LOYALTON’S LEGAL STRUCTURE and/or organization was discussed at a special Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting Friday, April 20th.
The meeting was the result of Vice Mayor Nancy Rogers’ resignation from City Council, leaving just Mayor Mark Marin and Councilwoman Joy Markum and the lack of ability to govern.
Presiding was the Board of Supervisors, and Deputy County Counsel Joe Larmour as well as Assistant County Counsel Margaret Long and County Counsel David Prentice by teleconference.
A memo prepared by Prentice laid out two scenarios:
•To appoint a third City Council member As a result, the Council must, within 30 days from the commencement of the vacancy, either fill the vacancy by appointment or call a special election to fill the vacancy to be held  on the next regularly established election date not less than 114 days from the call of the special election;
•Board of Supervisors Move for Disincorporation of Loyalton, where the County would have administrative responsibility to use funds from the territory of Loyalton to pay debts of the City and raise money through taxes of the people of the disincorporated city, if necessary. The process would be a consideration of LAFCO, an election and a completion of proceedings.
Prentice stated by teleconference that they had put together as much information as they could and had a “long discussion with the Loyalton attorney,” who was not present.
Supervisor Lee Adams told Loyalton’s history and how it was created by a petition of residents and who should determine its future and choices were pushed from within the community, not outside. His comments were met with applause.
Public comments included Janet McHenry, former teacher who stated just because the current leadership isn’t effective doesn’t mean it isn’t a viable entity and told of former council tasks, including 50 civic works projects, some which honor the town’s history and how the city council had previously worked together with skilled volunteers. “Good people need to step forward again for and by the people,” she stated.
Jackie Mitchell told of 60 museum volunteers and $60,000 spent mostly on handicapped access and stated she would vote us to leave it as a city but they need to fix the ceiling at city hall. She asked to get the museum money back and told of the thrift store with its wonderful things. She would like to see a new election for a whole new council.
Mike Welbourn lived here 30 years and said there was no “intelligent argument” to keep the city incorporated, stating, “It doesn’t work,” and “It has to change.”
Gary Shelton was a prior council member and said it was tough and was for disincorporation.
Joyce Cameron knew the County wasn’t trying to take the city over and has a lot of faith in the county. She said they are trying to salvage it. She spoke in favor to get good people to get things fixed. She said councilmen are all lay people with a lot of regulations with no paid mayor or city manager and doing it from the heart. She too, is thrilled with the park and museum. In case of an ad hoc committee, she would love to be on it.
Brooks Mitchell served on a prior council and wanted a special election to fill all five positions since it takes a 4/5 vote to spend contingencies and sewer funds to fix any project. He said neither council member was elected. County Clerk Heather Foster stated Mark Marin was appointed in lieu of an election and his term is up in November “Fix the damned roof,” he advised.
Phyllis DeMartini wanted to know benefits  of going with the county and called it all thankless jobs. She had concern with the mayor having said it would remain Loyalton Fire Department and called it a poor choice not to include Loyalton in the fire district if there’s a disincorporation. She was also concerned over a $10,000 grant given the fire department by the hospital board which is in the city’s general fund.
County Planning Director Tim Beals explained if disincorporated, city services would be included in a municipal service review and finances flow analysis, part of LAFCO. He stated ”no easy answers.” LAFCO consists of two supervisors, two city council members and one public member.
Lee Adams suggested city residents look at other county communities and said most services would go into special districts. He would want to see “a real emergency” before the county steps in.
Don Yegge wanted to know if LAFCO could make a decision and he was told no.
Chairman Scott Schlefstein said the Board was not doing anything today and it was up to the city. Adams added that the sky is not falling. One hundred seventeen years ago, he said, they made the decision and 
the case made its way to the Supreme Court. Downieville, according to Lee, was incorporated in 1864, sat on it for 40 years and then disincorporated.
Tim said if annexed, Loyalton would become a community services district with a number of options and the fire service would be a critical part. He explained disincorporation could be initiated by a resolution of the Board or of the city or decided by 25% of the property owners within the city.
 A letter was read by pharmacist E.J. Peeler in favor of the retirees’ money and would “gladly let the county help.”
John Cussins was the city water treatment operator, the longest term employee and a retiree who lost 60% of his CalPERS retirement and he told how he kept the city in compliance with no pay. He told how a city council lowered water and sewer rates and are in dire straits and he’d like the county to work hand in hand like in 1990. He called the present situation “a nightmare waiting to happen.” He stated 17% of the property tax doesn’t work.
Mayor Mark Marin denied knowing “hardly anything” about CalPERS. “I’m green,” he said and stepped into lawsuits.
Councilwoman Joy Markum called herself “voice of the people.” She said Joe Dines is willing to make the city what we want it to be.
Colby Russell, captain on the fire department and past employee had a concern for retired CalPERS employees which needs to be fixed. Stop, work together and “quit arguing and bickering,” he stressed.
Tom Dotta with ancestors here since 1850 questioned, “What else do we need to lose if we dissolve the city” and suggested dissolving the county with huge unfunded liabilities. “Why wouldn’t the county work with the city,” he asked.
Jackie Mertton asked what percentage of voters or property owners or a combination are required to pass a community resolution to resolve. The answer  was it would need to be researched by the city attorney.
NOTE: Nancy Rogers kept her City Council seat. City attorney Steve Gross explains why in a letter to the City of Loyalton which is posted on cityofloyalton.org, under government.


 

“EYE ON SIERRA COUNTY” was held in Truckee April 10th at the Truckee Tahoe Airport, hosted by Truckee Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Tahoe Forest Health System, Law Offices of Porter Simon, Dickson Realty Truckee Tahoe, Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation, Holdrege & Kull, Sierra Sun, 101.5FM Truckee Tahoe Radio, TTCTV, Truckee Tahoe Airport District, Town of Truckee and Chef Ron Allen.
Jim Porter, Senior Partner of Porter Simon called Sierra Valley the “most beautiful valley in the State,” and stressed how lucky to have the influx of Truckee folks trying to go up here.
Jim had each person introduce themselves and moderators, Ted Owens, Mike Filippini and Katie Shaffer.
Ted had moved to Truckee in 1989, in construction with his dad and has served as executive director on the Planning Department, the Town Council and as Nevada County Supervisor. He resides in Randolph, which had to be described as up by Willow Street in Sierraville.  He questioned, “How’s Randolph show up on Google maps?” Ted had moved to Sierra County five and one-half years ago and further explained about Sierra County, as having Placer County to the south with 300,000 residents; Nevada County with its 98,000 residents and Sierra County with its 2,700 residents, eclipsed only by Alpine County. He said people tend to forget Verdi and called the county, “unique.” Like many, he said, he enjoys hiking the Lakes Basin, the Buttes, Graeagle. He called it an easy move to live here. He shared that the commute was shorter than to Nevada City, he has Care Flight yet questioned how many police are here and stated help could be an hour away. He moved here “not to change but to join it.” He loves the history and sentiment, how people wave to one another and his best part is how he can go hunting in the north valley and not drive. “I would not move back,” he stated. He described two types of noise; the creek and cattle as they’re moved in and out. He gave a shout out for Tour de Manure.
Mike Filippini, life long resident of Sierra Valley is a former teacher and administrator and now serves on the planning commission. Despite its low number of residents, he called it a “complicated place.”  He focused on cows and kids.
He told how, no matter where you come in to Sierra Valley, it’s beautiful and usually unpopulated on the valley floor with snow-topped mountains all around. He told how that valley floor is held by large blocks of agriculture interests. Small ranches have been consolidated raising hay alfalfa primarily and cows are trucked in and out with those cattle the backbone of the county’s economy. State regulation, he said, was not all that good and offers strict money issues. He told how they have to contend with environmental pressures and cattle are not popular, as they soil water and make gas.
On water, he described how Independence Lake’s good flow diverts off Little Truckee and goes to Sierra Valley and how his ranch has to belong to a water company and there are lawsuits, ditch repairs, the Clear Water Act and various costs, discharge requirements, testing, monitoring and legal management. He stated water management fees paid by individual users exceed $300,000. The profit margin is shorter and shorter and forces the sale to larger operations and lose character.
He told how ranchers who don’t want development but can’t keep the land go with conservation easements and sell the right to development not to develop and he told drawbacks of agendas with specific restrictions such as grazing restricted to protect wetlands. California environmental laws discourage some.  
Mike would like to see the communities more vibrant and called Downieville “almost not there,” with its school too small. He called a healthy community as healthy schools and told of it changing “a little bit with young families willing to commute.” He was optimistic despite Reno adding a lot of pressure and the subdivision in Bordertown, which will make the trip to Reno more difficult but may bring balanced growth with more kids in school.
Katie, CEO/founder of East River Public Relations has won two Silver Spike awards and is a Sierra Valley organizer. She and her husband are renovating a 1881 farmhouse in Sierraville.
Katie gave a power point presentation of her website, sierraville.org. She has been a Sierra Valley “on and off property owner” for 17 years and has sold eight houses, commuting daily to Truckee and did not enroll her daughter in local schools due to a variance for her volleyball. She described her husband as a “farm boy” and how the ag nature of the community spoke to him. They build homes as a side project and the district fees and housing are more affordable in Sierra Valley. She knows forty families who have made the move from Truckee. She romanced the seeing of satellites moving overhead, the stark beauty, walking to five viable wonderful businesses and getting Chia tea. She said her property had been planted over 100 years with black cottonwoods; one of the largest known and the Quince are now blossoming. She described buying fresh eggs on the honor system and called the post office “awesome” with free postal boxes.  She described her daily ride as “25 minutes door to door absolutely gorgeous,” yet with no cell service passing three summits and calling the road “treacherous.”
Of issue, she told of properties fallen into disrepair. Katie started the Sierraville Community Foundation and told of her work in holding a meeting to do public outreach and mobilized into action, Sierra County Planning Director Tim Beals and Supervisor Paul Roen in 2015 with 42 people.  A second community meeting took on the condition of the creek and took advantage of a free dump. What she described as the “ghost ship,” she told of broken glass, a septic not working well and “vehicles rotting into the ground.” She has dealt with hazmat and gotten trucking donated, named Dan Wentling and organized a cleanup with another the first Saturday in June in time for the fabulous Tour de Manure. In addition, there are cemetery clean ups and she told how neighbors “feel good” with community potlucks.
Her vision for Sierraville is to restore it to its former glory and to see younger families moving here, mostly to Calpine and Loyalton where she knows of a number of younger couples. The move offers more affordable housing yet she hopes they don’t want housing tracts and she “loves kids riding bikes.”
Additional speakers, Tim Beals and former Assessor Bill Copren didn’t show and it was hoped they didn’t experience a misfortune on Highway 89.


 

SACRAMENTO — California Attorney General Xavier Becerra today announced the arrest and grand jury indictment of five individuals for defrauding the state’s beverage container recycling program by creating fraudulent weight tickets for California Redemption Value (CRV) refunds. The five defendants personally benefitted from a recycling fraud in Sacramento County that cost the California Redemption Value fund $80.3 million. 

California’s beverage container recycling program, administered by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), encourages recycling through a 5- to 10-cent deposit on CRV-eligible beverage containers. Consumers can redeem their containers at privately owned recycling centers certified by CalRecycle. Recycling centers are responsible for ensuring that only eligible bottles and cans that are sold in California, where the CRV deposit was paid, are redeemed.
“In California, those who criminally misuse public programs for personal gain will be held accountable. Recycling Services Alliance (RSA) Corporation owner Shengchien Tseng and employees Maximina Perez, Alejandra Lazaro-Martinez, Veronica Castillo, and Marlene Davalos-Mendez are going to learn that the hard way,” said Attorney General Becerra. “The Beverage Container Recycling Program is a public program that we can be proud of – it betters our environment and our society.”
The 166-count criminal indictment alleges that the five defendants conspired to manufacture fraudulent weight tickets at Tseng's RSA corporation, a CalRecycle certified redemption center in Sacramento County. The defendants allegedly received out-of-state material from various recycling centers and engaged in an organized effort to illegally increase reimbursement claims from the CRV fund. The investigation uncovered $80.3 million in fraudulent claims, based on inaccurate, altered, or falsified weight ticket claims.
The investigation was a joint effort involving the California Department of Justice’s Recycle Fraud Program and CalRecycle, along with the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Division of Measurement Standards and the Sacramento County Agricultural Commissioner’s Weights and Measure Division.
It is important to note that a criminal indictment contains charges that are only allegations against a person. Every defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
A copy of the indictment is attached to the electronic version of this release at: oag.ca.gov/news.



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CITY OF LOYALTON: One more 
member down!
At Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, member Nancy Rogers announced she was resigning as of that night, “sorry to let folks down,” but “tired of verbal abuse.” She ran through a list of names, including office staff who were great and she wished them the best.
Mayor Mark Marin said he’d call the attorney on what will happen. He then complained of health issues and of not feeling well.
From the audience, Robert DeMartini questioned what would happen. Council member Joy Markum said it leaves her appointed and Mark elected, stating they need equal numbers and that’s “where we’ll find our weakness.” 
A letter from Counsel Steve Gross was on the agenda concerning 606 Lewis Street to get water services. Nancy stated it was not a legal tenant and the owner had passed away. From the audience, Lori Wright said the tenant is legal and law enforcement looks at it like that and requested the council respond with reasons in writing to the tenant’s attorney.
The Council approved to pay $76,804.27 in bills. Remaining unpaid are bills totaling $71,527.79.
A list of 17 Aged Balances total $344,749.26 which includes Loyalton Mobilehome Park owing $25,043.01 and $279,444.89 for water and sewer balances. One resident owes $18,419.64; another, $9,467.12 and another, $2,029.84 and yet another, $959.82. All are over 90 days. Six have been cut off.
Discussion was regarding letters from Farr West Engineering and Doug Colucci of USDA in regard to Church Street Sewer Rehabilitation Project. The apparent low bidder had a total bid cost of $369,007.00 with the engineer’s estimate $264,000. 
Funds from the lawsuit take 4/5 vote unless all three members agree. There was discussion over $47,000 spent in design and survey monies and change orders that could cost. The project is behind schedule with a final date of June 26th. An option was Farr West could assist to identify parts/materials needed at the wastewater plant to help address concerns raised in the 2013 Cleanup and Abatement Order to expend remaining USDA grant money. In the audience, County Supervisor Paul Roen encouraged the council to buy product and spend up to the max as they don’t know what they can do tomorrow. “Look at the opportunities and utilize the money best you can,” he advised.
Joy Markum moved, seconded by Nancy and approved to use grant money of $264,000 to buy product for further construction at the sewer plant.
The council tried to approve a letter to be sent to property owners in regard to a cleanup project but Nancy would not vote. A Beckwith Street resident spoke out asking about works in progress, who it applies when property is inherited. Audience members Kim Lombardi, Phyllis DeMartini, Marjorie Meder agreed it wasn’t personal but urged the council to enforce the ordinances for cleanup. Many stated they would like to see the city cleaned up for an increase in property value and there was specific concern over the corner of Church and Zollinger.
Joy made a second motion to send the letters of clean up and Nancy seconded it and it was passed.
Resolutions on the agenda establishing findings of hearings on abatement for nuisance of personal property were not discussed.


With the resignation of Councilwoman Nancy Rogers last night due to "verbal abuse," it leaves Mayor Mark Marin, elected, and Councilwoman Joy Markum, appointed. This leaves the city unable to govern yet according to Marin, he is still in charge. The city and county attorneys are speaking and we hope to have an answer shortly. Stay tuned!

A special teleconference meeting will be held Friday, April 20th at 10 a.m. between attorneys, Board of Supervisors and remaining City staff. 

Written by Dr. Ron Martinelli………
 
An excellent, but sad article on the demise of California 


I sit in the LAX terminal after concluding business in downtown Los Angeles for the past two days, I cannot help but reflect upon my journey from once a California native to a new resident of the Great State of Texas and why.  You see, in my personal and professional opinion, the once great State of California has in essence become a third world country


Third World Country – “The concept of the “third world” has evolved to describe countries that suffer from low economic development, high levels of poverty and little to no ability to utilize natural or economic resources.”  French demographer Alfred Sauvey, 1952


While the reasons for California’s ever-spiraling downwards status from 1st World economic prominence and prosperity to near 3rd World malaise are many;  I will assert that when you combine uber-liberal politicians, with rich elitist Hollywood Celebrities, dotcom CEO billionaires, disengaged millennials and illegal aliens; you in effect create the circumstances where your city or state becomes a 3rd World environment.


The process of California’s demise from the “Golden State” to 3rd World status has been slow but steady; supported and enabled by the aforementioned actors.  While much of the legislated changes for the worse have been designed and voted in by politicians in Sacramento; municipal politicians and a complicit uninformed, naive and entitled voting public must also share blame.  After all, when 51% of those on some type of government subsidy out-vote the 49% of the money earning and tax paying citizenry, any state is doomed to failure.  With California now a “Sanctuary State” and their libtard Democratic state legislature pushing for voting rights for illegal aliens, the state will never recover.  My thoughts exactly.  Calif. Is finished.


My observations during my short visit to Los Angeles underscored many of the problems Californians are facing as they follow like lemmings their Governor Jerry “Moonbeam” Brown, their Democratic legislators and urban mayors like Eric Garretti off the economic cliff.


Literally nothing substantive is good about L.A. An ever-growing homeless subculture populates the downtown area.  The intoxicated, drug influenced, mentally impaired and criminals are everywhere.  They literally surround Civic Center, federal buildings and courts – the so-called foundations and protectors of the Rule of Law and society.  How ironic to be surrounded by the failures these very systems, liberal politicians and judges have created.  Isn’t karma interesting to watch in real time?


The homeless, numbering in the thousands, sleep in the shadows of immense, gleaming edifices owned by multi-billion dollar international conglomerates and dotcom corporations. Business executives in Brioni suits and workers quickly pass by the unwashed masses, while holding their noses to screen out the stench of urine and feces.  The obvious health and safety hazards to the public are too many to count.


Interconnecting Los Angeles city roadways and state highways designed to transport the commuting, tax paying public to their job sites are a debacle.  The ribbons of roadways are a mess of potholed, weed infested, trash laden, graffiti vandalized passages filled with vehicles lined up bumper-to-bumper going nowhere fast.  These are your tax dollars at work.  While California voters grumble and groan, in the end they just seem to accept their fate as one of the prices to pay for living the California dream.


You see, the working public has no time to get out and protest the outrageous and constant increases in taxes on gas, municipal services, vehicle registrations, rapid transit and a bullet train going to nowhere.  Only the unemployed, government subsidized masses have time to demonstrate in the streets to ensure that their subsidies continue.  Since the liberal politicians in Sacramento know this dynamic and their power base all too well, the taxation without representation continues.


I was staying at a hotel near LAX and my mileage commute to downtown L.A. was a mere twelve miles.  However, it took me every bit of one hour and twenty minutes to arrive at my destination. I then paid $20 for the privilege of parking my car in a public lot.  Of course, this was after I paid $30 a day to park my rental car at my hotel.  Nice.  I’m seriously considering Uber next time.


Since I frequently travel throughout California on business, I will tell you that Los Angeles is a mirror image of all of the other large urban cities in the state.  I have observed similar and even worse depressed and dysfunctional urban environments in the San Francisco Bay Area, Orange County, San Diego and a number of other cities.


California is rapidly becoming a two-tiered society of the very rich and the very poor, similar to the 2nd and 3rd World countries I regularly visit.  The middle class, small business owners and the retired are either being pushed out of state and/or escaping in droves to such tax free, business friendly and less crime ridden states such as Nevada, Arizona, Texas and Florida. Lame duck Gov. Moonbeam and the state’s liberal Democratic legislature know this.  They just don’t care because their power base is now assured. Just ask any of their castrated, powerless Republican colleagues


There will never again be a Republican administration in California.  The days of Ronald Reagan have long passed.  The candidates lining up for the governor’s race in 2018 are Open Borders and Sanctuary State advocates Anthony Villaraigosa and Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom. Governor Brown and his Democratic legislature are pulling out all the stops creating legislation that will allow illegal aliens in the state to vote in state and local elections.  Republicans, conservatives and moderates don’t stand a chance.


Here are just some of things Californian’s have done in recent years to turn their state into a 3rd World mess.  Passed Proposition 47 which has since freed tens of thousands of felons from state prisons and county jails back into communities. Prop. 47 also eviscerated the parole enforcement agency and created a system where police on the streets can’t even enforce outstanding felony and misdemeanor warrants anymore.  Police no longer arrest people for being under the influence of dangerous drugs.  What would be the point; it’s just a misdemeanor.  They have reduced the crime of auto theft to a citable misdemeanor. Steal a car; get caught and get a ticket.  Commit non-violent crimes, get arrested and you are out the same day with a promise to appear in court that will not ever be enforced.  No warrant enforcement, remember?  Amazing!


California’s new “Sanctuary State” status supports and enables its Open Borders mentality. Police in a number of cities such as San Francisco, Oakland and Los Angeles are ordered not to assist ICE with border enforcement. Remember the Kate Steinle murder case where her five-time convicted criminal and deported illegal alien was acquitted?  Well, that’s the political mentality that created that circumstance. This is also an excellent example that liberal politicians in California are willing to sacrifice the innocent to demonstrate that they support violent illegal alien criminals.


What happens in California’s larger cities filters down to its medium and small sized cities as well. I recently wrote about the city of Salinas, CA that experienced an incredible 150% increase in its homicide rate from 2014 – 2015. Salinas rated as one of the nation’s 30 most violent cities.  Fifty percent of all of their murders were gang and drug related, with the predominate gang members being illegal aliens.  I can only wonder how Silicon Valley dot-commers’ who are paying over half a million bucks for a home and commute over four hours a day to San Jose like living in that violent environment?


Which brings me back to why my successful business owner wife and I escaped to Texas.  The state loves us.  No commute problems, no state taxes and we live in an area where there is little to no crime.  Our area just outside of San Antonio some of the best school districts in the U.S.; high employment, great people and lots of fun things to do.


My wife and I live a great life on a ranch with a river in our backyard where we can fish, swim, kayak and BBQ with family and neighbors anytime we want.  The price?  Less than you would pay for a one bedroom studio condo in any of the cities in California I’ve mentioned.  New home buyers only need three percent down to purchase a home and veterans make no down payments.  If you are a younger middle-classer, a small business owner or retired, you’d be nuts to remain in California.


With California over a trillion dollars in debt and 30% of their budget going to subsidizing illegal aliens at the expense of hard-working, taxpayers who have little to no voice on how their state is run, the state and the majority of their citizens are doomed.  That’s what a two-tiered society eventually creates . One heck of a THIRD WORLD COUNTRY!


The truth is blatantly obvious... and yet the left STILL turns a blind eye..   I say let this Titanic sink….


People need to wake up, and it’s too bad you won’t be forwarding this to your left-leaning, closed-minded, egalitarian friends for fear of their reprisals!

     The PSCF Foundation is proud to announce the 2018 edition of the Sweetheart of the Mountains Scholarship Competition. Two exceptional young ladies have stepped forward to join the many Plumas and Sierra County girls who have competed for the title since the mid-1940’s. This competition is open to young women, aged 16 to 20 who are residents of Plumas or Sierra Counties. The competition is an opportunity for contestants to enhance and showcase their own abilities and poise at a stage performance on Saturday, May 5 at the Plumas Sierra County Fairgrounds. The performance will take place as part of the Rhythm and Grace Dance Studio presentation in Serpilio Hall. It is a scholarship competition based on positive attributes that reflect well on where we live.
     Candidates compete in three areas; Talent, Poise and Fundraising. Each will perform their talent during the evening, as well as display their poise by how they carry themselves and answer a random question on stage. Fundraising is already underway. Proceeds benefit the PSCF Foundation, a non-profit that exists to promote and improve the Plumas Sierra County Fairgrounds. 50% of money raised goes to the Foundation, while the other 50% is for each contestant’s future education. The girl named 2018 Sweetheart of the Mountains receives a $1000 scholarship from the Foundation, and the Runner-Up receives $500. A panel of judges give scores during the performance in talent and poise. Points for fundraising are based on the placement of how much each girl raises. Fundraising represents the smallest percentage of the total score used to crown a winner.
     While the poise and talent portion of the competition will take place on May 5, the winner will not be announced until the annual County Picnic, which is held on June 2 at the fairgrounds.
     Funds raised by this competition, and other efforts by the Foundation, have paid for new point of sale devices, hand dryers throughout the fairgrounds, entry fee scholarships, outdoor movies, improvements to the floriculture program and much more.
     The contestants are required to represent the Fair during the competition, and both girls will appear in parades and other community events in the time leading up to the 2018 Plumas Sierra County Fair. Each contestant also is required to make a presentation before the performance to a civic organization in their community.
     Both girls are leaders in their communities and are an asset to our counties;

​

​From Quincy comes Rebecca Leonhardt. She is a senior at Quincy High School and 4H member since she was 5. She plans on attending Chico State in the fall and getting a degree in business or Anthropology. She hopes to study abroad her Junior year. Rebecca holds several honors in 4H including 2011 County Horse Winner, 2012 medalist for horse, 2016 Reserve Champion Steer and the 2014 Round Robin winner. Recently, she held a fundraising dinner as her senior project and donated all the proceeds to the American Valley 4H Club. She has also volunteered for special events conducted by the Plumas District Hospital Foundation. Her interests include religion and culture, dancing and of course, 4H.

​Junior Grace Bristol attends Portola Jr.-Sr. High School. Also active in 4H, Grace has had the Reserve Champion Lamb for two years, as well as winning 1st Year and Senior Showmanship. She has won the Rotary Speech Award and has been a member of the Gold Honor Roll/Honor Society for 4 years. Grace is very active in the community, helping with many fundraising functions for various organizations. She has served as 4H president for Las Plumas 4H and has helped do things like planting flowers at the hospital and walked dogs at the animal shelter. She plans on attending college and getting a degree in neurology for a career in medicine.
 
     These beautiful girls will be out in the community over the next few months raising money and spreading the news about the 2018 Plumas Sierra County Fair and its theme; “Welcome to the Neighborhood”. The Sweetheart of the Mountains Competition is held in conjunction with the annual Rhythm and Grace Dance Studio showcase. The performance will be held in Serpilio Hall at the Fairgrounds. For tickets, contact Wendy Yates at Rhythm and Grace Dance Studio, 258-6792.

Once the spring storm door has closed somewhat and forest fuel moisture conditions are conducive to burning, the USDA Forest Service will begin understory burn operations (prescribed fire) throughout the Plumas National Forest (PNF).  Firefighters have been burning piles throughout the winter. Specific underburn project locations and details are available at http://www.fs.usda.gov/plumas/ . 
The Feather River Ranger District (RD) plans to conduct underburn operations in three general areas, including: Little Grass Valley Reservoir, Brush Creek, and the towns of Challenge, Forbestown, and Woodleaf. The planned Mount Hough RD underburn locations include areas near Twain, Keddie Ridge, Beardsley Grade, Mt. Hough, Deans Valley and Meadow Valley. The Beckwourth RD will be focused within the Dixie Valley area west of Frenchman Lake.
Prescribed fires reduce overgrown vegetation (surface fuels and small diameter trees) within the wildland urban interface (WUI), improving the ability of ground and aerial firefighting resources to quickly and safely extinguish wildfires in the area. These projects will also improve forest health by creating a more fire resilient landscape as a result of increasing water and nutrients to the remaining vegetation and by decreasing crowding that can contribute to the spread of a wildfire.
Each prescribed fire operation follows a specialized prescribed fire burn plan that considers temperature, humidity, wind, vegetation moisture, and smoke dispersal conditions.  This information helps fuels planners decide when and where to burn.
The PNF coordinates closely with local county health departments and state air pollution control districts, monitoring weather conditions carefully prior to prescribed fire ignitions.  Crews also conduct test burns before igniting larger areas, to verify how effectively fuels are consumed and where smoke will travel. 
When conditions meet the burn prescription, state and local air pollution control districts issue a burn permit allowing operations to proceed. When prescribed fire operations are conducted, the PNF posts road signs around affected areas.
Smoke is generated by prescribed fire operations and may continue for several days after an ignition depending on the project size and environmental conditions. However, prescribed fire smoke is generally less intense and of much shorter duration than smoke created by an uncontrolled wildland fire. 
Smoke sensitive individuals are encouraged to reduce their exposure by staying indoors if they are in a smoke affected area. Smoke management tips may be found at https://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=topics.smoke_events . 
Questions about individual prescribed burn operations may be directed to respective Ranger District (RD) offices including: Feather River RD at (530) 534-6500, Mount Hough RD at (530) 283-0555 and Beckwourth RD at (530) 836-2575.
For more information about the Plumas National Forest visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/plumas and www.Facebook.com/usfsplumas.


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​ROTARY CLUB OF LOYALTON met on a wet and soggy night March 21st. Members were excited over the recent St. Patrick’s day dinner held at Golden West with a $900 profit to help fund high school scholarships.
Treasurer Lee “Jaws” Walker discussed finances and the payment of $568 to the Boy Scouts, which has an increase in members.
Foreign Exchange Student Vicki “Malibu” reported on her birthday trip to Monterey and Carmel with her host family, the Roens, where it was raining and she swam in the ocean, which she described as “cold.” She discussed college plans and would like to attend in the U.S. which she admitted was “so expensive.” She told of an interest in fashion and had visited the Art Institute in Sacramento.  Her parents are coming from Slovakia on April 18th and she talked of travel they hope to take.
Vicki is on the Loyalton Track Team at Loyalton High and she is throwing discus, running the mile, 100-meter and the long jump.
President Steamer read a letter from Outgoing Exchange Student Grace Meschery who is now fluent in French.
Scholarship applicants, 8 out of a class of 21, have been interviewed for the Wilbanks Scholarship, the Dick “Twiggy” Wiggin Scholarship and at least one Rotary scholarship for academics and hope for a second.
The Foundation for Sustaining Members was discussed with a goal of $1,000. The Rotary District has a matching grant so that $1,000 comes back to the local club. Donations may be made to the Rotary Foundation and contributions need to be made before June.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
·     Leadership Assembly Sat. April 7.
·     Pinewood Derby Test Runs April 7 at Club Leadership Assembly.
·     District Conference May 18-20. Atlantis Hotel Reno. www.rotarydistrict5190.org

LOYALTON BIOMASS will be running and exporting as early as tomorrow or as late as Monday, April 9th. Residents may have heard preliminary testing the last couple of weeks in the form of steam blows. Once online, there will only be a low hum heard. CEO Steve Mueller stated they have 40 trucks coming in and  
out a day carrying 40 green tons in one load. Mueller said once the Biomass is running, they will use 800 green tons a day. They have been stockpiling biomass while getting ready to go online and now have 40,000 tons all taken from National Forest lands. Mueller stated, “If it’s not the biggest in the world, it’s close.” The Loyalton Biomass has 22 employees working two shifts a day, seven days a week. Mueller said there is a manufacturing plant for biomass products that will be utilizing the EcoTech Park and plans are in the works to bring in a custom sawmill which will also utilize a couple of the kilns on the property. Mueller’s vision is to bring in other solid businesses with well paying jobs for the community.

IT’S KITTEN SEASON, the time of year when cats give birth, flooding animal shelters and rescue groups with homeless litters. Kitten season is really three seasons in one, starting in spring, peaking in late spring or early summer, and ending in fall. 
A typical story is told by Teri Palmer, Registration Clerk at Loyalton Medical Clinic, who’s adopted two little kittens and their Mama about 2-1/2 months ago. Teri states, “I noticed babies popping their heads out of the vent coming into the clinic. I have been feeding them since. They eat very healthy and are spoiled with leftover gravies, soups, and cheese.”
In talking with Linda Satchwell, Teri told of patients who wanted to catch them, sitting by the vent with a cage and a bag of food.
One responsible patient from Portola has contacted a friend of hers who works closely with vets in capturing stray cats, getting them their shots and returning them to their home.
It is hoped they were successful in trapping the three, getting them their shots, neutering them and returning them. 
That’s most likely Community Cats, at 2825 Longley Lane, Suite B in Reno; phone: 775-856-2000.
Community Cats Program
Trap-Neuter-Return-Monitor (TNRM) Guidelines
Surgery days are Wednesdays and Sundays only. All cats must be dropped off between 7:00am to 8:30am—no exceptions. These days are subject to change. Please call 775-856-2000 ext. 333 for any changes.
Due to the overwhelming demand for this program, participants are limited to two cats per day. Special circumstances may arise but please call for approval.
​Cats must be at least 3 lbs or 3.5 months of age.
All cats are to arrive in humane traps and traps must be completely covered. No boxes, carriers, Rubbermaid containers or alternative carrying devices will be accepted.
All cats will be altered, provided FVRCP and Rabies vaccinations (over 3 months of age), ear tipped and given a long acting antibiotic injection.
Have a heart. It’s the responsible thing to do.

Late Winter Storms Bolster Snowpack in Sierra
Statewide Water Content Still Far Below Average
 
SACRAMENTO –– Following one of the driest Februaries in California history, late winter storms increased the Sierra Nevada snowpack but were not enough to put the state on track for an average year.
Today’s snow survey by the California Cooperative Snow Surveys Program indicates that water content in the statewide mountain snowpack increased from 23 percent of the March 1 average to 52 percent of today’s historical average. The early-April snow survey is the most important for water supply forecasting because the snowpack is normally at its peak before it begins to melt with rising spring temperatures.
“These snowpack results – while better than they were a few weeks ago – still underscore the need for widespread careful and wise use of our water supplies,” said California Department of Water Resources Director Karla Nemeth. “The only thing predictable about California’s climate is that it’s unpredictable. We need to make our water system more resilient so we’re prepared for the extreme fluctuations in our water system, especially in the face of climate change.”
The snow survey conducted at Phillips Station by Frank Gehrke, chief of the California Cooperative Snow Surveys Program, found a snow water equivalent (SWE) of 12.4 inches, or 49 percent of average for this time of year as recorded since 1964. SWE is the amount of water contained within the snowpack. The snowpack normally provides about a third of the water for California’s farms and communities as it melts in the spring and summer and fills reservoirs and rivers.
“Despite recent storms, today's snow survey shows that we're still playing catch-up when it comes to our statewide water supplies,” said Gehrke. “While today's snow survey determined that the water content is much higher than February, the state will remain well below average for the year.”
In addition to the manual surveys conducted at Phillips, DWR also logs electronic readings from 103 stations scattered throughout the Sierra. Electronic measurements indicate the SWE of the northern Sierra snowpack is 11.8 inches, 43 percent of the multi-decade average for today’s date. The central and southern Sierra readings are 17.6 inches (60 percent of average) and 12.9 inches (50 percent of average) respectively. Statewide, the snowpack’s SWE is 14.6 inches, or 52 percent of the April 2 average. Electronic snowpack readings are available on the Internet at: http://bit.ly/2rVa84a
The Phillips snow course, near the intersection of Highway 50 and Sierra-at-Tahoe Road, is one of approximately 260 that are surveyed manually throughout the winter. Manual measurements augment the electronic readings from the snow pillows in the Sierra Nevada that provide a current snapshot of the water content in the snowpack.



Results of the readings by DWR at Phillips Station and Tamarack Flat are as follows:
 Location
Elevation
Snow Depth
Water Content
% of Long-Term Average

Phillips Station
April 2, 2018
6,800 feet
32.1 Inches
12.4 Inches
49

Tamarack Flat
April 2, 2018
6,500 feet
38.8 inches
16.7 inches
60


California’s exceptionally high precipitation last winter and spring resulted in above-average storage in 154 reservoirs tracked by the Department. DWR estimates total storage in these reservoirs at the end of March was 28.2 million acre-feet (MAF), or 107 percent of the 26.4 MAF average for this time of year. ​

 IN CALPINE, Treasure Mt. 4-H egg hunters picked the eggs out from among the pine cones. Kids up to age 14 could participate and there were lots of colorful eggs stuffed with candy. Thanks to all the volunteers for the fun day!