| Revved-up students
Ariel Pedrina, left, Manuel De La Torre and Michael Shoemaker rebuild a small-block engine as part of their program at Sacramento's Universal Technical Institute. Students receive a tool kit, job and housing assistance while they attend classes, and can take free refresher courses after graduation. A year's tuition ranges from $22,750 to $37,500. Sacramento Bee/Michael A. Jones See additional images .
Ramsey solos to Sea Otter Circuit win
Dan Ramsey took a big win for his Successful Living team in at the Sea Otter Classic NRC men's circuit race. After spending the majority of the race off the front in a two-man move, Ramsey was caught by a small group, but soon attacked again, hoping to set up one of his three teammates who had been brought across. Instead, Ramsey held his solo gap for the final six laps. .
Truck cap producer closing in Dexter
Astro Manufacturing Co. has quietly merged its truck cap manufacturing operations in Dexter with its facility in Texas, said John Evans, the Swisher Commercial broker facilitating the sale of the property. "They just closed the operation down in Michigan. They just don't need the capacity," Evans said. The company still has a retail operation on Jackson Road - Astro Truck Accessories Inc. - but its manufacturing operations have been consolidated. The building is 38,084 square feet, which includes 2,594 square feet of office space. The facility sits on 3.08 acres on North Lima Center Road. Astro Manufacturing produced fiberglass truck caps in Dexter since 1972. Swisher is trying to sell the property for $1.2 million.
Asian trade progress
Two-way commercial agreements such as the proposed free-trade pact with South Korea are not as valuable as a larger global deal would be. But they are clearly preferable to paralysis on the trade front. Exports are increasingly important to the U.S. economy, and bilateral deals help open doors overseas for American products. If approved by Congress, the pact with South Korea would be the first free-trade agreement with a major Asian economy. Analysts estimate that the deal would boost two-way trade by $20 billion and add up to $43 billion to the U.S. economy. Nearly 95 percent of the commerce between South Korea and the United States would become duty-free within three years. Most remaining tariffs would phase out over the ensuing decade. The pact would increase markets for key products from the Midwest, including corn, soybeans, processed foods and autos.
MY RIDE A PICKUP TO MAKE YOU SMILE
Will Guyan, 58, is a heating contractor who lives in Gualala with his wife, Vicki. He uses his 1950 Chevrolet flatbed truck daily in his business. My Chevy truck was built in 1950, two years after I was born. It is a three-quarter-ton flatbed that was used as a farm truck locally in Annapolis, not far from where I live in Gualala (Mendocino County). Back in those days, there were sheep ranches and apple farms hereabouts. Turns out my truck was originally owned by a farmer in 1950. He was the first owner, and soon after he drove it home to his rural barn, the farmer was caught in a compromising situation with the neighbor's wife. The farmer was run off by his own wife, reportedly with a pitchfork, and the Chevy was parked under the hay loft. She then threw all the hay that was in the barn on top of the truck, as if burying her shame and fury.
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