News

What's Up, Up Here? All the news and gossip for Sept. 23-29

September 23, 2011

The bear that was tagged in Yosemite but wandered over to the Eastside has an amazing range. He’s been spotted in Lundy Canyon, Twin Lakes, June Lake and around Mammoth. He’s easy to spot because of a yellow tag on his ear. He’s been well behaved say wildlife specialists and has earned the nickname “Yosemite Sam.” ...

Says Dan Dawson of the Valentine Reserve: “There is an abundance of natural food this year.” Berries and currants abound and the bears are lovin’ it. ...

Vons workers settle with company. Strike averted

September 19, 2011

The union representing about 62,000 Southern California grocery workers on Monday reached an agreement with three major chain food outlets, including the Vons stores in Mammoth and Bishop.

The tentative contract agreement also included Albertsons, Ralphs and Pavillion stores.

Negotiations began in February to compose a collective bargaining agreement that would replace the workers' previous contract, which expired in March.

The workers will be asked to ratify the agreement, which includes protections of health care and pension benefits throughout the life of the contract.

What's Up, Up Here? All the news and gossip for Sept. 16-22

September 16, 2011

From Dave McCoy, attempting to build a solar-powered off-road vehicle: “Last Thursday we made another big step with the electric UTV when the solar panel was installed onto the roof. It’s not going to run the machine by itself, but it will be able to provide a bit of electricity when we need it. “Now we are adding bigger motors and finishing the fabrication.” He’s updating on Facebook, by the way. ...

Congratulations to Mammoth Unbound team riders Kimmy Fasani and Chris Benchetler who got married in Mammoth last Saturday. ...

One Mammoth man dead, another seriously injured in Wyoming crash

September 13, 2011

One Mammoth man was killed and another seriously injured after a horrific rear-end collision on Interstate 80 Saturday afternoon in Wyoming.

The Wyoming Highway patrol said William "Bill" Krawisz, 26, was killed in the accident, while Travis Mann was seriously injured.

Mann's dog, Nova, also died in the crash, which occurred on Interstate 80, 10 miles outside of Laramie.

At least two passengers also were injured in the crash.

Possible flashfloods this afternoon

September 12, 2011

Mammoth weather forecaster Howard Sheckter predicts possibly heavy rains this afternoon, and the National Weather Service (NWS) is predicting as much as one inch per hour rainfall intervals this afternoon. A NWS "Flashflood Warning" goes into effect at 1 p.m. today.

"Today may be the day for heavy rain," Sheckter wrote on his website today. "A day of heavy rainfall for areas from about Mammoth Lakes to the Alpine County line and on both sides of the crest especially west of the Sierra Crest, west of Bridgeport."

"Not bad for September," he said.

Two Mammoth youth arrested on suspicion of arson

September 12, 2011

On Thursday, Sept. 8 at approximately 5:30 p.m., Mammoth Lakes Police Officers Art Torres and Jesse Gorham responded to a call on Lupin Street. They met with a resident who had discovered a smoldering pile of needles on his wooden deck. The resident also observed two 10 to 12-year-old juveniles fleeing the area. The resident also observed three lighters, dry grass, a burnt pen, and what appeared to be school papers.

Irvine resident dies after Labor Day skateboard accident in Mammoth

September 9, 2011

On Monday, Sept. 5 at approximately 11:45 a.m., Mammoth Lakes Police and Mono County Paramedics responded to West Bear Lake Road west of Minaret for an injured skateboarder. Brett Bertsch, 18, Irvine, and his younger brother were riding down West Bear Lake Road when Brett fell, landing on his head. He was transported by ambulance to Mammoth Hospital and subsequently airlifted to a hospital in Nevada where he died.

A thousand-inch winter? Really?

August 27, 2011

Summer is over and a big winter could be ahead.

There.

It’s been said.

Darker mornings, cooler nights; a subtle shift in the light. A slight tinge of gold, even in the greenest trees and plants. School in session, pre-dawn runs before work, woodpiles sprouting on every deck.

Orion rising. Scorpius setting. Summer is over.

And far too soon for most locals, battered by a long, deep-snowed winter, a cold spring, a summer that only began six short weeks ago.

To make it all worse, the rumor mill about the coming winter is enough to make you break out in chills.

Another death in Yosemite, after climber falls off face of Half Dome

August 24, 2011

Yosemite National Park suffered its 17th death this year, when a climber fell to his death off the face of Half Dome Monday afternoon.

The park normally has about 12 to 15 fatalities a year, making the first eight months of 2011 already a record-breaking year. High, swift, cold rivers and creeks and a record number of visitors to the park this summer have contributed to the deadly year, but park officials recently told the Mammoth Times they are not sure exactly what other factors might be involved, if any.