Longtime Ukiah area resident Rosemary Torell passed away after a brief hospitalization on Sunday, October 23rd. Her health had declined subsequent to a fall at home last winter. She was 89 years old.

Born in Jewell, Kansas in 1922 to James Claudius Miller and Maude Marion Jones Miller, the family left Winfield, KS in the forties to pick fruit in Washington. They later settled in Denver, Colorado. Along with many at the time, they did what they could to make ends meet. Despite the challenges, she remembered those days fondly. She worked for the Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, where she met and married the love of her life, Donald T. Torell, in 1950. They were married 62 years. At the time of her passing, they lived in Central California where they moved to be near children and grandchildren.

Family and faith in Jesus Christ were  Rosemary’s highest priorities. She was a compassionate and loyal advocate for both.  She worked with Don on their sheep ranch near Ukiah, helped with his research at the Hopland Field Station, and together they raised two children. They traveled to many countries and lived in Uganda, Kenya, and Chile. They were members at Ukiah First Baptist Church for almost 50 years, where she also served as a deaconess and secretary under Pastors Taylor and Duncan.

Rosemary was active in the Mendocino County sheep ranching industry. She was a member of the California and Mendocino Woolgrowers and the Bo-Peeps, for years working at local fairs, serving on scholarship committees, judging Make It Yourself With Wool contest at the Grand National at the Cow Palace, and helping put on annual Woolgrowers BBQs in Boonville. She was a passionate promoter and ambassador for agriculture, the sheep industry, traditional Western values, an accomplished artist, and woodcarver.

Rosemary is survived by Don, children Teri and her husband Richard Murrison of Eagle, ID, Mike and his wife Vikki Torell of Chowchilla, and grandchildren Mike Torell II and his wife Sarah Torell of Chowchilla, Megan and her husband Jordan Geary of Copperas Cove, TX, and Colton, Mikayla,  and Zebediah, and great grandchildren Tanner and Mia Torell of Chowchilla. She also leaves behind her sister Elizabeth Jasper, brother Winfield Miller,and many beloved nieces and nephews and their families: Judy Greer,  Dr. Don Jasper, Craig and Gary Miller, and Jeannie Edwards. She will be missed by faithful friends Louise Fennessey, Robert Lopez, Ritchie Wood, and many others. Rosemary was predeceased by her parents, siblings Marguerite Brane, and Richard Miller.

At her request, no memorial service will be held. Rosemary did not want people to be sad, but asked that family and friends remember her life with joy and celebrate her homegoing. In keeping with a large heart and her generous nature, she would ask that anyone who wants to donate to a memorial fund simply find a soul who needs help and give it.

When all was said and done, Rosemary aspired to hear “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” I am confident she achieved her goal.

As much as I will miss living here, the job’s right up my alley and Idaho has wonderful people, incredible natural resources, a strong agricultural industry, a balanced state budget (with a $74 million surplus !), and a part time legislature. There’s even a ski area close by for Rich. Woo hoo!  While we’re torn about leaving, it’s an irresistible combination. Our nest is about to be vacated too - Megan is getting married to a wonderful guy in July and moving to Arizona. If there were ever to be a time for changing, this is it.  

We’ll miss Tuolumne County, California, the work we’ve been doing, and all of you. Thank you for your support and friendship over the years. We’ll be back to visit from time to time, so please don’t forget us. After all, how could you? We’ve still got email, Facebook, and Twitter!

Teri, Rich, and Megan

PS Interesting too that our Shepherd’s Crook logo above and the Soil and Water Conservation Commission’s logo below are so similar, don’t you think?! Hmmmm…

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 26, 2011

CONTACT:

Bill Flory (208) 791-1506
Dick Bronson (208) 739-2169
info

IDAHO SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION COMMISSION APPOINTS ADMINISTRATOR

(Boise, Idaho) – Idaho Soil & Water Conservation Commission (SWC) Chairman Bill Flory has announced the appointment of the new Administrator, Teri Murrison of Tuloumne, California.

Murrison fills the position effective June 1, 2011 and will be located in the Boise office. She will be responsible for providing leadership and direction for Commission staff, budgets, and programs.

“The Soil & Water Conservation Commission believes that Ms. Murrison’s background will serve her well in supporting our mission and commitment to natural resource conservation,” said Flory. “Teri has experience and perspective from the local and state levels to lead the Commission and continue the relationships with all of our conservation partners.”

Murrison served as a county supervisor in Tuolumne County, California from 2007 to 2010 where she focused on increasing government transparency and accountability, public participation, and attaining balance between natural resource and socioeconomic interests.

“Helping landowners and conservation districts do the work they do best is personally and professionally gratifying. It’s also incredibly important to the future of Idaho,” said Murrison. “I look forward to working with the Commission to strengthen relationships with our conservation partners and promote good stewardship of Idaho’s natural resources and its strong agricultural heritage.“

Her extensive experience working on resource issues includes serving on California’s statewide watershed advisory committee under Secretary Michael Chrisman, member of the CALFED Public Watershed Committee, member of the Department of Water Resource San Joaquin River Management Plan committee, and participation in the Tuolumne Stanislaus Integrated Regional Water Management Program, along with other groundwater and water quality groups and coalitions.

In addition to water issues, Murrison also participated in the Sustainable Forest Action Coalition. In 2000, she founded a business to provide grant writing and administration services to local governments and special districts, including the East Merced Resource Conservation District. Prior to that, Murrison served as a public information/administrative services officer, working on regional transportation projects around the Yosemite National Park system.

Murrison is a graduate from California State University and holds Bachelor degrees in both English and Political Science, along with a Masters in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, and Peacebuilding. She is a member of California Women’s Leadership Association and is a graduate of California Agricultural Leadership Class XXXIV.

About the Idaho Soil & Water Conservation Commission:

The SWC provides support and services to Idaho’s 50 Soil Conservation Districts in the wise use and enhancement of soil, water and related natural resources. The SWC is committed to improving the environment, increasing public awareness of conservation issues, and providing technical information needed to implement conservation measures and improve natural resource management.

For more information about the Idaho Soil & Water Conservation Commission visit www.swc.idaho.gov.

# # #

Sonora, Calif., (November 16, 2009)… The Forest Service today announced dates, times, and locations for five public meetings that will provide information on the upcoming Stanislaus National Forest (NF) Motorized Travel Management (MTM) Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision. The release of the decision and legal notice is expected within the next three weeks.

Current MTM information is available on the Forest website at:

http//:www.fs.fed.us/r5/stanislaus/projects/ohv

The meetings are scheduled as follows:

• 3, 2009, 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Sonora Best Western, Oak Glenn room, located at 19551 Hess Road, in Sonora.
• December 5, 2009, 3:00 to 6:30 p.m. at the Harvest Hall located at 3800 Cornucopia Way, in Modesto.
• December 9, 2009, a hosted Webinar from 7:00 to 8.30 p.m., check the Stanislaus NF website for additional information http//:www.fs.fed.us/r5/stanislaus/projects/ohv (before December 1, 2009).
• January 6, 2010, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (to be announced) in Groveland or Arnold.
• January 7, 2010, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (to be announced) in Groveland or Arnold.

Interested individuals and groups are invited to attend one of the above meeting dates, times and locations. For more information see www.fs.fed.us/r5/stanislaus/projects/ohv, or call Sue Warren at (209) 532-3671, extension 321.

###

As usual, Caltrans maintains Hwy 108 while the county maintains the county-maintained roads. Some roads are not county-maintained and residents have formed community service areas to make sure streets are plowed by private contractors. If your street is not getting plowed, it’s possible you may not live on a county-maintained road. Please call Public Works at 209-533-5601 to find out. They can also tell you about a new way for privately owned roads to fund plowing and other maintainance.

As we promised last year in District 3 community meetings on snow-plowing, the county is making a concerted effort to inform folks about restrictions on street parking this year. Snow on county-maintained roads means Public Works will be actively enforcing restrictions against parking on some streets in the county – they’re bringing on a retired law enforcement officer to help ensure streets are unobstructed and clear. That means ticketing and towing. Public Works will keep us in the loop on calls/emails about issues/problems and their resolution.

Public Works will send out flyers and get the word out to newspaper and radio. They will also appreciate your assistance to distribute and post flyers in your community. If you can help, please email Carol Jackson.  

Does this mean that you will have no complaints about snow-plowing from here on out? We’ll see. Hopefully they will at least be reduced. Public Works has discussed the concerns expressed in our meetings with snow-plow operators and they will do their best to get to your street as quickly and safely as they can. Please be patient, but certainly let Public Works know if there is a problem by calling 209-533-5601.

If you experience snow-plow related damages to your property, contact the County Counsel’s office at 533-5517 to request a claim form. Claims are reviewed and evaluated by the County Counsel’s office for possible reimbursement for damages. Photo documentation of driveways in advance of the season would be a good idea, as would be photos of the damage.

We really need the moisture so we hope it’s a big snow year. But if it is, expect some inconvenience due to limited resources. We are thankful that Congress passed legislation for some critical funding that goes to maintenance of streets and includes snow plowing. That said, it’s never quite enough.