Spring Is Here, and With It Some Very Hungry Bears
LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. – The snow is melting in the Lake Tahoe region and a mild winter has given way to a bustling early spring for wildlife in the area. Bears have emerged from their dens and are on the move and hungry.

In the fall, black bears experienced hyperphagia (pronounced hai·pr·fei·jee·uh), which is an increase in feeding activity (consuming about 25,000 calories a day) driven by their need to fatten up before winter. Over the course of the winter, their bodies utilize those fat stores during hibernation when food is scarce. Come spring, their body mass will have naturally decreased and as a result, bears will be on the lookout for easy food sources to help rebuild those fat reserves.

This time of year, bears seek out fresh grasses that are starting to sprout, which often brings them into human occupied areas with green lawns. Unfortunately, these urban areas have an abundance of garbage for bears to easily access so it is up to visitors and residents to keep bears from finding unnatural human food sources.

Bears are an important part of the Lake Tahoe ecosystem and allowing them access to human food and garbage is a detriment to natural resources in the region. Bears help spread berry seeds through their scat, transport pollen, eat insects and provide other essential functions of nature. As a result, if they find and access human food and garbage, bird seed, pet food, coolers and other sources of human food, the Tahoe Basin loses the benefits bears offer to its natural processes. Bears need to be wild animals rather than garbage disposals, especially since these unnatural food sources can impact their overall health and damage or rot their teeth.

In fact, bears will unknowingly eat indigestible items from human trash like foil, paper products, plastics and metal that can damage their internal systems and even lead to death. If these items do make it through their system, they leave it behind in their scat rather than the native seeds and healthy fertilizer needed to grow the next generation of plant life.

Healthy bears mean healthy ecosystems, and we can all do our part to set both up for success!

“The California Department of Fish and Wildlife would like to remind both visitors and residents that the Lake Tahoe Basin is home to hundreds of black bears. Unfortunately, it only takes a few careless people to help make a bear accustomed to human food sources,” said Jason Holley, supervising wildlife biologist for the department’s North Central Region. “We ask for your help to keep Tahoe’s bears wild. Do not feed or approach wildlife and please store food and garbage appropriately.” 

Follow these tips to help keep Tahoe’s bears wild:

• Never feed wildlife.
• Store all garbage in and properly close bear-resistant garbage containers, preferably bear boxes. Inquire with local refuse companies about bear box incentives and payment programs. Visit https://southtahoerefuse.com/bear-info/ and/or www.ndow.org/Nevada_Wildlife/Bear_Logic/ for more information.
• Never leave leftovers, groceries, animal feed, garbage or anything scented in vehicles, campsites, or tents.
• Be sure to always lock vehicles and close the windows. Keep in mind eating in the car leaves lingering food odors that attracts bears.
• Keep barbecue grills clean and stored in a garage or shed when not in use.
• Keep doors and windows closed and locked when the home is unoccupied.
• Vegetable gardens, compost piles, orchards and chickens may attract bears. Use electric fences where allowed to keep bears out. Refrain from hanging bird feeders.
• When camping, always store food (including pet food), drinks, toiletries, coolers, cleaned grills, cleaned dishes, cleaning products, and all other scented items in bear-resistant containers (storage lockers/bear boxes) provided at campsites. Bear resistant coolers that come equipped with padlock devices should always be locked to meet bear resistant requirements.
• Always place garbage in bear-resistant dumpsters in campgrounds or in bear-resistant containers at campsites (storage lockers/bear boxes), and close and lock after each use.
• Store food in bear-resistant food storage canisters while recreating in the backcountry.
• Give wildlife space, especially when they have young with them. 
• Leave small bears alone, mom might be right around the corner.

To report human-bear conflicts in California, contact the California Department of Fish and Wildlife at 916-358-2917 or report online using the Wildlife Incident Reporting (WIR) system at apps.wildlife.ca.gov/wir.

Non-emergency wildlife interactions in California State Parks can be reported to public dispatch at 916-358-1300. To report human-bear conflicts in Nevada, contact Nevada Department of Wildlife at 775-688-BEAR (2327). If the issue is an immediate threat, call the local sheriff’s department or 911.

For more information on peacefully coexisting with bears, visit TahoeBears.org.
If you have any questions or concerns, always reach out to the following agency wildlife experts:

California Department of Fish and Wildlife: 916-358-2917

California State Parks: 530-525-9535

Nevada Department of Wildlife: 775-688-BEAR (2327)
California Department of Fish and Wildlife | wildlife.ca.gov ‌ ‌ ‌

SACRAMENTO - On a late Friday afternoon news dump, the Newsom Administration announced they are automatically giving “good time credit” to violent offenders and second and third strikers in an effort to release them early. These polices will go into effect within hours of the announcement – Saturday, May 1. Senator Jim Nielsen (R-Red Bluff), former Chairman of the Board of Prison Terms, issued the following statement:

“As the former Chairman of the Board of Prison terms, I am intimately aware of these criminal justice regulations. This is ill-founded, ill-cited criminal justice policies. Violent felons are receiving good time credit for simply breathing, in lieu of demonstrated good behavior and rehabilitation.

“This is another ill-conceived policy of the Newsom Administration in its attempts to release convicted violent criminals back into our communities.

“We, the people, will pay the price for his continued follies.”
 
Click here to view the emergency regulations.
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Elected to the State Senate in January 2013, Senator Nielsen represents the Fourth Senate District, which includes the counties of Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Tehama and Yuba. To contact Senator Jim Nielsen, please call him at 916-651-4004, or via email at [email protected]. Follow him @CASenatorJim.
FOLLOW SENATOR NIELSEN

(Washington, DC) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) announced his final list of community projects for consideration of federal priority spending. The House of Representatives altered funding procedures earlier this year to allow Members of Congress to nominate up to five infrastructure projects and ten non-infrastructure projects in their district. The projects must meet stringent criteria including having significant state or local matching funds, be in the planning process already, and be under $15 million in requested funds. Cities, counties, hospitals and water districts within LaMalfa’s district were given the criteria and asked to submit projects that met the requirements. Transportation infrastructure projects were announced earlier this week. Congressional Member designated projects are not guaranteed to receive funding but are a publicly available priority list that allow projects to receive additional opportunities for federal funding.
LaMalfa said, “The community projects I have nominated for additional federal funding consideration have a range of strong community benefits that are worthy of federal support. From expanding sewer lines and rural broadband access to assisting law enforcement and hospitals, these are the types of community projects that are for government to help advance. I will continue to work to help North State communities improve the lives of our citizens through advocating for good policies and the responsible use of taxpayer dollars.”
LaMalfa Designated Community Projects:
1.       Chico Sewer Master Plan Project P-18 Trunk Line, $8,000,000, Sponsored by the City of Chico – Funds the shovel ready expansion of sewer in South Chico that allows for Paradise to connect to the Chico system if approved. It also will help with housing and parks in the South Chico area.  
2.       Plumas Sierra Telecomm Lassen County Project, $5,333,597, Sponsored by Plumas-Sierra Telecommunications – Expand broadband access through southern and central Lassen County.
3.       Ponderosa West Grass Valley Defense Zone, $1,750,000, Sponsored by Nevada County – Fuels reduction work on over 600 acres of private and public lands to protect 3,000 residents in wildland-urban interface near Lake Wildwood, Penn Valley, Rough and Ready, and Grass Valley.
4.       Shasta Community Health Center Facilities Expansion, $750,000, Sponsored by the Shasta County Community Health Center – Assistance with building a new maternity, pediatric and women’s health facility across the street from their main health center.
5.       North San Juan Fire Suppression System, $1,050,000, Sponsored by Nevada County – Install a 330,000 gallon water storage tank, pipeline and fire hydrants in a town currently with no water for emergency water for fire suppression.
6.       Paradise Police Radio Upgrade, $615,362.52, Sponsored by the Town of Paradise – Provide for the restoration and modernization of the town’s radio infrastructure that was destroyed in the Camp Fire.
7.       Placer County Body-Worn Cameras (BWCs), $580,000, Sponsored by Placer County – Will enable the county to assign BWCs to all sworn-in Field Operations and to Correctional Officer staff for use in both of Placer County’s Corrections facilities. 
8.       City of Anderson: New Sewer/Storm Drain Cleaner Truck, $478,000, Sponsored by the City of Anderson – Provide the city the necessary equipment to maintain sewer collection pipelines and clean and flush storm drain lines to stay in compliance with state regulations.
9.       Oroville Memorial Veterans Park, ADA Accessibility, and River Access Improvement Project, $1,400,000, Sponsored by Butte County – Requests the final piece of funding needed to complete the Oroville Memorial Veterans Park project, which will improve access to the Oroville Veterans Memorial Hall and nearby trails along the Feather River for disabled individuals.
10.   Nevada County Sheriff's Department Radio Infrastructure Improvements, $4,800,000, Sponsored by the Nevada County Sheriff’s Department – Improve radio infrastructure for first responders during times of natural disaster or large-scale incidents requiring multi-agency response.
 
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.
 
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Circumstance: Engine powered Ultralight aircraft collision
 
Date of Release: 04/30/2021                                     Date of Incident: 04/30/2021
 
Time of Release:  1500 hrs                           Time of Incident: 1035 hrs
 
Location of Occurrence:  Nervino airport Beckwourth CA
 
 
Agencies: Plumas County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, Beckwourth Fire, Sierra Fire, EPHD ambulance, REMSA/Care-flight, Federal Aviation Administration
              
 
Synopsis:
 
On 04/30/2021 at approximately 1035 hours, Plumas County Sheriff’s Office Dispatchers received notification of a possible aircraft collision at the Nervino airport in Beckwourth.
 
Emergency personnel arrived on scene and determined a single occupant Ultra Light style aircraft had lost control on approach and crash landed on the runway. The pilot was extricated and transported to Renown by Care Flight with moderate to severe injuries.
 
The Federal Aviation Administration was notified and will be conducting an investigation.
 
 
Todd Johns
Sheriff/ Coroner
 
By
Sergeant Jeremy Beatley
​

EASTERN PLUMAS HEALTH CARE held its regular meeting on April 22, 2021. Chairman Gail McGrath reported the Auxiliary is continuing to receive a lot of donations.
COVID REPORT
Michelle Romero reported on COVID and said Plumas County is in Orange Tier with 8 active cases. EPHC had given out 2250 to the public so far and public health has taken over giving vaccines. She stated 85% of SNF residents are vaccinated and 55% of staff are vaccinated. Visitors are now permitted in both the skilled nursing facilities and acute areas with restrictions.
Director Dr. Paul Swanson said 55% of staff isn’t good. There’s the potential of staff passing it to other staff or patients and worried they were at risk for a big surge with variants in the future. He stated it was balancing individual wishes against the greater good.
Director Theresa Whitfield said better education was the key by showing why getting the vaccine is a good idea. Whitfield stated EPHC needed to show the effectiveness of the vaccine so employees can make an informed decision. She stated the new variant is so much more aggressive and damaging that the best bet is to have a vaccine to avoid that. McGrath felt this should be encouraged more strongly, adding it’s not in their best interest or the institution’s to not be vaccinated. Romero said they’ve sent out a lot of information on the vaccine and spoke with many staff members who said they would quit if they were required to get it.
CEO Doug McCoy stated they could certainly continue
to push education and more community education as well. Swanson felt one on one conversations seemed to be the most effective and Director Linda Satchwell thought incentives for getting the vaccine might help. Chief Nursing Officer Penny Holland stated the Board needed to recognize the work Romero and her staff have done to keep COVID out of Skilled Nursing and have had very minimal employees with COVID.
McGrath expressed they are extremely proud of the work they have done and stated they were only trying to find what else could be done to encourage people to at least get the first shot. Holland stated staff has been working hard to get shots into people but people have opinions and education can only go so far.
NEW HIRES
Human Resource Director Lori Tange reported they’d hired a new dental assistant, dietary aide, five well qualified nurses and would have the opportunity to hire six CNA students once graduated from the program. HR is still seeking the right person for the HR assistant position.
FINANCE
Chief Financial Officer Katherine Pairish stated for the month of March, 2021 EPHC posted a net profit in the amount of $1,264,555, thanks to the second HQAF6 Intergovernmental Transfers (IGT) in the amount of $1,697,607. EPHC also saw improvement in revenues overall, posting just under budget by $15,500.  
Total Operating Expenses for the month were over budget by $230,176. Year-to-date Net Income was $1,857,499. Pairish said they budgeted for a year-to-date Net Loss of $488,410. The variance is due mainly to the fact that IGT’s came in over budget by $2,587,641.
Pairish reported days cash on hand at March 31, 2021 was 280. Without the CARES Act, Medicare Advance, and PPP funds, days cash on hand would be 144. March 31, 2020 days cash on hand was 43.  
Year-to-date EPHC has paid $536,496 for COVID supplies and testing. While the District Hospital Leadership Forum and other groups continue to push for forgiveness of the Medicare advance funds, Congress has yet to address the proposal; therefore, Medicare will recoup these funds. EPHC is working on its application for PPP loan forgiveness. The deadline for the submission of the application is August, 2021.
CEO REPORT
CEO Doug McCoy reported after a low revenue performance to start 2021, March posted revenue was the highest for the 2020/21 fiscal year to date. Continued strong volumes in outpatient rehab and ancillary services along with increased performance in clinic volume helped increase overall revenue by 30% over February and 22% over January.
EPHC continues to support Plumas County in weekly COVID vaccination clinics, and as of early April community members over the age of 18 are receiving vaccinations. McCoy stated they had been holding hospital beds for a potential surge in COVID patients in late 2020 and early 2021, but as of early March swing beds were reopened which will help with increased revenues for April.
He said after several postponements due to COVID, the ‘Ignite the Patient Experience’ on-site training event will be held on May 18-19. This program will add more structure and processes to their customer service program and is designed to also to increase employee engagement and retention.
After more than 12 years of service with EPHC Dr. Phen retired on March 31st. McCoy stated EPHC sincerely appreciates her years of dedicated service to the members of our community and the residents of our skilled nursing.
facilities. Dr. Phen’s patients will be seen by Dr. Adams and other new providers joining EPHC in the next few weeks.
McCoy reported recent health care industry cyber security threats have resulted in a review of their systems and process to prevent ransomware attacks or data breeches. They have completed a cyber risk assessment and intend to transition EPHC from a Google platform to a Microsoft based system for email and other related software packages.
McCoy said an abbreviated standard SNF survey was conducted In March for 8 self-reported incidents. No deficiencies were identified. CMS/CDPH has lifted the COVID restrictions for annual survey to be reinitiated, and EPHC is expecting that process to occur for the campus in the next 90 days.
LOYALTON PROPERTY
McCoy spoke regarding the Loyalton property at 701 Main Street for a potential clinic. He stated there was strong interest on behalf of the leadership team to present some opportunities to the Board in closed session. McCoy added there is a lot of interest from other entities on the property as well.
ATTORNEY FEES
Board Attorney contract was discussed and McCoy stated the adjustment to $250/hour was consistent with inflation since the last increase. The adjustment was approved unanimously. Whitfield wanted the Board to look at alternatives other than Porter Simon since they also represent the City of Portola and wanted to avoid any conflicts. She didn’t want to put someone in an unethical position when they are representing both EPHC and the City. The Board consensus was to research who other rural hospitals were using.  
​

DOWNIEVILLE – Western Sierra Medical Clinic has announced that Family Nurse Practitioner Lora Lee Grutkowski has retired from employment with the non-profit health center effective March 12, 2021.

Grutkowski practiced clinical and hospital nursing for more than 40 years. She provided primary care services to the Sierra County community from 2008 to 2012, and from 2014 to 2021. She also served patients at Western Sierra Medical Clinic’s Grass Valley site as well as at its mobile clinic sites in Camptonville and Pike City.
“Lora Lee created a legacy of providing quality care and access to care in the community of Downieville and we intend to continue that legacy.” said Dr. Christina Lasich, Chief Medical Officer at Western Sierra Medical Clinic.
Western Sierra has hired a Physician Assistant, Daniel Barry, to work at the Downieville clinic full time beginning in June of 2021. He has several years’ experience working in community clinics in rural settings and he looks forward to joining the community as a full-time resident.
Western Sierra continues to have Dr. Leslie Lane available onsite weekly. Currently, she is available both Wednesday and Thursday and we have telehealth appointments available as well. Physician Assistant Eric Olson is available onsite for immediate care on Monday’s.
Additionally, our primary care team is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week by phone for any of your urgent medical matters.
“We view our Downieville clinic as a critical access clinic not only for the residents but also for those that are visiting the area to enjoy its many natural resources,” said Jennifer Malone, Chief Executive Officer of Western Sierra Medical Clinic.
Starting in June the medical clinic hours of operation will be Monday through Thursday, 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., by appointment or walk-in. A provider is available by telephone during the weekend and evening hours 7 days a week by calling the clinic’s main number, 289-3298. The dental clinic’s hours remain unchanged, Thursday 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., by appointment.
Western Sierra Medical Clinic is a Federally Qualified Health Center that provides comprehensive medical, dental and behavioral health care in Nevada, Sierra and Placer counties. Founded in 1975, Western Sierra emphasizes preventive care, education and empowering patients to make informed decisions. You can learn more about Western Sierra Medical Clinic at www.wsmcmed.org or www.Facebook.com/WesternSierraMedicalClinic.
If you need an appointment or would like to speak with staff, we are here for you at (530) 289-3298. 

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CHICAGO – April 28, 2021 - For years, banks, utilities, telecoms and other companies have encouraged and even incentivized their customers to voluntarily opt in to digital correspondence on their accounts. Over time however, many service providers have replaced carrots with sticks and charge punishing fees for paper bills and statements. 
“Consumer complaints to Keep Me Posted (KMP) increased throughout the pandemic as service providers altered or removed paper communication preferences at an alarming rate,” said Keep Me Posted North America President Kathi Rowzie. “But for many people, especially older adults, people with disabilities, those who can’t afford costly broadband service and those who live in rural areas with limited internet access, paper communication remains an essential option.  And others simply prefer paper communications for recordkeeping and security reasons.”
Since the beginning of the pandemic, a laundry list of major corporations has taken advantage of widespread disruptions to proactively assault longstanding communications preferences. Far too many stopped asking consumers to opt in to electronic bills, statements and other important notices, and instead just switched their account holders from paper to digital communication without prior consent.
These anti-consumer practices show no sign of fixing themselves, but there is a silver lining. In many instances, consumers can reclaim their preferences for paper communications, free of charge, by taking a few proven steps.
Option One: Use KMP's sample letter to request that a company revert back to paper communications, and ask that they waive all paper fees. Consumers who have used this template have reported back that their banks, utilities and other service providers were often very accommodating, with paper correspondence restored quickly or fees for such removed, even refunded.
Option Two: Engage with companies on social media, sharing your frustration with paper fees or your concern over having your communications preferences switched without asking. Depending on the circumstance, it might be best to share with the corporate Facebook or Twitter account after direct communications with customer service fails to get results. This elevates the seriousness of your concern and adds to the unwelcome scrutiny most companies seek to avoid.
Option Three: If you have already used the KMP sample letter in direct correspondence and have made your concerns known publicly to the official social media accounts of the company abusing your paper preferences, it might be time to reach out to the Better Business Bureau (BBB).This influential organization has been dedicated to fostering marketplace trust for over a century, and provides no cost options to file formal complaints as well as write business reviews.
Option Four: If you have gotten nowhere restoring free paper communications by reaching out to a company directly, on social media and even after notifying the BBB, it may be worthwhile to contact your state's office of attorney general. As the chief legal officers of their jurisdictions, AGs serve as the ultimate public interest watchdogs. Furthermore, their offices counsel state government agencies and legislatures, and thus have a role in elevating the issue of our collective rights to paper communications.
For more information about consumers’ right to choose paper communications free of charge from their service providers, visit www.keepmepostedna.org.
About Keep Me Posted North America
Keep Me Posted (KMP) is an advocacy campaign that promotes the right of all consumers to choose how they receive important information – on paper or digitally – free of charge. The KMP coalition includes consumer advocacy groups, charities and businesses that represent North Americans who are disadvantaged by a lack of communications choice or who simply prefer to retain the option for paper-based communications at no charge
 



The Keep Me Posted campaign advocates the right of every consumer in North America to choose, free of charge, how they receive important information - on paper or electronically - from their service providers.

CONTACT US
[email protected]
937-999-7729
Keep Me Posted North America
330 North Wabash Ave.,
Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60611


 
 

 
Crystal Springs and Drum Forebay Bridge Overcrossings Scheduled for Full Demolition
 
PLACER COUNTY – Caltrans is alerting Interstate 80 motorists of anticipated travel delays over the next two weeks for full bridge overcrossing demolition at Drum Forebay and Crystal Springs. 
 
Interstate 80 will be closed to traffic nightly between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. Monday, May 3 through Thursday, May 6 at Drum Forebay with demolition of the Crystal Springs overcrossing scheduled between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. Monday, May 10 through Thursday, May 13. All east- and westbound passenger and commercial vehicles will be detoured off the highway at the off-ramps and back on via the on-ramps during demolition work. Motorists should expect slight travel delays in the area.
 
As the bridge overcrossing structures at Drum Forebay and Crystal Springs will be fully demolished and rebuilt, detours will be provided for motorists connecting to I-80 from local roads. These local detours are anticipated through the end of the year while the overcrossings are rebuilt.
·       Drum Forebay: Local residents entering I-80 from Kearsarge Mill Road for westbound travel toward Sacramento will be detoured east approximately 4.3 miles to Blue Canyon, where they will take I-80 west. Local residents entering from Drum Forebay Road/Culberson Road for eastbound travel toward Truckee will be detoured west approximately 2 miles to Baxter, where they will take I-80 east.
·       Crystal Springs: All eastbound motorists are advised to use Baxter Road for I-80 travel toward Truckee or local road access. The westbound Crystal Springs on-ramp will remain open to local residents accessing I-80 westbound from Baxter Road and Alta Bonnynook Road.
 
Partial demolition on the Cisco Grove overcrossing began this week with one-way traffic control in effect across the structure. Demolition of the Baxter overcrossing is scheduled in 2022.
 
The work is part of a $57 million project to replace four Interstate 80 bridge overcrossings in Placer County: Crystal Springs, Baxter, Drum Forebay and Cisco Grove. The structures are being demolished and rebuilt due to cracking and spalling of the concrete decks and high corrosive chloride content in the concrete deck surfaces. All overcrossings are being widened to include 8-foot shoulders, 6-foot sidewalks and will include ramps that comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.
 
Construction on the project began earlier this month with intermittent lane closures and local detours occurring during the day and at night. Walsh Construction of Concord is the prime contractor. Project completion is expected in summer 2023.
 
Weather or unexpected events may delay or prolong the work. The department will issue construction updates on Twitter @CaltransDist3, on Facebook at CaltransDistrict3 and on the Caltrans District 3 website. For real-time traffic, click on Caltrans’ QuickMap quickmap.dot.ca.gov/ or download the QuickMap app from the App Store or Google Play.

(Washington, DC) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) joined Representatives Jared Huffman (CA-02), Doris Matsui (CA-06), Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX-30), Kevin Brady (TX-08), and Michael Burgess (TX-26) to introduce bipartisan legislation to help weatherize electrical grids across the nation. The Preventing Outages With Enhanced Resilience and Operations Nationwide (POWER ON) Act would assist electricity providers and suppliers with federal funding to protect their facilities and infrastructure against future extreme weather events, like wildfires in California or the February freeze in Texas. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced companion language in the Senate.


LaMalfa said, “California and much of the West have been dealing with electric service blackouts for several years due to severe wildfire seasons, and this year’s forecast suggests this devastating trend will continue. We need a comprehensive approach to this problem that can begin yielding results immediately. The POWER ON Act directs resources to every part of our energy infrastructure to decrease the frequency and severity of power shutoffs and specifically targets high winds, heat, mudslides, and wildfires. Continued safety blackouts are harmful to the public’s safety and local economies. It makes us resemble a Third World situation, one that is unnecessary and self-inflicted. I am encouraged by the bipartisan work on this bill and hope we can capitalize on this progress to make real gains towards alleviating this worsening problem.”


“Once-in-a-generation weather events are now becoming a regular occurrence,” said Sen. Padilla.  “Whether it be public safety power shutoffs or electric system failures due to extreme weather events, we must invest in grid resilience and modernization in order to keep the power on in impacted communities. We can’t leave another family in the dark during wildfire season or without heat in a blizzard. That’s why Senator Cornyn and I are proposing these necessary, smart investments to strengthen our electric grid and create jobs to boost our economy in the process.”


“Whether we face subzero temperatures, gale force winds, or any other type of extreme weather, Texas’s electric grid must be able to withstand the impact,” said Sen. Cornyn.  “This bipartisan legislation is an outstanding start to ensure the life-threatening outages Texans endured this February won’t happen again.”


Summary of the POWER ON Act:
On Grid Resiliency Grants:

• The POWER ON Act of 2021 would provide electric grid resilience grants through the U.S. Department of Energy to states and Indian Tribes to carry out projects that enhance the physical resilience of the electric grid.
• Grants will be formula based, as determined by the Secretary of Energy, and allocated annually through an application process.
• Grants may be used for activities, technologies, equipment, and hardening measures to enable the electric grid to better withstand the effects of extreme weather, wildfires, or any other natural disaster. 
• Grants will not be provided for new construction but rather to strengthen existing infrastructure, technologies, and equipment.
• Electricity providers may not seek any cost recovery, through raising rates or otherwise, for projects funded through this program.
• The bill authorizes $100,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2022 through 2026.

On Grid Resilience Research and Development:

• The POWER ON Act of 2021 would also provide competitive grants for research, development, demonstration, and commercial application activities to improve the resilience of the electric grid.

• Grants may be used for developing technologies to withstand and address the current and projected impact on electric grid infrastructure of extreme weather, wildfires, or any other natural disaster. 

 
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.


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(Washington, DC) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement after joining with Representative Mike Thompson (CA-05) along with Representatives Anna Eshoo (CA-18), Doris Matsui (CA-06), John Garamendi (CA-03), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11), Ro Khanna (CA-17), and Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) to introduce the Utility Resilience and Reliability Act, a bipartisan bill to make the national energy grid more reliable and resilient to natural disasters and extreme weather events. Text of the bill can be found here.
 
LaMalfa said, “Power shutoffs every time the wind blows are not the makings of a modern economy. They’re costly and an embarrassment. The Utility Resilience and Reliability Act will alleviate both the threat of wildfires and the power shutoffs that plague millions each year by making it easier for federal, state and local governments to work together to keep our grid operating safely and efficiently.”
 
“The last two years, Public Safety Power Shutoffs have hit our district and our entire region hard, forcing businesses to close and leaving communities vulnerable and we cannot allow this to become routine,” said Thompson. “That’s why I’m proud to again introduce the Utility Resilience and Reliability Act which will give us the tools to shore up the national electrical grid so that not only can we better respond to these events, but also be more resilient overall. This will allow our grid to better withstand disaster and keep our communities safe.”
 
“In the midst of this public health crisis and as fire season approaches, we can’t afford power outages that left our communities in the dark in past fire seasons. That’s why I’m joining my Bay Area colleagues to introduce legislation to make our electrical grid more resilient to extreme weather and provide reliable power to Californians,” said Eshoo. “This legislation ensures California’s utilities reduce the risk of wildfires without shutting off power during this already difficult time.”
 
“Northern California faces some of the most diverse weather and natural disaster challenges in the world, and the consequent power shutoffs of the last few years have left millions vulnerable,” said Matsui. “As we endure the remainder of this economic and public health crisis, we must make sure that utilities do the preparation necessary to minimize risk and ensure reliability for American families and businesses. With wildfire season just around the corner, it is crucial that we look at every solution to ensure safety in our power delivery. This legislation will allow us to build up the resiliency of our power grid to make sure our communities are better protected from these tragic events and minimize the impact of potential shutoffs.”
 
“Public Safety Power Shutoffs literally leave thousands of my constituents in the dark and at risk. With wildfire season upon us, we cannot compound the crises California communities are up against with unsustainable power shutoffs,” said Huffman. “By improving the strength and dependability of the electrical grid, this bill will make sure that utilities are doing the work to provide reliable power and keep Californians safe.” 
 
“We have seen firsthand in Contra Costa the uncertainty and disruptions power shutoffs cause in our daily lives,” said DeSaulnier. “I am proud to join with Congressman Mike Thompson in sponsoring the Utility Resilience & Reliability Act to improve the resiliency of our nation’s electrical grid, minimize blackouts, and provide infrastructure businesses and consumers can depend upon.”
 
“Public safety power shutoffs put a strain on Central Coast businesses, health care providers, and households,” said Panetta. “The Utility Resilience and Reliability Act would provide the federal support our communities need to reinforce our infrastructure and ensure the lights stay on. I am proud to help introduce this legislation to make our electric grid more resilient in the face of extreme weather events and wildfires while providing reliable power.”
 
First introduced in June 2020, the Utility Resilience and Reliability Act addresses reliability and resiliency of the national electrical grid by: 
 

• Establishing a reliability standard, within the Federal Power Act, that addresses resiliency in regard to extreme weather events;
• Establishing a program through the Department of Energy (DOE) to advise and, be a resource for, states and local utilities on ways to improve the resiliency of their electrical grids; and
• Requiring DOE publish a report that provides recommendations on how to minimize the need for, effects of, and duration of planned electric power outages that are due to extreme weather conditions.

 
Congressman Doug LaMalfa is a lifelong farmer representing California’s First Congressional District, including Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou and Tehama Counties.
 
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WASHINGTON, DC, Apr 23 -- It may sound dismissive and insulting to say that the older you get the more susceptible you become to fraud, but a study published in the journal, Annals of Internal Medicine, found that “even cognitively intact older adults can have ‘functional’ changes that may render them financially vulnerable,” according to Rebecca Weber, CEO of the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC]. 
 
The report goes on to note that the risk increases “dramatically” for those who feel isolated and, as Weber points out, “loneliness, especially for older Americans, has become the routine during the current COVID pandemic.” 
 
The condition is known as Age-Associated Financial Vulnerability, or AAFV, and it is important to note that the study dealt with individuals who were financially competent during their lifetimes. “It doesn’t mean you are getting senile in your old age; it means that it is time to slow down a bit and that you might feel more comfortable by getting ‘a second opinion’ when you are about to make a financial decision,” Weber explains. 
 
The authors of the report say that more research needs to be done in order to better understand who is at risk and why. They concluded that “AAFV is a problem with serious effects on patients, their families, and society. Its roots reside in the curious intersection of several trends, including a rapidly aging society, age-associated changes in the human brain, shifts in the concentration of wealth to older demographic groups, and industry's adoption of marketing strategies that are increasingly becoming rooted in behavioral economics and cognitive neuroscience.” 
 
Here are some of the more current senior scams that have been reported:
 
-Beware of offers to get you on a COVID vaccine list or to get an early vaccination for a fee. There is no charge for signing up or getting the vaccine.
 
-Watch out for fraudsters promising to clean your home as a means of avoiding COVID contamination. They don’t want to clean your home, they want to clean you out.
 
-Salespersons may contact you with offers of oils, brews and all sorts of fake COVID preventative treatments; there are no such things.
 
-And then there are the charity scammers. They may ask for a contribution to help out a needy family dealing with the coronavirus or a fake COVID-related charity.
 
“Three and a half million American men and women turn 65 each and every day and it’s not unusual, anymore, to see friends and relatives reaching the ripe old age of 100 and beyond. It’s a matter of fact that the older you get the more likely it is that you can become a victim of fraud. So, here’s a suggestion: if and when someone, even a relative or a friend, proposes you make a purchase or an investment of any kind invite a trusted third party for an opinion before you agree. It’s good advice at any age.” says AMAC’s Weber.
 
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The 2.3 million member Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC] www.amac.us is a vibrant, vital senior advocacy organization that takes its marching orders from its members. AMAC Action is a non-profit, non-partisan organization representing the membership in our nation’s capital and in local Congressional Districts throughout the country. 
AMAC | Washington DC | 917-846-8485 | Email | Website

A CITY COUNCIL APPOINTMENT to fill the term vacated by Brooks Mitchell was held April 21st during the City Council meeting.
Gail Verver is chef at Loyalton Senior Center. William Mertton works as a clinical medical scientist.  Jerry Gerow was general manager of a landscape company, contractor, military officer and administrator of his own business.
They each understood they would serve the extension of Mitchell’s term and run again in 2022.
The mayor asked them to share their skill sets.
Gail called this her “second tour of Loyalton,” and as executive chef at the Senior Center, knows ins and outs about the population.
Bill told of regulations and keeping compliant.
Jerry talked of seeing a lot of work needing done, has landscape, contractor and leadership skills.
Council member Darlene Reide  asked how much volunteer time they’d put in.
Gail stated the “City is worth it.”
Bill would offer as much as he has been but works all night.
Jerry would volunteer as much as they want and we need. “Gotta get the job done.”
Phyllis DeMartini asked priorities.
Bill was interested in water and sewer for health and safety. He understands it from work in the lab with chemicals.
Jerry had concern with new business and the number of logs coming in and a lot of wood, keeping it safe.  He mentioned housing starts and sewer systems and keeping it cleaned up.
Gail stated water, sewer and affordable housing with Seniors struggling and a waiting list at the Senior Apartments.
Council member Joy Markum appreciated Mertton attending all committee meetings, gave good input on problems and issues and he participated in grant writing and she made a motion to appoint him. There was no second.
Reide made a motion for Gerow, seconded by Rogers with a yes vote by the mayor. Markum voted no.

Nevada City, CA – Visitor numbers to the Yuba are expected to spike again this summer and we need our community to help keep the Yuba from being “loved to death” by volunteering to become a River Ambassadors through the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL).

SYRCL has stationed River Ambassadors at river crossings since 2012 in an effort to educate newcomers about river safety and etiquette in collaboration with California State Parks. The program helps to create the person-to-person contact so important to making this educational initiative a success.
“The South Yuba River, a state-designated Wild & Scenic River, has quickly changed from being a hidden gem to a social media influencer tempting newcomers with its stunning emerald green pools and dramatic granite boulders,” says Daniel Belshe SYRCL’s Community Engagement Manger, “Our best option this summer will be to engage with visitors via the River Ambassador program so they can teach newcomers how to love the Yuba like a local. To do that, we need a lot of help from our community.”
In a typical year, 800,000 people visit the Yuba. Though the river has been rising in popularity for some time, 2020 was an unprecedented year, as thousands of new visitors ventured to the Yuba River for the first time to escape quarantine fatigue. This influx of visitors created unsafe parking problems, trash, illegal fires, and human waste issues up and down the river canyon. While SYRCL had to cancel the in- person component of River Ambassadors last year, it plans to use COVID-safe protocols to bring it back this summer.
“The River Ambassadors are vital protectors of the South Yuba River and its visitors. From greeting and educating first-time river visitors to assisting in emergencies, I really don’t know what we would do without them,” says Nevada County Supervisor Heidi Hall, District 1, “Their work is a highly valued service to this community.”
River Ambassadors use a friendly, non-confrontational approach to educate and inform visitors about river rules and ethics while recreating on local beaches and trails. Each weekend, a team of River Ambassadors sets up booths and signage at the busiest river crossings, provides information to visitors, removes trash & graffiti, dismantles illegal fire rings and interacts with visitors along trails and beaches. River Ambassadors are also equipped with satellite phones from Nevada County Office of Emergency Services and serve as an emergency contact for guests when accidents happen at the river.
SYRCL needs help to effectively implement this program, which is why it is recruiting 70-100 volunteers to be River Ambassadors at the South Yuba River this summer on weekends from 10am to 2pm starting May 29 and running through September 6. COVID-safe protocols will prioritize the health and well- being of volunteers. The first online training will be Wednesday, May 12 from 6pm to 7:30pm. For more information and to sign up for volunteer dates visit yubariver.org.
About the Yuba River Public Safety Cohort: Made up of County supervisors and staff, local and regional fire protection districts, law enforcement, state and federal agencies, local NGOs, and community representatives, the Yuba River Safety Cohort has been collaborating for five years in an effort to address public safety issues within the South Yuba River canyon such as access, fire prevention, stewardship, and responsible use.
About SYRCL: The South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL, pronounced “circle”), based in Nevada City, CA, is the leading voice for the protection and restoration of the Yuba River watershed. Founded in 1983 through a rural, grassroots campaign to defend the South Yuba River from proposed hydropower dams, SYRCL has developed into a vibrant community organization with over 3,500 members and volunteers. See: www.yubariver.org. 

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Whether you have a garden or a balcony, flowering perennials will create a beautiful haven for bees anywhere. You’ll not only enjoy the companionable buzz of both wild and honeybees, but you’ll also be surrounded by flowers. And you’ll be delighting in your perennials year after year. 
 Honey plantsMany perennials produce nectar and pollen that provide food for bees. For this reason, they are known as ‘honey plants’. Bees transport the pollen back to the hive in special little baskets on their hind legs. By observing them closely, you can actually see these collected pollen pellets. By buzzing from flower to flower, bees also contribute to fertilisation that results in the production of seeds and fruits.
 Signposts for beesBees are irresistibly attracted by the scents and colors of flowers. But many flowers have another trick up their sleeve: a ‘nectar guide’ made up of spots and stripes. Take a close look sometime at the flowers of beardtongue (Penstemon) or cranesbill (Geranium).These honey guides are like signposts guiding bees in for a landing.
 DiversityProvide many different kinds of plants that will bloom throughout the year, from lungwort (Pulmonaria) in early spring to Michaelmas daisy (Aster) in the autumn. And make your haven for bees a sea of various colors filled with large flowers mixed among small ones. You’ll be glad you did: these little buzzing visitors will flock to your flowers. For them, it’s a symbiotic relationship. For you, it’s pure enjoyment! 
 Did you know that...

• Bumblebees are included in the group also known as ‘wild bees’? 
• Various bee species have a preference for certain plant species? Sage (Salvia), lavender (Lavandula), knotweed (Persicaria), indigo lupine (Baptisia) and sneezeweed (Helenium) are just a few of the perennials that bees love. 
• The pollen produced by every plant species has its own color?
• The amount of nectar produced by flowers fluctuates throughout the day? 
• More inspiration and tips about perennials are available at www.perennialpower.eu

Nevada City, Calif. —Warm temperatures and blue skies means it’s time to visit the Tahoe National Forest, right? Well, sort of. There is still plenty of snow in the Tahoe National Forest high country and many recreation sites are still closed or inaccessible in April. For a list of open campground and recreation sites, please see below.
Recreation managers and wildland firefighters are preparing for a busy summer season in 2021 –one that is already beginning with the early warm temperatures. This year, the Tahoe National Forest is again asking visitors to please recreate responsibly so we all can enjoy the beautiful landscape of the Tahoe National Forest for years to come.
Responsible recreation means:

• Make sure your campfire is out before you leave: douse with water, stir, and feel for warmth.
  • Repeat the steps above as necessary.

 

• Campfires must be attended at all times; California Campfire Permits are required.

 

• No trashcan? It’s your responsibility to pack out all trash when you leave, including toilet paper when no restroom facilities exist.

 

• Most campsites are booked in advance –you may not secure a campground without a reservation.
  • To reserve a Tahoe National Forest campsite, please visit recreation.gov.

 

• During the spring, roads may be passable in the morning but muddy and impassable as temperatures warm during the day.
  • Don’t get stuck or damage roads.

 

• Rivers and lakes are cold this time of year and flows are high. Cold, high flows can kill.

 
Open Campgrounds & Recreation Sites
 
Truckee and Sierraville/ Highway 89

• Upper Little Truckee Campground open for first-come, first-serve.
• Lower Little Truckee Campground opening Friday, April 23 first-come, first-serve.
• All campgrounds in Truckee are closed including Granite Flat, Goose Meadows, and Silver Creek.

Prosser/Boca/ Stampede Reservoirs

• Boca Rest campground is currently open and reservable. 
• Hobie Cat beach is open for lake access, parking, and restroom use

Donner Summit/Interstate-80

• All campgrounds are closed. Many summer recreation sites are inaccessible due to snow and other factors.

Foresthill

• Sugar Pine, Parker Flat, and Brimstone OHV Staging Areas are all open.  The Loop 6 lower bridge is still inaccessible!  The trail is actively being cleared now.
• French Meadows Boat Launch – accessible, however, very low water.
• Mosquito Ridge Road is plowed to the boat launch. 
• Giant Gap and Shirttail Creek Campgrounds will be opening April 30, for first-come, first-serve camping.

Highway 20/ Bowman Lake Road

• All campgrounds currently closed.
• Pioneer and Hoot trail open with favorable conditions.
• Bowman Road advised impassable all the way to Bowman Lake.

Bullards bar Reservoir

• Dark Day, Schoolhouse, and Garden Point boat-in campgrounds open.
• Madrone Boat-in and Hornswoggle Group site opening May 22. 

Highway 49/Sierra Buttes

• Carlton Flat, Fiddle Creek, Indian Valley, Rocky Rest, and Cal-Ida campgrounds will be opening Friday, April 23.

 

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymembers Kevin Kiley (R-Rocklin) and James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) released the following statement after oral arguments in Gallagher and Kiley v. Newsom that took place this morning in front of the Third District Court of Appeal:
 
“We appreciated the opportunity to appear before the Appeals Court and are hopeful that the Superior Court’s ruling will be affirmed. The notion that one person can centralize all state power in his hands is utterly incompatible with our Constitution and form of government. This case can assure the extraordinary abuses of the past year are never repeated."
 
Gallagher and Kiley won their case in the Superior Court where the judge restrained the Governor from “exercising any further legislative powers in violation of the California Constitution and applicable statute” and barred him “specifically from unilaterally amending, altering, or changing existing statutory law or making new statutory law.”
 
This will be the first precedent-setting decision in California history on the limits of a governor’s emergency powers.

(AUBURN, Calif.) — The Sierra Nevada Conservancy (SNC), a California state agency, announced the availability of $20 million dollars for the implementation of shovel-ready forest health projects in the region.

The Immediate Action Wildfire and Forest Resilience directed grant program was made possible by an early action wildfire and forest resilience budget approved by the legislature and the Governor earlier today. The early action budget includes $20 million for the SNC and is part of a $1-billion forest and wildfire resilience funding proposal under consideration by state leaders.
The funding to the SNC's Watershed Improvement Program (WIP) supports the goals of California's recently released Wildfire and Forest Resilience Action Plan and is part of a multi-agency, all-hands-on-deck, approach to forest and wildfire resilience. Projects funded by this program could start improving regional forest and wildfire resilience this year.
"This early action budget reflects reality--we don't have any time to waste if we are to protect the Sierra Nevada and the benefits it provides all Californians from wildfire and an accelerating climate crisis," said SNC Executive Officer Angela Avery.
"We've been preparing to hit the ground running since discussions about an early action wildfire and forest resilience budget started last year," added Andy Fristensky, SNC's Field Operations and Grants Manager. "That's why we're able to open applications the same day that policymakers passed this budget. We're excited to get this money in the hands of regional partners who are ready to implement forest health & wildfire resilience projects across the Sierra Nevada."
Public agencies, tribal entities, and qualifying non-profit organizations with shovel-ready forest and wildfire resilience projects in the Sierra Nevada are encouraged to contact the SNC about developing a project application. Eligible projects must seek $200,000 or more, have completed environmental permitting, and be scheduled for completion no later than January 1, 2025. Contact information, application instructions, and grant program guidelines are available on the SNC's website at: sierranevada.ca.gov/funding/snc-grants.

The directed grant program provides an infusion of funding that will help the SNC to accelerate the WIP, its large-scale, triple-bottom-line program to restore the health and resilience of the Sierra Nevada.
The SNC is a California state agency that initiates, encourages, and supports efforts that improve the environmental, economic, and social well-being of the Sierra Nevada Region, its communities, and the citizens of California. Learn more about SNC. 

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Sierra Nevada Conservancy | 11521 Blocker Drive, Suite 205, Auburn, CA 95603 

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Jones’s measure creating a combination hunting/fishing license approved by Senate Natural Resources & Water Committee
SB 470 is coauthored by bipartisan group of Senators and supported by a diverse coalition of outdoor groups
SACRAMENTO – A measure by Senator Brian W. Jones (R-Santee) to create a combination hunting/fishing license option for recreationalists passed its first committee test with a strong bipartisan vote.

Jones’s Senate Bill 470 would specifically do the following, beginning in 2024:

• Allow Californians and non-residents to purchase a combined hunting/fishing license rather than having to purchase both licenses separately – many outdoor recreationalists in California engage in both sports and a combined license would be more convenient and lower administrative costs of the state; and 
• Make the newly created combination license valid for 365 days from the date of purchase – currently California hunting and fishing licenses expire on December 31 of the year purchased, regardless of the date purchased; and
• Require the state to establish an optional automatic renewal and payment process for the combined license since California currently only allows auto renewal for fishing licenses.

“Other nearby states including Arizona, Nevada, and Oregon already offer combination hunting/fishing licenses which have proved popular and have helped introduce new people to both sports,” said Senator Brian W. Jones. “Offering a convenient way to legally hunt and fish, get a full year’s worth out of the license, and automatically renew the license in California makes sense all around. This will allow even more people to enjoy our state’s great outdoors more often.”

SB 470 is a bipartisan measure coauthored by Senators Dave Cortese (D-San Jose), Brian Dahle (R-Bieber), Bill Dodd (D-Napa), and Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita). It is sponsored by the California Waterfowl Association and supported by a diverse coalition of outdoor recreation, hunting, and fishing organizations. SB 470 goes next to the Senate Appropriations Committee for hearing.
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Senator Brian W. Jones was elected to the California State Senate in 2018 representing the 38th Senate District which includes Alpine, Escondido, Lemon Grove, El Cajon, La Mesa, Santee, Poway, San Marcos, Lakeside, Valley Center, Rancho Santa Fe, Julian, Ramona, Rancho San Diego, Bonsall, Fallbrook, Borrego Springs, and parts of the City of San Diego.
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