Local News
11/05/2009
Habitat For Humanity Purchases “Parrotts Ferry Village” Property
Sonora, CA - Some ambitious plans are in the works for Tuolumne County's chapter of Habitat for Humanity.
Executive Director Betsy Harden says the organization has worked out a deal to purchase land north of Columbia to build 36 town homes.
Developers had at one time planned to build affordable housing at the site, but the proposed "Parrotts Ferry Village" property had fallen into foreclosure. This came after the lots were approved for construction by the county.
The Tuolumne County organization was able to purchase the property for $399,000 thanks to a loan from the national Habitat For Humanity office. The local chapter has started raising money to pay off the loan, and Harden says they have already received a $50,000 matching grant from an anonymous donor. PG&E is planning to help by donating solar panels for the homes in order to make them energy efficient.
If enough money is raised, the 36 homes will be built over a five year period.
Written by bjhansen@mlode.com.
Berryhill Hopes Voters Will Approve Water Package
Sacramento, CA -- Now that the $11 billion water package has passed through the legislature, the next step for lawmakers is to sell it to the voters.
"The argument for more water is that it will bring jobs," says Tom Berryhill, 25th District Republican Assemblyman. "We've got to get people working again, and grow out of this major recession. Also our current infrastructure is set up for only 18 million people when we have 38 million."
Berryhill says the package would give a boost to agriculture and other industries. It would also clean up the Delta and allow for considerably more storage capabilities. If approved by voters in November of 2010, approximately $600-$800 million would be taken out of the state's General Fund budget each year until the projects are completed. California is facing a projected $26 billion fiscal deficit.
Other regional lawmakers releasing statements praising the water package include Republican Congressman George Radanovich, Democratic U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer and Republican State Senator Dave Cogdill, the author of the water package.
With an opposing point of view, 1st District Republican State Senator Dave Cox has written a letter to Governor Schwarzenegger asking that he veto all of the water bills. Cox indicates in his letter that he feels the package was rushed through the legislature and done with too little transparency.
Written by bjhansen@mlode.com.
National Parks Will Waive Fees On Veterans Day
Yosemite, CA -- In recognition of Veterans Day on November 11th, all U.S. National Parks, including Yosemite, will offer free admission.
Yosemite Ranger Kari Cobb says the idea was first initiated in 2006 by then Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne and has become a tradition.
The free admission for everyone is in honor of current and retired members of the armed forces.
Written by bjhansen@mlode.com.
Official Election Results Are In For Calaveras County
San Andreas, CA -- The Calaveras County Elections Office has released the official results of the Tuesday election.
Rick Downey gained the open City of Angels City Council seat with his 533 votes. Betty Raggio finished with 456 votes and George C. Fry, Jr. totaled 129 votes. There were five write-in votes.
Dennis Petersen (593) and Bruce Brown (445) gained the two seats for the Jenny Lind Fire Protection District. John Boston finished with 419 votes. There were 13 write-ins.
Of the 7,090 registered voters, 2,075 voted (29.27%).
Written by bill.johnson@mlode.com
Written by bill.johnson@mlode.com
T.U.D. Hails New Water Legislation
Sonora, CA -- T.U.D. General Manager Pete Kampa expressed himself this way, "I'm excited and satisfied with Senator Dave Cogdill's Safe, Clean, Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act of 2010 that was passed Wednesday in the Legislature."
"They (the Legislature) loosened up those requirements (that T.U.D. would have to pay for withdrawing Pinecrest Lake water) and it doesn't appear that there will be a specific impact fee. Such a fee would only be levied on a true impact.
Also they've removed the requirements for the development of all monitoring and studies at our expense to be able to withdraw that water because that would have been really expensive for our rate payers."
Monies that will now be available through this $11.1 billion bond measure include $75 million for the Sierra Nevada Conservancy (T.U.D. has already received three grants from this agency), $1 billion for water recycling, $250 million for water conservation, $44 million for the mountain counties from Mariposa to Placer for implementation of water supply and wastewater projects, $75 million for small county wastewater projects and $80 million for safe drinking water program.
The overall bill calls for $455 million for drought relief, $1.4 billion for regional water supply, $2.25 billion for Delta sustainability, $3 billion for water storage, $1.7 billion for watershed conservation., $1 billion for groundwater cleanup and protection and $1.25 billion for water recycling and water conservation.
Now the bond measure must be approved by the voters come November, 2010.
Written by bill.johnson@mlode.com
CHP Updates Hwy 108-Stockton Rd. Accident Report
Sonora, CA -- The Tuolumne County CHP Office reports both women involved in that early morning Hwy 108-Stockton Rd. interchange head-on collision have been upgraded.
20 year old Courtney Cooper of Soulsbyville (Columbia College nursing student) has been upgraded to "guarded" condition at Memorial Hospital in Modesto. Cooper suffered multiple internal injuries and lower body injuries when her westbound silver Ford Mustang crossed over the center line and collided with a blue Chevrolet Cavalier driven by 41 year old Ruby Rocha of Jamestown.
Rocha was life flighted to Doctors Hospital in Modesto where she is reported to be in "stable" condition with a broken hip, ribs and leg.
According to Officer Mike Remmell the investigation into this accident is continuing.
Written by bill.johnson@mlode.com
Mountain Ranch Escaped Debris Burn
San Andreas, CA -- 4957 Old Emigrant Trail West in Mountain Ranch was the site of an escaped debris burn late Wednesday morning. At 11:20 CAL Fire personnel and local units responded to the burn which moved into brush for just a short period of time.
CAL Fire engines from West Point and Skull Creek responded along with a Standard based Prevention Officer. Three engines and a water tender from Central Fire also responded. No injuries or damage to property was reported.
The incident was closed at 2:11pm.
Written by bill.johnson@mlode.com
Sonora, CA -- According to CHP Officer Mike Remmell Hwy 108 between S. Washington St. and Stockton Rd. has reopened following an early morning head on collision.
According to the CHP report a westbound silver Ford Mustang driven by 20 year old Courtney Cooper of Soulsbyville (she's a Columbia College nursing student and a 2006 Summerville High School graduate) crossed over the center line at the Stockton Rd. bridge and collided head on with an eastbound vehicle driven by 41 year old Ruby Rocha of Jamestown.
Both women have been life flighted to Modesto area hospitals. They are reported to be in critical condition.
Written by bill.johnson@mlode.com
Hwy 108 Closed Due To Head On Accident
Sonora, CA -- Hwy 108 between Washington St. and Stockton Rd. will remain closed for at least another hour due to a head-on accident earlier this morning.
According to CHP Officer Mike Remmell a westbound silver Ford Mustang driven by 20 year old Courtney Cooper of Soulsbyville (C.N.A. student at Columbia College) crossed over the center line at the Stockton Rd. bridge and collided head on with an eastbound vehicle driven by 41 year old Ruby Rocha of Jamestown. Cooper is a 2006 Summerville High School graduate.
Both women have been life flighted by helicopter to Modesto hospitals with critical injuries. The reason the vehicle crossed the center line has yet to be determined by investigators.
Hwy 108 westbound travelers will be detoured onto Washington St., through Sonora to Stockton Rd. where they can re-enter Hwy 108. Hwy 108 eastbound travelers will be detoured in the opposite direction.
Written by bill.johnson@mlode.com
C.H.P. Officers Mike Remmel and Becky Myers were Thursday's KVML "Newsmaker of the Day".
Remmel reminded those with Thanksgiving holiday travel plans, that a "maximum enforcement" period will take place from Wednesday Nov 25th through Sunday Nov 29th. This means that officers will be out in force, looking for minor and major traffic violations.
Additionally, the C.H.P. will be helping with traffic control, during the Sonora Christmas Parade, on Friday November 27th.
Although motorcycle deaths in California are down from two hundred sixty four last year at this time to one hundred ninety eight this year, Myers said that inattention from both vehicle drivers and motorcycle riders is leading to an unusually high amount of motorcycle accidents in both counties.
Remmel adds that Tuolumne County also has a high number of foreigners who rent the motorbikes and are simply not familar with the local roads.
"If you make a mistake," Remmel said, "our roads can be pretty unforgiving."
One notable trend is the increasing amount of bicyclists throughout California. This is thought to be a result of the economy as of late.
Myers said that although it is perfectly legal for a bicyclist to talk on a hand held cell phone, the same bicyclist could be cited for reckless riding. The cell phone law itself only applies to "motorized vehicles".
The CHP also reminds bike peddlers that it is illegal to ride a bike while intoxicated. This is called a BUI- Bicycling Under The Influence, and if caught that rider will be arrested and taken to jail. The arrest goes on a person's driving record for three years.
The "Newsmaker of the Day" is heard each weekday morning on AM 1450 KVML at 6:47, 7:47 and 8:47am.
Written by mark@mlode.com
