Local News
11/03/2009
Supervisors Approve Hazardous Waste Agreement
Sonora, CA -- Last year Tuolumne and Mariposa Counties received a joint grant of nearly $400,000 to help manage household hazardous waste.
The funding was awarded by the California Integrated Waste Management Board. On Tuesday, the Tuolumne County Supervisors voted to approve a "Memorandum of Understanding" with Mariposa County in an effort to manage the grant in a way that it benefits both counties.
The project features the development of three sites that will store household hazardous waste properly. The sites will be located at the Mariposa landfill, Jamestown Mine area and the Lake Don Pedro Transfer Station. The funding will allow the two counties to purchase the proper equipment needed to dispose of the waste.
The Memorandum of Understanding approved is designed to outline the roles and responsibilities of each county.
Written by bjhansen@mlode.com.
Pedro Compliments Calaveras Supervisors On Selection Of New CAO
Sonora, CA -- During Tuesday's Tuolumne County Supervisorial meeting, CAO Craig Pedro took time to compliment the selection of Jeanne Boyce as the new Calaveras CAO.
"I think they made a great selection," said Pedro of the decision of the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors.
Pedro says he has worked with Boyce on issues while she was employed with the Calaveras County Administrators Office, her time heading up the Calaveras Health Department, and while the two sat on a local Red Cross Board.
Pedro says he feels that the two counties will have a cooperative working relationship in the coming years.
Boyce takes over on an interim basis this month and fulltime in January.
Written by bjhansen@mlode.com.
Arrests Made Following Sonora Car Robbery
Sonora, CA - A 55-year-old Sonora woman was forcibly removed from her car at knife point Monday evening in the Crossroads Shopping Center.
Sonora Police Department officers responded to interview the victim and review surveillance tapes. The victim had sustained minor injuries during the attack.
The Police Department put out a regional law enforcement alert, and the stolen vehicle was located at 2:20am by the Modesto Police Department. Three suspects from Sonora were detained and taken into custody in Modesto. Their names are not being released at this time by the PD because it is an ongoing investigation.
The suspects are described as two adult males and one juvenile female.
Written by bjhansen@mlode.com.
Tuolumne Woman Leads Deputies On High Speed Chase
Tuolumne CA -- A Tuolumne woman was arrested following a high speed chase late Monday evening.
Sgt. A.J. Ford with the Sheriff's Office says deputies were dispatched to a report of a domestic disturbance at 10pm in the 18000 block of Carter St. in Tuolumne.
Prior to arriving at the home, deputies were told that the suspect, 33-year-old Maryellen Wagoner, left in a black Toyota Four Runner. Deputies located her vehicle near the intersection of Pine St. and Carter St., and pulled her over the side of road. But after a deputy made initial contact with her, she sped away in her SUV.
An eight mile high speed chase followed through Tuolumne and into east Sonora. Speeds reached 100 mph at times. Wagoner's tires were blown out by spike strips set up by the CHP along Tuolumne Rd. near the intersection of Wards Ferry Rd.
Wagoner continued until she reached the parking lot of the Peppery restaurant along Mono Way. Sheriff's deputies had to physically remove her from the vehicle in order to place her under arrest. She was then taken to Sonora Regional Medical Center to be treated for minor injuries due to the confrontation.
She has been arrested for felony evading, suspicion of felony domestic violence and suspicion of driving under the influence.
Written by bjhansen@mlode.com.
Gonzalez Wanted By Angels Camp P.D.
Angels Camp, CA -- The Angels Camp Police Department's "Most Wanted" for this week is Efrain Montaz Gonzalez.
Gonzalez is wanted for Driving under the influence, hit and run driving and driving without a license. Gonzalez is 28 years old, 5'6" 160 lbs, with brown hair and brown eyes.
If you have any information regarding Gonzalez please contact the Angels camp Police Department at 736-2567.
Written by bjhansen@mlode.com.
T.C. Supervisors Unanimously Pass Law And Justice Center Property Financing Plan
Sonora, CA -- By a 4-0 vote moments ago (Board Chair Teri Murrison is out of town) the Tuolumne County supervisors passed the proposed financing plan for the purchase of the property for the Law and Justice Center.
CAO Craig Pedro had proposed an internal financing plan that would allow the county to borrow from itself thereby saving between $2.4 to $4 million in interest payments to purchase the 43 acres from the Gardella family for the land located south of Hwy 108 and east of Old Wards Ferry Rd.
Pedro has proposed that the Criminal Justice Construction Fund be used as the initial source of funding for the $4.1 million that will be paid for the property. Any funds remaining following the design fees for the Juvenile Detention Facility would then be used to retire a portion of the $4.1 million debt. Pedro believes that amount will be in the neighborhood of $600,000 lowering the debt to $3.5 million.
While Supervisor John Gray had a number of questions for Sheriff Jim Mele, CHP Commander Lt. Sam Samra and Chief Probation Officer Adele Arnold, his peers (Dick Pland, Liz Bass and Paolo Maffei) were adamant that, as Craig Pedro has stated, "This is no time to blink."
Written by bill.johnson@mlode.com
Sarah Louise Borba; "Most Wanted" By Sheriff's Office
Sonora, CA -- 24 year old Sarah Louise Borba is this week's "Most Wanted" by the Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office.
Borba has brown hair and hazel eyes. She stands five feet six inches tall and weighs 210 pounds.
She is wanted on charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a loaded and concealed firearm, possession of a switchblade knife, theft and burglary.
Borba was the "Most Wanted" by the Sonora Police Department (4/27/09) and the Sheriff's Office (6/11/09).
If you see Borba or have any information regarding her whereabouts, contact the Sheriff's Office immediately at (209) 533-5815. Your call can ALWAYS remain anonymous.
Written by bill.johnson@mlode.com
Two Elections Set For Calaveras County
San Andreas, CA -- There is a special consolidated district election in Calaveras County today.
63 year old George C. Fry, Jr., 52 year old Rick Downey and 75 year old Betty Raggio are vying for one seat on the City of Angels City Council. That term to run through December, 2010.
Dennis Peterson, John Boston and Bruce Brown are vying for two director positions for the Jenny Lind Fire Protection District.
Polls will be open until 8pm this evening.
Written by bill.johnson@mlode.com
Calaveras Supervisors To Open November Meetings
San Andreas, CA -- A rather limited schedule of items is on today's agenda for the first November Calaveras County supervisorial meeting.
There will be discussion and possible action regarding a resolution that would approve the purchase of the RIMS/CAD software and Coplogic Online Reporting System Software for the Sheriff's Department.
There will also be discussion and possible action regarding a resolution authorizing the award to construct a microwave/mobile data terminal system for the Sheriff's Department to Delta Wireless & Solutions.
And there will be a review and discussion regarding the final draft housing element prior to submittal to the Department of Housing and Community Development.
This morning's meeting will get underway at nine o'clock at the Government Center.
Written by bill.johnson@mlode.com
Reynolds Preaches Tobacco Free Lifestyle
Sonora, CA -- The son of tobacco magnate R.J. Reynolds spent his Monday in Tuolumne County preaching his tobacco free lifestyle to students and adults alike.
Reynolds spoke at Summerville High School in the morning, to adults at the Sonora Opera Hall at noon and to the Sonora High student body at 1:15.
It might seem a bit strange that a relative of R.J. Reynolds (Camel/Winston) would preach the tobacco free lifestyle but Patrick Reynolds decided to take this stand when he watched his father, R.J. Reynolds, Jr., gasping for air as he lay dying from a tobacco induced illness. Reynolds also lost an older brother to a tobacco related illness. He admits that at one time he, too, was a smoker.
Asked if he is considered the "black sheep" of the family for his turn against tobacco, Reynolds commented, "Some call me the black sheep, hey, I call myself the white sheep. I'm the guy waving the flag the tobacco industry is up to no good ... smoking is bad for you. So I'm the white sheep of the Reynolds Family."
Reynolds always opens his presentations with that story and then follows with a question for students, "How many of you are without your biological fathers? Are you angry ... are you sad, are you afraid? That seems to always get their attention. I, myself, was angry when I lost my father at such a young age."
Reynolds adds, "I tell them that nine out of 10 smokers start before the age of 19. That is why the tobacco industry continually targets the youth of America."
Reynolds recently was invited to speak in Greece. Now he says he would like to visit Russia and India to deliver his tobacco free message.
Click THE FOUNDATION FOR A SMOKEFREE AMERICA for additional information.
Reynolds' visit to Tuolumne County was sponsored by Sonora Regional Medical Center.
Written by bill.johnson@mlode.com
A change in the weather is expected for Thursday and Friday.
According to the National Weather Service, rain is possible in the Motherlode and snow is possible in the Sierra Nevada. Snow levels will remain between 6000 to 7000 feet.
Winds could blow 30 to 40 mph over the mountain ridges.
High temperatures will not break the 60s by Friday.
All local mountain passes are open for now, but be sure to carry tire chains if you are heading into the high country.
Written by mark@mlode.com.
Governor's Office Celebrates AB 32's Three Year Anniversary
Environmental Protection Secretary Linda Adams delivered Gov. Schwarzenegger's weekly radio address and was Tuesday's KVML "Newsmaker of the Day". Here are her words:
"Hi, this is Linda Adams, Secretary of the Environmental Protection Agency, filling in for Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger with another California Report.
This week we celebrated the 3rd Anniversary of the signing of Assembly Bill 32, California's landmark global warming law.
That law commits California to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the 1990-levels by the year 2020, which is about a 25 percent decrease.
But like the Governor always says, signing the law was just the first step. The real action is in implementing the law.
For example, within the last few years, we have passed the world's first Low Carbon Fuel Standard.
We adopted regulations to capture methane from landfills, improve the fuel efficiency of heavy-duty tractors and cars, and reduce the carbon footprint of our ports and big ships.
In fact, California has already adopted regulations that account for 40 percent of our AB 32 goals.
So we are making great progress.
However, as the Governor says, climate change is an issue that transcends borders.
It is a global crisis, that requires a global solution.
That is why we have gone out and formed partnerships, with Western states, with Northeastern states, with Mexican states, with Canadian provinces, with European nations, and the list goes on.
In fact, I just recently had the pleasure of participating in the launch of China's first greenhouse gas emissions registry. But there's a lot of great action still to come.
Next week Gov. Schwarzenegger will host his second annual Governors Global Climate Summit.
We will bring together 30 Governors, and hundreds of other experts, from 70 different states and provinces.
Our goal is to form a broad, international alliance.
So when the UN starts their work in Copenhagen in December, they'll have the results of our summit as a framework for a new Kyoto Agreement.
But the Governor has always said fighting climate change is about much more than just the environment.
It's also about building a new foundation for our economy, that is built on clean technology and clean fuel and clean cars.
That's what we're doing here in California.
In just the last 3 years, scientists and entrepreneurs have pumped more than $6 billion of venture capital into California.
Since 2005, green jobs in California have grown 10 times faster than other areas.
We lead the nation in the number of clean energy businesses, with more than 10,000. As the Governor says, we are proving it is possible to protect both the environment and the economy.
On behalf of the Governor, this is Linda Adams. Thank you for listening."
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
Wade Wesley Walther; S.P.D.'s "Most Wanted"
Sonora, CA -- 22 year old Wade Wesley Walther is this week's "Most Wanted" by the Sonora Police Department.
Walther has brown hair and brown eyes. He stands five feet five inches tall and weighs 140 pounds.
Walther has two felony warrants, one for marijuana cultivation and the second for stolen property.
If you see Walther or have any information regarding his whereabouts, contact the S.P.D. immediately at (209) 532-8141. Your call can ALWAYS remain anonymous.
Click SONORA POLICE DEPARTMENT for this week's updated "Most Wanted" list.
Written by bill.johnson@mlode.com
