Sierra County announces Vehicle Disposal Amnesty Weekend Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, July 1 through July 3, 2017.  This means that if you have a junk vehicle or parts of a vehicle to dump, it can be disposed of at the Loyalton Landfill during open hours (10 am to 4 pm) on Saturday, July 1 or Sunday, July 2, 2017 with no disposal fee.  Travel trailers and mobile homes will not qualify for amnesty.  All liquids must be removed from the vehicle prior to disposal.  Costs of hauling junk vehicles to the landfill are the responsibility of the owner/disposer.  Vehicles are not accepted at any of the County transfer stations, and pick up services are not offered.
 
Normal vehicle disposal fees range from $90.00 for a standard vehicle or light truck to $125 for larger trucks.  Questions regarding disposal of vehicles and vehicle amnesty weekend should be directed to the Department of Public Works at 530-289-3201. 
 

SACRAMENTO - Today, Assembly Republican Leader Chad Mayes (Yucca Valley) issued the following statement in response to the passage of California’s 2017-18 state budget:


“Every state budget has parts you like and parts you don’t – this budget is no different. It includes an innovative Republican proposal that will lift people up and give impoverished Californians the freedom to achieve their dreams.


“On the other hand, it doubles down on the largest gas tax increase in California history and continues to raid transportation funds. This budget will also return the state to deficits in just a few years.”



Assembly Budget Committee Vice Chair Obernolte Responds to Passage of 2017-18 State Budget
 
SACRAMENTO - Today, Assembly Budget Committee Vice Chair Jay Obernolte (R-Hesperia) issued the following statement in response to the passage of California’s 2017-18 state budget:


“In terms of overall state expenditures, this is a fairly responsible budget. The State is increasing spending by about three percent, which is roughly equivalent to the rate of inflation. However, the Department of Finance projects a return to budget deficits of $1 billion in just two years. If the economy slows, Sacramento may look back on this moment and regret the decision to not rein in State spending.


“Unfortunately, the budget is also full of broken promises.


“This spending plan raids our transportation funds, sending 30 percent of money from the new gas tax to projects unrelated to roads. Also, voters who supported Proposition 56 were promised that the increase in tobacco tax would be used to expand low-income Californians’ access to health and dental care. Regrettably, this budget diverts more than half of that money to the General Fund. Californians deserve better.”


Assemblyman Jay Obernolte represents the 33rd Assembly District, which includes the San Bernardino County communities of Adelanto, Apple Valley, Baker, Barstow, Big Bear City, Big Bear Lake, Big River, Crestline, Fort Irwin, Hesperia, Johnson Valley, Lake Arrowhead, Lenwood, Lucerne Valley, Needles, Oak Hills, Phelan, Running Springs, Silver Lakes, Trona, Twentynine Palms Base, Twin Peaks and Victorville.
2017-18 State Budget Offers Record Spending, Less Transparency
Historic $183.2 billion budget ignores growing small business uncertainty 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
National Federation of Independent Business/California
Contact: Shawn Lewis (916) 342-9315; Shawn.Lewis@NFIB.org
Follow: @NFIB_CA and on Facebook

2017-18 State Budget Offers Record Spending, Less Transparency
Historic $183.2 billion budget ignores growing small business uncertainty

SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 15, 2017 – Following the passage of the 2017-18 state budget, NFIB California State Executive Director Tom Scott issued the following statement on behalf of our 22,000 dues-paying small business members:

“At a time when small businesses across the state are seeing their budgets tighten with rising minimum wage, transportation, and health care costs, today the legislature passed yet another historic spending plan, totaling a record $183.2 billion. Although this budget continues to make important investments into our state rainy day fund, it more broadly ignores the underlying uncertainty of our small business economic engine with record spending and zero budget reforms or transparency. Small business owners and all taxpayers continue to pay more but get less in return. Most recently, Sacramento treated working families like ATMs by raising their gas and car taxes, yet we see little, if any, new spending to expand or build new roads.

“This budget also decimates many taxpayer rights by gutting the elected Board of Equalization of its authority to hear tax appeals, which will leave our small business owners no independent recourse to dispute egregious tax bills and penalties. It is very difficult to have faith in this state budget when the process has become completely polluted with trailer bills such as this which have no place in the budget, and should instead be discussed in open policy committee proceedings.”

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For more than 70 years, the National Federation of Independent Business has been the Voice of Small Business, taking the message from Main Street to the halls of Congress and all 50 state legislatures. NFIB has 350,000 dues-paying members nationally, with over 22,000 in California. NFIB annually surveys its members on state and federal issues vital to their survival as America's economic engine and biggest creator of jobs. To learn more visit www.NFIB.com/california

TOUR DE MANURE, Sierra Valley’s Metric Century of 60, 42 & 30 mile routes with a ranch-style BBQ at the finish will be held in Sierra Valley on June 17th as the 9th annual.
Doug Read is called the brain child of this event-- maybe the "father".   
Doug has been a key player in the Great Race which is a huge fundraiser for the Placer Co. Nordic Search and Rescue for decades and understands how to de-velop and manage an event.   He brought that to the Sierraville Fire Department where he is an active volunteer.   
During a brain storm session as to what the fire department might do for a fundraiser, Doug responded by suggesting a bike ride (not a race) that featured the environment and financial backbone of the valley-ranching/farming.  
According to volunteer Rick Maddalena, “I think he even surfaced the name at that session.   Laura Read surfaced as the promoter and event registrar,  Jay Huebert  created the logo, Jeff McCollum and Dan Wentling became the logistics people, Karla Pombo took over finances, and Tami McCollum went on point as overall coordinator following Doug's counsel.  Shannon Tucker took over management of the food.” Under further question, Rick stated, “If I were to name the leaders I would say Doug is the ‘father’ and Tami is the ‘mother’ of this child.” 
Annually the event organization has been "tuned" using the Incident Command System to identify task to be accomplished, coordination needs with Beckwourth and Loyalton Fire, the East Sierra Valley Chamber of Commerce, other partners and vendors, and day of event volunteer assignments.    Although it is hosted by the Sierraville Fire Department, volunteers come from all of the Sierra County communities (e.g. Plumas  Bike Club, 4-H, Lost Marble Ranch, and East Sierra Valley Chamber) and Sattley and Calpine Fire Departments. 
Proceeds from the event have been used to buy equipment to support  the volunteers (e.g. ladders, flashlights, tow chains, rescue winches) and updating the fire station including installing large capacity electric garage door openers and fixing some long standing electrical issues.    
Sierraville Fire is also partnering with the SCFPD#1 and the USDA Rural Assistance program to replace the tired Rescue Truck positioned at the Sierraville Station. The grant/ loan package from the USDA has been obligated and specifications for the truck are being refined and circulated for vendors. About 20% of the price of the new truck will come from Tour-de-Manure proceeds.    
The new truck will carry the "Tour de Manure brand" on it's hind quarter. 
Jay Huebert, who manages the bike stop at the bottom of Smithneck Road, say's “I've been herding cows much of my life. Now I'm herding bicyclists.   I find that they leave less of a mess on the road but are much more likely to share their opinions." 

Agencies Involved: Plumas County Sheriff’s Office and Plumas County Search and Rescue 

Missing Person: Teresa “Terry” Blake, 58 of Woodland CA                            
On Monday, June 13, 2017 the body of Teresa Blake was located along the bank of the Middle Fork of the Feather River by search and rescue personnel.  Blake went missing on June 4th after she told her family she was going fishing and left the resort she and her family were staying in.  Her body was discovered after Search and Rescue located some personal items of Blake’s in the area of the river and continued their search.  Her body was found in some willows along the river’s edge which was approx. three quarters of a mile from where her car was located on June 5th.  
An autopsy has been scheduled to determine the exact cause of death.  At this time no foul play is suspected.  
The Plumas County Sheriff’s Office would like to 
extend our condolences to the Blake Family.  
Gregory Hagwood
Sheriff-Coroner
By: Steve W Peay/Investigations Sergeant

to Strip Taxpayer Rights 
SACRAMENTO - George Runner issued the following statement today in response to sweeping budget legislation that would strip the Board of Equalization of nearly all its current functions:


"Taxpayers must be warned: the so-called 'Transparency and Fairness' legislation announced today by the very politicians who just voted to raise your gas tax, is neither transparent nor fair.


"This last-minute budget power grab would strip California taxpayers of their right to bring their tax appeals before their elected peers. In its place the bill would establish yet another unelected and costly tax bureaucracy.


"It's a sad but true reality: the only real alternative to an elected official is an unelected state worker.


"The proposed changes go far beyond issues identified in recent audits, nearly all of which have been addressed and corrected by the Board.


"Changes of this magnitude should not be rushed through the budget process, bypassing the deliberative process. Instead they should go through the normal policymaking process to allow public input."




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George Runner represents more than nine million Californians as an elected member of the State Board of Equalization. For more information, visit www.boe.ca.gov/Runner.

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THE THIRD ANNUAL EVENT was held June 10th with historic logging equipment, classic cars, music and vendors along Main Street and Railroad Avenue. Smokey the Bear made an appearance too!

THE GILDED DRIFTER in east Loyalton is the Victorian home next to the former Country Cookin'.  Chelsea Johnson has totally renovated the house which contains 6 guest rooms with private and shared bath options and access to a fully stocked kitchen, library and summer house. There is now an open air dining area in the back.
A soft opening was held June 9th. Open House Receptions will be June 22 and 29th.
Grand opening will be July 1st. Be sure and go by to welcome Chelsea!

cWIGGIN'S TRADING POST, landmark of Sierra Valley and Gateway to Frenchman Lake recreation areas has sold to the Goodwin family.
Historic Wiggins Trading Post has been a vital part of Sierra Valley and Chilcoot for nearly 50 years. Shirley Wiggin is looking forward to retirement. We wish her the best!
A reopening as "Goodwin's Fort Wiggins" will be held June 29th.
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May 30, 2017 

By: Bob Williams 
Rural County Representatives of California (Chair) 
Tehama County Supervisor 
By the numbers, California is unequivocally rural. The 35 member counties within our organization, the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), represent more than half of the state’s total number of counties (58), and 55 percent of the state’s total land mass. Nearly 75 percent of California’s available water originates in the northern third of the state, and more than 70 percent of California’s U.S. Forest Service land resides in rural counties. 
Given this rural landscape, why do California’s rural counties continue to struggle? The answer – an unlevel playing field. California’s rural counties are often left behind, and left out. Two of the biggest examples of this unlevel playing field include access to broadband, and funding opportunities for disadvantaged communities. 
The lack of broadband access in California’s rural counties has led to substantial local economic setbacks, leaving California’s rural counties disconnected from opportunities and advancements realized by our urban brethren. Secondly, the utilization of the California Communities Environmental Health Screening Tool (CalEnviroScreen) in identifying California’s most disadvantaged communities when allocating financial resources excludes 30 of California’s 58 counties and the cities within from this funding source, many of those home to some of the most socioeconomically depressed communities in the state. 
Recent data highlights the widening of the rural-urban divide within our state, with California’s rural counties far exceeding the state average in both unemployment and poverty. Broadband connectivity, and access to grant funding for disadvantaged communities are immediate solutions to help bridge this gap, and narrow this urban-rural divide. 
The greater distances, lower population densities, and geographic diversity of California’s rural counties create unique obstacles, and for these reasons, ‘one-size-fits-all’ policies don’t work. RCRC’s member counties are encouraged by the discussion at the Democratic Convention in May, and we urge current and future State leadership to consider exploring mechanisms to improve rural connectivity, and allocate funding to truly disadvantaged communities.