SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Although the summer season will soon be coming to a close, many Californians will continue to take advantage of the warm weather into the Labor Day weekend.  As the celebrations commence, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) wants everyone to enjoy their holiday and to remain safe on California’s roadways.


All available CHP officers will be on duty during the Labor Day Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP), from 6:01 p.m. Friday, September 2, to 11:59 p.m. Monday, September 5.  Drug recognition experts and CHP officers will be on patrol watching for impaired drivers as well as assisting motorists in need throughout the holiday weekend.


The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched its annual “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign on August 19, and it will run through September 5.  This law enforcement crackdown is intended to zero in on drivers impaired by alcohol or drugs and help reduce injury and fatal collisions.  Research from NHTSA shows that high-visibility enforcement, such as an MEP, can reduce impaired driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent.


“Too many lives are lost on our roadways every year as a result of impaired driving.  Let’s end the summer safely and remember to designate a sober driver, wear your seat belt, and obey all traffic laws,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said. 


During last year’s Labor Day weekend, CHP officers made more than 1,200 arrests for driving under the influence.  Unfortunately, 32 people were killed in collisions in California during the same weekend, and at least seven of those people killed were not wearing seat belts.


If you see a suspected impaired driver, call 9-1-1.  Be prepared to provide the dispatcher a description of the vehicle, the license plate number, location, and direction of travel.  Your phone call may save someone’s life.


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

Drought and Bark Beetle Damaged Trees Present Roadway Safety Hazards
                                                                                            
SIERRA AREA – Caltrans District 3 will be joining the Governor’s drought-related State of Emergency efforts to identify, cut and remove dead and dying trees from alongside Interstate 80 and State Highway 20 beginning September 6, 2016. Tree removal operations will take place on Interstate 80 between Magra and Kingvale and on Highway 20 between Willow Valley and Yuba Pass. Removal efforts are anticipated to conclude in November.




There are more than 60 million affected trees in the state, primarily stressed by drought and infected with the bark beetle – and many of these dead or dying trees could contribute to road hazards or wildfires. The Caltrans tree removal project will improve the safety of our highways for travelers, truckers and emergency services, as well as reduce fuel for potential fires.


District 3 has contracted with certified arborists who, along with the Caltrans trained professionals of the District 3 Tree Crew, will be removing dead and dying trees within 100 feet of the roadway’s centerline. These crews will also assess trees that are capable of falling on highways, regardless of their location. As part of the program, Caltrans will: 


·         Identify the dead, dying and at-risk trees along state highways; 
·         Contact the landowner, if the tree is outside the public right of way, and discuss removal options; 
·         Cut and remove identified and approved trees from state right of way. 






Working closely with CalFire personnel and staff from the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, Caltrans is working statewide to identify critical areas of concern. Caltrans News Flash #92 covers work already starting in Tuoloumne County - https://youtu.be/WOg2azsrOsA .


Roadways may be impacted by tree removal efforts. For real-time traffic, click on Caltrans QuickMap at: http://quickmap.dot.ca.gov/. For project updates, follow Caltrans District 3 on Twitter @CaltransDist3 and on Facebook at CaltransDistrict3.

 
            Christopher Davis (38) Reno.  Davis was sentenced for transportation of marijuana for sale.  He was placed on three years probation, served 148 days in jail, and fined $1855.  The arrested resulted from a routine traffic stop by CHP on highway 80.
 
            Gabriel Marquez (21) Portola.  Marquez pled guilty to driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 or above.  He was placed on three years probation, 48 hours jail, vined $2430, and ordered to alcohol school.
 
            Joseph Immel (22) Payson.  For leaving a dog in a vehicle unattended, he was fined $455 pus he paid a $200 impound fee.
 
            Larenzo Larrucea (40) Calpine.  Lauuucea pled guilty to unlawful take of a creature (an elk) which was on ranch property that he was foreman.  He received one year probation, and was fined $1055.
 
            Samuel LaBono (21) Loyalton.  LaBono was sentenced on a conviction of sending material to a minor by electronic means with the intent to commit sex offenses.  He was placed on five years probation, served 267 days in jail, fined $2410, and ordered to register as a sex offender.
 
            Jose Lopez (21) Corning, and Luis Chabarin-Ramos (22) Stockton.  After a contested hearing the two were ordered to stand trial on charges of cultivating marijuana, possession for sale of marijuana, unlawful diversion of a stream, and resisting arrest.  The evidence demonstrated that they were in a very large marijuana plantation on forest service land just south of Sierraville.
 
            Gabriel Sanchez-Radillo (36) Red Bluff and Efrain Diaz (34) of Mexico. After a contested preliminary hearing, in separate cases, were ordered to stand trial for illegal cultivation of marijuana, possession for sale of marijuana, use of toxic substances, placing toxic substance in a manner that posses a threat of harm to others, illegal stream diversion, and resisting arrest.  The two men were arrested in separate marijuana grows on forest service land east of Sierra Brooks.
 
            David Money (34) Reno.  Money was found in violation of his probation for absconding from probation, and not following the terms of probation.  His underlying conviction was a charge of auto theft.  When sentenced on September 23, he is facing up to three years in prison.
 
 
Lon Lieburn (54) Mt. Pleasant Wisconsin.  After a plea to driving under the influence, Lieburn was placed on three years probation, served 48 hours in jail, fined $2430, and ordered to attend alcohol school.
 
            Steve Perkins (53) Oroville.  After a contested preliminary hearing, Perkins was ordered to stand trail on charges of first degree burglary (a residence).  The evidence produced showed that he had broken into a vacation cabin and took some items from.
 
            Alexandra Shepard (49) Reno.  Fishing without a license, fine $450.
 
            Thomas Gonzalez (19) Loyalton.  Sentencing on convictions for sex acts with at minor and possession of child pornography.  He was placed on four years probation, served 222 days jail, fined $1700, ordered to stay away from victims and family, and he must register as a sex offender. 
 

Bipartisan Effort Overwhelmingly Approved by Legislature
SACRAMENTO, CA – August 24, 2016 – Legislation sponsored by the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) to restore the State’s commitment to its county partnership involving state wildland areas is headed to the Governor for his signature. Commonly known as Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT), 36 California counties rely on State PILT to fund vital local programs and services. Senate Bill 1188 by Senator Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) has 15 other authors and co-authors, and is a bipartisan effort to restore Fish and Game Code language making State PILT payments to counties a requirement.
Established in 1949 to offset adverse impacts to county property tax revenues that result when the State acquires private property for wildlife management areas, State PILT helps small and rural counties fund a variety of programs and services that benefit county residents.  In 2015, the final State Budget Package included language in the Fish and Game Code that changed “shall” to “may” to make future State PILT payments to California’s 36 PILT counties permissive.  
“State PILT is crucial to California’s counties, and over the last 15 years counties have struggled to tighten their budgets in order to fund programs and services for residents when the State stopped making payments,” said Patricia Megason, RCRC Executive Vice President.  “This language change makes it clear that the State values its county partners and recognizes the impact State PILT has on programs and services to residents throughout the state.  We are grateful for the Senator’s leadership on this issue, and we urge the Governor to sign this legislation.” 
The language change in the 2015 final State Budget Package is significant as the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) already owes nearly $8 million in State PILT arrearages to California’s State PILT counties.  Despite the previous requirement in statute that the DFW make State PILT payments annually to the impacted counties, they have failed to do so until last year.  
“This was an agreement made decades ago and the State has reneged on these payments for far too long,” said Senator Mike McGuire. “Small communities and rural counties desperately need these dollars to keep our neighborhoods safe, fund local fire and emergency services, and invest in crumbling roads and streets.” 
A detailed Q&A on State PILT can be accessed here.  The full text of SB 1188 can be accessed here. 
About Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC)
The Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC) is a thirty-five member county strong service organization that champions policies on behalf of California’s rural counties.  RCRC is dedicated to representing the collective unique interests of its membership, providing legislative and regulatory representation at the State and Federal levels, and providing responsible services for its members to enhance and protect the quality of life in rural California counties.  To learn more about RCRC, visit rcrcnet.org and follow @RuralCounties on Twitter.
                                                                           

 

SACRAMENTO – Senator Ted Gaines (R-El Dorado) issued the following statement regarding Assembly Bill 1889 (Mullin), which passed out of the Senate today allowing bond money to be spent on High Speed Rail-related projects without certification by an independent consultant.


“High Speed Rail is shaping up to be the most colossal waste of taxpayer money in the history of California. Now we have this bill that is going to spend the bond money in a way that was never authorized by the voters.


“Let’s not double down on a terrible project by siphoning money behind taxpayers’ backs. Our roads are crumbling and I keep hearing that we need higher gas taxes, higher registration fees, to pay for these desperately needed repairs. If it’s really desperate, why are we going to waste a hundred billion dollars on this rail project?


“High Speed Rail is a disaster that robs money from better, more useful infrastructure projects and I’m extremely disappointed my colleagues passed this bill out of the Senate.”


Senator Ted Gaines represents the 1st Senate District, which includes all or parts of Alpine, El Dorado, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Shasta, Sierra and Siskiyou counties.

SPARKS, Nevada – August 25, 2016 – It is with great sadness that the U.S. Forest Service mourns the passing of firefighter Ian Howard. Crew members on Engine 16 from the Plumas National Forest discovered their friend and colleague's passing last Sunday morning. The cause of death is unknown at this time. The crew was prepositioned for firefighting at the Paskenta Work Center on the Mendocino National Forest and were staying overnight in Corning, CA. At the time of Ian’s passing, his engine was not assigned to an active wildfire incident.
Ian was a fire engine operator assigned to Engine 16 from the Beckwourth Ranger District of the Plumas National Forest. He was a respected and dedicated employee and his passing is a big loss, not only for the Plumas National Forest, but also for the Forest Service. In Ian's time as an employee with the Forest Service, his contributions were that of a selfless public servant. He will be greatly missed.
Please keep the Howard family, Engine 16’s crew, his coworkers and friends in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Condolences for the family can be sent to: Beckwourth Ranger District, P.O. Box 7, Blairsden, CA 96103.
Ian’s body will be flown via Forest Service aircraft to Reno-Stead Airport on Friday, August 26, and escorted to a funeral home by his Plumas National Forest crewmates and other fire, law enforcement, and first responder vehicles. Media agencies are invited to collect imagery and interview a Forest Service spokesperson at this event, beginning at 10:00 AM at the front entrance of Reno-Stead Airport. Please RSVP to the contact information above by 8:00 AM on Friday. Reno-Stead Airport is located at 4895 Texas Ave, Reno, NV 89506.

MINERAL, CA –Lassen Volcanic National Park will join 412 park units across the United States to celebrate the 100th birthday of  the National Park Service on August 25.  Thursday through Sunday, the park entrance fee will be waived and everyone welcomed into the park for free.  A special showing of, This is America, will be presented on Thursday in the Loomis Museum Auditorium at 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.  Later that evening at 8:30 p.m., Ranger Chris Duva, will present a special 45-minute evening program at the Manzanita Lake Amphitheater on the history of Lassen Volcanic National Park and the National Park Service.   “We invite visitors to come celebrate the National Park Service birthday this weekend and enjoy what Lassen Volcanic National Park has to offer,” said Park Superintendent Steve Gibbons.


This is America is a complete 45-minute film that tells the story of the national park idea through the prism of our nation's diverse population, weaving together stories of extraordinary people from a wide variety of backgrounds who devoted their lives to the national park ideal – to preserve and protect these special places for everyone, for all time – and helped it broaden and evolve over the course of 150 years.


There is still time to submit your favorite Lassen photo for the Annual Pass Photo Contest.  Submit up to two photos per household by September 9 – see details on the park website. Ranger-led programs will continue through September 5 and the park’s Reach Higher Trail Challenge is still underway. “This is an opportunity for visitors to enjoy Lassen’s scenic trails and take a fitness challenge that will earn hikers a special park centennial bandana,” stated Park Superintendent Steve Gibbons.  As visitors drive along the park highway they can also listen to the new Then and Now Highway Audio Tour which includes sixteen stops that delve into Lassen Volcanic’s 100-year history and highlights the triumphs and challenges of today.   Visitors are encouraged to download the MP3 files from the park website through the Lassen Audio Tours podcast before visiting the park. 


Come prepared for cool weather especially in the early morning and late afternoon.  Lassen is a high elevation park ranging from 5,650 to 10,457 feet and weather can change quickly.  Check the weather forecast before your visit and come prepared for the conditions. It is recommended you wear layers and bring sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. Even on overcast days, sun exposure is greater at higher elevations.    The Lassen Volcanic National Park Highway is weather-dependent this time of year and is subject to closure at any time due to snow and icy conditions.


The Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center and Loomis Museum are open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  For more information, please visit the website www.nps.gov/lavo or contact the park at 530-595-4480 or lavo_information@nps.gov.

Ben Davis got his first Archery Buck August 23, 2016 and it is his biggest buck. The buck was a 4 x 3 and the rack width was 27 inches.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) officers are looking for any information the public may have regarding two unsolved crimes: the unlawful killing of a male bighorn sheep in Siskiyou County, and the unlawful maiming of an adult male deer in Humboldt County.



The bighorn carcass was discovered near the Jenny Creek camping area and reported to CDFW by a citizen on June 12, 2016. The head and horns had been removed from the sheep and the remaining portion of the carcass was left along the side of Copco Road at Iron Gate Lake Road, just out of sight of passing vehicles. Officers are uncertain about the cause of death, but it is always unlawful to remove and possess parts of wildlife that were not legally harvested.


On July 29, 2016, CDFW responded to a citizen's report of an injured deer near the 6400 block of Elk River Road in Eureka. Wildlife officers discovered the large deer had been shot through its back, which injured its spine and left it paralyzed. Due to the severity of the injuries and suffering, the deer had to be euthanized. Evidence indicated the deer was illegally shot with a high-power rifle, which was consistent with nearby residents' reports of gunshots in the early morning hours that day.


Anyone with information about these incidents is encouraged to call CalTIP, CDFW's confidential secret witness program, at (888) 334-2258; or send a text to tip411. Both methods allow the public to provide wildlife officers with factual information to assist with these and other investigations. Callers may remain anonymous, if desired.


The Humane Society of the United States learned of these cases from previous news articles and contacted CDFW to pledge a reward of up to $5,000 -- in addition to a reward of up to $1,000 from the CalTIP program -- for information that leads to arrest and conviction in either of these two cases.


For more information on the CalTIP program or to download the CalTIP reporting app, please visit www.wildlife.ca.gov/enforcement/caltip.
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Sacramento - CAL FIRE announced Wednesday it will be awarding nearly $16 million for fire prevention grants to local fire departments and fire safe councils to reduce the threat of large wildfires. The 2016-2017 State Responsibility Area Fire Prevention Fund and tree mortality grants are aimed at reducing the threat wildfires as well as dead and dying trees in and around communities within the State Responsibility Area (SRA).
 
“In just the last couple of weeks, we have seen how destructive this fire season has already been and the critical role fire prevention projects play in helping us protect lives and property,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, CAL FIRE Director. "As the drought continues, and millions of more trees die off, we must take every step to prepare our neighborhoods and communities from wildfire.”
 
The 2016-2017 CAL FIRE grants have a one-time appropriation of 10 million dollars that is intended to address the risk and potential impact of wildfire and dead and dying trees on habitable structures in the SRA.  The grants also provide a one-time allocation of six million dollars for fire prevention projects that are not limited to the SRA.  The target audiences for the grants include, but are not limited to, local government agencies, fire districts and fire safe councils to augment recent fire prevention projects. The grant amount will be limited to a maximum of $200,000 per project. This will allow for broad distribution of grant funds to local government agencies and organizations throughout the State. The 2016-2017 grant applications are due September 28, 2016, by 3 p.m.


CAL FIRE is encouraging a wide range of applicants throughout the state to apply for this funding. Interested parties can get more information at CAL FIRE’s grants webpage at:  http://www.fire.ca.gov/grants/grants.php.


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