Sonora -The Tuolumne County Office of Emergency Services (OES) would like to inform Tuolumne County residents and visitors that the National Weather Service has posted a notice for periods of heavy rain over the Sierra Nevada and foothills of Central California Friday afternoon, December 17th, through Friday, December 24th.

Tuolumne County residents and visitors are reminded to prepare for this storm by:

• Reducing or eliminating unnecessary travel during the storm period;
• Having emergency supplies on hand: sandbags in flood-prone zones, food/water, flashlights, battery operated radio, live batteries, prescriptions medications, etc.
• Checking in on neighbors who may have special needs – in advance of the storm;
• Preparing for the potential of power outages due to wind, downed trees, etc.;
• Removing debris from gutters and drainage areas;
• Placing sandbags out before storms arrive in flood-prone zones;
• Checking to insure pets/livestock are safe, especially those that live outdoors;
• Listening to your local radio and television stations for changing weather conditions; and
• Please, call #911 only when it’s truly an emergency.

Sandbags Available

The following locations have emergency supplies of sand for use by residents at their homes and businesses:

• Columbia Airport, Airport Road (back of parking lot);
• Tuolumne Road Yard, corner of Birch and Baker Streets; and
• Groveland Road Yard, Hwy 120 and Wards Ferry Rd. (contact Groveland Fire for assistance).

The following stores have empty sandbags for sale:

• Twain Harte Hardware;
• Andy’s Hardware;
• JS West;
• Orchard Supply Hardware;
• Hurst Ranch Supply; and
• Tractor Supply.

Tuolumne County Fire, CalFire, Public Works, public safety, and law enforcement personnel are on standby and will remain so for the duration.

Our friend, the PG&E lineman whose note I posted the other day, GREATLY appreciates YOUR support, thankfulness, and help. Here’s his “backatcha” note.

Dear Teri and Rich,

Thank you so much for doing this, and for being so thoughtful and sweet to forward the initial reactions.  I am grateful to THEM (TC residents) for their patience and understanding during the outages, and most especially their kindness both then and now. 

Last week, one passerby stopped to help me rewind the cable on my winch–he saw me struggling with it and knew that keeping tension on it for me would be a big help.  A PG&E retiree voluntarily patrolled on foot and directed me to a set of blown fuses.  Several people offered me water or something to eat or drink.  Local residents were quick to offer directions and valuable advice when asked. 

One morning, as I was eating breakfast at Perko’s, I heard a Beatles song softly wafting from the speakers nearby… 

You’re asking me will my love grow
I don’t know, I don’t know
You stick around and it may show
I don’t know, I don’t know

 A guy seated behind me apparently didn’t know any of the lyrics except, “I don’t know, I don’t know”, which he lustily sang out with the music.  I laughed and thought, my sentiments exactly! 

I didn’t know where I would be sent that day, when we’d get power restored, or when I’d get to go home.  (I decided then-and-there, the next time I hear that song I will lustily sing out “I don’t know, I don’t know”, even if it is in a crowded elevator.  It will make someone laugh.  Hopefully.  If it is just me and one other person in the elevator, it might be kinda awkward.  But I digress…)

On Tuesday the 30th (back home) I received a call from a customer up there who found a PG&E fiberglass tool (hotstick) that someone had left on their property.  She offered to return it and thanked me again for helping to get power restored.  It wasn’t mine, but I thanked her for the offer to return it to the PG&E office in Sonora–someone would appreciate getting it back.  See?  Nice, nice people!

One thing I do know now: Tuolumne County is the best!

your friend, 

the PG&E lineman from out of town

He reminded me (like I needed it!!) that California’s junior Senator Barbara Boxer told the NY Times last week that the Democrats expect to pass several bills like this during December, including the Clean Water Restoration Act that will put every drop of water and land in the control of the Corp of Engineers. So, S.510 is just the start. Here’s his note:

Democrats who will face a Republican majority in the House come January are working feverishly to push through land, water, and agricultural controls while they still have a chance. And to do that, they are letting the real economic problems of this nation languish. Shame on them.

Last night, the so-called Food Safety Modernization Bill survived an attempt by Senator Tom Coburn and twenty five stalwart Republicans to send it packing. Senator Coburn offered an amended bill that would produce just as much safety as S.510 but it didn’t offer as much “Big Government” as the Democrats in the Senate (unfortunately joined by nearly two dozen Republicans) want.  So, the reasonably priced amendment was shot down, 64-26, and the Big Bill moves to vote today!

If passed, S. 510 will do the following:

• BIG SPENDING AND BIG GOVERNMENT: It ADDS 1.6 BILLION DOLLARS TO GOVERNMENT COST OVER THE FIRST FIVE YEARS ALONE.  This is the cost of just establishing the structure that will implement this bill that controls all agriculture, large and small, to a degree never seen in this country.

• CONTROLS WILL  BE OVERSEEN BY HOMELAND SECURITY: S. 510 orders Homeland Security to develop a national security strategy for controlling locally grown produce.  Homeland Security is to write strategy that will link to every other national security set of guidelines designed to protect against terrorists.  The Department that has approved the pat-downs in our airports, that delayed actions after Katrina and the Oil Spill because waiver of controls could not be obtained quickly, will be devising the rules for controlling produce from our local farms.

• HUNDREDS OF PAGES OF NEW REGULATIONS WILL CONTROL FARMERS, LARGE AND SMALL: S. 510 is nearly three hundred pages long—and virtually every section authorizes some Secretary to issue regulations.  Even the definition of “small” and “very small” for purposes of escaping some of the regulatory strangulation will be left to the discretion of a Secretary.

• MASS CONFUSION IN REGULATION WRITING: Administration will be shared by Department of Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Food and Drug, the Center for Disease Control and Homeland Security.   Small farming operations will be buried by the mountains of paper work, and conflicting paper work that will come from such a hodge podge of administrators.

• SO CALLED TESTER EXEMPTIONS ALREADY WATERED DOWN: As pointed out in last night’s debate, the Tester amendment that offered exemption to farms with less than $500,000 of annual sales has already been watered down by the Manager’s Report.  It will be that report, not the original Senate bill which is on the floor for vote.  And the so-called exemption will depend upon the discretion of the regulation writers.  Give a bureaucrat a chance to write a regulation that evades a legislative exemption and he will do it.  Give a bureaucrat a chance to control and he will do it.

• THOUSANDS OF NEW REGULATIONS WILL BE ADDED TO THE LAW BOOKS: the bill is nearly three hundred pages in length.  Every page contains provisions for regulations to be issued by some Secretary.  The result will be a convoluted regulatory structure that may rival the Internal Revenue regulations.  Small local farmers will have no chance of success.

• SMALL FARMERS WILL HAVE TO WRITE PLANS AS TO HOW TO PROTECT THEIR PRODUCE CROPS FROM TERRORISTS: The bill orders small farmers to write plans that foresee the various types of terrorist uses of products that could conceivably occur. The plans must deal  with methods to avoid harm from terrorist activities the farmer can foresee, and those that cannot be reasonably foreseen.

• ADDS TO GOVERNMENT INEFFECTIVENESS: There are already in effect regulations that could have prevented the egg salmonella outbreak that provoked its creation, but they were not used.  Now, this bill heaps on the same ineffective agencies, and FOUR MORE AGENCIES, the authority to place controls that will “paper work” small farmers out of business.

There is extreme  pressure coming from supporters of this bill.  In yesterday’s venerable Baltimore Sun, an editorial praised the bill as finally producing real food safety.  Newspapers in the East and Midwest are calling for passage.  The Sun is a reasonable newspaper, now of the Chicago Tribune chain.  They do not  provide voices for the small farmers and for those of us who oppose big and bigger government.

Please act right now, this morning on this Bill. And remember it is, like my colleague warned, but the first of many dangerous bills the lame duck Senate is trying to jam through in spite of the message delivered by the voters earlier this month.

No matter where you live, your Senators need to hear from you this morning and they can be heard only by fax, email, and calls. Please call now!

Just in case your power is still out: Red Cross has opened a Warming Center for PG&E customers experiencing extended outages from the recent winter storm.

Red Cross volunteers will be providing meals and blankets at Word of Life Fellowship, Inc., 24630 CA-108, Mi Wuk Village, CA 95346 (please note: this location has changed from Twain Harte Elementary).

Thanks to the volunteers at Word of Life for helping out. Happy Thanksgiving!

THIS JUST IN FROM USFS!

Begining yesterday, August 2nd, there will be a great deal of helicopter traffic above the Strawberry timber sale, which is in and around the communities of Strawberry and Cold Springs.

Columbia Helicopter will be flying a Boeing 107 Vertol, this is a twin rotored helicopter with a considerable rotor wash; this rotor wash is capable of knocking dead branches, dead (or live) tops, and other debris from trees, it may even blow down snags or trees with compromised root systems. As the helicopter will be flying with large loads of timber dangling beneath, it is crucial to stay far away from its flight paths.

Crabtree Road for the first few days will have flagmen at both ends of the sale area stopping traffic to allow the helicopter to cross the road safely (for those on the ground) so take this into account if you are working [or recreating] out on Crabtree Road. Later this week or early next week the helicopter will be working along Strawberry Ridge, road 4n39 will be closed during this period.

Crabtree Road traffic may experience delays (which should not be very long) and the hazards of being near the helicopter. Spectaros are advised by the USFS that it is only safe to watch at distances greater than 3 miles form any portion of the flight path [looky-loos are discouraged!].

Tractor logging is also in full swing in other portions of the Strawberry sale and is just as dangerous to be around as the helicopter. Please do not approach any areas with machinery, active timber falling, or active landings. It is frequently impossible for equipment operators to see or hear you. Remember that even a small tree falling can kill you, and some of the machines can hurl debris great distances with considerable velocity. Do not place yourself downslope of any heavy equipment they can dislodge rocks. dirt. trees, etc.

Be careful on the highway and other roads in the area as there will be heavy truck traffic and trucks may be entering roads at any time. Pay particular attention when on sections of road with traffic control signage.

Any work that needs to be performed in the vicinity of these timber operations should be coodinated with the Summit Sale Administrator, Greg Brown (ext 5300) in order to ensure the saftety of employees.

Thank you for your time, and be aware and safe.

Gregory Brown
Sale Administrator
Summit Ranger District
Stanislaus National Forest
(209) 965-3434 ext 5300

California Attack     

Bear Attack on Eldorado National Forest

New Mexico Attack     

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTD5RsGPa3Q

Public lands managers note such incidents are on the upswing. Cheryl Carrothers, Regional Wildlife Program Leader for the USFS Pacific Southwest Region, issued an email heads up to regional forests and district rangers on July 2nd, just before the holiday weekend:

“I just wanted to make sure you were all aware.  We have had multiple incidents with bears this year and the frequency is increasing.  Please pass on our concerns to your folks and forest visitors.  Keeping safe distances between bears and humans is a priority, restricting access to food and other attractants is the primary way to ensure this happens!”

We’re posting two videos we found on YouTube below.  Obviously, the views expressed are those of the authors and not this supervisor. Confirm their methods with a ranger before you go and be prepared. And it goes without saying that if you live up here, precautions aren’t just for campers…

Remember, wild things aren’t tame. Be careful, will ya?

A FED BEAR IS A DEAD BEAR: how to take care of your food    

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBvzvfDmzMI&feature=related

SURVIVAL 101: according to Backpacker Magazine, what to do if you encounter a bear    

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Dfd18Zfv2U&feature=related

Tuolumne Cancelled, please call to schedule an appointment for an alternate day.
Weds., Mar. 3, 10:00-11:30 am, Tuolumne Parks and Recreation District Office.

Twain Harte Cancelled this month, please call to schedule an appointment for an alternate day. Weds. Mar. 10,  10-11:30 am, Twain Harte CSD Office

Mi-Wuk Village
Weds., Mar. 17, Cancelled this month, please call to schedule an appointment for an alternate day, Mi-Wuk Village Library (Little Library in the Woods).

Office hours can be scheduled in other communities and at other times, as desired. Please call Teri at 533-5525 to arrange.

PRESS RELEASE

Date:               Monday, January 25, 2010; 10:00 am
Contact:          Kathleen K Rustrum, OES Coordinator, (209) 533-5511

Sonora - According to today’s report for Tuolumne County from the Forecast Desk at the National Weather Service, we are still under a Winter Storm Warning until Tuesday, January 26^th at 4 am. We expect rain to pick up in the late morning through the afternoon amounting to under 1” of precipitation in the lower elevations.

Snow is expected today from 5000’ upwards, lowering in elevation tonight to possibly as low as the 3000’ elevation, for a light dusting. Higher elevations could get as much as 1’ of new snow from this storm. We expect today to be breezy with wind gusts up to 40-50 mph at the mountain crest.  The forecast is for a shower or two tomorrow, then a drying trend through Friday, January 29^th.

Regarding power outages

Mi-Wuk Village is PG&E’s current focus with 1634 customers without power.  PG&E now has 30 crews of 4-5 persons each plus vegetation management staff in Tuolumne County working around the clock to restore power. Helicopter assessments were made over the weekend. Many pole replacements are in inaccessible areas and need to be replaced by staff hiking in and replacing poles by hand. Other poles are more accessible and more easily accessed by snow tractors.

PG&E will be re-energizing power lines in the Mi-Wuk area today at 10:30 am and should be able to further assess where power is still out later on this morning. We hope to update the community with PG&E’s action plan later on today.

Mi-Wuk Fire Station, located at 24247 Highway 108, next to Big Daddy’s Restaurant, has been turned into a warming station for those without power.  You are welcome to stay for a couple of hours or overnight as there are cots and blankets available, provided by the Red Cross.  Also, oxygen tanks are available for those who need theirs refilled. Please contact the Mi-Wuk Fire Station directly if you have this need: 209.586.5256

Tuolumne County residents and visitors are reminded to:

• Reduce or eliminate unnecessary travel during periods of severe weather.
• Have emergency supplies on hand: sandbags in flood-prone zones, food/water, flashlights, battery-operated radio, ‘live’ batteries, prescription medications, etc.
• Check in on neighbors who may be elderly or have special needs.
• Continue to prepare for the potential of more power outages due to wind, downed trees, and resultant downed power lines.
• Check to insure pets/livestock are safe, especially those animal that may live outdoors.
• Listen to your local radio stations (and TV stations) for changing weather conditions.
• And, please use 911 only when it is vitally necessary.

Sandbag Resources

County Emergency Services, in conjunction with County Public Works still has three locations for emergency sand to assist County citizens with mitigating flooding at their homes or businesses.  County residents may pick up sand at the following locations:

• Columbia Airport; Airport Rd at the edge of the paved parking lot
• The City of Tuolumne; on the corner of Baker and Birch Streets
• Jamestown Road Yard; 7^th Avenue, behind Jamestown Elementary

Please bring your own shovel and bags to fill. Empty sandbags may be purchased at any of our local hardware or ranch supply stores.

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Wind and heavy snow knocked down trees, some of which are entangled in power lines and across roads. PG&E crews had to be called off for a time due to the numerous downed (and live) power lines. They are out in force now.

Restoring power in Tuolumne County is a #1 priority for PG&E. Some communities (Twain Harte and communities above in the Hwy 108 corridor) have been without power for several days.

PG&E has assigned 8-10 crews (of 4-5 people each) to remove trees that are entangled in power lines in District 3.

Public Works crews are working on snowplowing District 3 County roads that do not have downed trees and/or electric lines across them. But Public Works can’t move in to take care of some impacted roads until PG&E has finished its work.

If your power is out, it’s likely you won’t be able to read this but if you can, please try to be patient until PG&E and Public Works get to your area. If you have an emergency, by all means call 9-1-1.

And if you do get out, you should check on your neighbors and make sure you and they have food, water, and anything else you might need for a few more days. 

Here’s hoping the next storm won’t be quite so ferocious.

Date:               Tuesday, January 19, 2010; 8:30 am
Contact:          Kathleen K Rustrum, OES Coordinator, (209) 533-5511

Sonora - According to the Forecast Desk at the National Weather Service this morning, we are still under a Winter Storm Warning until tomorrow night. We will be experiencing light precipitation this morning which will pick up by mid-day. Showers will continue through Wednesday or Thursday.

Currently, we are experiencing wind gusts of 40-50 mph, which will increase up to 60 mph through today, but will wind down tonight. Then the wind is expected to pick up again to 60-65 mph at the highest elevations with tomorrow’s incoming storm in the late morning.

Snow levels are at about 4500’ right now and will drop tonight to 3500-4000’.  There is a possibility of another foot of snow through tonight at the higher elevations.

So far, we have received between 2”-4” of rain in the County, depending on the elevation.  For the storms that have taken place from last Sunday, January 17^th through this coming Friday, January 22^nd, the expectation is for 4-7” rain overall and 4’-7’ of new snow overall.

A high pressure system may move in Saturday and Sunday giving us a reprieve from the storms for the weekend. This will probably be followed by more storms next week.

Tuolumne County residents and visitors are reminded to:

• Reduce or eliminate unnecessary travel during periods of severe weather.
• Have emergency supplies on hand: sandbags in flood-prone zones, food/water, flashlights, battery-operated radio, ‘live’ batteries, prescription medications, etc.
• Check in on neighbors who may have special needs – in advance of the storm.
• Ready for the potential of a power outages due to wind, downed trees, etc.
• Check to insure pets/livestock are safe, especially those animal that may live outdoors.
• Listen to your local radio stations (and TV stations) for changing weather conditions.
• And, please use 911 only when it is vitally necessary.

 Sandbag Resources

County Emergency Services, in conjunction with County Public Works, has established three locations for emergency sand to assist County citizens with mitigating flooding at their homes or businesses.  County residents may pick up sand at the following locations: 

• Columbia Airport; Airport Rd at the edge of the paved parking lot
• The City of Tuolumne; on the corner of Baker and Birch Streets
• Jamestown Road Yard; 7^th Avenue, behind Jamestown Elementary 

Please bring your own shovel and bags to fill. Empty sandbags may be purchased at any of our local hardware or ranch supply stores.

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