Anyone who has taken the time to pay attention to themes of the Plumas Sierra County Fair, would see that they have been all over the map. Some have reflected the point in time of the Fair; like “150th Anniversary” in 2009 or “Come Alive in ‘75” for 1975. Others were calls to action; the first modern Fair in 1940 was based on the theme “It’s Your Fair, So Be There”. After that, it would appear organizers didn’t feel the need for a theme until 1952. At that time, there was a close connection between the Fair and the Plumas Chamber of Commerce, the former led by the legendary Tulsa St. Elmo Scott and the latter by Chet Peckinpah, both members of the Western Fairs Association Hall of Fame. That year features the first of several that promoted the economy and attractions of the County; “Lumbering Progress”. Although the use of themes was still sporadic, later years had similar motives; “Outdoor Glory”, “Natural Resources….Plumas County’s Wealth” and “Progress’n Plumas Style”.
 
History had its turn on many occasions. 1976 featured “Plumas Pride In Our Past, Faith In Our Future”, followed in 1977 with “The Old West At Its Best”. 1983 made a nod to agriculture and history with “Harvest of History”. And of course, the old faithful rhyming and word play themes seemed to be popular since the 80’s. “A Family A-Fair” in 1985, and “Bales, Tails & Happy Trails” in 2010. The past few years though, the Plumas Sierra County Fair Board has made choices that have given the Fair an opportunity to address issues that can educate and inspire our community. The 2017 theme of “Art to Ag” was awarded First Place among fairs with attendance of 100,000 or less on the West Coast, as well as being nominated as one of the top 5 outstanding programs of fairs of all sizes.
 
The 2019 Plumas Sierra County Fair Theme is “Show What You Grow, Share What You Know”. The theme acknowledges the Fair’s deep connection with agriculture by inviting everyone to enter what they have grown, or raised. That might include vegetables or flowers from your garden, or even a potted plant. The second part of the theme is more universal. It is our opportunity to share our knowledge with each other. Fair Manager John Steffanic says the Fair is not looking to do that in a passive way. “We would really like to tap the extensive knowledge and experience of our community, and offer that to anyone who may be interested.” He describes classes, workshops and presentations in every area of the fair. “I would love to find someone who may have travelled to another part of the world and has photos and stories to share,” Steffanic said, “Or, if someone wants to offer a quick class in how to play ukulele, that’s the kind of thing we are looking for!” He invites anyone who may have an expertise in something floriculture, sewing, cooking, painting, travel or even home improvement, to contact him at the Fair office.
 
“Everyone has a bit of a teacher in them,” he offered, “this is their chance to play that role.” Steffanic hopes to have dozens of topics covered during the five days of the Fair; August 14 through the 18th, 2019. Fair goers that attend classes will be given a “transcript” that will keep track of what topics they experienced. Who knows what sort of rewards await those that fill up their class schedules!
 
Besides the mentioned class offerings, the Fair is reaching out to all the schools in the area to help promote education any way possible. From having a county wide science fair to offering free entries for school projects, the Plumas Sierra County Fairs wants everyone in both counties to be touched by the gift of learning.
 
The 2019 Exhibit Guide is scheduled for release around the first week of February. “The exhibit guide is the portal to a successful fair,” declared the Fair Manager. “We are so strong in our Art Barn entries, but really need to see a significant increase in entries to the Floriculture and Home Arts Buildings.” Steffanic emphasized that the more entries, the stronger the fair.
 
In an effort to help improve the number of competitive entries, Fair U will make its return on Saturday, March 2 at the fairgrounds. This workshop features several classes on how to grow, raise and make projects to enter into the Fair in August. Further details on that event will be released later in January, but Steffanic urges everyone to mark that date on their calendars.

Caltrans Reminds Public that Highways Should be Kept Clear
 
MARYSVILLE – Caltrans is reminding motorists that snow play is not permitted in State Roadside Rest Areas (SRRAs) or alongside highways, onramps or offramps for the safety of the public and other drivers.
 
With the recent storm systems in the Sierra Nevada region and accompanying clear weather conditions, many people have driven to the mountains for some family fun in the snow. However, drivers are parking alongside highways and in non-designated areas for snow play, creating hazardous driving conditions for other motorists and preventing big rigs from using rest areas for federally-mandated stops.
 
Caltrans SRRA’s have been overcrowded lately with motorists stopping to play in the snow, despite clearly displayed message boards and signs stating that snow play is not permitted. This has created traffic congestion along highway exits, which is unnsafe for motorists. Vehicles are also parking in designated big rig areas, preventing truckers from stopping to rest.
 
In addition, motorists have been using highway onramps and offramps for snow play, increasing chances for traffic collisions and preventing snow plows from clearing lanes and shoulders. Caltrans has been working closely with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to monitor and prevent snow play in non-designated areas. Vehicles found parked illegally may be cited or towed for public safety.
 
While Caltrans recognizes the beauty of the snow in the Sierra Nevadas and welcomes visitors to the area, the agency’s priority is keeping California state highways clear and safe for all motorists. Legal snow play areas can be found on the California State Parks website at http://ohv.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1233.

by Glenn Mollette 

A Happy New Year is on the agenda for most people. 
 
Arrive at 2020 alive. Another full year of life will give you the opportunity you desire to pursue happiness and fulfillment. You can't achieve anything in this world if you are dead. Think about driving a bit slower, eating healthier, some daily exercise and monitoring your health. The reality of life is that at some time and in some way each of our lives will end. Be mindful of health and taking care of yourself in 2019. 
 
Make a couple of friends in 2019. Too many close friends can be a lot of work but too many Americans are isolated and lonely. My wife and I spent almost two hours visiting people in a local nursing home on Christmas Eve. I played the violin for different people in their rooms and then the dining room. Everyone was very quiet and no one seemed to have any visitors during our visit. I felt the heaviness of their loneliness on Christmas Eve. People come and people go in this life however be open to building a couple of friendships with people that you might visit with occasionally. A good life consists of having some good people you can talk to. 
 
Have something to do. If you are going to school, or working a job or raising a family you have plenty to do. Some people are trying to do all three and it's more than enough. Everybody needs a constructive day. Have something that you need to do. Have something to look forward to and something to occupy your time. You need to feel like your life counts for something and it's up to you to make it count. Create your life. Come up with something to do that is meaningful to you. 
 
Be smart about your money. Make some. Give some away. Save some and spend some. You can't take any of it with you so you should try to enjoy whatever income you have. However, you might live longer than you think. A good friend of mine told me he would run out of money at age 90. He was 89 and concerned. He lived to 93. He had Social Security but his income dramatically dropped his last three years. We never know about our longevity but try to save and spend in balance. 
 
Seek wisdom. Pray, meditate, seek the wisdom of God and smart people. Make sure the people you consult know what they are talking about but listen and learn. We are never too old to learn. 
 
So dear reader, Happy New Year to you. May 2019 be the best year of your life. It won't necessarily be easy or free from aggravation or pain but I hope you will have peace and joy throughout all the events and circumstances of your life. Keep this in mind, your happiness will begin and end in you. Happiness is in inside job and 2019 is now all before you. 

 
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – On January 3, 2019, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) will conduct the first snow survey media availability of the season. This event invites members of the media to join DWR staff as they measure water content in the snowpack, a key indicator for water supply. 
 
When:     Thursday January 3, 2019, 11:00 a.m.
Where:    Phillips Station, intersection of US 50 and Sierra-at-Tahoe Road (directions below)
Who:       California Department of Water Resources
 
The Phillips Station snow course is one of more than 260 snow courses across the Sierra Nevada that DWR manually or electronically measures each winter and early spring. Data collected from the monthly snow surveys help determine the amount of water that will melt and run off to state reservoirs during warmer months. The information is critical to the water managers who allocate California’s natural water resources to regions downstream.
 
John King with DWR’s Snow Survey Section, along with Dr. Michael Anderson (DWR’s State Climatologist), will conduct the snow survey and respond to questions from the media. King, Anderson, and other DWR staff will be available for interviews immediately following the briefing.
 

 
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – As the winter holiday season continues, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) asks motorists to resolve to start the New Year with safe celebrations.  This means planning not to drive impaired or distracted.
 
The CHP will observe the New Year with a Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) from
6:01 p.m. on Friday, December 28, 2018, to 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, January 1, 2019.  All available personnel will be on duty.  The CHP will focus on impaired drivers, but officers will also watch for distracted driving, speeding, and seat belt violations, as well as motorists in need of assistance.
 
During last year’s New Year’s MEP, 40 people died in collisions on California roadways.  Sadly, more than two-thirds of the vehicle occupants killed within CHP jurisdiction were not wearing a seat belt.  In addition, CHP officers made 936 arrests for driving under the influence during the New Year’s MEP, which was one day shorter than the upcoming holiday enforcement effort. 
 
“Impairment of any kind while driving is illegal.  Alcohol, cannabis, or legal or illegal drugs can all affect your driving,” CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley said.  “Impaired driving is a serious crime that can lead to an arrest, serious injury, or death.”
 
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has found that an overwhelming majority of
drivers – almost 95 percent – consider driving after drinking alcohol a serious threat to their personal safety.  However, 13.5 percent reported driving at least once in the past year when they thought their alcohol levels might have been close to or possibly over the legal limit.  More than
90 percent of drivers perceive people driving after using illegal drugs to be a serious threat to their personal safety.
 
Planning for a safe ride to and from festivities is easy and smart.  Numerous alternatives to driving impaired are available, including ride-hailing services, public transportation, or calling a taxi or a sober friend or family member. 
 
The mission of the CHP is to provide the highest level of Safety, Service, and Security.
 
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Agency urges drivers not to take the risk of driving impaired


WASHINGTON – This holiday season, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is reminding Americans that it is never okay to drive impaired. Motorists traveling in the coming weeks can expect to see increased law enforcement on the road as part of the high-visibility Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, running from December 14 to 31. This year, for the first time, NHTSA’s annual Drive Sober campaign has expanded to focus not just on drunk, but also on drug-impaired driving with the If You Feel Different, You Drive Different campaign.


Last year, California ranked second among states with the highest number of alcohol-related crashes in the month of December. Across the state, 97 lives were lost in traffic crashes involving a drunk driver.


NHTSA Deputy Administrator Heidi R. King released two video messages urging travelers to drive sober this holiday season.


According to NHTSA, 10,874 people were killed in 2017 in motor vehicle traffic crashes in which a driver had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over the legal limit of .08 grams per deciliter. During the month of December 2017, 885 people lost their lives in traffic crashes involving a drunk driver. Like drunk driving, drug-impaired driving is impaired driving, which means it is dangerous and illegal in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington, DC.


NHTSA recommends the following actions to stay safe this holiday season:

• Remember, it is never okay to drive drunk or high. Designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride share service to get home safely. Before you go out, download NHTSA’s SaferRide mobile app, available on Google Play for Android devices, and Apple’s iTunes Store for iOS devices. It lets you share your location so a friend can pick you up. The app is free and available for Apple and Android devices.
• If a friend or family member is impaired by alcohol or drugs and planning to drive, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get home safely. Don’t worry about offending someone—they’ll thank you later.
• Be alert and distraction-free, and if you see an impaired driver, call 911 as soon as it is safe to do so.
• Buckle up. Wearing your seat belt is your best defense against an impaired driver.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – As Californians travel this week, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is set to begin its Christmas Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP). This additional enforcement is intended to further ensure the safety of the motoring public during the holidays.


The MEP begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, December 21, and continues through 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, December 25. The focus of the MEP is speed limit enforcement, but officers will also be watching for any signs of impaired driving. During this period, all available officers will be out on the roadways for enhanced enforcement efforts and assisting motorists wherever needed.


“The California Highway Patrol wishes everyone a happy and, most importantly, safe holiday season,” CHP Commissioner Warren Stanley said. “Please remember to drive sober, avoid distractions, always buckle up, leave plenty of time to reach your destination, and consider the possibility of inclement weather.”


The holiday season brings celebrations and time spent with family and friends, but unfortunately they also result in a considerable loss of life on California’s roadways.

 
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – New laws approved by the California Legislature in 2018 will affect roadway safety in several ways, including helmet use on bicycles and motorized scooters, hit-and-run on bicycle paths, modified exhaust systems, and enhanced safety for refuse collection vehicles. To support its mission of providing the highest levels of Safety, Service, and Security, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) is highlighting several of these new laws.
 
Bicycle hit-and-run on bike path (AB 1755, Steinorth): The provisions of the felony hit-and-run law are extended to cyclists on Class I bikeways (bike paths). Currently, in the California Vehicle Code, a driver involved in a collision resulting in death or injury to another party is required to stop at the scene. This law clarifies that the same vehicle code also applies on Class I bikeways and allows law enforcement to hold individuals accountable for reckless behavior.
 
Bicycle helmets (AB 3077, Caballero): Persons under age 18 not wearing a helmet on a bicycle, scooter, skateboard, or skates will receive a “fix-it” ticket. A citation is considered non-punitive and correctable if proof that the minor has completed a bicycle safety course and has a helmet that meets safety standards is presented within 120 days to the issuing law enforcement agency.
 
Helmet use on motorized scooters (AB 2989, Flora): Bicycle helmets are no longer required for riders of motorized scooters who are age 18 or older. Motorized scooters may operate within a Class IV bikeway as well as a Class II bikeway and on highways with speed limits up to 25 miles per hour. Local jurisdictions may pass ordinances to allow motorized scooters on highways with speed limits up to 35 miles per hour. It is still illegal to operate a motorized scooter on a sidewalk.
 
Certain vehicle exhaust violations no longer correctable (AB 1824, Committee on Budget): A fine will become mandatory, not correctable, when loud motor vehicles and motorcycles are cited. Previously, a driver or motorcyclist who was cited for modified or excessively loud exhaust or muffler systems could correct the violation to avoid a fine.
 
Passing waste service vehicles (AB 2115, Santiago): When approaching or overtaking a refuse collection vehicle with its amber lights flashing, drivers must move into an adjacent lane, if possible, and pass at a safe distance. If it is not possible, drivers must slow to a safe and reasonable speed. This law provides a safety margin for sanitation workers while they are actively working.
 
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                                Sierra County District Attorney
Lawrence R. Allen
District Attorney / Public Administrator
 
                                                                        100 Courthouse Square                   513 Main Street
                                                                         P.O. Box 457                                P.O. Box  886       
                                                                         Downieville, California 95936          Loyalton, California                               
                                                                         530.289.3269                                   530.993.4617
                                                                        FAX 530.289.2822                           FAX 530.993.1667
                                                                        larryallen@sierracounty.ws     
 
 
                                  
 
Nathan Ashley (20) Loyalton.  Use of a controlled substance.  Eighteen months probation, 2 days jail, fine $1140.
 
David Morrison (43) Loyalton. Morrison pled guilty to battery causing force likely to produce great bodily injury, child endangerment and driving under the influence.  He was sentenced to five years formal probation, 660 days in jail, fine $945, ordered to attend a batters program and successfully complete drug court.
 
Richard Price (29) Loyalton.  His probation was violated by use and possession of a device used to inject controlled substance, failing to contact probation, and possession of methamphetamine.  His probation was reinstated, he was ordered to jail for 30 days, and then into residential re-hab.
 
Leana Conrady (28) transit (Reno).  She was convicted of attempting to escape custody, resisting officers with force and violence, and vandalizing a sheriff’s vehicle.  She was sentenced to 4 years probation, 180 days jail, fines of $705, ordered into re-hab, and ordered to successfully complete drug court.
 
Tammy Prewitt (44) Loyalton.  Petty theft of a person’s cell phone, which was recovered. twelve months probation, 4 days jail, and fine $275.
 
William Guidotti (24) Loyalton.  Driving with a blood alcohol of .08% or more in his system and causing injury.  Three years probation, 2 days jail, fine $2787, and restitution was reserved to be determined at a future date.
 
Adam Marzell (32) Loyalton. Resisting or delaying an officer who was attempting to arrest him on an our of area warrant. Thirty days jail, fine $650.
 
Taylor Price (28) Beckworth.  Driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 or more.  Three years probation, 2 days jail, fine $1920, attend alcohol school.
 
Kyle Price (30) Chico.  Driving while license suspended for a previous alcohol offense. Three years probation, 10 days jail, and fine $2249.
 
Jeanie Nelson (44) Susanville.  Hunting in X zone with D zone tags.  Fine $850.
 
Felipe Cuevas (50) Oakland.  Loaded firearm in vehicle while hunting.  Fine $274.
 
Nathan Ashley (20) Loyalton.  Violation of probation for using a controlled substance. Sixty days jail, probation reinstated.
 
David Ostler (64) Los Angeles.  Altering a stream bed and causing pollution to a waterway.  Three years probation, 100 hours community service, fine $3235, restore section of Cold Creek that was impacted (to date close to $50,000 has been expended for the restoration of the stream).  He undertook to alter cold creek which he viewed as causing a potential problem on his vacant property in Sierraville without the appropriate permits and oversight by agencies responsible for the stream.
 
Christopher Marin (61) Loyalton.  Fail to register as sex offender.  Three years probation, 16 days jail, fine $923.
 
Leif Rasmussen (64) Reno.  Driving under the influence and possession of concealed firearm in a vehicle.  Three years probation, fine $2960, complete alcohol school.
 
Travis Frazier (22) Loyalton.  Sex with a minor.  Three years probation, 60 days jail, fine $235, stay away from victim. He was extradited to Nevada to face felony burglary charges there.
 
Sheri Wolverton (49) transit (Butte County).  Felony  preparation of false evidence – she showed at probation knowing she would be drug tested with phony urine attached to her leg.  Thee years probation, 90 days jail, and ordered to re-hab.