Local News
07/21/2012
Tuolumne and Calaveras Counties Buck State Trend
Sacramento, CA -- California's unemployment rate fell slightly in June to 10.7%. It marks a slight drop from May, when unemployment was at 10.8%. However, Tuolumne and Calaveras Counties didn't follow that trend.
These are the latest figures from the Employment Development Department.
Tuolumne County's rate didn't budge from May's figure of 11.7%. Calaveras County's rate went up from 12.9% in May to 13.1% in June.
The state added 38,300 jobs in June. State officials say trade, transportation and utilities posted the largest job increases in June. Manufacturing posted the largest decrease, down 4400 jobs.
Want To Operate A Forest Campground?
Sonora, CA -- The Stanislaus National Forest is asking for business proposals to work concession campground Special Use Permits.
The permits are for the Big Meadows and the Lake Alpine campgrounds. They allow a person or company to handle the operation and maintenance of government-owned recreation facilities. Forest Officials say one applicant could be selected for both areas. They plan to issue the permits in January of 2013 in time for the recreation season.
There is a $100 fee for all applications. The selected applicant may be responsible for the costs of preparing and issuing the permit. Also, the selected applicant will be responsible for conducting a Financial Ability Determination.
Click here for a more details on the application process.
Many Support Boy Scout Decision
An informal poll on myMotherlode.com asked "Do You Agree With The Boy Scouts: Open or Avowed Homosexual Members Distract From Their Mission?" 66% said yes, 32% said no.
According to the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) their mission is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.
The Scout Oath is:
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.
Boy Scout Motto is "Be Prepared!" and the Boy Scout Slogan is "Do a Good Turn Daily!"
After a confidential two-year review, the Boy Scouts of America reaffirmed its policy of excluding gays, despite relentless protest campaigns by critics.
The Scouts' national spokesman, Deron Smith, told The Associated Press that an 11-member special committee, formed discreetly in 2010, concluded that the exclusion policy is "absolutely the best policy" for the organization.
Smith said the committee, comprised of professional scout executives and adult volunteers, was unanimous in its conclusion - preserving a long-standing policy that was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2000.
The 5-4 Supreme Court decision upheld the Boy Scouts right to freedom of association in spite of state anti-discrimination laws. They ruled that the organization's policy for scout leaders to not discuss sexuality with scouts was sufficient grounds for them to ban openly gay leaders.
Their conclusion was, "While the law is free to promote all sorts of conduct in place of harmful behavior, it is not free to interfere with speech for no better reason than promoting an approved message or discouraging a disfavored one, however enlightened either purpose may strike the government."
The dissenting opinion written by Justice Stevens says, "it is plain as the light of day that neither one of these principles-'morally straight' and 'clean'-says the slightest thing about homosexuality. Indeed, neither term in the Boy Scouts' Law and Oath expresses any position whatsoever on sexual matters."
The poll results can be viewed here.
Power Outages In Tuolumne County
Tuolumne County, CA -- Some Tuolumne County residents woke up to no power this morning. PG & E says crews are on the scene in the Phoenix Lake area working on the problem. Nearly 300 people have been without electricity since around 6:30 this morning.
PG & E says they don't know what caused the outage and it is under investigation. They estimate it could take several hours to restore power.
Below is a list of the areas without power:
- Phoenix Lake area, parts of East Sonora and some parts of Wards Ferry Road and Tuolumne Road
- Parts of Groveland including Pine Mountain Lake, Deer Flat Nix and Buck Meadows
Update: Power was restored around 10am. PG & E says equipment failure in the Pheonix Lake area caused the power outage.
Calaveras County Deputies Arrest Sex Offender
Railroad Flat, CA -- Calaveras Sheriff's Deputies spotted 26 year old Parolee Rylan Luckey of Railroad Flat Thursday around 3pm.
Sheriff's officials say Luckey was inside the Railroad Flat General Store. They say he had an outstanding warrant for failing to register as a sex offender. Sheriff's officials say that is a state requirement of his parole.
Deputies entered the store and were able to arrest Luckey without incident. He was booked into the Calaveras County Jail.
School Superintendents Concerned About Facilities
Sonora, CA -- Both Sonora High and Summerville High will have bond measures on the November ballot.
This weekend's Mother Lode Views will focus on what type of improvements would be made to the individual schools if the initiatives are approved. Guests will be Sonora High Superintendent Dr. Mike McCoy and Summerville High Superintendent Dr. John Keiter.
Sonora High is calling for $23 million in bonds to be issued to make repairs and modernize classrooms and facilities. Summerville High School is calling for the extension of Measure Q, a bond measure passed in the 1990's. The $8 million in bonds would help fund facility updates and make the campus ADA compliant.
Local Radio Stations
