| Click the button below to search for articles... View News Items from prior months... June 2021 July 2020 June 2016 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 July 2013 June 2013 March 2013 February 2013 November 2012 October 2012 August 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 November 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 October 2010 September 2010 February 2010 January 2010 | Caltrans, Fish and Wildlife to Drivers: Watch out for Wildlife Caltrans and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) are cautioning motorists of an unusually high number of collisions between drivers and wildlife on mountain highways this autumn. The increase has been particularly notable on Interstate 80 and U.S. Highway 50 in Placer and El Dorado counties. "There were an unprecedented 23 incidents involving large animals on Highway 50 and I-80 in just six days from Nov. 14-19," said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. "Drivers need to use caution and watch out for wildlife as they travel through the Sierras and other rural areas." "Motorists need to be on the lookout for animals on or near roadways, particularly deer and bears," said CDFW Director Charlton H. Bonham. "It's not only dangerous for the animals, but drivers and their passengers can be injured or killed if they hit - or swerve to miss - an animal." Caltrans and CDFW offer a few tips for motorists: Be particularly alert when driving in areas frequented by wildlife and give yourself more time than usual to react safely by reducing your speed. "Sweep" the roadway from side to side with your eyes as you drive. This increases your chance of seeing anything that might become a hazard. Pay particular attention when driving during morning and evening, as wildlife are most active during these times. If you see an animal cross the road, know that another may be following it. Don't litter. Odors from all kinds of products may entice animals to venture near roadways. There are probably several factors behind the animals' increased movements near highways. One is the deer rut, or mating season, and bucks are always more active this time of year. Recent wildfires in the mountains and foothills also destroyed a considerable amount of vegetation, forcing wildlife to travel farther than usual to forage. The drought has stressed existing vegetation, likely reducing its normal nutritional value and forcing animals to eat more than usual. Bears are getting ready for hibernation and are foraging far and wide to get enough nutrition to make it through the winter. "Wildlife corridors" constructed under some highways have helped reduce wildlife-related incidents. Caltrans recently completed construction of a wildlife crossing on State Highway 89 in Sierra County and has two others planned for construction next season. The district also built a wildlife crossing on Highway 50 and has a project programmed for next season to study wildlife activity near state highways. In addition, Caltrans has wildlife warning signs posted in key areas along its state highway system and will be installing more with help from CDFW and other partner agencies. Caltrans will also be using its electronic message boards to alert motorists of increased wildlife activity. Caltrans District 3 is responsible for maintaining and operating 4,385 lane miles in 11 Sacramento Valley and Northern Sierra counties. CDFW's North Central Region is responsible for managing California's diverse fish, wildlife and plant resources across 17 counties. Please visit the Living with Wildlife web page at www.wildlife.ca.gov/Living-with-Wildlife for more information and to report a wildlife incident or dead or injured wildlife. # # # Published: 11/24/14 East SIERRA VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE - Looking for members! EAST SIERRA VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE supporters met at Sierraville Kitchen November 21st to discuss options. Former Board members, Jennifer Johnson, Shelly Wright and Corby Erwin were absent. Attending the meeting were President Joel Gressel, newly-appointed City Councilman Mark Marin, Terry “The Trashman” LeBlanc, substitute teacher and coach Ben Roberti, public-relations person for Tahoe Adventure Company and Tahoe Truckee Homes Samantha Belli, Dickson realtor Bonnie Jessee, Tahoe Forest Hospital’s Sterile Process Technician Barbara Hill, local jewelry artist Pam Cawiezel and Sierra Booster editor Jan Buck. Barb Hill wants to expand advertising and Pam talked in favor of bigger signs on Highway 70. Terry LeBlanc said KOH used to work with locals. Joel stated, “It works if you have people to manage the creation of an event.” He told how it usually happens with one person doing it. Pam wanted to get kids involved and the parents will follow. And, kids learn to earn money. Joel talked of facilities with music and talked about the pavilion in the park and his former involvement with the pool event. The initial response was to have more music in the park. He said it’s now better to house music in the park. Mark Marin was called “The music man.” He suggested music once a month with a finale, a “two day deal.” Terry wanted the Hot Springs to work with them and Pam Cawiezel wanted an open mike. Joel talked about “closet musicians.” Mark called the Blues “root of all American music.” But with no place to stay, he talked about Woodstock and said there’s “lots of room,” and “yards like a trailer park.” Mark said insurance made things impossible along with the cost of a beer permit. Joel stated you “can’t be afraid of those things.” Mark said he’d help once on the City Council January 1st. Joel talked of being instrumental with the pavilion and that Craig McHenry had looked for somebody other than the City as it didn’t have personnel. Barbara talked of trail runs like for bikes, with food and drink at the Rotary park. Terry talked about a car show for “anything with wheels and an engine.” He was assured of help by NorCal Highwaymen if he held it early or late June. Jan thought graduation week end might be good with a lot of visitors. Joel would check on graduation date with wife, Susan and get it to Jan. Terry wanted no registration fee the first year, and would accept old logging trucks, antique trucks and would contact Chris Guidotti and liked music on the porch at Golden West. Mark loved the town “so packed up.” Joel said the Chamber needs a president and vice president, secretary and treasurer. Pam Cawiezel volunteered to be president and Barbara Hill, vice president. Bonnie Jessee volunteered to be treasurer and Jan Buck offered to be secretary, as she was already taking notes. Ben Roberti and Terry LeBlanc will be directors and they added Samantha Belli. The Farmers Markets were discussed and it was agreed to hold them again on Sundays from 11 to 3 p.m. Joel told of the requirements of the County on events was to create one along with the budget and present it to the Board of Supervisors. Pam wanted a “Get to Know Your Chamber” potluck at Sierra Brooks Lodge. Joel will check finances and if there’s money, it will be held at Golden West and they’d purchase finger foods. If there are no funds, it’s a potluck at the lodge. Meeting adjourned about 10:30 a.m Published: 11/20/14 Government Stalling Tactics Slow Fire Tax Lawsuit As Californians hope and pray for an end to California's drought and dangerous fire conditions, I am thankful for the many brave men and women who put their lives on the line to fight fires throughout our state. We're also reminded that not one dime of our state's so-called "Fire Prevention Fee" has helped fund this year's firefighting efforts. Someday a court will strike down the unfair and, I believe, illegal fire tax enacted by the Legislature and signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown in 2010. But getting there is proving quite a challenge. As you may recall, in 2012 the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA), with my strong support, filed a class action lawsuit seeking to invalidate the so-called fee on the basis that it is really an illegally enacted tax. Since then, California Department of Justice attorneys paid with your tax dollars have repeatedly sought to do everything in their power to slow the case down. I'm told some of the state's stalling tactics go far beyond what is typical of government attorneys involved in legal proceedings. These tactics include filing multiple demurrers aimed at blocking California taxpayers' right to a class action — all of which were, thankfully, denied by the court. Government lawyers have also flooded HJTA's small legal team with more than ten thousand unsorted and mostly irrelevant documents in a blatant attempt to drag out the discovery process. The reason is simple. The state knows it's going to lose this case, but it also has a financial interest in delaying that loss as long as possible. By stalling, the state gets more time to send out more bills and collect more revenue. Most likely the trial date won't be until after next year's bills go out in the spring, which regrettably means rural Californians more than likely will receive yet another bill next year. The Legislature should have repealed the fire tax by now. But it hasn't. And when a bad law should be eliminated entirely, it's hardly any consolation to see it merely amended. Even so, it's worth noting that Assembly Bill 2048 (Dahle, Chesbro and Gordon), which was recently signed into law, makes a number of small but important changes to the Fire Prevention Fee, including: (1) eliminating the egregious 20% per month penalty charged to fee payers who protest their fee and are denied and (2) ensuring that homeowners who lose their home in a natural disaster will be exempt from paying their fire fee bill that year. I remain optimistic this "fee" will be declared an illegal tax and the money returned to taxpayers. Unfortunately, as a direct result of the state's delaying tactics, when rural Californians will finally receive the just verdict they deserve is anyone's guess. To learn more, visit Calfirefee.com or find the latest news on Facebook or Twitter. Published: 11/02/14 |