Quincy, CA - On February 4, 2026, The Plumas County Sheriff’s was notified of a possible wolf attack with a steer in the area of “Four Corners” North of Chandler Road in Quincy. The steer had recently escaped its enclosure and the owners have been attempting to recover the animal with a catch pen and game cameras.
Early this morning, the owner received notification the camera system was activated by movement. They immediately viewed the live time camera and saw the steer circling and bellowing. They also saw what appeared to be a wolf aggressively circling the steer. The owner rushed to the area and upon his arrival saw the wolf running up the road north of the catch pen. The steer had injuries to the neck and chest consistent with being attacked. The owner attempted to corral the steer however it fled into the woods.
Upon receiving this information, the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene, locating hair from the steer and blood droplets on the ground where the attack occurred. Additionally, large footprints consistent with a wolf were located in the immediate area. All items were photographed and collected for DNA analysis to hopefully determine which pack the wolf belongs to.
Members from the USDA Wildlife Services responded to the call to assist. Upon completing their investigation, reviewing the video and examining the evidence, they confirmed the animal that attacked the steer was a wolf.
The “Four Corners” area is commonly used by hikers and mountain bikers and locals exercising their dogs. We urge the community members who may frequent the “Four Corners" area to be aware of the presence of the wolf and other predators such as mountain lions and bears. In an effort to minimize wildlife conflict interaction, keep continual sight of your dogs and when possible, do not hike alone. Wildlife conflict is rare, but if can and has occurred in our neighboring counties.
Contact information: Chandler Peay Deputy Sheriff/Public Information Officer Plumas County Sheriff’s Office [email protected]

 

Dr. Glenn Mollette 


Friendship is a two-way street. If a relationship is totally dependent on one person it won’t last very long. 


If you have to make all the effort a friendship will soon die. One person, does not make a friendship, marriage or any kind of relationship. 


The telephone works both ways. Text messages and emails work both ways. Telephones are made to make calls but they also receive calls. If you have to make all the calls, make all the effort to connect with someone then you will become tired and give up. 


This may be why so many people have so few friends. If you want a friend, be a friend. If you want to be connected to your marriage partner then every day it’s mutual communication and companionship. 


If you want help, then help others. If you want love, then love others. Whatever you invest in will typically come back to you. 


We’ve all had experiences with the family member who never comes to see us or shows any interest in anything we are doing. We’ve all invested in loved ones and given until we are blue in the face. There always seems to be those that we have tried to reach out to, befriend and love but who ignore us or even bite us. 


Many of us have at least one family member who always finds a way to be sour, hateful or critical and never misses a chance to complain about something. Why do we put up with these people? I don’t have a good answer but I know many of us deal with these personalities. 


Often, people are the meanest to close family and friends. A spouse may treat another spouse badly because they believe they can get by with acting so badly. Relatives often do the same thing. People get by with it for a little while but eventually loved ones and friends will begin to pull away. In time, mean people will find themselves very lonely. You can’t treat others badly and get by with it forever. It will come back to you. 


Don’t waste your life constantly trying to love the people who shrug you off. Move on! 


This is not rocket science or brain surgery. Return communication. Don’t act like you are King Tut and are too important to make phone calls.  Visit with others and respond to messages, texts, etc. Reach out to others and show yourself friendly. 


Of course, there is a chance that you love being in isolation and prefer to just stare at the walls or television. You have the right to make that choice, as long as you don’t mind living with that choice. 

- Congressman Kevin Kiley (R-CA) has formally requested the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a comprehensive investigation into waste, fraud, and abuse involving public funds in the State of California.
“Congress has a fundamental responsibility to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent lawfully and protected from criminal misuse,” Congressman Kiley said. “Unfortunately, California has repeatedly failed to safeguard public funds, with devastating consequences for taxpayers and for the most vulnerable people these programs are meant to help.”
In the letter sent to Comptroller General Orice Williams Brown, Rep. Kiley highlighted a series of high-profile fraud cases demonstrating systemic failures in California’s oversight of public money.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment insurance fraud in California was estimated at $32.6 billion, leaving jobless Californians without benefits while taxpayers funded criminal abuse.
The state’s homelessness programs have faced similar failures. Between 2019 and 2024, California spent $24 billion on homelessness initiatives, yet the homeless population grew by about 30,000, with state audits finding no meaningful metrics to show results.
Recent prosecutions – including nonprofit fraud in San Francisco, a $50 million homelessness funding scheme in Los Angeles, and the conviction of an Orange County judge for workers’ compensation fraud – underscore the scope of the problem.
Congressman Kiley’s request asks the GAO to examine:

• The total amount of publicly reported waste, fraud, and abuse in California since 2016
• A breakdown of fraud by economic sector, including housing, healthcare, transportation, and law enforcement
• The types of perpetrators involved, including grantees and subgrantees
• How stolen public funds are ultimately used
• Lessons from California that can inform federal efforts to prevent fraud nationwide

Rep. Kiley spoke about this on the House floor last night. You can download the video here. 

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NEVADA CITY, Calif., Feb. 3, 2026 — Tahoe National Forest welcomes public input to develop grant applications for the California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle (OHV) Recreation Division Grant Program recreation funds.

Grants support priority motorized trail maintenance activities and are key to ensuring the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service provides public access to motorized recreationists across the state.  

The Forest Service is soliciting public input to reflect the needs of recreation users as we move forward with the next round of grant proposals.

Public comments may be submitted for consideration by:

• Reviewing preliminary grant application at olga.ohv.parks.ca.gov/egrams_ohmvr beginning March 3 through May 4.
• Virtual Public Meeting | Feb. 12, 6 – 7:30 p.m.
  • Tahoe National Forest OHV Grant Public Meeting | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams
  • +1 323-886-7051,,423554437# United States, Los Angeles
    • Phone conference ID:  423 554 437#

Forest staff will consider the public comments received as they develop the final grant application for submission in June.

To request more information, contact: Tahoe National Forest Trails Program Coordinator Joe Chavez, [email protected]
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BLAIRSDEN, Calif., February 2, 2026 — Firefighters on the Plumas National Forest Beckwourth Ranger District plan to resume pile burning operations in Mohawk Valley west-southwest of Graeagle and west of Plumas Pines, starting tomorrow, conditions permitting.
Firefighters plan to treat approximately 10 acres of piles with ignitions expected to be completed.
Smoke is expected to be visible in the area but not have significant long-term impacts to nearby communities, including Mohawk, Johnsville, Plumas Pines, Graeagle, Blairsden and the surrounding areas.  Drivers on westbound California State Highway 70 will likely see smoke.
There will also be increased firefighting equipment traffic in the area and traveling on Highways 70 and 89, particularly in the morning and evening hours.  Drivers in the area should use caution, watch for fire equipment exiting and entering area roadways, and possible slow traffic.
If weather conditions become unfavorable, including increased or gusty winds in the area, burning will stop until conditions improve.  Firefighters will be monitoring conditions throughout operations.
For more information on the Plumas National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/plumas or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/USFSPlumas.
About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation.  Grounded in worldclass science and technology and rooted in communities, the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other.  The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological and social vitality.  The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world.  The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
 
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

 
QUINCY, Calif., February 2, 2026 — Firefighters on the Plumas National Forest Mount Hough Ranger District plan to conduct pile burning operations this week south of Quincy, conditions permitting.
Approximately 7 acres of large machine piles are planned for treatment in the Clairmont Project area just south of Quincy.  Additionally, approximately 250 acres of large machine piles are planned for treatment west of La Porte Road and north of Red Bridge Campground in the 2020 North Complex burned area.
Ignitions are expected to start tomorrow morning and may continue through the week as conditions allow.
Smoke is expected to be visible from Quincy, La Porte Road, California State Highways 70 and 89, and the surrounding area. 
Short duration, minor smoke impacts are possible in the Quincy area and on neighboring forest roads.  There is a possibility smoke may settle in the area at night.  Visibility on roads in the project areas may be reduced, especially early in the morning and late evening as smoke settles.
Predicted east winds are expected to move smoke away from Quincy and residences.  Most of the smoke is expected to move and disperse in the Middle Fork Drainage of the Feather River.
Glow from the pile burning operations is expected to be visible in the area overnight as fuels continue to burn down.
If weather conditions become unfavorable, including increased or gusty winds in the area, burning will stop until conditions improve.  Firefighters will be monitoring conditions throughout operations.
For more information on the Plumas National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/plumas or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/USFSPlumas.
About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation.  Grounded in worldclass science and technology and rooted in communities, the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other.  The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological and social vitality.  The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research

LUCAS TIPTON of DOWL, Loyalton’s engineer, gave a presentation on the preliminary FEMA maps issued for Loyalton and Sierra Brooks. He compared the current maps with similar maps from 2021 where much of the town is in the flood plain. Lucas explained how the “current effect is along Smithneck Creek where it starts flooding south of the mill, leaves the bank and floods town.”
He stated they don’t have all the data, no working model but did two dimensional software instead of one dimension. He stressed the maps were preliminary and subject to appeal and there is a “host of problems with modeling, but not enough to change the maps.” He suggested with no flow data on Smithneck Creek that they might get flow data gauges.
Doug  Lawler, owner of the former trailer park property, called it “bad news for everybody.” Council member Sue McIlravy told how the city hasn’t flooded except across from the creek and called the maps “not accurate.”
Lucas told an “important point” was to get viable results of the 2017-2018 flood with proof and photos of flooding and get data. Mitigation options would be a retention pond to let water out slowly, taking analysis and construction dollars. He stated they have flood elevations but no data for flood data base. He said the appeal period was not started. Sierra County got the notice issued October 15th and was forwarded to the City. Lucas stated a community coordination meeting was to be held. The City could request it and make a package  in the 90-day appeal period if it is non significant on federal regulations which were not yet posted.
Councilman Joe Dines pointed out every structure in blue would have to maintain flood insurance if they have a mortgage.
Lucas outlined six options: to formally make a request; collect evidence of the 2017 & 2018 event and put documents together; add a stream gauge to collect data “would be great;” hire a consultant for focus technical review at $20-$25,000; evaluate mitigation projects and prepare designs and update the flood plain ordinance for insurance program. The Council will request contact with FEMA.
The City had hired DOWL to update its flood plain ordinance and Lucas said it was 50% done. He reminisced how in 2021 they were successful in the maps as Farr West (now DOWL) and stated it as “real robust” work on mapping.

LOYALTON CITY COUCIL thanked Musica Sierra for the donation of 50 chairs for the Social Hall along with ten folding tables.
It also noted Chris Robles had updated the City of Loyalton website.

LOYALTON’S MAIN WATER SYSTEM, SCATA, went down on early Tuesday, January 27th which created low water pressure and cut off some residents’ water. 
Due to it affecting all Loyalton schools, there was a 2-hour late start for all Loyalton schools that morning. 
Loyalton City crews worked on it and got it fixed later that morning. According to Supervisor Terry LeBlanc no boil notice was issued.​

LOYALTON CITY COUCIL thanked Musica Sierra for the donation of 50 chairs for the Social Hall along with ten folding tables.
It also noted Chris Robles had updated the City of Loyalton website.

A NEW WELL FOR LOYALTON has been proposed by Doug Lawler, Managing Partner of 49 Partners, owners of Vinton’s Meadow Edge trailer park and of the former Loyalton trailer park property.
At the October 21st Loyalton City Council meeting, Doug offered to put a well on City property at the former trailer park and donate the well to the city.  Vice Mayor Bill Mertton had stated it “a way they have to help us and we help them.” The Council voted in favor of writing a letter to Sierra Valley Water Management District (“District”).
The City has ongoing water line issues. At the December 17th City Council meeting, Mayor Joy Markum asked for input on future water line repairs. She suggested having the City’s engineer, DOWL, inspect the hospital well for repair which had been estimated to cost $50,000 or to work on the “back bone” of the main water line or Church Street which blows the fire hydrant. An ad hoc meeting was to be held on Jan. 8th.
Doug was not alerted to the following District meeting but Council member Sue McIlravy was and she attended. She reported back to the Council that the District was not sure if it had any authority over the City.
Doug attended the January meeting of the District and reported back to the Council on January 20th the District would ask its lawyer if it had jurisdiction over Loyalton.

​A RESOLUTION proclaiming January 2026 as Grand Jury Awareness Month was unanimously approved during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting held January 20th in Loyalton.
The Resolution states in part:
Whereas, grand juries are essential components of California’s judicial system, serving three vital roles: overseeing and reporting on the efficiency, honesty, and impartiality of local governments and elected officials; determining whether criminal acts have been committed and whether sufficient evidence exists to charge individuals with those crimes; and evaluating whether public officials should be accused of impropriety.
Every county in California impanels a grand jury composed of dedicated citizens appointed by the county’s Superior Court, each of whom commits a full year of service.
Through their diligence, commitment, and hard work, grand jurors help ensure that local governments, including cities, special districts, and school districts - operate legally, ethically, and efficiently.
The Sierra County Board of Supervisors hereby proclaims January 2026 as Grand Jury Awareness Month in Sierra County and recognizes the invaluable contributions of the Sierra County Grand Jury, and encourages citizens to apply for grand jury service.

​EXCESS FUNDS from Sierra County’s self-insured programs through Trindel Insurance Fund was discussed during the Board of Supervisors’ meeting on January 20th in Loyalton. This came about during a presentation from Trindel on January 6th regarding an excess of $770,361 in Workers’ Compensation available to the County for the current year. 
Supervisor Lee Adams suggested pulling half a million out and into contingencies, so they have access to it and if there is some catastrophic insurance claim they can always put it back. The suggestion was approved and will put 70% in the general fund and 30% in the special fund contingencies. 
Board Chair Paul Roen was happy “to take advantage of a good situation for a change.” 

If you see hawking — or suspicious ticket reselling — be a patriot and submit a complaint
OAKLAND — Ahead of Super Bowl LX, taking place in Santa Clara, California, California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert warning football fans of counterfeit Super Bowl tickets and scammers. In today’s alert, Attorney General Bonta reminds Californians to exercise caution in their online transactions and provides tips to avoid falling victim to ticket scams. 
“We all enjoy going to live shows and games to see our favorite artists or sports teams, but unfortunately scammers prey on our excitement,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Today I remind Californians: If you see hawking — or suspicious ticket reselling — protect yourself by following the tips we provide. If you have fallen victim to a scam or suspect fraudulent activity, be a patriot and submit a complaint. You can file a report with my office at oag.ca.gov/report as well as the Better Business Bureau and the FBI’s Internet Complaint Center.” 
Protect Yourself from Ticket Scams: 

• Purchase tickets from authorized vendors: When possible, always purchase your tickets directly from official websites to confirm the ticket's authenticity.
• Know the refund policy: Before purchasing third-party resale tickets, look into the reseller’s refund policy and whether they offer a guarantee regarding the authenticity and timely arrival of the tickets.
• Protect your personal information: Never provide personal information, such as your Social Security number or bank account number to prevent financial loss and fraud.
• Verify the web address safety: Double-check the website URL by ensuring the link starts with “https://” and has a padlock icon to ensure your credit card and billing information remain safe.
• Do your research: Search for online reviews regarding the seller and any potential customer complaints for prior scams.
• Use secure payment methods: Consider using your credit card to ensure that you have an opportunity to dispute fraudulent charges. Avoid using instant payment platforms like Zelle, Venmo, and Cash App, or you could risk never getting your money back. Do not pay for tickets with gift cards, prepaid debit cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. Demands for payment using those methods are a strong warning sign of a scam.
• Be wary of overly discounted tickets: Be extra cautious with low-priced and/or hard-to-get tickets. If the price seems too good to be true, it probably is. 

If consumers have fallen victim to a ticket scam, they can file a complaint with our office at oag.ca.gov/report. Consumers can also report the incident to the Better Business Bureau and the FBI’s Internet Complaint Center.

​

By Caleb Hampton
California farmers who grow fruit for canned products suffered a major setback last week as Del Monte Foods announced plans to close its only remaining cannery in the state.
The Walnut Creek-based company filed for bankruptcy in July, citing burdensome debt payments stemming from a prior acquisition of the company and missteps in long-term fruit purchasing commitments made when sales briefly spiked during the pandemic.
This month, following a lengthy court-supervised bidding process, Del Monte auctioned off many of its assets, but no buyer came forward to purchase the company’s cannery in Modesto. 
“As a result, Del Monte Foods has made the difficult decision to begin an orderly wind-down of operations at the facility,” the company said in a statement. “We recognize the significant impact this decision will have on our team members, their families, and the community.”
The cannery’s closure will reportedly affect roughly 600 employees and 1,200 seasonal workers in Modesto.
The closure ends Del Monte’s more than 100-year history as a processor of California-grown fruits and vegetables, potentially leaving scores of farmers without a buyer for their produce.
“It’s difficult,” said Ranjit Davit, who grows cling peaches in Sutter County and chairs the California Canning Peach Association’s board of directors. “Growers are very upset about the situation.”
Farmers who planted fruit orchards under long-term contracts with Del Monte said they were weighing their options and bracing for steep losses. 
Growers of cling peaches are especially impacted as the crop has no fresh market and is sold entirely to processors. In recent years, Del Monte contracted about 35% of California’s cling peaches, while Lodi-based Pacific Coast Producers contracted about 60% of the crop, with the rest purchased by a few smaller processors.
“It’s pretty devastating,” said Richard Lial, who grows cling peaches in San Joaquin County.
Cling peach growers typically plant new orchards—at a cost of several thousand dollars per acre—after securing contracts with processors that last 20 years, roughly the orchard’s lifespan. It can take close to a decade for a farmer to pay off the initial investment, and Del Monte’s exit from the sector means many growers may never make their money back.
A couple years ago, Lial tore out a productive almond orchard to clear the ground for 50 acres of peaches under a long-term contract with Del Monte. He planted the peach trees last year only to be left a year later with no buyer for the fruit.
“It’s horrible,” Lial said.  
The third-generation grower farms a total of 105 acres of peaches, all of which was contracted with Del Monte. He said it may be possible to graft almond trees onto his young peach orchard, and to find a short-term buyer for some of the fruit from his bearing acreage, but neither outcome was certain.
The spacing in his peach orchard is “not ideal” for almonds, Lial said, and Del Monte’s departure will likely leave far more fruit on the market than other buyers can absorb.
“One of my options is just to take everything out,” he said. “It will be a total loss.”
Lial added that the closure of the Modesto cannery could have a “huge trickle-down effect” in the Central Valley, with impacts not only on cannery workers and farmers but on the farm workforce and agricultural supply companies. He said the loss of his peach acreage would likely force him to lay off two employees.
For decades, cling peach growers have faced declining demand due to the year-round availability of fresh fruit, while rising input costs and cheap imports have also challenged the sector. Since 1969, California’s bearing acreage declined from more than 63,000 to less than 14,000, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Chris Zanobini, executive director of the California Pear Advisory Board, said the state’s pear growers were similarly “concerned about whether they’ll be able to sell the fruit they grow” this year.
While pear growers have an important fresh market, most of the fruit is sold to canneries, with Del Monte purchasing more than 40% of the cannery tonnage last year.
Cling peach and pear growers alike said they were looking to PCP, the only major processor left in California, to potentially pick up their fruit.
The grower-owned cooperative purchased some assets from Del Monte during the bankruptcy sale, including unsold canned fruit inventory.
Mona Shulman, vice president of PCP, said the cooperative was also in the process of licensing some of Del Monte’s shelf-stable fruit product brands from Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., a separate company that purchased the brands from Del Monte.
Shulman said PCP planned to contract more fruit acreage from farmers this year as the cooperative expands its private-label business to include Del Monte-branded products.
“We intend to market and sell the Del Monte brand going forward for shelf-stable fruits,” Shulman said. “In that mix, we will be acquiring more fruit than we currently process.”
As of this week, PCP, which processes fruit at a cannery in Oroville, was still assessing the volume and varieties it would need.
“We are in discussions currently for our peach supply needs with attention to varieties that deliver throughout the production season,” Shulman said, adding that PCP would procure fruit “to support a sustainable volume of Del Monte sales” but could not replace the company’s full production.  
Unlike most fruit contracts, purchases made this year by PCP may represent a stopgap solution for growers rather than a long-term guarantee.  
“It is possible that the contracts will be for a shorter term simply because we don’t know how this is going to work in the mix,” Shulman said. “To protect our company and not overcommit, it is likely a 20-year contract may not be the initial offering.”
Caleb Hampton is editor of Ag Alert. He can be reached at [email protected].


  

The Tahoe Interagency Bear Team (TIBT) is a collective of bear experts across federal, state and local agencies who study and understand bears and have devoted much of their professional lives to ensure the health and well-being of the Lake Tahoe Basin’s black bears. TIBT provides proven and scientifically backed information about the real issues and solutions for living and recreating in bear country.
Tahoe bears may at times seem like a unique bear species due to their general lack of fear and boldness around humans (habituation), but these black bears follow the usual biological patterns of black bears across California and Nevada. Whether living in or visiting bear country here at Lake Tahoe or beyond, this information should clarify what human actions are needed to help wild bears survive and thrive.
Secure Crawl Spaces
Web cam photos and videos of bears denning under homes can perpetuate the myth that property owners and residents should allow bears to den under homes and in crawl spaces. It can also encourage unwanted behavior such as laying out hay or other materials for bears. However, most homeowners don’t even know a bear is under or around their home until it has already established a makeshift den.
Bears often damage the insulation, exposing pipes to freezing temperatures or even damaging them in the process. Once a bear gets established, it can be difficult to make it leave. This increases the chances of human-bear conflict and habituated behavior.
Bears under homes need to be addressed by trained agency professionals as bears can be dangerous and unpredictable. If disturbed, mother bears with newborn cubs may abandon the den, orphaning the cubs in the process. For this reason, only a wildlife professional should evaluate the situation and offer advice to homeowners.
It’s important to remember that bears have evolved to comfortably survive winter without human help, so it is essential to board up all crawl spaces around homes to discourage bears from denning underneath. The TIBT video “Securing Your Crawl Space” will show you how to go about this.
Deny Access to Human Food and Trash
Black bears are very resilient and adaptive animals, and, as opportunistic omnivores, they will take advantage of any available food source, including human-provided foods like garbage. Their highly developed sense of smell allows them to find these food sources, even when locked in a vehicle or home, which in turn may lead bears into conflict with people.
It is true that bears need a lot of calories, especially in preparation for winter, but giving them handouts will not set them up to thrive. Repeated exposure to human foods can lead to food-conditioned bears which then view human homes and neighborhoods as reliable sources of food.
When mother bears teach their cubs to access human foods, they not only continue the cycle of human food-conditioning, but the cubs are much more prone to be involved in conflict, including being hit and killed by vehicles.
Consuming human food and garbage is incredibly unhealthy for bears because the high sugar content can increase tooth decay and painful abscesses. Intentionally feeding bears is illegal in both California and Nevada.
As omnivores, a bear’s diet is about 85% plant-based, with the remaining portion coming from consuming insects, small mammals and carrion. Bears should be allowed to fulfill their very important and vital ecological role as seed dispersers, predators and scavengers.
Get ‘BearWise’ to Keep Bears Wild
Black bears are smart. They have learned how to unscrew lids and open sliding glass and vehicle doors. They are also strong. In order to access food, they can peel a car door down from the top or break through a typical home door or window. Even after an incident like the 2021 Caldor Fire, where a huge swath of vegetation was burned in the Sierra Nevada mountains, wildlife biologists saw bears find natural ways to survive like the resilient omnivores that they are.
On rare occasions, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) must remove bears that are putting human life and property at risk. No one, including agency biologists who have dedicated their lives and careers to protecting bears, want this outcome. It is only used with great discretion and as a last resort.
Bears are large, strong animals and once they become conditioned to human foods or comfortable around people and human surroundings, they pose a significant threat to human safety. For these reasons it is very important for people to be educated and dedicated to being “BearWise.” Learn how at the BearWise website.
It’s also important to note that except in the case of the immediate protection of human life, the only people who can legally interact with wildlife are designated state agency representatives or law enforcement professionals.
Slow Down for Bears, Wildlife
It can be exciting to see a big, beautiful animal like a black bear in a neighborhood, but it is not where bears belong. Human-developed areas pose many dangers to bears, particularly busy roads with cars, which bears must cross in order to get to the unhealthy human food and garbage in developed areas.
By allowing bears to comfortably live in or pass through neighborhoods, the chances that they will get struck and killed by vehicles increases greatly. If a bear is in your neighborhood, encourage it to move on by scaring it away so that it can lead a safer life away from developed areas and conflict. Slow down for bears and other wildlife in the Tahoe Basin. For more information on bear-vehicle collisions, see the TIBT video “When Bears and Humans Collide.”
The TIBT is dedicated to creating the best environment for bears to thrive and remain wild in an ever-growing, ever-changing environment like the Lake Tahoe Basin. CDFW and NDOW should be the only point of contact for any bear-related incidents or questions. CDFW and NDOW have trained black bear experts who can help navigate any human-bear conflicts.
We encourage the public to visit our website, TahoeBears.org, for accurate, science-based information about bears. To report bear incidents or conflict in the Lake Tahoe Basin, use the following:

• In California, contact CDFW at (916) 358-2917 or report online using the Wildlife incident Reporting (WIR) System.
• Non-emergency bear collisions in California State Parks can be reported to public dispatch at (916) 358-1300.
• In Nevada, contact NDOW at (775) 688-BEAR (2327).
• If the issue is an emergency, call the local sheriff’s department or 911.

Thank you for helping keep Tahoe bears wild and safe!
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today conducted the second snow survey of the season at Phillips Station. The manual survey recorded 23 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 8 inches, which is 46 percent of average for this location. The snow water equivalent measures the amount of water contained in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast. Statewide, the snowpack is 59 percent of average for this date.

Three weeks ago, the snowpack was 89 percent of average after a series of atmospheric rivers provided relief from a slow start to the snowpack. A dry January, which is historically the wettest month of the year in California, has now eroded the gains made at the start of the year and forecasts currently show no major precipitation in the next two weeks.
“After the storms at the start of the year gave way to warm, dry conditions, those early gains we saw have flatlined or slightly eroded,” said Andy Reising, Manager of DWR’s Snow Survey’s and Water Supply Forecasting Unit. “Recent California winters have seen this pattern of long, dry and warm stretches interrupted by intense storms. We are now two-thirds through what should be the best snow-producing months of the year. While there is still time for February and March to deliver additional snow, the farther into the season we get with below average conditions, the harder it will be to catch up.”
DWR’s electronic readings from 130 stations placed throughout the Sierra Nevada indicate that the statewide snowpack’s snow water equivalent is 9.7 inches, or 59 percent of average for this date, compared to 67 percent on this date last year. On average, the largest snow-producing months in the Sierra Nevada are January, February, and March.
While the state has experienced a recent dry spell, major reservoirs statewide are currently 126 percent of average thanks to recent precipitation on top of three consecutive years of above-average snowpack conditions, as well efforts by California to capture and store as much water as possible.
On average, the Sierra snowpack supplies about 30 percent of California’s water needs. Its natural ability to store water is why the Sierra snowpack is often referred to as California's “frozen reservoir.” Data from these snow surveys and forecasts produced by DWR’s Snow Surveys and Water Supply Forecasting Unit are key factors in determining how DWR manages the state’s water resources. Snowpack runoff forecasts drive many water management decisions including State Water Project allocations.
DWR conducts four media-oriented snow surveys at Phillips Station each winter near the first of each month, January through April and, if necessary, May. The next survey is tentatively scheduled for March 2.
For California’s current hydrological conditions, visit https://cww.water.ca.gov.

Senators Seek Special Session to Address Refinery Closure


This week Republican senators sent a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom asking him to call an emergency special session of the Legislature to address the looming impacts of the planned closure the Valero oil refinery in Benicia‚ which the company has announced it will idle in April.

Valero has said it instead intends to import gasoline to maintain fuel supplies‚ which means we are losing excellent jobs here in California while relying on a more fragile system prone to disruption.

Combined with the closure of a Southern California refinery‚ the state stands to lose roughly 20 percent of its in-state refining capacity. What’s more‚ California is a fuel “island” - with no pipelines serving it from other energy-rich parts of the country.

Thanks to taxes and supply constraints‚ Californians already pay much more to gas up than almost any other Americans. And while oil and gasoline prices have both dropped nationwide the past year‚ the cost per gallon has fallen less in California - leaving the gap higher and the California sticker shock all the starker. Independent forecasts suggest the refinery closures could drive California prices higher still.

The state has made it a policy for years to phase out internal-combustion engines in favor of electric vehicles‚ but we are losing the industry that powers today’s economy much faster than tomorrow’s is being built. And ordinary working Californians are being stuck with the bill.

Read the letter for our solutions. We hope the governor listens.

– Senator Megan Dahle




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Lineup Announced with More Artists Still To Come
 
(Grass Valley, CA) The High Sierra Music Festival, one of Northern California’s longest-running and most beloved independent music festivals, will celebrate its 34th year at a new location: the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley, California. The move makes the festival more accessible than ever, with an abundance of lodging options and a close proximity to the Bay Area, while preserving all the magic that fans have cherished since 1991.
 

The first wave of the 2026 lineup has just been announced, showcasing High Sierra’s signature blend of eclectic genre-spanning artistry, legendary collaborations, high-energy tributes, and rising stars, with only a handful of band slots still to be filled.
2026 Lineup as of now:
The Word (John Medeski, Robert Randolph, North Mississippi Allstars, Ray Ray Holloman), Don Was & The Pan Detroit Ensemble, Cymande, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Dumpstaphunk, Eggy, Lebo & Friends (George Porter Jr., Jay Lane, Jen Hartswick, Holly Bowling), Mountain Grass Unit, The Rumble, Big Something, The Breaks (Stanton Moore, Eddie Roberts, Robert Walter), Judith Hill, Steve Poltz, lespecial, BALTHVS, Dizgo, Scott Pemberton, Pink Talking Fish, Marty O'Reilly, Steely Dead, Magoo, Rose City Band, Sway Wild, River Eckert, Boy Golden, Cassandra Lewis, The Point, Paul McDonald & The Mourning Doves, The Westones, Psycodelics, Family Company, Minor Gold, Moga Family Band, and more to come.
Known for its vibrant, eclectic blend of music, steeped in post Grateful Dead jam bands, Bluegrass, Funk, Americana, singer-songwriters, international music, and more. High Sierra also features daily parades, a Family Village, professional childcare services, wine and beer tastings, one-of-kind artist tributes and collaborations, acoustic troubadour in-the-round sessions, inspired patron created theme camps, yoga, sunrise kickball, handmade crafts, delicious and nutritious food, and so much more.
“Quincy will always hold a special place in our hearts,” says Dave Margulies, festival producer. “This was a very difficult decision, but we have to be in a location that offers patrons a variety of lodging options.  So, by moving to Grass Valley, we’re able to provide more creature comforts and conveniences without sacrificing any of the elements that make High Sierra so special.”
Nearly 90 acres of towering pines, shaded campgrounds, a scenic lake, and classic buildings make the Nevada County Fairgrounds a natural fit for a music festival and why it is known as ‘California’s Most Beautiful Fairgrounds.’
Festivalgoers can enjoy:
·  1,000 hotel rooms and 300+ Airbnbs within 10 miles.
·  Easy travel from three major airports: 2 hours from San Francisco International (SFO), 1 hour 15 minutes from Sacramento (SMF), and just over 1 hour from Reno-Tahoe (RNO).
· On-site parking and camping, day parking for those staying off-site or coming for the day, more RV hookups with an RV family resort right across the road from the Fairgrounds, and early entry VIP options.
·  Expanded camping spots and RV hookups, plus more shade.
·  FestivALL VIP packages now include a hotel lodging option.
·  Additional Family/Community Stage
·  Larger Late-Night and Troubadour Sessions venues.
·  Returning Family Village, Artist Playshops, Yoga, Daily Parades, Silent Disco, Sunrise Kickball, and Rockin’ Nannies Childcare. 
Margulies continues, “High Sierra’s soul remains unchanged. It’s still an intimate gathering of fewer than 7,500 attendees. While the spotlight is always on the music, it’s equally on the incredible community of people and the long-standing camps that create the container for High Sierra’s magic.
What makes this festival so beloved is that it remains independent, free from corporate influence and everyone involved, from the artists and crew to vendors, volunteers, to the music-loving fans, all bring the absolute best of themselves.
The move to the Nevada County Fairgrounds makes attending simpler and more accessible than ever, especially for Bay Area fans looking for a true weekend getaway without the long drive or lodging challenges. It’s the combination of music, community, and independence that creates ‘High Sierra Lifers’ who come back every July 4th weekend, year after year.”
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The High Sierra Music Festival, one of Northern California’s longest-running and most cherished music events, celebrates its 34th year in a new home at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley, July 2–5, 2026. Known for its intimate size, eclectic lineup of more than 50 bands, and family-friendly atmosphere, High Sierra offers four days of world-class music alongside parades, playshops, yoga, a vibrant Family Village, and late-night shows, with on-site camping, RV glamping, and day or overnight parking, all surrounded by towering pines and easy access to nearby lodging.

Ryan Endean, Public Affairs, Department of Water Resources


SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Today, the Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced an increase to the State Water Project (SWP) allocation for 2026. The allocation is now 30 percent of requested supplies, up from the initial allocation of 10 percent on December 1. Storms in mid-December have made it possible for the SWP to increase the expected amount of water deliveries this year to the 29 public water agencies served by the SWP, which provides water to 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland.
SWP allocations are based on a number of factors including hydrological conditions, existing reservoir storage, and an assumption of dry conditions through the rest of the year. The assumption of dry conditions is increasingly important given the shrinking and warming of California’s traditional precipitation season. In December, all of California benefited from winter storms. However, January has been unseasonably dry and warm and, as a result, snowpack and precipitation are below average for this time of year.
“What Mother Nature provides each winter is the main driver of our State Water Project allocations and it is increasingly unpredictable,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “We need to adapt our water system to capture as much as possible during warm and wet storms. We are now managing during these storms with more real-time information about potential harm to state and federally protected species. Operational flexibility matters because every drop counts.”
Despite the dry January, California’s reservoirs remain above average at 125 percent statewide. Lake Oroville, the SWP’s largest reservoir, is at 138 percent of average for this time of year.
In December, the SWP received approval from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for an amendment to their Incidental Take Permit (ITP) that helps guide operations of the SWP. This amendment allows for flexibility in decision-making around fish protection actions, including for a pumping reduction known as a “first flush” action. First flush is triggered when early winter storms swell river flows. DWR analysis shows that the rules triggering these actions can sometimes be relaxed without impacts to listed species. That flexibility allowed the SWP to capture 15,000 acre-feet of additional water supply in December and January, enough to support 45,000 homes for a year. The SWP will continue utilizing real-time operational flexibility to benefit water users and the environment.
How the remainder of the season plays out will be critical to any future allocation increases. February and March are the last of our traditional wet months and additional snowstorms will be needed to boost the snowpack and set California up for the dry summer months. DWR will conduct its next snow survey later this week. The February 1 snow survey measurements from the California Cooperative Snow Surveys Program and the airborne snow observatory flights guide decision making for SWP water managers and play a significant role in future allocation updates. 
Each year, DWR provides the initial SWP allocation based on available water storage, projected water supply and water demands. Allocations are updated monthly as snowpack, rainfall and runoff data is analyzed, with a final allocation typically determined near the end of the season in May or June.
Historical data on SWP allocations is available at https://water.ca.gov/programs/state-water-project/management/swp-water-contractors.

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With roadside deaths climbing at dangerous rates, AAA, OTS, CHP, Caltrans urge drivers to obey the strengthened law now in effect.
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (January 28, 2026) - California has strengthened the “Slow Down, Move Over” law as of  Jan. 1, 2026, enhancing lifesaving protections for all stranded drivers and passengers. By including everyday motorists in these protections, the expanded law aims to drastically reduce roadside collisions by compelling drivers to move over for any stopped vehicle, or slow down if unsafe to do so.

As of Jan. 1, 2026, drivers must perform these simple actions when approaching a stopped vehicle:

• Change lanes away from the stopped vehicle, if safe to do so
• If changing lanes is not possible, slow down to a safe, reasonable speed

Violations in California can result in the following penalties:

• Fines up to $1,000
• Points on a driver’s record for unsafe behavior near stopped vehicles

Sponsored by AAA, Assembly Bill 390, comes as safety leaders sound the alarm on a nationwide spike in roadside deaths. 

“AAA believes this law will save lives, ensuring anyone with a disabled vehicle on the side of the road gets enough space to remain safe from cars passing by,” said Doug Johnson, spokesperson for AAA Northern California. “As an organization deeply rooted in a century-long commitment to road safety, this law aligns with our mission to safeguard everyone on our roadways.”

“Slow Down, Move Over, and let’s protect every person stranded on our roadways. Together, we can turn a moment of caution into a statewide culture of care,” said Toks Omishakin, California Transportation Secretary. “Under the leadership of Governor Gavin Newsom, the California State Transportation Agency, Office of Traffic Safety, California Highway Patrol and Caltrans are coming together to make roadside stops moments of safety, not tragedy.”

Roadside Deaths Are Rising at Alarming Levels
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, using NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, reveals roadside fatalities are rising sharply. In California, the number of people killed at the roadside increased nearly 77% from 2014 to 2023.  According to national safety data, this trend is driven by higher speeds, distracted driving, and limited shoulder space on modern freeways.

“Too many Californians are losing their lives simply because passing drivers fail to slow down or move over,” said CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee. “This expanded law makes clear that every person on the roadside, whether a driver or a passenger, deserves the same margin of safety. Obeying ‘Slow Down, Move Over’ is not just a courtesy; it is a legal responsibility that saves lives.”

“As you head out on your next trip, keep in mind that a driver with a flat tire or other roadside car trouble could very well be you,” OTS Director Stephanie Dougherty said. “Please move over a lane or slow down for highway workers, first responders, tow truck drivers and other stopped vehicles on the side of the road or shoulder.  Make safety the destination we all share by looking out for every vehicle and person on the roadside.” 

To protect those working or stranded at the roadside, AAA urges drivers to follow these essential tips:

• Remain alert, avoid distractions, and focus on the task of driving.
• Keep an eye out for situations where emergency vehicles, tow trucks, utility service vehicles or disabled vehicles are stopped on the side of the road.
• When you see these situations, slow down and if possible, move one lane over and away from the people and vehicles stopped at the side of the road.

About AAA Mountain West Group
AAA Mountain West Group is a membership and full-service leisure travel organization, proudly serving over 6.8 million Members across Alaska, Arizona, Nevada, Northern California, Wyoming, Montana, and Utah. AAA delivers unmatched expertise and value through roadside assistance and electric vehicle (EV) resources, along with comprehensive auto repair, travel, insurance, financial, and home security services. Powered by 5,300 dedicated Team Members, AAA is on a mission to revolutionize solutions that help our Members.

Gen Z and Millennials most likely to travel for birthdays, weddings, and special events

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (January 28, 2026) - A new study from AAA and Bread Financial® finds that travel in 2026 will be driven by moments that matter. Sixty-one percent of Americans plan to travel in 2026, and among those travelers, more than three-quarters (76%) say their trips will be planned around important life milestones such as birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and other celebrations. Gen Z and Millennials are leading this shift, approaching these trips with greater intention as they balance showing up for life’s biggest occasions with thoughtful planning and financial confidence.

“The way people travel has fundamentally shifted to become more intentional,” said Cyndi Zesk, Senior Vice President of Travel Services at AAA Mountain West Group. "Experiences that resonate emotionally are driving things like birthday trips, family reunions and celebrations of life across the generations. Vacations are being tied to having experiences that reflect who travelers are, not just where they go. Travel has become a way to honor self and relationships, versus chasing after once-in-a-lifetime bucket list destinations. In a world of apps and algorithms, AAA travel advisors seek to understand why you go- because it’s not just about coordinating movements, but designing moments that matter." 

Showing Up for Life’s Biggest Moments
According to the survey, traveling to celebrate a birthday (32%) will be the most popular milestone trip in 2026, followed by:

• Family reunions (30%) 
• Friends’ milestones (29%) 
• Anniversaries (22%) 
• Weddings (19%) 

Other travel-worthy events include graduations (12%), honeymoons (10%), and fitness competitions, such as marathons or fun runs (7%).

"Traveling for milestone times is about more than just being there, it’s about making those moments count," said Valerie Greer, Chief Commercial Officer of Bread Financial. "With younger generations leading the charge, we’re seeing a shift toward intentional travel that balances celebrating life’s biggest events with smart financial planning. By embracing tools like travel advisors and innovative payment options, travelers can ensure they’re not only present for these special occasions but also financially prepared to make them truly unforgettable."

Generational Breakdown
While plans to travel in 2026 are consistent across generations, traveling for milestone events is more prevalent among younger generations. 

• Gen Z: 89% plan trips around milestones
• Millennials: 88% plan trips around milestones
• Gen X: 71% plan trips around milestones
• Baby Boomers: 57% plan trips around milestones

Connection Outweighs Convenience, Even When It’s Complicated
Traveling is more than just the places. Key motivators include: 

• Reconnect and see people they haven’t seen in a while (40%). 
• Strengthen friendships and bonds (33%). 
• Gen Z (25%) prioritizes traveling with friends more than Baby Boomers (9%).

However, traveling with friends and family for milestone events can be stressful. 

• Fifty-nine percent of travelers report they’ve faced tension or had an argument with a travel partner. 
• Twenty-two percent of survey respondents say they are only willing to go to a wedding if it’s close to home. 
• Nine percent are willing to undertake a long-haul international trip outside of North America.

Planning & Paying with Intention
Results from the survey indicate that travelers are deliberately managing milestone travel to minimize challenges, using travel advisors, planning tools, loyalty programs, and innovative payment options to optimize their traveling experiences.

Nearly half (46%) of respondents say they have relied on a travel advisor to help plan their trips. The most cited benefits for using a travel agent cited by travelers are: 

• Finding the best deals (51%)
• Saving time (43%) 
• Having support if something goes wrong (35%) 

About a third of respondents rely on travel experts to handle complex logistics (31%) or uncover "hidden gems" (30%).

While payment methods vary by generation, the most common ways to fund travel include: 

• Debit cards (52%) 
• Personal savings (51%)
• Credit cards (48%) 

Younger travelers are more likely to mix payment methods to manage milestone costs. They also place higher value on rewards; one-third (33%) of Gen Z respondents say loyalty points, status, or miles “heavily” influence plans, compared to only 10% of Baby Boomers.

Budget transparency is common, especially when traveling with others. 

• Forty-six percent of respondents who travel with groups or couples’ trips say they are transparent about budgets and expenses with travel partners
• Thirteen percent said they tend to handle their own finances privately. 

When it comes to protecting their trips, most travelers (71%) indicated that they had previously purchased travel insurance for their trips, most commonly for hotel or rental costs, baggage and personal items, emergency medical coverage while traveling, or non-refundable flights.

About AAA Mountain West Group
AAA Mountain West Group is a membership and full-service leisure travel organization, proudly serving over 6.8 million Members across Northern California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming, and Alaska. AAA delivers unmatched expertise and value through roadside assistance and electric vehicle (EV) resources, along with comprehensive auto repair, travel, insurance, financial, and home security services. Powered by 5,300 dedicated Team Members, AAA is on a mission to revolutionize solutions that help our Members.


About Bread Financial®
Bread Financial® (NYSE: BFH) is a tech-forward financial services company that provides simple, personalized payment, lending and saving solutions to millions of U.S. consumers. Our payment solutions, including Bread Financial general purpose credit cards and savings products, empower our customers and their passions for a better life. Additionally, we deliver growth for some of the most recognized brands in travel & entertainment, health & beauty, jewelry and specialty apparel through our private label and co-brand credit cards and pay-over-time products providing choice and value to our shared customers. Bread Financial proudly marks 30 years of success in 2026. To learn more about our global associates, our performance and our sustainability progress, visit breadfinancial.comor follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.

​Hi, Janice -


This is Carolyn (Church) Ferguson up here in Medford, Oregon. Just looking at this old photo labeled Yuba Ski Land, in your January 1st issue, I think the skier standing under the two R's in the word 'Sierra' looks like Robert D'Martini; (though, I don't think he'd be as tall as Mike Hudson, back in 1965). 

Also, the girl on the far right of the photo, standing next to Kathleen Carlson, looks like me!  I don't think it is, though, because I only went up with the ski group one time; and, I think that was in late 1968 or early 1969, rather than in 1965. Maybe Kathleen would remember who was standing next to that unknown girl. ??

Thank you for making your newspaper so local and consistent to the Sierra Valley readers. The newspaper up here in Medford went bye-bye a few years ago, but there is something now online for us to get local updates. 

Take care, and God bless you~

Carolyn Ferguson

By Caleb Hampton
California farmers who grow fruit for canned products suffered a major setback last week as Del Monte Foods announced plans to close its only remaining cannery in the state.
The Walnut Creek-based company filed for bankruptcy in July, citing burdensome debt payments stemming from a prior acquisition of the company and missteps in long-term fruit purchasing commitments made when sales briefly spiked during the pandemic.
This month, following a lengthy court-supervised bidding process, Del Monte auctioned off many of its assets, but no buyer came forward to purchase the company’s cannery in Modesto. 
“As a result, Del Monte Foods has made the difficult decision to begin an orderly wind-down of operations at the facility,” the company said in a statement. “We recognize the significant impact this decision will have on our team members, their families, and the community.”
The cannery’s closure will reportedly affect roughly 600 employees and 1,200 seasonal workers in Modesto.
The closure ends Del Monte’s more than 100-year history as a processor of California-grown fruits and vegetables, potentially leaving scores of farmers without a buyer for their produce.
“It’s difficult,” said Ranjit Davit, who grows cling peaches in Sutter County and chairs the California Canning Peach Association’s board of directors. “Growers are very upset about the situation.”
Farmers who planted fruit orchards under long-term contracts with Del Monte said they were weighing their options and bracing for steep losses. 
Growers of cling peaches are especially impacted as the crop has no fresh market and is sold entirely to processors. In recent years, Del Monte contracted about 35% of California’s cling peaches, while Lodi-based Pacific Coast Producers contracted about 60% of the crop, with the rest purchased by a few smaller processors.
“It’s pretty devastating,” said Richard Lial, who grows cling peaches in San Joaquin County.
Cling peach growers typically plant new orchards—at a cost of several thousand dollars per acre—after securing contracts with processors that last 20 years, roughly the orchard’s lifespan. It can take close to a decade for a farmer to pay off the initial investment, and Del Monte’s exit from the sector means many growers may never make their money back.
A couple years ago, Lial tore out a productive almond orchard to clear the ground for 50 acres of peaches under a long-term contract with Del Monte. He planted the peach trees last year only to be left a year later with no buyer for the fruit.
“It’s horrible,” Lial said.  
The third-generation grower farms a total of 105 acres of peaches, all of which was contracted with Del Monte. He said it may be possible to graft almond trees onto his young peach orchard, and to find a short-term buyer for some of the fruit from his bearing acreage, but neither outcome was certain.
The spacing in his peach orchard is “not ideal” for almonds, Lial said, and Del Monte’s departure will likely leave far more fruit on the market than other buyers can absorb.
“One of my options is just to take everything out,” he said. “It will be a total loss.”
Lial added that the closure of the Modesto cannery could have a “huge trickle-down effect” in the Central Valley, with impacts not only on cannery workers and farmers but on the farm workforce and agricultural supply companies. He said the loss of his peach acreage would likely force him to lay off two employees.
For decades, cling peach growers have faced declining demand due to the year-round availability of fresh fruit, while rising input costs and cheap imports have also challenged the sector. Since 1969, California’s bearing acreage declined from more than 63,000 to less than 14,000, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Chris Zanobini, executive director of the California Pear Advisory Board, said the state’s pear growers were similarly “concerned about whether they’ll be able to sell the fruit they grow” this year.
While pear growers have an important fresh market, most of the fruit is sold to canneries, with Del Monte purchasing more than 40% of the cannery tonnage last year.
Cling peach and pear growers alike said they were looking to PCP, the only major processor left in California, to potentially pick up their fruit.
The grower-owned cooperative purchased some assets from Del Monte during the bankruptcy sale, including unsold canned fruit inventory.
Mona Shulman, vice president of PCP, said the cooperative was also in the process of licensing some of Del Monte’s shelf-stable fruit product brands from Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc., a separate company that purchased the brands from Del Monte.
Shulman said PCP planned to contract more fruit acreage from farmers this year as the cooperative expands its private-label business to include Del Monte-branded products.
“We intend to market and sell the Del Monte brand going forward for shelf-stable fruits,” Shulman said. “In that mix, we will be acquiring more fruit than we currently process.”
As of this week, PCP, which processes fruit at a cannery in Oroville, was still assessing the volume and varieties it would need.
“We are in discussions currently for our peach supply needs with attention to varieties that deliver throughout the production season,” Shulman said, adding that PCP would procure fruit “to support a sustainable volume of Del Monte sales” but could not replace the company’s full production.  
Unlike most fruit contracts, purchases made this year by PCP may represent a stopgap solution for growers rather than a long-term guarantee.  
“It is possible that the contracts will be for a shorter term simply because we don’t know how this is going to work in the mix,” Shulman said. “To protect our company and not overcommit, it is likely a 20-year contract may not be the initial offering.”
Caleb Hampton is editor of Ag Alert. He can be reached at [email protected].


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TRUCKEE, Calif. — The Tahoe Literary Festival is now accepting submissions for featured author readings at the second annual Truckee Literary Crawl on April 11, 2026, from 1 to 8 p.m. in downtown Truckee. The Truckee Literary Crawl, presented by Tahoe Literary Festival, is free and open to the public. 

Celebrating the literary arts through curated readings and an evening open mic, the Literary Crawl invites audiences to experience new works in venues throughout downtown. A special featured author event and book signing with Priya Hutner for her new book “Chasing Nirvana” will take place on Friday, April 10. The Literary Crawl is sponsored by Tahoe Guide, The Seasoned Sage, Truckee Core Values program, Nevada County Arts, Truckee Cultural District and many local businesses. 
Writers, poets, and other creatives are invited to submit proposals for featured readings at TahoeLitFest.com. Submissions are open to new or soon-to-be-released works and are due by Feb. 15. Works from 2025 are eligible for submission. 
The Truckee Literary Crawl debuted in 2025 as an extension of the first Tahoe Literary Festival, held in October 2024. The Literary Crawl is a free community event held at businesses throughout downtown Truckee to celebrate the written word, works by new writers, authors, poets and other creatives, and to create a space to support and promote the arts. 
In conjunction with this year’s call for submissions, the Tahoe Literary Festival also announced it is officially becoming a nonprofit organization, supporting expanded literary programming and long-term community impact in the Tahoe-Truckee region.
For details and submissions, visit TahoeLitFest.com. Programming questions may be directed to [email protected].
Save the Date: The Tahoe Literary Festival returns Oct. 9 and 10, 2026, in Tahoe City. 

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