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The Week Online

Ruiz Foods embezzler pleads guilty

A former Ruiz Foods employee has pleaded guilty to embezzling about $448,366 from the Dinuba company.A Turlock man pleaded guilty Tuesday to six counts of embezzling from Ruiz Foods of Dinuba where he used to work.

The Business Journal wins first place award

The Business Journal has earned a first-place award in the California Newspaper Publishers Association Better Newspapers Contest.The Business Journal has earned a first-place award in the 2011 Better Newspapers Contest hosted by the California Newspaper Publishers Association (CNPA).

Valley gets clean locomotives

Progress Rail Services Corp. will supply four repowered, low-emission locomotives for use on the San Joaquin Valley Railroad.An Alabama-based supplier of remanufactured locomotive and railcar products has reached an agreement with the San Joaquin Valley Railroad to supply four repowered, low-emission locomotives.

Website to feature local content

A $50,000 arts and culture grant from the Fresno Regional Foundation will help Valley PBS launch a new website for locally produced content.The Fresno Regional Foundation has awarded ValleyPBS a $50,000 Arts and Culture grant to support its new Web site, ValleyPBS byYou, over the coming year.

Fresno Co. credit union opens Madera branch

Fresno County Federal Credit Union recently opened its first full service branch outside of Fresno County in Madera.Fresno County Federal Credit Union opened its first full-service branch outside of Fresno County on Monday, with a new location in Madera near the intersection of 4th Street and Gateway Drive.

Commission approves McCaffrey Homes plan

Roger Stewart looks at the subdivision project site near his Bella Montagna homes in Fresno. Some residents say the builder pulled a bait-and-switch on them over the proposed 118-home development.The Fresno Planning Commission last night unanimously approved plans and a zoning change for a north Fresno 118-home development by McCaffrey Homes with a stipulation that homes on the east side of the project adjacent to the existing Bella Montagna development will be single story.

Survey indicates economic optimism

The San Joaquin Valley Business Conditions Index, prepared at the Craig School of Business at Fresno State, posted its second month of economic optimism.There appears to be an optimistic economic outlook for the near future for the San Joaquin Valley, according to a survey released on Monday by California State University, Fresno’s Craig School of Business.

Visalia bank repays TARP funds

Valley Business Bank in Visalia has just finished paying back a total of $8.1 million in bank bailout funds.Valley Commerce Bancorp, holding company of Valley Business Bank based in Visalia, announced that it has paid back a total of $8.1 million in TARP funds.

New tenant at old Warner Co. space

James Orloff will move Orloff Jewelers to the vacated spot in Fig Garden Village.Orloff Jewelers announced in an email last Thursday that it will be moving into the space in Fig Garden Village recently vacated by the Warner Co.

Two Valley banks rated high

Fresno First Bank and Murphy Bank both received high ratings from Bauer Financial.For the second year in a row, Fresno First Bank earned a five-star rating from Bauer Financial for its overall performance and growth. Murphy Bank of Fresno also received the coveted rating.