The Fresno City Council will take up issues related to its animal-control contract with the Central California Society for the Prevention for Cruelty to Animals.

Assistant City Manager Bruce Rudd is expected to present a report on options for outsourcing the service at the council's meeting Thursday at Fresno City Hall. The issue is on the agenda for discussion at 1:30 p.m.

Fresno is spending about $2.3 million with the private, nonprofit CCSPCA to perform leash-law and rabies vaccination enforcement, vicious-animal pickup, collecting dog license fees and pound services for the city.

Fresno County also gives the shelter nearly $1 million a year for the same services in unincorporated areas of the county.

City Council members including Council President Clint Olivier have expressed disappointment with the CCSPCA's reluctance to open its board meetings to the public. The organization counters that as a private group, it has the right to keep its meetings closed.

North Fork volunteer fire station groundbreaking set

Madera County and the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians will host a ceremony Thursday to break ground for a new North Fork volunteer fire station.

The ceremony will be at 11 a.m. at 33400 Douglas Ranger Station Road in North Fork.

To RSVP or for more information, call (559) 662-6050.

Planners approve Friant sweat lodge

The Fresno County Planning Commission last week approved a proposed sweat lodge along Friant Road, just outside the city limits.

The facility is being built by a consortium of local American Indian tribes and will be used for spiritual ceremonies.

According to planning documents, the lodge will be a circular building 24 feet across and less than 6 feet tall. It will be made of native woods and canvas tarps.

A decision on a proposed Buddhist temple near Clovis was postponed by the commission.

Clovis North fourth in state mock trials

Clovis North's mock trial team finished fourth in statewide competition during last weekend's state finals in Sacramento.

Clovis North represented Fresno County. Last year, Clovis North finished third in the state.

The winning team came from La Reina High School in Ventura County.

This year's mock trial program drew more than 8,000 students in 36 California counties, with 32 schools participating in the state finals.

Fresno State hosts high school writers

Fresno State will host its 32nd annual Young Writers Conference today for high school students.

The conference will be from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Satellite Student Union. More than 300 students from Fresno, Clovis, Madera, Chowchilla, Merced, Lemoore, Selma, Tulare and Porterville are expected to attend, conference coordinator Tanya Nichols said.

Eighteen students at the conference will receive awards for creative writing. Two high school teachers will receive awards for excellence in teaching. The awards presentation will be at 9:15 a.m.

For more information, call (559) 278-2467.