AT THE FUN EVENT: Dana McAdams with Avon left, Amber Donnelly with Century 21,  Tracy Marr with Trinity Esthetics, Mike Summerfield with Summit Funding, Diane Bruns with Nature’s Brush, Chelsea Johnson, host of the Gilded Drifter and Michelle Milazzo Massage Dream. 
The fun family event on June 28th was planned by Amber, Mike and Chelsea and included music, face painting, appetizers, and activities for the kids!

​A FIREWISE EVENT for the Chilcoot and Vinton communities drew a sparse crowd on Saturday, June 23rd at Sierra Valley Grange Hall. The slide show presentation was given by Sue McCourt, Fire Prevention Specialist, Plumas County Office of Emergency Services with input by Sean Bassou, Battalion Chief for Plumas National Forest and the use of spectacular fire photos from last year’s Chilcoot fire by Laural Colberg.
Sierra Valley Fire Chief Vicki Anderson was also present along with Gary Parque, chipping coordinator for Plumas County Fire Safe.
The fire prevention message was particularly poignant to LouLou Litze of Chilcoot, who had lost everything in the Moonlight Fire and stated it was nice to be insured and to have pictures.
The benefits of a Firewise community were explained, including how it just takes a few people to start it and is about fire awareness with no governmental oversight. Sue felt it makes sense for Chilcoot and Vinton which could include community-based projects, such as community cleanups and barbecues and demonstrations on fire extinguishers.
A Firewise assessment would include the Fire Safe Council and formation of a board to do a risk assessment and preparation of a mitigation plan. along with a yearly educational event. There’s a certification application and a documentation of hours put in for fuel reduction, all at no cost.
There are several Firewise communities in Plumas County with more in the process.
Under question, it was stated the need for defensible space, the importance of Caltrans’ mowing, that there is not much code enforcement and the need and importance of neighbor talking to neighbor. The 30-feet distance for stacked wood from homes was discussed and how Cal Fire will do inspections and protect privacy. 
The event was hosted by Sierra Valley Grange and Sierra Valley Fire District.

​TWO 8-cubic yard trailers will be ready to be dispatched soon to any resident’s home or to a neighborhood seeking to clean up brush and other fire-risk biomass around their homes arrived this past week. It is believed this will contribute significantly to further divert material from the county landfill sites.
Grinding to process the material will be provided at the Loyalton co-gen plant.
Watch for these trailers to be featured in this year’s 4th of July parade in Loyalton. 

LOYALTON CITY COUNCIL held a special session June 27th with Mary Fleming of  Rural Community Assistance Corporation who gave details of her final water rate study with expenses, various reserves, fixed and variable costs. The water fund is $154,000 short annually of covering all costs. 
She told of starting to read meters on every property and the first month requiring a full time employee, then three days a week at $4,500 and payroll taxes.
She gave four options, compared to the current $32.44/month for 409 total connections or billing units. First option was 135% increase for water totaling $76.23/month. “The cost of service gives pause,” Mary stated and talked of services being hit hard. The school now pays $465/month which would increase to $1,092/month and the hospital now pays $685 which would increase to $1,610/mo. 
Option 2 would be equivalent dwelling units based on 20-gallon minimum flow and mostly 3/4” meters, for $58.13/month. The school would pay $1,744 and hospital, $2,325/mo.
Option 3 would be $59/month with the school cost $850/mo. and the hospital, $1,254/mo.
A fourth option was based on equivalent dwelling units for $48/month, called the “most liveable rate” at a $16 month rate increase yet would cost the school $1,440 and the hospital, $1,920/month and Mary suggested the Council look at how it would deal with the medical center and the school.  The Council needs to follow Prop. 218, and decide which scenario, send written notices, advertise and post a public hearing and provide opportunities for dispute.
The purchase of fund accounting software was discussed with Mary calling it “not cheap.” She told of Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation’s director having a “soft spot” for Loyalton and very generously do- ​nating $5,000 toward such software. Mary 
recommended Denali Fund Ascent which will 
satisfy the City’s needs. Joy made a motion of intent and to accept the funding, pending review by auditor 
Larry Bain. It was approved unanimously.
It was approved to notice the County Clerk of elective offices to be filled and the transmittal of maps and boundaries for the City of Loyalton and to request consolidation of the election for the City.
City elective offices for the November election are Mayor Marin’s 4-year term, one vacancy of a 2-year term and one of a 4-year term and Council member Joy Markum’s 2-year term. 
The 2-year City Clerk position is also up for election.
No election will be held if there is an insufficient number of nominees. The council would decide to appoint or proceed with the election.

CHP REPORTS:
On June 14, 2018 at 3:35 p.m., Timothy Bruton of Lake Forest, CA was driving his 2012 Toyota Camry eastbound on SR-70 just east of the SR-89 (Blairsden) Junction. Bruton had activated his left turn signal and slowed in preparation to make a left turn into a driveway. Clayton Benedict, 63, of Quincy was driving a Plumas County Public Works Dodge pickup truck east bound SR-70 to the rear of the Toyota Camry. Benedict began slowing due to the Camry slowing in front of him. Michael Knabe, 44 of Portola was driving a 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe eastbound SR-70 to the rear of the Dodge pickup truck at an unsafe speed. Knabe did not slow appropriately for traffic that was slowing in front of him and the Hyundai struck the rear of the Dodge which subsequently struck the rear of the Toyota. Knabe sustained major injuries in this collision as a result of his not wearing his seatbelt. Knabe was transported to Renown Medical Center. All other occupants in this collision were wearing their seatbelts and did not sustain any injuries.

On June 14th at 6:08 p.m., Lorene Wilk, 56 of Burlingame, CA was driving a 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe northbound on SR-89 south of Sierraville at an unknown speed. Patrick Pellerin, 51 of Taylorsville was driving a 2009 Kenworth tractor with a 33-foot dump trailer southbound on SR-89 and north of Wilk at approx. 45 mph. For unknown reasons, Wilk permitted her vehicle to cross the solid, double yellow center line. Pellerin attempted to steer the tractor-trailer as far right as he could to avoid a head-on collision, but the left fender of the Tahoe struck the left drive wheels of the Kenworth tractor and the left trailer tires of the double axle trailer. The impact to the rear axles caused the Kenworth to rotate counter-clockwise and directed the tractor-trailer into the northbound lane. Wilk brought the Tahoe to a stop in the north-​bound lane south of the collision scene. Pellerin was able to move the Kenworth and trailer to the west shoulder.

On June 19th Issac Martinetti, 33 of Portola at approx. 10:15 p.m. stated he was driving his 2005 Toyota westbound on A-15 at approx. 45 mph. Martinetti made an unsafe turning movement to the right and the Toyota left the south road edge and collided with a dirt embankment. The Toyota rolled over and landed on its wheels.

On June 24th at 9:24 p.m., Grant Fairchild, 25, of Reno, NV was driving northbound on US-395 approximately one mile south of Red Rock Road at 65 mph. Fairchild did not observe the illuminated emergency lights of a CHP patrol vehicle stopped on the side of the road to warn approaching motorists of several loose cattle in the roadway. A loose bull, black in color, ran into the path of the Toyota. Fairchild swerved and braked aggressively, attempting to avoid a collision but he was unable to avoid the bull. As a result of the collision, the Toyota sustained moderate damage to the left side of the vehicle. The bull fled on foot from the scene.

On June 24th, at 10:25 p.m., Ciara O’Driscoll, 25 of Reno, NV was driving southbound on US-395 approx. three miles south of Red Rock Road at 65 mph. A loose, black cow ran into the path of O’Driscoll’s vehicle. O’Driscoll swerved to the right and braked aggressively, attempting to avoid a collision but she was unable to avoid the cow. As a result of the collision, the Hyundai sustained minor damage to the left side of the vehicle. The cow fled on foot from the scene. 

On June 26th at 5:45 p.m.Judith Martin, 69, of Graeagle was driving her Subaru eastbound  on SR-70  just west of Grizzly Rd. at a stated speed of 65-70 mph. She observed a deer run from the south side of the highway directly into the path of her vehicle. Martin applied the brakes in an effort to avoid colliding with the deer. The deer collided with the right front and right side of her Subaru. Martin stopped, called 911 and reported the collision.

By Quint Studer, author of Building a Vibrant Community: How Citizen-Powered Change Is Reshaping America
As I go about my work of helping communities revitalize and reinvent themselves, I often get to see the best of America and I'm reminded that the foundations that built this country are still just as important today.

It's long been said that America is all about rugged individualism, and that is true to some extent. Yes, being as self-sufficient as you can be is an admirable trait, but it only takes one so far. People need people in order to really live and nowhere is that more true than in communities.

Back when our ancestors landed on our shores, they didn't head off into the woods to build a log cabin singlehandedly. No, they banded together in small communities. They worked together, struggled together, cried together, and celebrated together. They shared what they had when they could—and expected others to do the same for them when they needed help.

Early Americans had to live this way. Otherwise, they would never have survived in this unfamiliar, unforgiving land.

Today, something very similar is happening. We're in the middle of a massive community revitalization movement. Across America, cities and towns of all sizes are looking to reinvent themselves after a long, hard recession and several chaotic decades that turned their world upside town.

For many communities, globalization and technology reshuffled the deck. Much like our forefathers and foremothers, people found themselves lost in uncharted territory. Jobs disappeared. Unemployment skyrocketed. Infrastructure crumbled. Once-bustling downtowns deteriorated. Young people moved away in search of better lives (and who can blame them).

Now, we've collectively decided to look homeward. We've decided to bring our communities back from the brink. And we're not doing it as a nation of rugged individuals. We're doing it in small, tight-knit groups as we embrace the spirit of cooperation, collaboration, and partnership.

Community leaders, business owners, and citizens are deeply engaged and working together to breathe new life into our downtowns. We're encouraging entrepreneurs to start new ventures. We're choosing to eat, drink, play, and shop locally. We're showing up at street festivals, volunteering, and supporting the institutions that feed, educate, and heal our community.

As I look to communities that are thriving, one thing is for certain. We are still the land of opportunity. People are finding they can still start a business, make a living, and provide jobs to others. While a strong local government is part of every vibrant community, in most cases private industry is the backbone. Thriving local business communities lead to long-term prosperity.

So here's what I believe: Real independence is about working hard, playing hard, building strong relationships with family and friends, and being happy in the place we've put down our roots. It's about choosing the kind of life we want to live. For the most part, this can exist only in the context of community.

This Independence Day, I hope you'll take a moment to be grateful for your community and reflect on what you might do to make it better. Get involved. Find a cause that speaks to you. Share your ideas. Join together with like-minded neighbors and work to make something happen.

The spirit of community is the spirit that built America. And it's what will rebuild us as we work together to create our future.
# # #
About the Author:
Quint Studer is author of Building a Vibrant Community and founder of Pensacola's Studer Community Institute, a nonprofit organization focused on improving the community's quality of life and moving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties forward. He is a businessman, a visionary, an entrepreneur, and a mentor to many. He currently serves as the Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the University of West Florida. For more information, visit www.vibrantcommunityblueprint.com and www.studeri.org.

​

 
 
The California Highway Patrol (CHP), Truckee Area, in conjunction with the Town of Truckee Police Department will conduct a sobriety checkpoint on Saturday, June 30, 2018, in Nevada County.
 
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.  “By publicizing our efforts we believe that we can deter motorists from driving under the influence and hopefully persuade them to make the safest decision during a night out, whether that be taking a taxi or designating a sober driver,” said Lieutenant Matthew Tweed, Area Commander of CHP Truckee.
 
Lieutenant Tweed 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.

Word Count: 556

 
Over the last year and half, Democrats in the California Legislature introduced 33 proposals to raise taxes and fees on hard working Californians. Altogether, these bills would have cost Californians more than $269 billion a year. That would have doubled what taxpayers already pay.


Capitol Democrats regularly ram costly and ineffective laws and regulations through the Legislature. These bad bills have forced many family owned businesses to leave the state or close their doors for good.


With these poor policies in place, it’s no surprise that California’s tax climate ranked 48th in the nation in a 2018 report by the Tax Foundation. The state also came in dead last in the nation for individual income taxes, according to the same report. 


While the majority party in the Legislature continues to ignore the needs of small businesses and ordinary Californians, my Republican colleagues and I will not. We have fought against harmful bills and I want to share with you a few bad for business proposals that we have successfully killed this year.


For starters, Capitol Democrats attempted to ban the sale of gas-powered engine vehicles in the state. All new cars registered in the state would have had to qualify as a zero emission vehicles. Business owners, farmers and families across California would have needed to overhaul their entire transportation means at a cost that many would not have been able to afford. Thankfully, this attack on drivers fell short and Californians don’t have to worry about the restriction.


Another proposal would have punished employers with large fines for making a minor payroll error. California already has strong laws on the books against wage theft. This bill would have created drastic penalties for even minor, unintentional payroll errors. Thanks to strong opposition, the bill failed to make it through the Assembly Business and Finance Committee. Sacramento needs to encourage a culture that helps businesses succeed, rather than burdening them with costly penalties every step of the way.


Last on this list, but certainly not least, is a proposal that would have taken away a business’s ability to provide a safe, drug-free workplace for its employees. Democrat lawmakers pushed a bill to require businesses to provide a safe space for workers to use medical marijuana on the job. This proposal could have created hazardous and unsafe conditions with workers under the influence of marijuana allowed near heavy machinery. Although it didn’t make it through the Legislature, the proposal may be heard at a later date. We will continue fighting to ensure Californians feel safe and secure at the workplace.


These are just a few of the bills introduced this year that would have hurt our state’s economic backbone. California is already one of the hardest states to do business. The list of companies abandoning the Golden State continues to grow. Even large corporations like Carl’s Jr., Toyota, Nissan and Jamba Juice have fled for better business climates. If these giants struggled in our state, imagine the pains small businesses are suffering.


We need to continue to battle against the anti-business culture in the Capitol. Sacramento must start treating entrepreneurs and employers as friends and work together to help them succeed. My Republican colleagues and I are fighting to make sure they get the treatment and respect they need to thrive in our state. California and our businesses deserve better.
 
Assembly Republican Leader Brian Dahle serves the 1st district in the California Legislature, which includes all or parts of Butte, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta, Sierra and Siskiyou counties.

​TO:                                    High-Capacity Well Owners
FROM:                                    Sierra Valley Groundwater Management District
SUBJECT:                   Reporting of High-Capacity Inactive Wells
 
The California Department of Water Resources has directed all groundwater districts to develop a sustainability plan over the next few years that addresses groundwater levels, groundwater quality, surface water interaction and more.  In an effort to meet the mandates of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), the Sierra Valley Groundwater Management District (SVGMD) Board of Directors has been working on ordinances and policies that will satisfy the requirements of the law.
The SVGMD is responsible for measuring actual and potential groundwater extraction by municipal and agricultural high-capacity wells.  In pursuit of that goal, the Board has identified a need to create a report describing the number of high-capacity inactive wells and the location of those wells to assist in the calculation of groundwater extraction capabilities in the Sierra Valley Groundwater Basin.
The Board of Directors has adopted an ordinance requiring registration of all high-capacity inactive wells. The District will plot the GPS location and record your estimate of its pumping capacity.  A high-capacity inactive well is defined in Ordinance 18-01 per section 3(a) and section 4(a) “as those capable of pumping 100 gallons per minute or more or constructed with casings larger than a seven (7) inch outside diameter (OD), and unmetered.”  To view the ordinance in its entirety, please visit the District’s website at www.sierravalleygmd.org.    
Failure to register all high-capacity inactive wells on your property within the District may result in the loss of your ability to activate an inactive well for future use.  Inactive wells must be registered with the SVGMD by July 1, 2018. 
 

 
Please contact the SVGMD clerk of the board if you have any questions or need a registration form.
 

 

It was held June 22nd at the kiosk, offered by Plumas-Sierra County Fair Foundation, the non-profit corporation that exists to solely support the Plumas Sierra County Fairgrounds.
100 tacos were prepared by John and Denise Steffanic  with help of Nancy Gamble and her cousin, Ruthie from Florida.

 
LONG-TERM PROJECTS


Interstate 80 (Placer County) from Long Ravine underpass to .2 miles east of Magra Road overcrossing: Roadwork continues for a $50.6 million project to construct 3 miles of additional truck climbing lane and other improvements to primarily eastbound I-80 east of Colfax, including widening the Cape Horn undercrossing bridge.  No traffic interfering work is scheduled this week.


Interstate 80 (Placer County) at the Gold Run State Rest and Recovery Areas (SRRAs): The EB and WB rest areas will be closed from May 9 to September 30 to bring water delivery and waste water treatment systems into compliance with current State requirements. Construction of the new system, similar to other SRRA locations, will eliminate costs associated with septic tank systems and improve the potable water delivery system.
                                                                                               
SHORT-TERM PROJECTS


State Route 49 (Sierra County) from Yuba County line to Nevada Driver: Motorists can expect one way traffic controls from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday for miscellaneous work.


State Route 49 (Sierra County) from Rams Horn campground to Goodyear/Mountain House: Motorists can expect intermittent one way traffic controls and shoulder closures from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday for traffic signal work.


State Route 65 (Placer County) from the I-80 junction to 1 mile south of Pleasant Grove Blvd.: Motorists can expect intermittent overnight alternating lane closures both NB and SB from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday night through Friday morning for roadway excavation.


State Route 65 (Placer County) at the NB off-ramp to Stanford Ranch Rd., the NB off-ramp to, and SB on-ramp from, Galleria Blvd., including the Harding Blvd. overcrossing: Motorists can expect overnight full ramp closures and one way traffic controls on the overcrossing from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday night through Friday morning for roadway excavation.


Interstate 80 (Placer County) from the Nevada Street overcrossing (Maple and Placer Streets) to the Highway 49 junction: Motorists can expect overnight right lane closures in both directions, including full ramp closures from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday night through Friday morning for crack seal operations.


Interstate 80 (Placer County) at the Highway 65 junction: Motorists can expect overnight right lane and shoulder closures from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday night through Friday morning for roadway excavation.


Interstate 80 (Placer County) at the Rocklin Road undercrossing: Motorists can expect right lane and shoulder closures on local cross street from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday night through Saturday morning for utility work.


Interstate 80 – Westbound (Placer County) from Kingvale undercrossing to Big Bend:  Motorists can expect intermittent right lane and shoulder closures from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday for shoulder work.


Interstate 80 – Westbound (Placer County) at the Elm Avenue overcrossing: Motorists can expect overnight full ramp closures from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Tuesday night through Friday morning for guardrail work.


Interstate 80 – Westbound (Nevada County) from Hinton Rd. undercrossing to Boca Bridge/Hirschdale:  Motorists can expect alternating lane closures from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Thursday for bridge work.


Interstate 80 - Eastbound (Placer County) from Long Ravine brige to Secret Town (Magra and Alpine): Motorists can expect overnight left lane and median closures from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. Monday night through Thursday morning for drainage work.
 
Interstate 80 – Eastbound (Nevada/Placer Counties) from the Soda Springs overcrossing to JEO Kingvale undercrossing: Motorists can expect right lane and shoulder closures from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday for emergency work.


State Route 89 (Nevada County) from Hobart Work Center to Sierra County line:  Motorists can expect one way traffic controls from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday for miscellaneous work.


State Route 89 (Nevada County) from Alder Creek Road to Donner Camp picnic area:  Motorists can expect one way traffic controls from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Wednesday for guardrail repair.


State Route 89 (Nevada County) from Klondike Flat Rd. to Prosser Creek: Motorists can expect one way traffic controls from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday for bridge work.


State Route 89 (Sierra County) from Calpine Summit to Plumas County line: Motorists can expect one way traffic controls from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Tuesday for tree work.


State Route 89 (Sierra County) from Old Truckee Rd. to Willow Street: Motorists can expect one way traffic controls from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday for tree work.


State Route 267 (Nevada County) from I-80 junction to Truckee River:  Motorists can expect alternating lane closures from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday for bridge work.


###
                             
The Caltrans District Traffic Management Branch has reviewed each project and determined that individual project delays are expected to be less than the statewide policy maximum of 30 minutes, unless noted otherwise above.
 
Lanes are numbered from the center divider (#1) to the shoulder (#2, 3, 4, etc.). EB/WB means eastbound and westbound. JEO/JWO means “just east of” and “just west of.”
 
Unexpected schedule changes may occur.  For current information on roadwork, delays, road conditions and emergency closures, call the voice-activated Caltrans Highway Information Network (CHIN) at 800-427-7623 (ROAD) or visit Caltrans “QuickMap” website at:  http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/