Local News
06/03/2009
Suspect Charged With Evading Officer Appears In Court
Sonora, CA -- 20-year-old Peter Loren Barrett appeared in Tuolumne County Superior Court Wednesday afternoon for a preliminary hearing and will return on June 15th to learn when his trial will be begin.
Barrett is the suspect accused of leading Sonora Police Officer Jeff Aitken on a high speed chase on May 16th.
Barrett was originally charged with evading an officer causing great bodily injury, but District Attorney Donald Segerstrom says an amendment will be filed to include reckless driving.
Officer Aitken was pursuing a suspect believed to be Barrett when he crashed his patrol vehicle. Aitken has been recovering at the Lodi Memorial Hospital Physical Rehabilitation Unit, and could return home as early as this week.
Barrett has pleaded not guilty.
Written by bjhansen@mlode.com.
Arrests Made In Sonora Stabbing Case
Sonora, CA -- The two suspects that allegedly played a role in a stabbing in front of Gottschalks Wednesday morning were located later in the day in front of Walmart.
Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Sgt. Ken Diaz says 44-year-old Thomas Worrell and 49-year-old Sara Bravo were taken into custody by the Sonora PD. Worrell was booked on an assault with a deadly weapon charge and Bravo was simply questioned and released.
The stabbing occurred around 11:30am. Diaz does not know what led to the incident and says an investigation is ongoing. The injured victim remains at Sonora Regional Medical Center.
The two suspects are described as transients who reside in the Sonora area.
Neighborly Dispute Ends With Arrest
Columbia, CA -- An incident at 12662 Gunsight Rd. in Columbia ended with the arrest of 51-year-old John Schalk.
The Sheriff’s Office says one of the neighbors at a nearby home heard Schalk and his wife arguing and told them that she was going to call authorities if they did not quit soon.
Schalk allegedly then went over to the neighbors house and threatened to kill the two people inside. Later when the neighbors were trying to drive away from their home, Schalk reportedly rammed his truck into their vehicle repeatedly. Schalk then fled on foot
The Sheriff’s Office responded and Schalk was arrested. He denied using his truck to ram the neighbors vehicle. He is charged with attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon, terrorist threats and driving under the influence.
Officials Investigating Junction Shopping Center Stabbing
Sonora, CA -- The Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office is investigating a stabbing that occurred earlier today in the parking lot of the Gottschalks store in the Junction Shopping Center.
Sgt. Ken Diaz says one male victim was taken to Sonora Regional Medical Center and two suspects were able to escape on foot.
One suspect is a male adult who is between the ages of 30-40 and is 5’11 and 150 lbs. He was wearing all black clothing and a black ball cap. The second suspect is a female who is 30-40 years of age, wearing all black clothing and has black hair.
What led to the stabbing is not known at this time.
Preliminary Hearing Today For Peter Loren Barrett
Sonora, CA -- 20 year old Peter Loren Barrett is scheduled for a 1:15 preliminary hearing in Tuolumne County Superior court this afternoon.
Sonora Police Officer Jeff Aitken was pursuing Barrett's BMW when he crashed his patrol vehicle on Lyons Bald Mountain Rd.
Aitken is hopeful of returning home this week. He's been recovering at the Lodi Memorial Hospital Physical Rehabilitation Unit.
Summerville High To Graduate 116 Friday Evening
Tuolumne, CA -- 116 seniors will say goodby to Summerville High School Friday evening during an on-campus eight o'clock commencement.
According to Principal Dave Urquhart the majority of the seniors are either community or four year college bound. A number of seniors are headed for the military while some will be attending vocational schools.
The Alternative School graduation will take place at seven o'clock this evening with the Connections Academy set for a Thursday evening six o'clock commencement ceremony.
Sonora Area Foundation Continues To Benefit Tuolumne County
Sonora, CA -- In addition to the $500,000 May SOS Campaign, the Sonora Area Founation continues to benefit a number of non-profits with a recent series of grants.
According to Foundation CEO Mark Bergstrom Meals On Wheels has received a $33,531 grant for the purchase of two Chevy HHR delivery vans (see accompanying story).
Mother Lode Fair has received a $31,531 grant for 2009 improvements and a $63,181 grant to pave the hog, sheep, beef and cattle barns over the next two years.
The Mountain Women's Resource Center received a $40,000 grant to coordinate training and education work for the Suicide Prevention Task Force.
More than 2,400 school children will have a chance to tour working ranches, a biomass power plant, sawmills, timber operations and other local natural resource sites due to a $15,100 TuCARE grant.
Volunteers with the Sheriff's Community Service Unit, who staff five satellite offices around the county, now have a used four-wheel drive vehicle thanks to a $16,000 grant.
The Foothill Pregnancy Center, facing a shortfall in funding for the services it provides to pregnant women and children, received a $13,275 grant.
A $2,900 grant helped support this spring's Science Fair and County Track Meet sponsored by the Superintendent of Schools Office.
Teens under supervision by the Probation Department will have new opportunities to learn skills through the New Horizons program thanks to a $2,300 grant.
Local Boy Scouts will be able to purchase new camping gear for the summer in addition to providing scholarships with a $1,000 Foundation award.
Meals On Wheels Striking Gold In June
Sonora, CA -- Tuolumne County Meals On Wheels is truly striking gold this month thanks to the Sonora Area Foundation and the May SOS campaign.
Recently a $33,531 grant from S.A.F. (a portion came from the Irving J. Symons Award for outstanding community service) financed the purchase of two Chevy HHR vans which get approximately 30 miles per gallon. According to Sierra Senior Providers President Randy Hunsaker, "These two new vehicles will triple the gas mileaga of the old ones we've been using. And with increasing fuel costs, this will greatly benefit our program by stretching our dollar."
The vehicles were purchased from Sierra Motors for a few hundred dollars each under the anticipated price. In addition Meals On Wheels received a $500 Lowe's gift card for each vehicle.
The vans are used daily to deliver more than 200 meals to home-bound seniors.
In addition the funding that Meals On Wheels will receive from the May SOS Campaign will allow the agency to increase its delivery schedule from five to seven days a week. Also M.O.W. will be establishing congregate sites in Jamestown and Don Pedro where people can be fed on site. Another delivery route is also being planned for the Don Pedro area.
Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Summer Youth Program
The Tuolumne Band of Me-Wuk Indians is offering a Summer on-the-job training program, to the Youth of enrolled Tribal Members ranging between the ages of 14 to 23.
Cathy Bailey, training coordinator for the Me-Wuk Tribal Council, was Wednesday's KVML "Newsmaker of the Day"
According to Bailey, last year the Summer Youth program partnered with Mountain Springs and Twain Harte Golf Courses, Westside Design, Tuolumne County District Attorneys Office and Dave’s Off Road. The Youth went through on the job training in learning about these businesses.
This Summer, businesses that are interested in mentoring and providing hands on experience for a total of eight weeks, should call Bailey (209) 928-5300. In turn, the Me-Wuk Tribe pays the wages, provides transportation to and from work and carries the liability responsibility.
The Youth of today are the Tribes future leaders of tomorrow. This is why it is important for the Tribe to give them hands on experience in business. By introducing them to business operations from the ground up, it is the hope that they will return home as educated self reliant leaders. It is the overall goal of the Tribe to instill a sense of value in the Youth for what they have now and to prepare them for what is to come in the future.
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
