News

Mammoth Schools name interim superintendent

March 12, 2013

Town resident Lou Stewart replaces Boccia

The Mammoth Unified School District on Tuesday named an interim superintendent in the wake of the now-you-see-him, now-you-don’t resignation of Rich Boccia.

Lou Stewart takes over the position on Monday, March 11, bringing with her three decades of experience in education.

According to school officials, Stewart has been an elementary school principal, high school co-principal, and Director of Special Education, and began her career as a special education teacher.

‘We are an anomaly,’ tourism leader says

March 12, 2013

Business Improvement District fee on fast track

The push for a Business Improvement District fee on tourism-based businesses in Mammoth is so radically different from other California models that tourism chief John Urdi said the town stands alone.

“We’re an anomaly here,” Urdi said on Wednesday March 6, in a short presentation to the Town Council.

Local man arrested on suspicion of child sex charges

March 10, 2013

RAW: According to the Mono County District Attorney's office, on March 8, Mammoth Lakes resident, Gene Wayne Harris, was arrested on a warrant charging contact with a minor with the intent to commit a sexual offense.

On March 1, the Mono County District Attorney was referred an investigation through the MLPD School Resource Officer Program after Harris, 41, made inappropriate contact with a minor through her Facebook account.

Mammoth Lakes Police goes high tech, hits social media

March 7, 2013

The Mammoth Lakes Police Department (MLPD) recently entered into an agreement with Police Reports, U.S., to expand public service to allow individuals involved in traffic collisions to purchase a copy of the report on-line.

Traffic Collision reports can be purchased for $10 by either coming in to the police station, calling, writing, emailing, or purchasing online.

Wildland firefighter job fair March 9

March 7, 2013

A wildland job fair will be held in Mammoth on Saturday, March 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the U.S. Forest Service Fire Station #2 on the Sawmill cutoff road junction with S.R. 203.

A seasonal firefighter can expect to earn between $10,000 and $25,000 during the season, depending on the fire severity that season.

For more information, contact 924-5543 and ask for Jeff Lucas or email Lucas at jlucas@fs.fed.us 

Yay for Boo and Bacon at Friends of the Inyo

March 7, 2013

Friends of the Inyo (FOI) welcomed Dr. Tom Boo of Bishop and Jo Bacon of Mammoth to its Board of Directors at its February board meeting.

 FOI is a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to the preservation, exploration and stewardship of the region’s public lands.

Tom Boo is a physician at Northern Inyo Hospital who believes that working with Friends of the Inyo will be a great opportunity to live by the maxim “think globally, act locally.”

Peer resort tour focuses on customers

March 7, 2013

Shiny baubles, new technologies are far less important than making visitors feel welcome

Fourteen Mono County movers and shakers returned this week after a five-day “peer resort” tour of four family-oriented Vermont ski resorts.

What was the takeaway from the trip?

“It’s the chicken. It’s always been the chicken,” said Mono County Supervisor Larry Johnston about whether ski resorts need amenities or great customer service.

Snow creates Mammoth envy

March 7, 2013

As the rest of the Sierra slides slowly into drought, Mammoth bucks the trend

California is sliding closer to a true drought after a record dry January and February failed to increase the winter snowpack, but the Mammoth area is bucking the state trend and is close to 90 percent of normal for this time of year.

Finding the dirt in Mammoth

March 6, 2013

‘Community Garden’ idea blossoms throughout county

Community gardens are sprinkled along the Eastern Sierra, with one conspicuous missing link: Mammoth.

Erin Hamilton, undaunted by a lack of soil, intense sunlight, arid conditions, and a short summer season, is working on connecting the dots by starting a community garden in Mammoth, modeled after those already established in Crowley, Lee Vining, and Bridgeport.