Local News
04/06/2011
Sonora, CA-- With the spring and summer months ahead of us, the Tuolumne County Visitor's Bureau is getting ready for a busy time in the Mother Lode.
Trade and consumer shows are a vital part of their marketing efforts to entice visitors to the area. The shows also provide great exposure for Tuolumne County.
Tuolumne County Visitor's Bureau Marketing Consultant Bruce Tepper writes about this subject in his latest blog entitled "The Show Must Go On." To view the blog click here.
myMotherLode.com is expanding its blogosphere so you can read about happenings and opinions straight from the newsmakers.
Written by tina.falco@mlode.com
Washington D.C-- The U.S Senate approved a bill Tuesday that will repeal the tax reporting requirement in the health care reform law.
The Senate voted 87 to 12 to repeal the filing requirement, which would have forced millions of businesses to file 1099 tax forms for every vendor selling them more than $600 in goods each year, starting in 2012. The filing requirement is unrelated to health care. However, it would have been used to pay for part of the new health law.
The bill, H.R 4, was introduced last year by Congressman Dan Lungren whose 3rd Congressional District includes Calaveras County.
"Today is a great day for small business owners in my district and all across America," said Lungren. "The placement of this tax provision into the government run health care law was ill advised. The President has already pledged to do away with the expanded 1099 provision and I am pleased the bill will go to his desk for signature."
Tuolumne County Chamber President and CEO George Segarini also praised the Senate's decision.
"The Chamber has long opposed that particular part of the health care bill," said Segarini. "We are very excited about the fact that the legislature finally saw that it was detrimental to especially small businesses to make those kind of reports. We're pleased that they saw it our way finally."
Written by tina.falco@mlode.com
Local Residents Injured In Bakersfield Accident
Bakersfield, CA-- A vehicle accident in Bakersfield yesterday caused six Tuolumne County residents to suffer injuries. Two of those residents sustained major injuries according to the CHP.
The CHP says the accident occurred at around 4:45 pm on Highway 58 east of Edison Road. 31-year old Brandi Johnston of Jamestown was driving a 1994 Ford SUV eastbound on Highway 58 and allowed her vehicle to drift off the roadway into the center median.
The SUV included five other passengers and rolled over several times. The two youngest children were ejected onto the roadway and into the center median. Both were transported by air ambulance to Kern Medical Center for treatment with moderate to major injuries.
The two ejected children were reportedly not properly restrained in child seats and were apparently sharing a lap belt when the accident happened.
Johnston, the driver, suffered minor injuries. 60-year-old Michael Evans of Sonora and 3-year-old Sean Evans of Jamestown suffered major injuries. The three remaining Jamestown passengers sustained moderate injuries and include 4-year-old Madison Evans, 13-year-old Katilyn Johnston, and 16-year-old Christina Johnston.
The accident remains under investigation.
Written by tina.falco@mlode.com
Winter Weather Advisory Extended For Sierra
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the Sierra Nevada through 11 p.m. Thursday.
Two inches to a foot of snow accumulation is possible above 4000 through 6000 feet.
Winds of fifteen to twenty-five mph are expected, with gusts ranging from thirty-five to seventy-five mph near the crest.
For the latest road conditions click http://www.mymotherlode.com/traffic
Written by mark@mlode.com
Angels Camp Pharmacist Arrested
Angels Camp, CA-- An Angels Camp pharmacist has been arrested for multiple charges including grand theft.
According to the Angels Camp Police Department, loss prevention agents from the Rite Aid store on the 200 block of S. Main Street, contacted them March 31st regarding a theft of pharmaceuticals.
After speaking with the Rite Aid loss prevention agents, Angels Camp Police Officers arrested 61-year-old pharmacist Dean Stanley Westphalen of Angels Camp. He was charged with burglary, grand theft and possession of a controlled substance.
Loss prevention agents also recovered approximately $3,200 of stolen pharmaceuticals from Westphalen's vehicle that was parked in the store parking lot.
The Angles Camp Police Department collected more than 35 different types of pharmaceuticals as evidence in the case. These medications ranged from popular prescription medications such as viagra, to controlled pain narcotics such as dilaudid and hydrocodone. The investigation is ongoing and will include notifying the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Written by tina.falco@mlode.com
Choose Natives for Spring Planting
As I write this article there are six inches of snow covering my gardens and there is likely to be more snow tomorrow. I am not alone in this sea of white, as all other gardeners at 2,500 feet altitude and above are seeing the same picture. But, being gardeners, we are all planning for, and looking forward to, the day we are back in the garden planting. It will just be a little later than usual this year.
So, while your gardens are snowbound, you might start considering what you will plant when the time comes. And, since the Sierra Foothills chapter of the California Native Plant Society is having a spring native plant sale on Saturday, April 9th from 9:00a.m. - 1:00p.m. at Rocca Park in Jamestown, why not consider choosing some natives for your spring planting?
Just recently I wrote a column on native grasses for the garden and most of the ones that I mentioned will be available at the sale. Grasses are an interesting textural element in any garden, so be sure to consider Pacific Reedgrass (Calamagrotis nutkaensis) with its broad, flat green leaves and attractive narrow plume flower stalks. This grass does better with some shade and regular water. There is a place in every garden for any of the fescues. My favorite is Idaho Fescue "Siskiyou Blue" (Festuca idahoensis ‘Siskiyou Blue'). The silver blue leaves make a nice contrast to the many green hues in the garden. Deer Grass (Muhlenbergia rigens) makes a bold statement in a garden. This grass looks like a pincushion with its two-foot rodlike flower stalks and thin green leaves. Deer grass loves full sun and is drought tolerant once established.
The sale will have a nice selection of both Ceanothus and Manzanita (Arctostaphylos) species. Both of these native plant species have low-growing, mid-size shrubs and tall shrubs to choose from and each will be represented at the sale. Other shrubs to consider are the currents and gooseberries (Ribes species). The fuchsia-flowered gooseberry (Ribes speciosum) is my favorite. The fuchsia flowers are so lovely hanging under the branches. Don't be put off by the nasty thorns on the branches - this shrub is a beauty when in blossom. Equally as lovely and without thorns is the chaparral current (Ribes malvaceum). The sale will have the cultivar "Ortega Beauty" which grows 5-8 ft tall with an equal spread and has clusters of deep pink flowers.
Not be forgotten are the ferns and perennials. The lovely, lacy southern maidenhair fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris) and the upright western sword fern (Polystichum munitum) might look striking when planted together, but don't be tempted to do that. The maidenhair fern prefers a lime-rich soil found in seeps and along streambeds while the sword fern prefers the acid soil of the forests.
Is there anything better in the garden than perennials? These hard-working plants are really the mainstay of any garden, and our natives are just great for filling this niche in the garden. Two of my favorites are the foothill penstemon (Penstemon heterophyllus) "Margaret BOP" and California fuchsia (Zauschneria species). "Margaret BOP" blooms all summer with blue-violet flowers that cover the plant completely. As summer begins to wane, the California fuchsias, with orange-red tubular flowers (that the hummers just love!), will stay in bloom until the middle of fall. Both species take full sun and do better with some water. At my 3000-ft. elevation in full sun I water these plants once every two weeks.
Another wonderful perennial that the hummers love, is hummingbird sage (Salvia spathacea). This sage begins to bloom in late winter and continues into summer. It has whorls of red flowers held on upright stalks and is considered a reliable groundcover. Give this plant sun to partial shade with room to spread and you will be delighted by its stunning effect in your garden.
There will be many more favorites at the sale. Come and let the knowledgeable native plant folks help you find just the right natives for your garden. Be at Rocca Park in Jamestown at 9:00am for the best selections!
Carolee James, a member of CNPS, encourages the planting of natives in every garden.
Groveland, CA -- The Tuolumne County Supervisors have approved a mutual aid agreement designed to improve fire protection in the south county and portions of Mariposa County.
The mutual aid agreement is between the Groveland Community Services District, Tuolumne County and Mariposa County. Tuolumne County's recent Fire and First Responders Study found that one of the largest gaps in fire coverage is the area between Groveland, Don Pedro and Yosemite National Park.
The basic premise of the Mutual Aid Agreement is that the closest resource, regardless of jurisdiction, be used whenever practical. This applies to structure fires, medical aids, vehicle fires and traffic accidents.
"This is really huge," stated Supervisor John Gray, whose District Four covers the south county. "This is kind of like the beginning of what I think we'll see with all the districts."
The agreement was worked out following discussions with Tuolumne County Assistant Fire Chief Paul Speer, GCSD Fire Chief Shane Warner and Mariposa County Fire Chief Jim Wilson.
The agreement is designed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of fire services. The Tuolumne County Supervisors voted 5-0 in favor. The contract is for five years. It can also be terminated by any of the parties with a 30 day notice. It was noted that homeowners in those areas may see a reduction in insurance rates because of the closer access to fire services. Costs to fight the fire will be paid for by the jurisidiction in which the incident is located.
Daniels Is T.C.S.O.’s Most Wanted
Sonora, CA -- The Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office is looking for 51-year-old Mark Dennis Daniels.
This week's Most Wanted Suspect has a felony warrant for possession of narcotics with intent to sell. He is 5'9" and weighs 160 lbs. Contact the Sheriff's Office at 533-5815 if you have any information on his whereabouts.
San Andreas, CA - The Calaveras County Sheriff's Department has completed compliance checks on the 83 registered sex offenders in the county.
The Sheriff's Department reports that out of the 83, two failed to report a change in address, one was arrested for having an outstanding warrant and nine were unable to be located. The remaining 71 were within legal compliance. The compliance checks were carried out by the Department's Special Enforcement Team created under Sheriff Gary Kuntz. The checks are designed to keep the public, and notably children, safe.
The District Attorney's Office was notified about the two that moved without registering a change of address, and they could now face charges.
Dish Network has won an auction to takeover struggling Blockbuster Inc.
The Associated Press reports that the satellite television provider purchased the video rental chain for $228 million. Blockbuster has around 2,400 stores nationwide, down from 9,100 in 2004. The company recently filed for bankruptcy and closed thousands of locations, including the store in Angels Camp. The Sonora store remains open.
Dish Network has released a statement that it hopes to successfully cross-market the video chain and satellite TV provider. Blockbuster has been losing money in recent years with the rise of DVD kiosks and services like Netflix. Dish Network's actual bid was $320 million, but it was adjusted because of inventory and available cash.
Sierra Nevada Winter Weather Advisory
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for the Sierra Nevada from 10 p.m. tonight through 5 p.m. Thursday.
Four to nine inches of snow accumulation is expected above 4000 through 5000 feet. A foot to sixteen inches of snow is likely above 6000 feet.
Winds of fifteen to twenty-five mph are possible with gusts ranging from thirty-five to seventy-five mph.
For the latest road conditions click http://www.mymotherlode.com/traffic
Written by mark@mlode.com
Is Romaggi Adobe Worth Saving?
The deteriorated stone structure still stands, lonely, three miles south of Angels Camp. But Adrian Nestor is determined to save the building and turn it into a museum and possible wine tasting bar.
Nestor was Wednesday's KVML "Newsmaker of the Day".
The "Romaggi Adobe Association" would like local residents to be aware of the history associated with the building and they believe that it will become a future tourist attraction in Calaveras County.
Nestor is both the founder and president of the Association. He began this project in 2002.
According to Nestor, James Romaggi was a twenty-four year old stone mason from Italy. He found gold quite shortly after arriving in the one-time boomtown of Albany Flat (where the building stands) and may have had a quartz claim near Melones. Romaggi's wealth rapidly increased to $4,000. In today's money, that would be equivalent of $770,000.
Romaggi built the two-story stone building for his family in 1852. The structure doubled as Romaggi's home and at various points in history, also served as a general store, a bar, a gambling room and a winery.
It is the only gold rush era stone building left standing between Sonora and Jackson.
The endeavor to save the building is an expensive one. Full restoration will cost over an estimated half million dollars. However, Nestor is optimistic that the project will be done.
To help raise funds, Nestor is bringing the Reunion (formally known as the Letterman), with songs that include "Put Your Head On My Shoulders" to the Bret Harte High School Theater in Angels Camp on Friday April 22nd.
Concert tickets are $50 and are available at Middletons Appliance or by calling (209) 736-9522.
The "Newsmaker of the Day" is heard each weekday morning on AM 1450 KVML at 6:47, 7:47 and 8:47am.
Written by mark@mlode.com
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