As your elected taxpayer advocate, I'm fighting to make sure all Californians are treated fairly and to promote tax policies that help grow our economy. I'm always willing to hear your ideas on how we can work together to solve the toughest problems facing our state.
GEORGE RUNNER
 




BOE Adopts New Reforms
 
A recent audit report by the Department of Finance highlighted some problems at the Board of Equalization when it comes to board member and agency practices.


In light of these issues, the Board voted at its April Board Meeting to adopt new policies that establish stricter protocols regarding member education and outreach.


The policy changes include creating a more robust clearance process for outreach activities, requiring Board review for certain events, and imposing a moratorium on major conferences until a new outreach plan has been adopted by the full Board. The Board also directed the development of memorandums of understanding for loaned staff.


For the next Board meeting agenda, I will include empowering the executive director to hire all executives (CEAs), with the exception of the chief counsel and future executive directors.


These reforms are vital steps towards remedying issues identified in the audit and reassuring taxpayers of our commitment to running an efficient and responsive agency.



​Californians Already Pay a Premium for Roads


 
Liberal lawmakers recently jammed a $52 billion gas tax hike (SB-1) through the state Legislature. Now, the bill awaits Governor Brown’s signature.






There are those who claim that there isn’t enough money to fix our roads without raising taxes. I disagree and explain why in an article I wrote for the Sacramento Bee showing just how much transportation taxes and fees Californians already pay.


John and Ken of KFI radio in Los Angeles had me on their radio show to talk about how this huge gas tax increase will undoubtedly impact low-income Californians who must travel farther distances to work.


It gets worse. The 12 cent increase will become a 19.5 cent increase in 2019. Plus the costs of Air Resources Board actions like cap and trade and the low carbon fuel standard will also impose significant new costs on motorists.


The Governor plans to sign the bill, but you can still let him know your thoughts.



​

EASTERN SIERRA FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES MEETING was held by the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ in Loyalton on April 20th. Fire entities represented were Loyalton Fire Department, Sierra County Fire Protection District #1, Cal Fire, and the Forest Service. Sierra County Planning Director and executive officer of LAFCO, Tim Beals, led the scope of discussion and gave a history of fire protection in the county. He said over the past two decades there has been increased importance in fire protection, as well as increased reliance on cooperative agreements. This meeting focused on the east side of the county as the west side is completed covered by fire districts. Beals said on the east side there are issues with areas not currently being served by an organized fire district. Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District has agreed to serve Long Valley area as well as Verdi. Sierra County has an agreement with Truckee Meadows for $10,000 a year until they decide to change it.  Sierra County Fire Protection District has a portion of Verdi it serves. Beals stated that in the early 70’s there was a proposal to create a Loyalton fire protection district. He said the city council held a proceeding, which included Sierra Brooks and valley ranches close to Loyalton. In 1977 after agreements were reached and the formation was created, the City of Loyalton withdrew the approval of the fire district from LAFCO. Beals said he never understood why this happened. He continued, in early 1982, petitions were filed by residents in Sierra Brooks, and the Board of Supervisors took on the responsibility of filing. The proceeding went through many hearings over a two-year period and a supervisor determined that since the county service area zone had been set up there would not be a need to create a district and the zone could provide the fire protection services. Agreements were negotiated in 1991 and fire service agreements are annually renewed. In 2000, a concerted effort to study the consolidation of fire services in Sierra County and move toward fire districts protecting all corners of county. Sierra County Fire Protection District took on the opportunity at the request from the Board to upgrade the fire plan and to make recommendations for those areas that are currently not served. Service area 5 and 5a is a combination of Sierra Brooks subdivision and Smithneck Creek wildlife area. Beals said as they look at existing agreements a number of questions come up which include, indemnification, liability, cost, and scope of services. He said they have to get permission to extend service outside of boundaries, which involves LAFCO making a determination and there should be an expectation that it be annexed.
He said the fire agreements only involve service area 5 and 5a, which is Sierra Brooks, south half of Loyalton, Sierra Pacific property, Loyalton mobile home park and senior center apartments. Beals said the question was what do we do with those lands not in a protection district, like Loyalton pines, north of highway 49, and some valley ranches, which are in service area 4. Beals concluded this was why they are looking at what are the pros and cons are of forming a fire district for the east side of the county.
Beals introduced Rick Maddalena who is one of the five commissioners on the Sierra County Fire Protection District. He said when Verdi fire volunteers started disappearing they jumped in to try to create something. Maddalena stressed they want to be invited, adding this was not a hostile takeover. He said they need a means to provide service and new regulations are more burdensome on how agreements have to be done through LAFCO. The Sierra County Fire Protection District put together a “road show” and met with the Board of Supervisors three times and had two meetings in Verdi and a meeting in Long Valley also maintaining communications with Truckee Meadows Fire. What Maddalena found positive, was the opportunity to enhance their relationship with Loyalton Fire. He stated Loyalton Fire responds outside their district to help and takes no tax revenue from these areas, adding it didn’t seem right those services aren’t paid for in some regard. Maddalena said the general plan of action if they did annex the east side was to use Truckee Meadows Fire. They would see a special assessment district around Verdi to pay for Truckee Meadows Fire services. He would like to see Sierra County Fire Protection District contract with Loyalton Fire annually similarly to what they did with Verdi Volunteer Fire for years.
There were several questions from the audience centered on taxes going up. From the Sierra County Fire Protection District, Bill Copren, stated they can’t raise property taxes without a vote of a people. He said the hope is to increase the quality of fire protection and the intention is to have all who are receiving quality fire protection paying for it. He added that presently the way the system is set up, not one penny is going to fire protection in some areas.
From the audience, rancher, Dave Goicoechea stated he has benefitted from the USFS and fire department and he hasn’t been paying. He said he has made contributions from time to time to help and has no objection to be annexed into a fire district. Goicoechea felt a property tax percentage should go to the fire system.
Loyalton Fire Chief Shawn Heywood felt this was a “double edged sword,” if they see this go forward. Supervisor Paul Roen said services could not be reduced. They have to be matched or increased. Heywood wanted to let the audience know that Loyalton Fire will continue to respond to areas outside of their area, regardless of what happens.
City of Loyalton attorney, Steve Gross, asked if there was another way to “skin a cat” and encouraged them to look at different options. Beals said one option was to approve the agreements and deal with the questions when they come up. Gross mentioned creating a fire district completely separate from Sierraville. Supervisor Scott Schlefstein wanted to pursue a Loyalton Fire District.
From Loyalton Fire, John Evans asked if it was possible to have a fire services agreement for service areas 3 and 4, similar to what is being done in service area 5 and 5a. Beals said to extend services to Loyalton Pines, there would have to be a LAFCO agreement, which would require an establishment of a district or annexing to a district.
Audience member, Barbara Leffingwell, of Sierra Brooks stated she was happy with the contract and happy with service and hadn’t seen anything yet that would make her want to join a fire district. She said the LAFCO process takes a long time, and the renewal of the fire agreement would need to be approved by July 1. Leffingwell asked what happens if this process falls apart. County Counsel said contracts don’t expire, adding it would take action of the board to cancel the contract. Supervisor Lee Adams stated it was not the board’s intent to leave anybody high and dry.
Supervisor Roen asked if they could start the process to create special districts for Verdi and one in Long Valley. Beals, said yes, it would be direction to staff to place it on the next agenda. Board Chair Peter Huebner asked Sierra County Clerk Recorder Heather Foster to place it on the next agenda. Regarding the rest of the east side of the County, Supervisor Adams made the recommendation to continue discussion for the rest of the year and keep the present agreement the same in the mean time.
If Sierra County Fire Protection District is successful, the assessment would pass from the county to the fire district and then the county would be completely removed from negotiations and contracting responsibilities, which Beals said was the ultimate goal. Adams but wanted to let the audience know they will have til the end of the year to discuss this. He stated there was also a committee to deal with this issue and hoped the committee would start meeting on a regular basis.
Beals said Sierra County Fire Protection District has the independent authority to proceed with an annexation with or without the consent of the board or anybody, adding, they are an independent special district. He assumed that down the line they would eventually propose an application to LAFCO for annexation. Beals stated there needs a priority given to this issue and what the options are. Adams said they need to get to the end of the year and have some movement with clear direction. He will be pushing for the county to extricate itself.

NFIB awaits outline of plan to lower rates for businesses of all sizes and structures

SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 26, 2017 – In anticipation of President Trump’s impending tax reform plan announcement, NFIB California State Executive Director Tom Scott issued the following statement on behalf of our 22,000 dues-paying small business members:

“We applaud President Trump for continuing to push for tax reform that would provide relief to businesses of all sizes and structures. Small businesses account for nearly half of the economy and nearly half the jobs. If the goal of tax reform is to boost the economy, then tax reform must start with small business.

“The President’s proposal for rate parity would make American businesses immediately more competitive. A low, single business tax would supercharge the economy, and create an even playing field for small businesses and large corporations. We are very happy that the White House has listened to small businesses.

“We also urge the California Legislature to embrace impending federal tax reform. There are currently legislative proposals which would reinstitute certain taxes in the event that Washington removes these tax burdens. Rather than serve as a roadblock to anything from the Trump Administration, California lawmakers should welcome tax relief from Washington and help make California more affordable and competitive for job growth.”

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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 350,000 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

NEVADA CITY, Calif. – Today, Tahoe National Forest Supervisor Eli Ilano announced changes to existing road closures on the Forest. Bowman Road (Forest Road 18) is now closed from Highway 20 north to Meadow Lake Road. Mosquito Ridge Road (Forest Road 96) is now closed from Interbay Road (Forest Road 96-17) east to the end of Mosquito Ridge Road at Ahart Campground. In addition, Buckeye Road (Forest Road 32-12) is now closed within 100 yards of Greenhorn Creek.


These updated road closures modify the previous Mosquito Ridge Road closure. While the previous closure included the section of Mosquito Ridge Road between Gorman Ranch Road (Placer County Road 3002) and Interbay Road, that closure has been lifted. However, travelers are encouraged to use caution, as there are sections of the road where one-lane traffic is in place to avoid road hazards and the vehicle weight limit is 20,000 pounds.


The new closure of Bowman Road expands the previous closure. This change was necessary after Forest engineers discovered extensive road damage on other sections of Bowman Road.


Snow, ice and debris are inhibiting access to some Tahoe National Forest Roads and additional road damage is still being revealed.


The additional closure of Buckeye Road at Greenhorn Creek is due to erosion of the creek crossing as a result of substantial winter rains.


“Similar to other national forests and counties in California, the Tahoe National Forest has seen extensive damage to roads and other infrastructure from this year’s winter storms,” said Forest Supervisor Eli Ilano. “Unsafe conditions, damaged roads, as well as snow and debris have resulted in the need to close some roads to public use. These closures are for public safety and we hope to have them back open as soon as they are repaired and deemed safe for travel.”


Those with a valid permit from the U.S. Forest Service are authorized to use these roads, as are any Federal, State or local officers or members of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of official duty.


For more Tahoe National Forest information, go to www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/Tahoe_NF and “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TahoeNF.

SACRAMENTO – Assembly Higher Education Committee Vice Chair Catharine Baker issued the following statement in response to the California State Auditor’s report detailing an undisclosed $175 million reserve fund maintained by the Office of the President of the University of California and other financial concerns:


“The UC Board of Regents just raised tuition on students and has nearly doubled in-state student tuition over the last 10 years, while spending hundreds of millions of dollars on projects and administrative salaries. Students and their families deserve confidence that their money is being spent wisely. The UC Office of the President acknowledges the need to address the Auditor’s findings. I look forward to working with my Assembly colleagues, students, and the UC to get to the bottom of this and do all we can to help UC get its financial house in order.”

 

[Sierra City, CA] — This June, volunteers will restore the historic Wild Plum Guard Station in the Tahoe National Forest. Denver-based nonprofit HistoriCorps will recruit volunteers to perform the restoration work under supervision of trained field staff. This is the third year HistoriCorps crews will work on the site.


HistoriCorps is a nonprofit that engages volunteers in restoration of historic structures on public lands across America.  It is a service learning partner of the U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture committed to the preservation and stewardship of significant resources on public lands. 


Volunteers of every age and experience are welcome to participate in the Wild Plum project. HistoriCorps work sessions typically last for five days each, with volunteers camping, eating and working together for the duration. HistoriCorps provides all meals, a campsite, training and tools for each week-long session. Volunteers will camp at nearby Wild Plum Campground, waking up every morning to spectacular views. Participants will be introduced to the history of the site, and can mingle with other volunteers from across the nation, many forming lasting friendships in the process.


The Wild Plum site dates back to 1908, when the Tahoe National Forest’s Sierra Ranger District purchased land to build an administrative site.  Already occupied by a residence built in 1907, the Forest Service added a bunkhouse, a barn, and a shed to the property.  The Civilian Conservation Corps, a public work relief program operated under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, constructed a garage for the complex during the 1930s.  When the Downieville and Sierra Ranger Districts combined in 1946, Wild Plum was used as a guard station for fire crews and employee housing until it was abandoned in the early 1980s. The Wild Plum complex currently suffers from vandalism and neglect.


HistoriCorps volunteers will spend two weeks this June rehabilitating the Wild Plum garage, blacksmith shop and barn. The scope of work for this project will include painting, removing threatening vegetation, strengthening building foundations, and repairing doors and siding. The project will run for two sessions, from June 13-18 and June 20-25.


To learn more about the project or to register as a volunteer, visit http://historicorps.org/events/wild-plum/.   For more information please contact Liz Rice, Volunteer Manager, at lrice@historicorps.org or 720-287-0100 ext 231.


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ABOUT HISTORICORPS
Founded in 2009, HistoriCorps® is a national initiative that works through partnerships to mobilize volunteers to save and sustain our nation’s special places while providing educational and outdoor experiences. The organization is based in Denver, CO and coordinates and instructs projects throughout the United States. At the heart of the HistoriCorps program model is the engagement of a broad and diverse cadre of partners and volunteers. By working with constituents, partners and volunteers, HistoriCorps implements meaningful solutions that save historic sites for generations to come. These critical partnerships enable HistoriCorps to fundamentally change the way in which America saves and sustains its cultural and historic heritage. 

Background:
For this month’s map series, the CED looked at the counties of California that may be most affected by Proposition 56, which went into effect on April 1, 2017. This proposition increased the tax on tobacco products from $0.87 to $2.87, and changed the tax’s revenue allocation to support existing state healthcare programs. To study the effects of smoking across California counties, we looked at each county’s overall percentage of residents who smoke, as well as each county’s mortality rate from lung cancer.
Overview and Analysis:
The counties with the highest overall percentage of residents who smoke is a tie between Alpine County and Humboldt County with 16% of the overall population smoking. The lowest percentage of smokers overall was in Santa Clara County with 8%. On average, 11.75% of Californians smoke, while just over 14 percent of residents of the the CSU Chico Service Region smoke.
The mortality rate from lung cancer was highest in Del Norte County with 59.9 deaths per 100,000 people. The lowest was found in Imperial County with 27 deaths per 100,000. Three counties did not have any available data for mortality rate due to their low populations: Sierra, Alpine and Mono. The average lung cancer mortality rate for California was 34.8 per 100,000, while the CSU Chico service region had a much higher rate of 48.1 deaths per 100,000.
Although the highest numbers for each category were not in the CSU Chico service region, the overall data for our 12-county region gives us much higher numbers than the rest of the state. Counties in our service region experience lung cancer mortality rates of almost exclusively over 45 deaths per 100,000, with 9 of the 12 counties being in this range. The overall percentage of smokers in our region is also higher than state averages, with 9 of the 12 counties reporting more that more than 13 percent of residents are regular smokers.
While Proposition 56 was not popular in the ballot box in the CSU, Chico Service Region, it seems that our region stands to be one of the most impacted by the measure. While a greater percentage of residents in our region will be impacted by the higher tobacco tax, we also contain a greater percentage of residents who may change their tobacco consumption habits in response to the price increase, or who may stand to benefit from the state’s expanded anti-smoking and healthcare efforts. 

​

​AN EMERGENCY ITEM was added to the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ agenda on Tuesday, April 18th in Loyalton to approve a letter in support of American Renewable Power’s (ARP) tax credit request to assist with their investment of the Loyalton Biomass. Supervisor Paul Roen said as of last Friday a Purchase Agreement was signed by ARP. He praised Tracy Holt, stating she had really stepped up and helped. Roen said it wasn’t a done deal but the Loyalton Biomass is in escrow. Sierra County Planning Director Tim Beals commented on this issue by saying it was great news and wanted to underscore how significant the news was. He said it has been a long road since the initial discussion about the reopening of the plant and a lot of work has gone into it.
The supervisors approved the letter to the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GoBIZ) unanimously. In part, it stated, “This significant investment by American Renewable Power is an environmentally important renewable energy generation resources we need to encourage at this time in the State of California, particularly in regions with high unemployment and poverty.
“ARP-Loyalton Biomass intends to make a major investment in our community and to create more than 75 full-time, high quality jobs. The timing for this investment is important due to the need for more renewable power in the region and the fact that this plant will have a 20+ year expected commercial life once it is placed back into commercial service this coming September.
“The approval of this Tax Credit Application will be a substantial incentive for American Renewable Power to fund and restart the biomass plant in Loyalton this summer. The plant will require 21 full-time jobs plus another 50+ full time independent contractor jobs required to deliver residual biomass from within an hour’s drive of the plant. The bulk of this fiber will be sourced from nearby national and private forests to remove high fire hazard waste biomass that otherwise would be left in the forest.”

On Friday, April 21, 2017 at around 10:23pm our dispatch center was notified of an in-progress home invasion at 133 River Street in Downieville. During the call a window could be heard breaking and the reporting party stated the suspect was attempting to gain entry through the broken window. The reporting party stated her husband fired a single rifle shot at the suspect, striking him in the arm. The suspect then fled the residence.

Deputies responded to the scene and conducted a brief search of the area and later located a male matching the reporting party’s description along with a female subject inside a vehicle on Highway 49 just south of Downieville near mile post marker 15.39.
Richard James Douglass, 22, of Napa, California was arrested for PC 182/459 (Conspiracy to Commit a Crime/Burglary), PC 664/211 (Unsuccessful Attempt to Commit a Crime/Robbery), PC 212.5 (Second Degree Robbery), and PC 1203.2 (Probation Violation-No Bail). Additionally, he has a $20,000 misdemeanor warrant out of Napa County for H&S 11364(a) (Possession of Unlawful Paraphernalia and H&S 11377(a) (Possession of Controlled Substance) . Douglass received medical treatment and clearance for a laceration and non-life threatening gunshot wound.
Deborah R. Hunt, 33, of McKinleyville, CA, was arrested for PC 182/459 (Conspiracy to Commit a Burglary), PC 664/211 (Unsuccessful Attempt to Commit a Crime/Robbery), PC 212.5 (Second Degree Robbery), and PC 1203.2 (Probation Violation-No Bail).
Both subjects were booked into and are being housed at the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility in Nevada County and local bail is set at $200,000 each.
The investigation on this case is still ongoing. 

​

Sacramento - Californians who have filed their income tax returns by the April 18 deadline will unfortunately have to wait eight days longer than the rest of the nation until they've collectively earned enough money to pay off their total tax bill for the year.


Tax Freedom Day, calculated annually by the Tax Foundation, is the day when Americans have earned enough money to pay their taxes at the federal, state and local levels.


Nationally, Tax Freedom Day lands on April 23, but for California it lands on May 1.


"For some lawmakers, this terrible distinction seems to be a badge of honor," said Board of Equalization Vice Chair George Runner. "With liberal politicians recently voting to increase gas and car taxes, I fear this day will come even later next year for hardworking taxpayers."


According to the Tax Foundation, Americans will pay $3.5 trillion in federal taxes and $1.6 trillion in state and local taxes, for a total tax bill of $5.1 trillion, or 31 percent of national income. That's more than Americans will collectively spend on food, clothing and housing combined.


Compared to other states, California's Tax Freedom Day is one of the latest in the nation. Only Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut have later dates.


Learn more about Tax Freedom Day.

​

 
The Sierra Valley Grange will be holding their 4th Annual Garden and Farm Fest on Saturday, May 6th at the Grange Hall in Vinton from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.  Admission is free and food will be available for sale all day.
 
Local businesses and individuals will demonstrate projects or present information related to gardening or small farms.  Vendors will be on hand with a wide variety of items ranging from plant starts to yard art.  Treats for your chickens?  Container Gardening? Wool? Heirloom trees? Tomato starts? We have all those and so much more!  For a special treat the Reno Antique Tractor and Small Engine Club will surround the building with their beautifully restored farm equipment.
 
Stop by and see what you can learn from our local experts from community organizations like FFA, 4H, Cattle Women and the Grange.  Bring the entire family and plan to spend a few hours or the entire day.  At the end of the day there will be a drawing for all the projects, demos and donations.  Be sure to buy tickets for the ones you like; you do not need to be present to win.
 
The event will be held rain or shine, so come out and support the Grange and see what new ideas you might learn to make this year your best garden season ever.
 
 
Sierra Valley Grange
Laural Colberg
707 330 3601
lcolberg@hotmail.com

SACRAMENTO – Senator Ted Gaines (R-El Dorado) today issued the following statement regarding his effort to repeal Senate Bill 1, the transportation proposal recently passed by the legislature that imposes $52 billion in permanent new gas taxes and user fees on motorists.


“I will be exploring every possible avenue to repeal the gas tax, whether it’s through legislation, an initiative to change or eliminate other gas taxes, or other courses of action. I am going to fight to overturn this unfair and regressive tax and get some justice for the California families and businesses that are getting nickeled and dimed to death.


“The Governor has compared fixing our roads with the urgency of fixing a leaky roof. Well guess what Governor Brown, Californians have already paid to fix the roof but the repairs have not been made and we’re all wondering why we’re left paying for the same service twice.


“And how are the people supposed to believe that this money will actually go to transportation? Currently, the state is diverting a billion dollars in weight fees away from roads every year. According to a recent Legislative Analyst’s Office report, CalTrans is overstaffed by 3,500 people wasting $500 million of road money every year. Why would anyone believe that this new tax isn’t a bait and switch sham where the funds won’t be diverted to pay for pet projects like the High Speed Rail boondoggle?


“We already have some of the highest gas taxes and worst roads in the country. For years we’ve starved transportation when we’ve had many billions in surplus, even though it was supposedly a ‘system in crisis.’ Before we take a single penny from Californians in new taxes, it is our duty to make 100-percent certain that we are spending the money we already collect exclusively on road repair and construction. Senate Bill 1 failed to do that and I’m going to make every attempt to make it right.”
 
# # #


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.

As seen in Victorville Daily Press, Fox and Hounds Daily, and California Political Review 
By George Runner


Con artists deceive their victims by manipulating emotions and exploiting vulnerabilities. Some con artists are so skilled, their victims are unaware they've been scammed. Once a con artist gains your trust, it's highly probable you'll be the victim of a scam.


The same is true of some politicians.


Californians pay close to the highest amount of taxes in the nation and continue to demand better roads in return. Despite being overtaxed, we continue to drive on the worst roads in the nation. Politicians tell us they can improve our transportation infrastructure if we simply pay an additional $52 billion in taxes and fees.


Another egregious example is the state's so-called Fire Prevention Fee - an illegal tax passed by the Legislature in 2011. The name indicates that taxpayers are getting fire prevention services in order to generate widespread support. However, in reality the tax only backfills a budget cut; no new fire prevention services have materialized. Sadly, these types of political scams have become common.


Consider the elimination of California's Enterprise Zone Program in 2013. Although not without complications, the 42 enterprise zones provided economic incentives aimed at spurring job creation and business investment in economically distressed areas of the state. ...



​

 
Mary Mulligan (54) Loyalton. Violation of probation by consumption of alcohol.  Five days jail, reinstated on probation.
 
Valerie Robertson (59) Loyalton.  Violation of probation by use of methamphetamine.  Terminated from drug court, reinstated on probation.
 
Steven Goicoecha (61) Loyalton. Driving with a blood alcohol of .08 or above. Three years probation, two day jail, fine $1885, and alcohol school.
 
Lisa Melton (53) Loyalton.  Under the influence of a controlled substance. Admitted to drug diversion program.
 
Parris Holmes-Clayborn (26) Oakland.  Driving while suspended. Twenty-four months probation, one day jail, and a fine of $962.
 
Hannah Ashley (36) Guerneville.  Sentencing after a plea to kidnapping, two counts of first degree (residential) burglary, child endangerment, and eluding an officer.  Ashley was convicted of charges in connection with an Amber Alert from Sonoma County wherein she kidnapped her 8 month old son who had been legally taken from her custody.  This ended in Downieville after a high speed chase where she eluded a Sierra County Deputy, and thereafter breaking into two local residences.  State prison 7 years 8 months, and a fine of $2855.
 
Christine Kruck (59) Truckee.  After a contested preliminary hearing, Kruck was ordered to stand trial on felony driving under the influence after she was arrested on Highway 89 for DUI and having suffered three prior convictions within the past ten years.  She remains in custody in lieu of $75,000 bail.
 
Justin Duncan (42) Sierraville.  Driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 or above. Three years probation, two days jail, fine $1925, and alcohol school.
 
Thomas Stafford (30) Loyalton.  After a contested preliminary hearing, Stafford was ordered to stand trial on felony charges of resisting arrest with force, armed with a weapon (knife), felon in possession of a firearm, two counts of misdemeanor resisting / delaying officers, and being under the influence of methamphetamine.  He remains in custody in lieu of $130,000 bail.
 
Zachary Manning (37) Loyalton.  Petty theft and drunk in public.  One year probation, fine $500, and must attend AA sessions.
 
Robin Bolle (49) Downieville.  Reckless driving.  Fine $845.
 
Susan Ramsey (53) Reno.  Driving while suspended, and failure to appear.  Eighteen months probation and fine $1613.
 
Jacob Marsh (19) Loyalton.  Sentencing on a guilty plea to secretly recording another while in a state of undress.  Two years probation, one day jail, fine $450, and must attend counselling,
 
Joseph Delfuante (32) Yuba City.  After a trial by court, he was found guilty to leaving a campfire unattended, and he was place on one year probation with a fine of $451.
 
Melissa Parsons (26) Reno.  After a contested preliminary hearing, Parsons was ordered to stand trial on felony charges of battery causing serious bodily injury. She if free on her OR.
 

Atmospheric Rivers Pushed Total to 89.7 Inches since October 1
 

SACRAMENTO – Never in nearly a century of Department of Water Resources (DWR) recordkeeping has so much precipitation fallen in the northern Sierra in a water year. DWR reported today that 89.7 inches of precipitation – rain and snowmelt – has been recorded by the eight weather stations it has monitored continuously since 1920 from Shasta Lake to the American River basin. Today’s total surpassed the previous record of 88.5 inches recorded in the entirety of Water Year 1983. The region’s annual average is 50 inches.


California traditionally receives 30 to 50 percent of its annual precipitation from atmospheric rivers (ARs), long and relatively narrow “rivers in the sky” laden with moisture that blow in from the Pacific. The West Coast experienced 46 ARs between October 1 and March 31, the first six months of Water Year 2017. Nearly one-third of the total were “strong” (13) or “extreme” (3) ARs.


DWR’s 5-station San Joaquin index is keeping pace with Water Year 1983’s record total of 77.4 inches in the region. Today’s total of 68.2 inches among the stations is 194 percent of the average precipitation recorded by today’s date during the water year and far exceeds the San Joaquin annual average of 40.8 inches.


The six-station index in the Tulare Basin, often called ground zero of California’s five-year drought, which officially ended in most of California on April 7, has recorded 178 percent of the amount of precipitation that normally falls by this date during an average water year. Total precipitation so far is 45 inches, about 1.5 times the average annual precipitation of 29.3 inches in the basin.


The snow water equivalent of California’s snowpack is far above average throughout the Sierra Nevada -- 176 percent of the April 13 average. DWR will conduct its final snow survey of the season on May 1 at Phillips Station in the Sierra 90 miles east of Sacramento.

 Services will be held Saturday, April 22nd at 11 a.m. at the Assembly of God Church.


A pot luck will follow at the Assembly of God Church Hall across the street.

Bring your favorite dish and memories of Pat to share.

At the request of family, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

Loyalton Library, P.O. Box 98, Loyalton, CA 96118
Loyalton Senior Center, P.O. Box 675, Loyalton, CA 96118
Loyalton Museum, P.O. Box 128, Loyalton, CA 96118

• Timing -- A few light rain or mountain snow showers today into tonight. Gusty south winds areawide Wednesday. More widespread light rain with mountain snow accumulations Wednesday late afternoon into early Thursday morning - tapering to showers Thursday along with continued gusty westerly winds. Could see some light snow for our friends in VC Wednesday night. Generally quiet Friday-Saturday with possibly another storm sometime in the Easter Sunday through next Tuesday timeframe.
• Impacts -- No flooding issues expected. Travel slow downs due to snow over the mountain passes Wednesday after sundown into the Thursday morning commute for mountain communities. Worst snow issues likely to be Alpine Co up into Tahoe and NE California. Winds resulting in enhanced turbulence/wind shear and tricky travel in wind prone roads on Wednesday into Thursday - nothing too out of the ordinary. Too soon to tell nature of impacts for potential storm early next week.
• Context -- The systems this week are typical spring deals. The one for early next week has the potential for being moderate-strong but again the predictability is low so it's too soon to label this one.
• Confidence -- High that we'll see a storm in the region Wednesday-Thursday with some snow travel impacts at night. Our +/- 500 foot snowfall scenarios don't yield much difference from the favored forecast attached. Low confidence on storm potential for next week but overall pattern does favor additional storms with low chances of prolonged dry and warm weather.
• Advice -- Plan for extra travel time in the mountains Wednesday evening into the Thursday morning commute. This time of year snow that falls at night has a much better chance of sticking.

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Photos taken April  9th along Poole Lane in Loyalton, Vinton and Dyson Lane which continues to be flooded.