new detention facility that will be located on Highway 98 just west of the Interstate 7 and Highway 98 intersection. The proposed facility is outside of the Holtville City limits and City’s sphere of influence. Under the proposed agreement, the City would eventually enter into a separate Inter-Governmental Service Agreement to provide for the short term care and housing of up to 1000 federal detainees, prior to deportation.
The City was approached late last year by the officials of the Management & Training Corporation (MTC), along with Tim Kelley, CEO and Tom DuBose, President, of the Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation, (IVEDC), about partnering in a detention center project. They were seeking a city in the Imperial County to govern, manage and lease a detention facility.
In November of 2012, Holtville City Manager Alex Meyerhoff, Finance Manager Nick Wells, Holtville City Mayor Mike Goodsell, and City Attorney Steve Walker traveled to Otero County, New Mexico to visit one of the facilities operated by MTC and reported back to the City Council.
The Brawley Community Foundation has now notified the City of Holtville that it plans to acquire, construct, improve, and equip a detention facility, consisting of approximately 1,024 beds, and facilities related thereto on approximately 64 acres located at 1499 State Highway 98 in the Imperial County.
The City of Holtville has an opportunity now to enter into a lease and an Operation, Management Maintenance Services Agreement related to the Detention facility.
The City of Holtville is to derive revenues from this project. The specific details of the lease revenues have yet to be finalized. The per diem revenue from the project will range from $1.00 to $2.00 per day per detainee. The exact per diem is dependent upon negotiation between the MTC and the County Assessor’s Office.
In order for a private corporation to operate a detention center it has to, by law, partner with a government entity, which will be the City of Holtville.
This project will also bring approximately 200 to 250 local jobs to the area.
The City Council approved both resolutions with 5-0 vote, moving this project forward.
This project has been in the planning stages for over 2 years and is part of the Imperial County Gateway to the Americas Specific Plan that was adopted in August of 1997.
The Management & Training Corporation will be operating the facility. It is a privately-held company headquartered in Centerville, Utah.
MTC successfully operates Job Corps, corrections, medical, and international and domestic workforce development contracts serving disadvantaged populations. MTC’s track record of integrity, leadership, performance, and innovation has made it the U.S. Department of Labor’s largest Job Corps operator and the third largest operator of private adult correctional facilities.
Since 1987, MTC has been a leader in the management and operation of private correctional facilities. They now operate 22 correctional facilities in Arizona, California, Florida, Idaho, New Mexico, Ohio, Mississippi, and Texas.
To ensure that it operates the highest quality correctional facilities, MTC pursues nationally-recognized accreditations from the American Correctional Association, the Correctional Education Association, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care, and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care. In 2009, the MTC corporate office obtained American Correctional Association accreditation, becoming the first corporate office to do so.
By Jim Predmore
Incoming IVFCA President Anthony Adams presents outgoing President and Holtville’s Fire
Chief, Alex Silva, with a plaque to thank him for his service on the board. Jim Predmore Photo
Barbara Worth Resort was the setting for The I.V. Fire Chiefs Assoc. Meeting and Officer Installation on Friday, January 25th. The meeting was called to order by Association President, Holtville Fire Chief Alex Silva, who led the Pledge of Allegiance before invocation was given by Pastor Mike Allen of North Holtville Friends Church. After a brief welcome, Fire Chief Silva proceeded to the Ceremonial Ringing of the Fire Bell.
The ceremonial ringing is a tradition of the fire service. Throughout history, the life of a firefighter has been associated with the ringing of a bell, beginning with the bell that begins his work day, and the numerous bells and alarms that go off throughout the day that call a firefighter out to rescue a person or fight a fire, placing his own life on the line for the good of others. At the end of every rescue mission or fire, the bell rang 5-5-5 to signal the end of the fire or the accomplishment of the mission. The ceremonial ringing is done in honor of fallen firefighters, signaling that their task is complete and their job well done. Each 5-5-5 ringing is in memory of one of those fallen heroes. On Friday evening, 5-5-5 rang out three times to honor the three fallen firefighters who gave their lives for the good of their fellow man over the past two years in Imperial Valley.
Following dinner, Alex gave an Outgoing President’s message, which was followed by Guest Speaker Jerry Santillan, who is the general manager of the Salton Community Services District. Holtville Mayor Mike Goodsell then gave the Oath of Office to the incoming board for 2013-2014, which was followed by a message from Incoming President, Fire Chief Anthony Adams, who is the fire chief for Centinela State Prison.
The evening was concluded with door prizes sponsored by Barbara Worth Resort and the Fire Departments of Westmorland, Winterhaven, Calexico, Holtville, Salton City, El Centro, and the Naval Air Facility.
For two straight days, the sounds of whistles and applause filled the air as Holtville High School hosted the 50th Annual wrestling tournament. The Vikings played host to 26 teams from Arizona and Southern California throughout this two-day event. Holtville placed in the top ten teams overall, with Brawley leading the team scores and securing their place as team champions.
Holtville had not had a wrestler in the finals since 2004, when Cody Acosta captured the championship at 147 pounds and received the Outstanding Wrestler award. On Saturday night, two Holtville Viking wrestlers represented their team in the final matches. Phillip Gutierrez faced Alonzo Osuna from Brawley in the final match at 134 pounds. It was a tough match, and went the entire three periods, with Osuna getting the victory.
Jose Sandoval also faced a Brawley opponent, when he faced Bryan Ortiz at 222 pounds. Sandoval came out strong, and to the thunderous applause of the crowd, pinned Ortiz with 39 seconds left in the first period.
Along with winning his weight class, Sandoval received the Most Outstanding Wrestler Award for the upper weight-classes, and was chosen as the recipient of the Benjie Rivas Memorial Award for best takedown.
Holtville’s Jose Sandoval pins Bryan Ortiz of Brawley in the first period of their finals match.
By Chief Mass Communication Specialist Russ Tafuri 
Members of the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, judged the 22nd annual Holtville Athletic Club Rib Cook-off Extravaganza, in Holtville, Calif., Saturday, marking the 20th year the Blue Angels took part in the event.
The Holtville Athletic Club hosts the annual rib cook-off as a fundraiser to support the club’s sports and educational youth programs.
Among the friendly Imperial Valley community, the Blue Angel judges traversed the athletic club’s baseball field turned barbecue block-party, sampling the endless supply of ribs for the contest. As the mesquite-filled smoke cleared, having tasted barbecued, grilled, glazed, garnished, brazed and broiled ribs, the judges made their call and selected the over-all winners of the event – the youth in the community.
”Coming to the rib cook-off is a great way to get involved with the community and give back to them for all their support. Plus, the ribs here are some of the best I’ve ever had,” said Blue Angel Aviation Machinist Mate 1st Class Isaac Dominquez from Odessa, Texas.
It seems the natural fit to join the efforts of the athletic club and Blue Angels in this endeavor since the two organizations have very similar focuses in their missions.
Throughout the year, the Blue Angels serve as ambassadors in the community, with school and hospital visits at nearly every city they perform in during the air show season. The rib cook-off, with its mission to help children and education in the local community, shares similar values with the Blue Angels.
Always happy to help out their community, the cook-off gave something back to each of those Blue Angels who came out to the event.
“Helping the Holtville Athletic Club do good things for local kids is the right thing to do,” said Blue Angel Aviation Machinist Mate 1st Class James Cunningham, from Port Charlotte, Fla. “But on top of that we get to mingle with the community, hear their stories and share our experiences. That’s always fun. Plus, we get to sample these awesome ribs. It just doesn’t get any better.”
Holtville Rib Cook-off Volunteer/Judge Coordinator , Kurt Hoffman, said the Blue Angels’ involvement in the rib cook-off does more than simply promote the event that supports the Holtville Athletic Club youth programs.
“The Imperial Valley community feels a sense of ownership and pride in the Blue Angels because the team calls this area home for a few months each year and the community has adopted them as family in a way,” said Hoffman.
“So the rib cook-off is a special opportunity for this community to mingle with the Blue Angels who they have a strong sense of pride in and have come to love.”
The mission of the Blue Angels is to enhance Navy recruiting and credibly represent Navy and Marine Corps aviation and the United States Armed Forces to America.
The Blue Angels are currently conducting winter training at Naval Air Facility (NAF) El Centro, Calif., that will conclude in early March. This training readies the team for the 2013 air show season that kicks off with the season’s first air show at NAF El Centro, March 16th.
For more information about the Blue Angels, including 2013 and 2014 air show schedules, log onto the squadron website at: www.BlueAngels.navy.mil.
By Jim Predmore
The Holtville Little League went before the City Council Monday to discuss an agreement on the use of McDougal Park Baseball Field. The Little League proposed the construction of a second baseball field, including irrigation, turf and fencing.
Holtville Little League President Sara Hilfiker presented their plans to the council, stating “Having the second field will allow the Holtville Little League to host Little League Tournaments here in Holtville, bringing in a lot of families to Holtville to watch the tournament.” The second field will also help to have more games played during early hours so that the games don’t go on too late, making sure the players get home at a reasonable hour.
In the agreement the Holtville Little League will be performing all of the work necessary to construct the second field with the help of volunteers. They will pay for water and electricity, and they will also be responsible for maintaining the restrooms and hardscape areas. The City will continue to maintain the field areas.
The City Council approved the Facility Use Agreement to allow the Holtville Little League to move forward with their plans to construct a second field.
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