​ 
by Melinda Myers
 
Dine, play, and enjoy your outdoor spaces more than ever this year by managing annoying and disease-spreading mosquitoes. Use a multifaceted approach to boost your enjoyment and help keep mosquitoes away.
 
Plan your outdoor activities when mosquitoes are less active. Females are the ones looking for a blood meal and are most active at dusk and dawn when looking for warmth and food. 
 
Screened-in porches add a layer of protection but only when they are intact and properly sealed. The same applies to your home. Check screens and seals around doors and windows to help keep these pests from entering your home.
 
Use bug lights in light fixtures by entryways and in outdoor entertainment spaces. These emit yellow light that is not as attractive to mosquitoes and other insects.  Bug lights will not eliminate every unwanted insect but will reduce the number visiting your lights at night and finding their way into your home.
 
Enhance the ambience and reduce mosquito issues when entertaining outdoors.  Use a fan to create a cooler space and keep these weak flyers away.  Provide fragrant subtle lighting with citronella oil and scented candles. Scatter them throughout the area and within a few feet of the guests for short-term relief.
 
Reduce the overall mosquito population in your yard by eliminating their breeding grounds. Empty water that collects in items left outside. Change the water in your birdbath at least weekly or whenever you water your container gardens. Add a bubbler or pump to keep water moving in fountains and ponds so mosquito larvae cannot survive.
 
Toss an organic mosquito control like Mosquito Dunks and Bits (SummitResponsibleSolutions.com) in your rain barrel, pond, or other water feature. Mosquito Bits quickly knock down the mosquito larval population, while the Mosquito Dunks provide 30 days of control. The active ingredient is Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, a naturally occurring soil bacterium that kills the mosquito larvae but is safe for children, fish, pets, beneficial insects, and wildlife. 
 
Keep your landscape looking its best by managing weeds and grooming neglected gardens. This eliminates some of the resting spaces for hungry adult mosquitoes. 
 
Always protect yourself whenever outdoors. Cover as much of your skin as possible with loose fitting, light colored clothing. Mosquitoes are less attracted to the lighter colors and cannot readily reach your skin through loose clothing. 
Further protect yourself by using a personal repellent approved by the EPA. For those looking for DEET-free options, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has approved products with the active ingredient picaridin, IR3535, and the synthetic oil of lemon and eucalyptus. Check the label for a list of active ingredients and safety recommendations when shopping for mosquito repellents. Avoid products that contain both sunscreen and insect repellent since you need to apply sunscreen more often than the repellent.
Spending more time outdoors is good for our mind, body, and spirit. Using a combination of mosquito-managing tactics will allow you to enjoy and benefit from your time outdoors. 
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series  and the nationally-syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Summit for her expertise to write this article. Myers’ web site is www.melindamyers.com.
 
Manage Mosquitoes to Better Enjoy Your Outdoor Space 
by Melinda Myers
 
Dine, play, and enjoy your outdoor spaces more than ever this year by managing annoying and disease-spreading mosquitoes. Use a multifaceted approach to boost your enjoyment and help keep mosquitoes away.
 
Plan your outdoor activities when mosquitoes are less active. Females are the ones looking for a blood meal and are most active at dusk and dawn when looking for warmth and food. 
 
Screened-in porches add a layer of protection but only when they are intact and properly sealed. The same applies to your home. Check screens and seals around doors and windows to help keep these pests from entering your home.
 
Use bug lights in light fixtures by entryways and in outdoor entertainment spaces. These emit yellow light that is not as attractive to mosquitoes and other insects.  Bug lights will not eliminate every unwanted insect but will reduce the number visiting your lights at night and finding their way into your home.
 
Enhance the ambience and reduce mosquito issues when entertaining outdoors.  Use a fan to create a cooler space and keep these weak flyers away.  Provide fragrant subtle lighting with citronella oil and scented candles. Scatter them throughout the area and within a few feet of the guests for short-term relief.
 
Reduce the overall mosquito population in your yard by eliminating their breeding grounds. Empty water that collects in items left outside. Change the water in your birdbath at least weekly or whenever you water your container gardens. Add a bubbler or pump to keep water moving in fountains and ponds so mosquito larvae cannot survive.
 
Toss an organic mosquito control like Mosquito Dunks and Bits (SummitResponsibleSolutions.com) in your rain barrel, pond, or other water feature. Mosquito Bits quickly knock down the mosquito larval population, while the Mosquito Dunks provide 30 days of control. The active ingredient is Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, a naturally occurring soil bacterium that kills the mosquito larvae but is safe for children, fish, pets, beneficial insects, and wildlife. 
 
Keep your landscape looking its best by managing weeds and grooming neglected gardens. This eliminates some of the resting spaces for hungry adult mosquitoes. 
 
Always protect yourself whenever outdoors. Cover as much of your skin as possible with loose fitting, light colored clothing. Mosquitoes are less attracted to the lighter colors and cannot readily reach your skin through loose clothing. 
Further protect yourself by using a personal repellent approved by the EPA. For those looking for DEET-free options, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has approved products with the active ingredient picaridin, IR3535, and the synthetic oil of lemon and eucalyptus. Check the label for a list of active ingredients and safety recommendations when shopping for mosquito repellents. Avoid products that contain both sunscreen and insect repellent since you need to apply sunscreen more often than the repellent.
Spending more time outdoors is good for our mind, body, and spirit. Using a combination of mosquito-managing tactics will allow you to enjoy and benefit from your time outdoors. 
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series  and the nationally-syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Summit for her expertise to write this article. Myers’ web site is www.melindamyers.com.
 
Manage Mosquitoes to Better Enjoy Your Outdoor Space 
by Melinda Myers
 
Dine, play, and enjoy your outdoor spaces more than ever this year by managing annoying and disease-spreading mosquitoes. Use a multifaceted approach to boost your enjoyment and help keep mosquitoes away.
 
Plan your outdoor activities when mosquitoes are less active. Females are the ones looking for a blood meal and are most active at dusk and dawn when looking for warmth and food. 
 
Screened-in porches add a layer of protection but only when they are intact and properly sealed. The same applies to your home. Check screens and seals around doors and windows to help keep these pests from entering your home.
 
Use bug lights in light fixtures by entryways and in outdoor entertainment spaces. These emit yellow light that is not as attractive to mosquitoes and other insects.  Bug lights will not eliminate every unwanted insect but will reduce the number visiting your lights at night and finding their way into your home.
 
Enhance the ambience and reduce mosquito issues when entertaining outdoors.  Use a fan to create a cooler space and keep these weak flyers away.  Provide fragrant subtle lighting with citronella oil and scented candles. Scatter them throughout the area and within a few feet of the guests for short-term relief.
 
Reduce the overall mosquito population in your yard by eliminating their breeding grounds. Empty water that collects in items left outside. Change the water in your birdbath at least weekly or whenever you water your container gardens. Add a bubbler or pump to keep water moving in fountains and ponds so mosquito larvae cannot survive.
 
Toss an organic mosquito control like Mosquito Dunks and Bits (SummitResponsibleSolutions.com) in your rain barrel, pond, or other water feature. Mosquito Bits quickly knock down the mosquito larval population, while the Mosquito Dunks provide 30 days of control. The active ingredient is Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, a naturally occurring soil bacterium that kills the mosquito larvae but is safe for children, fish, pets, beneficial insects, and wildlife. 
 
Keep your landscape looking its best by managing weeds and grooming neglected gardens. This eliminates some of the resting spaces for hungry adult mosquitoes. 
 
Always protect yourself whenever outdoors. Cover as much of your skin as possible with loose fitting, light colored clothing. Mosquitoes are less attracted to the lighter colors and cannot readily reach your skin through loose clothing. 
Further protect yourself by using a personal repellent approved by the EPA. For those looking for DEET-free options, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has approved products with the active ingredient picaridin, IR3535, and the synthetic oil of lemon and eucalyptus. Check the label for a list of active ingredients and safety recommendations when shopping for mosquito repellents. Avoid products that contain both sunscreen and insect repellent since you need to apply sunscreen more often than the repellent.
Spending more time outdoors is good for our mind, body, and spirit. Using a combination of mosquito-managing tactics will allow you to enjoy and benefit from your time outdoors. 
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series  and the nationally-syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Summit for her expertise to write this article. Myers’ web site is www.melindamyers.com.
 
Manage Mosquitoes to Better Enjoy Your Outdoor Space 
by Melinda Myers
 
Dine, play, and enjoy your outdoor spaces more than ever this year by managing annoying and disease-spreading mosquitoes. Use a multifaceted approach to boost your enjoyment and help keep mosquitoes away.
 
Plan your outdoor activities when mosquitoes are less active. Females are the ones looking for a blood meal and are most active at dusk and dawn when looking for warmth and food. 
 
Screened-in porches add a layer of protection but only when they are intact and properly sealed. The same applies to your home. Check screens and seals around doors and windows to help keep these pests from entering your home.
 
Use bug lights in light fixtures by entryways and in outdoor entertainment spaces. These emit yellow light that is not as attractive to mosquitoes and other insects.  Bug lights will not eliminate every unwanted insect but will reduce the number visiting your lights at night and finding their way into your home.
 
Enhance the ambience and reduce mosquito issues when entertaining outdoors.  Use a fan to create a cooler space and keep these weak flyers away.  Provide fragrant subtle lighting with citronella oil and scented candles. Scatter them throughout the area and within a few feet of the guests for short-term relief.
 
Reduce the overall mosquito population in your yard by eliminating their breeding grounds. Empty water that collects in items left outside. Change the water in your birdbath at least weekly or whenever you water your container gardens. Add a bubbler or pump to keep water moving in fountains and ponds so mosquito larvae cannot survive.
 
Toss an organic mosquito control like Mosquito Dunks and Bits (SummitResponsibleSolutions.com) in your rain barrel, pond, or other water feature. Mosquito Bits quickly knock down the mosquito larval population, while the Mosquito Dunks provide 30 days of control. The active ingredient is Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, a naturally occurring soil bacterium that kills the mosquito larvae but is safe for children, fish, pets, beneficial insects, and wildlife. 
 
Keep your landscape looking its best by managing weeds and grooming neglected gardens. This eliminates some of the resting spaces for hungry adult mosquitoes. 
 
Always protect yourself whenever outdoors. Cover as much of your skin as possible with loose fitting, light colored clothing. Mosquitoes are less attracted to the lighter colors and cannot readily reach your skin through loose clothing. 
Further protect yourself by using a personal repellent approved by the EPA. For those looking for DEET-free options, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has approved products with the active ingredient picaridin, IR3535, and the synthetic oil of lemon and eucalyptus. Check the label for a list of active ingredients and safety recommendations when shopping for mosquito repellents. Avoid products that contain both sunscreen and insect repellent since you need to apply sunscreen more often than the repellent.
Spending more time outdoors is good for our mind, body, and spirit. Using a combination of mosquito-managing tactics will allow you to enjoy and benefit from your time outdoors. 
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series  and the nationally-syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Summit for her expertise to write this article. Myers’ web site is www.melindamyers.com.
 
Manage Mosquitoes to Better Enjoy Your Outdoor Space 
by Melinda Myers
 
Dine, play, and enjoy your outdoor spaces more than ever this year by managing annoying and disease-spreading mosquitoes. Use a multifaceted approach to boost your enjoyment and help keep mosquitoes away.
 
Plan your outdoor activities when mosquitoes are less active. Females are the ones looking for a blood meal and are most active at dusk and dawn when looking for warmth and food. 
 
Screened-in porches add a layer of protection but only when they are intact and properly sealed. The same applies to your home. Check screens and seals around doors and windows to help keep these pests from entering your home.
 
Use bug lights in light fixtures by entryways and in outdoor entertainment spaces. These emit yellow light that is not as attractive to mosquitoes and other insects.  Bug lights will not eliminate every unwanted insect but will reduce the number visiting your lights at night and finding their way into your home.
 
Enhance the ambience and reduce mosquito issues when entertaining outdoors.  Use a fan to create a cooler space and keep these weak flyers away.  Provide fragrant subtle lighting with citronella oil and scented candles. Scatter them throughout the area and within a few feet of the guests for short-term relief.
 
Reduce the overall mosquito population in your yard by eliminating their breeding grounds. Empty water that collects in items left outside. Change the water in your birdbath at least weekly or whenever you water your container gardens. Add a bubbler or pump to keep water moving in fountains and ponds so mosquito larvae cannot survive.
 
Toss an organic mosquito control like Mosquito Dunks and Bits (SummitResponsibleSolutions.com) in your rain barrel, pond, or other water feature. Mosquito Bits quickly knock down the mosquito larval population, while the Mosquito Dunks provide 30 days of control. The active ingredient is Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, a naturally occurring soil bacterium that kills the mosquito larvae but is safe for children, fish, pets, beneficial insects, and wildlife. 
 
Keep your landscape looking its best by managing weeds and grooming neglected gardens. This eliminates some of the resting spaces for hungry adult mosquitoes. 
 
Always protect yourself whenever outdoors. Cover as much of your skin as possible with loose fitting, light colored clothing. Mosquitoes are less attracted to the lighter colors and cannot readily reach your skin through loose clothing. 
Further protect yourself by using a personal repellent approved by the EPA. For those looking for DEET-free options, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention has approved products with the active ingredient picaridin, IR3535, and the synthetic oil of lemon and eucalyptus. Check the label for a list of active ingredients and safety recommendations when shopping for mosquito repellents. Avoid products that contain both sunscreen and insect repellent since you need to apply sunscreen more often than the repellent.
Spending more time outdoors is good for our mind, body, and spirit. Using a combination of mosquito-managing tactics will allow you to enjoy and benefit from your time outdoors. 
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” DVD series  and the nationally-syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Summit for her expertise to write this article. Myers’ web site is www.melindamyers.com.

Willet

Swallow in the steel bridge!

THE ADOPTION of the 2025-26 Budgets for Sierra County Office of Education (SCOE) and Sierra Plumas Joint Unified School District (SPJUSD) were approved during the regular joint board meeting held June 24th in Loyalton. Both entities are required by law to adopt a budget each year by June 30th of the preceding year. Each budget encompasses the General Fund and is also accompanied by a cash-flow projection and a multi-year projection covering the 2025/26 budget and two subsequent years. 
For the SCOE the projected general fund ending cash balance is $5,485,351 and has a positive certification. PERS rate decreased from 27.05% to 26.81% for a projected annual cost of $177,237. STRS rate did not change and remains at 19.10% for a projected annual cost of $197,153. Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for 25/26 is 2.30% but will increase to 3.02 in 26/27 and 3.42% in 27/28.
For SPJUSD positive general fund cash flow for fiscal year 2025-26 with a projected ending cash balance of $3,677,682. The Board’s required reserve of 12.5% $1,158,320 is met in the current budget year as well as the next two consecutive years. Chief Business Officer Randy Jones noted the district attendance improvement out of 414 kids, 378.46 attended. The goal is to reduce absenteeism even further. Some decreases in funding are a result of one-time grants. District Superintendent Sean Snider explained one-time grants have been counted already and can’t be counted as revenue again. He assured the Board they are not taking on ongoing costs. Most of the one-time costs now are for the middle school. Board President Kelly Champion stated they would be monitoring closely. Snider added they were still trying to get Necessary Small School funding for the middle school.

A MATH, SCIENCE, COMPUTER SCIENCE COORDINATOR was discussed during the joint meeting with Sierra County Office of Education and Sierra Plumas Joint Unified School District Board on June 24th in Loyalton. County Superintendent James Berardi explained the position is a $10,000 stipend position funded by the CAL-MSCS statewide grant. Duties would include organizing a team of teachers and district leaders that informs and provides input around the needs of the school district and teachers in the areas of math, science, and computer science. Berardi hoped this would continue to help math scores improve. He was happy to report Downieville is going to have a new math teacher, adding they hadn’t had a math teacher in person for many years. 

DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT SEAN SNIDER gave a report at the same meeting, on the potential of moving the Sierra Pass Continuation building to the Adult Education area instead of purchasing one. $20,000 to move it, which Snider stated is a lot less than buying a new one. Snider felt this was good news and will continue to pursue it and bring it back to the July 29th board meeting. Snider didn’t think it could be moved before school started but hoped for some time this fall.
Snider was excited to announce the new bus driver passed his test and will now have a fourth bus driver for Loyalton schools.
​

​SMITHNECK ROAD PROJECT has hit a pretty big setback according to Sierra County Public Works Director Bryan Davey during the Board of Supervisors’ meeting on July 1st.  He reported they met with Caltrans and for the NEPA certification they will need a full archeological assessment of the property because there’s a site within the project, where Native Americans originally settled and it’s not been properly documented. Davey stated it is going to require a year or more of work and considerable investment to complete, but aren’t able to go forward without it. He added, the design engineer is providing them with cost estimates that are considerably higher than what they have for the project. They plan to talk to the Transportation Commission to see what the options are. Supervisor Sharon Dryden wanted it on a future agenda.


AN INTERVIEW was conducted during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting held July 1st in Downieville for the vacant Elected County Auditor position due to Van Maddox’s retirement after 28 years in the position. The Board is authorized to appoint a qualified individual to fill the position for the remainder of the elected term. Anthony Miller had been pre-interviewed by the board but government code also requires the interview be done in public. Tony was born and raised in Minnesota. He moved to Truckee at 20 where jobs focused on finance and operations. He went back to school for his MBA and then focused on obtaining his CPA license but during the process switched to CMA (certified management accountant). His focus has been on non-profit and special districts, adding he has a deep passion for community service.
He has been diving into all the financials of Sierra County and all funds and services that are managed. He would be continuing his education requirement and after obtaining his CMA licensing, he will then work toward a government financial management certification. Tony describes himself as a hard worker, team player, has a high standard of excellence, and enjoys doing good work. He sees the role of finance as an equipping department. His approach is very collaborative and transparent. He added every environment he’s walked into had a learning curve and is comfortable in self-study. Tony is at ease with diving into terrain where problems need to be solved. He loves the area and his family is excited for the potential. Board Chair Lee Adams said the board will debate and if a conditional offer is made, it will then go through the background process and then an appointment will be made.

SIERRA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS met during its regular meeting held July 1st in Downieville. Supervisor Paul Roen reported that California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Chuck Bonham met with Lassen, Plumas, and Sierra County sheriffs along with himself and Plumas Supervisor Dwight Ceresola. Roen called it a productive meeting and stated the strike force has been effective. They’ve had at least 12 interactions with wolves and livestock and so far, have not had any depredations. Board Chair Lee Adams added the Director was attending an RCRC meeting in Alturas along with Secretary Wade Crowfoot. Much discussion was on the wolf issue. Crowfoot acknowledged what is happening in the Sierra Valley is not sustainable. 


RESOLUTIONS authorizing cost of living adjustments (COLAs) for Sierra County Mid-Management employees and Department Managers were discussed during the Board of Supervisors’ meeting in Downieville on July 1st. Both are being sent to the Finance Committee to look over and to make sure they stay within the means of the county budget and will be brought back for consideration at the next meeting on July 15th.
 
LONGEVITY PAY for department managers based on years of service in a department manager role with Sierra County was discussed during the same meeting. The Board had directed staff to return with cost figures for longevity pay under two proposed schedules: 5% at 10 and 20 years of service, and 5% at 7, 4% at 12, and 3% at 20 years. The estimated cost for the first option is $20,713, while the second option is projected at $50,946. Additionally, the Auditor provided an estimate for a third option: 5% at 10, 15, and 20 years, totaling $41,426. 
The first option of 5% at 10 and 20 years was approved unanimously with Supervisor Lila Heuer absent. Supervisor Sharon Dryden stated this motion pushes longevity back into the schedule and felt there should be some benefit and reward to stay in those positions.

GET LOST in the Lakes Basin and find your next dining experience at the Gray Eagle Lodge, just a short drive up Gold Lake Highway from the Graeagle side.
Owners Bret, Lynn Smith and their son Brady, originally from the Bay Area, now of Verdi, have owned the resort which features 20 cabins, two lodge guest rooms and a manager’s cabin for 32 years. Bret remarked his father bought it in 1983 and he grew up with many of the families who still vacation there today. 
A stay at the resort includes breakfast and dinner, but the bar and dinner service is open to everyone.
The resort bar opens from 2-4 daily with a bar menu and drink specials and then features dinner with nightly entree specials starting at 5:30 p.m. prepared by Executive Chef Lynn Hagen. Reservations required.
Lynn is no stranger to the area having been the Executive Chef with the Gray Eagle Lodge in the 90’s until she opened her own restaurant, Grizzly Grill in Blairsden. Lynn recently sold the restaurant after over 20 years of success and has returned to the Gray Eagle Lodge.
My husband and I had the opportunity to dine there on a Sunday night. Upon arriving, kids played outside and adults enjoyed the summer evening walking along the path between cabins that leads to a beautiful waterfall.
Sunday night special was Oven Roasted Rack of Pork with a parmesan herbed bread crumb crust, vegetable saute and polenta which was prepared perfectly. We also enjoyed Caprese Fettuccini with Sirloin Tips that was delicious. Our dinner was topped off by indulging in a shared piece of mud pie. It was a wonderful evening that we plan to experience again soon.
The resort also features live music once a week.

SIERRA COUNTY SHERIFF MIKE FISHER was recognized by Rep. Kevin Kiley for the third year in a row in honor of National Police Week. Kiley recognized Fisher for his unwavering commitment to serving and protecting the Sierra County community. Fisher has served his community for 25 years starting as a deputy, then a detective and elected to Sheriff in 2018 and 2022. Kiley stated, Fisher exemplifies what it means to be a dedicated public servant. He prioritizes the needs of Sierra County by safeguarding life, liberty, property and community values. He’s known for being a trusted leader. Kiley thanked and honored Fisher for his nearly three decades for serving and protecting the region as a dedicated public servant.

Nichole Johnson, Editor
Sierra Booster Newspaper
[email protected]
(530) 277-0891

The 4th of July holiday weekend is always busy in the local communities and at recreation sites in and around the Plumas National Forest, whether it is attending a special event or camping and enjoying one of the scenic areas or lakes. 
 
The public is asked to help make sure the fun isn’t interrupted with human-caused wildfires.
 
As a reminder, all fireworks are prohibited on National Forest System lands, including the Plumas National Forest and developed recreation sites. This includes poppers, sparklers and other fireworks. Other explosives are also prohibited, including exploding targets like Tannerite.
 
There is a slight chance of thunderstorms this afternoon and temperatures are predicted to be just above average through the weekend.
 
The National Weather Service in Reno issued a Red Flag Warning for gusty winds and low humidity from 10 a.m. to midnight tomorrow.  This includes the eastern edge of the Plumas National Forest and the part of the Forest in Lassen County.
 
Since January, the Plumas National Forest has had approximately 30 human-caused wildfires, with those fires increasing over the past several weeks. This is also an increase compared to 16 human-caused wildfires in 2024 and 11 in 2023 for the first six months of each of those years.
 
To reduce the risk of wildfire, area residents and visitors are advised to do the following:
 

• Before going camping, check to see if fire restrictions are in place and never leave a campfire unattended.
• Build campfires in cleared open areas and keep water and a shovel nearby. Make sure campfires are out and cool to the touch before leaving the area.
• Consider alternatives to a campfire, such as a portable camp stove. 
• If you are using charcoal, make sure you drown and stir them, repeating until they are cold to the touch.
• Avoid driving and parking in tall grass or on roads with heavy, fine fuel accumulations. Exhaust particles, hot exhaust pipes and hot catalytic converters can start grass fires in a matter of seconds.
• Maintain proper tire pressure. Ensure tires are in good condition with solid tread and no cracking in the walls. Driving on exposed wheel rims can throw sparks.
• Secure chains properly from trailers or other equipment. Sparks from dragging chains, and exhaust from ATVs and motorcycles, can start grass fires.
• Ensure spark arresters are clean and in working order. Spark arresters are required on all recreational and portable gasoline-powered equipment.
• Carry firefighting equipment in vehicles, including a shovel, at least one gallon of water or one 2 ½ pound or larger fire extinguisher.

 
Report suspected wildfires immediately by calling 911, even before starting suppression activities.  Many cellphones, even in areas without service, still have 911 or emergency capabilities to call for help.
 
Hope everyone has a happy, safe and memorable holiday weekend!
 

 
Customers report losses of over $190,000 during 2025
 
 
AUBURN, Calif. — Utility scams have continued at an alarming rate during 2025, with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) customers reporting over $190,000 in losses to scammers. To stop this trend, PG&E is committed to helping customers recognize the signs of a scam and avoid falling victim.
 
A typical sign of a scam targeting a utility customer includes a caller claiming to be from PG&E and threatening disconnection if immediate payment is not made via a pre-paid debit card, digital payment mobile application, or other methods of money transfer. As a reminder, PG&E will never send a single notification to a customer within one hour of a service interruption and will never ask customers to make payments with a pre-paid debit card, gift card, any form of cryptocurrency, or instant mobile payment applications, like Zelle® or Venmo.
 
“Scammers seek to create a sense of panic, threatening disconnection of utility services if immediate payment is not made. If a phone call, visit to your home, or email doesn’t feel right, don’t fall for it. Hang up, shut the door, and do not respond to the email,” said PG&E Cybersecurity Risk Manager Amy Lucido. “Remember, PG&E will never ask for your financial information over the phone or via email, nor will we request payment via pre-paid debit cards or other methods of money transfer, including mobile applications.”
 
So far this year, PG&E has received over 10,000 reports of scams targeting residential and business customers with customers reporting losses of over $190,000. The average scam victim lost over $900, and over 200 customers have reported falling victim. This number is likely just the tip of the iceberg however, as many scams go unreported.
 
Scams reported to PG&E by county in 2025:
Butte 62; El Dorado 8; Glenn 3; Nevada 18; Placer 75; Sacramento 270; San Joaquin 130; Shasta 32; Sutter 40; Tehama 6; Yuba 43.
 
Business customers are also not immune from scam attempts. In fact, PG&E has received 250 reports of scams targeting small and medium-sized businesses this year, and these attempts frequently occur during busy business hours when scammers hope to catch unsuspecting victims while they are distracted or stressed.
 
Scammers can be convincing and often target those who are most vulnerable, including senior citizens and low-income communities. They also aim their scams at small business owners during busy customer service hours. However, with the right information, customers can learn to detect and report these predatory scams by visiting www.pge.com/scams or by calling 1-833-500-SCAM.
 
 
 
Signs of a potential scam
 

• Threat to disconnect: Scammers may aggressively demand immediate payment for an alleged past due bill.
• Request for immediate payment: Scammers may instruct the customer to purchase a prepaid card, then call them back supposedly to make a bill payment.
• Request for prepaid card: When the customer calls back, the caller asks the customer for the prepaid card’s number, which grants the scammer instant access to the card’s funds.
• Refund or rebate offers: Scammers may say that your utility company overbilled you and owes you a refund, or that you are entitled to a rebate, and ask you for your personal financial information.
• Scammers Impersonating Trusted Phone Numbers: Scammers are now able to create authentic-looking 800 numbers which appear on your phone display. The numbers don’t lead back to PG&E if called back, however, so if you have doubts, hang up and either log into your account at pge.com to confirm your bill details or call PG&E at 1-833-500-SCAM. If customers ever feel that they are in physical danger, they should call 911.

 
How customers can protect themselves
 

• Customers should never purchase a prepaid card to avoid service disconnection or shutoff. PG&E does not specify how customers should make a bill payment and offers a variety of ways to pay a bill, including accepting payments online, by phone, automatic bank draft, mail or in person.

 

• If a scammer threatens immediate disconnection or shutoff of service without prior notification, customers should hang up the phone, delete the email, or shut the door. Customers with delinquent accounts receive an advance disconnection notification, typically by mail and included with their regular monthly bill.

 

• Signing up for an online account at pge.com is another safeguard. Not only can customers log in to check their balance and payment history, they can also sign up for recurring payments, paperless billing and helpful alerts. Customers can also call PG&E Customer Service at 800-743-5000 to confirm their bill details and current amount due.

 

• Customers who suspect that they have been victims of fraud, or who feel threatened during contact with one of these scammers, should contact local law enforcement. The Federal Trade Commission’s website is also a good source of information about how to protect personal information.

 
For more information about scams, visit pge.com/scams or https://consumer.ftc.gov/scams.
 
         About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com an

SACRAMENTO, Calif.— A century after wolves were wiped out in California, the iconic animals have mounted a promising comeback in the state, with a small population that has grown to at least 50 wolves, according to a California Department of Fish and Wildlife report released late Wednesday.

California’s first contemporary pack was established in 2015, and the report documents 10 years of wolf conservation and management in the state.
“The return of wolves to California is an epic tale and this report marks an important milestone in that story,” said Amaroq Weiss, a senior wolf advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity. “California’s decade of the wolf demonstrates that when essential legal protections are in place, there can be comeback stories for desperately imperiled animals.”
The new report touches on key aspects of wolf conservation in the state including natural history and biology; legal status; population monitoring; formation of wolf families and genetic relationships; wolf mortalities; monitoring for wolf health and exposure to rodenticides; managing livestock-wolf conflicts; and research. It also describes how California’s wolf conservation and management plan was developed.
Until now, the agency has been issuing quarterly wolf reports. Going forward, an annual report will be published each year.
While California’s first known wolf in modern times entered the state in late 2011, it was not until summer 2015 that the first wolf family here in 100 years, the Shasta pack, was confirmed. At the end of 2024, seven known packs composed of around 50 to 70 wolves ranged across multiple counties in California.
According to the report, between 2015 and 2024, the agency was able to collar 12 wolves across five packs, a known 21 litters of wolf pups were born, and there have been at least nine known wolf deaths.
Of these mortalities, cause of death could not be determined in four instances, three wolves died after being struck by vehicles, one wolf was killed illegally and one wolf’s death is still under investigation.
This spring, the agency confirmed the existence of an additional three packs, bringing the current tally to 10 known wolf families in the state. Nine of those packs are in northeastern California and one pack is 200 miles further south, near Sequoia National Forest.
“California’s wolves are still in the infancy of their recovery, and ongoing legal protections are essential to keep their small population growing,” said Weiss. “This 10-year report is worth celebrating but California gets this opportunity to celebrate only because we’ve decided wolves are worth protecting.”
Background
The first wolf in nearly a century to make California part of his range was OR-7, a radio-collared wolf from Oregon that entered California in late 2011. OR-7 traveled across seven northeastern counties in California before returning to southwestern Oregon, where he found a mate and settled down, forming the Rogue pack.
Several of OR-7’s offspring have since come to California and established packs. Those include the original breeding male of the Lassen pack and the breeding female of the Yowlumni pack residing in Tulare County. The Shasta pack, California’s first confirmed wolf pack in nearly 100 years, was discovered in 2015 but disappeared a few months later.
The gray wolf (Canis lupus) is native to California but was driven to extinction in the state by the mid-1920s. After OR-7 left Oregon for California, the Center and allies successfully petitioned the state to fully protect wolves under California’s endangered species act. Wolves are also federally protected in California under the federal Endangered Species Act. It is illegal to intentionally kill any wolves in the state except in defense of human life.
 
 

 June 2025 - Depredation Reports
CDFW has posted new depredation determination forms to the CDFW Gray Wolf webpage, under "Potential Conflict and Depredation". Twenty new depredation determinations have been added for May and June 2025. Any 'Confirmed' or 'Probable' depredations are eligible for CDFW's Wolf-Livestock Compensation Program.

• 5/7/2025 - Siskiyou County - Probable
• 5/8/2025 - Modoc County - Unknown
• 5/9/2025 - Lassen County - Confirmed
• 5/9/2025 - Plumas County - Confirmed
• 5/12/2025 - Plumas County - Confirmed
• 5/13/2025 - Plumas County - Non-Depredation
• 5/15/2025 - Plumas County - Confirmed
• 5/17/2025 - Siskiyou County - Confirmed
• 5/18/2025 - Plumas County - Confirmed
• 5/19/2025 - Lassen County - Confirmed
• 5/19/2025 - Plumas County - Confirmed
• 5/20/2025 - Plumas County - Confirmed
• 5/22/2025 - Sierra County - Confirmed
• 5/27/2025 - Plumas County - Non-Wolf Depredation
• 5/29/2025 - Sierra County - Probable
• 5/31/2025 - Lassen County - Confirmed
• 6/2/2025 - Plumas County - Non-Depredation
• 6/4/2025 - Lassen County - Confirmed
• 6/5/2025 - 1- Tulare County - Unknown
• 6/5/2025 - 2 - Tulare County - Unknown

AFBF StaffPress Contact
Mike Tomko
Director, Communications
(202) 406-3642
[email protected]
Bailey Corwine
Media Relations Specialist

Families celebrating the Fourth of July holiday continue to find high prices at the grocery store, based on the 2025 American Farm Bureau Federation annual marketbasket survey. An Independence Day cookout will cost $70.92 for 10 guests this year.
This is down only 30 cents from last year’s record-high cost. At $7.09 per person, 2025 will be the second-highest cost since Farm Bureau began the survey in 2013. The cookout favorites include cheeseburgers, chicken breasts, pork chops, homemade potato salad, strawberries and ice cream, among other products. While the survey does not include an exhaustive list of Fourth of July options, it serves as a snapshot of prices families are facing this summer.
“Inflation and lower availability of some food items continue to keep prices stubbornly high for America’s families,” said AFBF Associate Economist Samantha Ayoub. “High prices don’t mean more money for farmers, however. Farmers are price takers, not price makers. Their share of the food retail dollar is just 15%. The cost of running their farm is up, from labor and transportation, to taxes.”
The marketbasket survey shows an increase in the cost of beef, potato salad and canned pork and beans, while there are drops in the cost of pork chops, chips and hamburger buns.
The retail price for 2 pounds of ground beef increased 4.4% to $13.33. Pork and beans will cost $2.69, up 20 cents from 2024. Potato salad is up 6.6% to $3.54. Several factors influence these increases, reflecting the sort of challenges farmers regularly face. Fewer cattle are available for processing, which is affecting supplies. Steel and aluminum tariffs mean increased prices on canned goods. The cost of eggs - used in potato salad - is still elevated, although they are much lower than record highs earlier this year as egg-laying chicken populations are recovering from avian influenza.
Our survey found a reduction in cost for five cookout staples. Among them is a 3-pound package of pork chops, which is down 8.8% from last year, at $14.13. Chips average $4.80 a bag, a dime less than 2024. Hamburger buns are 2.6% less expensive, at $2.35. The amount of pork available to stores is up, which is pushing prices down. The demand for potatoes has eased, helping bring down the cost of chips. Wheat prices are still much lower than record highs of three years ago, contributing to the slight decrease in the cost of buns.
Although the $7.09 per-person cost is near a historic high, when put in a global context, people in the U.S. spend a smaller percentage of their expenditures on food than in any other country.
AFBF President Zippy Duvall said, “We can celebrate America’s independence every year in part because of the hard work of the farmers and ranchers who contribute to the nation’s food independence. Farmers are dedicated to doing the right thing, and their commitment to sustainable and innovative farming practices ensures a safe and abundant food supply for every family in America.
“Farmers and ranchers achieve this, in part, through research, conservation and farm safety net programs that are made possible through a strong farm bill. We urge members of Congress to return from their holiday break and pass a new, modernized five-year farm bill. We appreciate efforts during the reconciliation process to address some issues facing agriculture, but only a new farm bill will bring the certainty farmers need to continue leading the world in agriculture.”
The federal government’s broader Consumer Price Index report for food at home shows an overall increase of 2.2% compared to a year ago. Farm Bureau’s informal marketbasket survey examines only those foods commonly associated with summer cookouts.
The July Fourth cookout survey is part of the Farm Bureau marketbasket series, which also includes the popular annual Thanksgiving dinner cost survey of common food staples Americans use to prepare a holiday meal at home.
Volunteer shoppers across the country, including Farm Bureau members and others, collected data from stores in every state and Puerto Rico.
Individual Prices, AFBF 2025 Summer Cookout

• 2 pounds of ground beef, $13.33 (+4.4%)
• 2 pounds of chicken breasts, $7.79 (-0.5%)
• 3 pounds of pork chops, $14.13 (-8.8%)
• 1 pound of cheese, $3.54 (-0.9%)
• 1 package of hamburger buns, $2.35 (-2.6%)
• 2 ½ pounds of homemade potato salad, $3.54 (+6.6%)
• 32 ounces of pork and beans, $2.69 (+8.2%)
• 16-ounce bag of potato chips, $4.80 (-2.1%)
• 13-ounce package of chocolate chip cookies, $4.00 (+0.3%)
• ½ gallon of ice cream, $5.69 (+0.7%)
• 2 pints of strawberries, $4.69 (+1.7%)
• 2 ½ quarts of lemonade, $4.37 (+4.2%)

Read the full Market Intel on the 2025 Fourth of July Cookout Survey here.
To download selected soundbites on the survey, click here.
AFBF is the nation’s largest general farm organization with member families in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Learn more at FarmBureau on Facebook or follow @FarmBureau on X, @FarmBureau on Instagram, or @FarmBureau on TikTok.


© 2025 American Farm Bureau Federation ® | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions

#RecreateResponsibly on Independence Day
Susanville, Calif., July 1, 2025 — Celebrating July 4 outdoors is a national tradition, and the USDA Forest Service welcomes visitors this Friday. But remember, fireworks and pyrotechnics are prohibited on public lands — every forest, every campsite, every day.
As forests expect a record number of visitors at our 18 national forests, remember — leave fireworks and sparkly displays to your city and other professional organizations.
Nationally, nearly 9 out of 10 wildfires are caused by humans. So, with a bit of planning, Californians can enjoy the starry skies while being outdoors smart.
To ensure a safe, fun Independence Day:

• Visit the Lassen National Forest website for alerts on sites and trails. Trails, trail bridges, and roads may still be blocked due to lingering snowpack, flooding or road damage.
• Have backup destinations in mind, in case an area is temporarily closed or too crowded.
• Stay water smart. Lots of people on boats this holiday. But there may still run-off from the snow in the high country.
  • Do not enter cold, rapid water and never enter the water to rescue a victim.
  • Throw something that floats and call 911.
• Recreate Responsibly. Note any fire restrictions in place before starting a campfire, carry tools to extinguish a flame, and report a fire by calling 911.
• Please remember, except for the Old Station Visitor Center, Lassen National Forest offices will be closed on July 4 in recognition of the Independence Day federal holiday.
• Finally, Know Before You Go.

For local forest happenings, follow the Lassen National Forest on Facebook Facebook or X, @LassenNF.
###
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.
 
 

July 3 – 6, 2025
Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds, Quincy, CA
highsierramusic.com
Reinvigorated under the visionary leadership of longtime music industry veteran and producer Dave Margulies, High Sierra blends iconic favorites with a spotlight on discovering fresh, emerging bands.
​
QUINCY, CA — A beloved tradition for music lovers and festival-goers alike, High Sierra Music Festival proudly returns for its 33rd year this July 3–6, 2025. The quintessential 4-day camping and glamping music experience will once again transform the Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds into a vibrant celebration of music, community, and discovery.
Reinvigorated under the visionary leadership of longtime music industry veteran and co-producer Dave Margulies, High Sierra blends iconic festival traditions with a renewed emphasis on emerging talent and artistic collaboration. With an intimate setting that draws fewer than 10,000 attendees, it remains a uniquely immersive experience in a world dominated by massive festivals.
Set against the backdrop of the scenic Feather River Canyon and the Sierra Nevada Mountains, High Sierra is a playground for music lovers, families, and creative spirits. Festival-goers return year after year for the genre-spanning music and a sense of community that feels more like a family reunion than a public event.
Beloved traditions continue with one-of-a-kind artist tributes and collaborations, acoustic troubadour in-the-round sessions, inspired patron-created theme camps, yoga, late night/early morning kickball, a community swimming pool, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Foam Tub Experience, late-night jam sessions, wine and beer tastings, and vendor villages offering handmade goods, festival wear, art, and treasures only found at High Sierra. Plus, the many popular food vendors serve delicious, nourishing food bound to please the most finicky of palettes. 
High Sierra is ideal for kids of all ages — with daily whimsical parades, a vibrant Family Village, professional childcare from Rockin’ Nannies, and easy access to the rivers, trails, and breathtaking beauty of the Feather River Canyon.
This year’s lineup is a testament to High Sierra’s mission of discovery, featuring artists like Molly Tuttle, Lyrics Born, ALO, Dogs in a Pile, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, and rising star Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge. Other highlights include John Craigie, Mikaela Davis, The Slip, Steve Poltz, and a special performance by Amy Helm and the Helm Midnight Family Ramble, marking the first time this project will appear outside of the barn that her father Levon Helm, drummer for The Band made famous in Woodstock.
At least four members of Trey Anastasio Band will appear in various projects, including LaMP (Russ Lawton, Ray Paczkowski, and Scott Metzger), Jennifer Hartswick as artist-at-large, and Natalie Cressman performing Brazilian jazz with Ian Faquini.
The 2025 lineup is nearly complete, with just two slots remaining: the Sunday night closer, still to be announced, and the winner of this year’s High Sierra Band Contest.
Margulies notes, “Our goal has always been to turn people on to new music and create space for magic to happen — not just on the big stages, but in the small, serendipitous moments. From legacy acts to newcomers, the lineup is built to surprise and delight.”
High Sierra also introduces exciting upgrades for 2025:
·        The Lagniappe Lounge, a new indoor venue with a full music lineup, lounge seating, cocktails, and shade.
·        Later daily start times and expanded shade at the Grandstand Stage.
·        The debut of The Happy Glamper, a premium climate-controlled glamping option
·        Continued growth of the Ambassador Program and the FestivALL VIP Pass.
Says Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz, artist-at-large: “High Sierra is a musical playground. From intimate Troubadour Sessions to Playshops and full-stage sets, it's a convergence point where once-in-a-lifetime collaborations happen — and lifelong friendships begin.”
Steve Poltz adds, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year. People sparkling, singing, dancing, with hugs and parades and spontaneity. Just walking the grounds is an adventure. It feeds my soul.”
Margulies closes, “We're not chasing big name headliners. We’re building community. Anyone on the lineup could be your next favorite artist. That’s the High Sierra way."
About Dave Margulies: Producer of High Sierra Music Festival, Margulies has been involved in music for over 40 years, dating back to 1979, beginning with his days in college radio at WTUL (Tulane University) in New Orleans. From there, he went to work for the seminal New Orleans band The Radiators, doing radio promotion. After leaving New Orleans in 1983 (which included a one-year stint cooking in the kitchen at Commander's Palace), he spent 7 years working with the radio trade magazine CMJ in New York, where he was managing editor. From there, Margulies took a position as A&R manager for Sony Music in San Francisco and managed the alternative industrial rock band CONSOLIDATED. He left Sony in 1995 to become a partner/producer of High Sierra.
About Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds: Set in the outstanding landscape of the High Sierras with fragrant pines, where the days are filled with warm sunshine and the nights give way to cool mountain breezes. It’s a venue with 65 acres of open space, lush green grass, camping facilities, a racetrack with a grandstand, and conference buildings. It is accessible by two airports in either direction and is conveniently located to the nearby small town of Quincy, CA. http://www.plumas-sierracountyfair.net/
#####

 
TICKETS: https://www.tixr.com/groups/highsierramusic/events/high-sierra-music-festival-2025-123511
Images Link
 

 

Serving the People of Assembly District 1​

Stay Safe: Sign Up for County Fire Alerts & Warning Systems
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Alpine
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Amador
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California legislators expressed frustration over the state's fuel transition
strategy during an energy committee oversight hearing Wednesday in which they
spent nearly four hours probing state agency officials, requesting evidence
that recent regulatory actions have helped the state move toward its climate
goals in a fair way for people living and companies operating in the Golden
State.

Statewide refinery closures have contributed to higher gasoline prices and
impending closures will add to upward pricing pressure, panelists and
legislators said.

"We have a crisis on our hands that may have been self-created," Assemblyman
David Alvarez said.

In 2024, the California legislature gave the California Energy Commission's
Division of Petroleum Market Oversight significant regulatory authority over
the state's fuel supply chain and access to company data and financial
information.

"The facts on the ground have changed significantly. I would say in some ways
very positively," CEC Division of Petroleum Market Oversight Director Tai
Milder said. "But now I think companies are revisiting what kind of return on
investment they want to stay in California."

Alvarez pushed back on that remark, saying he was "frustrated" with the CEC
given the lack of progress in providing consumer relief at the gas pump despite
the regulatory authority given to the agency.

"We cannot sit here and assert that anything we've done on the regulatory
authority we've given you has led to a calming of the markets, if you will,"
proclaimed Alvarez.

Officials stressed the importance of maintaining public trust and creating an
energy transition model that could be replicated by other states and nations.

"If all we're doing here in California is reducing our emissions, which are
like 1% of global emissions, it doesn't matter a damn," said Assemblywoman
Cottie Petrie-Norris. "I would argue that when we're thinking about climate
leadership, we need to make sure that the policies that we're implementing here
in California are affordable and accessible for all Californians. I know what
climate leadership does not look like, and that is $10 gas."

On Thursday, California's statewide average for retail gasoline was $4.818/gal,
according to AAA data. A study published this month suggests gas prices in the
state could increase to $8/gal by the end of 2026 with the closure of Valero's
149,000 b/d Benicia facility in Northern California and the 147,000 b/d
Phillips 66 Los Angeles compound.

Government officials warned during the Wednesday hearing that the state is at a
critical juncture, where it is grappling with direct impacts from its approach
to greenhouse gas reduction.

"We have to take care of what's happening now," Assemblywoman Laurie Davies
said during the hearing. "Today, people can't afford to put gas in their car,
and it's definitely affecting affordability. And that is our job as legislators
here to make sure that those that we represent, can afford to live here."

Additional refinery closures would accelerate job losses and reduce state
revenue, which has already been impacted by business departures in 2023, Davies
said. She highlighted the dramatic reduction in drilling permits, dropping from
over 2,000 in 2019 to less than 100 permits in 2024, blaming "overregulation"
for the decline in oil drilling permits and inability to meet demand.

"We are in a crisis right now...If these refineries leave, that's a lot of jobs.
That's a lot of revenue that comes into our state. This is revenue that we
can't get back. It's not going to come back," Davies said.

Legislators expressed frustration with the lack of a comprehensive transition
strategy, questioning the impact of existing regulations on refinery closures
and fuel prices.

Assembly members pressed state officials about consumer protections and the
potential economic consequences of the ongoing energy transformation.

Strategies must be enacted to help refineries meet demand, be financially
stable and operate safely, California Energy Commission Vice Chair Siva Gunda
said, calling for a "holistic transition strategy."

"It's really important to note that our climate goals and our tax and fees have
an impact on the overall price of the gallon at the end of the day," Gunda
said. "When you take into account what the U.S. average versus California. We
pay about $0.90 higher. And I think that's just a fact of what we can observe
in the data."

CEC's Gunda said that the state is entering a "mid-transition phase" that
requires careful planning to protect consumers, workers and maintain investor
confidence while pursuing climate goals.

Gunda suggested a nuanced transition strategy, such as Australia's approach of
converting refineries into product terminals upon losing half its refining
capacity in the wake of COVID-19.

California Air Resources Board Chair Liane Randolph highlighted the state's
ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while maintaining fuel
supply and affordability, and expressed the state doesn't need to choose
between reducing greenhouse gases and reasonably priced gasoline.

A murky fuel transition plan may lead to bankruptcies, loss of worker
protection and improper land remediation, Gunda acknowledged, stressing the
importance of a multi-pronged approach that addresses those concerns while also
maintaining investor confidence.

Valero's financial data showed the company lost $8 million over a decade,
making substantial new investments in refineries increasingly unlikely,
Petrie-Norris said.

Attendees discussed the potential for further refinery closures, with
California currently importing 75% of its oil. The state's strict environmental
regulations and climate goals are contributing to higher gas prices, Davies
said.

State leaders recognized the need to balance environmental goals with economic
realities, while agency officials said they are exploring strategies to
maintain air quality standards, stable energy supply, protect workers and
manage consumer costs during the region's energy transition.

--Reporting by Bayan Raji, [email protected]; Editing by Sydnee Novak,
[email protected]


© 2025 Oil Price Information Service, LLC. All rights reserved.

 

By Christine Souza 
Grappling with higher costs and challenges related to water, labor, regulations and trade, some California farm leaders question whether the nation’s No. 1 agriculture state has reached a tipping point. 
California Farm Bureau President Shannon Douglass discussed the high cost of operating a farm in California during the Agri-Pulse Food & Ag Issues Summit West in Sacramento last week. 
“When we talk about the things that are keeping me up at night, it really comes down to what is going to keep our members in business,” Douglass said. 
Citing the most recent U.S. Census of Agriculture, she noted how the state has lost 20% of its farms during the past decade, with a disproportionate number of them being small and medium in size. This loss, Douglass said, is evidence that agriculture in the Golden State is at a tipping point. 
The summit, of which California Farm Bureau was a sponsor, brought together farmers, agricultural leaders, state and federal officials, environmentalists and researchers to discuss topics including navigating costs and government regulations, and to discuss policy related to trade, pesticides, labor and water. 
Pointing to the rising regulatory pressures facing farmers, Douglass cited a regulatory cost study released early this year by California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The study, commissioned last year by the Monterey County Farm Bureau, found regulatory and compliance costs for Salinas Valley lettuce growers increased nearly 1,400% in less than 20 years. 
Cal Poly professor Lynn Hamilton, who prepared the study, said she found the cost of environmental, labor and food safety compliance was $1,600 per acre, an increase of 63.7% from 2017. Regulatory costs are now 12.6% of total production costs, while farm-gate values for lettuce increased 0.37% from 2017 to 2024, the study found. 
Western Growers Association President and CEO Dave Puglia said he worries California farmers may be past the tipping point, with years of policies and regulations that put them at a competitive disadvantage to farmers in other states and countries who do not face the same regulatory environment. 
Regarding trade and tariffs, Alexi Rodriguez, president and CEO of the Almond Alliance, said China was the No. 1 export market for the state’s almonds until 2018, when shipments dropped sharply after retaliatory tariffs were implemented. 
“After this year, China is likely to drop out of the top 10 export markets for almonds as a result,” she said, adding that with new tariffs on a 90-day pause, it is too early to know the full impact. 
“We remain cautious about the risk of retaliation, especially since we are so reliant on exports,” Rodriguez said. “At the same time, we are very encouraged by the signs of renewed talks in several of our key markets.”
David Magaña, a senior analyst with Rabobank, spoke about the state’s tree nut sector and how trade wars, tariffs and the Make America Healthy Again movement may influence inflation, interest rates and consumer confidence. Despite the challenges, he said, prices are recovering for almonds and he anticipates a balanced supply-demand position.
Panelists discussed a new era of California pesticide regulations, including new requirements for the California Department of Pesticide Regulation to meet timelines for review of new pesticide applications and re-evaluation of registered pesticides. In addition, those who purchase registered pesticides saw an increase of the state’s mill tax assessment rate, which is a fee per dollar of sales. 
Chris Reardon, California Farm Bureau vice president of policy advocacy, called for greater investment in pest prevention to help reduce the need for pesticide applications by growers. 
“As we look forward, let’s fund pest prevention in California where it needs to be funded,” he said, urging discussion to ensure the California Department of Food and Agriculture has the resources it needs to combat and prevent pests. 
Reardon and other panelists advocated for continued collaboration. He said farmers and their families often live where they apply the materials, “so we care about this, and we want to make sure that we’re working with all our regulatory agencies.”
While regulations, labor and water challenges continue, there are opportunities for farmers, including automation and other technologies to increase efficiency and reduce costs. 
Walt Duflock, senior vice president of innovation for Western Growers, said a small percentage of growers have already automated nonharvest tasks with tools such as laser weeders. He said adoption of nonharvest automation will continue, but technology to automate harvest still has a long way to go.
Some agricultural leaders agree that regulations can block greater adoption of the technology by agriculture. San Francisco has autonomous, or driverless, vehicles, Douglass said. However, driverless tractors are prohibited in California, even though they can operate in some other states. 
“We already talked about the competitive disadvantage we are at, but here we are in the tech center, certainly of the United States, and we’re behind on that front,” she said. 
Mike Way, co-owner of Coachella-based Prime Time, talked about impacts of costs and regulations. His company grows bell peppers and other produce in Southern California and out of state. 
“We’re sitting here in California and getting our brains beat in with costs that are through the roof and going up against my competitors in the East Coast paying $8 to $9 an hour for labor, and we’re dealing with the same customers,” Way said. “What’s my choice? My choice is to shrink my acreage and go elsewhere.”
As part of a discussion on how the state’s rice fields feed consumers, wildlife and the economy, California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot called efforts to build healthy landscapes a “paradigm shift.” He said the approach is a departure from conflict, adding, “these partnerships are achievable and happening across California.”
In discussing the future of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, agency Chief Aubrey Bettencourt said, “We’re looking at every aspect of the agency—our policy, our operations and our technology—through the lens of our customer and through the lens of the staff at the front desk.”
Christine Souza is senior editor of Ag Alert. She can be reached at [email protected]. 


Reprint with credit to California Farm Bureau. For image use, email [email protected].

​ 

Date: June 26, 2025
 
Labor Day weekend in the High Sierra! Americana music in the High Sierra! Put it all together and you have the annual Plumas Homegrown Americana Festival in Quincy, California!
Every Labor Day weekend, Plumas County hosts the Plumas Homegrown Americana Festival in the county seat of Quincy. Located midway between Reno, Nevada and Chico, California at the top of the Feather River Canyon, the Plumas County Fairgrounds brings people from around the country to partake of an amazing array of musicians and performers. It all started in 2017 and more and more people are discovering this gem of a festival. Comfortable camping on grass, shaded by trees, creates the perfect environment for jammin’ and pickin’. Besides the top-flight musical groups, a good ol’ fashioned square dance gathering takes place at the same time. Even if you aren’t a square dancer, it’s hard to resist watching the colorful outfits swirl around the wood floor in the Tulsa St. Elmo Scott Pavilion. Take a peek and maybe give it a try if you want. Friendly dancers are glad to introduce newbies to the art.
It all kicks off with a free Open Mic Night on Friday, August 29. Come watch locals and even some of the festival performers take the stage to show off what they have. You can pay for a delicious spaghetti dinner prepared by Chef Mike as long as the spaghetti lasts!
 
The festival proper begins on Saturday, August 30 at 1pm when Wheatstone Bridge gets things going. Wheatstone Bridge is an eclectic, acoustic band with roots in folk, Americana, Celtic, and bluegrass traditions. They play original music, and hail from beautiful Reno, Nevada. Their original music features gorgeous, intertwining harmonies, haunting melodies and an ever-evolving dance of folk players on instruments. 
Next up is the official house band of the Plumas Homegrown Americana Festival; the Wildcat Mountain Ramblers. This high energy group of Bay Area musicians have shown their versatility and musicianship at every one of these Quincy festivals. Besides performing at 2:30pm on Saturday, they lead the Gospel service in Old Town on Sunday morning at 10am and also make an appearance in the Square Dance Hall where dancers thrill to the live music.
Rubicon Gold is a Truckee based Bluegrass band that brings a fresh and lively energy to the traditional sounds of the genre.  Mining inspiration from Bluegrass standards, contemporary and classic Americana and even reimagined popular hits, Rubicon Gold infuses their music with a modern flair, creating a unique and dynamic sound that captures the mountain life of Tahoe. Enjoy them at 4pm.
The evening’s main event starts around 6:30 with the wildly popular Sourdough Slim and Robert Armstrong. Hold on to your seat and get ready for a rollicking evening of outrageous humor and song. A marvel of musical ingenuity, yodeling cowboy songster Sourdough Slim and string instrument wizard Robert Armstrong joyously rekindle the country blues, vintage jazz, cowboy classics and string band repertoire of pre-WWII America. Whether capturing the haunting refrain of a Jimmie Rodgers blue yodel or swinging out a hot novelty number, everyone gets caught up in the fun these two cut-ups have on stage. This is a fast-paced performance of music and comedy that showcases this duo's seasoned gift for connecting with their audiences. All dished up with a hearty dose of vaudevillian stagecraft making for a delightfully entertaining experience.
But don’t stop there! Bring on the Heifer Belles from the Grass Valley area. The Heifer Belles began as friends getting together for casual picking and singing.  The result, a blend of back porch Americana took them out of the living room and into the world to perform.  The group’s songs range from tongue-in-cheek to heartfelt to socially insightful.  Juliet Gobert, song writer and lead singer, plays guitar alongside bassist Toni Valenta (Belly Love) who brings harmony vocals.  Nici Van Kreidt is a highly sought-after violin teacher whose influences range from classical to Grateful Dead to Gypsy jazz.
Top off the first day of the festival with Mission Hill who create contemporary acoustic music mixed with liberal doses of classic country and bluegrass styles. Mission Hill's original music seems familiar, remaining approachable and fun even when it sometimes delves into the dark and ambiguous. The band will feature tunes from its 2024 full length album "So It Goes", containing 12 original songs featuring multiple guest soloists along with the core band. Hailing from San Francisco's Mission district they have been playing in the Bay Area for over 15 years.
Head back to your campsite or motel room and rest up for Sunday, August 31. It starts at 10am with a Gospel service put on by the Wildcat Mountain Ramblers on the Old Town Stage. Fit in some breakfast and head back to the Main Stage for the SugarPine Bluegrass Band at 12:30. SugarPine Bluegrass of Northern Nevada plays Bluegrass in their own unique style with all acoustic instruments. 
The SugarPine Bluegrass performs as a duo, trio or full quartet.   The band members include Bill Mckean—Guitar/vocals—a longtime veteran of the Reno Music Scene. Joseph Martini—Banjo/vocals-- also a longtime veteran of the Reno Music Scene. Michael Madan—Mandolin/vocals, Linda Madan—Acoustic Upright Bass— Mike and Linda moved to Reno in 2011 from the east coast bringing with them decades of musical experience.  Linda was a founding member of Sweet Dixie in the early 80’s one of the first all-female Bluegrass bands. 
At 2pm you will find The Old 395 ready to go. The Old 395 stitch together American folk and roots traditions to create a sound at once familiar and all their own. Inspired by artists like Bob Dylan, The Band, and Guy Clark, The Old 395 brings both joy and depth to the stage. Whether you want to sit back and listen or get up and dance, The Old 395 has got something for you.
The Plumas Homegrown Americana Festival is thrilled to have Poi Roger return to Quincy after last year’s amazing performance. Somewhere in-between the tropical lounges of 1930s Los Angeles and the honky tonk beer joints of rural 1950s California, you'll find Poi Rogers. Hailing from Santa Cruz, CA, the duo performs original and vintage country & western swing, Hawaiian steel guitar ballads and cowboy tunes.
Gerard Egan and Carolyn Sills won a 2024 Ameripolitan Award in Austin, TX, for Western Swing Group of the Year with their other group, The Carolyn Sills Combo. They are both inductees into the Sacramento Western Swing Hall of Fame, and Carolyn was named the Academy of Western Artists’ 2021 Western Swing Female Vocalist of the Year. They have released four albums and one doughnut to date with The Combo. Poi Rogers features Gerard doubling on acoustic guitar and his 1954 Fender triple neck steel guitar with Carolyn on standup bass, their timeless harmonies anchoring the show. 
And finally, to wrap up the 2025 Festival, expect an incredible performance by the Newport Nightingales. This trio of beautiful and talented ladies performed at the 2019 Plumas Homegrown Americana Festival and dazzled the evening crowd with spot-on renditions of 1940’s swing tunes. They are backed up by a band that will make you think Glenn Miller has returned to the High Sierra! After this performance, you will feel like you have experienced something special.
While all this is going on, there is a full schedule of square dancing in the Tulsa Scott Pavilion. Top callers and cuers from the West Coast guide dozens of skilled, and un-skilled dancers as they twirl and step to the music. Admission to either the music festival or the square dancing is good to participate in the other. If you’re not a dancer, it’s worth it to spend a little time watching this truly American activity.
Back again this year is Barky’s Stage with an eclectic schedule of everything from rock to hip-hop. A great place to jam or take in a workshop, Barky’s features local artists and is the perfect place to sit on the grass in the shade and chill.
 
Tickets are cheap at $60 for either the festival or square dance event. Tent or RV camping is also a bargain. Check out prices, schedules and purchase tickets and camping at www.plumasamericana.com.

California cattle ranchers urge Congress to protect the future of family farms and ranches 
 
WASHINGTON — Today, President Donald J. Trump was joined by fifth-generation California cattle rancher and past California Cattlemen’s Association’s President Kevin Kester at the White House for a press conference highlighting the tax relief the “One Big Beautiful Bill” will provide for ranching and farming families across the country for future generations. 
 
“It was an incredible honor to stand with President Trump and echo his message that America’s family farmers and ranchers need tax relief now,” Kester said. “When I was hit with the Death Tax 30 years ago, I couldn’t hire new employees, invest in equipment, or make improvements to the ranch. My family and I had to stretch every dollar and sacrifice basic purchases so that we could pay off that tax bill. To protect our food security and national security, we need to make sure no other farming family experiences that same burden, which is why Congress must pass the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ and deliver lasting tax relief.”
 
Because of his resilience, Kester still has the operation today and ranches alongside his family. His grandchildren represent the seventh generation of Kesters on the land. 
 
“Increasing the estate and gift tax exemption has been a critical need for cattle producers for decades. Passing this tax package is one of the most important actions Congress can take to ensure the future of multi-generational family farms in our country,” California Cattlemen’s Association President and cattle rancher in Northern California Rick Roberti said. “Every rancher knows a farmer or rancher, like Kevin, who had to fight their hardest to keep their family operation due to the Death Tax. This has gone on far too long, for too many generations.”
 
To protect the future of thousands of family farms and ranches in America, Congress must act now and pass the pro-ranching tax provisions in the “One Big Beautiful Bill” without delay.
 
“Across the nation, farming and ranching families are thinking about how their cattle operation stays in business for future generations. Legislation that reduces the Death Tax, cuts taxes across the board, and helps farmers and ranchers keep more of their hard-earned money is how we keep America’s agricultural legacy going strong for future generations,” National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane said. “Cattle producers’ message to Congress is simple: pass the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill.’”

The California Cattlemen’s Association thanks the President for highlighting this priority and for hosting Mr. Kester, a real cattle rancher and great leader, at the White House. 
 
“It is encouraging to know the Trump Administration values farmers and ranchers and wants to support us,” Roberti said. “Now it is up to Congress to do the right thing and pass the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill.’” 
 
###
 
The California Cattlemen’s Association is a non-profit trade association representing California's ranchers and beef producers in legislative and regulatory affairs.
 
KATIE ROBERTI
Director of Communications
California Cattlemen’s Association
OFFICE (916) 444-0845 
www.calcattlemen.org
 
CALIFORNIA RANCHER AND PAST CCA PRESIDENT JOINS TRUMP AT THE WHITE HOUSE IN SUPPORT OF TAX PROVISIONS IN “ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL”
California cattle ranchers urge Congress to protect the future of family farms and ranches 
 
WASHINGTON — Today, President Donald J. Trump was joined by fifth-generation California cattle rancher and past California Cattlemen’s Association’s President Kevin Kester at the White House for a press conference highlighting the tax relief the “One Big Beautiful Bill” will provide for ranching and farming families across the country for future generations. 
 
“It was an incredible honor to stand with President Trump and echo his message that America’s family farmers and ranchers need tax relief now,” Kester said. “When I was hit with the Death Tax 30 years ago, I couldn’t hire new employees, invest in equipment, or make improvements to the ranch. My family and I had to stretch every dollar and sacrifice basic purchases so that we could pay off that tax bill. To protect our food security and national security, we need to make sure no other farming family experiences that same burden, which is why Congress must pass the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ and deliver lasting tax relief.”
 
Because of his resilience, Kester still has the operation today and ranches alongside his family. His grandchildren represent the seventh generation of Kesters on the land. 
 
“Increasing the estate and gift tax exemption has been a critical need for cattle producers for decades. Passing this tax package is one of the most important actions Congress can take to ensure the future of multi-generational family farms in our country,” California Cattlemen’s Association President and cattle rancher in Northern California Rick Roberti said. “Every rancher knows a farmer or rancher, like Kevin, who had to fight their hardest to keep their family operation due to the Death Tax. This has gone on far too long, for too many generations.”
 
To protect the future of thousands of family farms and ranches in America, Congress must act now and pass the pro-ranching tax provisions in the “One Big Beautiful Bill” without delay.
 
“Across the nation, farming and ranching families are thinking about how their cattle operation stays in business for future generations. Legislation that reduces the Death Tax, cuts taxes across the board, and helps farmers and ranchers keep more of their hard-earned money is how we keep America’s agricultural legacy going strong for future generations,” National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane said. “Cattle producers’ message to Congress is simple: pass the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill.’”

The California Cattlemen’s Association thanks the President for highlighting this priority and for hosting Mr. Kester, a real cattle rancher and great leader, at the White House. 
 
“It is encouraging to know the Trump Administration values farmers and ranchers and wants to support us,” Roberti said. “Now it is up to Congress to do the right thing and pass the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill.’” 
 
###
 
The California Cattlemen’s Association is a non-profit trade association representing California's ranchers and beef producers in legislative and regulatory affairs.
 
KATIE ROBERTI
Director of Communications
California Cattlemen’s Association
OFFICE (916) 444-0845 
www.calcattlemen.org
CALIFORNIA RANCHER AND PAST CCA PRESIDENT JOINS TRUMP AT THE WHITE HOUSE IN SUPPORT OF TAX PROVISIONS IN “ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL”
California cattle ranchers urge Congress to protect the future of family farms and ranches 
 
WASHINGTON — Today, President Donald J. Trump was joined by fifth-generation California cattle rancher and past California Cattlemen’s Association’s President Kevin Kester at the White House for a press conference highlighting the tax relief the “One Big Beautiful Bill” will provide for ranching and farming families across the country for future generations. 
 
“It was an incredible honor to stand with President Trump and echo his message that America’s family farmers and ranchers need tax relief now,” Kester said. “When I was hit with the Death Tax 30 years ago, I couldn’t hire new employees, invest in equipment, or make improvements to the ranch. My family and I had to stretch every dollar and sacrifice basic purchases so that we could pay off that tax bill. To protect our food security and national security, we need to make sure no other farming family experiences that same burden, which is why Congress must pass the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ and deliver lasting tax relief.”
 
Because of his resilience, Kester still has the operation today and ranches alongside his family. His grandchildren represent the seventh generation of Kesters on the land. 
 
“Increasing the estate and gift tax exemption has been a critical need for cattle producers for decades. Passing this tax package is one of the most important actions Congress can take to ensure the future of multi-generational family farms in our country,” California Cattlemen’s Association President and cattle rancher in Northern California Rick Roberti said. “Every rancher knows a farmer or rancher, like Kevin, who had to fight their hardest to keep their family operation due to the Death Tax. This has gone on far too long, for too many generations.”
 
To protect the future of thousands of family farms and ranches in America, Congress must act now and pass the pro-ranching tax provisions in the “One Big Beautiful Bill” without delay.
 
“Across the nation, farming and ranching families are thinking about how their cattle operation stays in business for future generations. Legislation that reduces the Death Tax, cuts taxes across the board, and helps farmers and ranchers keep more of their hard-earned money is how we keep America’s agricultural legacy going strong for future generations,” National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Ethan Lane said. “Cattle producers’ message to Congress is simple: pass the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill.’”

The California Cattlemen’s Association thanks the President for highlighting this priority and for hosting Mr. Kester, a real cattle rancher and great leader, at the White House. 
 
“It is encouraging to know the Trump Administration values farmers and ranchers and wants to support us,” Roberti said. “Now it is up to Congress to do the right thing and pass the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill.’” 
 
###
 
The California Cattlemen’s Association is a non-profit trade association representing California's ranchers and beef producers in legislative and regulatory affairs.
 
KATIE ROBERTI
Director of Communications
California Cattlemen’s Association
OFFICE (916) 444-0845 
www.calcattlemen.org

Picture of Upper Sardine taken by Michelle Reugebrink early June. She writes, "We are so fortunate to live in such a breathtaking place—may we always take the time to slow down and appreciate the gift of Sierra County."