SIERRA COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE’S funding agreement for promotion of Sierra County was discussed during the Board of Supervisors’ meeting on February 17th in Loyalton. The Chamber requested an additional $10,000 on top of the $35,000 that had previously been budgeted due to increases in operating and printing costs. Supervisor Lee Adams stated the TOT (Transient Occupancy Tax) that is brought in by the visitor industry is huge and seemed like a small amount to pay. He hoped they would move towards more digital in the future. The resolution was approved with Supervisor Terry LeBlanc voting no. Supervisor Sharon Dryden encouraged the Sierra Valley Chamber of Commerce to request additional funds if they had increased expenses.
EASTERN PLUMAS HEALTH CARE’S portable x-ray unit was unfortunately damaged beyond repair during night service by the vendor and requires replacement. Plumas District Hospital provided the use of their portable unit to avoid disruption of services while bids were obtained from the vendor. The EPHC Auxiliary Board approved a $100,000 contribution to the cost of a new unit which is expected to be received in six weeks. EPHC appreciates the support of PDH and thanks the Auxiliary for their generous contribution.
The Loyalton flooring project is nearing completion with the main hallways installed and the foundation concrete repaired. Work was initiated last week to repair, reseal, and re-stripe the main parking lot.
A COMMUNITY MEETING was held on September 11th by Downieville Student Council President, Nick Martinelli, a Senior at Downieville High School in regards to public use of the playground area and field at Downieville Elementary outside of school hours. Use for the public has been denied due to increased dog waste left behind from its users. In attendance were Downieville Principal James Berardi, Sierra County Supervisor Lee Adams, Director of Public Works and Transportation Bryan Davey, and community members totaling about 25 in all. Mr. Berardi advocated the right for children to have a safe, clean play yard. The public was in full support of providing just that for its young residents but also acknowledged the struggle to find an open area for recreation with families and dogs. In an effort to have unity in the tightknit mountain town, a compromise was reached. The gates would be unlocked for public use after school hours and on weekends on a trial basis if more waste receptacles were in place, a code of conduct sign posted, and students’ signage on display. Downieville is holding an Art Drive contest. All artists, young and old are encouraged to create a poster that embodies caring correctly for a park that people, families, and dogs use. A total of 5 posters will be selected for permanent display around the playground and field along with prizes. The deadline is October 1st, and entries can be dropped off at the school. For more information, please contact Robin Bolle at 530-289-3473 ext 450 or via email at [email protected]. - Story by Hayley Price
THE CALPINE COMMUNITY HALL Floor Leveling Project was awarded to McCuen Construction, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $238,541. The resolution was approved at the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting on September 17th in Loyalton. Public Works Director Bryan Davey stated they only received one bid, but were fortunate to be able to afford the bid. The project will resolve the foundational issues with the flooring, repair cosmetic issues on the walls and construct a new ADA compliant restroom and drinking fountain. McCuen was the contractor for both the Downieville Community Hall and Sierraville School projects, which Davey stated has been good to work with. The project is funded through Prop 68 Parks and Recreation Grant.
LITTLE SCHOOL HOUSE HISTORY - The land for the first school in Loyalton was purchased from “L.M. Meeker and M.E. Meeker by the Trustees of Loyalton School District of Sierra County, State California, in 1877. In 1879, after a tragic fire, a new schoolhouse was erected. The school was used until 1908, when a larger building was needed. It was then that in 1908 the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento purchased the land and school building from the Loyalton School District to use as Holy Rosary Catholic Church. The school was remodeled with the interior addition of a Choir Loft, Confessional booth and Altar. They added the Belfry. This Church was used until Father Burns began to raise money to build the “new church.” It was built and consecrated in 1955. The old Church was then used as Holy Rosary Church’s Social Hall. In 1984 the Holy Rosary Social Hall was moved to the Loyalton Historical Park as a “gift to the City of Loyalton Museum to preserve history of Loyalton and Sierra Valley.” The Little School House is considered the oldest building in Loyalton. This building had early settler’s children as students. It was a church that witnessed marriages, baptisms and funerals for Loyalton and Sierra Valley residents. As the Holy Rosary social hall, it also served in the 1950-60 as a preschool, kindergarten, first grade and had Union meetings.
This research in 2024 to discover the history to the Little School House was made very easy because Mr. Gottard’s 1985 freshman history class had four students who took the assignment to research the old school, Catholic Church and Social Hall building for the Museum. Matt Madigan, Brooke Mitchell, Landee Lynn, and Michael Jaquez went to Downieville to the Clerk’s office, had help from local historian Bill Copren in their research, went to the Sierra County School District office, interviewed Joe and Alma Grandi and got information from James J. Sinnott’s book “SIERRA VALLEY Jewel of the Sierras” to gather history. When they finished their report, they combined this information into a display at our Loyalton Milton Gottardi Museum. It was also taken to National History Day at the California State Capitol, in Sacramento. They received an excellent rating. Thank you, Mr. Gottardi, Matt Madigan, Brooke Mitchell, Landee Lynn, and Michael Jaquez, for preserving and showcasing our Loyalton and Sierra Valley Little School House History. - By Joyce Cameron
A SOFTBALL FIELD for Loyalton High School is being looked into after a Title IX complaint was filed in April 2023. Title IX is a landmark federal civil rights law in the United States that was enacted as part (Title IX) of the Education Amendments of 1972. It prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or any other education program that receives funding from the federal government. The complaint laid out several non-compliance issues between the boy’s baseball field and the girls’ softball field (or lack thereof).
District Superintendent Sean Snider looked at options and found one that would fit between the high school boys’ field and the City of Loyalton’s Little League fields. Snider had an architect draw up some plans and held a community meeting on September 18th to review the plans. Costs and water were big factors, with suggestions of looking into grants, local help, planting sod in the fall so it has time to catch the seasonal moisture before using water, or exploring turf.
Snider stated he’d do some more research and would have another meeting on what they learned and where they are headed soon. Although this complaint was filed over a year ago, there is some optimism that Loyalton High School Softball will get a new field sometime in the near future.
SIERRA BROOKS WATER SYSTEM was discussed during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting on September 17th. Public Works Director Bryan Davey reported they have issued a boil water notice for the water system in Sierra Brooks. Chloroform showed up on a test before the fire. They retested during the fire and the problem got significantly worse. He felt it was from the stress on the system during the fire. The last set of results on September 13th showed a small amount E.coli so they started the disinfection process by chlorinating the system and issuing the boil water notice. Davey said this is a problem with any untreated water system, adding it was not abnormal or out of the ordinary.
Supervisor Sharon Dryden stated there were challenges found with the water system during the fire and felt they should look at items that weren’t included in the original project. She suggested a committee to look into the item further which will include herself, Board Chair Paul Roen, community member Tom Rowson and other community members. Supervisor Lee Adams stated they also need to look at how to extricate the County from the system and have the community operate its own system.
THE BEAR FIRE was discussed during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting held Tuesday, September 17th in Loyalton. District 5 Supervisor Sharon Dryden thanked everyone that was involved in the safe and orderly evacuation and gave huge gratitude to all personnel who protected homes in Sierra Brooks. She thanked the partners in the mastication project, stating this project was probably one of the largest reasons they had homes to go home to. She hoped they would use this project as an example going forward.
Sierra County Sheriff and Office of Emergency Services Director Mike Fisher reported they submitted a claim to OES for $59,400 to try and recuperate some costs. He stated they had an after-action stakeholder meeting to go over lessons learned and one was information dissemination and the need for a public information officer during events. Fisher stated they will have additional training and it was suggested to poll Sierra County employees about different strengths they have that could be used
in an emergency.
Social Services Interim Director Lori McGee reported their agency had 10 calls concerning the fire. Five calls were about lodging options, one was from the press, one asked how close the fire was to Cold Springs, one from a homeowner wanting to go home and two lodg- ing complaints regarding website accessibility and response. Their response during the fire included a 24-hour on-call social worker to address fire related emergencies. The department will continue to participate in team meetings to determine service gaps and submitted a request for a benefit replacement to CalFresh participants who lost food during the power outage.
Sierraville District Ranger Rachel Hutchinson thanked Sierra County for coming into unified command with them and appreciated the partnership. She echoed Dryden comments stating they were able to keep the fire out of the community of Sierra Brooks because of the fuels project and was happy to see the work behaved just like they thought it would. Hutchinson reported on a film maker who is making a short infomercial about the fire and benefits of fuels reduction work. She said the Bear Fire was at 90% containment and crews were engaged in suppression repair. Fire cause is still under investigation.
Nichole Johnson
[email protected]
EASTERN PLUMAS HEALTH CARE’S portable x-ray unit was unfortunately damaged beyond repair during night service by the vendor and requires replacement. Plumas District Hospital provided the use of their portable unit to avoid disruption of services while bids were obtained from the vendor. The EPHC Auxiliary Board approved a $100,000 contribution to the cost of a new unit which is expected to be received in six weeks. EPHC appreciates the support of PDH and thanks the Auxiliary for their generous contribution.
The Loyalton flooring project is nearing completion with the main hallways installed and the foundation concrete repaired. Work was initiated last week to repair, reseal, and re-stripe the main parking lot.
A COMMUNITY MEETING was held on September 11th by Downieville Student Council President, Nick Martinelli, a Senior at Downieville High School in regards to public use of the playground area and field at Downieville Elementary outside of school hours. Use for the public has been denied due to increased dog waste left behind from its users. In attendance were Downieville Principal James Berardi, Sierra County Supervisor Lee Adams, Director of Public Works and Transportation Bryan Davey, and community members totaling about 25 in all. Mr. Berardi advocated the right for children to have a safe, clean play yard. The public was in full support of providing just that for its young residents but also acknowledged the struggle to find an open area for recreation with families and dogs. In an effort to have unity in the tightknit mountain town, a compromise was reached. The gates would be unlocked for public use after school hours and on weekends on a trial basis if more waste receptacles were in place, a code of conduct sign posted, and students’ signage on display. Downieville is holding an Art Drive contest. All artists, young and old are encouraged to create a poster that embodies caring correctly for a park that people, families, and dogs use. A total of 5 posters will be selected for permanent display around the playground and field along with prizes. The deadline is October 1st, and entries can be dropped off at the school. For more information, please contact Robin Bolle at 530-289-3473 ext 450 or via email at [email protected]. - Story by Hayley Price
THE CALPINE COMMUNITY HALL Floor Leveling Project was awarded to McCuen Construction, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $238,541. The resolution was approved at the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting on September 17th in Loyalton. Public Works Director Bryan Davey stated they only received one bid, but were fortunate to be able to afford the bid. The project will resolve the foundational issues with the flooring, repair cosmetic issues on the walls and construct a new ADA compliant restroom and drinking fountain. McCuen was the contractor for both the Downieville Community Hall and Sierraville School projects, which Davey stated has been good to work with. The project is funded through Prop 68 Parks and Recreation Grant.
LITTLE SCHOOL HOUSE HISTORY - The land for the first school in Loyalton was purchased from “L.M. Meeker and M.E. Meeker by the Trustees of Loyalton School District of Sierra County, State California, in 1877. In 1879, after a tragic fire, a new schoolhouse was erected. The school was used until 1908, when a larger building was needed. It was then that in 1908 the Catholic Diocese of Sacramento purchased the land and school building from the Loyalton School District to use as Holy Rosary Catholic Church. The school was remodeled with the interior addition of a Choir Loft, Confessional booth and Altar. They added the Belfry. This Church was used until Father Burns began to raise money to build the “new church.” It was built and consecrated in 1955. The old Church was then used as Holy Rosary Church’s Social Hall. In 1984 the Holy Rosary Social Hall was moved to the Loyalton Historical Park as a “gift to the City of Loyalton Museum to preserve history of Loyalton and Sierra Valley.” The Little School House is considered the oldest building in Loyalton. This building had early settler’s children as students. It was a church that witnessed marriages, baptisms and funerals for Loyalton and Sierra Valley residents. As the Holy Rosary social hall, it also served in the 1950-60 as a preschool, kindergarten, first grade and had Union meetings.
This research in 2024 to discover the history to the Little School House was made very easy because Mr. Gottard’s 1985 freshman history class had four students who took the assignment to research the old school, Catholic Church and Social Hall building for the Museum. Matt Madigan, Brooke Mitchell, Landee Lynn, and Michael Jaquez went to Downieville to the Clerk’s office, had help from local historian Bill Copren in their research, went to the Sierra County School District office, interviewed Joe and Alma Grandi and got information from James J. Sinnott’s book “SIERRA VALLEY Jewel of the Sierras” to gather history. When they finished their report, they combined this information into a display at our Loyalton Milton Gottardi Museum. It was also taken to National History Day at the California State Capitol, in Sacramento. They received an excellent rating. Thank you, Mr. Gottardi, Matt Madigan, Brooke Mitchell, Landee Lynn, and Michael Jaquez, for preserving and showcasing our Loyalton and Sierra Valley Little School House History. - By Joyce Cameron
A SOFTBALL FIELD for Loyalton High School is being looked into after a Title IX complaint was filed in April 2023. Title IX is a landmark federal civil rights law in the United States that was enacted as part (Title IX) of the Education Amendments of 1972. It prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or any other education program that receives funding from the federal government. The complaint laid out several non-compliance issues between the boy’s baseball field and the girls’ softball field (or lack thereof).
District Superintendent Sean Snider looked at options and found one that would fit between the high school boys’ field and the City of Loyalton’s Little League fields. Snider had an architect draw up some plans and held a community meeting on September 18th to review the plans. Costs and water were big factors, with suggestions of looking into grants, local help, planting sod in the fall so it has time to catch the seasonal moisture before using water, or exploring turf.
Snider stated he’d do some more research and would have another meeting on what they learned and where they are headed soon. Although this complaint was filed over a year ago, there is some optimism that Loyalton High School Softball will get a new field sometime in the near future.
SIERRA BROOKS WATER SYSTEM was discussed during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting on September 17th. Public Works Director Bryan Davey reported they have issued a boil water notice for the water system in Sierra Brooks. Chloroform showed up on a test before the fire. They retested during the fire and the problem got significantly worse. He felt it was from the stress on the system during the fire. The last set of results on September 13th showed a small amount E.coli so they started the disinfection process by chlorinating the system and issuing the boil water notice. Davey said this is a problem with any untreated water system, adding it was not abnormal or out of the ordinary.
Supervisor Sharon Dryden stated there were challenges found with the water system during the fire and felt they should look at items that weren’t included in the original project. She suggested a committee to look into the item further which will include herself, Board Chair Paul Roen, community member Tom Rowson and other community members. Supervisor Lee Adams stated they also need to look at how to extricate the County from the system and have the community operate its own system.
THE BEAR FIRE was discussed during the Sierra County Board of Supervisors’ meeting held Tuesday, September 17th in Loyalton. District 5 Supervisor Sharon Dryden thanked everyone that was involved in the safe and orderly evacuation and gave huge gratitude to all personnel who protected homes in Sierra Brooks. She thanked the partners in the mastication project, stating this project was probably one of the largest reasons they had homes to go home to. She hoped they would use this project as an example going forward.
Sierra County Sheriff and Office of Emergency Services Director Mike Fisher reported they submitted a claim to OES for $59,400 to try and recuperate some costs. He stated they had an after-action stakeholder meeting to go over lessons learned and one was information dissemination and the need for a public information officer during events. Fisher stated they will have additional training and it was suggested to poll Sierra County employees about different strengths they have that could be used
in an emergency.
Social Services Interim Director Lori McGee reported their agency had 10 calls concerning the fire. Five calls were about lodging options, one was from the press, one asked how close the fire was to Cold Springs, one from a homeowner wanting to go home and two lodg- ing complaints regarding website accessibility and response. Their response during the fire included a 24-hour on-call social worker to address fire related emergencies. The department will continue to participate in team meetings to determine service gaps and submitted a request for a benefit replacement to CalFresh participants who lost food during the power outage.
Sierraville District Ranger Rachel Hutchinson thanked Sierra County for coming into unified command with them and appreciated the partnership. She echoed Dryden comments stating they were able to keep the fire out of the community of Sierra Brooks because of the fuels project and was happy to see the work behaved just like they thought it would. Hutchinson reported on a film maker who is making a short infomercial about the fire and benefits of fuels reduction work. She said the Bear Fire was at 90% containment and crews were engaged in suppression repair. Fire cause is still under investigation.
Nichole Johnson
[email protected]
