Archive

Mono Lake volunteer training begins May 23

May 15, 2012

The Mono Lake Committee, U.S. Forest Service, Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association, California State Parks and the Bodie Foundation are teaming up to sponsor the ninth season of a volunteer program at Mono Lake this summer.

Volunteers will have the opportunity to meet people from all over the world and share their knowledge of the Eastern Sierra. Participants may staff information desks and/or rove and answer questions at the lakeshore.

RAW: Digital 395 crosses another hurdle

May 15, 2012

Another major step has been achieved in the Digital 395 Broadband Project. On Monday, May 7, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the lead environmental agency for the project, issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) under the National Environmental Policy Act, completing one of the key steps for the 583-mile long fiber project through the Eastern Sierra.

RAW: Mammoth High School student charged with hacking school computers, changing grades

May 13, 2012

A 15-year-old Mammoth Lakes High School student was arrested last Friday (May 11) following an investigation into alleged hacking of the school’s computer system for the purpose of changing student grades.  

Officer Andy Lehr, the School Resource Officer, became aware of the crime approximately one week ago and after interviewing several students, identified the subject and determined that he was changing the grades for other students for money. 

Fifth Graders visit Washington, D.C.

May 13, 2012

A group of fifth-grade students from Mammoth Elementary School went to Washington, D.C. during their vacation.

Citizens howl in special Town Council budget meeting

May 11, 2012

Everyone knows the financial footing of Mammoth is bleak, and that it’s been bleak for three years or more.

But on Tuesday night at a special Town Council meeting, citizens learned that the town is merely at the start of a hard road ahead.

“Our future is even bleaker,” said assistant town manager Marianna Marysheva-Martinez, who said the various cuts in a new budget reduction plan equals about 14 percent of the budget.

“There are studies that show nationwide that cities and towns face significant challenges in the future, and we’re no exception.”

Planning Commission OKs firearms sales

May 11, 2012

The Mammoth Lakes Planning Commission on Wednesday approved firearms sales in the town’s commercial zones.

The vote was 4-1, with only Elizabeth Tenney voting no.

“I support firearms in the Industrial Zone,” she said, “but I can’t support firearms in the commercial/lodging zones.

“We decided a long time ago that this is a special place. It’s four square miles. We decided not to permit big-box stores, for example.

“This (a gun store) would change the character of our community. So based on considerable thought on this, I can’t support it in commercial zones.”

Urdi warns council about tourism cuts

May 11, 2012

The director of Mammoth Lakes Tourism went before the Town Council Tuesday night with one basic message regarding the town’s fiscal crisis.

The message went something along the lines of, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.”
Citing tourism fiascos in Colorado, Wisconsin and Washington State, John Urdi warned the council that any cuts in tourism spending would be imprudent.

District 2 needs a juggler

May 11, 2012

 South of Mammoth to Paradise, east to the Tri-Valley and Benton, big sprawling District 2 is a distinctly nonhomogenous district that will require its county supervisor to be something of an acrobat to be eff ective.

It has Crowley Lake, essentially a bedroom community to Mammoth.

It has Swall Meadows and Paradise just down the hill, but whose kids go to Round Valley or Bishop schools and whose residents do most of their shopping in Bishop. Swall and Paradise never saw a development project they loved, or a deer or coyote they didn’t.