Kaweah Delta Health Care District will celebrate the completion of its helipad today from 10-11:30 a.m. under the helipad in the main parking lot at Kaweah Delta Medical Center, 400 W. Mineral King Ave.

The $2.7 million helipad is expected to be fully operational by late summer.

Currently, Kaweah Delta staff are undergoing several months of intensive training to access patients who arrive by helicopter, said Dr. Nichole Meissner, Director of Trauma at Kaweah Delta. “The helipad’s installation will have far reaching effects for the region,” Dr. Meissner said. “It will help trauma victims get treatment faster and treatment in the first hour has a significant impact on survival, especially when it comes to trauma.”

With the helipad, a person who is traumatically injured in Springville could land at Kaweah Delta in just 12 minutes.

Nearly 600 third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students from across Tulare County will celebrate this Arbor Day at Mooney Grove Park.

They will learn about the importance of, and care for, trees in the environment. Topics including seeds, insects, mulch and the water system. Local environmental experts from organizations such as SCICON and the University of California’s Master Gardeners conduct these fun-filled, activity-based lessons.

Additionally, students tour the County museum and learn about the rich agricultural history of our valley.

They will also plant a tree at Mooney Grove to help with the park’s restoration. Each student will not only learn how to plant trees properly, but will be given their very own tree seedling to take home and plant with their family!

Teachers also participate in the environmental lessons.

Tulare and Kings County middle and elementary school teams are scheduled to compete in the annual Battle of the Books event Today and May 22.

The middle school competition (open to students in grades 6-8) is scheduled for today. Together, Earlimart Middle School, Wilson Middle School (Exeter), Pixley Middle School, Waukena School (Tulare), Reagan Elementary School (Lindsay), Lakeside School (Hanford), Valley Life Charter School (Visalia), Alpaugh Middle School, George McCann Memorial Catholic School (Visalia) and Eleanor Roosevelt Community Learning Center (Visalia) are sending 20 teams and 116 students to the competition.

The upper elementary school competition (open to students in grades 4-6) is scheduled for Wednesday, May 22.