Archive - Oct 15, 2010
By
Wendilyn Grasseschi â Mammoth Times Staff Writer
When a Sierra Nevada red fox slipped out of the high country forest near Sonora Pass, it didnât know its kind hadnât been positively identified in the Sierra for at least 20 years.
It didnât know that its closest relativeâ the same species but a genetically different population â of a few dozen red foxes in Lassen National Park, already one thread away from final, was the last known group of foxes in the Sierra, down from a species that had once covered most of the Sierra high country.
Old friend Warren Miller lost his rights to be Warren Miller on Wednesday when he lost a lawsuit between Warren Miller Entertainment (the film company) and Warren Miller (the man) over Millerâs use of his name, likeness, voice and endorsement. Since 2005, Miller, now in his mid 80s, has indicated that he is not content with recent productions, and has been actively discouraged from involvement in the films bearing his name. ..
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The townâs Planning Commission gave a âCertificate of Appreciationâ to Jim Demetriades, he of snazzy-looking Rafters and the Sierra Nevada Lodge. ...
By
George Shirk - Mammoth Times Senior Writer
In 10 years, Mammoth will be the best alpine community in the country.
It will have gobs of winter and summer recreation, miles of trails, a plethora of special events and high-altitude athletes absorbing a cornucopia of art and culture.
Our townspeople will be playing soccer and football, the kids will have great sports camps and the skiing and snowboarding will be simply fabulous.
So says a vision statement that the Mammoth Lakes Recreation Commission handed up to the Town Council on Tuesday afternoon on a unanimous and enthusiastic vote.
By
George Shirk - Mammoth Times Senior Writer
The reaction to Mammoth Disposalâs bear-proof curbside containers apparently is mixed.
Mammoth Lakes Planning Commission chair Tony Barrett on Wednesday said heâd heard from unhappy customers.
The question was if the BearSaver contraptions work as promised, and Dan Dawson rose to the deviceâs defense.
A member of the townâs Wildlife Committee, Dawson said the only problems heâd heard of were caused by stupid humans.
âYou canât give âem all night,â he said in reference to bears who have tried to break into the bins.
âTheyâll figure it out and get in.â
By
George Shirk - Mammoth Times Senior Writer
John Nathan Adams, the popular track and snowboarding coach who was hospitalized after the horrific Aug. 9 triple-fatal crash in Bishop, died on Saturday as a result of his injuries, his family announced.
On Friday, Adamsâ family posted a notice on the website CaringBridge.com that family members had decided to end Adamsâs life support at Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno.
He passed away surrounded by his family.
By
George Shirk - Mammoth Times Senior Writer
Visits into the wilderness areas of the Inyo National Forest hit a 10-year spike this past summer, according to Nancy Upham, the information officer of the forest.
âThere were more days full on more trails than in the past 10 years, even some of the more obscure trails,â she said.
Upham said wilderness permits at the Wilderness Reservation offices in both Bishop and Mammoth were off the charts. Though the Forest Service does not do an actual count at campgrounds, anecdotal evidence suggests that the campgrounds were jammed all summer, too.
Thereâs something special about this Special Election.
Four candidates are competing for the job of State Senator, District 1, including one Democrat and three Republicans.
Old rules still govern this Special Consolidated Primary Election to fill the seat of the deceased Senator Dave Cox.
Voters will close an era of partisan history when they mark their ballots during the November election.
Four candidates are vying for the California State Senate seat that was vacated upon the death of Senator Dave Cox (R) last year. District 1 stretches from Mono County northward along the Nevada border all the way to Oregon, including nine complete counties plus parts of three more.
By
George Shirk - Mammoth Times Senior Writer
With the ski season just over the lip of the horizon, Mammothâs top junior skiers are on the snow, sharpening their edges, training hard and reaching for the stars.
First among the athletes was Bryce Eller, who this month returned from 14 days in Chile, where he joined eight members of the U.S. Development Team for on-snow training in La Parva.
It was, said Mammoth Mountain Ski Team coach Kevin Francis, more than just an enlightening experience. It was grueling, disciplined and technical, all rolled into a single two-week camp.
By
Wendilyn Grasseschi â Mammoth Times Staff Writer
The search for life on Mars got up close and personal for Lee Vining students when a group of NASA scientists test-driving a Mars rover robot prototype got rained out last week and decided instead to drop in on Lee Vining High School.
Rover and all.
By
Wendilyn Grasseschi â Mammoth Times Staff Writer
An effort by Mono Countyâs U.S. Rep. Buck McKeon to remove the Bodie Hills from their current status as a Wilderness Study Area (WSA) is on hold, after Congress adjourned early this month without voting on the bill.
Mono County District 4 Supervisor Bob Peters, who recently brought a resolution to the county supervisors asking to release the Bodies Hills from WSA protection, got the news last week,
By
Wendilyn Grasseschi â Mammoth Times Staff Writer
Although the air has cleared somewhat since the big winter storm last week, Mammoth and Mono County residents are still waking up to hazy skies, something relatively unusual for this time of year.
Itâs due to two main factors: a strong high pressure ridge, or stable air mass, hanging over the area, and smoke from the still-burning Sheep Fire and some pollution coming from down south.
âAlthough the Sheep Fire is mostly out, itâs still putting out some smoke and itâs blowing directly toward us,â said Jon Becknell, an air quality specialist for the local Great Basin district.
The Inyo National Forest has a new supervisor.
Itâs an interim position, but the new supe has plenty of interesting experience and ought to stir things up around here.
She is Kit Mullen, currently the district ranger for the Hat Creek District of the Lassen National Forest in Northern California.
According to a press release from the Inyo National Forest, she will be the interim or acting forest supervisor after the recent departure of Supervisor Jim Upchurch.
Thereâs something special about this Special Election
Four candidates are competing for the job of State Senator, District 1, including one Democrat and three Republicans. But voters will close an era of partisan history when they mark their ballots during the November election to replace the late Dave Cox.
In June, voters agreed to change those rules by approving Prop 14 which calls for open primaries to begin January 1. Meanwhile, the old-fashioned rules make for some interesting political speculation.
.jpg "The Sierra Nevada red fox. Illustration by John Muir Laws.")
Blame Game in the county schools
October 15, 2010
When the Eastern Sierra Unified School Board learned it was facing a $2.5 million deficit earlier this year, it should not have found that out at a figurative âtwo minutes to midnight.â
The economic writing has been on the wall for years, now.
But it did, and in three months, it cut dozens of teachers and classified staff, without the time to give the issue the in-depth kind of analysis such a radical move deserves.