Truckee Varsity Football Games return to TTCTV beginning August 23

TTCTV kicks off 2019 coverage of Truckee High School Varsity Football, Friday August 23, when the Wolverines travel to Grass Valley for a non-league opener against Bear River.

“The Voice of Truckee Sports” Keith Thomas will handle the play-by-play, and viewers can tune in the Friday Aug. 23, 7pm coverage on TTCTV Suddenlink Channel 6, and the live-stream at www.ttctv.org

Week two of the season will see the Wolverines travel to Fernley as “KT” calls his 100th broadcast of Truckee High Football on Friday August 30.

Businesses wishing to support the telecasts on non-profit, educational TTCTV, should lock-down their season sponsorship packages now by contacting Keith Thomas at (530) 448-0744 or atlaketahoe@aol.com

A complete season schedule, plus archived games from previous seasons can be viewed at ttctv.org/Truckee-Football

Truckee Tahoe Community Television continues to expand its coverage of local sports and other events, with plans to televise its first coverage of North Tahoe High School football and other TTUSD sports like soccer, volleyball, basketball and more this fall.

​

Greg Palmer has been leading Donner Party Hikes for twenty-six years . . . exactly the same number of years that these history hikes have been offered.  Greg retired to Truckee, California in 1988 after a career in medical sales.  In 1992 someone recruited him for a new event being offered in Truckee, the Donner Party Hike.  Greg said “yes”, read some books on the Donner Party, and led a successful hike.  Now 26 years later, he hasn’t missed a hike.  For his historical interpretation over the years, Greg has received awards from the Truckee Chamber of Commerce, been given a key to the Town of Truckee by the mayor and has been recognized by the Nevada County Board of Supervisors.  More importantly he has turned into an avid local historian and shares his knowledge and presentation skills with groups at various state parks in the north Lake Tahoe area including Donner Memorial State Park.  He has also expanded his historical expertise to include construction of the transcontinental railroad, the first transcontinental automobile road (the Lincoln Highway) and historic Donner Pass Road (Highway 40.)
 
During the sesquicentennial (150 year) Donner Reunion at Donner Memorial State Park, Greg suddenly saw a face he recognized.  It was a nurse whose office he had called on for over twenty years as a medical supply representative.  He asked her how she came to attend this Donner event. She said, “My husband is a Donner descendant.  He’s the great grandson of George Donner Jr!”  Greg has met many descendants of Donner Party members over the years and these encounters continue to motivate him.
 
Besides the Donner Party Hike, Greg has been fortunate to attend major historic events in the Donner Summit area.  In 1994, he was present for the naming of “Mount Stephens” just north of Donner Summit.  Elisha Stephens had successfully led the first wagon party over Donner Summit in 1844.  Yet this pioneer achievement was the “forgotten journey” as all of the fame and notoriety became attached to the Donner ordeal, two years later, in 1846.  Greg was also present for the centennial celebration of the Pioneer Monument at Donner Memorial State Park this past summer in 2018.  The monument (40 feet tall) was built to honor all of the hardy pioneers who traveled by wagon to California, including the Donner Party.  Greg was very excited that in the commemorative poster, there is a picture of his father and grandfather standing in front of the Pioneer Monument in 1922, just four years after the construction of the monument.  As a historical note, the Pioneer Monument was built on the site of one of the cabins used by the Donner Party, but the cabin had burnt down.
 
A pioneer that Greg has come to greatly admire is Caleb Greenwood.  Caleb was a mountain man and fur trapper.  He hired on as a guide for the wagon party led by Elisha Stephens in 1844.  Most likely, Caleb did the majority of the route finding over rugged Donner Summit . . . and he was 81 years old!  Caleb and his two sons were part of the rescue efforts to save the Donner Party two years later.
 
On Donner Party Hike day, Greg leads the Summit Canyon hike.  The participants walk in the footsteps (and wagon wheel routes) of the early pioneers crossing Donner Summit.  They also learn about the construction of the transcontinental railroad as well the Dutch Flat commercial wagon road that was in operation at that time.  Participants walk on the abandoned Lincoln Highway and learn about the story of historic Donner Pass Road as well as the iconic Rainbow Bridge.
 
The Summit Canyon Hike is just one of seven guided hikes that depart on Donner Party Hike weekend (September 14th & 15th).  In addition to the history, all hikes take place in the beautiful high Sierra of Donner Summit.  Hikes vary in length from three to four hours and finish with a great lunch at Sugar Bowl ski area.  Ethan Rarick, author of the Donner Party history book, “Desperate Passage” will be the lunchtime speaker.  For more information on the 2019 Donner Party Hike offerings, visit the website at www.DonnerPartyHike.com.  The Donner Party Hike is sponsored by the Donner Summit Historical Society.

​From: Merrill Grant
Subject: Superintendent Transition

 
Dear Sierra-Plumas Joint Unified Staff Member:

 

It is with bittersweet emotion that I announce to you that I am the finalist for the position of superintendent in the Fall River Joint Unified School District. The Board in Fall River will hopefully take action on our negotiated contract at their June board meeting; until then, this appointment is unofficial. 

 

In all sincerity the past six years have been the most rewarding in my 30 year career in education. I feel that I have made many enduring friendships and have left a positive impact on a District with great employees that make a difference for children. You are all doing great work and that will continue.

 

This is as much a personal shift for me and my wife Katie as a professional opportunity. My family has owned a cattle ranch in the Intermountain Area for six generations and in a way my roots are in eastern Shasta County.

 

The Board here in SPJUSD is already conversing about how to proceed in the interim period from my departure on June 30 to when a full-scale search is conducted for your next County and District superintendent. There is no reason a permanent superintendent cannot be seated by the start of school in late August, if not before.

 

My memories both personally and professionally of Sierra County will always be with me. Thank you!

 

Yours in education,

 

Merrill

By Jack Trout
May 25th, 2019
 
If God had his own personal lake it would be Eagle Lake in Northern California and he would be sure that the trout that resided in his playground were unique and humongous. Eagle Lake is located above the town of Susanville in Lassen County in what has been described as “top of the world California,” this lake exemplifies the two-fisted spirit of America because of its great trout fishing and great cattle ranching for over a century.
Eagle Lake is the 2nd largest lake in California that is entirely formed within its boundaries, Tahoe and Goose Lake doesn’t count. Home of the Eagle Lake Trout, as a kid I remember hundreds of people lining the shorelines and boating in its waters in hopes of catching a native indigenous Eagle Lake Rainbow Trout, some averaged 12lbs. I used to go to youth camp there and have many fond memories of friends I grew up with fishing there as a child as well as life lessons we learned along the way. The most famous fishing guide of California who ever lived Jay Fair, made Eagle Lake his home waters even though he lived 2 hours away in Portola.  This was a pinnacle lake that brought tremendous resources to the region and was a raw diamond for the town of Susanville for recreational income and tourist who would come year around to enjoy its boon. In the mid 60’s there were two lakes well known for trophy trout fishing in California, Lake Davis and the other, like it stood alone on its own cloud nine was Eagle Lake. I remember in 1983 when a banker in the town of Portola who won the fishing derby at Lake Davis by catching an Eagle Lake Trout and bringing it to the judges for his 1st place trophy. We all gasp in awe, wish I didn’t know now, what I didn’t know then as Bob Seger once sang.
But in recent years the lake has gone unnoticed and its fishing both fly and spin has plummeted way down, many that would frequent lake and drive any distance needed are not coming anymore. The lake just isn’t the same, algae blooms are keeping fish that would cruise shorelines away and deep. The numbers and size of trout have declined in recent years and this is got some locals up in Spaulding Tract on Eagle Lake and the fishing community statewide up in arms about the lake’s overall health. Many others have decided to fish Pyramid Lake near Reno, Nevada because of its huge Lahontan Cutthroat which in recent years have produced larger and more trout than any lake in California. Over the past 20 years the Pyramid Lake 1st Nation People have been better than California in managing their lakes and it has paid them dividends in the silver state.
Recently the Lahontan Water Board, Lassen Forest & BLM who exercises authority over the lake has been receiving so many complaints about the algae blooms and cows that lines its shorelines on the north side of the lake that a decision was handed down in May 2019, that would require a 300 foot buffer for the cows near any Eagle Lake shoreline. 5 Dot Ranch of Standish, California with restaurants & stores in Napa was sent a letter that executed this decision that they have 30 days to move their grazing cows to areas that don’t impede shorelines as well as important feeder and spawning creeks that are the lifelines for the Eagle Lake Rainbow.  
Valerie Aubrey, a fishing guide and President of the Eagle Lake Guardians who lives in Spaulding Tract on the west side of Eagle Lake says it’s much more than the public realizes, “Since 2013, the lake has become extremely green and cloudy unusual for Eagle Lake where seeing the bottom at 16 or more feet was normal?” “That when the DFW does its annual checks on the lakes dissolved oxygen down to the 50 foot levels, oxygen is tanking in the lake at 20 feet and in the summer temps averages 70 degrees. The trout are heading down to levels that are unprecedented and many anglers are not figuring out why they are not catching trout anymore between 24 to 34 feet which was the norm historically. Shoreline fishing has become non-existent and unproductive and the winter tourism for fishing doesn’t even have a pulse anymore.”
“The thermal cline between the surface and 50 feet is an 8 to 10 degree difference, which has the trout moving in the wrong direction according to Valerie.” “Eagle Lake has hit rock bottom as far as the fishing industry knows, who would drive all that distance for marginal fishing?” “This is in addition to the brackish waters on the north side of the lake being caused by the cow’s nutrients (crap) has hurt spawning trout in Eagle Lake’s most important spawning grounds Pine Creek.”
When she explained this to me, I started to think of it like the part in the movie Shawshank Redemption when Andy Dufrense climbed though that tube of feces to freedom, that’s what the trout are going through on their annual spawn to the north side of Eagle Lake thanks to 5 Dot Ranch and their grazing cattle. Valerie went on to say, “ I know up at Lake Davis reservoir, areas that have cattle are fenced off, but if this same practice was initiated up at Eagle Lake the general public would suffer from a lack of access on a natural lake not a manmade reservoir like Davis. The only answer is to have those cows moved away from the Eagle Lake shorelines, far from any tourist and fishermen’s eyes.”
I called Todd Swickard of 5 Dot Ranch but have not received any call back as of yet?
When I called Ben Letton of the Lahontan Water Board in South Lake Tahoe, he said, “We will do our part to make sure that water quality and the resources are protected. It probably won’t be an all or nothings solution, as these politically charged issues are virtually never black and white.”
 
We all realize any pending judgement or action relies on the commitment of those who are serving the message, the trout live and breathe whatever is decided in the long run and that can be good or bad depending. I always kept Eagle Lake high on my list of places I have ventured to during my lifetime and seeing its recovery will be a lifetime endeavor for me. This is rare to have a lake of this size where it produces its own large species of trout known nowhere else on the planet as this is the source. I remember once hooking a 10 lb. trout in the tullies in shallow water, I saw the fish take the fly, a memory I will never forget as a child and another reason to keep cattle away from its shorelines. Another example of the few impacting a public resource owned by many.


 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

WASHINGTON, DC, May 24 -- On Monday, May 27, the nation will celebrate Memorial Day. “And, while it marks the unofficial start of summer and the promise of much summertime sun and fun, it is also an opportunity for a moment of reflection on what Memorial Day is all about,” says Dan Weber, president of the Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC].

The barbecue grills will be ablaze this weekend as family and friends come together for a celebration. But Weber urges us to take a moment to reflect on what we are celebrating, namely that our nation’s citizen soldiers -- men and women -- have been willing to make the ultimate sacrifice in defense of their homeland.

We remember the veterans who fought and died for our country on Memorial Day. But, says Weber, we should be grateful for all of the men and women, alive and dead, who chose to put their lives on the line for their country by serving in the military. As General George S. Patton put it: "It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God such men lived."
 
The original “memorial day” was first celebrated on May 5, 1865, and it was called Decoration Day. It was established so the nation could pay its respects to the soldiers who lost their lives in the Civil War. Relatives, friends and neighbors would “decorate” their graves with flowers. Many years and too many wars later, the day was renamed, and in 1971 Congress turned Memorial Day into an official national holiday -- to be celebrated on the last Monday in May -- to pay tribute to those soldiers, sailors and air men and women who gave their lives for our freedom. 

The Civil War was the bloodiest war fought on American soil. Some 2.4 million Americans fought each other in the War between the States and 620,000 of them -- nearly 25 percent of them lost their lives in the conflict. The Second World War was the bloodiest war of all time. Tens of millions of civilians and soldiers were killed, including 417,000 U.S. soldiers who were part of our country’s Greatest Generation. 

“But we mustn’t lose sight of our fellow countrymen who are putting their lives at risk to protect us right now in far flung places around the world,” says Weber. “Most of us will be out playing with our kids and grandkids this weekend. We’ll probably eat a little too much. We’ll catch up on the latest doings of our neighbors, friends and family members. We’ll be busy celebrating the non-official beginning of summer.  Is it too much to ask that we take a few minutes to bow our heads in tribute to the men and women who gave their lives for us? And, perhaps, you may want to say a little prayer for the safety of those who are in service today.”

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_______________________________
The 2 million member Association of Mature American Citizens [AMAC] [https://www.amac.us] is a vibrant, vital senior advocacy organization that takes its marching orders from its members. We act and speak on their behalf, protecting their interests and offering a practical insight on how to best solve the problems they face today. Live long and make a difference by joining us today at https://amac.us/join-amac.

By Harold Pease, Ph. D



As urban areas are pushing for more gun controls rural areas are mounting an equal amount of resistance, citizens even posting “we will not comply” signs.  So far the battle is largely confined to western counties but spreading eastward as at least 179 counties now designate themselves as Second Amendment sanctuary counties.  State sheriff associations are driving the issue for four primary reasons: its unconstitutional, violates due process, is unenforceable and does nothing to protect law abiding citizens.  Most probably see it also as a back door to eventual gun confiscation.
So what does it matter what sheriffs think?  Sheriffs are the only elected law enforcement agents in the United States and each must swear an oath of allegiance to the U.S. Constitution to hold that trusted office.  They understand that Congress has sole authority to make law, that law must originate with and be approved by both the House and Senate (535 individuals), and that the only power belonging to the President is to execute that law, suggest, through his state of the union address, and/or sign or veto, which can be overridden.  
These 535 make federal law, not just a single person, as was the case with kings and now with dictators.  All executive orders that have the effect of law are unconstitutional.  Presidents doing so undermine the relevancy of the Congress and is a form of tyranny.  Moreover, it is well to remember that a law cannot undo an amendment to the Constitution—only another amendment and that requires the support of 3/4ths of the states, so Congress is restricted also.
Presently 29 out of 33 counties in New Mexico have opted for Second Amendment sanctuary status together with a majority in Colorado 38 of 64, Illinois 64 of 102. and Washington 24 of 39.  States with fewer sanctuaries counties include: Oregon with 13 of 36, Maryland 3 of 23, Nevada 5 of 16, North Carolina 1 of 100, Rhode Island 5 of 31, and Tennessee 2 of 95, thus totaling 179.  In New York an additional 52 of 62 counties officially oppose the state’s SAFE Act (Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act of 2013) but they have not yet sought Second Amendment sanctuary status.  
And there exists three Second Amendment sanctuary states: Alaska, Idaho and Kansas so a proper tally would include all counties in these states.  Moreover, Missouri is poised to become the fourth.
These came into existence from the Sheriff’s Rebellion of 2013 when President Barack Obama, failing to get Congress to initiate his anti-Second Amendment agenda, signed 23 executive orders on January 16, by-passing Congress.  By February 14, 2013 nine state sheriff associations, and 336 elected county sheriffs had signed pledges to defend their citizens from either Barack Obama’s unconstitutional executive orders or any gun legislation coming out of Congress that, in effect, damaged this constitutional amendment. The states refusing to comply were, as they came on board: Utah, Florida, Georgia, Colorado, New Mexico, Nebraska, Wyoming, Indiana, and Illinois. 
Even the California State Sheriffs Association’s letter to Vice President Joe Biden was stronger than expected, putting him, and the federal government, on notice. “It is the position of CSSA, in accordance with the Constitution of the United States and the statutes of the State of California, that law-abiding persons who meet the established requirements have the right to acquire, own, possess, use, keep and bear firearms. This right shall not be infringed.” 
The Utah Sheriff’s letter, aimed directly at President Obama, was the most blunt.   “We respect the Office of the President of the United States of America.  But, make no mistake, as the duly-elected sheriffs of our respective counties, we will enforce the rights guaranteed to our citizens by the Constitution.  No federal official will be permitted to descend upon our constituents and take from them what the Bill of Rights—in particular Amendment II—has given them.  We, like you, swore a solemn oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and we are prepared to trade our lives for the preservation of its traditional interpretation.”
Wyoming made it clear what would happen to federal agents attempting to enforce their alterations of the amendment.  It passed the“Firearm Protection Act,” which threatened federal officials with up to five years in prison and $5,000 in fines if convicted of attempting to enforce unconstitutional statutes or decrees infringing on the gun rights of Wyoming citizens. Reportedly, Missouri and Texas had similar legislation pending.
The Obama Administration backed down.  
As mentioned, in 2013 the states of Kansas, Alaska and Idaho declared themselves Second Amendment sanctuary states.  These are some of the words Kansas passed into law.  “Any act, law, treaty, order, rule or regulation of the government of the United States which violates the second amendment to the constitution of the United States is null, void and unenforceable in the state of Kansas.”
Today’s threat to the Second Amendment is not presently coming from the federal government but from state governments and politicians largely from urban areas.  The Sheriff Rebellion of 2019 is county against state.  Sheriffs are once again placed in the position, “Will I obey the law when such violates the Constitution which I swore, by oath, to defend.”  “NO!!!”  Thank God they see, and understand, their duty.




Dr. Harold Pease is a syndicated columnist and an expert on the United States Constitution. He has dedicated his career to studying the writings of the Founding Fathers and applying that knowledge to current events. He taught history and political science from this perspective for over 30 years at Taft College.  Newspapers have permission to publish this column. To read more of his weekly articles, please visit www.LibertyUnderFire.org.

 

Copyright (C) 2019 LibertyUnderFire.org All rights reserved.

Paws of War is seeking help to make a soldier’s dream come true
 
SMITHTOWN, New York – (May 22, 2019) – May is Military Appreciation Month.  What better way to wrap up the month, then by helping our heroes overseas? Morale can be tough to keep when you are a soldier stationed in the Middle East. Each day brings challenges and often despair. For one soldier and his crew stationed in Kuwait, that all changed when one, tiny puppy entered their camp. 
 
Before the tiny stray made his way into the life of 21-year-old SPC Dakota J. Campbell and his crewmembers, morale was at an all time low. Then one day, the soldiers witnessed a puppy run by their site, being chased by a larger dog. The men proceeded to scare off the dog, and the puppy scurried to hide and got his self stuck in a cement barrier.
 
As the soldiers saved the puppy from near death, it didn’t take long before they realized that the puppy actually saved them. They named this little guy Bucky and he lifted their spirits, gave them hope, and helped inspire them each day. With Bucky around, they felt a sense of home. 
 
“We can only imagine the difficulty these soldiers in war torn areas face on a daily basis,” explains Robert Misseri of Paws of War. “The fact that this dog helped our heroes get through some of the darkest days in their life is testament to the abilities of a dog. We must try to get Bucky to the United States.  It is the least we can do for SPC Campbell and the crew.” 
 
Now Campbell is heading back to the states, where he will be stationed in Fort Hood, Texas. Rather than leave Bucky in Kuwait, where his fate would be certain death as a street dog, he is reaching out to us all to get Bucky to America, where he can live his life in security and peace with SPC Campbell, and they can both have a genuine, true sense of home.
 
“Bucky may have saved us, but I can’t bear to leave him behind, it’s time for me to once again save him,” added Campbell. “I have one dog at home, which is like my only son, and I can’t wait for Bucky to meet him. It will be a dream come true for me to be able to bring Bucky to Texas.”
 
Bringing a dog back to America from the Middle East is no easy task, and it’s a costly process. Paws of War is supported solely by donations and has helped numerous soldiers to bring their rescued dogs back from the Middle East. To help make the mission possible, they are asking everyone to pitch in and thank this Army team for protecting our freedom by donating toward Bucky’s journey to the U.S. Every dollar makes a difference.  To learn more about Campbell and Bucky’s story and to make a donation, log online: https://pawsofwar.networkforgood.com/projects/74734-saving-bucky.
 
About Paws of War
Paws of War is a non-profit 501c3 charitable organization that provides assistance to military members and their pets, rescues and trains dogs to be service dogs, and provides therapy dogs to veterans. To learn more about Paws of War and the programs provided or make a donation visit its site at: http://pawsofwar.org. 
 
 

Location of occurrence:  118 Pine Street, Greenville, CA.
 
 
Type of call: Butane Hash Oil lab (BHO lab)
 
Agencies involved: Plumas County Sheriff’s Office,
 
Offenders:  O/1 Travis Fairbanks  DOB 03/01/1997
Charges:  11379.6 (a) PC- Manufacture a controlled substance.
 
O/2 Steven McIntire DOB 08/31/1993
Charges: 11379.6 (a) PC- Manufacture a controlled substance.
 
 
Synopsis: 
 
On 05/19/2019 around 1745 hours, a Plumas County Deputy Sheriff was flagged down by a Citizen on Main Street in Greenville, Ca.  The Citizen complained of a chemical smell coming from a residence at 118 Pine Street in Greenville.
 
The Deputy responded to the residence and determined the occupant, Steven McIntire was on current probation with search terms.  The Deputy also located Travis Fairbanks inside the residence.  The Deputy searched the residence and located the ingredients and equipment to manufacture BHO.  The Deputy also located a pyrex type dish containing the finished product.
 
After further investigation, Steven McIntire and Travis Fairbanks were arrested for manufacturing a controlled substance-11379.6 (a)PC.
​

$100 Million Also Added to Major Damage Restoration and Preservation
 
SACRAMENTO – The California Transportation Commission allocated more than $402 million for 74 State Highway Operation and Protection Program (SHOPP) projects throughout California, including $320.2 million for 29 fix-it-first projects funded by Senate Bill 1 (SB 1), the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.
 
“Almost half of the SB 1 funded projects in this round of allocations are bridge projects,” said Caltrans Director Laurie Berman. “Caltrans is committed to repairing and replacing more than 500 bridges by 2027 to extend their service life.”
 
The SB 1 funded projects will improve more than 60 bridges and 244 lane miles of pavement, upgrade 608 congestion reducing devices, and repair eight culverts to prevent flooding on highways.
 
Area state highway projects allocated SB 1 funds include:
 

• Paving and Accessibility Project on State Route 99 in Sacramento County: $50.9 million pavement project will install rumble strips, upgrade curb ramps and sidewalks, and improve 70.5 lane miles of State Route 99 at various locations from the Sacramento/San Joaquin County line to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in the city of Sacramento. The project was allocated $47.9 million.

 

• Bridge Replacement Project on State Route 70 in Yuba County: $88.6 million bridge project will replace the Simmerly Slough Bridge on State Route 70 north of Marysville. The project was allocated $82.8 million.

 

• Traffic Management Systems Project: $15.5 million traffic management systems project will install electrical cabinets, guardrail, construct maintenance vehicle pullouts, and repair and install permanent Automatic Vehicle Classification data collection stations at various locations in multiple counties including: Butte, Colusa, Glenn, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, Yuba. The project was allocated $13.3 million.

 

• Seismic Retrofit Bridge Project on Interstate 5 and State Route 160: $38.7 million bridge project will modify the existing structures at the Sacramento River Bridge and North Sacramento Undercrossing on State Route 160 in Sacramento County, and Mokelumne River Bridge on Interstate 5 in San Joaquin County. The project will make the bridges more resistant to seismic activity, soil failure or ground motion due to earthquakes. The project was allocated $30 million.

 
After a year full of storms, flooding and wildfires, the CTC also approved Resolution G-19-09, which will increase the SHOPP Major Damage Restoration Reservation by an additional $100 million to meet the current level of emergency contracts being received. The increase will change the reservation fund from $540 million to $640 million for the fiscal year 2018-2019. To date, Caltrans has 179 emergency contracts totaling more than $625 million, and there are still 26 pending emergency contacts that amount to more than $80 million. The work done under these contracts are focused on reopening the roads and other facilities as safely and quickly as possible.
 
Other SB 1 funding included nearly $17.5 million for the Trade Corridor Enhancement Program, which is dedicated to projects that will improve truck corridors, border access, the freight rail systems, the capacity and efficiency of ports, and highways to better handle and move freight.
 
More than $5.3 million of SB 1 funding was also allocated to the Local Partnership Program (LPP) to help match investments that local communities have made in their region through voter-approved transportation tax measures.
 
In addition, the CTC approved an allocation of more than $11.3 million in SB 1 funds for 12 locally administered Active Transportation Program (ATP) projects, which range from improving sidewalks and bicycle lanes to creating safer routes to school for children who ride their bicycles or walk to school.
 
For a complete list of the ATP, LPP, and SHOPP projects allocated funds, among other items from the May meeting visit:http://catc.ca.gov/meetings/2019/2019-05/Yellows/Revised_Complete_Book(1452).pdf.
 
SHOPP is the state highway system’s "fix-it-first" program that funds safety improvements, emergency repairs, highway preservation and operational highway upgrades. A significant portion of the funding for this program comes from SB 1.
 
Since SB 1 was signed into law April 2017, Caltrans has repaired or replaced 109 bridges and paved more than 1,300 lane miles of the state highway system.
 
SB 1 invests approximately $5.4 billion per year to fix roads, freeways and bridges in communities across California as well as strategically investing in transit. These funds are split equally between state and local projects and will allow Caltrans to fix more than 17,000 lane miles of pavement, 500 bridges and 55,000 culverts on the state highway system by 2027.
 
More information and updates on these and other projects can be found on Caltrans’ social media channels:http://www.dot.ca.gov/paffairs/social-media.html.
 
Caltrans is committed to conducting its business in a fully transparent manner and detailing its progress to the public. For complete details on SB 1, visit http://www.rebuildingca.ca.gov/.
 
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By Glenn Mollette

May 30, 1868 was the first official Decoration Day. The day was declared by General John A. Logan and observed at Arlington National Cemetery. Volunteers that day decorated the graves of more the 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers.

During World War II, Decoration Day was expanded and renamed Memorial Day to honor all Americans who died in military service. The day became a national holiday in 1971.
Almost 500,000 military personnel died during the U.S. Civil War.

About 1.1 million service members have died in all the wars combined.

If you know someone killed in any of our wars then every number is very personal to you. We know 90,220 of our service members died in Vietnam. If one of those was your friend, sibling or child then that war has a face that is personal to you.

Four thousand four hundred and twenty four died in Iraq. I'm not sure how many have died in Afghanistan but the last statistic I can find is 2,372 but I'm sure it's several more now.

War is bad. I don't like the idea of war and yet every service member died fighting for you and me. They died for our country.

Every time you have a casual moment to do anything you want to do then stop and thank God for our service members. We have so much freedom in America. We have to pay some taxes if we work and own property. We have some laws we have to obey which pertain to treating each other in a civil manner. After this, you are free to go to the ice cream shop anytime you want. You can work hard and buy whatever you want or if you are content and want to do little to nothing you can even do that in our country.

The bottom line is America is still the greatest country in the world. We aren't perfect and we have problems but we still have freedom and we need to respect and give thanks to our past and present soldiers.

Take a moment at the cemetery and walk around. It won't take you long to find a grave stone of someone who served our country. When you do give thanks for their lives and the life you are enjoying today.

Memorial weekend is America's weekend to travel our highways vacationing or resting at home. As you travel, or hopefully relax, thank God for our soldiers - past and present. 
​

VOLUNTEERS - Pat Mattingly, Steven Roberts, Ed Lively, Mark Schulthies, Jimmy McDonald

​​Loyalton members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and other workers, cleaned and beautified the Loyalton cemetery grounds on May 11th. With permission from the city council and a request to begin with the veterans area, the workers raked brush and debris, pulled weeds, trimmed lawn and tidied the grounds. Workers were unable to clear the entire cemetery area but anticipate another work day in the future. 

 
 
REDDING – The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans District 2), in conjunction with Hat Creek Construction and Materials, Inc., have begun work on the Chilcoot Pavement Rehabilitation in Lassen and Plumas Counties. The $17.4 million project, funded in part by Senate Bill 1, will rehabilitate 9.5 miles of State Route 70 in and around Chilcoot, from just west of Summit School Drive to just east of the junction with U.S. 395.
 
The first four to six weeks of the project will consist of drainage work, followed by pavement recycling and overlay. The project will also include shoulder restoration, reconstruction of metal beam guardrail, and striping.
 
Motorists should anticipate one-way traffic control in the area, Monday-Friday between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Beginning in July, 24/7 one-way traffic control will be in effect on the project. 15 minute delays are expected throughout the project, which is anticipated to wrap up by November of this year. Motorists are reminded to slow down and drive carefully when in and around construction zones.
 
Through Senate Bill 1, Caltrans has committed to repair or replace 17,000 miles of pavement, 7,700 traffic signals, signs, and sensors, 55,000 culverts and drains, and 500 bridges by 2027. 
 

(Washington, DC) – Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R-Richvale) issued the following statement after the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded $1.5 billion to states impacted by major disaster last year. California will receive $491,816,000 for wildfire recovery, including areas impacted by the Carr Fire and Camp Fire.
 
The funds are provided through the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program and will be used to rebuild housing, businesses, and infrastructure.
 
LaMalfa said: “Last’s year’s wildfires were some of the worst ever in Northern California. The Carr Fire burned over 220,000 acres and the Camp Fire was the costliest natural disaster in the world for 2018. That means Redding, Paradise, and other affected areas still have an extensive rebuilding process ahead, and that will require a significant amount of time and money. I thank Secretary Carson and the Administration for their efforts to help our communities recover. I will work with the state to ensure these funds are properly allocated to people in my district who desperately need it. This funding will help our people rebuild their homes and businesses in Northern California and slowly return to a more normal way of life.”
 
This allocation comes from the 1.68 billion in CDBG-DR that was provided the FAA reauthorization bill that was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Trump in October of 2018. The allocation is estimated to address 68% of unmet needs for California.
 
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.
 

 
Traffic ticket experts, GetDismissed.com, report increased traffic ticket volume trend in California for 2019 
Los Angeles, CA (May 14, 2019) – GetDismissed.com, California’s traffic ticket experts, have experienced a higher volume of traffic tickets this year for the greater Los Angeles area. New traffic safety laws in California, combined with greater police enforcement has led to more traffic ticket violations being issued in 2019.
According to a new study, California consistently leads the ranks among states with the most traffic tickets issued in the United States. In December of 2018, 5 new traffic-safety laws to crackdown on traffic violations and improve public safety went into effect. This increased regulation has already impacted many drivers in the greater Los Angeles area. Steven F. Miller, President/Founder of GetDismissed.com; a web-based traffic ticket service, has seen an increase in traffic ticket volume through the first third of the year.
Steve also states “We’ve seen a considerable uptick in 2019 for traffic citations written here in Southern California. 20% more speeding tickets have been requested for dismissal by our services.”
Due to the increase in California traffic tickets and to further help California drivers when they receive a traffic ticket, GetDismissed.com also offers a traffic ticket protection membership that protects drivers against future traffic tickets. The service will provide California drivers a completed “Trial by Written Declaration defense package” to fight most California traffic tickets for free, without having to go to court.  Additionally, members receive other perks such as free traffic school (if eligible) and a weekly newsletter to stay abreast of all traffic-related updates and news in California.
About GetDismissed:
GetDismissed is a web-based legal document assistant that has helped thousands of California drivers quickly and inexpensively prepare the necessary paperwork to contest and dismiss their traffic tickets through the Trial by Written Declaration process. The recipient of a 2016/2017/2018 “Best of Los Angeles Award,” GetDismissed is a web-based application and is also available for all Apple and Android based phones in the App and Play stores respectively. The site and app work for most California traffic tickets, including speeding, red light, sign infractions, cell phone use, among others.
 

The members are getting busy with Spring clean-up and maintenance on the Grange Hall in Vinton.  Since our members recognize the value of sharing a meal with each other we have returned to the tradition of holding a Pot-Luck meal prior to the monthly meetings. We welcome anyone interested in looking into Grange to stop by on the 1st Wednesday of each month.  Call for information and come check us out! 707-330-3601.
For our musing each week, it might be helpful to explain what Grange is.  It is so much more than just the big white building on Hwy 70 in Vinton.  Grange is a Fraternal Organization whose purpose is to help Farmers and other rural people by: 1) Providing them the tools and resources to increase their political and economic clout. 2) Encourage continued education and personal growth for both the members and the community. 3) Supporting the members and community through charitable work.  We will explore these topics in upcoming Happenings.  In closing, let me leave you with the Grange Motto, “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity."
 

 IBoth softball and baseball teams advanced in the play-offs on Tuesday, May 14th.
The boys beat Chester in the first round on May 10th, 16-9. The team traveled to Greenville for the second round and played against the Greenville Indians, resulting in a win 13-11. The boys now advance to the championships at Shasta College on Saturday to go against American Christian Academy.
The girls played Mercy on Tuesday, winning 20-1. Pitcher Candice Durney pitched her 100th strike out! Mercy's main pitcher was out which created little competition and allowing the Grizzlies to walk 16 times in the second inning.  Mercy's replacement pitcher is to be applauded for her efforts and proved to be a feared competitor at bat!  The Grizzly girls advance to a second round to play Redding Christian in Redding on Thursday, May 16th. If they win, they will advance to the championships Saturday.
THE GREAT QUANDARY: How the players will get back in time for the Prom to be held at Lost Marbles Ranch Saturday night!!

Results of Statewide Distracted Driving Awareness Campaign Released
 
Sacramento, Calif. – Despite a statewide public education campaign about the dangers of distracted driving, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) issued 19,850 citations during the month of April to drivers who violated California’s handsfree cell phone laws.  This total represents a 3.6 percent increase from April 2018.  As part of the campaign, the CHP identified two statewide, zero-tolerance enforcement days, April 4 and 19.  During that time, the CHP issued 2,459 citations to drivers for violating the handsfree law.
 
The CHP, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), Impact Teen Drivers (ITD), local law enforcement, and other traffic safety partners worked together throughout Distracted Driving Awareness Month to educate drivers on the dangers of distracted driving.  Only statistics from the CHP were available for release.
 
In addition to phones, other serious distractions include eating, grooming, applying makeup, reaching for fallen objects, using a vehicle’s touchscreen, knobs, dials or buttons, changing clothes, or any other task that takes your eyes or mind off the road.
 
“Citations are just one tool law enforcement has at its disposal for combating driver distraction,” said CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley.  “Our ultimate goal is compliance with California’s handsfree law so that nothing diverts a driver’s attention or interferes with their ability to safely operate a vehicle.”
 
The OTS continued its “Go Safely, California” public awareness campaign for the month of April and early part of May with a focus on distracted driving.  The education effort included TV and radio spots, social media posts, and outdoor billboards with messages encouraging Californians to put down the phone while driving.
 
“Drivers on their cell phone are a stubborn problem that will continue to require extensive education about the dangers and enforcement of laws against using cell phones behind the wheel,” OTS Director Rhonda Craft said.  “It is a bad habit that may be hard for some to break, but is something that far too often leads to tragic consequences.”
 
ITD, a Sacramento-based nonprofit that educates teens on the dangers of reckless and distracted driving, kicked off Distracted Driving Awareness Month with a Teen Safe Driving Roundtable at California State University, Sacramento.  ITD hosted the event with the CHP and the National Transportation Safety Board to discuss ways to improve teen driver safety where driver distraction is the primary cause of crashes.
 
“Seventy-five percent of teen fatal car crashes do not involve drugs or alcohol but everyday behaviors become lethal when a new inexperienced driver chooses to engage in them behind the wheel,” said ITD Executive Director Dr. Kelly Browning.
 
The OTS hosted an event April 12 at Sacramento’s Inderkum High School to educate students on the importance of driving free of distractions.  Students even had the chance to experience first-hand how distractions impact your driving ability through simulator goggles.
 
The OTS is holding a statewide distracted driving video and billboard contest for high school students, with $15,000 in total cash prizes.  All California high school students ages 14 to 20 are eligible to participate.  The OTS is still accepting entries through May 20.  For details on rules and how to enter, visit gosafelyca.org.
 
Distracted driving remains a top concern for California drivers.  According to a 2018 public opinion survey conducted by University of California, Berkeley, nearly half of all drivers surveyed listed distracted driving because of texting or talking on a cell phone as their biggest safety concern on roads.
 
“Many drivers understand the risks they take looking at or using their phone, but do it anyway,” Director Craft said.  “Drivers must use self-discipline and make it a habit to stay off the phone.”
 
California has had distracted driving laws since 2008.  The CHP, the OTS, and ITD remind drivers that under the handsfree cell phone law, drivers are not allowed to hold a wireless telephone or electronic communications device while operating a vehicle.  Drivers under the age of 18 are not allowed to use a cell phone for any reason, including handsfree.
 
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Amber Mouser
Environmental Scientist Department of Fish and Wildlife 

​


Brown trout (Salmo trutta) were initially introduced to Lake Davis during the 1970’s. During this decade, fisheries managers introduced many different species and age classes into Lake Davis with little success. After years of experimenting with the fishery, the California Department of Fish and Game (now Fish and Wildlife) (the Department) decided to manage Lake Davis as a “high cost, low yield trophy trout fishery.” This resulted in a 40,000 catchable-size (preferred Eagle Lake strain due to better survival and growth) rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) allotment, and a limited brown trout planting program that was maintained to offer a diverse fishery (Powers 2003). In the Lake Davis post-treatment restocking plan, the Department stated “In addition to rainbow trout, brown trout adults (~3 pounds and greater) will be stocked in the reservoir.” (DFG 2007)
Currently, Lake Davis contains self-sustaining populations of rainbow trout, brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus), largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), and robust populations of pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) and golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas) (Mouser 2017). Brown trout are self-sustaining downstream of Lake Davis in Big Grizzly Creek (DWR 2017). Although brown trout have not shown up in CDFW lake surveys, anecdotal reports from anglers indicate that a small amount may be present in the reservoir. One brown trout was captured during this year’s ice fishing derby and a brown trout was the winner of the ice fishing derby a couple of years ago (Graham 2019).
Dietary studies from around the world indicate that brown trout, are opportunistic feeders that will consume anything from aquatic and terrestrial insects, crustaceans such as crawfish, with larger individuals feeding more extensively on fish (Calhoun 1966). An abundance of crawfish and golden shiner in Lake Davis presents an opportunity to convert the biomass from those species over to large brown trout.
Brown trout could eliminate part of a stunted population of trout and other species, and at the same time provide occasional larger fish to anglers in lakes overpopulated with other species of fish, particularly if the lakes are shallow and chemical treatment is not feasible (Wales 1946). In general, brown trout are more piscivorous than any other trout in hatchery inventory.
Another point to be considered is that brown trout tolerate temperatures from near freezing to over 80 degrees F (Embody 1922). The warm summer water temperatures also result in more prevalence of copepods. The main species of parasitic copepod (Salmincola californiensis) present at Lake Davis is not known to affect brown trout (Clifford 2019). Salmincola californiensis primarily infects salmonid fishes (Oncorhynchus spp.) (Kamerath et al 2009). They have primarily been reported on coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka), pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha), chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta), chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki). Also reported on dolly varden (Salvelinus malma), lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush), and mountain whitefish (Prosopium williamsoni) (Conley 2004). This ability to survive in warmer temperatures and resist the species of parasitic copepod currently found in Lake Davis makes them uniquely suited to survive summers in Lake Davis.
Lake Davis angling guides have stated that many of their clients express interest in targeting brown trout. Fishing guide Ed Dillard remarked that his clients are disappointed when they learn that there are no brown trout in Lake Davis (Dillard 2019). Another guide, Jon Baiocchi, only did ten trips to Lake Davis last year when he usually does 60-70. He stated that the majority of his clients are now going to the Truckee River instead and that “fly anglers like brown trout” (Baiocchi 2019). Angling guide Brian Roccucci stated that the brown trout that he caught in the past at Lake Davis were “always good quality” and also commented on how much the fly fishermen preferred brown trout (Roccucci 2019). Returning a brown trout allotment may increase the overall appeal of Lake Davis to anglers who have been turned off because of the post-treatment negative stigma.
In conclusion, Lake Davis should have a brown trout allotment based on the following points:
1). The Department stated in the Lake Davis EIR that we would restock with brown trout.
2). Brown trout are self-sustaining downstream in both Grizzly Creek and the Middle Fork Feather River (LaCoss & Rossi 2012).
3). Brown trout are likely already present in Lake Davis.
4). Brown trout will persist throughout Lake Davis’ temperature extremes.
5). Brown trout may resist copepod infestation in Lake Davis.
6). Brown trout in Lake Davis may provide a more aesthetically appealing fishing option for anglers who are dissuaded by the copepod presence on rainbow trout.
7). Brown trout may offer a late season fishing opportunity since they run in the fall.
8). Brown trout in Lake Davis may take fishing pressure off of other waters such as the Little Truckee.
9). Brown trout will help restore Lake Davis to be known as trophy trout fishery. They will promote the fishery without negative consequences and encourage tourism, possibly stimulating the local economy.


References
Baiocchi, Jon. 2019-03-04. Personal communication. Fly Fishing Guide. Biaocchi’s Troutfitters. 578 Sutton Way, Grass Valley, CA 95945
Calhoun, A. 1966. Inland fisheries management. California Department of Fish and Game.
Conley, David. 2004. 3.2.13 Gill Maggot Disease (Genus Salmincola). Institute of Parasitology. McGill University. MacDonald College. Quebec H9X 1C0 Canada
Clifford, Mark. 2019-03-04. Personal communication. Environmental Program Manager. California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Sacramento, CA.
Department of Fish and Game (DFG). 2007. Final Fisheries Management Plan For Lake Davis, Plumas County, California. California Department of Fish and Game, Rancho Cordova, CA. (Lake Davis Pike Eradication Project Final EIR/EIS. Appendix G.)
Department of Water Resources (DWR). 2017. Big Grizzly Creek raw data. Redding, CA.
Dillard, Ed. 2019-03-04. Personal communication. Fishing Guide. Dillard Guided Service, 209 Main Street, Beckwourth, CA 96129
Embody, G. C. 1922. Concerning high water temperature and trout. Amer. Fish. Soci., Trans., vol. 51, pp. 58-61.
Graham, Jeanne. 2019-03-04. Personal communication. Store Owner. J and J Grizzly Store and Camping Resort, 7552 Lake Davis Road, Portola, CA 96122
Kamerath, M., Allen, B.C., and Chandra, S. 2009. First Documentation of Salmincola californiensis in Lake Tahoe. CA-NV, USA. Western North American Naturalist 69(2). pp. 257-259
LaCoss, J. and A. Rossi. 2012. Lake Davis pike eradication: 2008 post-project monitoring. California Department of Fish and Game, Rancho Cordova, CA.
Mouser, A. 2017. Lake Davis pike eradication: 2016-2017 post-project monitoring. California
Department of Fish and Wildlife, Rancho Cordova, CA.
Powers, L. 2003. History of Lake Davis Fishery and Management. Lake Davis Pike Eradication Project Final EIR/EIS. Appendix G.
Roccucci, Brian. 2019-03-06. Personal communication. Fishing Guide. Big Daddy’s Guide Service, Po Box 557, Quincy, CA 95971


Wales, J. H. 1946. Castle Lake trout investigation. First phase: interrelationships of four species. Calif. Fish and Game, vol. 32, no. 3, pp. 109-143. 

  
Ninth Circuit Court’s decision last Thursday turns all eyes on Assembly Bill 5

SACRAMENTO, May 6, 2019--The workweek part of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s National Small Business Week, May 5-11, is off to a rocky start today in California thanks in part to a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision handed down Thursday in San Francisco.
 
“What California is doing to its small businesses can only be great news for Arizona, Idaho, and Nevada, which truly believe in the importance of Main Street enterprises and have policies aimed at welcoming our state’s mom-and-pop firms,” said John Kabateck, California state director for NFIB, America’s leading small-business association.
 
Kabateck listed four, big issues California is hurting itself with that are doing, or will soon do, the most damage.
 
Independent Contractors--In a matter that should have been handled legislatively, not judicially, the California Supreme Court’s Dynamex decision last year has now imperiled the working fate of two million Californians who freely choose to be their own bosses offering their services on their own terms. Thursday’s federal court decision making Dynamex retroactive now muddies the waters more. “If it weren’t a bad decision there wouldn’t be legislative efforts trying to blunt the force of Dynamex,” said Kabateck, who pointed to Assembly Bill 5 as the example.
 
Consumer Privacy Act--Passed with great fanfare last year and signed by former Gov. Jerry Brown, the California Consumer Privacy Act was another initiative hurried into law without proper consideration and debate about all of its potential consequences. Coming into the CCPA’s crosshairs, when it takes effect next year, will be tens of thousands of small businesses that have been able to use their scarce resources to advertise their goods and services on the internet. Senate Bill 561, if it passes, would exacerbate the situation by permitting lawsuits for any violation of the CCPA, eliminate the 30-day time period businesses have to fix a CCPA violation before a lawsuit could be filed, and would prohibit small businesses from seeking guidance on the Act from the attorney general. That’s why small businesses are supporting Senate Bill 753, an ameliorative measure that ensures the goals of the CCPA are kept without its needlessly punishing effects.
 
Sales Tax on Services--The services of everyone from your doctor, dentist, gardener, barber, beautician, and other occupations would now come under a sales tax just like your groceries and other tangible goods are. Senate Bill 522 purports to “realign the state’s outdated tax code with the realities of California’s 21stcentury economy.” But in reality, the measure will have an inflationary effect, drive business to border states that have no sales tax (Oregon) or lower rates. If passed, SB 522 would become law immediately.
 
Split Roll Property Taxes--A 2020 ballot initiative overhauling the split roll property tax system created by Proposition 13 would allow the state to start boosting rates on business property. This would be a disaster not only for small business startups but also for small businesses currently benefiting from low rental rates.
 
“It’s a fair question to ask why our economy, particularly our small business economy, is the hottest it’s ever been, setting record highs in everything from job openings to employee compensation, if things are so bad for small business in California,” said Kabateck. “The answer is we have – gratefully! – a Congress that doesn’t think and act the way California’s Legislature and judiciary do. It knows and appreciates the centrality of small businesses to the nation’s economy and believes in nurturing that centrality with laws like the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Smarter states are looking at ways to leverage the benefits of the TCJA with policies that can sustain all the good it has wrought. Not California. We believe it’s more fun to step on Superman’s cape than to let him soar to the aid of others.”
 
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For more than 75 years, NFIB has been advocating on behalf of America’s small and independent business owners, both in Washington, D.C., and in all 50 state capitals. NFIB is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, and member-driven. Since our founding in 1943, NFIB has been exclusively dedicated to small and independent businesses and remains so today. For more information, please visit nfib.com.
 

AAA finds interest in going green remains steady, but consumers still slow to adopt technology.WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (May. 9, 2019) – AAA’s latest survey reveals 40 million Americans would consider buying an electric vehicle for their next purchase, but it's unclear when that promise will become a reality.

With only 200,000 all-electric vehicles on the road across the country today, AAA believes the public's lack of knowledge and experience with electric vehicles may be contributing to the nation's slow adoption of the technology — despite an growing appetite for green mobility.

“AAA conducted this survey about interest in electric vehicles to understand the disconnect that exists between consumer intent and action,” said Michael Blasky, spokesperson for AAA Northern California. “Like other new vehicle technologies, Americans might not have the full story and that could be causing the gap.”

Although Americans remain slow to purchase an electric vehicle, interest in the technology has grown, the survey found. Earlier this month, AAA Northern California launched the nation's largest all-electric car share fleet, bringing 260 cars into Sacramento to operate the motor club's one-way car share service, GIG Car Share. More than 20,000 Sacramento residents have downloaded the app since Gig's first week of operation.

"As more Americans experience this technology, they'll be more confident about the benefits of electric vehicles as a reliable, affordable and eco-friendly consumer option," Blasky said. "Our fleet of electric Gigs in Sacramento are all 2019 Chevrolet Bolts, which was AAA's Green Car Guide winner for the subcompact category this year. These cars have 200 miles of range and have a lot of power — not exactly the electric cars Americans remember from a decade ago."

AAA’s annual Electric Vehicle Consumer survey found interest in electric vehicles remains steady, with 16% of Americans reporting they’re likely to buy electric the next time they’re in the market for a new or used vehicle.

There are two main reasons Americans would prefer an electric vehicle. The bulk of those surveyed (74%) are concerned for the environment while 56% said they’re looking to go electric because of the lower long-term cost.

The slow adoption of electric vehicles might stem from Americans still learning about the performance of electric vehicles compared to gas powered engines. According to this latest survey, 59% of Americans were not aware electric vehicles are more efficient in stop-and-go traffic compared to gas-powered cars.

Those Americans who are still unlikely or unsure about buying an electric vehicle site some specific reasons:
·       58% are concerned there are not enough places to charge.
·       57% are concerned they’ll run out of charge while driving.
·       57% are concerned range is not suitable for long-distance road trips.

Although Americans worry about the factors stated above, overall sentiment for each one has improved compared to 2017.

To help consumers understand their options, each year AAA produces its Green Car Guide, which rates electric vehicles as well as hybrids and highly fuel efficient cars based on criteria such as ride quality, safety and performance.

This comprehensive guide can serve as a resource to consumers since it not only provides detailed reviews of each car tested, but also offers robust information on green vehicles. Consumers who are on the fence will find that this guide can be a valuable resource for learning more about electric and other environmentally friendly vehicles.

In 2019, the following vehicles earned AAA’s Top Green Car award:
Winners, detailed evaluation criteria, vehicle reviews and an in-depth analysis of the green vehicle industry can be found at AAA.com/greencar.

AAA Electric Vehicle Consumer Survey Methodology
A telephone omnibus survey was conducted April 4-7, 2019. A  total of 1,000 interviews were completed among adults, 18 years of age or older.
A dual-frame approach was used that combined land-line and cell phone interviews to ensure that adults who only or primarily communicate via cell phones are included and properly represented. Survey responses are weighted by six variables (age, gender, geographic region, race/ethnicity, education, and landline vs. cell phone only) to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the total continental US population, 18 years of age and older.
The margin of error for the study is 3.8% at the 95% confidence level. Smaller subgroups will have larger error margins.

About AAA Northern California
AAA has a proud history of serving Members for over 100 years. AAA is on a mission to createMembers for life by unleashing the innovative spirit of 4,000 employees representing nearly 6 million Members across Northern California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming and Alaska. In addition to legendary roadside assistance, AAA offers home, auto and life insurance, and extraordinary travel services. According to Via Magazine's Smart Guide, being a AAA Member can save you more than $1,200 a year. Learn more at AAA.com.
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​Preview:

• In New York City, people are receiving summonses based on Mayor Bill de Blasio’s emergency order. Everybody, adult or child, who lives in four ZIP code areas must get an MMR shot or prove immunity, or face the prospect of a $1,000 fine ($2,000 if you don’t appear as ordered). Your religious exemption is overridden. The threat of 6 months in prison and the prospect of forcible vaccination were removed before a hearing on a lawsuit brought by five mothers. The judge dismissed the case.
• Outbreaks have occurred in populations with a near-100 percent vaccination rate. Was it vaccine failure? 
• Like all medical treatments, vaccines are neither 100 percent effective, nor 100 percent safe.
• Vaccine Court has paid out about $4 billion in damages—recently for two children with severe brain damage from encephalopathy (that’s brain inflammation) after a fight lasting about 15 years. Just incidentally, they had an autism diagnosis also.

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May 7th, 2019
Should We Panic over the Measles Outbreaks?
by: Jane M. Orient, M.D.
In general, it is not a good idea to panic about anything. The panic itself often causes more harm than the original threat.
Crisis situations, real or contrived, lead to new intrusive laws that the public would never accept otherwise. We supposedly cherish freedom, but if we believe that the world will end if we don’t act NOW, then we may clamor for the government to save us. Cynical politicians bent on increasing their power never let a crisis go to waste.
Something like the Green New Deal—the end of our comfortable, prosperous lifestyle—takes a truly apocalyptic threat. But to eliminate our freedom to decline a medical treatment, the threat that “millions will die” of measles is evidently enough. Or if not millions (most older people had measles and recovered fully), a few especially vulnerable children, who can’t be vaccinated themselves, might catch measles and die.
There are several hundred cases of measles nationwide, more than in 2014, and bills are being pushed through state legislatures to eliminate all but very narrow exemptions to the 60 shots now mandated for school attendance.
In New York City, people are receiving summonses based on Mayor Bill de Blasio’s emergency order. Everybody, adult or child, who lives in four ZIP code areas must get an MMR shot or prove immunity, or face the prospect of a $1,000 fine ($2,000 if you don’t appear as ordered). Your religious exemption is overridden. The threat of 6 months in prison and the prospect of forcible vaccination were removed before a hearing on a lawsuit brought by five mothers. The judge dismissed the case.
Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot said that the purpose of the fines is not to punish but to encourage more people to proclaim the message that vaccines are safe and effective. Get it? If you say something to avoid a fine, that makes it true.
It’s about the need for herd immunity, they say. We need a 95 percent vaccination rate for herd immunity to measles. With only 91 percent or so we are having outbreaks! If we could just vaccinate another 4 or 5 percent!
Mayor De Blasio has a point about vaccinating everyone. Adults are getting measles because their shots have worn off. It is likely that we have survived for decades with a large part of the adult population vaccinated—but not immune. So where do the mandates stop?
Outbreaks have occurred in populations with a near-100 percent vaccination rate. Was it vaccine failure? Or was the vaccine not refrigerated properly? Or was a claimed outbreak real? One in Ann Arbor, Michigan, was called off when a special test, a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) showed a vaccine-strain measles virus rather than a wild-strain measles virus. Some 5 percent of vaccinees may get an illness that looks like measles, but it is just a “vaccine reaction.” Can they shed live virus? Yes. Should you keep your immunocompromised child away from recently vaccinated people? Just asking.
Like all medical treatments, vaccines are neither 100 percent effective, nor 100 percent safe. Read the FDA-required, FDA-approved package inserts. Arizona defeated a law that would have required making these available to parents in obtaining informed consent. (You can get them on the internet.) Vaccine Court has paid out about $4 billion in damages—recently for two children with severe brain damage from encephalopathy (that’s brain inflammation) after a fight lasting about 15 years. Just incidentally, they had an autism diagnosis also. Parents bring their severely injured children to hearings. You won’t see these children on tv, only pictures of babies with measles. No “fear-mongering” allowed about “rare,” possibly coincidental problems from vaccines.
There are trade-offs with vaccines: risks and benefits. But in the panic about measles, the right to give or withhold informed consent—fundamental in medical ethics as well as U.S. and international law—is being sacrificed. And so is free speech. The AMA wants to censor “anti-vaccine” information on social media. I happened on a factual articleby investigative reporter Sharyl Attkisson, but was not able to retweet it because it had been removed.
The threat of infectious diseases is real and increasing. We need more robust public health measures, better vaccines, and improved public knowledge and awareness. Deploying vaccine police and shutting down debate will erode trust in health authorities and physicians, although more people may get their shots. But such heavy-handed measures will not defeat the enemy—measles and worse diseases.
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 Jane M. Orient, M.D. obtained her undergraduate degrees in chemistry and mathematics from the University of Arizona in Tucson, and her M.D. from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1974. She completed an internal medicine residency at Parkland Memorial Hospital and University of Arizona Affiliated Hospitals and then became an Instructor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and a staff physician at the Tucson Veterans Administration Hospital. She has been in solo private practice since 1981 and has served as Executive Director of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) since 1989. She is currently president of Doctors for Disaster Preparedness. She is the author of YOUR Doctor Is Not In: Healthy Skepticism about National Healthcare, and the second through fifth editions of Sapira's Art and Science of Bedside Diagnosis published by Wolters Kluwer. She authored books for schoolchildren, Professor Klugimkopf’s Old-Fashioned English Grammar and Professor Klugimkopf’s Spelling Method, published by Robinson Books, and coauthored two novels published as Kindle books, Neomorts and Moonshine. More than 100 of her papers have been published in the scientific and popular literature on a variety of subjects including risk assessment, natural and technological hazards and nonhazards, and medical economics and ethics. She is the editor of AAPS News, the Doctors for Disaster Preparedness Newsletter, and Civil Defense Perspectives, and is the managing editor of the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons.

 
Dr. Valerie Crabtree says understanding importance of sleep for kids “should start with our education system.” 
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – As millions of young people prepare for summer holiday and schools across the nation begin planning for the next school year, Dr. Valerie Crabtree, Chief of Psychosocial Services at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, is calling on school districts across the country to follow the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines on school start times. 
 
In a piece recently published in Your Teen Magazine, Dr. Crabtree says our schools follow CDC and AAP guidelines on everything from hand washing to vaccinations, “But they aren’t following the guidelines for later school start times. We must do better about understanding the importance of sleep for our health, and it should start with our education system.”
 
As a lead researcher on sleep and fatigue in children undergoing cancer treatment and brain tumor survivors, sleep is a major focus for Dr. Crabtree’s work.  She recently spoke at a TedX Talk in Memphis on how very early school start times are detrimental to the health of teenagers as well as those around them.  Dr. Crabtree underscores how insufficient sleep in kids and adults contributes to making us overweight, sick and sluggish. 
 
“In children and teenagers, poor or insufficient sleep is related to poorer organization, poorer memory, and academic difficulties.  And, frighteningly, chronic sleepiness is correlated to higher rates of depression and increased rates of automobile accidents,” said Dr. Valerie Crabtree, Chief of Psychosocial Services at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
 
However, Dr. Crabtree points out that schools across the country who have delayed school start times until later have found rewards in a multitude of ways, including:

• Teens getting more sleep;
• Better grades;
• Improved attendance, fewer tardies
• Higher graduation rates;
• Less substance abuse and lower rates of depression;
• Dramatic decrease in automobile accidents;

“In my work at St. Jude, I conduct research on sleep and fatigue in children undergoing treatment for cancer and in brain tumor survivors,” said Dr. Crabtree.  “Sleep is the third pillar of health, along with nutrition and movement, that keeps us healthy and balanced. Yet, as a society, we really undervalue the role of sleep in keeping us healthy.”
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California’s Snowpack is Cold and Dense
 
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Department of Water Resources (DWR) today conducted the fifth and final Phillips Station snow survey of 2019. The manual survey recorded 47 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent (SWE) of 27.5 inches, which is 188 percent of average for this location.
Statewide, California’s snowpack sits at 31 inches of SWE, which is 144 percent of average for this time of year. Snow water equivalent is the depth of water that theoretically would result if the entire snowpack melted instantaneously.
Today's readings will help hydrologists forecast spring and summer snowmelt runoff into rivers and reservoirs. The melting snow supplies approximately one-third of the water used by Californians.
"California’s cities and farms can expect ample water supplies this summer,” said DWR Director Karla Nemeth. “But it’s critical that it’s put to use replenishing groundwater basins and storage reservoirs for the next inevitable drought. Every resident and business can also help California by using water as efficiently as possible.”
The snowpack’s water content is the most important factor for water managers and hydrologists to measure because it is tied directly to water supply. Water content, however, varies from year to year depending on the air temperature and intensity and amount of precipitation. After a storm, the snow settles, compacts, and gets increasingly dense. As more snow falls, the snow beneath it will further compact. April 1 is typically the height of the year’s snow water content. However, it is not until late spring and early summer when the intense sunshine becomes the key factor in snow melt and run-off.
“2019 has been an extremely good year in terms of snowpack,” said Jon Ericson, DWR Chief of the Division of Flood Management. “Based on our surveys, we are seeing a very dense, cold snowpack that will continue to produce run-off into late summer.”
The 2019 snowpack reached its peak on March 31 and is the fifth largest on record, based on more than 250 manual snow surveys conducted each month by the California Cooperative Snow Survey Program.
Both rain and snowpack runoff feed California’s reservoirs. The state’s largest six reservoirs currently hold between 96 percent (San Luis) and 128 percent (Melones) of their historical averages for this date. Lake Shasta, California’s largest surface reservoir, is 108 percent of its historical average and sits at 93 percent of capacity.
DWR conducts up to five snow surveys each winter – near the first of January, February, March, April and, if necessary, May – at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada just off Highway 50 near Sierra-at-Tahoe. The Phillips snow course is one of hundreds that is surveyed manually throughout the winter. Manual measurements augment the electronic readings from about 100 snow pillows in the Sierra Nevada that provide a current snapshot of the water content in the snowpack.