On November 19, 2020, Sierra County Public Health received notification of a sixteenth and seventeenth positive COVID-19 test result for residents of Sierra County. Cases are isolating and outreach to close contacts is ongoing; all close contacts identified will be contacted by a member of Public Health. Based on guidance from the CDC, you will be considered a close contact if you fall into one of these categories:

•   You were within 6 feet of someone who has COVID-19 for a total of 15 minutes or more within a 24 hour period. This definition applies whether masks were worn or not.
•   A person with COVID-19 sneezed, coughed, or somehow got respiratory droplets on you
•   You provided care at home to someone who is sick with COVID-19
•   You had direct physical contact with someone who has COVID-19 (hugged or kissed)
•   You shared eating or drinking utensils with someone who has COVID-19
  If you believe you fit into at least one of the categories above, please stay home and monitor yourself for symptoms for 14 days since last contact. Consider being tested if symptoms develop. Options for testing are listed on the Sierra County Website, or call your health care provider.
  As you are aware, cases of COVID-19 continue to increase both locally and in neighboring counties and cities where many of our residents work and shop. This is not a time to let down our guard. With the holiday season upon us, every person has a role to play in limiting the spread of COVID-19.
  •   If you are around others who are not from your household, wear a face covering to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
  •   Avoid gatherings. You can enjoy your holidays and activities safely, without gathering.
  •   Wear a face covering at all times when in businesses, at school, or unable to maintain 6 feet
    distance.
  •   Wash your hands with soap and water often, especially after you have been in a public place.
  •   If you feel sick, stay home, except to receive medical care.
  •   If you think or know that you may have been exposed, stay home.
    For more information, please visit http://sierracounty.ca.gov/582/Coronavirus-COVID-19 or email
    COVID19@sierracounty.ca.gov

Celia Sutton-Pado, MD Public Health Officer Sierra County
P.O. Box 7, Loyalton, CA 96118(530) 993-6700www.sierracounty.ca.gov 

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“The health and safety of our employees and the public we serve is our highest priority. In an effort to preserve public health and safety of all Californians and stop the surge of COVID-19 cases, the Governor has instituted a limited stay at home order from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. with the goal that people will self-regulate their behavior, protect themselves, and go about only the “essential” activities during those hours.
 
“The mission of the CHP is unchanged.  CHP officers will continue to patrol throughout California and use their sound professional judgment to conduct enforcement stops for violations of the law based upon probable cause.  The CHP does not make arrests based on race, ethnicity, gender, political affiliation, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, or for any reason other than violations of the law based on probable cause.  As always, CHP officers will have the discretion to take appropriate action when a violation is observed.”

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Drivers Should Prepare for Reduced Visibility during Morning Commutes
 
MARYSVILLE — Motorists are reminded to plan for extra travel time and remember safe driving tips for foggy conditions.
Throughout the fall, winter and early spring, the greater Sacramento region often finds itself shrouded in thick ground fog, better known as Tule fog, which emerges after the rains saturate soil.
Nearly three in four fog-related traffic collisions are connected to motorists driving too fast, statistics indicate. These collisions also result in the highest fatality rates.
To help motorists navigate safely through foggy conditions, Caltrans offers these driving tips:

• Reduce your speed to ensure a safe stopping distance.
• Drive with headlights on low beam. Never drive with only the parking lights or fog lights on and avoid using high beams in fog.
• Use extra caution when crossing traffic or busy intersections, especially in dense fog. Lower your window and listen for traffic you can't see.
• Use windshield wipers and your defroster to improve visibility.
• Be patient and don't pass long lines of traffic.
• Use the “fog line” on your right shoulder as a guide.
• Avoid stopping along the freeway or highway shoulders.

When looking to exit, the solid white line on the shoulder will veer to the right, breaks for a few feet and then resumes along the ramp. Also, highways prone to fog will have markers that follow a 3-2-1 dot countdown pattern to let motorists know there is an exit ahead. On the right shoulder, drivers will see three reflective markers 2,100 feet before the exit, two markers at 1,400 feet and one marker at 700 feet.
 
Caltrans District 3 maintains more than 4,385 lanes miles of state highway in 11 Sacramento Valley and Northern Sierra counties.Caltrans issues updates about road conditions on Twitter @CaltransDist3 and on Facebook at CaltransDistrict3. For real-time traffic, click on Caltrans’ QuickMap quickmap.dot.ca.gov/ or download the QuickMap app from the App Store or Google Play.
 
 
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            Washington--Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) released the following statement on the final deadline for individuals to receive a stimulus payment under the coronavirus CARES Act:
 
            “Individuals who didn’t file a tax return in the last two years are still eligible to receive a direct payment under the coronavirus relief package passed by Congress earlier this year. However, you must move quickly to receive your payment.
 
            “Californians have until Saturday at noon to claim up to $1,200 per adult and $500 per child to help them get by during this pandemic. Most Americans are eligible but according to the IRS, up to 9 million Americans who didn’t file a federal income tax return still haven’t registered at the Get My Payment website to receive their payment.
 
            “As families continue to struggle to make ends meet during these tough economic times, I encourage everyone to make sure they’re taking full advantage of all the relief available to them.”
 
Direct Payment Information:
 
            Individuals have until 3 pm EST/12 pm PST on Saturday, November 21, to claim their payment.
 
            Individuals should have already received a payment automatically if they filed a tax return for 2018 or 2019, or received one of the following benefits:

• Social Security retirement, survivors or disability (SSDI) from the Social Security Administration
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI) from the Social Security Administration
• Railroad Retirement and Survivors from the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board
• Veterans disability compensation, pension or survivor benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs
  
  

            All other individuals must visit the Get My Payment website to claim their payment by the November 21 deadline. For more information, please visit the CFPB’s website.
 

                                                                                      
 
MADD Reminds Everyone of the Precious Cargo on Our Roads This Holiday Season

DALLAS – Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and National Presenting Sponsor Waymo, an autonomous driving technology company, are kicking off the annual Tie One On for Safety designated driver campaign today to keep everyone safe on our nation’s roads this holiday season. MADD and Waymo are asking everyone to show their commitment to keeping themselves and our communities safe by designating a non-drinking driver and displaying a MADD Tie One On for Safety red ribbon or magnetic decal on their vehicles.
Launched in 1986, Tie One On for Safety is the longest-running public awareness campaign in MADD’s 40-year history.
“Designating a driver is now a part of American culture that has saved many, many lives over the past four decades,” said MADD National President Helen Witty. “As we close out this difficult and uncertain year, we want everyone to celebrate the holiday season safely and protect themselves and others by always planning ahead for a non-drinking driver - before the first drink.” 
“Waymo is proud to support Mothers Against Drunk Driving’s Tie One On for Safety Campaign,” said Mauricio Peña, Chief Safety Officer at Waymo. “Waymo and MADD share a common goal: to save thousands of lives lost every year due to impaired driving. At Waymo, safety is our mission and our highest priority, and we are committed to raising awareness about the dire need and opportunity we have to protect our loved ones as they get behind the wheel this holiday season.”
The holidays are among the most dangerous times on our nation’s roadways, with more people traveling, an increased number of events where alcohol is served, and a surge in drunk driving. Between 6 p.m. Thanksgiving Eve through New Year’s Eve in 2018, there were 1,068 lives lost to drunk driving across the country, accounting for 29 percent of all traffic deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
In addition, a new study by NHTSA shows an alarming increase in the presence of alcohol and other drugs among traffic crash victims during the COVID-19 pandemic. From March 17 to July 18, 64.7% of drunk and drugged drivers tested positive for at least one active drug (including alcohol), compared to 50.8% from September 10, 2019 to March 16. Alcohol presence was found in 28.3% of drivers involved in crashes, up from 21.8% before the pandemic. Other drugs are also a concern: 32.7% of drivers tested positive for active THC, and opioid presence among drivers almost doubled from 7.5% to 13.9%.
MADD is grateful for the partnership of our National Tie One On for Safety presenting sponsor, Waymo, with a mission to make it safe and easy for people and things to get where they’re going. Because of the work of strategic partners like Waymo, MADD is confident that reaching a future of NO MORE VICTIMS is attainable. But to get there, we will need everyone to join in our lifesaving work by making plans before the festivities begin, designating a non-drinking, non-consuming driver and buckling up this holiday season.
MADD also thanks all law enforcement personnel who will be working harder than ever this holiday season to protect the public from drunk driving through increased patrols and Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement efforts. MADD appreciates their enforcement through high-visibility checkpoints and saturation patrols to keep our roadways safe.
To learn more about Tie One On for Safety and for safe party tips, visit madd.org/toofs.
About Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Founded in 1980 by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes and prevent underage drinking. MADD has helped to save more than 390,000 lives, reduce drunk driving deaths by more than 50 percent and promote designating a non-drinking driver. MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® calls for law enforcement support, ignition interlocks for all offenders and advanced vehicle technology. MADD has provided supportive services to nearly one million drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge through local victim advocates and the 24-Hour Victim Help Line 1-877-MADD-HELP. Visit www.madd.org or call 1-877-ASK-MADD.
About Waymo
Waymo is an autonomous driving technology company with a mission to make it safe and easy for people and things to get where they’re going. Since our start as the Google Self-Driving Car Project in 2009, Waymo has been focused on building the World’s Most Experienced Driver to improve the world's access to mobility while saving thousands of lives now lost to traffic crashes. The Waymo Driver powers Waymo One, the world's first fully driverless ride-hailing service, as well as Waymo Via, our trucking and local delivery service. To date, Waymo has driven over 20 million miles autonomously on public roads across 25 U.S. cities and driven over 15 billion miles in simulation. For more visit www.waymo.com.

 
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — With winter and colder temperatures right around the corner and the COVID-19 pandemic enduring, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is reminding customers to call and schedule a free in-home safety inspection of their in-home gas appliances. During the visit, PG&E will also relight pilot lights for customers who have heaters or other appliances that have been turned off during warmer months.
 
Inspections help ensure that gas appliances—including water heaters, furnaces and ovens—are operating safely and efficiently, reducing the risk of carbon monoxide exposure within the home. Carbon monoxide is especially dangerous because it can’t be seen, smelled or heard. According to the Center for Disease Control, every year in the U.S. at least 430 people die from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning and approximately 50,000 people will be sent to the hospital. 
 
In-Home COVID-19 Health Protocols
During the current COVID-19 pandemic, PG&E frontline employees are adhering to strict safety protocols when visiting customers’ homes, including mandatory daily health checks, wearing masks and nitrile gloves and maintaining at least six feet of distance. Customers are asked to do the same when an employee visits, and if anyone inside the home is ill, that they isolate themselves away from the room where work is being performed.
 
“The safety of our customers is the most important responsibility we have as PG&E employees. To help ensure that customers’ gas appliances are operating safely, they can call us to schedule a free gas safety check, and we will send a qualified PG&E technician to your home to inspect your appliances. Our dedicated workforce is prepared to provide this vital service while adhering to strict COVID-19 health protocols to ensure the safety of customers and our employees,” said Sally Romero, PG&E senior director of Gas Operations.
 
Before the colder winter months when natural gas appliances typically see the most use, PG&E encourages customers to schedule an inspection by calling the customer helpline at 1-800-743-5000.
 
Helpful Winter Gas Safety Tips

1. Install carbon monoxide detectors to warn when concentration levels are high.

1.       All California single-family homes are required to have carbon monoxide detectors.
2.       Carbon monoxide detectors should be installed on every floor, near sleeping areas and common areas.
3.       These devices should be tested twice a year, and batteries replaced if necessary.
4.       Check the expiration date – most carbon monoxide detectors have a shelf life of five to seven years.

1. Never use products inside the home that generate dangerous levels of carbon monoxide, such as generators, outdoor grills, or propane heaters.
2. Never use cooking devices such as ovens or stoves for home heating purposes.
3. When using the fireplace to stay warm, make sure the flue is open so venting can occur safely through the chimney.
4. Make sure water heaters and other natural gas appliances have proper ventilation.

If you suspect carbon monoxide in your home, you should leave immediately and call 911. If a PG&E customer ever smells the distinctive "rotten egg" odor of natural gas in or around their home or business, they should immediately evacuate and then call 911 and PG&E at 1-800-743-5000.
About PG&E
 
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric utilities in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 23,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation’s cleanest energy to nearly 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit www.pge.com/ andwww.pge.com/en/about/newsroom/index.page.
 
 
 

Watch out for wildlife as Americans favor road trips this Thanksgiving amid pandemicWALNUT CREEK, Calif. (November 19, 2020) – During the fall months, drivers face an increased risk of animal-related crashes as deer and other wildlife begin to migrate and find their way onto highways and into suburban neighborhoods. As a result, more animal collisions occur in this period than any other time of the year.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, there are more than half-a-million deer-vehicle collisions each year. In California last year, the average animal-related auto claim for AAA Insurance customers was $4,525.

“Although deer and other animals are unpredictable, there are actions you can take to help prevent an accident or reduce the damage from an animal collision,” said Sergio Avila, AAA Northern California spokesperson.

AAA Northern California offers the following tips to avoid an animal collision: 

• Be attentive in the early morning and evening. Many animals, especially deer, are most active during prime commuting hours – roughly 5 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Slow down and watch for other deer to appear. Continuously sweep your eyes across the road for signs of animals. Deer rarely travel alone, so if you see one, there are likely to be one or more nearby.
• Use high beams when there's no oncoming traffic. At night, your brights can help you spot animals sooner. The light reflecting off their eyes may also reveal their location.
• Honk your horn with one long blast. A long blast on your horn may frighten large animals away from your vehicle. 
• Use brakes if impact is imminent. If an animal is in your path, stay in your lane. Swerving away from animals can confuse them, so they don't know which way to run. It can also put you in the path of oncoming vehicles. 
• Always wear a seatbelt. The chances of getting injured when hitting an animal are much higher if you aren't wearing a seatbelt. 
• Consider comprehensive insurance coverage. Animal collisions are covered by most auto insurance policies, but only if the vehicle has comprehensive coverage. Contact your insurance agent to ensure you have adequate coverage.

If You're Involved in a Crash:

• Call law enforcement immediately to help remove the animal. 
• Make note of date, time, location, weather and road conditions.
• Take photographs, when safe to do so, to document the incident for insurance purposes as animal collisions are covered by most insurance policies through comprehensive coverage. 

For more information on auto, homeowners, and other personal insurance lines, contact your local AAA office or visit AAA.com.

About AAA Northern California
AAA has a proud history of serving Members for over 100 years. AAA is on a mission to create Members for life by unleashing the innovative spirit of 4,000 employees representing 6 million Members across Northern California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Montana, Wyoming and Alaska. In addition to legendary roadside assistance, AAA offers home, auto and life insurance, travel and home security services. According to Via Magazine's Smart Guide, being a AAA Member can save you more than $1,200 a year. Learn more at AAA.com.
 

By Harold Pease, Ph.D.



A 6,000 vote switch in Michigan giving Trump votes to Biden, said to be a glitch, has brought electronic voting machines and programs into national focus.  The attention is centered on the software program Dominion, made by Smartmatic in Venezuela, used in 30 states and in 2000 jurisdictions throughout the nation.  Texas wisely, three times, refused its use because of serious security concerns.  
This prompts questions.  Why does Dominion switch votes only from Trump to Biden, one way?  Perhaps a few votes but could it switch millions of Trump votes to Biden, enough to steal an election?  Apparently yes and did.  WhiteHouse attorney Sidney Powell on Sunday With Maria Bartiromo, November 15, 2020 told Maria, “President Trump won by not just hundreds of thousands but by millions … that were shifted by this software that was designed expressly for that purpose. We have sworn witness testimony of why the software was designed. It was designed to rig elections….We have so much evidence I feel like it's coming in through a firehose.” 
She spoke of Peter Neffenger, president and board of directors member of Smartmatic, the manufacturer of Dominion, and now on Biden’s transition team, as having known of its capacity to alter elections and its having done so effectively in other countries especially in Venezuela.  Its use in America was to do the same here. 
Powell continued, “Even their own manual explains how those [votes] can be wiped away. They can …drag and drop Trump votes to a separate folder and then delete that folder.  It's absolutely brazen how people bought the system and why they bought this system. In fact, every state that bought Dominion, for sure should have a criminal investigation or at least a serious investigation of the officers in the states who bought the software…. they know that they can win the election if they are using that software. It's really an insidious, corrupt system.”  At another point in the conversation she said, “No honest person would use the system….But the people who bought the Dominion system for sure knew exactly what they were getting. It should never have been installed anywhere.”
Maria Bartiromo mentioned that her whistleblowers had said similar things. One, an IT specialist familiar with the software, spoke of “an unusual patch that was put into the software while it was live. And it's highly unusual to put a patch in there.”  She asks, “Is that what you're referring to?  Tell me how it's done and how these backdoors work.” 
Powell responded, “That's part of it. They can stick a thumb drive in the machine or load software to it even from the Internet. They can do it from Germany or Venezuela even. They can remote access anything. They can watch votes in real time. They can shift votes in real time. We've identified mathematically the exact algorithm they used and planned to use from the beginning to modify the votes, in this case to make sure Biden won….And they can do anything they want with the votes. They can have the machines not read the signature. They can have the machines not read the down ballot, they can make the machines read and catalog only the Biden votes. It's like drag and drop whatever you want, wherever you want. Upload votes? Yeah.”
Powell explained that this is what happened in the wee morning hours of November 4 in Michigan and Pennsylvania “all of a sudden hundreds of thousands of votes at a 67% ratio for Biden 23% for Trump uploaded multiple times into the system.” Adding, that is why Biden “said he didn't need your votes now.  He would need you later. He was right. I mean, in his demented state, he had no filter and he was speaking the truth more than once, including when he said he had the largest voter fraud organization ever. Well, it's massive election fraud. It's gonna undo the entire election.”
Bartiromo asks Powell, “You say you have an affidavit from someone who knows how this system works and was there with the planning of it…You can prove this?”  Powell.  “Yes. Oh, oh, yes. We have a witness who knew exactly how it worked from the beginning, why it was designed to work that way.” Adding, “That was the same play that had worked in other countries.” 
None of this should surprise Democrats as they have warned about electronic election fraud long before Donald Trump.  “Just last year, several leading Democrats in the Senate, moderates, including Amy Klobuchar, and Mark Warner of Virginia, sent a letter to the three largest vendors of election systems in our country. Those companies included election systems and software: Dominion, Voting Systems, Inc, and Hart InterCivic.”  It read in part, “The integrity of our elections is directly tied to the machines we vote on, the products that you make. There has been a lack of meaningful innovation in the election vendor industry and our democracy is paying the price” (Tucker Carlson Tonight, Nov. 16, 2020).
Unfortunately, Democrats seem strangely quiet.  They appear happy with the fraudulent vote count, saying nothing of the overwhelming evidence surrounding it, and their media’s participation in the censorship of those who do.  If it were the other way around they would squawk like geese.  Unless censorship prevails look for them to return to flag and city burning and Molotov cocktail throwing when the courts throw out the illegal ballots and give Trump his rightful second term.

 
Dr. Harold Pease is a syndicated columnist and an expert on the United States Constitution. He has dedicated his career to studying the writings of the Founding Fathers and applying that knowledge to current events. He taught history and political science from this perspective for over 30 years at Taft College.  Newspapers have permission to publish this column. To read more of his weekly articles, please visit www.LibertyUnderFire.org.

WASHINGTON —  The Trump Administration today announced a new interagency conservation agreement to protect western water supplies, power generation, outdoor recreation and aquatic ecosystems by strengthening efforts to combat invasive mussels.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, and six Department of the Interior bureaus focuses on boosting federal coordination, communication and collaboration to enhance the capacity of federal, state and tribal agencies to rapidly respond to discoveries of invasive mussels in western states.

“This MOU helps protect the economy and environment of the West by emphasizing preparedness and prompt response to invasive species outbreaks,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget Scott Cameron. “Early action can avoid costs later. The MOU complements Interior’s ongoing work with states, tribes and other federal agencies and partners to protect the West from harmful impacts of invasive mussels and other invasive species.”

“Invasive mussels and other invasive species pose a significant risk to the Forest Service’s ability to meet our stewardship mission on national forests and grasslands, and across the landscape,” said Chief Vicki Christiansen of the USDA Forest Service. “Healthy streams, lakes, and rivers benefit Americans in a myriad of ways, from clean drinking water to important native species to diverse recreational opportunities. One in five Americans relies on water that comes from National Forest System lands, and we are committed to working with our partners to protect and sustain the nation’s vital aquatic resources.”

After prevention, rapid response is the most cost-effective action to eradicate newly arrived invasive species before they spread and cause harm to infrastructures, ecosystems and economies. Many waterbodies in the West remain free of invasive mussels; however, with infestations in the Colorado River Basin including Lake Mead, Lake Powell, Lake Mojave and Lake Havasu, the risk is high that mussels may hitchhike on watercraft and be introduced to uninfested waterways.

Invasive mussels annually cause more than $1 billion in economic impacts and management costs nationwide. The MOU leverages efforts at local, regional and national levels to promote coordinated rapid response capabilities and advances such actions as training through in-field and table-top exercises, monitoring waterbodies to enable early detection, pursuing more efficient compliance with environmental regulations so paperwork does not get in the way of problem-solving control measures, and sharing data and available resources, including staff, equipment and funding. In addition, the MOU emphasizes federal agency commitments to working closely with states, tribes and other partners.
The MOU extends efforts led by the Administration under Interior’s Safeguarding the West initiative, launched in 2017. The Safeguarding the West initiative focused on strengthening coordination among federal, state and tribal governments to prevent, contain and control invasive mussels and protect hydropower and water supply, water-based recreation and aquatic ecosystems in the West.

Invasive quagga and zebra mussels clog hydroelectric facilities and municipal and irrigation water supply systems, degrade recreational opportunities, and damage aquatic ecosystems. In the Great Lakes region, invasive mussels cause more than half a billion dollars of damage a year and have dramatically changed the ecosystem. They pose a similar threat across the West—particularly in the Columbia River Basin—and in others including the Colorado River Basin.

More broadly, invasive species cause damages that impact the global economy, including an estimated $120 billion in environmental damages and economic losses annually in the United States. The Trump Administration has taken significant actions to more effectively manage invasive species, which impact water supplies, impair hunting and fishing opportunities, interfere with energy production, exacerbate wildfires, damage America’s agriculture and drive native species to extinction.

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About the U.S. Department of the InteriorThe Department of the Interior conserves and manages the Nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage for the benefit and enjoyment of the American people, provides scientific and other information about natural resources and natural hazards to address societal challenges and create opportunities for the American people, and honors the Nation’s trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives and affiliated island communities to help them prosper.


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