SACRAMENTO – Today, Assembly members Dante Acosta (R-Santa Clarita) and Catharine Baker (R-Dublin) introduced a resolution calling on the University of California Regents to reject their proposed tuition increase. The resolution (ACR 167) calls on the UC to focus on students and use its funding more efficiently in light of the UC Office of the President’s history of fiscal mismanagement that included lavish spending and a secret $174 million reserve fund. 
 
“It’s been less than a year since we found out that the UC administration hid about $175 million in a secret fund, then tried to cover it up,” said Acosta. “It takes some nerve to push for a tuition increase after a stunt like that. How can the Regents look students in the eye and explain this plan? UC students and faculty deserve better.”
 
“The UC needs to get its own financial house in order before it even considers asking students for more money,” said Baker. “California students and families deserve better financial management from UC, not tuition hikes.”
 
An April 2017 report by the State Auditor revealed that the UC Office of the President used misleading budget practices, paid extraordinarily generous salaries and interfered with investigators. The Auditor also reported that the Office of the President had spent more than $2 million on wasteful items like theatre tickets, luxury hotels and limo rides.
 
The proposal being considered by the UC Regents would increase in-state tuition by $342, or 2.7% for the 2018-19 school year. It follows a $336 tuition increase imposed by the Regents last year.  Last week, following outcry from students, parents and elected leaders, the Regents postponed a vote on the tuition increase until their meeting in May.
 



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The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is planning to capture numerous elk in northern California in late January and early February.


From Jan. 31 through Feb. 4, CDFW will capture as many as 43 adult Rocky Mountain elk (nine bulls and 34 cows) in Lassen, Modoc and Siskiyou counties in northeastern California. From Feb. 6 through Feb. 8, CDFW will capture up to 16 Roosevelt elk cows in Humboldt County in northwestern California.


The elk will be captured on lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) as well as on private properties with permission from landowners. CDFW is grateful to the USFS, timberland owners and other private landowners that are providing access to their lands for the captures.


Under the direction of CDFW veterinary staff, CDFW wildlife biologists will lead the captures. Capture crews will locate elk via helicopter, capture them with net guns and restrain the captured animals for tagging.


Each elk will be ear tagged and fitted with a GPS collar. Pregnant female elk from specific herds will receive an additional transmitter that will monitor their pregnancies and aid biologists in finding their calves in the spring. The collars will provide detailed information about elk for approximately two years. This information will enhance CDFW's knowledge of current elk distribution, abundance, calf recruitment, survival and habitat use.


For additional information regarding captures in Lassen, Modoc or Siskiyou counties, please contact CDFW Wildlife Biologist Reid Plumb at (530) 598-6011. For information regarding captures in Humboldt County, please contact CDFW Environmental Scientist Carrington Hilson at (707) 445-6493.







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The Sierra County Arts Council is pleased to present Ludi Hinrichs “THE JOY OF MUSIC ACROSS THE GLOBE” as part of our Artists in Schools program.  Ludi will be performing a student assembly at Loyalton Elementary Multi-Purpose Room on Feb. 8 at 1:30pm. Ludi’s music is a reflection his own journeys to several continents, and the direct experience of performing and collaborating with master musicians and teachers from the US, India, Africa, Canada, Japan, Australia and Indonesia over the last four decades. Ludi offers our students the experience of hearing the unique beauty and commonality of diverse World cultures.
  
Ludi will perform samples of some of the World’s cultures utilizing voice, gong, harps, metallophones and wind instruments to visually and sonically open the student’s parameters of what music is, while actively requesting their participation, and at the same time enhancing the specific core elements of melody, rhythm, harmony, texture, structure and ensemble awareness.  
 
Ludi has over forty-five years of teaching and performing in public schools and venues both in the US and abroad.  Currently Ludi is lending his talents to teach our elementary students music at Downieville School.   You may learn more about Ludi at his website www.ludihinrichs.com.
 
This event is sponsored by a grant from the California Arts Council and by matching funds from the Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District.  Thank you to all the volunteers and to staff from our schools for making this opportunity available to our students.  Sierra County Arts Council is the State-Local Partner with the California Arts Council.  For information call B.J. Jordan at 530-289-3673 or visit the Arts Council’s website www.sierracountyartscouncil.org.
 

 
William John (67) Rescue.  Driving under the influence.  Three years probation, 2 days jail, fine $1880, attend alcohol school.
 
Mark Kisch (49) Roseville.  Hunting in zone for which he did not possess license and tags.  Fine $670.
 
Kane Knoefler (37) Downieville.  Violation of parole for not keeping in touch with parole officer.  One hundred – eighty days jail.
 
Pang Punn (49) Foresthill.  Possession of marijuana in open container in vehicle.  Fine $460.
 
Steven Reel (63) Chilcoot.  Possession of device for smoking a controlled substance.  Twenty months probation, fine $1040.
 
Brody Smith (36) Ylina Smith (33) Concord.  After a contested preliminary hearing, both defendants were ordered to stand trial on first degree (residential) burglary, committing a burglary while a person was in the residence, grand theft, and elder abuse theft.  They remain free on $100,000 bail each. This incident involved a burglary of  hotel business in Downieville.
 
Debra Hunt (33) Richard Douglas (22).  Both pled guilty to residential burglary and committing a burglary while a victim was in the residence.  They will be sentenced on February 9.  Both defendants are in custody.  Hunt is a sentenced prisoner our to Trinity County and Douglas has been in custody since the incident. 
 
Shawna Graves (33) Loyalton.  Dog at large, fine $153.
 
 
 
Ernest Suschnick (72) Oroville.  Display of license not issued for the vehicle upon which it was being displayed.  Fine $567.
 
Mark Black (47) Loyalton.  Unlawful operation of motor vehicle in closed state wildlife area.  Fine $475.
 
Sheri Wolverton (49) Yuba City.  Sentencing after a conviction of setting fire to forest land.  Five years probation, 100 days jail,  fine $1435, and  a restitution hearing is set.
 
Alfonso Ruiz-Tapia (34) and Margrito Valencia-Andrade (47), both are Mexican nationals.  Sentenced for cultivation of marijuana with an illegal water diversion.  Both were sentenced to two years state prison, after which ICE plans to deport both defendants.
 
 
 
 
 

Small Business Reacts to Governor Brown’s Final State of the State
Disappointed by glaring omission of small business from speech

SACRAMENTO, Calif., January 25, 2018 – Following Governor Jerry Brown’s final State of the State address, NFIB California State Director John Kabateck issued the following statement on behalf of our 22,000 dues-paying small business members:


“With California being ranked the worst state in which to do business more than 10 years in a row, home to the nation’s highest income tax, sales tax, gas tax, and one of the most hostile legal climates, NFIB/CA was troubled to hear more about high-speed rail and the Governor’s commitment to do ‘everything in his power’ to protect the recent gas tax increase, while failing to mention small business even once in his speech.


“While we appreciate the Governor’s rhetoric and tone toward fiscal restraint and responsibility, we wish to see more policies to support these words, rather than more taxes and spending. Although the Governor’s final State of the State address left much to be desired for small business, we hope to provide the insights of our 22,000 small business members to the Governor and Legislature in the year ahead.”


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For more than 70 years, the National Federation of Independent Business has been the Voice of Small Business, taking the message from Main Street to the halls of Congress and all 50 state legislatures. NFIB has 325,000 dues-paying members nationally, with over 22,000 in California. NFIB annually surveys its members on state and federal issues vital to their survival as America's economic engine and biggest creator of jobs. To learn more visit www.NFIB.com/california

SENATOR GAINES RESPONDS TO GOVERNOR BROWN’S 2018 STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
 
SACRAMENTO – Senator Ted Gaines (R-El Dorado) today reacted to Governor Jerry Brown’s 2018 State of the State address, which he delivered to a joint session of the Legislature and the people of California this morning.
 
“I’m glad that the state’s revenues are still healthy, but that will mean nothing if we don’t get our spending priorities straight and cut spending overall. Any bit of fiscal news that sounds promising for the state completely ignores the massive, looming catastrophe that is our public pension system. Our unfunded liability could be half a trillion dollars – trillion, not billion. That money we owe won’t get us anything new – not another road or dam or officer patrolling the streets. It’s for services we’ve already consumed. This debt won’t go away by ignoring it, and the Governor should develop a concrete plan to pay it down and rein in runaway pension benefits.
 
“High Speed Rail is the first transportation system to run entirely on taxpayer money, a miracle fuel that Governor Brown imagines never runs out. The ‘train to nowhere’ is such a colossal waste of cash that could be used to repair our crumbling roads or invest in our universities or any one of a thousand other, better uses.
 
“California has the highest poverty rate in the nation because the state is so expensive. Taxpayers will foot the bill for High Speed Rail, but they also pay electricity rates that are almost 50-percent higher than the national average. Our gas taxes just shot up by twelve-cents a gallon with more major increases to come. Our absurd housing costs are unaffordable to vast swaths of people. Those costs are the results of policy decisions by liberal legislators and the Governor.
 
“The federal government cut taxes to put money back into families’ pockets. California is proposing to double the state corporate tax and creating gimmicky tax schemes to keep personal taxes high. It never ends. Maybe it’s time the Golden State takes a lesson from the new Washington, D.C.”
 
# # #
 
Senator Ted Gaines represents the 1st Senate District, which includes all or parts of Alpine, El Dorado, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Shasta, Sierra and Siskiyou counties. Follow him on Facebook.



Assembly Republican Leader Dahle Responds to State of the State
 
SACRAMENTO – Today, Assembly Republican Leader Brian Dahle (Bieber) released the following statement in response to Governor Brown’s State of the State Address:
 
“Five years ago, I came to the Legislature to make sure my family and friends could afford a better life in California. Today, while California is on the verge of becoming the fifth largest economy in the world, the state’s skyrocketing cost of living and highest-in-the-nation poverty rate prove that there is a lot of work left to do.
 
“Our leaders must remember that California is not just made of tech billionaires. We have to pay attention to the working-class people who are struggling to find the money for day-to-day necessities. We need to make California a state that ordinary people can afford.”
 
Assembly Republican Leader Brian Dahle serves the 1st district.

Assemblyman Harper Responds to
Governor’s State of the State Address
 
 
SACRAMENTO – Today, Assemblyman Matthew Harper (R-Huntington Beach) issued the following statement in response to Governor Jerry Brown’s State of the State Address:
 
"I appreciated Governor Brown’s thanks to our first-responders. As California suffered last year from terrible natural disasters, including devastating forest fires and deadly mudslides, it was our police and firefighters who answered the call to protect others, even as their own homes were in the path of danger.
 
In his final State of the State address, I was hopeful that he would put the brakes on high-speed rail. With a price tag of more than $60 billion and no completion date in sight, it is time to focus on real transportation solutions. Californians are paying the highest gas prices in the nation and not seeing any improvements on our roads. We should use transportation funds to add lanes to reduce traffic on our congested freeways and make it easier for hard-working Californians to get to their jobs.
 
While Governor Brown painted the picture of California’s economic prosperity, most Californians are struggling to live here. My legislative priority for 2018 will be to lower taxes and support bills that streamline building regulations to help reduce housing costs. I look forward to working with the Governor to make California a more affordable place to live. ”
 
Assemblyman Matthew Harper represents the 74th Assembly District; he is the former Mayor of the City of Huntington Beach. The 74th Assembly District includes the cities of Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach, Irvine, Laguna Woods & Laguna Beach.
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LOYALTON CITY COUNCIL met January 16th. Discussion and possible action regarding CalPERS retirement for former employees was taken off the agenda and later stated because it was just a static item and there was no discussion.

Farr West Engineering gave a presentation regarding development and maintenance of a Geographic Information System (GIF) database and web-based interface of the City’s Utility Infrastructure, approved by USDA with the scope of work. It was stated there’s still $40,000 of the USDA grant.

Names are being taken for nomination of the Richard Meder Community Leadership Award.

There was a lot of public comment over the lack of a committee to work with the sheriff’s office on abatement of the trailers illegally parked around town. 
Sheriff Tim Standley gave a history of the trailer park, having to have authority and it having no owner. 
From the audience, Mark Lombardi argued it was “unacceptable;” the need to demand it as “a nation of laws,” it was “inexcusable, lame excuse and insulting.”
Sheriff Standley told of the Friday court hearing where the judge granted another phase of funding, going to a funding source for cleanup of the mobilehome park and hoping for clean up by the end of the month. He told of the talk about the wind and debris, rain, mold, rats and rodents, ferel cats and debris piling up. “The sooner removed, the better for everybody,” he said.
The City’s code had been printed in the Sierra Booster and there was some disagreement with audience members whether or not a committee was now needed but can be formed at the special meeting.

Paul Rose of  a Reno firm introduced himself, has toured the City’s wastewater plant and is a licensed operator with a wastewater consultant on staff and 
was interested in helping with the city’s operational needs.

For the Loyalton Volunteer Fire Department Report, Assistant Chief Robert DeMartini told of a mutual aid call to Scotts Road for a structure fire with its water tender and four volunteers. It is partnering on a grant with Sierra Valley, Sierra City and Downieville and told of a grant for a water tender needed for outlying areas. He called the Timberline fire residue “the mess” hopefully to be cleaned up.

There was discussion over the City’s last attorney bill total from July to December of $104,080 and Bookkeeper Tracy Smith explained $86,850 and $9,650 were for the Cox and Cox wastewater settlement. From the audience, former Council member Brooks Mitchell questioned why it cost the City and stated it should have come out of the settlement.

Jackie Mitchell, curator of the museum, told of Craig Sheridan’s high school woodworking class building a garage for the little fire engine 15’ x 7’ with a back door and big plexiglass window and using $3,000 from her museum fund. It is to be started in September. Under question, she said it would be built on the gravel  where she couldn’t put the old equipment due to community protest.
Libby Ryan questioned why Jackie hadn’t called her about the museum committee and Jackie answered she won’t start a committee.

The Council approved conveyance of real property from the City to the County for Health and Human Services facilities.

The Council was ready to appoint a new member with Allen Tidwell, Brooks Mitchell and Colby Russell applying. The ad in the Sierra Booster gave applicants until February 19th to apply so it was appropriately postponed.

A SPECIAL meeting Jan. 24th saw approval of an exclusive $25/month lease agreement with the archery club for the swimming pool building with the tenant building a $6,000 floor and making repairs, including rust on the beams, with permits and paying utilities.
Farr West Engineering gave a presentation on the Loyalton Utilities Church Stret Sewer Rehabilitation project, which is categorically exempt from CEQA.
After heavy discussion led by Council member Joy Markum and clarification of the City Ordinances read by Sheriff Tim Standley, it was approved Joy could serve abatement letters on illegal camping trailers, camper shells, RVs  or mobile homes within the City.




 

A Cattlemen’s Clinic was held the afternoon of January 19 in Loyalton at the Social Hall.
Tracy Schohr, University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor for Plumas, Sierra and Butte counties is shown giving the welcome. Ken Tate, Ph.D., University of California, Davis gave a report on Best Management Practices at the Ranch to Promote Water Quality.

Topics discussed were Ranching with Predators: Tools and Impacts with Leslie Roche, Ph.D., University of California, Davis and Dan Macon, UCCE, Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor Placer-Nevada-Yuba-Sutter Counties; 
Reporting Predation Locally – Tracy Schohr; 
Beef Cattle Marketing: Are Your Investments Paying Off? by Tina Saitone, Ph.D., UCCE Specialist and UC Davis Lecturer; 
A Practical Approach to Herd Health and BQA Bret McNabb, DVM, Assistant Professor with the Livestock Herd Health and Reproduction Service, UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine; 
Prevention Works - New Vaccines on the Market Shane Strickler, Regional Sales Manager, Boehringer-Ingelheim.
Beef Quality Assurance certification was available at the event for producers.

A second Clinic will be held Saturday, January 29th at Feather River College, Golden Eagle Avenue in Quincy.

​IN LOYALTON, the former bakery building is nearing remodel completion and Jill and Josh Makoutz are looking forward to opening early summer.
Josh works at a family lawn care business in Reno with his dad and five siblings.
Jill is a former teacher who has taught English as a Second Language in Croatia during college and now home schools their three children, Ruby, 10, Dylan 7, and Sawyer, 4.
Jill and Ruby held a 4-H bake sale downtown and sold out which helped them realize the need for fresh baked goods.
Both Jill and Josh love to cook.  In Wisconsin, from where they moved, they ran a cafe together and featured coffee and crepes. Yes, crepes - that type of very thin pastry with those savory and sweet variations. Think buckwheat with breakfast fillings and from Ham, Gouda, Spinach, Egg, Pesto, Scrambled Eggs and Mozzarella. 
Jill knows all about the sweet and elegant crepes that dress up any occasion and make it special like Lemon Curd with whipped cream, Nutella, Raspberry. This may all be offered along with other food items.
So, once thought to become a pizza parlor, they now think of featuring a regular Pizza Night but opening week ends as a cafe.

By Assembly Republican Leader Brian Dahle

For people like me who don’t live near city centers, quality internet service is hard to come by. This digital divide for people in rural areas has major consequences including a lack of jobs which depend on a strong internet connection and a lack access to education. I have worked to solve the problem in California and the federal government just lent a welcome helping hand.  
Last year, the Governor signed my bill to help close the internet gap. The measure more than doubles the amount of money used by the California Advance Services Fund to pay for broadband infrastructure projects to underserved areas. Internet access is dependent on infrastructure and rural areas will now have more money for building things like modern communications towers which can provide fast and reliable wireless internet. 
Along with my bill, President Trump recently issued an executive order to help rural Americans get faster internet. The executive order streamlines approvals and allows internet service providers to use US Department of Agriculture land and facilities for building new broadband towers.
There’s no single easy solution to increasing broadband access, but putting federal assets to use to serve neighboring communities will remove a major roadblock to improving rural networks.
Faster internet access is a necessary tool for growing the economy. Companies who depend on downloading and uploading large amounts of data will be able to set up operations outside of cities. Architects, for example, depend on transferring large digital blueprint files. With access to broadband internet, they will have the flexibility to do business in rural areas, bringing jobs and opportunity to the community. 
Higher internet speeds will also allow rural students to access online courses and educational videos. This year’s budget commits funds to develop the state’s first online community college. The growing trend of online education makes it more important than ever to make sure young people have access to the same to high speed internet as the rest of the state. 
Broadband internet is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity. In the California economy, information travels at the rate of megabytes per second. For most of the state, internet speeds have kept up with the pace of technology. For the forgotten few in rural communities, the internet is not available at all or only provided at slow speeds. With my bill and the new executive order, rural Californians will finally have the same access to education and job opportunities as the rest of the state. 
Assembly Republican Leader Brian Dahle serves the 1st district in the California State Assembly.

​FILING PETITIONS IN LIEU OF FILING FEES for the June 5, 2018 Statewide Direct Primary Election, as of Tuesday, January 9th: 

Sierra County Supervisor, District 2: Incumbent Peter Heubner and Docia Bostrom, retired from Sierra County Treasurer’s Office
Sierra County Supervisor, District 5: Incumbent Scott Schlefstein and Sharon Dryden, Trustee Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified School District
Sierra County Sheriff: Incumbent Sierra County Sheriff Tim Standley and Sierra County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Mike Fisher
Sierra County District Attorney/Public Administrator upon retirement of Larry Allen: Sandra Groven, Probation Specialist/Drug Court Coordinator and David Garner of Butte County
Sierra Superior Court Judge: Incumbent Sierra Superior Court Judge Yvette Durant and J. Lon Cooper, Sierra County Public Defender. 
Offices not contested: Sierra County Assessor Laura Marshall, Sierra County Clerk-Recorder Heather Foster and Sierra County Auditor/Treasurer/Tax Collector Van Maddox are all running for re-election.
The period for filing a petition in-lieu of filing fee for County Offices is December 14, 2017 through February 7, 2018.
The filing period for Declarations of Candidacy and Nomination Papers for all candidates is February 12, 2018 through March 9, 2018.
If the incumbent to any of the above offices does not file nomination papers, the time frame for filing extends to March 14, 2018 for other candidates. (Excludes Incumbent)
Persons interested in filing for any of the above offices should contact the Sierra County Clerk-Recorder Office for candidate qualifications and information: P.O. Drawer D, 100 Courthouse Square, Room 11, Downieville, CA 95936; (530) 289-3295; 
clerk-recorder@sierracounty.ca.gov

Just wanted to share the attached photo with all of you to help us remind everyone how dangerous downed power lines can be.


This is a photo of a tree that fell on one of our lines in the Homewood-Timberland area late this morning along Finch Lane/Sugar Pine Road interrupting power to about 10 customers.  Fortunately, no one tried to touch the downed power line, and crews are on site now making repairs.


With these wind storms continuing through tomorrow, thought this would be a good safety reminder.


Stay safe out there!


Kathy


Kathy Carter | Liberty Utilities  Contractor

 
The Sierra Schools Foundation recently awarded nearly $20,000 in educational grants to teachers in the Sierra-Plumas Unified School District—with most of those relating to the sciences and arts.
The following grants were awarded for project expenses organized by the following teachers:
Downieville School:

• STEAM Enrichment, $5,180, Maire McDermid
• Downieville Greenhouse, $225, Maire McDermid
• Crocker Art Field Trip, $287, Maire McDermid
• STEM Sea Perch Navy Competition, Robin Bolle
• Spring Musical for Dance and Vocal Workshops, $2,500, Lynn Fillo

Loyalton Elementary School:

• Sierra Nevada Journeys Family Science Night, $400, Andrea Ceresola
• Discovery Museum Field Trip, $820, Ann Fisher
• National Lava Beds Field Trip, $2,600, Joanna Haug
• UNR Planetarium Field Trip, $500, Erin Folchi

Loyalton High School

• Peace Mediation Project, $1,850, Megan Meschery
• Sound of Music Field Trip, $800, Susan Baker
• Lassen Volcanic National Park, $2,050, Jason Adams
• UNR’s Black Rock Press Field Trip, $300, Laura Calabrese
• Agriculture Program Camera, $550, Cali Griffin
• Math Escape Room, $400, Sue Gressel
• Teacher at Home with iPad Pro, $1,000, Adrienne Anila

To receive an SSF grant, teachers or school administrators prepare a grant application that is submitted for review by the SSF board. Two grant cycles are administered each school year, one for each semester.
Jenna Holland, SSF president, said, “Twice a year we are excited to see the innovative ways that teachers are conveying concepts and standards to their students. We are so thankful for our donors who make this all possible.”
 SSF bases grant decisions on its Roots and Boots Initiative, which encourages students to explore, appreciate and preserve their rural roots and the remote and rural landscapes that shaped them, while also providing them with the “boots,” or skills, training and experiences to walk into their future prepared and inspired for what is ahead.  

On January 23rd at 5:40 a.m. on the Beckwourth Calpine Road north on Money Road, Tanner McKay, 21 of Quincy was driving his 2004 Dodge southbound at a stated speed of approximately 55 mph. As the Dodge rounded a curve in the roadway, it encountered black ice. McKay lost control and the Dodge slid towards the embankment on the east side of the road. The Dodge slid down the embankment, where it overturned severl times before coming to rest on its left side. McKay and his passengers, Brandon McGarity, 19 and Matthew McGarity, 22 of Portola and Ethan Nyberg, 21 of Quincy, called 911 and CHP arrived a short time later to assist.


On January 23rd at 6;51 on Beckwourth Calpine Road south of Valle Vista Drive, Sara Collins, 26 of Portola was driving a 1998 GMC Suburban southbound at a speed of 68 mph. At the time there was a heavy layer of fog in the area which caused the roadway to freeze. Collins was traveling through a sweeping left hand curve in the roadway and her vehicle lost traction and slid. Collins attempted to regain control but was unable to and the vehicle left the roadway, overturned and came to rest on its wheels. Following the collision all parties, Dehlyla Essler, 6, Keith Stewart 22, Aurora Conway, 13, John Dickie, 10 all of Portola and Tyler Jay Gorsuch, 29 of Truckee all self extricated from the vehicle. Alcohol or drugs are not a factor in the collision and all parties were restrained in the vehicle.

Like clockwork, people are composing their lists of New Year’s resolutions, and at the same time they’re ending this year with some of the same problems, frustrations or worries of past years.  They want to take a brighter outlook and ride those resolutions to a higher quality of life in the New Year – but inevitably, familiar issues get them down year after year.
How can this New Year be different? How can you stay more positive and hopeful despite problems that won’t go away when the big ball drops in Times Square?
“Making laughter a part of your every-day life is the answer. When life gets tough, laughter begins,” says Lee Volpe (www.LeeVolpe.com), a humorist and author of Black Sheep Tries Bleach: Humorous Stories to Ease Life’s Growing Pains.
 “We all have humor inside us. It is so healthy to use it in a variety of ways. When you really deconstruct some things in your life that may be problems or annoyances, you can creatively come at them with laughter, and your whole outlook changes.”  
Mentally and physically, the benefits of laughter are many, Volpe says, and she lists five of those benefits that can help you make 2018 a happier New Year:
• Reduces stress. Laughter reduces the level of stress hormones. such as cortisol and epinephrine (adrenaline), and it boosts the immune system. Science has further shown that after a good laugh, muscles can be relaxed for up to 45 minutes. “Laughter is a free stress-management strategy, and in today’s pressurized, problem-filled world, there’s a big premium on that,” Volpe says. “Laughter is often the best kind of therapy.” 
• Burns calories. Everybody wants to lose weight in the New Year, right? “Laugh hard enough and you may be able to skip some gym visits – and who doesn’t want to do that,” Volpe says. Studies show that a good stream of laughter can burn 40 calories in 30 minutes. “I saw where you really can burn 75 calories in 30 minutes by banging your head against a wall,” Volpe says. “Knock yourself out.” 
• Becomes a coping mechanism. Laughter makes us feel good. Instead of complaining about life’s frustrations, trying to laugh about them helps. “Humor helps you keep a positive outlook through difficult situations,” Volpe says. “When something extremely frustrating or depressing occurs, try to take the longer view and envision that one day you’ll be able to look back on it and laugh. But why not laugh right now? You also feel stronger. This approach will also make you better equipped to deal with future negative events less stressfully.”
• Brings people together, strengthens relationships. Laughter connects us with others. You can’t enjoy a laugh with other people unless you take the time to engage with them. “It improves the quality of social interaction you have with your friends, co-workers, and acquaintances,” Volpe says. “The old saying is, ‘Laughter is contagious.’ If you bring more laughter into your life, you can help others around you to laugh more and reap the benefits of humor, which in turns helps them with their problems. It makes other people happy, because it’s very infectious, just like anger is.”


“We all need more laughter with the way the world is these days,” Volpe says. “Maybe you can start by laughing at your own New Year’s resolutions list. For a lot of people it turns out to be a joke anyway. And it doesn’t have to be a new year to start a new day, a new outlook, for yourself.”




About Lee Volpe
Lee Volpe  (www.LeeVolpe.com) is the author of Black Sheep Tries Bleach: Humorous Stories to Ease Life’s Growing Pains. After a short career as an actress, Lee found her voice as a humorist, and has never looked back. Since 2011, she has been making a name for herself professionally as an honest, Laugh Out Loud (LOL) humor writer, dealing with daily life and relatable situations. Applauded for saying what most are thinking, Lee has the unique ability of finding wit in the way and amusement in the angle. Marcia Corbino of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune described Lee as “Erma Bombeck meets Sex and the City.”

A “HOMECOMING” for former residents of the Loyalton Mobilehome Park turned out to be at the status conference over the park held at Sierra Superior Court in Downieville January 12th at 2 p.m.
The small group was well represented by Herb Whitaker, Managing Attorney for Legal Services of Northern California.
Former residents at the status conference, who had been denied the $3,000, were past self-appointed manager and said having used an unpermitted fireplace in violation, Jim Rimmer who now is employed at Chewy.com in Reno; Brian Caudle who was refused for a timely vacate and said to trespass onto the property twice; Mark Black, David Black, Lisa Melton who are said trespassed onto the property and Mark is said to have made multiple attempts to collect multiple payments by claiming to act on behalf of other occupants; Tita Cleghorn, denied for unpermitted fireplace; Valerie Robertson use of unpermitted fireplace and trespass; Kevin Pagal whose unit was said to be vacant since the Receiver took control of the property and was “essentially a junkyard, full of abandoned vehicles, piles of scrap metal, tires, junk and other debris.” Not seen at the hearing were Megan Misigal, denied because it was a vacant unit; Lynette Canepa, Michael Acutt, Mariah Arney for refusal to timely vacate.
Herb Whitaker was there for clients to present claims on relocation yet stated the emphasis was value gained by the move.  He stated clients did vacate and received benefits which was “very helpful.” He, too, spoke of a lack of housing and not even hotel rooms which were tied up. He was there to ask specifically for those individuals denied funds and to review their claims.  Eighteen residents were paid $23,000. Eight were denied and for two, the judge would have to recuse himself. Whitaker said they were denied for wood burning stoves and as claim jumpers. One was “just hanging on” and needed funds to relocate.
Adams felt they could work something out and took a break in the hall. The judge stated he would have to be recused on two residents and a further hearing date of February 9th at 11 a.m. was set “to whittle down names.”

CONCERNING LOYALTON MOBILE

HOME PARK, a status conference was held at Sierra Superior Court in Downieville on January 12th at 2 p.m. Also present was Joseph F. Larmour, attorney with Prentice Long & Eperson and Judge Charles Ervin presiding.
Judge Ervin stated he can’t go anywhere without “snide comments” about the status of the park and stated he’d not inspected it but it’s hard not to notice the debris. He asked Mark Adams, Esq. President, California Receivership Group, PBC, for a better understanding of what’s going on.
Adams was “happy to address” it.  He spoke on where the property is headed in terms  of economic 
aspect.  He spoke highly of the cooperation with County Counsel yet not all in agreement but cooperation to get things done. He spoke of it being “no small matter to cover relocations.” He called the next round with approval “no easier but harder.” Financing, he said would help with further financing . He doubted this would be the last request for funds. He said the County had agreed to subordinate property taxes. Judge Ervin asked it it had been forgiven as discussions had not happened. Adams answered he’d pay as much due to the County as he can. The eventual  plan for development or project should be over and above, he said.
Adams spoke of physical removal, contamination and “horrible environment costs.”  The good news, he reported was Supervisor Paul Roen as “public spirited,” to commit to removal before funding. Adams said Roen’s “ready to start immediately.”  He spoke of showing the lender the community project with the County and Roen. Adams spoke of a long list of receivables, stating “It does cost money.”
He told Judge Ervin his vision stating Loyalton is “much stronger” economically than expected. He told of the co-gen going onstream and in ​the process of 24 new jobs but questioned where people would live. He told of not a lot of affordable housing but 51 pads for mobile homes at the mobilehome park. He suggested a complex easily with good, manufactured housing which could be affordable and getting to a point to find a developer who knows how to buy manufactured homes. He called it a realistic process to support job generators.
Judge Ervin agreed, stating, it “does sound as an attainable vision.”
Adams continued, the site has pads and it would take a talk to Planning on getting the site set up.
Funding for removal of the debris within the former park was approved only to learn the County Department of Health wants an environmental consultant who wasn't available to inspect until this week.
Receiver Mark Adams is confident, “I fully expect we'll still be done by the 31st and the haul out crew is standing by, ready to go.” 

Releases ‘Tax Help for the Cannabis Industry’ Video Series

 
Sacramento – The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) has produced a three-part video series to help individuals who operate cannabis-based businesses learn about their tax responsibilities.
 
On January 1, 2018, two new cannabis taxes took effect – a cultivation tax and an excise tax. In addition, businesses that make retail sales of cannabis and cannabis products are required to report and pay sales and use tax. These videos will provide general information on the tax requirements for cannabis retailers, distributors, cultivators, and manufacturers. They also explain how to register for a cannabis tax permit and seller’s permit, how to determine if sales are taxable, how to calculate the proper tax rate, when to use or accept a resale certificate, and how to file returns and maintain adequate records.
 
The three-part video series includes:
Tax Help for the Cannabis Retailer
Tax Help for the Cannabis Distributor
Tax Help for the Cannabis Cultivator or Manufacturer
 
For more information about topics covered in these videos, email CDTFACannabisHelp@cdtfa.ca.gov, or view Tax Guide for Cannabis Businesses on the CDTFA website. For more information, call the Customer Service Center at 1-800-400-7115 (TTY:711) Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Pacific time), except state holidays.
 
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Important Notice: Recent legislation created the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA) to administer the taxes and fees previously collected by the Board of Equalization, with the exception of Property Tax, Alcoholic Beverage Tax and Insurance Tax. Additional information concerning this recent change can be found at www.boe.ca.gov and at www.cdtfa.ca.gov. For more information on other taxes and fees in California, visit the California Tax Service Center.
 
Note: This video series is intended to provide general information regarding the application of tax and will not serve as a basis for relief of liability under Revenue and Taxation Code sections 6596 and 55045. Changes in law or regulations may occur. If there is a conflict between the content of these videos and the law, decisions will be based upon the law and not the videos. For specific help, please contact the CDTFA at 1-800-400-7115.
 
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AT LOYALTON’S LIBRARY, volunteer Virginia Roberts stands next to the new computers, chairs and priner/copier/fax machine.

Dear Community Members and friends:
We live in such a beautiful place, with exceptional people. Our small rural communities are held together by the individuals that live and work here and so many of you volunteer your time and resources to make this place better for all of us. I’m proud to say that I grew up here, and am truly grateful to raise my children in such an incredible community.
Thank you for your generous donations! We were able to complete several grants this year. We provided the Loyalton Volunteer Fire Department with carbon monoxide detection equipment, and a new medical bag equipped with supplies. We also supplied the Loyalton Library with new computers, office chairs and a new printer/copier/fax machine. In addition, we also bought some new bakeware for the Loyalton Elementary School cafeteria.

​We are a dedicated group of people that love our local communities and seek to be an agent of positive change in our rural area. The grants we offer are entirely funded by people who live in our beautiful Sierra County. Would you please consider a donation to the Sierra Valley Community Foundation? All our board members are volunteers, so you can be assured that every dollar you donate will go to fund local projects.
Thank you for your consideration. We consider it an honor to be part of this local community and look forward to helping in the future.
Sincerely,
Rebekah Perez, Chair

​ABIGAIL PRUITT, 13, owner-designer of “Pruitt Puppets,” was featured at Loyalton Senior Center on Tuesday, January 9th. 
Abigail lives in Chilcoot and attends Cold Springs Middle School. She’s been making her marionette puppets four years after having seen similar ones at a crafts show. All scarf materials to make the puppets are upcycles from thrift stores. Once manipulated, the puppets appear to come to life and take on unique personalities, dancing and stepping high to the delight of their audiences. Besides making the puppets, Abigail is a member of the Young Entrepreneur Syndicate “YES” which works with University of Nevada professors. She is  also a member of the Swim Team.

Proposes returning $7.5 billion budget surplus directly to taxpayers

SACRAMENTO - Senator Ted Gaines (R-El Dorado) today announced legislation that will give the $7.5 billion budget surplus back to hard-working California families and businesses in the form of a refund check.


"While California taxpayers continue struggling to make ends meet, the Legislative Analyst's Office reported that the state is sitting on a budget surplus of an additional, unexpected $7.5 billion," said Senator Gaines. "The reason there is a surplus is because Legislative Democrats have continued to overtax Californians and it's time to send that money right back to taxpayer pocketbooks."


The legislation will take the state's $7.5 billion surplus and return it to the taxpayers. Every Californian who filed taxes for 2016 will get their share of that surplus back in a refund check from the government that could amount to hundred dollars per taxpayer.


"I know the legislature will be tempted to continue the tax-and-spend cycle by sinking every extra dollar into expanding an ever-growing list of government services and projects, like granting more rights to undocumented immigrants and funding the boondoggle that is High-Speed Rail.


"But we cannot continue to price families and small businesses out of the state, sending them to neighboring states where the tax burden is much lower. We can't keep fixed-income seniors teetering on the edge of poverty. That's why I'm carrying a bill to get every single tax filer a refund of the money they overpaid to the government. It's their money and it's our obligation to return it."


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Senator Ted Gaines represents the 1st Senate District, which includes all or parts of Alpine, El Dorado, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Shasta, Sierra and Siskiyou counties.
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Sacramento - Board of Equalization Vice Chair George Runner issued the following statement today in response to Governor Jerry Brown's 2018-19 January budget proposal:


"It's a smart move by the governor to boost the state's rainy day fund, since as he warns, the threat of a recession still looms, and California is still very much vulnerable to boom-and-bust budgeting.


"However, since members of his own party are suddenly and surprisingly concerned about taxpayers, it would be great if the governor would use the budget process to work with Republicans to come up with ways to reduce the overall tax burden of California residents, which is very high.


"The governor could start by refunding the money to Californians who paid the now suspended fire prevention fee, and by reconsidering the need for his catastrophic gas tax hike."
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George Runner represents more than nine million Californians as an elected member of the State Board of Equalization. For more information, visit www.boe.ca.gov/Runner.


Attorney General Becerra Issues Statement on Governor’s January Budget
SACRAMENTO – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra issued the following statement in response to Governor Brown’s 2018-2019 state budget proposal: 
“Governor Brown has shown his commitment to maintaining a prudent and balanced budget, while investing in programs that reflect California’s values. The Department of Justice has developed a strong track record of efficiently and effectively fighting for the people of California, from defending the civil rights of our most vulnerable populations to preserving the natural resources that make California a great place to live, work, and raise a family. I look forward to working with Governor Brown and the Legislature to ensure the hardworking men and women of the Department of Justice can do even more to promote public safety, enforce California’s laws, and defend the state’s interests against federal overreach.”  



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Just before Christmas, President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which Republicans had passed on a party-line vote a few days earlier. Now that 2018 has arrived, the law has come into effect. What will that mean for California farmers and ranchers?
The bill moved quickly through Congress, and we continue to analyze exactly how it will impact agriculture. The law is no less complicated than previous tax law, and it will take time to assess the pros and cons, learning how it might influence business decisions for our state's diverse commodities, farm sizes and regions.
We can offer preliminary assessments—and we can also report how Farm Bureau advocacy helped improve the final law.
Farm Bureau worked hard to keep problematic policies out of the final bill. For example, a cash accounting proposal would have resulted in farmers having to use the accrual method, leading to a costly change that would have been difficult for many farms that receive payments after a crop year. Through our efforts, cash accounting will remain in effect, and will now be allowed for even more farms.
Another proposal, the Border Adjustability Tax, would have better aligned U.S. tax policy with most nations that apply a Value Added Tax to their imports, but the BAT could have had dire consequences on the overall economy by penalizing importers and increasing costs for farmers on certain inputs. After Farm Bureau and others expressed concerns, the BAT was removed from the final version of the law.
In addition, several useful provisions remain in the tax code because of Farm Bureau efforts. Those include retention of the Interest Charge-Domestic International Sales Corporation, or IC-DISC, a provision that has promoted exports for a growing number of agricultural producers. And Farm Bureau joined with cooperatives to secure a replacement to the Section 199 Domestic Production Activities Deduction.
The new law greatly improves a number of provisions, particularly the tax rate for individuals and corporations, increased business expensing and a less burdensome estate tax.
The number of tax brackets for individuals remains the same, but everyone will experience a reduction in tax rate. And for businesses structured as a C corporation, the rate drops from 35 percent to 21 percent. That said, only 2.3 percent of California farms are structured as a C Corp, which means the great majority receive income as a so called "pass-through" entity, taxed at the individual rate.
The new deduction for these pass-throughs, which are sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs and S Corps, allows 20 percent of pass-through income to be deducted, while the individual top rate would apply to the rest. The full deduction is allowed for up to $157,500 in individual income, or $315,000 if married. For those farmers above that amount, the deduction is limited to the greater of 50 percent of wages paid, or 25 percent of wages paid plus 2.5 percent of a business's depreciable property. This should help pass-throughs, but it will require maintaining a new depreciation schedule, keeping CPAs in business.
The estate tax exemption level has now doubled to $11 million per spouse, and stepped-up basis remains. Our years of advocacy against the estate tax haven't yet resulted in repeal, but this level will make the tax far less onerous for many family farmers and ranchers whose primary asset is the property they need to sustain their operation through the generations.
A huge win for agriculture in the new law comes from the doubling of business expensing to $1 million in equipment purchases, with a phase-out up to $2.5 million.
Our chief concern about the tax bill results from the erosion of the state and local tax deduction, especially given that California has among the highest state and local taxes in the nation. Though there is now a maximum $10,000 state and local tax, or SALT, deduction for individuals, many farmers exceed that amount. Farm Bureau advocacy ensured that they can, however, continue to deduct property taxes on Schedules C, E or F.
Other provisions of the tax bill include the continued allowance for the business interest deduction, repeal of the Alternative Minimum Tax for corporations and an increased AMT income exemption for individuals, plus repeal of the Affordable Care Act individual mandate. We must also keep in mind that significant provisions expire in 2025, which a future president and Congress must address.
Everyone's business is different, which makes predicting the outcome for each farm very difficult. I strongly recommend you speak to a CPA early in the year about how the tax plan could affect your operation. It may be time to consider a new business structure, make business purchases or revisit your estate plan.
Tax law fundamentally influences behavior and can have a host of far-reaching consequences. I anticipate a follow-up bill will likely be considered in 2018 to address some of the new law's unforeseen impacts.
Don't hesitate to reach out to your county Farm Bureau to share what is working and what is not. Farm Bureau can take your story to Washington as part of our continued advocacy on your behalf.