Quincy, Calif – May 27, 2016 –Daniel Lovato, acting Plumas National Forest Supervisor, welcomes new forest management team members, Madonna Lachman, Forest Civil Rights Officer and Scott Lucas, Forest Fire Management Officer (FMO).


Ms. Lachman, an equal employment opportunity (EEO) professional for about 12 years, hails from the Department of Defense, US Army Garrison in Daegu, South Korea. She started her career in 2004 as an EEO Assistant/Collateral Duty Counselor. Her career progressed as a developmental EEO Specialist with the Army, eventually serving as an EEO Manager for both the Army and Air Force.


She and her husband, now living in Quincy, returned to California to be near their 3 children, 4 grandkids and other family. All are outdoor enthusiasts and enjoy bike riding, fishing, camping, boating, rafting and traveling. She also enjoys sewing, crafting and shopping.


Mr. Lucas was previously the Deputy FMO for the Northern California District of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) since late 2014 and was most recently detailed as the Deputy State FMO for California BLM. Scott has been a member of the NORCAL 2, Type 2 Incident Management Team since 2009.


He started his career in 1992 in Colorado with a local fire department followed by temporary firefighter positions with the Forest Service & BLM. He became a permanent employee with the BLM in 1998 and has subsequently had fire positions with Craig and Carson City Districts of the BLM and Everglades National Park in addition to the Stanislaus, Shasta-Trinity and Modoc National Forests in California.


He is a rabid golfer (who struggles to stay under a 20 handicap) and aspiring chef who resides in Reno, NV with his wife and two sons.


According to Supervisor Lovato, several other critical leadership team positions will be in place soon. All three of the incoming permanent employees worked on the Plumas NF earlier in their careers.


·         Barbara Drake will be returning to the forest in early July as the new Deputy Forest Supervisor. She is currently the Acting Deputy Forest Supervisor on the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit where her position of record is the Vegetation, Urban Lot, Fire and Fuels Staff Officer.


·         Micki Smith will be joining the team as the Mt. Hough District Ranger in late June. She is currently the El Dorado National Forest Resource Officer.


·         Sabrina Stadler is the new Beckwourth District Ranger, arriving in early August. She is currently the Forest Plan Revision Leader for 4 national forests in Oregon.

• “Thunderstorms Today-Monday -- Isolated to scattered thunderstorms are expected each afternoon and early evening through the weekend. The highest risk for storms will be over the Sierra with varying chances for storms into western Nevada. I think the overall biggest thunderstorm day looks to be Sunday at this point. Any storms we see could produce the usual cornucopia of impacts -- hail with slick roads, frequent lightning, periods of heavy rain and localized flooding, and gusty winds to 50 mph.
  • For any outdoor events -- please have a rain or lightning plan in place, a sturdy shelter people can get to if a thunderstorm develops, and of course a method of receiving NWS alerts such as iNWS or a radar app. There will be lots of hikers and boaters out who will be prone to thunderstorms so help us get the message out that they should keep an eye on the sky in the afternoons and evenings. See the attached lightning safety reminder graphic. Also note when it rains, temperatures will drop rapidly from the 70s/80s to the 40s -- hypothermia for those exposed outdoors!
• Heating Up Next Week -- Our simulations have become more emphatic showing temperatures warming quickly to well above normal starting around Tuesday lasting through the week. We are likely to see highs 90-95 in W Nev valleys. Now's the time to check that air conditioner! This will be the first pronounced heat of summer and people won't be as adapted to heat effects quite yet. So it's a good idea to take some extra precautions such as breaks and lots of water if doing outdoor work. This is also the time to remind people not to leave children or pets in cars. Even with temperatures "only" in the 80s, cars will become ovens quite rapidly. Like minutes.
• River Rises -- Warming temperatures will cause our higher elevation snowpack to melt off more quickly so we'll probably see enhanced rises in creeks and some rivers next week. At this time our simulations for the main rivers do not show them reaching monitor/flood stage through Wednesday.”

Courtesy Plumas National Forest

Public asked to take steps to prevent new fires

Sacramento – CAL FIRE is increasing its firefighting staffing as windy conditions are predicted to elevate fire danger across many areas of California. With many Californians planning to recreate outdoors for the Memorial Day weekend, CAL FIRE is asking the public to take steps to prevent sparking a new wildfire. According to the National Weather Service many parts of California will see warm weather this weekend and winds through Saturday with gusts of 20-30 mph. There is even a risk of lightning across the higher elevations in the Sierra.
Click to tweet - .@CAL_FIRE increases fire staffing for #MemorialDayWeekend. http://ctt.ec/fAkYc+

“Over the past several weeks we have experienced an increase in the number of wildfires,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, CAL FIRE director. “This weekend’s weather conditions will elevate our fire risk even higher, so we need everyone’s assistance ensuring they don’t spark a new wildfire.”


Since January 1, CAL FIRE has responded to over 1,100 wildfires that have burned over 10,000 acres. Last week alone fire crews responded to 169 new wildfires that charred approximately 4,000 acres. In the midst of this severe drought, Californians are encouraged to be vigilant and remember that One Less Spark means One Less Wildfire.

Camping:
·         Obtain a campfire permit (www.PreventWildfireCA.org)
·         Check for local fire restrictions
·         Clear away grass, leaves and other debris within a 10-foot perimeter of any campfire
·         Have a responsible person in attendance at all times
·         Ensure all campfires are completely extinguished before leaving
·         When barbequing, never leave the grill unattended

Vehicle
·         Ensure your vehicle is properly maintained with nothing dragging on the ground
·         When towing, make sure trailer chains are properly secured
·         Never drive or pull over into dry grass
Fire is not the only danger that can occur in the outdoors, as water drownings also increase dramatically during this holiday weekend.  Warm temperatures make the cool waters of California’s beautiful rivers and lakes very enticing, yet very dangerous. 
 
In the Water:

• Always wear a life jacket!
• Children should always be supervised by a responsible adult
• Never swim alone
• Be cautious of rivers and waterways with rapid currents
• Drinking and swimming can be just as dangerous as drinking and driving

For more ways to be safe this holiday, visit www.ReadyforWildfire.org or www.fire.ca.gov.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Memorial Day weekend, one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, is the traditional start of summer and a time when more travelers and especially families will be on the go.  When California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers take to the roads over the Memorial Day weekend, they will be working to save lives through seat belt education and enforcement.


To help keep motorists safe, the CHP will be conducting its annual Memorial Day Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) throughout the state.  The MEP begins at 6:01 p.m. on Friday, May 27, and continues through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 30.  Although the focus of the MEP is seat belt usage, the CHP will be watching just as diligently for distracted drivers and those driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol. 


“Everyone inside the vehicle should be safely secured every trip, every time.  Seat belts reduce serious crash-related injuries and death,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow.  “It takes only seconds to buckle up, and those seconds could literally save your life.  Furthermore, California law requires that all children under the age of eight to be properly secured in a child safety seat.”


Thirty-one people died in collisions during the 2015 Memorial Day MEP.  Two-thirds of those killed in the CHP’s jurisdiction were not wearing seat belts.  That same year, 1,125 people were arrested for DUI in CHP jurisdiction during the Memorial Day MEP. 


California will also join the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in its nationwide “Click It or Ticket” campaign, May 23 to June 5.  The NHTSA reports that in 2015, almost 50 percent of occupants in fatal collisions nationwide were not wearing seat belts. 


“So many of the deaths and injuries that occur on the highway are completely preventable,” added Commissioner Farrow.  “Our job is to make the motoring public aware of the risks and encourage them to be especially cautious this holiday weekend.”


The mission of the California Highway Patrol is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security to the people of California.


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The California Highway Patrol (CHP), Truckee Area will conduct a sobriety checkpoint on Saturday, May 28, 2016, in the Town of Truckee.
 
Officers will be contacting drivers passing through the checkpoint for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment.  Officers will strive to delay motorists only momentarily.  The goal of Law Enforcement is to ensure the safe passage of each and every motorist.  A sobriety checkpoint is a proven effective tool for achieving this goal and is designed to augment existing patrol operations.  “The intent of a Sobriety Checkpoint is to educate the public of the dangers of driving while under the influence.  In these efforts the CHP tries to persuade the public to make the safest decision possible during a night out, and use the transportation provided to them by Placer County whether that be taking a taxi, designating a sober driver, taking TART or the Night Rider,” said Captain Ryan Stonebraker, Area Commander of CHP Truckee.
 
Captain Stonebraker emphasized, “Traffic volume permitting, all vehicles will be checked for drivers who are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.  Our objective is to send a clear message to those individuals that mixing alcohol and/or drugs while driving will not be tolerated.  The CHP seeks to enhance highway safety by apprehending the impaired driver.”
 
Funding for this checkpoint is provided to the CHP by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, reminding everyone to continue to work together to bring an end to these tragedies.  If you see a drunk driver, call    9-1-1.
 
Note:  The sobriety checkpoint will be operated from 7:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m.  The media may contact the CHP Truckee Communications Center at (530) 582-7500 on May 28, 2016, between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. for the checkpoint location.
 
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On May 20, 2016 at approximately 3:15 p.m. Terry Myers, 45 of Graeagle was driving his 2002 Dodge northbound on SR-89, south of Cold Creek, at a stated speed of 45 mph. Rebecca Brooks, 51, of Loyalton was driving her 2005 Chevrolet southbound on SR-89 north of Cold Creek at a stated speed of 45 mph. As the two vehicles approached each other, the Dodge lost traction with the snow covered roadway, and Myers was unable to control the vehicle. The Dodge entered  the southbound lane, directly into the path of the Chevrolet. The two vehicles impacted with each other and came to rest blocking both lanes of SR-89. Both parties suffered major injuries as a result of the collision and were transported to Renown Medical Center by Eastern Plumas Health Care ambulance for treatment. The parties were assisted at the scene by personnel from the Sierra County Sheriff Department, USFS Fire, Sierraville Volunteer Fire, Eastern Plumas Health Care ambulance and the California Highway Patrol. Both parties were  wearing safety belts at the time of the collision. Neither party was under the influence at the time of the collision.

On May 22, at approximately 7:57 p.m., Teri Trehal, 25 of Silver Springs, Nevada, was driving her Jeep northbound on US 395 JSO Pozolan Rd. in the #2 lane at a stated speed of 65 mph. She observed a deer run from the west side of the roadway in an easterly direction, directly into the path of her vehicle. Trehal applied the brakes and the front of the Jeep collided with the deer. The Jeep became disabled in the #2 northbound lane. A passerby stopped and helped push the Jeep to the east shoulder of US 395. The driver airbag deployed during the collision. Trehal suffered minor lacerations to her left and right arms from the airbag. She also complained of pain to her left arm. Trehal denied medical attention at the scene and stated she would seek her own medical aid.

If existing voters wish to change their party registration they have until Monday

SANTA ANA, CA - May 20, 2016 - The California Association of Clerks and Election Officials (CACEO) is reminding California citizens that the deadline to register to vote, or re-register with a different party, in the June 7, 2016 Presidential Primary Election is Monday, May 23, 2016. Online voter registration is available, which allows new voters to complete the entire process online at registertovote.ca.gov. Paper registration forms can be obtained at your local Registrar of Voters, post offices, libraries and city halls.
"California has seen record numbers of new registrations since January," said Neal Kelley, President of CACEO and Registrar of Voters, Orange County, CA. "CACEO is urging everyone that wishes to participate to be aware of the upcoming deadline", he continued.
WHEN: Deadline is Monday, May 23, 2016 at 11:59 p.m.
Citizens that wish to register or vote at their local Registrar of Voters should contact their local office directly.
HOW: Any eligible citizen may register to vote by visiting their Registrar of Voters' office, or online at registertovote.ca.gov
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LOYALTON CITY COUNCIL met May 17th. It agreed to get Congressman Brian Dahle involved with the Loyalton Mobile Home Estates since the park didn’t sell and Loyalton resident, Eileen Benson pushed the Council on why nothing was being done and wanted time limits. She called it an “endless problem.”
The Council approved the HERO Program, a residential PACE based financing program with Pat Whitley voting no, wanting to make sure it wouldn’t cost the city and wanting to talk to the assessor.
The Council agreed for John Cussins to meet with Portola’s Planning Director to go over Loyalton Pool’s equipment to loan. 
Portola’s Pool Manager Jennifer Condliffe told how pools are not just for kids but for “serious adult athletes” who keep up a training regime and Portola 
hopes to open Memorial Day. 
Portola’s pool is 25-yards while Loyalton’s is nearly olympic-sized besides a kiddy pool.
If Loyalton’s equipment doesn’t work, Condliffe said Truckee is building a new pool and they would make a good deal in September. She’d like to have propane heaters yet Loyalton’s, fairly new and one never used, are oil fired boilers and Councilman John Cussins explained the differences.
LOYALTON CITY COUNCIL voted  in favor on Tuesday night at its regular monthly meeting of  speed feedback signs on the east and west entrances of Highway 49 and on A-24. ​According to County Transportation Commission, there is a funding source available annually to fit this type of project. 
Lorie Horner, who lives on Highway 49, had submitted 50 signatures in favor of the signs to Sierra County Transportation Commission. Councilman Brooks Mitchell thought the City should support it. In the audience, Alan White called it a “race track” down Beckwith Street. Councilman John Cussins felt the signs work but need enforcement.

In the 18 months since Proposition 47 was enacted, a number of flaws in the measure have begun to appear.


Voters were sold on the proposition with the promise that it would save $100 million in prison costs, but only a third of those savings have appeared so far. In addition, crime statistics have started trending in the wrong direction since November 2014. 49 out of the 66 California cities studied in a PPIC report saw increases in violent crimes, while 48 saw increases in property crimes.


And now, this: the California Police Chiefs Association recently released a report showing “a dramatic crime increase in California during 2015, but not in other states.” In fact, the California Retailers Association believe that “retail theft incidents have nearly doubled compared to recent years.”
                                                                                                                                                                                                   
In a story published this past weekend, the Associated Press reported that “[l]arge retailers including Safeway, Target, Rite Aid and CVS pharmacies say shoplifting increased at least 15 percent, and in some cases doubled, since voters approved Proposition 47 and ended the possibility of charging shoplifting as a felony with the potential for a prison sentence.”


“Californians are clamoring to make common sense fixes to Proposition 47,” said Assemblyman Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale), a retired California Highway Patrolman. “The potential savings promised to taxpayers has not materialized, while small business owners and hardworking Californians are being victimized by criminals who know they will not face punishment for their crimes. The legislature has the power to put a stop to this. It’s time we do.”


Assembly Republicans have introduced a number of reforms to Prop. 47, including: AB 46 (Lackey); AB 1415 (Steinorth); AB 1869 (Melendez); and AB 2369 (Patterson).

Three VAs in One
The Veterans Administration is a branch in the federal government, and like most federal organizations it can be quite confusing. Most people do not understand the structure of the Department of Veterans Affairs. It is made up of three divisions that are responsible for specific activities — VA Health Care, Veterans Benefits Administration and Burial and Cemeteries. Each division is independent and can often be like a stove pipe, where communication does not necessarily exist with the other two.
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) handles all health care for veterans. It is responsible for the medical centers, outpatient clinics, community based outpatient clinics, and the vet centers. They provide care, medications, and prosthetic devices as needed. They are responsible for setting the veteran’s health care priority and eligibility based on information provided by the benefits section. To enroll to receive treatment, the veteran can visit a VA hospital, community-based outpatient clinic or county veterans service office. 
The Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA) is responsible for the payment of all VA gratuitous benefits. It handles claims for disability, compensation, pension, and education, including vocational rehabilitation, burials, home loans, life insurance and just about any other monetary benefit that comes from the VA.
The National Cemetery Association (NCA) operates the National Cemetery system. It is responsible for the establishment and construction of new cemeteries and the care and maintenance of existing cemeteries. It provides flags for burials of veterans and issues Presidential Memorial Certificates.
The Plumas County Veterans Service Office can complete the DMV Veteran Status Verification Form for the new California Veteran Designation on your driver’s license.  We can also issue Veteran I.D. cards to honorably discharged veterans.  There are many state and federal benefits and programs available to veterans and their dependents.  To find out if you are eligible for any of these benefits, visit or call our office at 283-6271/6275 Mon-Fri from 0800-1600.  We can and will assist you in completing all required application forms.  You can get information on the Web from the Plumas County Veterans Service Office webpage by accessing the Plumas County Website under Veterans Services.
 
The VA Van departs at 0700 Tues and Thursdays from the County Annex upper parking lot.  Ensure you call  Kyle Short County Veteran Service Representative at 283-6271 three days prior to your appointment at the VAMC Reno to schedule a reservation on the VA Van.   The Van can transport up to five veterans first come first served.