Choosing a fair theme is fun and difficult at the same time. Fair Boards have considered thousands of ideas over the past few decades, and it is never easy. The theme sets the tone for the annual event held the last weekend in July. Every entry in the Fair Parade is guided by the theme, as well as many 4H and FFA projects.
 
A good fair theme sets an image or feeling in a visitor’s mind. It is easy to convert into decorations throughout the fairgrounds, or can be carried through with entertainment. Ideally, it can be part of a colorful piece of artwork for advertising and posters. It should be short and to the point. It should mean something, and in a perfect world, should be unique to the Plumas Sierra County Fair.
 
The first theme for the Plumas Sierra County Fair appeared in 1951 and was “Lumbering Progress”. There was no apparent theme before that, and after 1951, it was hit and miss whether there was a theme or not. Early themes promoted Plumas County and all it had to offer. This is not surprising since early fair board members included the Presidents of the Chamber of Commerce like Link Peckinpah and Bob Moon. “Plumas Glory”, “Better Living in the Feather River Country” and “Progress’n Plumas Style” dominated themes in the 50’s and 60’s. After that, things became more generic; “Mountain Magic”, “The Old West at it’s Best” and “I Can’t Bear to Miss the Fair”. Nostalgia has always been popular and rhyming themes are used heavily throughout the fair industry.
 
For the 2023 Fair in Quincy, the Plumas Sierra County Fair Board has decided to let the public decide the theme. The only guidelines are that it has something to do with Plumas and Sierra Counties, and keep it is short. What do you win? International recognition for sure plus, a week-long family pass to the fair and one Golden Ticket for the carnival. Ideas can be submitted by mail, in person at the fair office, or by e-mail. For mail or in person, the address is 204 Fairground Road in Quincy. The e-mail address is johnsteffanic@countyofplumas.com. Deadline for entries is April 14.
 
The 2023 fair will be held July 27 through July 30, and the fair theme will be…..?
 

The unrestricted use of sulfoxaflor could have devastating effects on pollinators, which are critical to California’s economy and natural ecosystem
OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today led a multistate coalition in calling for nationwide restrictions on the use of sulfoxaflor, a chemical pesticide that is extremely toxic to bees and other pollinators. The coalition, comprising some of the nation’s leading agricultural producers, depend on pollinators to sustain their crops and natural ecosystems. For example — California, the nation’s top agricultural state, relies heavily on bees for its almond industry, which contributes over $20 billion in annual economic output, sustains over 100,000 jobs, and supplies about 80% of the world’s almonds. In a letter to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today, the coalition of 13 states warned that the unrestricted use of sulfoxaflor could have devastating effects on pollinators, and ultimately harm their states’ economies and endanger the nation’s food security. The coalition urged the EPA to adopt reasonable restrictions on sulfoxaflor’s use and support further research into the pesticide’s potential impacts on human health and the environment.
 
“California takes great pride in its role as the nation’s leading agricultural producer,” said Attorney General Bonta. “From almonds to tomatoes, citrus to strawberries, our farms produce the crops that help Americans put nutritious, diverse food on the table. None of that would be possible without bees and other pollinators. These tiny creatures may seem insignificant, but they play a critical role in our survival as a species. That’s why I join my fellow attorneys general today in urging the EPA to impose restrictions backed by research on the use of the toxic pesticide sulfoxaflor. As the states that help feed the nation, we need pollinators to flourish and thrive — our economies depend on them, our ecosystems depend on them, and the entire nation’s food security depends on them.”
 
Insect pollinators play a crucial role in California’s economy — by helping fertilize its farms, which grow over a third of the country’s vegetables and three-quarters of the country’s fruits and nuts, and by sustaining its natural ecosystems, which generate significant tourism revenue. The California Department of Justice has previously filed multiple amicus briefs in lawsuits challenging the Trump Administration EPA’s previous attempts to lift needed restrictions on sulfoxaflor and allow its use in controversial ways — without consulting the public or considering the pesticide’s effects on endangered species. In December 2022, the lawsuits were successful, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ordered the EPA to immediately correct various legal violations. As a result, in February this year, the EPA published a notice seeking public comment on the use of sulfoxaflor.
 
Today’s letter, issued by 13 attorneys general, provides important state input in response to that notice. In their letter, the attorneys general assert that the states they represent together produce 37% of the nation’s crops and play a key role in American food security and resilience. These 13 states are the leading national producers of a wide variety of crops, such as apples, almonds, lettuce, hops, beets, tomatoes, coffee, and oranges. They also have extraordinary natural resources and ecosystems and are home to a variety of threatened and endangered species and critical habitats. All of this relies on pollination by insects such as bees.
 
To prevent harm to these necessary pollinators, the attorneys general urged the EPA to:

• Restrict the use of sulfoxaflor when crops are blooming and pollinators are most likely to be present;
• Reimpose a required buffer zone between where sulfoxaflor is being sprayed and where vegetation is blooming;
• Encourage collaboration between owners of nearby fields to ensure sulfoxaflor is not applied before or during a period when managed pollinators are nearby; and
• Support further research into sulfoxaflor’s impacts on the environment and on humans, and remain vigilant about its potential harms.

In issuing the letter to the EPA, Attorney General Bonta was joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington.
 

Urges Ninth Circuit to immediately halt portions of district court order blocking enforcement of certain provisions of the Act
SAN FRANCISCO — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today filed notice to appeal a district court order that would allow, for the first time in nearly two decades, firearm dealers to sell additional models of semiautomatic pistols that fail to meet the requirements of the Unsafe Handgun Act (UHA). The provisions of the UHA that are at issue are designed to prevent accidental deaths and injuries. California is also seeking from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals a stay of the preliminary injunction against these UHA requirements, which have been proven to prevent deaths and injuries from accidental discharge. If granted, the emergency motion to partially stay the preliminary injunction would halt the portions of the Central District of California’s order striking down the UHA’s requirements that semiautomatic pistols have a chamber load indicator and a magazine disconnect mechanism before they may be sold at retail.
“California’s commonsense gun safety laws save lives, and the Unsafe Handgun Act is no exception,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Accidental shootings are preventable. The fact that children under five are the most likely victims makes these accidental gun deaths even more tragic and inexcusable. As weapons become faster, more powerful, and more deadly, this risk only increases. Flooding the marketplace with unsafe semiautomatic pistols that do not meet necessary safety requirements poses a serious threat to public health and safety, especially for children and young adults.” 
The UHA was originally enacted over two decades ago in response to the proliferation of low-cost, cheaply made handguns that posed consumer safety risks. Under the UHA, the California Department of Justice (DOJ) compiles and maintains a Roster of Certified Handguns that meet certain public safety requirements. Generally, a handgun must appear on the roster to be sold by a California firearm dealer. 
When the UHA was first enacted, revolvers and pistols were required to have safety devices and pass drop safety and firing tests at independent laboratories in order to be added to the roster. Those requirements are not at issue in this litigation. 
The UHA has since been amended, adding additional safety requirements for semiautomatic pistols including that a new semiautomatic pistol must have:

• A chamber load indicator that indicates if the pistol is loaded;
• A magazine disconnect mechanism that prevents the pistol from firing when the magazine is not inserted; and
• Microstamping capabilities that allow law enforcement to trace a shell casing to the pistol that fired it.

 DOJ is filing an appeal to overturn the district court’s preliminary injunction, and filing an emergency motion to stay, or halt, the portions of the order that would ban enforcement of the UHA’s requirements that semiautomatic pistols for retail sale have a chamber load indicator and magazine disconnect mechanism. The motion does not seek to immediately stop the part of the court’s decision enjoining the microstamping requirement.
Attorney General Bonta's findings cite a number of serious concerns if the district court order were not halted as the state appeals to the appellate court. Semiautomatic pistol manufacturers can be expected to flood DOJ’s Bureau of Firearms with up to a thousand requests to add semiautomatic pistols that lack the three challenged UHA requirements. There are currently 800 models of handguns available for purchase in California, including 32 semiautomatic pistols with chamber load indicators and magazine disconnect mechanisms. Without a stay, manufacturers will undoubtedly seek to expand the proportion of firearms available on the primary market that lack these commonsense safety features. There is no reason or urgency to add to the market many more models of semiautomatic pistols without the UHA’s safety mechanisms, especially given the risk to public safety and research showing that in states where there are more guns, unintentional firearms death are shown to increase.
Since the UHA went into effect in 2001, accidental shootings have decreased. If the entirety of the law were ultimately overturned, it can be expected that the opposite outcome would occur. The rate of accidental shooting deaths in California decreased by two-thirds between 2014 and 2018, after chamber load indicators and magazine disconnect mechanisms were required for new models added to the Roster— compared to 1996 to 2000 — before they were required, with a 13.4 percent decrease in self-inflicted injuries and a 12.7 percent decrease in unintentional injuries during this time period, as cited by the plaintiffs in the lawsuit challenging the law.
The notice of appeal can be found here. A copy of the brief will be made available here.
Although the United States is an outlier when compared to gun violence in other wealthy nations, California has one of the lowest rates of firearm mortality in the country — 44th in the nation. Only Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, New York, and Connecticut have lower firearm mortality rates.  Notably, all of these states received a “B” or better on Gifford’s Law Center’s 2021 Annual Gun Law Scorecard, an assessment of the strength of each state’s gun safety laws. California received an “A” for having “the strongest gun laws in the United States.”
This is no accident. In 2005, California’s firearm mortality was much more in line with other large states like Texas and Florida.  Since then, California has tightened its gun laws, including through its Unsafe Handgun Act.  Florida and Texas have gone in the opposite direction.  During that time period, California’s firearm mortality rate dropped, while the rate has increased dramatically in Florida and Texas. The average firearm mortality rate in the United States is 13.7 per 100,000 people. California’s stands at 8.5 per 100,000. Texas is higher than the national average, at 14.2 per 100,000. 
Find more facts and information about California’s strategy to reduce gun violence through DOJ’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention.

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​THE 15TH ANNUAL CRAB FEED held at Sierra Valley Grange Hall in Vinton March 25th was sponsored by Loyalton High School’s Booster Club with Auctioneer Dave Roberti in the absence of his brother, Rick.
The crab, pasta and salad are delicious but it’s the live auction that delights.
It’s where they auction the VIP table for the following year to include top-notch service all night, limitless crab and two bottles of wine. Rick Joy and crew will be seated there next year for the cost of $1,000. Rick also donated 10 tons of base rock to be delivered locally and that brought in $900.
Al Pombo, Inc. donated $1,000 for materials and/or trucking which went for $1,900.
Grandi Ranch ($450), Green Gulch Ranch ($300) ,Wallace Ranch($525) and Roberti Ranch ($1,000) all donated a ton of alfalfa, grain hay or grass hay.
Hunt & Sons, Inc. donated 100 gallons of propane delivered locally.
Tyler Martin offered  five hours of local snow removal.
Sierra Valley Enterprises offered 1.5 cords of mixed lodge/oak wood delivered locally. Don Harnach bid $500 and donated it all back and it then went for $475.
Loyalton High School Woodshop wowed the crowd with its river table which went for a bargain at $700. The Loyalton High School Varsity Girls’ Softball created a Date Night Basket that went for $400. Sierra Schools Foundation sold two golfers  for the Golf Tournament to be held October 7th and took in $275. Plumas Pines Golf Resort donated a round of golf for 4 with a golf cart included and that went for $550. Loyalton FFA  offered horseshoe decorations handcrafted by Roy White and  they brought in $75.
The good stuff, including two pans of nine homemade cinnamon rolls by Tim Driscoll are always coveted and each pan went for $200. And then there were Katie Campbell’s Famous stack of chocolate, coconut and oatmeal Cowboy Cookies which took in $350.
It will be the last year for Reno Air Racing Association, Inc. and they offered two general admission, two pit passes and one reserved parking pass for the entire event’s duration September 13-17. That took in  $650.
Reno Aces offered four infield reserve tickets which went for $250. The Reno Rodeo Association offered four Reno Rodeo tickets for June 19th at 7 p.m. along with four Reno Rodeo hats.
In all, there were 42 hotly contested auction items besides 21 raffle items and four door prizes.
The support of sponsors makes the Crab Feed a big success and helps the Booster Club purchase sports equipment, new uniforms, do improvement project and helps provide transportation for all athletic teams.
 

 
(VINTON) – This year on April 28th and 29th, after three years of delay, Sierra Valley Grange #466 will finally present their 35th annual Cowboy Poetry and Music Show at the historic Grange Hall in Vinton, California.  This event has been delayed not once, not twice, but thrice by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the excitement among the organization is almost palpable as we look forward to opening our doors for this delightful celebration of the arts and Western heritage once more.
 
First up on our all-star music and poetry lineup is singer and harmonica player Gary Allegretto, the 2019 winner of the International Western Music Association’s Male Performer of the Year award.  Allegretto comes from a colorful and storied background, having previously been a ranch hand, bouncer and wildland firefighter in various parts of the West before pursuing his childhood dream of music and becoming perhaps the finest blues and western harmonica player alive today.  His talents have earned him a variety of music and poetry accolades and landed his music in a few spots on the silver screen; it’s more likely than not that even the least musically inclined among us will enjoy his performance.
 
Richard Elloyan is a singer and songwriter hailing from the historic Silver Rush town of Virginia City, Nevada and - much like Allegretto - has been recognized by the IWMA, having won their award for Songwriter of the Year in 2018.   A longstanding regular of the cowboy poet circuit in the Western United States, Elloyan joined up with his lifelong friend, fellow Nevadan and brother-in-poetry Steve Wade in 2015 to release their first album together, Forty Miles of Famous, and have since collaborated two more times in the studio for Up For Adoption (2019) and Once Upon a Desert Night (2021).  You won’t have to scour the vistas and byways to epitomize the vaquero way, because two of the best Western musicians you can find anywhere will be playing right here in Sierra Valley this April.
 
Last, but certainly not least, Larry Maurice is another highly decorated cowpoke and cowboy poet; when not out on the open range, this man moonlights as a poet so heartfelt and so authentically Western than in 2000 the Academy of Western Artists honored him with the prestigious Will Rogers Cowboy Poet of the Year award.  Maurice’s poetry has taken him all across the west, from Lubbock to Los Angeles, and now this Reno native will be darkening the doors of the Sierra Valley Grange to perform at our own smalltown show.
 
This year’s Cowboy Poetry and Music Show will run twice on the evenings of April 28th and 29th, and once in a Saturday afternoon matinee on the 29th.  Show tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under while meal tickets will run $20 and $12, respectively; these will be available soon at select locations and on our website, www.sierravalleygrange.org.  The Grange will serve house-made lasagna on Friday night and country-style pork ribs on Saturday – and yes, there will be a full bar too.  To learn more, email us at SierraValleyGrange466@gmail.com, visit our website or contact Crystal Munoz at (510) 219-1082.
 
The Sierra Valley Grange, located in historic Vinton, is a fraternal agrarian non-profit organization dedicated to rural living and self-improvement that has been serving eastern Plumas and Sierra counties since 1931.  Proceeds from the Cowboy Poetry Event will be used to meet the yearly operation costs and further maintenance needs of our building; if you are interested in joining, please visit our website, or better yet, come visit us for some music and cowboy poetry this April.
 
We hope you enjoy the show!
 
 

TNF Fire/Fuels crew arrive on the Ouachita National Forest, AR
Photo Courtesy of TNF Engine 331 Senior Firefighter Danny Sadlo

​TNF Wildland Firefighter engaged in planned prescribed burn firing operations using a drip torch to black-line edge of Prescribed Fire Unit boundary. Photo courtesy of TNF Engine 371 Captain Greg Lowdermilk

TNF Wildland Firefighters gain experience in local fuel types as they engage in firing operations using a drip torch and igniting fuels in a specified pattern, during planned prescribed burn. 
Photo courtesy of USFS TNF Engine 362 Captain Zac Stockdale
​

​TNF Wildland Firefighter Danny Sadlo hand ignites edge of Prescribed Fire Burn Unit to create a black-line, in conjunction with a helicopter performing aerial ignitions in the interior of the burn unit. 
Photo courtesy of USFS TNF Engine 362 Captain Zac Stockdale

​Planned Prescribed Fire Fuels Treatment on the Ouachita National Forest, AR. Photo Courtesy of TNF Engine 331 Senior Firefighter Danny Sadlo

TNF Firefighter hand-lighting fuels along edge of control line during planned Prescribed Fire on the Ouachita National Forest, AR. 
Photo Courtesy of USFS TNF Engine 362 Captain Zac Stockdale

Tahoe National Forest Wildland Firefighters’ Prescribed Fire Support to Ouachita National Forest, Arkansas reduced fuel accumulation on 16,000 acres of National Forest System Lands, contributing to Forest Health and Wildfire Resilience.


TNF Wildland Firefighters from Truckee Engines 371 and 373, Sierraville Engine 361, Big Bend Engine 334, White Cloud Engine 333, Truckee Hotshots, and Tahoe Dispatch, with TNF Truckee Fire Prevention Patrol 72 began in their off-Forest assignment in February, mobilized on a multi-day cross-country drive to Ouachita National Forest, Arkansas where they spent two-weeks providing Prescribed Fire support.

Over the course of their assignment, TNF Firefighters assisted with Prescribed Fire Burn Unit prep and the completion of 4,000 acres treated with prescribed fire to reduce fuels accumulation, reported TNF Truckee Engine Captain 371 Greg Lowdermilk.

After the completion of the 1st TNF Fire/Fuels Module’s assignment to Arkansas mid-Feb., a crew swap occurred led by TNF Sierraville Engine Captain 362 Zac Stockdale made up of TNF firefighters from Sierraville Engine 362, Truckee Engine 373, Big Bend Engine 334, and Camptonville Engine 331. TNF Engine Captain 362 Zac Stockdale relayed that the second Fire/Fuels Module continued assisting the local USFS Fire resources with prepping prescribed fire burn units and implementing planned prescribed fire operations as conditions allowed, treating an additional 12,000 acres during their two-week assignment. 


The successful Prescribed Fire operations were carried out by TNF firefighters alongside local USFS Fire resources using drip torches to hand ignite and black-line, removing fuels adjacent to the control lines of the prescribed fire burn units, in conjunction with a helicopter performing aerial ignition using a plastic sphere dispenser (PSD) that dispenses plastic spheres containing potassium permanganate, injected with ethylene glycol (antifreeze) as they are ejected from a helicopter into the interior of the prescribed fire burn units in a strategic firing pattern. During these Prescribed Fire operations, TNF Firefighters also received training opportunities as Crew Boss trainee, Firing Boss trainee and gained further experience with firing and dozer operations.

Upon the return of the second TNF Fire/Fuels crew after driving cross-country from Arkansas, TNF Engine 331 Senior Firefighter Danny Sadlo who also provided Prescribed Fire support on recent assignments in South Carolina shared,

“While supporting National Forests in South Carolina and Arkansas with prescribed burning, your Tahoe National Forest Firefighters have gained additional knowledge, experience, and training opportunities, working in different fuel types, terrain and complexity levels. Prescribed Fire is one of the important tools used here on the Tahoe National Forest that helps restore forest health and resiliency. These planned fuels reduction projects also make it safer for our communities in and around the Tahoe National Forest and safer for the public recreating and enjoying our National Forest.”

Tahoe National Forest Wildland Firefighters not only protect our communities and natural resources responding to Fire and All-hazard incidents, but also by supporting and engaging in critical Fuels reduction work locally and nationally. If you’re interested in becoming a Wildland Firefighter on the Tahoe National Forest this season, Job applications are currently being accepted on USAJOBS.Gov March 20-29th. Go to this link for TNF Specific FireHire open Permanent Position job announcement numbers with Supervisor Contact Info.  https://tinyurl.com/2aup883u and apply on USAJobs.gov by March 29th.

USFS Job Vacancy announcement link for Permanent Fire Positions across California provided with Position Title/Grade Level/USAJobs Announcement Number can be found here- https://tinyurl.com/bdfn6y3u
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WHAT TO KNOW: Climate change has made California’s dry and wet spells more extreme and unpredictable – after the three driest years on record, recent rain and snowfall have dramatically changed conditions in many parts of the state. The state has also advanced actions to boost storage and supply. Today’s action eases drought emergency provisions that are no longer needed while maintaining others to support impacted communities statewide.
 
Harnessing water captured and stored from recent storms, the state also announced a major increase in expected State Water Project deliveries to local agencies – now an anticipated 75% allocation.
 
YOLO COUNTY – Governor Gavin Newsom today rolled back some drought emergency provisions that are no longer needed due to current water conditions, while maintaining other measures that support regions and communities still facing water supply challenges, and that continue building up long-term water resilience. Amid climate-driven weather whiplash, the state has taken action to boost water supplies through groundwater recharge, stormwater capture, reservoir storage, and more. 
 
Today’s action comes as the state announced increased water deliveries to 29 public water agencies that serve 27 million Californians, now expecting to deliver 75% of requested water supplies – up from 35% announced in February, and the highest since 2017. 
 
While recent storms have helped ease drought impacts, regions and communities across the state continue to experience water supply shortages, especially communities that rely on groundwater supplies that have been severely depleted in recent years. Today’s order is responsive to current conditions while preserving smart water measures: 

• Ends the voluntary 15% water conservation target, while continuing to encourage that Californians make conservation a way of life;
• Ends the requirement that local water agencies implement level 2 of their drought contingency plans;
• Maintains the ban on wasteful water uses, such as watering ornamental grass on commercial properties;
• Preserves all current emergency orders focused on groundwater supply, where the effects of the multi-year drought continue to be devastating;
• Maintains orders focused on specific watersheds that have not benefited as much from recent rains, including the Klamath River and Colorado River basins, which both remain in drought;
• Retains a state of emergency for all 58 counties to allow for drought response and recovery efforts to continue.

 A copy of today’s executive order can be found here.
 
WHAT GOV. NEWSOM SAID: “We’re all in this together, and this state has taken extraordinary actions to get us to this point. The weather whiplash we’ve experienced in the past few months makes it crystal clear that Californians and our water system have to adapt to increasingly extreme swings between drought and flood. As we welcome this relief from the drought, we must remain focused on continuing our all-of-the-above approach to future-proofing California’s water supply.”

FACT SHEET:
Since Governor Newsom announced the 15% voluntary conservation goal, Californians conserved 600,000 acre-feet of water – representing 1.2 million households’ yearly usage. 
 
The Governor visited the Dunnigan Groundwater Recharge Project in Yolo County, where he highlighted the state’s work to accelerate and increase groundwater recharge to make the most of winter storms. California is working to expand groundwater recharge by at least 500,000 acre-feet in potential capacity as part of our water supply strategy.
 
Leveraging the state’s long-term water supply strategy and more than $8.6 billion committed by Governor Newsom and the Legislature in the last two budget cycles to build water resilience, California is taking aggressive action to prepare for hotter and drier conditions driven by climate change that could reduce the state’s water supply by up to 10% by 2040. In the 2023-24 state budget, Governor Newsom is proposing an additional $202 million for flood protection and $125 million for drought-related actions.
 
Here are other actions that Governor Newsom and the Legislature have taken to boost water supply, expand storage, and improve infrastructure: 

• EXPANDING SUPPLY & STORAGE BY 1.1 MILLION ACRE-FEET: California has bolstered supply and storage through groundwater recharge and other projects, including a combined 1.1 million acre-feet of water – enough for 2.2 million households’ yearly usage. 
• EXECUTIVE ORDERS TO CAPTURE & STORE MORE WATER: During recent storms, Governor Newsom signed executive orders to accelerate stormwater capture to boost groundwater recharge and other conservation measures.
• FAST-TRACKING GROUNDWATER RECHARGE: The state is expanding groundwater recharge by at least 500,000 acre-feet in potential capacity – streamlining permits and $1 billion for groundwater recharge projects for 88,000 more acre-feet per year.
• MAXIMIZING STORMWATER CAPTURE: $176 million for 67 stormwater projects and streamlining permitting to take advantage of major storm events.
• EXPANDING STORAGE ABOVE & BELOW GROUND: California is supporting seven locally-driven water storage projects that would expand the state’s capacity by 2.77 million acre-feet – about three times as much water as Folsom Lake can hold. And, California is working to expand San Luis Reservoir by 135,000 acre-feet to store more storm runoff.
• ADVANCING CLEAR, AMBITIOUS TARGETS: 142 actions to improve water resilience and bolster water supplies, and a roadmap for expanding urban stormwater capture capacity by 250,000 acre-feet and adding 4 million acre-feet of water storage capacity.
• MODERNIZING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE: California is working to modernize aging water conveyance systems across the state to safeguard long-term water reliability and help carry winter storm runoff into storage.

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SACRAMENTO—Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) responds to the passage of SBx1-2(Skinner) on the Senate floor today:

 
"With the most hostile regulatory requirements, the most aggressive environmental policies, the extraordinary expense of cap and trade, the highest tax per gallon of gasoline, impossible standards that are not found in any other state, and limited supply, there is really no need for additional explanation of why California has the highest and most volatile gas prices in the nation. My Republican colleagues and I have authored several pieces of legislation that would immediately reduce the price at the pump, yet Democrats refused to adopt any of these policies. If the Governor really wanted to create solutions, he could reverse the devastating policies he has put in place, ramp up domestic production and make California affordable again. Instead, he blames everyone but himself."


Watch Senator Grove’s remarks on the Senate floor: Click Here

###Senator Shannon Grove represents California’s 12th Senate District which encompasses large portions of Fresno, Kern, and Tulare Counties. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

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(www.tfhd.com)
(Tahoe/Truckee, Calif.) –  March 30th is National Doctors’ Day, and Tahoe Forest Health System proudly celebrates the local physician community for their commitment, sacrifice and hard work.
On this day, we recognize the diverse and valuable work doctors perform – from primary and specialty care to urgent and emergency care. National Doctors’ Day is a special opportunity to personally thank and recognize the dedicated men and women who keep our community healthy and save lives.
National Doctors’ Day was first observed in 1933 and was officially made a national day of celebration by President George H.W. Bush in 1991. March 30th was specifically chosen because it marks the anniversary of the first use of ether anesthesia by Dr. Crawford W. Long.
Join Tahoe Forest Health System in recognizing and honoring their physicians on March 30th, National Doctors’ Day.

SACRAMENTO — The California Transportation Commission (CTC) this week allocated more than $1.1 billion for projects to repair and improve transportation infrastructure throughout the state. The allocation includes more than $533 million in funding from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 (IIJA) and more than $190 million in funding from Senate Bill (SB) 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
 
“California and our federal partners are taking action now to create a safer, more resilient, and more equitable transportation future for all Californians,” said Caltrans Director Tony Tavares. “These visionary infrastructure investments are giving Caltrans the tools it needs to rebuild California.”
 
Projects the CTC approved in the Sacramento Valley and Sierra regions include:

• City of Chico: $6.2 million in federal IIJA funding for the Esplanade Corridor Safety and Accessibility Improvement Project. The project calls for installing a multi-use pathway, 12,400 feet of Class III bike lanes, 3,200 feet of new sidewalk, new bike boxes, lighting at intersections, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ramp improvements, countdown pedestrian crossing signals, refuge islands, a new traffic signal and lighting.
• State Route 32 west of Chico: $3.4 million in federal IIJA funding to install a traffic signal at Meridian Road. The Butte County Association of Governments is contributing $500,000 in IIJA funding.
• State Route 32 west of Chico: $19.9 million, which includes $17.9 million in federal IIJA funding, to install lighting, widen shoulders, upgrade approaches to bridges and rehabilitate culverts from Gianella Road to Muir Avenue.
• State Route 99: $2.8 million to plan and develop a safety improvement project at the intersection SR-99 and Oswald Road south of Yuba City in Sutter County.
• State Route 162 in Oroville: $3.4 million in federal IIJA funding to implement a comprehensive set of active transportation infrastructure connectivity and safety improvements that will close all sidewalk, bike lane, street lighting and multi-use trail gaps along the route in the city.
• Interstate 5 in Sacramento County: $33.6 million, which includes $30.8 million in federal IIJA funding, to construct acceleration and deceleration merge lanes and Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) infrastructure from the Arena Blvd interchange to 0.4 mile south of Yolo County line.
• City of Roseville: $4.3 million in federal IIJA funding for the Dry Creek Multi-Use Trail Project, which calls for constructing a Class I multi-use trail, 490 feet of sidewalk and a parking lot and restroom at the trailhead, widening 150 feet of sidewalk, installing bike racks, benches and trash cans and improving ADA  ramps.
• Sierra County: $200,000 in federal IIJA funding for roadway and bike lane improvements on Smithneck Road near Loyalton.
• City of Placerville: $1.2 million in federal IIJA funding for bicycle and pedestrian facility improvements on Placerville Drive. The project will install 2,080 feet of Class II bike lanes, 10,200 feet of Class IV bike lanes, construct 9,850 feet of new sidewalk, enhance existing sidewalks, upgrade curb ramps, and install seven crosswalks and two rectangular rapid flashing beacons.
• Sacramento County: $3.2 million in state funding for roadway and safety improvements between Marconi Avenue and Howe Avenue.

The IIJA, also known as the “Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” is a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation's infrastructure to improve the sustainability and resiliency of our energy, water, broadband and transportation systems. California has already received nearly $18.5 billion since the IIJA’s passage in November 2021.
SB 1 provides $5 billion in transportation funding annually that is shared equally between the state and local agencies. Road projects progress through construction phases more quickly based on the availability of SB 1 funds, including projects that are partially funded by SB 1.
For more information about California transportation projects funded by the IIJA and
SB 1, visit RebuildingCA.ca.gov.

 
The Senate Standing Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications passed the Governor’s proposal, SBX1 2, which creates a new layer of government to increase regulations on California energy producers. Assemblyman Vince Fong (R-Central Valley), Vice Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, issued the following statement:
 
“California families are demanding affordable gas prices, not more government and red tape.
 
“The Governor is rushing a disastrous job killer bill that does nothing to lower gas prices for everyday Californians. The result of this shortsighted legislation will lead to energy market disruptions, higher costs, and energy shortages.  Increasing energy supplies is the solution to lower gas prices.
 
“Decisions and policies must be grounded in economic reality, not just for political headlines.
 
“This bill will increase the costs on energy production, which will result in gas prices increasing further. Californians cannot afford this ill-conceived policy.”
 

 
On 03/21/2023, at approximately 0650 hours, Molly M. Baker (35 yrs. old, out of Quincy), was driving a white, 1998 Ford Ranger eastbound on SR-70, west of Squirrel Creek Road, at a speed of approximately 45 to 55 mph through an icy left curve in the road.  Due to the speed that Baker drove the Ranger through the icy left curve, the Rangers tires lost traction with the roadway surface.  As a result, the Ranger slid north out of the eastbound lane, across the westbound lane, and collided with a icy snow berm bordering the north asphalt shoulder.  The Ranger continued north through the icy berm and up an ascending dirt/rock embankment, where it began to overturn onto its right side.  The Ranger rolled back down the embankment towards SR-70, where Baker, who was not wearing her seatbelt, was fully ejected out of the shattered driver's door window onto the north asphalt shoulder, resulting in major injuries to her head.  The Ranger came to rest on its right side completely blocking the westbound lane.
 
 
 
 
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Private nonprofit organizations, including houses of worship and other faith-based organizations, may be eligible to apply for federal assistance to help recover from damage in the California counties affected by the severe January winter storms and flooding.

Funding from FEMA’s Public Assistance (PA) program can be used to pay for emergency protective measures, debris removal and restoring disaster-damaged facilities.
Private nonprofits that provide critical services, such as hospitals and other medical treatment facilities and utilities can apply directly to FEMA. Other examples of critical services include water, sewer and electrical systems; private schools that provide elementary or secondary education or institutions of higher education.
Private nonprofits that provide non-critical, essential social services, such as senior citizen and community centers must apply for a low-interest disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration first. Other examples of non-critical, essential services include educational enrichment activities, custodial and day care services, disability residential services, assisted living and low-income housing, homeless shelters and rehabilitation services and performing and community arts centers.
By offering public amenities such as community, cultural, senior and social services, Houses of Worship owned and operated by a nonprofits are considered non-critical essential services and can also apply for FEMA PA grants.
Private nonprofits that provide non-critical services, which includes most Houses of Worship, should be aware that they must first apply for a low-interest disaster loan from the U.S. Small Business Administration. If they are eligible for a loan and decline, they will not be entitled to FEMA grants. FEMA cannot duplicate benefits from other agencies or organizations. If they are denied a loan or it does not cover the cost of all repairs, FEMA may provide funding to cover what SBA does not.
SBA’s can provide as much as $2 million in loans for damaged real estate and the replacement of property. The interest rate is 2.375 percent with terms up to 30 years. The deadline to apply for property damage is March 27, 2023. The deadline to apply for economic injury is Oct. 26, 2023.
All applicants – even if they must wait for an SBA loan approval -- are encouraged to make a Request for Public Assistance (RPA) as soon as possible by contacting their local emergency management office. The deadline to file an RPA is March 24, 2023.
More information on assistance for Houses of Worship is also available at What Houses of Worship Need to Know About the FEMA Disaster Aid Process Flyer | FEMA.gov. in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, French, German, Haitian Creole, Korean and Portuguese.
For the latest information on California’s recovery from the severe winter storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides, visit FEMA.gov/disaster/4683. You may also follow twitter.com/Cal_OES,  facebook.com/CaliforniaOES, @FEMARegion9/Twitter and Facebook.com/FEMA.
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FEMA’s mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.
All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency or economic status. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, call the Civil Rights Resource line at 833-285-7448.

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YOUR ADVENTURE Protecting Life, Property, Public Lands and Natural Resources with the Tahoe National Forest Fire and Aviation team STARTS HERE… Spring FireHire for the 2023 Field Season!!! The Tahoe National Forest, FIRE AND AVIATION MANAGEMENT is looking to hire enthusiastic, hardworking, highly motivated individuals for Permanent positions as Wildland Firefighters on Engines, Interagency Hotshot Crews, Helicopter Helitack Crew, Fuels Management, and Dispatch, which respond to local and national fire and all-hazard incidents. Fire and Fuels Positions are available from GS-0462-03/4/5 thru GS-9 permanent year-round or permanent seasonal. Submit applications on USAjobs.gov from March 20th-March 29th, 2023. To View the TNF Spring FireHire Outreach with specific information on the Tahoe National Forest positions, job announcement numbers, duty locations, Supervisor contact info go directly to https://tinyurl.com/25cztnyz or you can also find the document on Tahoe National Forest website https://www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe, clicking on “Hiring Now”-Fire.

Pro Tips -Contact Module Supervisors NOW using contact information found at the link above, for the positions you are interested in.

 -Search Fire Position Job Announcement Numbers on USAJobs.gov for position descriptions and to apply. 
-Don’t wait to submit application. A detailed resume (written like your Number 1 fan wrote it for you including all experience) with required documentation are necessary to complete the USAJOB.gov application and must be submitted by closing date to be considered for positions.
-More Tips for Applicants can be found at this website  https://tinyurl.com/mrxbacxy 

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) announced that the Spring 2023 Congressional Art Competition is now open to all high school students in the 1st District. This year’s theme is “Food Grows Where Water Flows”. Competition guidelines and additional information can be found on the Congressman’s website. The deadline to apply is Friday, April 28th.
The overall winning artwork will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol along with other contest winners from all the other Congressional districts nation-wide. The winner not only receives the honor of having their art hang in the Capitol exhibition, but will also receive two tickets (for the student and one guardian) from Southwest Airlines to fly to Washington, D.C. and take part in viewing their art in the exhibition. There will also be a reception in the U.S. Capitol held in honor of the Congressional Art Competition Winners. There are two different scholarship opportunities for the winners of this art competition, one scholarship is for Savannah College of Art and Design, and the other for Tennessee Wesleyan College. The winners of the competition that enroll in one of these schools will receive a scholarship of $3,000.
“I am pleased to announce that this year’s Congressional Art Competition is open and this year’s theme is ‘Food Grows Where Water Flows’. This year’s theme allows our young artists to highlight the unparalleled beauty of the North State, and I look forward to seeing all of the students’ art pieces. The Congressional Art Competition is a nice opportunity for talented young adults to compete to showcase their abilities to the entire country. I am always happy to see California’s First District’s winning piece in the halls of the Capitol,” said Congressman LaMalfa.
 
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.
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(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) announced that he obtained a $1,353,176.61 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant for Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative to cover costs incurred by the 2021 Dixie Fire. This funding covers 90% of the total project’s cost in backpay from restoring the Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative’s facility and operations back to its pre-disaster design.
 
“Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative, like many throughout the North State, is still trying to rebuild following the destruction of the 2021 Dixie Fire. Since the fire first broke out, I have worked to ensure affected residents and local businesses had the federal assistance they needed to rebuild. Although I no longer represent Plumas or Sierra county in Congress, I am pleased that after a year and a half, this funding has finally come through,” said Congressman LaMalfa.
 

Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba Counties.
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