By Ted Gaines
Word Count 621
 
We’ve run a family-owned, independent insurance agency for more than 50 years. Those of us in the insurance business know that when customers come to us for insurance what they're looking to buy is security. In the California market today, providing that security has become increasingly difficult – and is poised to get much worse without action by our elected Insurance Commissioner.
 
Independent insurance agents serve consumers by learning their needs and then searching out policies that ensure those needs are met. In a healthy, competitive market, consumers are well served. Today in California, such a market does not exist. Consumers are left with fewer options, and thousands of small businesses like my family’s, are finding it increasingly difficult to serve them.
 
The California Department of Insurance had a moratorium for more than two years and did not review rating plans submitted by insurers grappling with rising inflation and claims costs. In December, the Department began reviewing rating plans and has now approved 11 plans. This is good news and helps keep California’s insurance market functioning, but more than 80 rating plans remain in the Department awaiting action. While they wait, insurance companies are operating under pre-pandemic, pre-inflation rate plans, paying out more in claims than the income they are taking in from premiums. Not surprisingly, insurance providers are pulling back from the California market.
 
As a result, California is on the brink of a coverage crisis that will severely limit consumers’ options or even prevent them from obtaining the security they seek.
 
Allstate paused new auto policy sales through independent insurance agents in California and dropped monthly payment options, requiring consumers to pay at least half their policy premiums up front.
 
Geico closed 38 local offices and stopped selling new auto policies through call centers. Progressive Insurance pulled back its advertising to limit new policies. Several carriers removed their companies from the software independent agents use to get new policy quotes.
 
The situation in the homeowners’ insurance market is much the same. Allstate recently told agents to pause offering new policies in California and others will likely follow suit.
 
This is a clear call to action for newly re-elected Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. He has the opportunity to act on the backlog of rate plans so more companies will offer more policies in our state. Ultimately, it’s this competition among providers that will lead to varied options and better pricing for consumers.
 
Make no mistake: This is a California-only problem. Other states have approved new rating plans accounting for today’s reality of inflation, supply-chain delays and a spike in traffic fatalities and the severity of auto accidents. If this reality persists, insurance carriers will simply stop doing business in the only state in which they lose money on every product they sell.
 
The Insurance Commissioner has a constitutional responsibility to ensure that California has a healthy, robust and functioning insurance market by reviewing and approving rate plans that adequately reflect the cost of covering claims.
 
If that duty isn’t carried out, there are consequences. We’re already starting to experience them, and a full-blown market meltdown is looming. Insurance agencies – many of which are small, family-owned businesses – are feeling it now, as it takes longer and much more work to find new coverage for clients, if they can find it at all.
 
Inaction will lead to cascading economic effects: auto sales will plunge when buyers can’t find car insurance, lenders won’t issue mortgages to homebuyers who can’t insure their property, business loans will dry up. Consumers will be left frustrated and insecure.
 
We are on the cusp of a crisis. On behalf of consumers and Independent Insurance Agents, I urge the Insurance Commissioner to approve the rate plans needed for new policies.
 
Senator Ted Gaines (Ret.) was elected to represent the Board of Equalization’s First District. He is a leading taxpayer advocate, defender of Prop. 13, and is committed to providing trustworthy and transparent representation for nearly ten million constituents in 34 counties of northern, eastern, and southern California. Senator Gaines has also owned Gaines Insurance, an Independent Insurance Agency, for more than 30 years.

Dr. Glenn Mollette


America was involved in Vietnam for 20 years. Our presence started small but by 1965 had significantly escalated.  3.1 million troops saw combat and at least 58,300 were killed.  We spent over $120 billion from 1965 to 1973 which led to an oil crisis and rampant inflation.  Are you better off today because America fought in Vietnam? Are you safer? 


America spent over $2 trillion fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Then, we hurried and pulled out of Afghanistan leaving hundreds of millions of dollars in vehicles, buildings, bases, and weapons to be used by the Taliban. The country is now in shambles. Girls are not allowed to go to school beyond the sixth grade. Women are treated horribly by the Taliban. What did we do to help Afghanistan? Are they better off now? Are we better off for our 13 years in that country? 


We invaded Iraq. We lost over 15,000 active service members and contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Take a look at Iraq and Afghanistan today. What did we accomplish? 


We approved $113 billion in aid to Ukraine in 2022 alone. Most Americans do not want Russia to succeed in conquering Ukraine. Efforts to help Ukraine have been supported by  most Americans. How far do we go? How much can we afford? How long are we able to keep this up? Does this become another Afghanistan? American troops are not there, yet. When will this happen? 


When do we start fighting in Taiwan? China wants to control Taiwan. Taiwan is rich in resources and technology.  Like Russia wanting Ukraine because of its proximity and resources, China figures it just makes sense for them to control neighboring Taiwan. 


China is reportedly on the verge, if not already sending military arms to Russia. As America depletes our own defense stockpile of missiles, tanks and more, China knows we will have less to send to Taiwan. We have recently sent 200 soldiers to Taiwan and more will be going. It is scary to ponder how many more will be going in the next year or two. 


In the middle of all this, who is really profiting from America’s forever wars? The Military Industrial Complex will continue to make hundreds of millions of dollars with no end in sight. Manufacturers of mass weapons used in war have no end to their financial gains. Politicians who own stock in these massive companies only stand to get richer and richer. How many thousands of shares of stock in these companies do our long-term Senators and Representatives own?  Stopping or slowing our military aggressions around the globe would mean their stock would go down and their massive financial fortunes would be diminished.


Politicians should not be allowed to buy stock while in office. Before running for a political office they should be required to cash their stock out so they are not financially persuaded to promote the success of certain industries. 


We don’t want Ukraine to fall to Russia or Taiwan to China. However, what will our country have left to fight with after we have spent billions of dollars defending them? If your livelihood comes from investments in the massive military weapon sales industries , then you are probably spending most of your time counting your money.




visit GlennMollette.com to subscribe, learn about his books and more


   additional biographical, Dr. Glenn Mollette is a graduate of numerous schools including Georgetown College, Southern and Lexington Seminaries in Kentucky. He is the author of 13 books including UncommSense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states. 

​

for February 27 - March 1, 2023


REDDING – The National Weather Service is forecasting continued severe weather for the Northern California area this week. Dangerous mountain travel is anticipated Monday through Wednesday due to heavy snow, with the possibility of low elevation snow locally. Motorists are reminded to slow down and drive carefully during inclement weather and allot extra time for delays, slow travel, and possible highway impacts. Travelers should also carry chains when traveling into higher elevations.


Motorists should plan for truck and/or vehicle screening for northbound Interstate 5 traffic at Fawndale Road, approximately ten miles north of Redding, prior to or during the storms, depending on weather conditions, highway impacts, or traffic incidents. Depending on weather intensity and/or vehicle incidents, highway closures may occur during this storm system.


24/7 updated highway conditions are available via QuickMap. Other resources include One-Stop-Shop (roadway conditions for Western U.S.). Motorists can also follow Caltrans District 2 on our Twitter and Facebook pages for important traffic updates. 


Travelers are also reminded to be wary of using non-highway alternative routes in the event of highway closures. These routes may not be maintained or open during inclement weather events and may have size restrictions for larger vehicles. Contact local city or county agencies for current roadway status or restrictions on non-highway routes.


If you are traveling during this time period, monitor changing weather and roadway conditions through the National Weather Service and QuickMap.
​

LOYALTON 78 TO PRINCETON'S 64. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE TEAM AND COACH JOEL ARMSTRONG!!
​

 
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Dotti Bok.  She passed away 20 days shy of her 93rd birthday in hospice care at her daughter, Christine Bok-Osborne’s home, in Novato, CA.
Dotti was born in Guttenberg, Iowa, along the Mississippi River.  She was raised in Oelwein, Iowa, by Mother, Francis M. Channer and Father, Malcolm J. Channer.  She was a child during the great depression.  She was a senior in high school when she heard on the radio that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor.  Her father said it meant war.
She was a graduate of the University of Iowa, School of Nursing, having earned a Bachelor of Science and a Registered Nursing Degree from 1947 to 1953.  She was a Staff Nurse at the University of Iowa Hospital, in Iowa City, Iowa.
She married Frank J. Bok, a first-generation Czechoslovakian, from Berwyn, Illinois.  Frank played on the University of Iowa baseball team as a pitcher.  Frank was a graduate of the school of Physical Education.  He went on to get a Master’s Degree at University of Iowa in P.E.  Frank also coached the Long Beach State Baseball Team.  Frank completed his P.H.D., in Physical Therapy, at the UOI and later started the Physical Therapy Program at Long Beach State University, and taught for 30 years until his passing in 1987. 
Dotti and Frank moved to California and took jobs in Hopeville, CA.  Frank had a PE job and Dotti took a Public Health Nursing job on the Mexican border.  She did maternal health, child health, infectious diseases, and well-baby clinics.   Dotti worked in Iowa City, Iowa, and Long Beach, CA, for the Veterans Hospitals opening a new Radioisotope Ward in Iowa City.  She worked on radioactive therapy doing thyroid studies on patients.
In Long Beach, she taught LVN’s and worked on the Oncology Ward with radioisotope patients.  She was the Head Nurse in Iowa City and a Staff Nurse in Long Beach.  In 1965, she was a substitute School Nurse in Long Beach College.  In 1968, she was the School Nurse at Pine Junior High.  She then went on to be the School Nurse for Cypress High School.  In 1975-76, she earned a M.A. in Psychology at Azusa Pacific.  In 1980, she counseled at a runaway home in Los Alamitos, CA.  She was the manager at the Great Earth Vitamin Store.  She did wellness and nutritional counseling with customers, supervising vitamin and mineral programs. 
In 1975, Frank and Dotti divorced.  Dotti then moved to Sierra County where she took a job with the Sierra Office of Education, as a Rural School Nurse. She commuted in her Subaru’s to all of the rural schools in Sierra County, with her friend and Speech Therapist, Suzi Schoensee.  They had many memorable adventures together.
Later, she took a job to work in the Plumas County Health Department.  She worked in Adult Protective Services and then care for AIDS patients, caring for their every need.
Dotti loved to walk in the woods and visit the river near her home in Graeagle.  She was a fly fisherwoman, golfer, skier, and kayaker.  She participated in many Relay for Life fundraisers having survived cancer twice.
Dotti is survived by her daughter, Christine Bok-Osborne, of Novato, CA and her son, Alan J. Bok (Mary), of Youngstown, AZ.  Her son, Andrew M. Bok, passed away in 2018.  Also surviving her are Christine’s three sons; Nelson Osborne and his fiancé Wesley Rhoads of Condon, MT, and her great-granddaughter, Hazel Dorothy Osborne, Marco Osborne and his girlfriend, Lajla of Verdi, NV and Logan Osborned, and his girlfriend, Maddy of Novato, CA.  Also surviving her is her ex-son-in-law, Neal Osborne of Arcata, CA.
Andrew’s two son’s Travis Bok of Blairsden, CA, and United States Airforce Staff Serjeant, Channer Bok and his wife, Amber N. Bok, of Portland, OR.  Also, surviving her is her ex-daughter-in-law, Theresa Rav, of Lake County City, CA.
Alan’s daughter, Sierra Bok Calvett, and her two daughters; Stella and Ophelia, of Georgia. Dotti’s great granddaughters.
Also surviving Dotti, is her beloved sister, Phyllis Powell and her husband, Dr. Robert Powell of Kinglsey, Iowa and their children, Bill, Dani, Pam, Paul, and Cindy, and their families.
Dotti’s brother, Dr. John Channer, and predeceased her, his wife, Jessie Channer of Montana and their children, Mark, Luke, Kia, Linda, and Tom and their families.
Also surviving Dotti, are her dear friends, Suzi, Schoensee, Virginia Jaquez, Sharon Richwine, and Gwen Mansbridge.  Friends who would do anything for her and our family.
Dotti was a world traveler who volunteered for many medical missions around the world.  Wherever she went, strangers became friends.  She was a positive spirit, a wannabee hippie, a new ager, and a friend to many!  “Living in the now” mentor to many.  A shining light for the human race.
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Graeagle Fire Hall in Graeagle, CA, on April 15th at 2:00 p.m.  All those that knew her and loved her are welcome to attend.  Please RSVP to [email protected] or call Christine at 415-686-8307.
Memorial donations can be made in Dotti’s name to the following charities that were dear to her heart; American Cancer Society, Operation Smile, Turtle Rescue or the Sierra Animal Rescue.
Dotti was cremated and her ashes will be interned at the historical Mohawk Cemetery, in Mohawk, CA, where her son, Andrew’s ashes are interned.  Their ashes will be interned together.

 
QUINCY, CA — This week Plumas National Forest firefighters are continuing to burn piles across the forest following successful treatment in Butterfly Valley last week.
Today firefighters on the Mount Hough Ranger District were able to treat 29 acres of piles in the Genesee area.  Tomorrow, conditions permitting, firefighters plan to ignite approximately 10 acres of piles near Elizabethtown Road and California Highway 70.
Last week, approximately 18 acres of pile burning was successfully completed in Butterfly Valley.  If conditions are favorable, work may continue in the area Friday.
Firefighters on the Feather River Ranger District are hoping to treat approximately 44 acres of piles near Forbestown, Challenge and along La Porte Road in Yuba County.
Conditions are being monitored closely.  Predicted storms and increased moisture in the area after an extended dry period is helping to improve conditions in some areas.
Smoke is expected to be visible but not have significant long-term impacts to nearby communities.  This includes Genesee and Taylorsville from the ignitions today, as well as Meadow Valley and Quincy if ignitions occur tomorrow.  On the Feather River Ranger District, smoke will be visible to the communities near the six sites where work is planned, including Challenge, where the two largest projects are, as well Bullards Bar Reservoir. 
Short duration, minor smoke impacts are expected along area roads in the project areas.  This includes Highway 70 outside Quincy and along La Porte Road. 
Visibility on roads in the project areas may be reduced, especially early in the morning and late evening as smoke settles.  Drivers in the area should use caution.
If weather conditions become unfavorable, including increased or gusty winds in the area, burning will stop until conditions improve.  Firefighters will be monitoring conditions and the burning piles until fires are out.
For more information on the Plumas National Forest, visit www.fs.usda.gov/plumas or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/USFSPlumas. 
 
###

The Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications held its first hearing on the Governor’s energy tax. Vice Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, Assemblyman Vince Fong (R-Central Valley), who represents California’s energy capital, issued the following statement:
                                                            
“More taxes and price controls are not the answer to high gas prices.
 
“The Governor’s faulty policy experiment, while vague in details has been tried before and failed. It didn’t work then, and it won’t work now. Governor Newsom’s flawed proposal will actually lead to higher prices and energy supply shortages.
 
“It is time for the Governor to stop the splashy headlines and focus on domestic production to supply Californians with affordable, reliable and dependable energy.”
 
Please note: Californians consume 35 million gallons of gasoline, seven (7) million gallons of diesel and one (1) million gallons of jet fuel each day. In 2021, nearly 300,000 barrels of oil were imported from foreign countries to California’s dwindling 11 refineries. 
# # #

The Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship is fueled by passion and volunteerism and we simply would not exist without the good people who donate their time and resources to supporting our mission to make dirt magic in the Lost Sierra.  
In 2022, we had 592 volunteers join us on the trails and at our events, logging 4,290 hours, which equated to $128,485.50 in grant matching dollars. 
To that end, we wanted to take a moment to recognize a few standouts that truly helped move the organization forward last year with their contributions, each in their own way. Thank you to everyone who donated their time to the Stewardship last year, and congratulations to all of our 2022 Volunteers of the Year. 
Volunteer of the Year: Diane ZingarelliDiane Zingarelli is a long time supporter of the Stewardship who took her support to the next level in 2022. Diane attended every trail work event,  including all five Mountain Epics and each of our Trail Daze. She also volunteered her time last June at the return of our first event since the pandemic began, the Lost & Found Gravel Festival. And when she’s not digging dirt or supporting our events, Diane makes it a point to patronize the communities throughout the Lost Sierra that we support. Diane, thank you for bringing your energy, spirit and support to help keep Dirt Magic alive and prospering. Congratulations on a well deserved acknowledgement and we look forward to seeing you on the trails in 2023.Volunteer of the Year: Steve MinniearSteve Minniear played an instrumental role in our first-ever 5 Bucks A Foot motorcycle fundraising campaign, “Twist the Throttle for Trails,” by giving his free time and expertise. As an avid moto rider and president of the Nevada County Woods Riders(NCWR) off-road and dual-sport motorcycle club, Steve helped us tremendously in reaching a new fundraising audience.

We contacted Steve as soon as we started campaign planning, and he graciously gave us recommendations on the moto giveaway package, then helped engage moto industry partners in supporting the fundraiser. Even after the campaign launch, he continued spreading the good word to regional motorcycle clubs, extolling the benefits of the Connected Communities Project and the importance of donating to the cause. In the end, the campaign raised more than $72,000 for trail work and our Connected Communities project—Steve’s generosity with his time made a huge difference in reaching that number.

For as long as we’ve known Steve, he’s been a devout trail advocate, including working with State Parks on the Culvert Trail in Auburn and the many days he’s spent volunteering and motivating others to volunteer to support trails in Northern California and Nevada. Thank you Steve for all you do!Local Partner of The Year: Plumas Sierra County Fairgrounds If you have ever been to a Quincy Mountain Epic, then you have experienced first hand the generosity and hospitality of the Plumas Sierra County Fairgrounds. Over the years, Fair Manager John Steffanic and his crew have assisted SBTS in meeting our volunteer match on Mount Hough by providing a place for our volunteers to camp and unwind after a day of hard work on the trail. In 2022, SBTS hosted two very successful Epic weekends and brought many new faces to the area to experience the beauty of Plumas County. We are grateful for the support from John and everyone at the Plumas Sierra County Fairgrounds, and are proud to announce the Plumas Sierra County Fairgrounds as the recipient of the 2022 Local Partner of the Year!

You will surely find us and our hard working volunteers at the Fairgrounds again in 2023. We'll mostly be enjoying the shade of one of the property's grand ponderosa pines or racing pixie bikes in Serpilio Hall; Quincy Mountain Epics are set to be held at the Plumas Sierra County Fairgrounds on April 28-30 and September 22-24.Regional Partner of the Year: Motorcycle Performance Center Our 2022 Regional Partner of the Year is another that stepped up hugely to support our “Twist The Throttle for Trails” moto campaign in 2022, and quickly became a valuable partner to the Stewardship. Brad Teegarden and his Motorcycle Performance Center in Roseville, California, extended their time, expertise and network, allowing us to pull off our first-ever moto campaign. MPC and KTM North America provided the grand-prize KTM 350 EXC-F bike to the Stewardship at a heavily discounted price, as well as provided many upgraded parts and components and did all the work on the bike to get it ready for its new owner and also helped promote the fundraiser. MPC’s contribution was the main reason why we were able to raise more than $72,000 to help maintain moto-legal trail systems in Downieville and Quincy through this campaign. MPC also happens to be one of the oldest and largest KTM dealers in North America, and also carries KTM’s sister brands Husqvarna and GASGAS motorcycles, which are manufactured by KTM. The shop is family-run and has been around since 1975, so their knowledge is unmatched and they also specialize in hard-to-find parts. Thank you Brad and MPC for all of your support! Industry Partner of the Year: CervéloIt takes an incredible amount of support and resources for the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship to continue to produce Dirt Magic year after year. Our corporate/organization partners underwrite a substantial amount of the work we do, and in many cases also contribute generous amounts of product to our fundraising efforts. This enables us to fund our operations, hold our events, reward our family members, stoke out our volunteers, feed our work crews, and put together incredibly effective and appealing fundraisers.  As such, we like to honor those organizations annually that go above and beyond. Last year was a challenging one as we emerged from the pandemic, ramping back up our trail programs, youth crews and of course, the return of our events. Due to restrictions still being in place early in 2022, we weren’t able to get the normal planning and preparation time for many of our event partners/sponsors. This created a challenge in budgeting and with onsite logistics. And although challenging, we prevailed, due in a very large part to our good friends and 2022 SBTS Partner of the Year, Cervélo. Cervélo took the lead as the title sponsor for the Lost & Found Gravel Festival in its return last June. Through their support of resources and onsite presence, the return of the Lost & Found was a big success. Thank you Cervélo for your continued support for the Lost & Found and the SBTS, and congratulations on a well deserved acknowledgement.Want to get involved this year?We’ve got a solid season of events lined up this year, and plenty of opportunities to have a shovel full of fun while helping to make dirt magic in the Lost Sierra. Mark your calendars for our three epics—weekend-long volunteer gatherings filled with trail work, BBQ and camping—or sign up to volunteer at the Lost & Found Gravel Festival or the Downieville Classic. Keep an eye on sierratrails.org/events for more details.

• Quincy Epic #1 — April 28-30 — Sign-Up Here
• Lost & Found Gravel Festival — June 2-4 in Portola -- Sign-Up Here
• Downieville Classic — July 13-16 in Downieville -- Sign-Up Here
• Downieville Epic — August 18-20
• Quincy Epic #2 — September 22-24

Support Our Partners Who Support TrailworkThe Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship mission to build sustainable recreation-based communities through stewardship, job creation and world-class trails is more important now than ever.
Donate to The Trails and Connecting Communities!SBTS Mission: Revitalizing mountain communities using trails as the tool.

Copyright © 2023 Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, All rights reserved.
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Announcing the 2022 SBTS Volunteers of the YearThe Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship is fueled by passion and volunteerism and we simply would not exist without the good people who donate their time and resources to supporting our mission to make dirt magic in the Lost Sierra.  
In 2022, we had 592 volunteers join us on the trails and at our events, logging 4,290 hours, which equated to $128,485.50 in grant matching dollars. 
To that end, we wanted to take a moment to recognize a few standouts that truly helped move the organization forward last year with their contributions, each in their own way. Thank you to everyone who donated their time to the Stewardship last year, and congratulations to all of our 2022 Volunteers of the Year. 
Volunteer of the Year: Diane ZingarelliDiane Zingarelli is a long time supporter of the Stewardship who took her support to the next level in 2022. Diane attended every trail work event,  including all five Mountain Epics and each of our Trail Daze. She also volunteered her time last June at the return of our first event since the pandemic began, the Lost & Found Gravel Festival. And when she’s not digging dirt or supporting our events, Diane makes it a point to patronize the communities throughout the Lost Sierra that we support. Diane, thank you for bringing your energy, spirit and support to help keep Dirt Magic alive and prospering. Congratulations on a well deserved acknowledgement and we look forward to seeing you on the trails in 2023.Volunteer of the Year: Steve MinniearSteve Minniear played an instrumental role in our first-ever 5 Bucks A Foot motorcycle fundraising campaign, “Twist the Throttle for Trails,” by giving his free time and expertise. As an avid moto rider and president of the Nevada County Woods Riders(NCWR) off-road and dual-sport motorcycle club, Steve helped us tremendously in reaching a new fundraising audience.

We contacted Steve as soon as we started campaign planning, and he graciously gave us recommendations on the moto giveaway package, then helped engage moto industry partners in supporting the fundraiser. Even after the campaign launch, he continued spreading the good word to regional motorcycle clubs, extolling the benefits of the Connected Communities Project and the importance of donating to the cause. In the end, the campaign raised more than $72,000 for trail work and our Connected Communities project—Steve’s generosity with his time made a huge difference in reaching that number.

For as long as we’ve known Steve, he’s been a devout trail advocate, including working with State Parks on the Culvert Trail in Auburn and the many days he’s spent volunteering and motivating others to volunteer to support trails in Northern California and Nevada. Thank you Steve for all you do!Local Partner of The Year: Plumas Sierra County Fairgrounds If you have ever been to a Quincy Mountain Epic, then you have experienced first hand the generosity and hospitality of the Plumas Sierra County Fairgrounds. Over the years, Fair Manager John Steffanic and his crew have assisted SBTS in meeting our volunteer match on Mount Hough by providing a place for our volunteers to camp and unwind after a day of hard work on the trail. In 2022, SBTS hosted two very successful Epic weekends and brought many new faces to the area to experience the beauty of Plumas County. We are grateful for the support from John and everyone at the Plumas Sierra County Fairgrounds, and are proud to announce the Plumas Sierra County Fairgrounds as the recipient of the 2022 Local Partner of the Year!

You will surely find us and our hard working volunteers at the Fairgrounds again in 2023. We'll mostly be enjoying the shade of one of the property's grand ponderosa pines or racing pixie bikes in Serpilio Hall; Quincy Mountain Epics are set to be held at the Plumas Sierra County Fairgrounds on April 28-30 and September 22-24.Regional Partner of the Year: Motorcycle Performance Center Our 2022 Regional Partner of the Year is another that stepped up hugely to support our “Twist The Throttle for Trails” moto campaign in 2022, and quickly became a valuable partner to the Stewardship. Brad Teegarden and his Motorcycle Performance Center in Roseville, California, extended their time, expertise and network, allowing us to pull off our first-ever moto campaign. MPC and KTM North America provided the grand-prize KTM 350 EXC-F bike to the Stewardship at a heavily discounted price, as well as provided many upgraded parts and components and did all the work on the bike to get it ready for its new owner and also helped promote the fundraiser. MPC’s contribution was the main reason why we were able to raise more than $72,000 to help maintain moto-legal trail systems in Downieville and Quincy through this campaign. MPC also happens to be one of the oldest and largest KTM dealers in North America, and also carries KTM’s sister brands Husqvarna and GASGAS motorcycles, which are manufactured by KTM. The shop is family-run and has been around since 1975, so their knowledge is unmatched and they also specialize in hard-to-find parts. Thank you Brad and MPC for all of your support! Industry Partner of the Year: CervéloIt takes an incredible amount of support and resources for the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship to continue to produce Dirt Magic year after year. Our corporate/organization partners underwrite a substantial amount of the work we do, and in many cases also contribute generous amounts of product to our fundraising efforts. This enables us to fund our operations, hold our events, reward our family members, stoke out our volunteers, feed our work crews, and put together incredibly effective and appealing fundraisers.  As such, we like to honor those organizations annually that go above and beyond. Last year was a challenging one as we emerged from the pandemic, ramping back up our trail programs, youth crews and of course, the return of our events. Due to restrictions still being in place early in 2022, we weren’t able to get the normal planning and preparation time for many of our event partners/sponsors. This created a challenge in budgeting and with onsite logistics. And although challenging, we prevailed, due in a very large part to our good friends and 2022 SBTS Partner of the Year, Cervélo. Cervélo took the lead as the title sponsor for the Lost & Found Gravel Festival in its return last June. Through their support of resources and onsite presence, the return of the Lost & Found was a big success. Thank you Cervélo for your continued support for the Lost & Found and the SBTS, and congratulations on a well deserved acknowledgement.Want to get involved this year?We’ve got a solid season of events lined up this year, and plenty of opportunities to have a shovel full of fun while helping to make dirt magic in the Lost Sierra. Mark your calendars for our three epics—weekend-long volunteer gatherings filled with trail work, BBQ and camping—or sign up to volunteer at the Lost & Found Gravel Festival or the Downieville Classic. Keep an eye on sierratrails.org/events for more details.

• Quincy Epic #1 — April 28-30 — Sign-Up Here
• Lost & Found Gravel Festival — June 2-4 in Portola -- Sign-Up Here
• Downieville Classic — July 13-16 in Downieville -- Sign-Up Here
• Downieville Epic — August 18-20
• Quincy Epic #2 — September 22-24

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today announced a modest increase in forecasted State Water Project (SWP) deliveries this year due to early gains in the Sierra snowpack. DWR now expects to deliver 35 percent of requested water supplies, up from 30 percent forecasted in January, to the 29 public water agencies that serve 27 million Californians. That would translate to an additional 210,000 acre-feet of water.
Record-breaking atmospheric rivers that pounded the state in January gave way to a mostly dry February that saw less than an inch of precipitation statewide to this point.
“We’re hopeful that more storms this week are a sign that the wet weather will return, but there remains a chance that 2023 will be a below average water year in the northern Sierra.” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “Careful planning and the use of advanced forecasting tools will enable the Department to balance the needs of our communities, agriculture, and the environment should dry conditions continue this spring and into next year.”
The SWP will continue to optimize water storage in Lake Oroville to support environmental needs in the summer and allow for carryover storage for next year if the spring becomes extremely dry. Additionally, the forecasted allocation could be adjusted back down if extreme dry conditions warrant. 
The 35 percent allocation forecast announced today takes into account snowpack and reservoir storage from those storms, current hydrology conditions, spring runoff forecasts, and an anticipation of dry conditions ahead. The updated SWP forecast is on par with the Central Valley Project (CVP) initial allocations announced today by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
In addition to optimizing water storage, California continues to accelerate investments in habitat restoration, including $52 million in grants announced last week to help restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat throughout California.
Today’s updated SWP delivery forecast takes into account new snowmelt runoff data, known as Bulletin 120. This report provides a forecast of snowmelt runoff and is a key tool for water managers across the state to understand how the melting snow in the Sierra Nevada will reach streams, rivers and eventually California reservoirs. Bulletin 120 offers a range of possibilities to allow water managers to prepare for spring runoff and eventual summer water supply. The forecast is updated regularly throughout the winter and spring.
DWR uses advanced forecasting tools that include Airborne Snow Observatory (ASO) surveys which are now underway to collect snow measurements farther upslope of the Sierra Nevada. The data from these flights, which use LiDAR and spectrometer technology to measure snowpack across broad swaths of key watersheds, is used by DWR to get a more accurate account of California’s snowpack and possible spring runoff.
More than a month still remains in the state’s wet season, but there’s uncertainty about a return to warm and dry conditions prior to April 1, typically when the state’s snowpack peaks and begins to melt. DWR is scheduled to conduct the next two snow surveys at Phillips Station on March 1 and April 3. Dates are subject to change depending on weather conditions and DWR will provide updates as the date approaches.
Conditions in the Colorado River Basin and California’s groundwater basins continue to have an impact on available water supply. Californians should continue to use water wisely to help the state adapt to a hotter, drier future.

SACRAMENTO – Today Sen. Scott Wilk (R- Santa Clarita) joined legislative Republicans in calling on Governor Newsom to act now to prevent gas prices from rising and further hurting California families. 



“Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear,” said Senator Wilk. “The shocking sights of $6 or $7 for a regular gallon of gas happened practically yesterday. And with families now reeling from record-high utility bills and grocery prices, the last thing Californians need is another summer of new record-high prices at the pump.”


In a joint letter from California Senate and Assembly Republicans, Senator Wilk requested that Governor Newsom take the following actions:

1. Stop the 8% gas tax hike set to take effect July 1, 2023.
2. Extend the diesel tax holiday that otherwise will expire on September 30, 2023.
3. Delay the state’s transition to the summer-blend gasoline, which is more expensive, thereby creating a greater fiscal hardship for California families.

Despite the recent retreat in gas prices from their 2022 highs, which reached over $7 dollars in several regions of the state, gas prices are once again on the rise.


Senator Wilk is also urging Californians to call the governor’s office and tell him to support families by acting now to reduce California gas prices. Supporters can call (916) 445-2841.


To view the full letter to Governor Newsom, click here.

###Senator Wilk represents the 21st Senate District, which includes the Antelope, Santa Clarita and Victor valleys. You can learn more about Scott by visiting his website.

 
FOLLOW SENATOR WILK

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REDDING – The National Weather Service is forecasting a storm system for the Northern California area starting today and lasting throughout the remainder of the week. Dangerous mountain travel is anticipated due to heavy snow starting today through Friday with signifant accumulations into the foothills Wednesday through Friday. Motorists are reminded to slow down and drive carefully during inclement weather and allot extra time for delays, slow travel, and possible highway impacts. Travelers should also carry chains when traveling into higher elevations.


Motorists are advised to be cognizant when traveling in recent burn scar areas and watch for possible areas of flooding and/or debris on the roadways that may be present due to weather conditions. Truck and/or vehicle screening may occur for northbound Interstate 5 traffic at Fawndale Road, approximately ten miles north of Redding, prior to or during the storms, depending on weather conditions, highway impacts, or traffic incidents.
 
24/7 updated highway conditions are available via QuickMap. Other resources include One-Stop-Shop (roadway conditions for Western U.S.). Motorists can also follow Caltrans District 2 on our Twitter and Facebook pages for important traffic updates. 
 
Travelers are also reminded to be wary of using non-highway alternative routes in the event of highway closures. These routes may not be maintained or open during inclement weather events and may have size restrictions for larger vehicles. Contact local city or county agencies for current roadway status or restrictions on non-highway routes.


If you are traveling during this time period, monitor changing weather and roadway conditions through the National Weather Service and QuickMap.


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CONTINUING SAGA: “Due to a bus breaking down this afternoon we will not have the Sierra Brooks/Vinton Church bus available until further notice.  The district is working on the issue and taking necessary steps to get the bus running as soon as possible.” 
The problem is with electric buses. Read more in the school board news.

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“THE CLERKS IN LEONARDS ARE SO NICE!”
I stood in line at Leonards Loyalton February 10th behind a young man who was purchasing a bouquet of roses. Clerk Cindy praised his purchase and inquired who the flowers were for.  “My girlfriend,” he boasted. Cindy talked about what a lucky girl she was and made small talk, engaging the young man. Cindy rang up the purchase, handed over the receipt, wished him well and the boy left.
I moved to the check out just as the boy ran back into the store, holding one rose and presenting it to Cindy, who was extremely pleased and stated she’d take it home. She then added she hoped the girlfriend wouldn’t notice one rose short. 

* * * * *

A NEW YEAR AND NEW POSTAL 

RATES. Local newspaper postal rates rose an average of 7.6% and outside county rates by 4%.
USPS has provided no explanation for increasing Within County Prices at a higher rate than Outside County mail, according to National Newspaper Association (NNA).
This follows a 7% increase in July 2022.
NNA incoming chair John Galer said, “Price increases of this magnitude will hurt newspapers as well as the Postal Service. This is not the time to drive business away if the Postmaster General’s goal is to fill his mail trucks and his mailbags.”
Postal Advocate states the January increase is, “The third time in 17 months with some of the largest increases in history and at significantly higher rates than inflation.  We can expect these rate spikes to continue as the USPS® has stated that two increases per year will be their new norm.”

* * * * *

“We can’t go wrong with good information. This is why you need the publication you are reading. Your local paper and online news sources are crucial to a community’s health and overall well-being. Local newspapers, blogs and online sources tell what is happening in your local town and county. Support this news source with your subscription and advertising needs. County newspapers that have been around for years continue to close. Every week I receive notification of a newspaper printing its final edition and that’s not good news.” 
- Dr. Glenn Mollette is a graduate of numer-ous schools including Georgetown College, Southern and Lexington Seminaries in Kentucky. 

Stacy Anderson, Unit Biologist - Wildlife for Plumas and Sierra Counties has written me, "I heard back from Kent Laudon and he reports that we can confirm that there was a wolf detection near Loyalton and that it is not collared. Due to the animal not being collared we don’t know more at this time. CDFW attempted to collect DNA in order to obtain more information but were unsuccessful. We do know that dispersing wolves can travel thousands of miles. Detections and updates are posted in the quarterly reports located online at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Mammals/Gray-Wolf... . The public may also subscribe to received Gray Wolf Updates by email on the CDFW website."

 
On 2-16-2023 at approximately 1249 hours a female pedestrian (K. Picou, 34 yrs old, out of Quincy) was walking westbound on Main St. just west of Cloman Ave.  Picou was walking on the sidewalk located on the north side of Main St. when a silver Toyota 4-Runner exiting the Quincy post office parking lot struck the pedestrian causing minor injuries. The driver of the Toyota fled the scene traveling eastbound on Main St.  The Toyota 4-Runner is described as a newer model, silver in color, and well maintained. The driver is described as a female in her 50's with long blond hair.
 
If anyone has information regarding this collision, please contact the Quincy CHP office at 530-283-1100
 
 
 
 
 
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
# # #

​On Tuesday, February 15, at approximately 12:50 PM, the Sierra County Sheriff’s Office received a call for a welfare check in Sierra Brooks (Loyalton). The caller, who was delivering senior meals, was requesting a welfare check on an elderly woman that was not answering the door. Additionally, it appeared the women had not collected the previous two days' meal delivery.
A deputy was dispatched and arrived at the residence shortly after the request. After getting no response at the door, the deputy made entry into the home. Once in the home, the deputy found the woman collapsed on the floor, and unable to speak or get up. The Loyalton Fire Department and Eastern Plumas Ambulance responded. The woman was transported to the Sierra Brooks Lodge via ambulance to an awaiting air ambulance.
The sheriff’s office would like to thank the delivery driver (for recognizing the need to contact the sheriff’s office), the Loyalton Fire Department, Eastern Plumas Ambulance and Care Flight for getting the woman the medical help she needed. We hope for a full and speedy recovery.

Print Version

OAKLAND — On Valentine’s Day, California Attorney General Rob Bonta today issued a consumer alert warning Californians to beware of romance scams. Romance scams occur when a criminal adopts a fake identity to gain a victim’s affection and trust to manipulate or steal their finances or personal information. This usually occurs through various forms of communication including phone calls, text messages, social media and dating sites. Last year alone, romance scams cost nearly 70,000 consumers $1.3 billion. In today’s alert, Attorney General Bonta reminds Californians to exercise caution in their dealings with strangers online.
“All year round, bad actors use the holidays to try and extort Californians out of their hard-earned money,” said Attorney General Bonta. “This Valentine’s Day, learn the signs and always ask for a second opinion to avoid falling victim to romance scams. The bottom line is — if a stranger online asks for money or personal information — it is most likely a scam. I urge you to report any and all romance scams you may encounter and contact your local authorities if you suspect being a victim of one.”
Learn the Warning Signs
You may likely be dealing with a scammer if:

• Your romantic interest sends you photos that look too perfect to be real.
• They profess their love to you quickly.
• They lavish you with texts, emails and phone calls to draw you in.
• They repeatedly promise to meet in person but never follow through. 
• They make a sudden request for money to deal with an emergency or great investment. Scammers like to create a sense of urgency.

Protect Yourself from Romance Scams:

• Don’t send money to someone you haven’t met in person: This is a common request made by scammers.
• Don’t share personal information: Be careful about what personal information you share, such as your address or financial information.
• Talk to friends and family: If you’re not sure about someone, talk to your friends and family for a second opinion.
• Do your research: Use various search engines to look up a person’s photos and details to see if these have been used elsewhere.
• Be wary of any investment offers, particularly those involving cryptocurrency: Scammers often set up fake websites simulating actual cryptocurrency investment opportunities in order to entice unsuspecting investors.
• Check for inconsistencies: Watch for inconsistencies in a person’s story, such as changes in details or lack of information about their background.
• Use dating apps safely: Avoid moving a conversation to a private messaging platform unless you are certain of the recipient’s identity. Scammers want you to move to an app that doesn't identify them in real life.
• Trust your instincts: If something seems too good to be true, it most likely is.

Attorney General Bonta is committed to protecting Californians from fraudulent individuals. In January, Attorney General Bonta issued a consumer alert warning Californians to beware of fake and unlicensed contractors soliciting their services to individuals affected by damage from the recent winter storms.

​

Hillegom, February 14, 2023

​If you enjoy having (lots of) flowers in your garden, you can go all out with summer bulbs. These garden jewels are the crowning glory to the floral beauty of your green oasis.
 A fantastic display of colorSummer bulbs are summer-flowering bulbs or tubers that you plant in spring. They will bloom in summer and into early fall. There is an incredibly varied range of unique flowers, in the most extraordinary shapes and sizes. They all have one thing in common: they look spectacular and, as such, are the finishing touch to your garden.
 AssortmentThe best-known summer bulbs are lilies (Lilium), dahlias (Dahlia), arum lilies (Calla), sword lilies (Gladiolus), African lilies (Agapanthus) and begonias (Begonia). The lesser-known varieties, for example, Canna lily (Canna), spider lily (Hymenocallis) and tiger flower (Tigridia), are just as beautiful. Just choose whatever makes you happy, and what suits your garden.
 PlantingYou can simply plant summer bulbs grouped together, or solo in between established plantings. Check the packaging for spacing and heights. For example, lilies need less space than dahlias. Are you ready to start planting? Here are a few tips:

1. Choose the right time. You can start planting summer bulbs in April, once the chance of frost has disappeared. Sometimes the frost lingers for longer. In that case, simply wait since summer bulbs can’t tolerate frost.
2. Dig a planting hole that is twice as deep as the size of the bulb/tuber. Begonias and dahlias, however, are exceptions. These should be planted just below the surface because they need more warmth from the sun.
3. Without pushing, gently position the summer bulbs in the soil.
4. Cover your summer bulbs with the excavated soil. Give them plenty of water immediately after planting to help them form roots quickly.
5. If it happens to be a dry spring, keep the soil in the garden moist.

Do you want to find out more about summer bulbs? Then visit www.flowerbulbs.com.