As you know from this blog, the closure of the mill (along with two other SPI mills) last year was devastating to the local economy. MANY jobs (direct and indirect) were lost here and a number of folks moved away to find work.

This is great news from an economic standpoint alone. But we have the added benefit of once again having  a local facility where forest products can be processed – important from a fire fuels management perspective. That’s major!

Thanks, SPI and TCEDA and county staff for the elbow grease it took to make this work.

Go Team Tuolumne!

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For Immediate Release Contact: Larry Cope, 209-989-4058

PRESS RELEASE

Sierra Pacific Industries to Retool Sawmill at Sonora: Will Create 130 Jobs

In a Joint Announcement, Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) and the Tuolumne County Economic Development Authority (TCEDA) today announced that SPI is making a major investment in Tuolumne County by retooling its sawmill in Sonora, updating an older mill that closed there in 2009. This facility, when completed, will incorporate state-of-the-art technology to produce lumber from a wider array of log sizes than was possible under the older configuration. Remodeling of the old plant is expected to begin by mid-July, and the updated facility is planned for operation in May of 2011. This announcement does not impact the SPI cedar fencing mill in Chinese Camp, which currently employs about 80 people.

“We are investing in the future of this community,” said SPI area manager Ryan Land. “Lumber markets have improved modestly and by increasing the range of acceptable log sizes we will be able to bring family-wage jobs back to this area,” he added. SPI continues to invest in its forests and mills to grow more trees and enhance productivity while protecting the environment and creating jobs,” Land went on to say. He added that Tuolumne County Economic Development Authority director Larry Cope has worked cooperatively with SPI to retool the mill and restore jobs to the community.

The Sonora mill closed in July 2009 amid weakness in the lumber market, reduced timber harvests on nearby national forest lands, and increasing state regulatory burdens. In addition, the plant was configured to only accept larger-diameter logs. “When combined, these factors left us no choice but to close the plant,” said Land. At that time about 130 employees were affected by the closure. About that same number of employees will be hired when the retooled plant begins production in 2011.

SPI spokesman Mark Pawlicki stated, “Retooling this mill will help California meet its own demand for wood products, rather than importing lumber from faraway places with lower environmental standards.” “The time has come when more of the lumber needed in this state can be produced in California’s mills,” he added.

Retooling of the mill will be managed by Sierra Pacific Industries. It is anticipated that SPI will hire local workers to help with the project.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Sierra Pacific Industries is a third-generation family-owned forest products company based in Anderson, California. The firm owns and manages nearly 1.9 million acres of timberland in California and Washington, and is the second largest lumber producer in the United States. Sierra Pacific Industries is committed to managing its lands in a responsible and sustainable manner to protect the environment while providing quality wood products and renewable power for consumers.

The Tuolumne County Economic Development Authority (TCEDA) promotes the County of Tuolumne, including the City of Sonora, as a dynamic business location and provides business with essential information needed when locating or expanding business in the Sierra – Mother Lode Area of California.

TCEDA’s mission is to facilitate a local economy that is innovative, resilient and diverse, by assisting in business formation, developing a skilled workforce, supporting local businesses, and attracting innovative companies to Tuolumne County.

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Nansea Arquette and the folks at Dawn’s Light Center for Children & Adults in Grief have announced the formation of teen and children’s groups this summer to connect them with others who can relate to what they’re going through.

Click on the flyers below for details and please print out copies to post on bulletin boards in your neighborhood. If you are an grieving adult, that sucks too. Dawn’s Light has a group for you, as well.

Give them a call at 532-9001.

Rol Bergen on Copper

As you may or may not know, Rol Bergen was recently involved in an accident while working with a mule near Tuolumne. He is currently at UC Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. His wife, Linda Miller-Bergen, has established a website to let us know how things are going. Thanks, Linda! Please let us know if there is any way we can help.

****

Dear Family and Friends,

To keep you up to date on Rol Bergen, I created a CaringBridge website. You can follow Rol’s progress and show your support.

Visit Rol’s website in two easy ways:

1. Visit the CaringBridge website by clicking the link below.

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/rol

2. Enter the website name, rol, at www.CaringBridge.org.

When you visit you’ll be asked to log in, because I’ve chosen to keep the site private.

Linda

Every year at this time, women – and one man this year -decorate a themed table for the Tea. After the winning table is chosen, TWIST members, table decorators, and guests sit down for a  gourmet Tea.

As usual, Saturday’s wildly popular sit-down Tea Party is sold out, but tickets will be available at the door for Friday night’s Preview. See beautifully decorated tables, participate in drawings for prizes, and enjoy refreshments. Proceeds from this event and Saturday’s Tea benefit TWIST scholarship and community improvement projects.

Over the past four years, TWIST has donated $17,000 to local high school seniors and has assisted over 100 families with community clean-up projects. Additionally, TWIST donated a new stove to the Tuolumne Memorial Hall and gave $2000 toward Summerville High School’s new tennis courts.

TWIST is a non-profit service organization dedicated to community improvement through volunteer service. Donations are tax deductible and much appreciated. For more information, contact Terri Neher at (209) 928-4908.

At the Tuolumne Veterans Day Ceremony today I got to thinking about the tremendous sacrifices made by men and women who gave so much for their country – our country.  I was thinking about the strong sense of duty that drove many of them to leave home, family, friends, and country that we might be free. And then I thought about the mess California and the US are in and asked myself, what’s our excuse? How did we come to this?

Quite simply, we did not show up. We let it come to this.

We ignored our duty to get involved. We abdicated our responsibility to direct and correct our leaders.  We let agendas we didn’t share chart the course to the future. We allowed political and governmental leaders to legislate and spend to their hearts’ content. We figured it was someone else’s job to be vigilant. When folks tried to warn us about a day of reckoning, we ignored them.

We need a strong dose of what you have, Vets. Duty. Self-sacrifice. Commitment to something beyond ourselves.

We let you down. We didn’t do our part while you sacrificed elsewhere. Dare I say that you had a reasonable expectation that while you served in the military, we would watch over the land you love?

We didn’t. We wanted to be left alone to recreate, prosper, and follow our dreams. We believed your sacrifice was enough to maintain what made California and the nation great. We didn’t attend meetings where decisions were made, didn’t vote, and didn’t hold anyone accountable for bad behavior or poor choices.

In Tuolumne at the Veteran’s Day ceremony today, I saw men and women who did their duty. They showed up – you showed up – when needed. We have no excuse.

At the risk of asking too much, may I suggest one more thing you can do for California and your country? We’re in trouble. Big trouble. Teach your children, grandchildren, neighbors, and friends about duty, self-sacrifice, and commitment. Teach them to show up and stay there.

We’re going to need it.

Many local agencies, basic needs and other safety net programs, faith-based, and community service groups will attend to share how you can volunteer to help them reach out to an increasingly needy population. A partial list of participants includes: Behavioral Health, Veterans outreach, Parish Nursing, Horse Rescue, Mentoring Works, Sierra Non-Profit Services, Dawn’s Light (grief support), the David Lambert Community Center, Sheriff’s Office/Search and Rescue, Tuolumne County Library, Habitat for Humanity,  Victim Witness, Interfaith, Seniority Life Care, Adult Day Health Care, Guide Dogs, Thumbs Up, the Disability Resource Agency for Indendent Living (DRAIL), Catholic Charities, WATCH (provides support to adults with developmental disabilities), the Amador Tuolumne Community Action Agency, and the Foodbank.

The Community Day of Caring on July 18th is an outgrowth of the work the Safety Net Planning Group is doing to bridge budgetary gaps to meet basic needs in Tuolumne County. If you have questions, want to present your agency or program’s volunteer opportunities at the Community Day of Caring, or you want to contribute, please contact Jema Padavana at jema, or Jean Jones at jjones.

Tuolumne County Administrator Craig Pedro will discuss the economic conditions that led to the crisis, answer questions, and present a best-guess estimate of anticipated revenues from the state (a general prediction given ongoing state budget discussions). He’ll also share his proposed draft 2009/2010 budget – including cuts – to be considered by the Board of Supervisors the following day.

Teri is seeking serious, creative, and community-supported ideas on how to continue some at-risk programs. Community volunteer coordinators will also attend and hand out information on their efforts to extend safety net services and enlist volunteers to help out.

Please join us for this important opportunity to be part of the solution for Tuolumne, District 3, and the county.

For more info, contact Teri at 533-5525 or email info.

We have directed the county administrator to try to keep some of these at-risk services going for now, but there will still be huge losses in terms of county programs (and huge losses to our residents). We will lose more of our families who will go to other areas to find work. But contingency planning with a caring community is a critical component to minimizing losses and making it through what’s coming.

Craig Pedro, county administrator, recently wrote about the proposed reductions to the recreation program:

•  The direction the Board provided staff on Tuesday was for construction of a preliminary budget which includes full year funding for operations of Standard Park (e.g. soccer, little league, high school baseball and softball, adult softball, etc.) and all three Youth Centers (i.e. Groveland, Jamestown and Tuolumne).
• The Board also provided direction that funding be provided for all Summer 2009 recreation programs and all other base Recreation staff through September 2009.
• During the final budget hearing to be held in August 2009, the Board will be able to reassess what additional cuts the state will be imposing on county government as well as consider updates on all other County revenues and expenses. With that completed, the Board will consider further changes (additions and/or deletions) to the actions contained in the preliminary budget.
• The Board has gone on record that public safety is one of its top priorities, but I know all of the members highly value recreational services as well. I believe that tension is evident in the direction the Board gave staff on Tuesday which preserved more recreational programs at the expense of public safety services. In fact, the preliminary cuts to public safety services ($834,689) out weigh those proposed to recreational services ($318,284) and library services ($293,000) combined.

Over a year ago I asked District 3 residents to help prioritize the most important services for the county to maintain if we had budget difficulties. The top priorities were public safety – police and fire – and roads (expressed by those who attended listening sessions and/or responded to the poll on my website). Largely as a result of District 3 input and what other supervisors were hearing, the county added three deputies last fall. Things have gotten slightly better since, although they are nowhere near where they should be for us to feel totally safe. Given Board direction to balance the cuts, the county is now reevaluating if we can afford to apply for a COPS grant to put resource officers back in the schools. The grant would provide three years of guaranteed funding, but we have to determine if we can fund the fourth year, as required by the federal government as grantor.

It is an inescapable fact that people direct much of their anger at the Board of Supervisors since we are the ones you talk to and see day to day, but let the Governor and our legislators know about your displeasure, as well. In addition to a slow economy, blame for the cuts rests firmly on the shoulders of Sacramento where they refuse to delay implementation of some expensive programs unrelated to basic human needs and are STILL passing similar legislation with funding requirements - even as they promise to take money from schools, cities, counties, and special districts. A part of the blame also belongs to “we the people” for our apathy and for voting to approve statewide ballot propositions with big costs and that guarantee large portions of the state general fund are diverted to fund them.

Are there areas in the county budget that can/should be cut? Yes, and we are doing that. Are there areas in the county budget that will have to be cut that shouldn’t be? Sadly, yes. The county has taken some unpopular actions in the last three years to cut services we could no longer afford, but we must be good budgetary stewards. The state will now have to do the same and it will hurt here at home.

So, there’s plenty of blame to go around, but after expressing it we must move on to develop contingency plans for community solutions. There’s a leadership role if you are willing to assume it. You can be a model. What’s coming – and some fear it may be like the Depression – will require that. The opportunities to demonstrate through example will be many.

Over seventy-five people representing local government and nonproft safety net providers met several months ago with members of faith-based and service organizations to identify upcoming crises precipitated by the downturn in the economy and looming budget cuts. Now, a group is working to set up community gardens and build local food networks, another is cutting wood for next winter that will be available to people needing energy assistance, the Sonora Area Foundation is in the process of raising $500,000 to go to four local safety net provider organizations to help people in need, and we are looking for ways to develop emergency homeless shelters and transition facilities for families who will need a place to live while they save money to get into a rental home. These are a few of the efforts already under way, but there are many others either planned or waiting to be imagined and taken up by caring communities.

If you have ideas for volunteer-run solutions, please click on post a comment below and I will contact you to follow up. For example, we’ve talked of keeping two county pools open in the summer of 2010 – one of them would be in District 3 in Tuolumne – so that kids can be taught to swim and have some recreation opportunities. We will need help to do that after this summer. Some leaders in Twain Harte are talking about raising funds to keep their pool open and Mi-Wuk Village leaders are talking about raising funds for their library. 

Hang in there, friends. It’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better, but we have within us the skills, abilities, and compassion to make it through together. Those of you who pray might ask that we’d be guided by wisdom and compassion in all our decisions and that the communities will rise up to help. Finally, I anticipate a lot of folks will show up at the Board meeting at 9:00 am on the 9th of June to lobby for their favorite programs – a strong showing from District 3 would be good.

Update

As of May 1, 2009, there are 141 confirmed cases of H1N1 Swine Influenza confirmed in the United States with one death. There have been no cases of H1N1 Swine Influenza in Tuolumne County. As of today [Friday], there had been 17 cases of Swine Influenza confirmed in California.

Does Tuolumne County have a Plan for H1N1 – Swine Influenza?

The Tuolumne County Department of Public Health created a “Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan” in 2003. With participation from a wide array of local government and community agencies and from individual volunteers, this plan has been repeatedly exercised and refined over the past five years.

To view the 2009 version of the plan go to the Tuolumne County website:

www.tuolumnecounty.ca.gov and then find the Public Health page, under All County Departments.

This is a community coordinated plan to address health care emergencies in Tuolumne County, including Pandemic Flu.

What should I do if I feel ill?

It is important for each person to familiarize themselves with symptoms of the “flu.” It is most important that you learn to recognize when those symptoms do not require a visit to a clinic or emergency room, and when your condition might require the attention of a health care provider. In this way we can avoid unnecessary delays for patients requiring care and unnecessary exposure of people to infections in waiting rooms.

Influenza can be recognized by:

• A fever of 100 degrees by oral measurement and
• A cough and/or sore throat.

You will note that many other virus illnesses may cause these same symptoms. Therefore, it is not necessary that you immediately seek help if you have these symptoms. There are two situations in which you should consider calling an expert for advice about being seen for your illness.

1. You should call your usual health care provider, urgent care or emergency room if the patient with symptoms has difficulty breathing, becomes confused, appears pale or bluish around the mouth or face, or begins to cough up blood in the sputum. These are the signs that any respiratory illness may be more serious, whether or not it is caused by influenza.
2. Tuolumne County residents should call your local health department (209-533-7401) or the healthcare provider of your choice if you have the signs of influenza (see A and B above) and you have recently traveled to Mexico or to a community with a confirmed case of Swine Influenza, or you have been exposed to a person with confirmed Swine Influenza, or live in a group (household, dormitory etc…) with a person who has confirmed Swine Influenza.

General Information

• As part of California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) efforts to provide updated information to Californians on what they can do to protect themselves and their families from the swine flu outbreak, CDPH has activated a toll-free H1N1 (swine flu) hotline in English and Spanish. Assistance in other languages is also available. The phone number is 1-888-865-0564 and the hotline is available Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on weekends from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Another toll-free California Department of Public Health H1N1 (swine flu) hotline #: 1-877-968-2473
• The Tuolumne County Information Line is activated 24/7 (recorded message): (209) 533-6392
• Our County Public Health information line, during normal business hours, M-F: (209) 533-7401
• Tuolumne County Health Dept: http://www.tuolumnecounty.ca.gov under “Health Department”
• Preparing for Pandemic Flu Brochure: http://bepreparedcalifornia.ca.gov/EPO/BeInformed/Flu/PandemicFlu/PandemicFluBrochureIZB.htm  
• California Department of Public Health: www.cdph.ca.gov
• California Department of Public Health: www.getimmunizedca.org
• Centers for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov/flu/swine or 1-800-232-4636
• American Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org regarding Flu Preparedness
• Pandemic Flu information: www.pandemicflu.gov

From: Kathleen K Rustrum, Tuolumne County Public Information Officer
S. Todd Stolp MD, Tuolumne County Health Officer

As of April 30, 2009, there are over 100 cases of Swine Influenza confirmed in the United States with one death. There have been no cases of Swine Influenza in Tuolumne County. By April 29, there had been 14 cases of Swine Influenza confirmed in California.

What should I do if I feel ill?

It is important for each person to familiarize themselves with symptoms of the “flu.” It is most important that you learn to recognize when those symptoms do not require a visit to a clinic or emergency room, and when your condition might require the attention of a health care provider. In this way we can avoid unnecessary delays for patients requiring care and unnecessary exposure of people to infections in waiting rooms.

Influenza can be recognized by:

•  A fever of 100 degrees by oral measurement and
• A cough and/or sore throat.

You will note that many other virus illnesses may cause these same symptoms. Therefore, it is not necessary that you immediately seek help if you have these symptoms. There are two situations in which you should consider calling an expert for advice about being seen for your illness.

1. You should call your usual health care provider, urgent care or emergency room if the patient with symptoms has difficulty breathing, becomes confused, appears pale or bluish around the mouth or face, or begins to cough up blood in the sputum. These are the signs that any respiratory illness may be more serious, whether or not it is caused by influenza.
2. Tuolumne County residents should call your local health department (209-533-7401) or the healthcare provider of your choice if you have the signs of influenza (see A and B above) and you have recently traveled to Mexico or to a community with a confirmed case of Swine Influenza, or you have been exposed to a person with confirmed Swine Influenza, or live in a group (household, dormitory etc…) with a person who has confirmed Swine Influenza.

How dangerous is this virus?

Information about this new swine influenza (H1N1) virus is rapidly being collected. While most people have no more symptoms than as if they had a bad “cold,” some people suffer more severe illness. Deaths appear to be rare, but not impossible. The most important question that still needs to be answered is how many people will catch this virus. It is for this reason that it is so important that people are particularly careful not to share germs by doing the following:

• Obey proper hand washing with soap, and use hand gels if they are available.
• Cough into the inside of your elbow to cover your cough if you must cough or sneeze.
• Stay home from work or school if you develop a respiratory illness. Avoid sharing your germs
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth as germs spread that way.
• Dispose of used tissues properly.
• How will infected people be treated?

While there are medications for people who are suspected of having Swine Influenza, not everybody who is tested for the illness will require treatment. This decision is left up to the trained health care provider who sees the patient. Medications are available to treat people who need treatment.

Is there a vaccine for the Swine Influenza?

The United States public health system consists of a number of different agencies who are working with private industry to prepare a vaccine as quickly as possible to help protect the population. By limiting the spread of the virus through the use of medication and keeping infected people away from uninfected people we will seek to allow enough time for this vaccine to be made available.

General Information

The World Health Organization has raised the Pandemic Phase to Level 5, meaning that further spread to larger clusters has occurred. This directs other states and countries to prepare appropriately. See websites below for more information on preparation.

• The Governor has issued a Proclamation of Emergency for the State of California yesterday, April 28th.
• The Tuolumne County Department of Public Health Department Operations Center (DOC) is activated during normal business hours.
• The Inland Region Emergency Operations Center (REOC) is activated in support of Tuolumne County from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.

Additional Information

• Swine Flu Hotline: 888-865-0564 from 8 am to 5:30 pm daily
• The Tuolumne County Information Line is activated 24/7 (recorded message): 533-6392
• Our County Public Health information line, during normal business hours: 533-7401
• Tuolumne County Health Dept: http://www.tuolumnecounty.ca.gov under “New and Noteworthy”
• Preparing for Pandemic Flu Brochure: http://bepreparedcalifornia.ca.gov/EPO/BeInformed/Flu/PandemicFlu/PandemicFluBrochureIZB.htm
• California Department of Public Health: www.cdph.ca.gov
• California Department of Public Health: www.getimmunizedca.org
• Centers for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov/flu/swine or 1-800-232-4636
• American Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org regarding Flu Preparedness
• Pandemic Flu information: www.pandemicflu.gov