Lake Tahoe, CA February 16, 2017. In the wake of recent storms and with more severe weather inbound, Liberty Utilities is issuing a strong warning to all customers: 

STAY AWAY FROM DOWNED POWER LINES. TOUCHING LIVE WIRES MAY RESULT IN DEATH. 
“Unfortunately, there’s been a couple close calls with customers trying to help our crews by picking up downed power lines,” states Travis Johnson, Liberty Utilities’ VP of Operations. “One of our customers actually coiled up a live wire and zip tied it in an effort to be helpful; we’re not sure why he’s still alive.” 
A photo of the coiled live wire in the Carnelian Bay area is below. 
Customers are also warned that if their vehicle comes in contact with a live wire, sometimes hidden in the snow, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO EXIT YOUR VEHICLE. Please follow the following rules to be safe: 
 Stay inside! The safest place is your car. If you get out and touch the ground and your vehicle at the same time, you will most likely be electrocuted. 
 Warn others to stay away. Anyone who touches the vehicle may be injured. Energized soil can also electrocute someone standing near downed lines. 
 Use your cell phone to call 911. 
 Fire Department, police and Liberty Utilities workers will tell you when it is safe to get out of your car. 
Do not assume that a downed wire is not energized, i.e., “hot”. You cannot tell by just looking at it. ALWAYS LEAVE THE DOWNED WIRE ALONE AND CALL LIBERTY UTILITIES OR 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY IF YOU BELIEVE THE SITUATION POSES IMMINENT DANGER. Warn others not to go near downed wires. 
“We understand our customers’ good intentions to try to help out, but we sincerely want them to understand the very dangerous nature of downed power lines,” Johnson added. “In addition to being prepared for possible extended outages as this latest storm arrives, we remind customers to be safe around electricity.” 
About Liberty Utilities Liberty Utilities Co. owns and operates regulated water, wastewater, natural gas and electric transmission and distribution utilities in 13 states, delivering responsive and reliable essential services to approximately 800,00 

'The sad fact is that too many of our children don't know

who Abraham Lincoln and George Washington were'
 
WASHINGTON, DC - Contrary to what may be popular opinion, Presidents Day was not established to generate sales for America's retailers.  But, the fact of the matter is that many of our schoolchildren can only identify Abraham Lincoln and George Washington from either TV or Presidents Day commercials. They are more likely to know that Lady Gaga headlined the half-time show at this year's Super Bowl than to appreciate what the holiday commemorates.
 
David Bruce Smith, an author and publisher, says "there are some who believe the reason is that there is a movement afoot to deemphasize American culture in the schools that favors a worldview.  They put the blame on the emphasis placed on STEM education, which prioritizes science, technology, engineering and mathematics as a means of accomplishing that goal.  After all, it leaves little room for teaching history."
 
Smith co-founded the Grateful American Book Prize in an effort to rejuvenate the love of history-- American history in particular.  The award is presented each year to authors who seek to encourage curiosity in young learners about the events and personalities that shaped our country over the past 240 years.
 
As one teacher told New York Post Opinion writer Karol Markowicz: "All the pressure in lower grades is in math and English Language Arts because of the state tests and the weight that they carry."
 
Markowicz cites a 2014 report by the National Assessment of Educational Progress that showed "an abysmal 18 percent of American high school kids were proficient in US history."  She also notes that "a 2012 story in Perspectives on History magazine by University of North Carolina professor Bruce VanSledright revealed that 88 percent of elementary school teachers considered teaching history a low priority."
 
But the blame cannot be placed entirely on the teachers, says Smith.  "While many of our children don't know who Lincoln and Washington were, we live in the age of technology.  And so it is not surprising that our schools want to prepare students for a workplace that relies on employees with math-based comprehension.  However, we ignore history at a peril to our nation because knowledge of our past is the key component of good, responsible citizenship."
 
Writer Markowicz points out there is a national debate focused on how America is in danger of becoming "fractured."  She concludes that the less our children know about "our shared history" the more divided we become.
 
As we prepare to celebrate Presidents Day, only nine percent of the nation's fourth graders are able to pick out a picture of Lincoln, and just 23 percent know that Washington was our first President, according to NAEP reports.
 
"It is interesting to note that the first two winners of the Grateful American Book Prize were Kathy Cannon Wiechman for her Civil War novel, Like a River, in 2015, and Chris Stevenson in 2016 for his novel, The Drum of Destiny.  These selections are gripping accounts of the key events over which President Lincoln and President Washington presided, respectively.  Their books presented those events in a way that can inspire young readers to learn to love history.  The mission of our Prize is to provide an incentive for authors and publishers to produce more books like these-works that encourage our children to explore the past and become knowledgeable, productive-and proud-- citizens," says Smith.
 

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Above photo of the slide by Brad Dempster

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Below photos by ​Cal-Trans show the work being done near the Vista Point Yuba Pass. Work is being conducted around the clock to repair the damaged highway from recent storms. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, it is anticipated at least one lane will be open by the weekend, if not sooner. Let’s hope Mother Nature cooperates with road workers!

Resulted in minor injury to the pilot. - Photo courtesy Sierra County Sheriff's Detective Mike Fisher

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Jeff Ketter (53) Laughlin NV.  Possession of methamphetamine.  Seventeen days jail, fine $835.
 
Paula Sylvestri (52) and Michel Sylvestri (54) Sierraville.  After a contested preliminary hearing, both were ordered to stand trial on charges of a residential burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury, and use of a deadly weapon (a hammer).  The testimony produced at the preliminary hearing demonstrated that in September of 2016, Ms. Sylvestri decided to travel from her home in Sierrville, to their rental unit in Loyalton to confront the tenant – her aunt.  She enlisted Michael to go with her, and, packing a hammer, went to the rental unit.  Michael used his pass key to gain entrance to the private area of the residence, knocked on the apartment door, and lured the victim out into a hallway.  At that time, Paula went after the victim, striking her in the head several times.  The victim screamed for help, and the Sylvestri’s fled the scene.  The victim was air lifted to Renown Hospital in Reno where she was treated and released. The Sylvestri’s remain free on bail amounts of $100,000 and $25,000.
 
Drew Kinzie (36) Downieville. He was sentenced on a felony false imprisonment conviction resulting from a domestic violence incident.  He was placed on Three years  probation, 180 days in jail, 987 days supervised release, and ordered residential re-hab for 90 days.  He was also ordered to successfully complete drug court, and complete a 52 week batters program.
 
Thomas Stafford (29) Loyalton.  He violated parole on an underlying conviction of residential burglary by absconding and possession of methamphetamine.  He was ordered to serve 135 days jail, and discharged from parole supervision.
 
Glenn Knapp (54) Alleghany.  Knapp plead guilty to battery on a domestic partner as a misdemeanor. He was placed on 18 months probation, served 5 days jail, fined $1540, and ordered to complete a 52 week batters program.
 
Michael Brooks (31) Loyalton.  He violated parole by absconding.  He was sentenced to 135 day jail, and reinstated on parole.
 
Ervin Krall (68) Elverta.  Hunting in the wrong zone.  He was fined $1055.
 
Hannah Ashley (35) Guerenville.  Ashley pled guilty to Kidnaping, abduction of a child, and two counts of residential burglary.  She will be sentenced on April 4.  She remains in custody on a “no bail” hold.
According to evidence produced at the preliminary hearing, Ms. Ashley was the subject of a state-wide  Amber Alert when, on October 23, she entered the house of her mother who had full custody of her infant (seven month old) son, and she abducted the child.  On October 25, she was spotted by Sierra County Deputy Sheriff Nathan Rust around 6:30 in the morning heading north on highway 49. Deputy Rust attempted to stop Ms. Ashley with red lights and siren, but Ms. Ashley refused to yield, leading Deputy Rust on a chase up Highway 49 at speeds up to 90 miles per hour.  Deputy Rust lost sight of the Ashley vehicle as it entered Downieville. The vehicle was later discovered abandoned in Downieville. Search teams were formed involving the California Highway Patrol, the Sierra County Sheriff’s Department, Cal-Trans, Downieville Fire Department, and the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department.  Around 3 PM on the 25th, Ms. Ashley was apprehended by Highway Patrol Officer Matt Sprague in downtown Downieville after a citizen recognized Ashley from the Amber Alert photos.  The child was crying in a canvas bag carried by Ms. Ashley when the arrest occurred.  Later in the day it was discovered that two houses in Downieville had been broken in with property missing.  Testimony indicated that Ms. Ashley was wearing clothing and boots taken from the two residences when she was arrested.  Ashley remains in custody in lieu of $500,000 bail.