1. education
2. school

Fire District to look into alarm system
to protect fire hall after burglary
Fire Chief Tom Graham
told the Millville Fire Protection District Board of
Directors at their meeting
on May 11, 2013 that someone had recently broken into
the fire hall and stolen two
Handy-talkies and breathing
apparatus. He said whoever
had committed the crime apparently did not know fire
equipment because they
stole mostly old, out of date
items. “It could have been a
lot worse,” he said.
Director Bob Buick said
he thought they should look
into the cost of installing an
alarm system or surveillance
cameras to protect the fire
hall, and the other two board
members
present—Craig
Dowling and Steve Goedert-agreed.
Graham also reported
that the volunteers had responded to eight calls in
April: two medical aids, one
structure fire, two smoke
checks, two traffic collisions, and one standby for a
plane down on the Millville
Plains.
American Legion in Palo Cedro plans
dedication at Park on Memorial Day
American Legion Post
214 in Palo Cedro will hold
a brief dedication ceremony
for its Honorarium at the
Palo Cedro Park at 10:00
a.m. on Memorial Day, May
30, 2015. The public is invited to attend. The site chosen by the Park Board is a
small clearing just south of
the outdoor grills near the
EAST VALLEY TIMES
LOCAL NEWS
PAGE 4—May 21, 2015
footbridge from the south
parking lot.
The dedication ceremony
will be followed by a fundraising luncheon for the
Honorarium at Hometown
Buffet in Redding. The luncheon will start at 12 noon
and last until 2:00 p.m.
Tickets are $12.00 for adults
and include beverages. They
may be obtained from any
Legion member or by calling
472-3086 prior to May 28.
The Legion appreciates the generous support of
those who have given their
time and financial support to
this project and hope that the
Honorarium will be a lasting
addition to the character of
Palo Cedro.
www.eastvalleytimes.com
Shingletown Medical Center
celebrates 22nd Annual National
Senior Health & Fitness Day®
By Patti Allison
The Shingletown Medical Center will join an estimated 1,000 local groups to
celebrate the 22nd Annual
National Senior Health &
Fitness Day (NSHFD). As
an official site, Shingletown
Medical Center and co-sponsor Shasta Regional Medical Center are hosting the
event that will take place on
Wednesday, May 27th from
1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at
Shingletown’s Open Door
Community Church, eight
miles east of downtown
Shingletown on Highway
44.
The 2015 theme is “If You
Keep Moving… You’ll Keep
Improving!” The event will
feature exercise demonstrations from members of the
Shingletown’s “Fun with Senior Fitness” program. The
Active Aging Community
Task Force in Redding sponsors this senior fitness program consisting of easy exercises to improve strength,
flexibility, endurance, and
balance for seniors (50 and
above) of all abilities.
At the event there will
be an assortment of informational booths designed
to help the community become aware of the many
health-related
programs,
community and county services, and local providers
within our area. There will
also be an assortment of
tasty food samplings, along
with a variety of great raffle
items from all the vendors.
For only $10.00 you can
buy two arm’s lengths of
tickets.
“The Shingletown Medical Center believes this
“free-to-the-public” event
will provide a valuable
service to our area,” stated
Tami Fraser, CEO. “We
are excited about providing
this Senior Health & Fitness Day to our community
and hope everyone can join
us for a fun and informative
experience.”
Always set for the last
Wednesday in May, National Senior Health &
Fitness Day is the nation’s
largest annual health promotion event for older
adults. The event’s goal is
to promote the importance
of regular physical activity,
and to showcase what local
organizations are doing to
improve the health and fitness of older adults in their
communities. For more information about National
Senior Health & Fitness
Day, visit http://www.fitnessday.com
Registered nurse Deb Hornbacher
joins Shingletown Medical Center
Shingletown
Medical
Center (SMC) is pleased to
introduce their new registered
nurse, Deb Hornbacher. Ms.
Hornbacher recently moved
from Colorado and has taken
over the position previously
held by Nancy Moffett, RN.
Nancy was offered a position
which required her to move
out of the area, and we wish
her all the best in her new endeavors.
Deb Hornbacher graduated
in 1985 with her ADN, AssoDrivers round a turn at the revamped Shasta Speedway in Anderson.
ciates Degree in Nursing. She
is currently enrolled online
at Chamberlain College and
will graduate in August with
a BSN, Bachelor of Science
in Nursing Degree. Deb plans
on continuing with college to
acquire her Master’s Degree
rial 150. Whether it was as ishes and 4,274 laps led.
By Jennifer Haynes
a businessman in his home- The 2015 NASCAR in Education and hopes to
Shasta Speedway, a lo- town of Redding, California K&N Pro Series West is the eventually teach nursing.
cal auto racing track, is now or racing stock cars – Bill highest level of NASCAR’s Deb brings with her a
offering a national sport- Schmitt worked hard to be developmental race series. tremendous level of expering event to the North State the best at whatever he did Many great drivers have tise and experience. She has
Community May 29 and 30. and gained a lot of respect entered one of the national taught ninth and tenth grades,
NASCAR series from this worked in various clinics;
What started 50 years ago as along the way.
a race track has evolved into In racing, Schmitt was a level. The 2015 K&N Pro Head Start, Health Departa facility that is headed in a four-time champion and one Series uses race cars that are ment and hospital Med Surginew direction. The rebrand- of the most popular drivers similar to those used in the cal/ER units. She has comed Shasta Speedway, is now of his era in what was then NASCAR Nationwide Se- pleted basic EMT training and
led by experienced venue known as the NASCAR Win- ries. Points for driver and has served on Search and Resoperators and event promot- ston West Series (now the owner championships are
ers called Shasta Speedway NASCAR K&N Pro Series awarded based on the racers
Partners, LLC, who are West). He raced in the series finishing position and numshifting the focus of the past for 20 seasons, from 1974 to ber of laps in the lead.
and turning the 3000-seat, 1993. During that span he The drivers and their Continued from page 1
3/8-mile facility into a com- competed in 237 races, scor- teams will be coming in study prepared for the projmunity focused raceway and ing 19 wins and garnering 24 to Shasta County early in ect indicates that the carpoles. Several of his career the week of May 30th. The
event center.
wash dryer would be the
On May 29 and 30 they marks remain as records in city of Anderson will host a most significant source of
will bring NASCAR K&N the modern era of the series NASCAR K&N parade on noise located within the
Racing to Shasta County (1971 to present): 122 top- Friday, May 29, 2015. The carwash building. The drywith the Bill Schmitt Memo- five finishes, 163 top-10 fin- Shasta County local racers er, which is proposed to
with their cars will also par- be outfitted with a “quiet
ticipate in the parade. The kit,” operates for a duradrivers and teams will head tion of approximately 60
straight to the speedway for seconds per wash cycle and
track testing, 4pm to 9pm it is assumed that the dryer
Friday evening. There will will be used on average 35
be an autograph session for times per day.” Other noise
all ticket holders with the sources would include
25 years experience
K&N drivers on May 30th “vehicular traffic, the proin the Northstate
at 6:00 p.m. Keep watch on posed car wash equipment,
Facebook/Shasta Speedway most of which is contained
and/or
Shasta-Speedway. within the carwash buildLicense# 1001118
com for specific details.
ing, and the two vacuums,”
Tickets for the Bill which “are proposed to be
• Driveways
• Grading
Schmitt Memorial 150 are outfitted with the “Quiet
• House Pads
• Water Truck
$25 for adults (12 and older) Vac Motor Steel Insulated
and $15 for children (11 and Dome” to achieve the qui• Dump Truck Service
under).
etest configuration avail-
Shasta Speedway to sponsor NASCAR
K&N Bill Schmitt Memorial 150
cue for five years.
She and her
husband
have
been married for
41 years, and
have a daughter
who will graduate from medical
school this month.
Their daughter is
also enlisted in the
Navy and will be
based in Virginia
next year. Their
son is a paramedic
in Grass Valley
and is looking to
acquire his pilot’s
license to fly helicopters.
Deb is a passionate animal
lover and has been in the rescue business since childhood.
She is an avid reader, loves a
good sale, and hanging out
in the outdoors snowshoeing,
skiing, or making snowman.
“I am excited to be here. I
love the country and I love
people who inhabit a country kind of life. I am looking
forward to serving and getting to know the community
of Shingletown in the coming
months and years to come.”
Deb Hornbacher
Tami
Fraser,
CEO,
Shingletown Medical Center
stated, “We are very excited
about having Deb join our
group and look forward to our
community getting to know
her. The medical center will
be hosting the 22nd Annual
National Senior Health & Fitness Day event on Wednesday, May 27th from 1:00 to
4:00 p.m.. This event will take
place at the Open Door Community Church. Deb Hornbacher, RN, will be present at
the event, so please come by
to meet and chat with her.”
EAST VALLEY TIMES
REPORT CARD
www.eastvalleytimes.com
SCHOOL BOARD HIGHLIGHTS
Bella Vista 5-12-15
Board recognizes trustee and teacher for service to school
The Board of Trustees
for
the
Bella
Vista
Elementary School District
on May 12, 2015 recognized
two individuals for their
contributions to the school.
Board
member
Greg
Covington was honored
for his assistance in the
Performing Arts program.
Kerrie Barnard, middle
school math teacher, was
recognized for her work as
the eighth grade advisor.
Principal Renae Burson
reported on the revised
LCAP to be implemented
next year. Two goals are
included in the plan:
1. Students promoted
from Bella Vista
will be prepared
to
successfully
complete a college
preparatory course
of study in high
school
2. Foster the positive
nature of student
engagement
in
a
school-wide
academic learning
culture
Burson stated that input
from stakeholders was
valuable
in
updating
the plan. She said that
suggestions from Student
Council led to the addition
of homework assistance
for students in grades 3-5.
Parent trainings on the new
math standards were added
to the plan based on input
from The Parent Advisory
Committee.
Burson reported on
professional development
trainings teachers were
attending over the summer.
Superintendent
Charlie
Hoffman stated that Bella
Vista was committed to
ongoing
professional
development to improve
student learning.
Jackie Westfall reported
on budget revisions and
the preliminary proposed
2015-16 budget. Hoffman
reported that the governor’s
revised
budget
should
be released shortly and
is expected to support
increased
funding
to
education.
Burson reported on
end of the year activities.
Highlights included Bike
to School Day on May 13,
student performances in
grades K-3, Open House on
May 21, and several field
trips. Funding from the
final year of the Healthy
Students Initiative resulted
in the purchase of outdoor
fitness equipment which
will be installed over the
summer. (Contributed by
Principal Renae Burson)
275-2195
275-2195
Hourly or Contract — Free Estimates
northeast corner of the project site.”
The public review period for this project began on
May 1, 2015 and will end
on June 2. Copies of the applications, environmental
documents, all reference
documents and staff reports
may be accessed by contacting Associate Planner
Lio Salazar at 225-5532.
Written comments may be
submitted to Department
of Resource Management,
Planning Division, 1855
Placer Street, Ste 103,
Redding CA 96001. A public hearing to consider this
project will be held by the
Shasta County Planning
Commission at 2:00 p.m.
on Thursday, June 11, 2015
in the Board of Supervisors’ Chambers, 1450 Court
Street in Redding.
Chrysalis School celebrates
Ride Your Bike to School
Above photo:
Students and parents from Chrysalis Charter School leave the Palo Cedro Park on the morning of May 6, 2015 headed north on Cedro Lane in the first leg of their 0.6 mile ride to the school
on Old Forty-four Drive in Palo Cedro. They had an escort of four California Highway Patrol
officers, two on bicycles, to help them safely negotiate the intersections along the way. Before
the ride the CHP officers performed safety checks on all the bicycles.
Bella Vista and Junction also participated in Bike to School Day.
At left:
Chrysalis Charter
School celebrated “Ride
You Bike to School” all
week long.
On May 1,
2015 the middle grade
students rode their bikes
on a 14-mile loop from
Keswick boat ramp to
Shasta Dam and back
again.
Whitmore 5-12-15
Teacher gives Board complete rundown on Common Core Standards
At the May 12, 2015
meeting of the Board of
Trustees for Whitmore Union
Elementary School District,
teacher Jessica German, who
teaches grades four through
eight, spent almost an hour
sharing her impressions of
the Common Core Standards
with the Board at their request. German said that she
has no concerns at all about
the new standards for Language Arts. For one thing
they contain only minimal
curriculum changes, and for
another they ask for more
emphasis on comprehension
and critical thinking, which
are important for students’
success in high school and
beyond. The Common Core
Standards for Language Arts
are so close to the former
California State Standards
that schools who are using
the Treasures textbook series
will be able to use the same
books to teach Common
Core.
Trustee Donna Feamster
asked if German had seen
any underlying agenda in
those texts, such as depiction
of families with two mothers
or fathers rather than a mother and father. German said
she was not aware of anything like that, although the
illustrations in the texts do
depict children from diverse
races, cultures and lifestyles.
German said that it has
been difficult to find a suitable math textbook due to
the Common Core changes
in the order and manner
mathematical concepts are
taught. But she thinks the
emphasis on problem-solving and concept order changes are good because they are
better aligned with the way
children’s thinking skills develop than the old standards
were. “Kids can’t learn concepts until their brains are
ready,” she said.
She is also confident that
the current difficulties math
teachers in the upper grades
are having will be resolved
once kids learn the new way
of doing things in the lower
grades. “All the Common
Core Standards are mathematically sound,” she said,
“and they provide teachers
with more tools to address
students who are struggling
with math.”
The Board thanked Mrs.
German for taking the time
to share her thoughts with
them.
Superintendent Larry
Robins presented to the
Board the long term costs
of changes he was suggesting to the District’s salary
schedule—most significantly the addition of yearly step
increases at three percent
per year beyond the current
five. He said this would
bring Whitmore’s salary
schedule into line with other
districts in terms of teacher
pay. Trustee John Hampton
asked if the
raises were sustainable and
Robins said they were, and
furthermore they would encourage wonderful teachers
like Jessica German to stay
with the District.
BOTTOM LINE
Columbia
School
principal
keeps promise
on student’s
challenge
During a Scholastic Book
Fair last week, Columbia
Elementary students were
presented a challenge if
they were to reach a goal of
reading 1276 books, Superintendent/Principal Clay Ross
would dress up for a day as
Spongebob Squarepants and
hand out Krabby Patties.
Students had a couple of
weeks to raise money for
their library and they not only
met their goal but they exceeded it!
So Monday, May 11. Principal Ross was true to his
word and wore the suit.
“The kids were so excited
that they had been asking
about it since the book fair.
Just wanted to give a shout
out to our great principal
for supporting reading, our
school, and our students!
Go Lions!,” said Columbia
School Librarian Vicki Singer
.
Mother's Day
Father's Day
Graduation and
Gifts for Teachers
To thank those who take quality
care of us please consider:
♦ Car Wash————————
able from the manufacturer.” As far as the project’s impact as an additional source
of light, it will be mitigated as follows: “Lighting for the project shall
be installed in accordance
with the lighting plan/photometric plan prepared by
LSI Industries, including
the use of full cut-off light
fixtures and light spillage
of not more than 0.1 fc on
adjoining residential properties. . . . This predicted
level of light spillage does
not exceed the obtrusive
light limitation recommendations of the Illuminating
Engineers Society of North
America (0.1 fc). In addition, no light spillage will
occur at the nearest existing
residential building which
is located 30 feet from the
May 21, 2015—PAGE 5
• Rice bags for neck/shoulders/
back 25% goes to One Safe Place
• Flax Eye bags for eyes that sometimes just feel tired or strained
• Computer Rest your Wrist bags
• "Any Time Any Place
Meditation for your Earthwalk"
is a light hearted way to
calm reduce stress and learn
to take care of oneself.
• Gift Certificates for massage
Photo by Judy La Russa
Community members clean
up during Chamber event
On May 16, 2015, resident Elaine Flavin (center) takes advantage of the free dump day sponsored by the Greater Palo Cedro Area Chamber of Commerce Palo Cedro at the Bishop Quinn
Community Center. Flavin brought a collection of bikes that they accumulated through out the
years. One community member (right) who also came to dump a load, scores with one of the
discarded Flavin bikes to bring home.
Book and rice bags available
at the Consignment Center in
Palo Cedro and at the Enjoy
Store in Redding. Book is
also available thru Barnes
and Noble, Amazon or at
The Women's Health PT on
Buenaventura and Redding
Acupuncture Health Care on
Hartnell. Questions please call
Susan Bradfield at 547~4327.
Other suggestions for gifts:
A day spent in play
~ facials
~ manicures/pedicures.
KKRN • 88.5
fm
Bella Vista • Community Radio from Round Mountain
The volunteers of
KKRN Community Radio
Thank You,
our communities, for
your generous support during our
Spring 2015 Pledge Drive
and throughout the past year.
You are proving what we believe to be true:
There are people in Shasta County and the rest of
the Northstate who will listen and choose
to support great, local, independent radio.
Together we keep our community radio station
on the air.
KKRN: Radio By and For our Communities!
KKRN FM is Grass Roots • Local • Diverse • Independent • Volunteer Based
Fostering positive social change and healthy communities
to support KKRN call 530–337–1101 or go to kkrn.org
EAST VALLEY TIMES
COUNTRY LIVING
PAGE 6—May 21, 2015
www.eastvalleytimes.com
The Armstrongs come home with Rolling
Foal Hospital and four more foals
May 16
Yes, I have to say it, WOW! So much has happened in
the last couple of weeks. The hardest thing of all was making
the decision to help Maverick leave this earth, and the hardest
part of that was knowing that he was improving in so many
ways. Mav had started growing hair again. He had the softest little peach fuzz ever, and he was gaining weight. He had
the cutest little tummy and had gained probably around 20
pounds.
However, due to being subjected to such cold temperatures while being so compromised when he was first rescued,
the pneumonia had settled deep into his lungs. We had finally
gotten it to start breaking up, and he was a lovely snotty mess
as the poison came up from those little lungs. But pneumonia
is one of the biggest killers of these compromised foals. The
vets could barely hear anything with their stethoscopes, and
that was because the mucus was so thick inside his lungs the
air was not even moving. So it was a miracle in itself that we
got it to break up, and we used everything known to mankind,
the Vibra VM, humidifiers, vaporizers, essential oils, oxygen
and the list goes on and on. But the x rays clearly showed there was so much scarring his little lungs were ruined. They would never support a
healthy baby, let alone a big horse. For every step forward he
was making, his lungs were already failing. Even with oxygen being administered his little lungs couldn’t do the job. It broke my heart into a billion tiny pieces, but we kept our
promise to our beloved Maverick Man and helped him out of
this world.
I know it isn’t right, but I was really, really angry, because
I believe that our having the right foal transport equipment
might have changed Maverick’s outcome. But a very dear
friend pointed out to me that maybe Maverick was never
meant to be long here on earth. That God had loaned me an
angel to help us do the following: Save the little foal CC,
help set up the nursery at Kidznhorses in Yakima, WA so they
could provide better care for the incoming foals, raise awareness about the horrors of slaughter and last but not least, help
us get the Rolling Foal Hospital trailer so we could provide
even better care for the upcoming orphans that we would be
called to help. Maverick left a huge hole not only in my
heart, but in hearts all over the world. And due to the outpouring of love for Mav, we now have
the Rolling Foal Hospital Trailer and are beginning to make
the necessary modifications. Not only did we bring back the
trailer, but four tiny foals as well, so we now have a TOTAL
OF SEVEN ORPHANS. The trailer has already been put
to work! It will be called “Maverick’s Legacy” in honor of
our little man and he will be with us always as we travel afar
picking up more orphans.
Now having seven orphans is somewhat scary in the fact
that each baby costs about $300 each just for food for the first
couple of months. Add on to that the bedding we use to keep
them warm and comfy, as well as clean, and that is another
$13 per day, which ends up being quite spendy. However,
when we arrived at the rescue in WA, we made the decision
to bring the littlest ones home as the good folks there were
pretty overwhelmed. The day we arrived, the lady was in
tears and broke down sobbing in my arms. She was completely overwhelmed as I believe there were 18 babies there,
all needing round the clock care. The scary part about that is
when you have too many and they are feeding out of buckets,
you can’t tell whether everyone is actually getting enough
food. By the time you can tell that one is not, it can be too
late. So we ended up bringing home with us the smallest
ones that needed the most specialized care.
All of these babies will be up for adoption, and I am grateful to say that Sharyn and Larry Cornelius will be fostering
two of the babies for us. Princess and Shanny will be heading
down to the warmer Palo Cedro for some love and training
until we can find them their forever homes. We also have a
possible adoption for another baby this afternoon. However,
we still have six babies that need forever homes when they
are ready, and there are more “kids” coming through the auc-
Cedar Tree
Restaurant
Has a Food
Pick- Up
Window
With this
COUPON
$2 off
Month
of May
Good Mon-Fri only
To order call
547-4290
& drive around
building to the
road side to
pick-up food
PICK-UP
WINDOW
Everyday of the week
7:30am till 2:00pm
MENU: www.CedarTreeFood.com
Matt and Palomino were able to purchase the trailer they need
to more safely transport foals needing critical care thanks to a
generous donor and a dealer who supports the work they do.
tion yards every week if not every day. The folks in Yakima are simply inundated with babies up
there, even though some really wonderful folks who are new
to the baby world are trying to step up and help with these
babies. Unfortunately the flood of foals continues, and they
will need us to come and pick up more. But we also have to
be responsible and not take on more foals than we can care
for. We are so blessed to have such an amazing rescue family
in our community. So many folks always share in what we do
and that is really why we can continue doing it. We want to make sure that everyone knows how much
they are appreciated and that we used every item that was sent
for Mav. He had quite a few good times where he went out
and played and bucked and kicked and was a little horsey. He
never knew that he looked funny or honked instead of whinnying. He only knew that we loved him more than life itself
and I swear he told me thank you the night we let him go. So
although my heart is still broken and the tears keep falling, I
know we did the best for him and I do believe that God did
loan him to us to accomplish all those things. Of course I
wish I still had him every second of the day, but it wasn’t
meant to be, and his life was not in vain and he will be with us
always.
Here is a list of items still needed for these orphans: Foal
Lac Powder, Foal Lac Pellets, Timothy/Meadow grass hay
(super soft), Vaseline, Gloves, Baby Wipes, Paper Towels (for
The four new orphans enjoy the comfort of the Armstrong's
new Rolling Foal Hospital.
scours cleanup), Bio Sponge, Pro Biotics, Rice Bran Pellets,
Mare & Foal feed (grain), Mezotrace (vitamin & Mineral
supplement), Alfalfa Pellets, and Bedding, Bedding, Bedding
and more Bedding (We have to keep the nursery clean.)
If y’all would like to come and visit these babies, please
call 474-5197. As always we welcome our “rescue family”. It
brings us great joy to share these babies that y’all are helping
save. If you would like to help with some of their expenses or
help sponsor a baby, donations can be mailed to Chilly Pepper - Miracle Mustang, 34694 Sidebottom Rd., Shingletown,
CA 96088 or you can go to our website at www.chillypepper.
org or go to PayPal [email protected]. Please
remember your donations are tax deductible and are so appreciated by these little babies who have had such a horrible
start to life, (and by us, too, of course!) If you are interested
in adoption come and visit and find your little soul mate. As
always, thank you for being part of this amazing journey and
God bless!
THANK YOU FROM ALL OF US!
Matt, Palomino & the Gang
PG&E flying low to check for drought-stricken
trees in Manton, Whitmore, and Hat Creek
By Paul Moreno
In response to the drought, Pacific Gas and Electric
Company (PG&E) performed additional patrols to check on
trees near power lines in eastern Tehama and Shasta counties
the week of May 11, 2015. The company informed residents
that the helicopter would be flying low – about 200 to 300
feet – along distribution power lines in the Manton area on
Wednesday and in the Whitmore and Hat Creek areas on
Friday.
PG&E used a contract helicopter service out of Redding
EAST VALLEY TIMES
LOCAL NEWS
www.eastvalleytimes.com
♦ Whitmore Faire——
Continued from page 1
Other parade winners were:
In the float category--American Legion Post 214 in Palo
Cedro and the Whitmore
School Bus; in the walking category—the Henvels’
Lops and the Whitmore 4-H
Club; in the vehicle category—the 1965 Mini Mustang
driven by Kathy Martin.
After the parade spectators and participants alike
repaired to the craft fair
and music venue to browse
among the many handmade
items for sale and listen to
the “Old Kennett String
Band” on the shaded stage at
the south end of the grounds.
The canopy over the stage
was donated by Redding
Canvas. All in all five bands
entertained the crowd at
Whitmore’s first ever music festival. In addition to
the “Old Kennett String
Band” they are “Honey and
the Mountain Messengers,” “North Point,”
“The Lindsay Thomas
Band,” and “Pranqster,”
which played for the
dinner dance at the
Community Center.
As the afternoon
wore on, the winner of
the classic car show was
announced; it was Les
Wright with his 1948
Chrysler New Yorker.
The judge of the car
show was Jeff West.
And at the end of the
always popular horseshoe tournament, Dale
Hough of Oak Run was
declared the winner,
with Dave Dimon of
Whitmore in second place.
Comments and suggestions of how to improve the
Whitmore Mountain Music Fair should be emailed
to: [email protected]
Towing two of his hens behind his little tractor Brendon
Betts, owner of Brendon's
Egg Factory, was the judges'
favorite entry in the parade.
50% OFF
SUNGLASSES
JUNE ONLY
to fly foresters to check for trees weakened by the drought.
This patrol is in addition to the annual patrols PG&E does
along power lines to identify trees and vegetation in need of
pruning or removal.
The drought has weakened and killed many trees and
left others susceptible to disease or insects. PG&E will use
the patrols to do additional pruning and tree removals so the
trees don’t pose a fire and safety hazard.
Another patrol is scheduled for the Fall River Mills area
on May 26.
Food and Farm News — A service of the California Farm Bureau Federation
May 13, 2015
Farmers visit nation’s capital
Drought and water shortages will be the overarching issues for a group of more than 20 California farmers visiting
Washington, D.C., this week. The California Farm Bureau
delegation will visit congressional offices and meet with administration officials. Along with water policy, the farmers
will discuss immigration and tax reform, trade negotiations,
wildfire funding and other issues affecting California agriculture.
Thefts disrupt farms’ irrigation
It’s one thing to be short of water, and another to be both
short of water and have your irrigation system disrupted by
thieves. That’s the situation a number of California farmers
have faced, as thieves disable irrigation pumps by stripping
out the copper wire, or steal brass valve stems from irrigation systems. Farmers say it can often take a week or more
and cost thousands of dollars, to have a vandalized pump repaired. Study shows economic boost from food processing
Food and beverage processing represents “a key engine of
the California economy,” according to a University of California study. The report says food processing adds $82 billion
and 760,000 jobs to the state’s economy. In some counties,
food and beverage processing accounts for more than 20 percent of local jobs. Dairy processing leads in both value and
jobs, followed by wineries, fruit-and-vegetable processing,
and baking.
Guidelines help hikers, cattle coexist
For people who hike, bike and ride horses in public openspace areas, encounters with grazing cattle can be stressful-and for the cattle, too. University of California specialists
say grazing provides benefits in regional and county parks,
and they’ve devised guidelines to help hikers avoid problems
with livestock. The guidelines describe typical cattle posture
when relaxed or agitated, and provide suggestions for coexisting with cattle in hiking areas.
May 6, 2015
Forum airs effects of drought
Speaking at a forum held in Fresno Tuesday by the State
Board of Food and Agriculture, the manager of a food bank
said he expects it may take years or even generations for
some rural communities to recover from the drought. Planting cuts due to water shortages have cost thousands of agricultural jobs. Another speaker, representing a citrus growers’
group, predicted that thousands more acres of citrus groves
will be bulldozed this year due to water shortages. Report gauges drought impact on vegetables
Droughts in California generally lead to higher prices for
fresh produce, because of the state’s dominant role in U.S.
fruit and vegetable production. But a new report from the
U.S. Department of Agriculture says those effects don’t occur immediately. For example, consumer prices for fresh
vegetables have remained relatively stable. Fresh-vegetable
imports rose during the drought last year, growing to 28 percent of total domestic use.
Insect populations, rise
One insect specialist says she’s never seen anything like
it: Mild winter weather has led to a pest population explosion
in California fields and orchards. The relatively warm winter
allowed pests to reproduce instead of hibernating, meaning
extra problems for farmers. One pest of concern, the Asian
citrus psyllid, has been found in San Benito County, requiring a quarantine there. The psyllid can carry a disease that
kills citrus trees.
Resolution supports domestic flowers
Look for California-grown flowers for Mothers Day:
That’s the message from California members of Congress
who sponsored a resolution promoting domestic flowers. The
resolution says people in every state have access to domestically grown flowers, but only 20 percent of the flowers sold
in the U.S. are domestically grown. About three-quarters of
the flowers grown in the U.S. come from California.
Food and Farm News is a service of the California Farm Bureau Federation. For more information about any story, contact the
Communications/News Division at 916.561.5550, or email [email protected]. The information is also available on the Farm Bureau
Federation website www.cfbf.com.
PALO CEDRO
EYECARE
9372 Deschutes Rd.
Palo Cedro, CA 96073
530.547.2020
Dedicated to your
VISION
Photo by Sharyn Cornelius
May 21, 2015—PAGE 7