The National Weather Service has issued elevated Heat and Fire Condition Warnings for Labor Day weekend for Plumas County. Starting Saturday, September 3, 2022, and going into the week the risk level is Major for Plumas County. This coming heat wave can be dangerous, even deadly, especially to the very young and the old. Hot, dry weather also increases the danger of wildfire. As it gets hotter it is important to follow the following heat and fire safety tips:

Heat safety tips:

• Avoid strenuous activity and direct exposure to the sun during the hottest part of the day (4:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.).
  
• Stay cool at home or indoors.
  
• If you go outside, wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing. A hat can help shade your face from the
  direct sunlight. Protect your skin by using sunscreen with SPF 30 or above.
  
• Stay hydrated. Don’t wait until you are thirsty to drink water. Minimize alcohol intake, as it can
  cause dehydration.
  
• Never leave children or pets in the car – no exceptions.
  
• Open windows and doors in the evening, after 7:00 pm, to allow house to cool down and ensure to
  close window/doors, including blinds/drapes in morning to help keep house cool through the heat
  of the day.
  
• Check on your neighbors and family – The heat is very hard on the elderly and those with medical
  conditions.
  

Fire Safety Tips:

• Plumas National Forest is in Stage 2 Fire restrictions: Campfires and stove fires are only allowed in designated recreation sites with a host. For more information https://www.fs.usda.gov/plumas
  
• Only drive a vehicle on designated paved, gravel or dirt roads.
  
• Mow before 10:00 a.m., but never when it’s windy or excessively dry. Lawnmowers are designed to
  mow lawns, not weeds or dry grass. Metal blades striking rocks can create sparks that start fires.
  
• Use caution when working outdoors. Chainsaws and hand tools can also start fires.
  
• Don't let cigarette butts pile up - the materials are combustible and may smolder for several hours
  before causing a fire. Never toss smoking materials out on the roadway or into landscaping.
  This holiday weekend it is important to remember to be safe while having fun. For more information regarding
  heat safety go to the following website: https://www.ready.gov/heat 
  

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Operator’s Flex Alert Requests Voluntary Conservation Today - Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
 
Customers Can Be Rewarded for Taking Simple Steps to Save Energy and Protect Grid Reliability
 
OAKLAND, Calif.—With hot temperatures and high energy demand across California, the state’s power grid operator is asking residents statewide to voluntarily conserve electricity this afternoon and evening when the grid is most stressed due to higher demand and energy supplies are tighter.
 
The Flex Alert, called by the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), will be in effect today, Wednesday, August 31 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. The grid operator is predicting an increase in electricity demand, primarily from air conditioning use.
 
The grid operator is asking all Californians to reduce electricity use during a Flex Alert to prevent further emergency measures, including rotating power outages.
 
 
Saving Energy at Home
 
Here are ways Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) customers can cut their power use and help keep the lights (and air conditioning) on for everyone.
 
Tomorrow, before 4 p.m., Californians should:

• Pre-cool your home or workspace. Lower your thermostat in the morning. As the temperature rises outside, raise your thermostat and circulate the pre-cooled air with a fan.
• Charge Electric Vehicles
• Use major appliances, including:
• Washer and dryer
• Dishwasher
• Oven and stove for pre-cooking and preparing meals
• Close your shades: Sunlight passing through windows heats your home and makes your air conditioner work harder. Block this heat by keeping blinds or drapes closed on the sunny side of your home.

 
Tomorrow, during the Flex Alert from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Californians should:

• Set your thermostat at 78 degrees or higher, health permitting: Every degree you lower the thermostat means your air conditioner must work even harder to keep your home cool.
• When it’s cooler outside, bring the cool air in: If the outside air is cool in the night or early morning, open windows and doors and use fans to cool your home.
• Avoid using major appliances.
• Turn off all unnecessary lights.

 
Saving Energy at Your Office or Business
If you’re working in an office setting, CAISO recommends the following:

• Turn off any office equipment that is not currently in use. Alternately, look for sleep or power-saving modes in between uses during the day.
• Enable power management settings on all computers so that they go to sleep and turn off screens when not in use.
• Plug electronics such as coffeemakers and microwaves into power strips and switch them off when the day is done.
• As you leave the office, get in the habit of checking to make sure computers, printers/copiers, and other office equipment is fully shut down. If possible, switch them off at the power strip to ensure they are no longer draining energy.

PG&E’s Demand Response programs offer incentives for business owners and residential customers who curtail their energy use during times of peak demand. PG&E has several of these programs, totaling about 245,000 enrolled PG&E customers.
 
PG&E’s website includes detailed information on these programs, which allow residential customers and business customers to save energy and money.
 
PG&E is prepared for the heat and, based on forecasts, doesn’t anticipate issues meeting increased demand for power.
 
Also, at this time, the grid operator has not indicated that it plans to call for rotating outages. PG&E does not project a need for a Public Safety Power Shutoff due to this weather, but the company’s meteorology team will continuously monitor conditions.
 
PG&E also urges customers to stay safe during extreme heat. The company funds cooling centers throughout its service area to help customers escape the heat and cool off. To find a center near you click here or call 1-877-474-3266. 
 
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.
 
 

Release #22-111State receives $21.3 million in federal grant funds



Español
SACRAMENTO, August 26, 2022 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced funding for the 2022 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). California received $21.3 million out of approximately $72.9 million awarded nationwide.

The SCBGP provides grants to state departments of agriculture to fund projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops, defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture).

“The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is very important to the State of California as the largest producer of specialty crops,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross.  “This program supports local and regional needs of farmers and ranchers to help them be competitive and also improves access to healthy California grown foods.  We appreciate this partnership with USDA in making these funds available.”

CDFA will fund 50 projects, awarding grants ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 to non-profit and for-profit organizations, government entities, and colleges and universities. Selected through a competitive process, these projects focus on increasing sales of specialty crops by leveraging the unique qualities of specialty crops grown in California; increasing consumption by expanding the specialty crop consumer market, improving food availability and providing nutritional education for consumers; investing in training for growers/producers/operators to address current and future challenges; and conducting research on conservation and environmental outcomes, pest control and disease, and organic and sustainable production practices.

In addition, CDFA is continuing its partnership with the Center for Produce Safety in the evaluation and recommendation of food safety related projects. These projects represent an ongoing effort to address food safety practices and minimize outbreaks of foodborne illness with proactive research.

The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Program was originally authorized by the 2004 Specialty Crop Competitiveness Act and received mandatory Farm Bill funding through the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008.  Since 2008, a total investment of over $321 million from the program has funded marketing, research, nutrition education and food safety efforts, including projects that support multi-commodity, statewide promotion of California Grown specialty crops; improve school children’s nutritional knowledge as well as sales of locally grown specialty crops to school districts; assist farmers in complying with the requirements of the Food Safety Modernization Act; develop and strengthen markets for fruits and vegetables grown by beginning and historically underserved farmers; assist California specialty crop farmers adapt to the challenges of climate change and severe drought; manage pests and diseases, including integrated pest control efforts; and conduct research to prevent foodborne illness.The 2022 SCBGP project abstracts are available online at https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/Specialty_Crop_Competitiveness_Grants/

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SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Labor Day weekend is quickly approaching, and many Californians are preparing to close out the summer with a holiday gathering or road trip.  The California Highway Patrol (CHP) wants to ensure everyone reaches their destination safely and will implement a Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) in anticipation of the increased traffic that often accompanies a holiday weekend.
 
The CHP’s Labor Day MEP begins at 6:01 p.m. on Friday, September 2, and continues through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, September 5.  In addition to assisting motorists and looking for traffic violations throughout the holiday weekend, CHP officers will be paying close attention to those who are suspected of driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs and/or alcohol. 
 
The CHP reminds those who travel during Labor Day weekend to buckle up, drive at a safe speed, and never drive impaired. 
 
Forty-three people were killed in vehicle crashes on California roadways during the holiday weekend in 2021.  Additionally, CHP officers made 985 DUI arrests and issued more than 6,000 speeding citations throughout the state during last year’s Labor Day weekend.  Avoid being arrested for DUI and becoming a statistic.  Designate a driver or use a ride-share service, and always wear your seat belt.
 
“Alcohol-and drug-impaired driving continues to be a leading cause of traffic fatalities and injuries in California, and the moment an impaired driver gets behind the wheel, they put themselves and every other person on the road in great danger,” said CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray. “The CHP is committed to enforcement and non-enforcement strategies, including education and community engagement, to ensure the highest level of safety for everyone traveling throughout California during the holiday.”
 
If you see or suspect an impaired driver, call 9-1-1 immediately.  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 CHP’s MEP coincides with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s ongoing impaired driving national enforcement campaign, “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” which continues through September 5.
 
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.

Dr. Glenn Mollette 


Enjoyable weather is coming soon. For many parts of the country September through November offers many pleasant days. Don’t waste them by spending all your time starring at the television or Facebook. You still have some life to live. Spending four or five hours a day watching what everyone else is doing is a waste of your time. 


There are programs you enjoy and news events that grab our attention. There are a few people you enjoy keeping up with via social media. After this, get a life. Do you want to spend the rest of your life with your head bent down starring at a tablet or a cell phone? You might get to a point where all you can do is sit in your chair and stare at the television. I’ve seen many good people who at the end of their lives who could do nothing but watch television or stare into space.  Often our bodies get to where that’s all we can do. Is this all you can do now? Consider your daily options.


Stop throwing your life away doing nothing. Have verbal conservations with people on the telephone. You can overdo this as well but it’s at least human interaction. Keep moving, stretching and exerting yourself. Plan your meals and eat as healthy as possible and don’t overeat. Save some for your next meal. You’ll live till the next one. 


Go somewhere when you can. Going someplace is better than no place. A change of pace and being outdoors is mentally good for you. Your travel may be across the street but the key is to move and get out. 


You will get depressed if all you are doing is eating, starring at your cell phone and flipping television channels. If you are physically able, work ten to twenty hours a week. Somebody will hire you. 


Everyone needs something to do, someone to talk to and something to look forward to doing. You also need someone to love and first you always have God. God loves you now and if you’ll open your heart, he will fill your life with his love. There are people to love. Love your family, love friends, love people at work and church. Love the people with whom you socially gather. Some people aren’t easy to love and some are impossible. Keep in mind that all things with God are possible. Keep your heart filled with God’s love. Love yourself. You can’t love others very well if you don’t love yourself. Forgive and take care of yourself. You’ll then have something you can give others, love and kindness. 


It's sad to be around bitter people who have never resolved life’s issues and embraced their own lives. Everyone has potential to excel and achieve. Too often people get bogged down with failures and are totally destroyed. Some failures are just events in your life in which you will learn about you and others. You can use failure to grow, reposition and redevelop your life. 


You know what the political candidates are saying. You don’t have to spend hours watching political ads, unless you are bored stiff.


Enjoy the season. Make this next one a great one. 




Here Dr. Mollette each weekday at 8:56 and 11:30 EST on XM radio 131 
  
Contact him at GMollette@aol.com. Learn more at www.glennmollette.com 

​

On August 26, 2022, at approximately 1:20 p.m., a 43-year-old male resident from Vallejo, CA was driving a white International box truck northbound on SR-89 (south), north of Goose Meadows at an undetermined speed. For reasons still under investigation the driver of the International box truck crossed over the solid double yellow lines and entered the southbound lane of SR-89 (south) directly into southbound traffic. Traveling in the opposite lane was a black Ford Eco Sport driven by a 42-year-old resident from Tempe, AZ, a white Subaru Impreza driven by a 37-year-old resident from Olympic Valley, CA, and a black Subaru Outback driven by a 42-year-old resident from Truckee, CA.
As the International box truck entered the southbound lane it struck the three southbound vehicles. The International box truck sideswiped the black Ford and the black Subaru and the white Subaru struck the International box truck head on. As a result of the traffic collision the driver of the white Subaru sustained fatal injuries. The driver of the black Subaru and a pas-senger from within the International box truck were transported to the Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee for minor injuries. Drugs or alcohol currently do not appear to be a factor in the collision.
This traffic collision is still under investigation. If you have any information regarding this traffic collision, please contact Officer D. Lack at CHP Truckee (530) 563-9200.

 
On August 22, 2022, the Sierra County Sheriff’s Office received multiple 911 calls reporting two visible smoke columns south of the Yuba Pass near Berry Creek in Sierra County. Sierra County Fire and the Tahoe National Forest Service fire personnel responded. The fires were contained a short time after fire personnel arrived on the scene.
 
The forest service determined the fires were suspicious, and the Sierra County Sheriff’s Office assumed the lead agency in the investigation. Sheriff’s Office Investigators, assisted by Cal-Fire and the Tahoe National Forest Service collected evidence and interviewed witnesses the following day.
During the ensuing investigation, Dillon Schneider of Auburn California was identified as a person of interest. Schneider was employed as a water truck driver with a logging company working in the area when the fires started.
 
In the late afternoon of August 22, Sheriff’s Office Investigators arrested Schneider for being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition and a firearm. After additional investigation and searches of Schneider’s vehicles, Sheriff Office Investigator’s developed probable cause that Schneider was responsible for starting the fires and placed him under arrest for arson.
 
Dillion Schneider was booked into the Nevada County Jail on suspicion of arson, possession of an incendiary device, a prohibited person possessing ammunition and a firearm, and possession of stolen property; bail is set at $200,000.
 
This is an ongoing investigation, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Sierra County Sheriff’s Office at (530) 289-3700.

Full USFS Wildland Fire Dispatch to
8.22.22 Berry Fire.
After receiving 911 call notification, reporting the Berry Fire, near Berry Creek southwest of Sattley, CA on the Sierraville Ranger District of the Tahoe National Forest, TNF Dispatch mobilized both aerial and ground Firefighting Resources. Once TNF Air Attack 17 Bryan Rosenow was over the fire, he relayed the initial size up that included observations of 2 wildfires- each 1/4 acre, 100 yards apart, exhibiting a slow rate of spread.

TNF Helicopter 514 with 514 Tahoe Helitack stationed at White Cloud and cover Helicopter 3CH from the Salmon-Challis National Forest with Salmon Heli-rappellers stationed out of Truckee, were also part of the aerial firefighting response. Ground resources who made access into Fire included TNF Eastside Battalion Chief 61 Shawn Burt, TNF Truckee Engine 373, cover engine 1249 from Tonto National Forest, TNF Downieville Engine 332, TNF Sierraville Patrols 61, 62, Fuels Tech 63, and Fuels Specialist 64. 

USFS aerial and ground Fire resources took swift suppression action combining helicopter bucket work and a progressive hose lay around the entire perimeter of the fires to stop forward progression in its .2 acre footprint. USFS Firefighters from Tahoe NF and Tonto NF Engines, TNF H514 Tahoe Helitack and Salmon-Challis NF Helicopter 3CH Salmon Heli-rappellers constructed containment line to reinforce the hose lay and bring the Berry Fire to 100% containment. TNF Fire Prevention Patrols 61 and 62 conducted the initial Fire Investigation on the ground. Ground resources fully mopped up the Berry Fire supported by TNF Water Tender 231. TNF Truckee Engine 373 remained on the Berry Fire overnight, hand-gridding the fire area the next morning to thoroughly check for any remaining interior heat before putting the fire in Patrol status where it has continued to be regularly checked by TNF Fire Resources. ​

For the first time in years, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is using airplanes to drop fish into lakes for a process called fish stocking.
On Aug. 12, the CDFW posted the video titled “High Sierra Aerial Trout Planting 2022” to its YouTube page. The department announced it has been dropping rainbow trout into lakes in six counties. 26 lakes across Plumas, Sierra, Nevada, El Dorado, Amador, and Alpine counties will be filled with thousands of fish.
In the video, Doug Langley a fish manager from the American River Trout Hatchery said the department is planting fish in these areas “for the people that like to fish remote lakes, that you can’t access by vehicles, to have a fishing opportunity that you don’t normally get.”

This project is the first aerial planting in five years, according to the video. Spokesman Peter Tira told The Sacramento Bee the department couldn’t use the planes until now because of shutdowns during COVID, plane issues, or that planes were being used in other emergencies across the state.
Some of the “typically back country lakes” were historically fishless, said Tira.
In 2010, the department was sued by the Center for Biological Diversity for not properly analyzing how to protect native species in the areas where fish were being planted by CDFW hatcheries. The lawsuit cited the decline of native California amphibians that need fishless, high mountain lakes for survival.
Pre-stocking evaluations are now being done before the department brings hatchery fish into these lakes.
“We don’t just put them anywhere. We make sure these trout won’t present some kind of conflict,” said Tira.
These lakes aren’t the only waterways being restocked this summer.
Even more waterways across the state will be planted with catchable-size trout from CDFW hatcheries, according to the department’s 2022 fish planting schedule.
For years, CDFW hatcheries have been dealing with outbreaks caused by naturally occurring bacteria within hatcheries.
In October, the department announced the Hot Creek trout hatchery faced its second outbreak for the year. The hatchery was able to vaccinate uninfected fish so they could be planted. Vaccinated fish are safe for anglers to catch and eat, according to the press release.
This year, two Eastern Sierra trout hatcheries saw a decline in the amount of fish they could safely plant. In April, the Fish Springs Hatchery lost all of its trout. Approximately 550,000 fish tested positive for the Lactococcus bacteria and had to be euthanized.

As students head back to school, now is the time to focus on financial literacy

 
QUINCY, Calif. (August 29, 2022) — Financial education is an investment for a stable future, especially for today’s students; more than half of those who go to college take on student debt and also face more financial stress with today’s economy. 
 
Students can sharpen their financial skills by creating a plan that incorporates their short and long-term financial goals. Plumas Bank offers the opportunity to meet with one of their business advisers/ branch managers in person at one of their locations in Northeast California and Northern Nevada or over the phone; Plumas Bank also offers a variety of free online educational resources.
 
“Financial education empowers students to take control of their finances, both now and after graduation," said Rose Boulade, vice president and business advisor at Plumas Bank in Alturas, Calif. “This also builds positive banking relationships, so students understand the role banks play in consumer financial success.”
 
Plumas Bank has been recognized as a leading financial institution for helping promote financial stability by America Saves, a campaign that motivates, encourages, and supports low- to moderate-income households to save money, reduce debt, and build wealth; Plumas Bank was one of six banks across the country to receive the Designation of Savings Excellence (DOSE) award from the campaign sponsored by the Consumer Federation of America. 
 
Plumas Bank offers the following tips to help students take control of their finances: 

• Start a budget. Put your smartphone to good use and learn about our online services available at the bank to help you manage your finances and track your spending remotely.
  
• Pay off student loans. It may be tempting to make the minimum monthly payments, but a more aggressive repayment plan can save you thousands in the long run. Some employers will help you pay off your student debt; make sure to ask about this when negotiating your new job. 
  
• Spend responsibly. Shopping and weekend getaways are a great way to recharge from the work week but can quickly eat away at your budget. Research the products you’d like to buy, along with restaurants and excursions in your price range and plan accordingly so these purchases and activities don’t become a financial hardship.
  
• Establish an emergency fund to cover life’s unexpected events and give you greater peace of mind. Start by putting away $1,000 (the daily cost of a tall latte in a year) then contribute spare change or a little from each paycheck until you have between three to six months of net pay. 
  
• Plan for retirement. Automate your savings so that a portion of each paycheck goes  directly into a savings account. Take advantage of your employers’ 401(k) plan (and any matching contributions) if offered. If you don’t see it, chances are you won’t miss it so much. 
  

“Plumas Bank’s financial education is designed to instill good saving and spending habits that students will carry with them through the rest of college and into their careers,” Boulade said. “Students who learn financial literacy early have a better chance of reaching long-term personal financial goals.” 

Students and parents can test their knowledge of everyday financial topics by taking the “How Money Smart Are You?” quiz created by the FDIC. Visit plumasbank.cm/resources.

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About Plumas Bank
Founded in 1980, Plumas Bank is a locally managed, full-service community bank headquartered in Quincy, California. Its parent company, Plumas Bancorp, is located in Reno, Nevada. The bank operates fourteen branches: twelve located in the northern California counties of Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Shasta and Sutter and two branches located in the northern Nevada counties of Washoe and Carson City. The bank also operates three loan production offices: two located in the California counties of Placer and Butte, and one located in the Oregon county of Klamath. Plumas Bank offers a wide range of financial and investment services to consumers and businesses and has received nationwide Preferred Lender status with the United States Small Business Administration. For more information on Plumas Bancorp and Plumas Bank, visit www.plumasbank.com.


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65% Planning to Boat Labor Day Weekend, 80% Will Extend Season

SPRINGFIELD, Va. Aug. 29, 2022 – With gas prices continuing to fall and the summer boating season coming to a close, more boaters are expected to take to the water this Labor Day holiday. Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), the nation’s largest advocacy, services and safety group with more than 800,000 dues-paying members, is advising boaters to keep safety at the forefront of their boating activities.
According to an online survey of BoatUS members across the country, 65% of respondents plan on boating this Labor Day weekend. Almost 80% said they are welcoming lower gas prices and plan to extend their boating season into the fall.
“We know the Labor Day weekend is the unofficial end of summer, but for many boaters, the long weekend serves as a ‘last blast’ invitation to get out on the water, and we expect increased boating activity on lakes and coastal waterways,” said John Condon, vice president of towing services for BoatUS. “Our survey also indicated that there’s no end in sight for a lot of boaters as they are starting to take advantage of lower gas prices and extend their season into the fall. However, this is a great opportunity to get boaters to think about finishing their season with safety and preparedness in mind.”
BoatUS typically receives more than 90,000 calls annually with the major boating holidays – Memorial Day, July Fourth and Labor Day – driving the most calls for assistance from members and non-members. The most common requests for on-water assistance from recreational boaters include some type of engine or mechanical breakdown, running aground in a shallow area, needing a jumpstart, running out of fuel, and needing a tow.
Capt. Richard Lenardson, owner of TowBoatUS in Grand Haven, Mich., and his team provide on-water assistance for boaters on Lake Michigan, are anticipating another busy holiday weekend this Labor Day and are communicating their safety message out to boaters now before the holiday rush picks up.
“I tell folks on the water all the time: ‘you’ve got to treat the lake like an ocean,’” Lenardson said. “You never know what the waters and weather will do from one minute to the next, so preparation and safety are key.” Lenardson urges all boaters to have reliable communications equipment such as VHF marine radio and not depend solely on cell coverage, which can be lost offshore.
Capt. Robert Estrada, owner of TowBoatUS Lake Lanier, Ga., expects boating activity on the lake to “triple” this Labor Day holiday and also urges boating safety fundamentals.
“Many people use checklists for their grocery shopping, so I tell boaters to use a checklist for boating,” Estrada said. “U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets should always be first on your list – especially for children, followed by boating safety essentials like flares, fire extinguishers, working navigation lights, and inspected engines and fuel systems.”
Estrada also recommends a designated sober boat operator is identified before leaving the dock.
A range of boating safety topics ─ which can be customized to include on your own checklist ─ are available at the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water. For more information on towing services, visit BoatUS.com/Towing, or call 800-888-4869.
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Suggested social media post:
Boaters urged to stay prepared and safe this Labor Day weekend. @BoatUS can help you get ready. #laborday  #boatingsafety https://bit.ly/3APEIhj
​

 

Dr. Glenn Mollette 
 
If you worked hard for a scholarship, paid your way through school, paid back loans or your family sacrificed for you to go to school, President Biden has shown that you were a big dummy. 
 
Don’t knock yourself out.  Just sit back and the government will throw you some crumbs to take care of you.
 
In a move that Biden had promised during his campaign he erased between $10,000 to $20,000 of debt from millions of Americans college spending spree extravaganza.  Years ago, Americans starting learning to spend money like it’s water. Maybe they thought, “I won’t have to pay it back”. Their dream has come true. You and I along with the rest of America’s tax payers will get to pay at least a half trillion dollars of this debt. 
 
This is just what you had been hoping for! More taxes! Oh wait, just those rich people in America will have to pay this off, right? Every American on some level will share in this new financial burden. 
 
Universities are legally raping America’s families because we sign up and agree to pay the tuition. We do it to ourselves.  Universities don’t put a gun to the heads of Americans and make us pay.  Americans foolishly agree to this debt. Yet, most universities are the last sector in America to feel the pain of the economy. In 2020-2021, most of them received millions of free government paycheck protection program money. This is more government money that will be eaten by you – the taxpayer. Millions of American businesses also received tens of thousands to millions of dollars of free PPP money in the last two years that will also slam all Americans in more taxes. 
 
Some tenured professors are making over $200,000, a year.  Many University Presidents across the country are making over one million dollars a year, plus major perks. Many coaches make a million or more a year. Universities spend money like its water. They are the ones who need to be lending and collecting or forgiving some of this debt.  Not you. 
 
 You probably already paid once. Now we get to pay more for the students and the Universities who just kept spending money.  Why are you responsible for the foolish people who borrow $50,000 to $100,000 and more? 
 
I believe in helping people, but Biden needs to pass some of this lending and collecting burden to the Universities. You the taxpayer keep giving the money. The universities want $30,000 to $50,000 a year and more.  American families foolishly swallow the poison. Next, their financial insanity becomes everybody’s problem.  Does this seem right to you? 
 
Sadly, millions of Americans rack up college debt and never complete their degrees. Millions more get degrees they never use. You don’t need a college degree for a lot of jobs.  Most jobs do require training that can be accomplished in far less time and money. 


Congratulations if your debt is $10,000 to $20,000 lighter, but your debt will still have to be paid, by your friends, family, neighbors and others. 


Consider spending the first two years in a community college or trade school. You can move on to the big-name school for your Junior and Senior years. The first two years are generally electives and classes you don’t enjoy that much anyway. You’ll save a lot of money and maybe grow up some before you land in a dorm room 200 miles away from home. 






Hear Dr. Glenn Mollette each weekday morning at 8:56 and 10:11:30 AM EST. on XM 131 Radio 

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A NASA study revealed that 84% of wildfires in the U.S. are caused by human activity. Preventing wildfires is a collective effort that requires everyday people, governments, and corporations to work together to curb climate change and reduce the risk of fires.

That’s why my team at EcoWatch created a guide that highlights the causes, effects and solutions to wildfires. 

Wildfires 101: Everything You Need to Know
https://www.ecowatch.com/wildfires-facts.html ​

 
 Quite some time ago, Larry Breed and Rick Hertzberg spent many nights at the Old Sierra City Hotel bar talking about owning a couple of awesome hot rods but not being unable to attend car shows as they were busy running businesses. One evening, a very smart lady then came into the bar at the hotel and said, “I’m tired of listening to you two boys complaining about your cars so, let’s just have a damn car show here in Sierra City!” She took a dart from the dartboard and threw it at a calendar on the wall. It landed on a date in mid-September and so it was born, the idea of a Sierra City car show.
 
 Several years prior, Larry and a couple of his cousins went to a car show in Truckee. One of his cousins had a 1948 English Ford Anglia. It had wheelie bars, flames, injectors out of the hood, you name it, nice car. It was a classic hot rod but they were turned away from the show because they only allowed American-made cars. They left the car show and it bothered Larry for many years. Eventually, Larry proclaimed that Sierra City was going to have a car show, and the first show would be on September 18/19, 2009.  We'll invite our friends and there are not going to be any rules whatsoever! You can bring anything you want, heck you can bring your lawnmower as long as you can drive it. It is all about getting together to hang out with their guys and gals, tell stories, and make stuff up. Talking about all the things that they got away with when they were young. We always talked about how back in the day we did this or we did that. It was to be a celebration of hot rods and lost youth.
 
 The first year several friends were invited and we had 35 cars in the show. We had no idea how many would show up and to this day, that reality remains the same. Back in the day we didn’t advertise or do anything really, it was just word of mouth. To be honest, we didn’t care because it was just a little itty bitty car show in a little mountain town. We just wanted everyone to leave with a smile, spend some money in town, and have a good time.
 
 We started with a meet and greet at Sorraccos Saloon around 4 o’clock the prior evening. It wasn't a requirement to pre-register but the meet and greet was a fun way to kick off the event.
 
 The first meet and greet for the car show finally arrived and well, Larry’s youngest daughter decided that she was going to have a baby! Larry went to Rick and said, “sorry brother but I have got to go.” Rick said, “you can’t leave, I don’t know what I am doing!” Larry said, “well, I don’t know what I am doing either but I have got to go to Sacramento.” So, Larry and Kathy took off and returned many hours later with the news of the birth of their first granddaughter. It was now up to Rick and Debbie to see that the meet and greet was a success, which it was.
 
 One year there were a bunch of blown boats down at the Sierra Skies RV park and Larry said, “the only rule (if we're going to have one) with the boats is that you have to fire them up!” They said well, we might break some windows but they did it anyway and oh boy did it crackle through the whole town. One year we even had some rock crawlers up on the side of the Old Sierra City Hotel Building. We also always tried to line up the cars in the Sierra Skies RV park which proved to be very difficult but we did it so that people could see the person and the car receiving the award. They would then head up Butte St over to Castagna Alley by the store and wait for the best of show to be announced. Then the cars would parade down to the Sierra Pines Resort and back up Main Street to the Yuba River Inn. They would drive up and down Main Street, while people would be hooting, hollering, and high-fiving as the cars drove by. Many folks returned home saying that this is a totally different car show than they have ever been to.
 
 One memorable moment was a year when it rained for the whole weekend. There were still 45 cars and everyone toughed it out. One of the guys had a 52 Chevy Convertible that he parked in front of the post office. He put a tarp over the car and slept in it that night. The next day everyone was hanging out at the Old Sierra City Hotel bar for the awards presentation. Kathy and Larry would announce the winner of the award and they would run across the street to the store to pick up their award, do a little rain dance, then head back over to the bar for a drink.
 
 The car show has continued over the years and every year a few more cars would come to the show. There were a couple of years where there were a hundred cars which is a bit too much for our little town to handle. The biggest problem is finding a place to stay. You’ve got to get a room for the car show next year or you may have to camp!
 
 One of the unique things about this show is that local businesses sponsor an award to give to their favorite car. It might be a car that they rode in as a kid or a car that they always wanted or had as a teenager. The businesses pick clever names for their award like Sorraccos Saloon, “the best trunk to stuff a body in” or the CHP “Red light Runner” it’s just fun.
 
 Well, folks, that is a little bit of Big City Rod Run history. Two car-crazed guys and a gal decided to have a car show in a little mountain town to satisfy their craving for hot rods and classic cars. We have always wanted people to stay longer and come up Thursday or Friday as there are a lot of beautiful things and places to see up here not to mention the wonderful winding road that leads to Sierra City. Driving highway 49 in a hot rod, classic car, or motorbike, there is nothing like it. This year's show is September 9-10 and we hope to see you there!
 

www.tfhd.com


(Tahoe/Truckee, Calif.) –  September is Sepsis Awareness Month and Tahoe Forest Health System wants to inform our community of this life-threatening condition.
Sepsis is a medical emergency. It is your body's life-threatening response to an infection. Any kind of infection can lead to sepsis, but common infections include Urinary Tract Infections (UTI), Strep Throat, Influenza and MRSA. Sepsis is not contagious. 
More than 1.6 million people are diagnosed with sepsis in the U.S. each year. 258,000 of those patients will die from it. That is more than prostate cancer, breast cancer and AIDS combined. 
Knowing the symptoms can save lives:

S - Shivering, fever, very cold
E - Extreme pain or discomfort
P - Pale or discolored skin
S - Sleepy, difficult to rouse, confused
I - "I feel like I might die"
S - Shortness of breath
There is no simple test for sepsis, but it can be prevented by preventing infection. Sepsis can be treated successfully in most cases if caught and treated early. 

If you suspect you or a loved one may have sepsis, seek medical treatment immediately. 
For more information about sepsis, visit www.sepsis.org.
 
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About Tahoe Forest Health System
Tahoe Forest Health System, which includes Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee, CA, and Incline Village Community Hospital in Incline Village, NV, offers 24-hour emergency care, urgent care, primary and specialty health care clinics including Tahoe Forest Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Commission on Cancer (COC) accredited cancer center, the Gene Upshaw Memorial Tahoe Forest Cancer Center, and the Joseph Family Center for Women and Newborn Care. With a strong focus on high quality patient care, community collaboration, clinical excellence and innovation, Tahoe Forest Health System is a UC Davis Rural Center of Excellence. For a complete list of physician specialties and services, visit www.tfhd.com.
 
 

The Portola Penguins Swim Team hosted the Lassen Volcanoes on Sunday, August 21st, for the second and last home meet of the season. Twenty-nine Volcanoes competed against 16 Penguins in 28 individual races and two relays. The meet was followed by a ribbon ceremony complete with a silent auction, BBQ and birthday cake for the Penguin’s coach, Jennifer Condliffe.

“My son Jacob and I came to Portola from Rocklin to watch my nephew Piper and the Penguins compete against the Volcanoes. It was a beautiful warm day, and the kids were excited and eager to swim,” said Svitlana Stosen.

​There were some Penguins who set Penguin records, including Sadie Bourgoine who got a time of 21.25 seconds for the girls 25 yard backstroke, and Kylie Low who swam the 50 freestyle race in 33.76 seconds.
The Penguins thank the Volcanoes for coming to Portola on what happens to be a school night. “It was a lovely way to end the swim season, as well as summer vacation for our kids” said Maria Guy. “They are very much looking forward to setting new records next year.”
The Penguins invite everyone to stop by their booth on Friday, August 26, at Music in the Park in Portola for their last fundraiser of the summer.

The Penguins will be doing their fundraiser Friday, August 26th at Music in the Park in Portola.

Minor Travel Delays Anticipated During Ramp Detours
 
PLACER COUNTY – Caltrans is alerting Interstate 80 (I-80) motorists to expect continued intermittent overnight closures for bridge reconstruction work in Placer County this week.
 
Beginning at 8 p.m. Friday, westbound I-80 will be reduced to one lane from Drum Forebay to Crystal Springs. A full closure of westbound I-80 is scheduled to go in effect from 10 p.m. Friday until 7 a.m. Saturday. All passenger and commercial vehicles will be detoured off the interstate at the off-ramps and back on via the on-ramps during the closure. Construction crews will be running cables through newly installed Baxter overcrossing bridge girders to ensure proper alignment and structural integrity.
 
After the Labor Day holiday, I-80 motorists may also expect intermittent overnight interstate closures near Cisco Grove and Baxter for continued bridge work. Mainline I-80 may be closed intermittently at night during concrete work on the overhead structures. The same ramp detours will be utilized throughout September with minor travel delays expected.
 
The work is part of a $57 million project to replace four I-80 bridge overcrossings in Placer County: Crystal Springs, Baxter, Drum Forebay and Cisco Grove. The structures are being demolished and rebuilt due to cracking and spalling of the concrete decks and high corrosive chloride content in the deck surfaces. All overcrossings are being widened to include 8-foot shoulders, 6-foot sidewalks and will include ramps that comply with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.
 
The project includes $3.48 million in funding from Senate Bill 1, the Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017.SB 1 provides $5 billion in transportation funding annually split between the state and local agencies. Road projects progress through construction phases more quickly based on the availability of SB 1 funds, including projects that are partially funded by SB 1. For more information about other transportation projects funded by SB 1, visit www.rebuildingca.ca.gov.
 
Project construction began in April 2021 with completion expected in summer 2023. Walsh Construction of Concord is the prime contractor.

 

Travel Delays Anticipated During Helicopter Slope Operations
 
SIERRA/NEVADA COUNTIES – Caltrans is alerting Interstate 80 (I-80) east- and westbound motorists to expect continued rolling traffic breaks at various locations next week near the California-Nevada border for mountain slope protection work.
 
A contractor will be utilizing a helicopter to fly wire mesh drapery panels to the top of the mountainside near Mystic and the state line.
 
Between 10 a.m. and noon on Tuesday, August 30 and Wednesday, August 31, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) will perform rolling traffic holds along east- and westbound I-80 during helicopter work. Traffic will be held in both directions for approximately 10 minutes before being released. Motorists should expect travel delays of up to 30 minutes due to queuing during traffic holds.
 
In addition, I-80 westbound motorists should expect daytime lane reductions next Monday, August 29 and Thursday, September 1 for construction activities. The construction schedule is subject to change based on weather, equipment and CHP availability or other unexpected events.
 
The improvements are part of a $12.6 million project to stabilize the cut slope along I-80 westbound just west of the California-Nevada state line to prevent continued rockfall onto shoulder areas and the roadway. The project will include flattening the existing slope, installing drapery systems, and constructing concrete barriers and valley gutters.
 
Alfaro Communications Construction, Inc. of Compton is the prime contractor for the project, which is scheduled to be completed in November.


SACRAMENTO – Today, Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher (Yuba City) issued a statement in advance of Governor Newsom’s afternoon media event where he is expected to celebrate his successes on reducing homelessness:
 
"I think the Governor's Media Advisory included a typo. California is leading the nation in homelessness, not the other way around,” said Gallagher. “Californians can see with their own eyes the growing homeless camps and filth in their communities. I don’t know who they think they are fooling – there’s not a whole lot for the Governor to celebrate here.”

Today at 4:00 pm, Governor Newsom is holding a press conference to announce funding awards for 2,499 housing units at a "Nation-Leading" Project Homekey site in Los Angeles County.
 
"Project Homekey is akin to putting a bandaid on a severed limb. Simply providing shelter to someone struggling with a severe mental health illness or drug addiction is nothing to celebrate,” said Gallagher. “California’s approach to reducing homelessness needs to be holistic with more emphasis on accountability and treatment for mental health illnesses and drug addiction.”


It was reported earlier this year that the City of Los Angeles was spending up to $837,000 to house a single homeless person. In the past three years alone, California has thrown a total of $17 billion at the homeless crisis. Yet federal data shows that despite the myriad of available programs, the homeless population actually grew in California.
 
Senate and Assembly Republicans introduced a package of legislative proposals earlier this year to ACT on homelessness. Nearly every proposal was rejected by Capitol Democrats.

SACRAMENTO – Legislative Democrats have breathed life anew into Senate Bill 262, a controversial and dangerous policy proposal that would create a “Zero Bail” system in California. This comes on the heels of Senate Republicans securing a veto of legislation that would have legalized drug dens.


“Between 2020 and 2021, the Yolo County DA reported 420 of the 595 individuals released without bail in Yolo County were rearrested. Coddling criminals only creates more victims,” said Senate Republican Leader Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita). “The numbers don’t lie, and it is obvious zero bail is a fail for the public’s safety.”


“As we did recently with the bill that would have legalized drug dens, Senate Republicans will fight hard to see that this bill doesn’t become law. We hope the governor will join us again and choose to protect the public rather than the criminal.”


In light of spiking crime in California and fears that this policy would further endanger Californians, SB 262 was held in committee at the author’s request in 2021. This week Democrats moved it back onto the “active file” for consideration. 


This week the Sacramento Bee published a story on the failure of zero bail in Yolo County, noting that 70% of arrestees released on zero bail were rearrested. According to the Sacramento Bee story, of the 595 people released on zero bail, 420 were rearrested. Of those 420 arrests, 123 of them were for violent crimes such as murder, attempted murder, robbery, kidnapping, robbery, carjacking and domestic violence. 


SB 262 is now being considered by the full Assembly. If it passes, it will return to the Senate for one final vote before the governor must decide to sign or veto the legislation.


###

Senator Wilk represents the 21st Senate District, which includes the Antelope, Santa Clarita and Victor valleys. Learn more about Scott by visiting his website and be sure to connect with him on social media.
​

Photos by Tim Buckhout

Top photo: Tessa and Kelly Schnase celebrate after learning of their big win at the Professional Artists and Crafters marketplace in Graeagle.   RaffleWinners1.jpg
 
Bottom photo: Tim Buckhout (center) and the winners in front of the famous Porta-Saloon 
RaffleWinners2.jpg

Each year, at the Professional Artists & Crafters marketplace in Graeagle, White Sulphur Springs volunteers conduct a raffle to benefit the restoration of the historic site.  This year the winners were Tessa and Kelly Schnase.  Kelly is a golf pro at the Graeagle Meadows golf course.
It has become a tradition that at this two day show in the park, Tim Buckhout sets up his Porta-Saloon, sells beer, and runs the big raffle.  He was assisted by  eighteen Mohawk Valley Stewardship Council (MVSC) volunteers who took shifts manning the raffle table. This year the prize was a four burner barbecue set along with gifts donated from the almost fifty craft persons participating in the show.  The winning ticket was selected by a twelve year old boy drafted by the organizers to reach in and grab the lucky ticket.  The winners were called and they showed up immediately to enthusiastically claim their many prizes.
Last year the proceeds of the raffle were donated to the Dixie fire victims.  This year the proceeds will assist the ongoing improvements at the White Sulphur Springs ranch site in Clio. The MVSC, stewards of the Ranch, is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization.  Neighbors can contribute to the cause via the website at www.WhiteSulphurSpringsRanch.com
​

PG&E to host virtual events to share local wildfire safety progress, new programs in 2022 and steps customers can take to prepare
 
OAKLAND, Calif. — New this year, PSPS notifications will be provided via call, text and/or email during both day and night, depending on when outages may occur. PG&E previously refrained from sending notifications between the hours of 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. as a courtesy to customers. However, due to requirements from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the policy has been updated. Moving forward, some PSPS notifications will now be sent to customers regardless of the time of day.
 
To discuss this change as part of our ongoing efforts to reduce wildfire risk, PG&E is hosting a wildfire safety webinar for all PG&E customers on Tuesday, August 30, 2022, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. During the webinar event, the PG&E team will discuss:

• PG&E’s progress on wildfire prevention efforts
• What’s new this year
  • Increased powerline protection to reduce outages
  • Improved coordination for faster restoration times
  • Additional customer resources to prepare for wildfire season and power outages

 
The event can be accessed through the link or dial-in below or through PG&E’s website, pge.com/firesafetywebinars. 
 
PG&E All Customer Wildfire Webinar
Tuesday, August 30, 2022, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Click this link to join: https://bit.ly/3SP2kJE
Or
Attendee Dial-in: 888-942-8391
Conference ID: 9706250
 
In addition, PG&E will also be hosting a virtual town hall to share its regional approach to improving operations, bolstering safety and delivering better outcomes for customers in the North Valley and Sierra Region. 
 
PG&E Town Hall for North Valley & Sierra Region
 
Region  North Valley/Sierra
Counties  
Butte, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Lassen, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Shasta, Sierra, Solano, Sutter, Tehama, Yolo, Yuba
Date  September 1, 2022
Time  5:30-7:00 p.m.

Link and Dial-In  Link: https://bit.ly/3A4jB98
Or
Dial-In: (669) 444-9171
Conference ID: 865 7928 5704
 
During the webinar event, customers can:

• Meet PG&E’s regional leadership team
• Hear about recent work
• Learn about wildfire prevention efforts, including safety outages
• Prepare for wildfire season with safety updates
• Provide feedback and ask questions of the local leadership team

 
Closed captioning will be available in English, Spanish and Chinese and dial-in numbers will be available for those who aren’t able to join online.
 
For additional information on how to join, recordings and presentation materials from past events and to learn more about PG&E’s Community Wildfire Safety Program, visit pge.com/wildfiresafety.
 
More information and resources to help you and your family prepare for and stay safe in the event of an emergency can be found at safetyactioncenter.pge.com.  
 
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.
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By Ted Gaines


Word Count 604
 
It's tough to survive in California if you're poor. Green-energy schemes drive our electricity rates 80-percent above the national average. Gas prices make every trip to the gas station gut-wrenching. The median home price is above $800,000 and our state sales and income taxes are the highest in the nation. It’s a state that leaves people shaking their heads in hopelessness and asking, “how will I ever get ahead?”
 
Our state could make a million policy changes to prevent our citizens from living paycheck to paycheck, but that solution is not likely found under the Democrat-led Capitol dome. What if that solution was found in our churches?
 
Recently, Harvard University economist Raj Chetty and a team of researchers analyzed the Facebook accounts of more than 72 million users ages 25-44 and found that cross-income friendships are a key determinant of upward mobility. That is, if you are poor, it helps your financial prospects to have wealthier friends.
 
That may not sound surprising, since exposure to upper income people could introduce others to behavioral norms, entrepreneurial ideas, or investment habits (among many other possible influences) that have contributed to wealth creation, but the study goes on to elaborate where those friendships develop. You might think schools are the answer, but in the absence of vouchers for school choice, most public schools are just mirrors of their neighborhoods and replicate the residential income stratification in the local housing market.
 
College? Sure! At least a little bit. But Chetty’s study found that college friendships also cluster by economic status. There is some intermixing, of course, but not much. Friendship groups there tended to reflect socioeconomic status, not transcend it.
 
Sports were another likely answer that proved underwhelming in Chetty’s research. They, too, tended to cluster people by income and not open the doors of friendship across wealth lines.
 
Chetty did find one place in particular where people of all incomes were vastly more likely to become friends: church. Chetty found that poorer people are about 20 percent more likely to make wealthy friends at church.
 
To be sure, most churches also pull from their local environments and aren’t immune to some of the same income sorting mechanics found in schools. Some of the megachurches, of course, pull from a wider area and include more members from all socioeconomic backgrounds.
 
But the real magic at church appears to be God, not geography. At church, shared faith seems to supersede the day-to-day, worldly issues that can be very different for the rich and poor, making conversations and relationships difficult to start or sustain. God is the same whether you are worried about filling up your gas tank or buying a vacation home. He is the bond that ties us all together, man and woman, young and old, rich and poor.
 
Church attendance can bring us closer to God, strengthen our families, bring us peace and happiness, and help us build loving, supportive communities. These advantages have long been known and appreciated by those who make church worship a regular part of their lives.
 
There are a thousand factors that can help people find financial success. Besides Chetty's findings, a strong family can provide emotional support, startup help, or even provide childcare that can free up someone to do the work needed to flourish. Many entrepreneurs have succeeded wildly simply by entering an established field and outworking their competition. A law degree will likely lead to excellent earnings, regardless of one's friend group.
 
But we should not ignore God. With this recent research showing that church might unlock upward mobility, worship can nourish the pocketbook as well as the soul.
 
Senator Ted Gaines (Ret.) was elected to represent the Board of Equalization’s First District. He is a leading taxpayer advocate, defender of Prop. 13, and is committed to providing trustworthy and transparent representation for nearly ten million constituents in 30 counties of northern, eastern, and southern California. For more information, visit www.boe.ca.gov/Gaines.

SACRAMENTO, CA – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) announced the awarding of $2.7 million in American Rescue Plan grant funding through the Economic Adjustment Assistance program for the development of broadband strategic plans in 27 rural California counties. Golden State Finance Authority (GSFA) will serve as the grant administrator for these planning funds, which will assist rural counties in establishing foundational readiness for broadband infrastructure deployment within their communities.


High-speed internet availability in rural California is often a critical missing component of infrastructure. Its absence precludes residents and businesses in unserved and underserved communities from participating in the 21st Century economy.


To address these issues, within the past year the federal government and State of California both set aside billions in targeted funding. In the American Rescue Plan the federal government allocated $3 billion for EDA to distribute for a variety of one-time public investments, including broadband. Similarly, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 156 in July 2021, establishing a landmark $6 billion investment in broadband infrastructure, representing a significant step in bridging the digital divide.


The $2.7 million in funding recently awarded to GSFA on behalf of rural California counties is specifically provided through EDA’s Economic Adjustment Assistance grant program. With this funding, GSFA will assist 27 of its member counties in establishing countywide broadband strategic plans. These plans will increase the ability of those rural counties to invite and direct broadband investment into their communities in a strategic manner that ultimately delivers broadband for all residents and businesses. It will also open the door for counties to take advantage of other upcoming federal and state funding opportunities that often require broadband strategic plans to be in place.


"On behalf of GSFA, I would like to thank the US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration for this significant investment,” said GSFA Board Chair and Tehama County Supervisor Bob Williams. “With this grant award all rural counties in California will now have established, proactive plans for broadband implementation for their underserved residents, representing an important milestone in the drive to achieve digital equity throughout the state.”


By establishing broadband foundational readiness for these counties, the grant will also allow for the advancement of work under GSFA’s affiliate Golden State Connect Authority (GSCA) to expand broadband access for rural California.


GSCA is a joint powers authority comprised of 39 rural California counties designed for the purpose of increasing access to reliable, affordable high-speed internet for the residents and businesses of those counties. GSCA assists rural counties in identifying pathways for development of internet infrastructure within their communities, including the construction of municipal-owned and/or operated internet systems, among other options. Pending the establishment of the organization in December 2021, GSCA’s affiliate entity GSFA submitted the EDA grant application.


"The establishment of high-speed internet access is vital to the overall health, safety, education, and economic well-being of our rural communities,” said GSCA Board Chair and Calaveras County Supervisor Jack Garamendi. “This critical investment represents the first crucial step in broadband implementation for 27 of our member counties, helping them to establish foundational readiness for broadband deployment, and advance the overall reduction of the digital divide in rural California.”


In addition to funding for the development of countywide broadband strategic plans, the award also includes funding for the development of Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS) for two areas within the GSFA county membership – Colusa County and Mono/Inyo counties. CEDS are local stakeholder driven strategies that guide regional economic development, encourage partnerships and collaboration, and improve economic outcomes and overall quality of life in a region. Having a current CEDS in place is a pre-requisite for access to many federal infrastructure and technical assistance programs


For additional information, resources, and updates about GSFA visit www.gsfahome.org and for GSCA visit www.goldenstateconnect.org.


ABOUT GOLDEN STATE FINANCE AUTHORITY
Golden State Finance Authority (GSFA) is a California joint powers authority and a duly constituted public entity and agency. GSFA was established in 1993 by the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), a public service organization that champions policies on behalf of California’s rural counties. GSFA has distinguished itself as a leader in housing finance in California for more than 29 years, helping more than 85,000 individuals and families purchase a home. GSFA has provided over $657 million in down payment assistance and helped finance over 35,500 energy efficiency improvement projects.


​

​CONCERNING THE CITY OF LOYALTON WATER LEAK, local rancher Einen Grandi extended an offer of help with his four wells surrounding the City in an emergency situation. The City has been turned down for a grant to cover repair of the major water leak, as reported at the August 16th Council meeting. The less desirable Option 2 will replace 300-feet of 10” line. City consultant Farr West has been out to survey and plans to abandon the leaking pipe. A problem has been attempts to find the valve under poison Hemlock. There was talk of spraying with a herbicide or contacting the Resource Conservation District and help with equipment by CTL. The hope is to start digging late August or first of September and Mayor Jackson admitted it’s taken “longer than we wanted.” Assistant Fire Chief Robert DeMartini was concerned with down time for water and was told it would be very little to none while laying new pipe. “Good plans always go to hell in a heartbeat,” said Robert.
Robert wanted to be told if the water tank was low. The tank was said to be at 14-feet that day. Robert questioned if they were still "losing gobs of water." Mayor Jackson repeated that they were. Council Member Jerry Gerow stated that the pumps should be keeping the tanks between 17 1/2 and 18 feet of water and they have gotten well 3, the hospital well, working now.
Robert reported there have been 152 fire calls since January 1st, stating they "weren't stopping."
The Council approved use of the grass at the Little League fields for the 100 TK-8th grade soccer players along with use of the restrooms. It was approved with a request they lock the restrooms at night when leaving due to vandalism.
Einen Grandi approached the Council over receiving sewer water and having no access when he needs it. In the past City pumps worked automatically but the system no longer works. He told of cooperation with City workers and proposed access to the gate and one building to operate the pumps at no cost to the city and he would notify workers every time he went in. Councilman Jerry Gerow wanted to “give him whatever the hell he wants.” Einen thought the agreement stated a 50/50 split on electricity and said he should get billed for a 15 hp pump for one day a week. Joy Markum moved and Gerow seconded and it was approved with notification with City workers. On another note, Einen noted it was good the pH is not down but it’s better and was always above 10. He explained high pH ties nutrients up and plants can’t pull nutrients. He stated his crop this year was better and a crop consultant commended it.