Archive - 2012 - News Article

Mammoth Lakes PD loses 90 years of experience

November 30, 2012

Fairgrounds CEO bids fond farewell to a job he loved

November 28, 2012

Disneyland is supposed to be the “happiest place on Earth.” But in the Owens Valley, that title has to go to the Tri-County Fairgrounds, or at least that’s the image Jim Tatum had in mind, without the rodents with oversized heads, when he took the job of Chief Executive Officer 20 years ago.
“Ninety-eight percent of the fairground events are for fun,” he said. “Even the wakes turn into parties. You just walk around the Fair, as small as our community is, you see relationships rekindled. That’s why every tree has a bench around it. The Fair is a social event.”

The bold and the beautiful

November 28, 2012

Six young ladies will be putting their wit, poise, talent and yes, beauty, to the test this week in Bishop’s first-ever, area-wide beauty pageant.
Charismatic and confident, the contestants have survived an intensive six-week pageant preparation class and a challenging judges interview, said Kristina Roberts, a Parks and Recreation staff member, former pageant contestant and now the City of Bishop pageant founder and coordinator.

The Lone Pine Chamber’s nightmare before Christmas

November 28, 2012

Last-minute notification on state permit requirements, and an inability to meet those requirements in the timeframe given, has the Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce feeling like the Grinch just stole the town’s Christmas.
The status of the annual Lone Pine Christmas Parade is in question – and at one point was said this week to be canceled altogether – because organizers were not aware of requirements Caltrans is enforcing for approving road closures and detours.

Giving without asking in return

November 26, 2012

Independence churches and community members got together to celebrate Thanksgiving in the holiday’s original tradition of giving and helping without expectation of personal reward.
The traditional holiday dinner was served to more than 100 locals at the annual Independence Community Thanksgiving Dinner at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 18 in the Owens Valley School multi-purpose room.

Groups take action in wake of ancient-art theft

November 26, 2012

As federal land managers continue investigating the theft of several priceless, Native American artifacts from an area north of Bishop, residents have an opportunity to help protect culturally sensitive sites in the future and possibly even help capture those responsible for the recent crimes.
The Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association announced it is accepting donations that can be used for a number of projects, from ongoing monitoring to apprehending the thieves who used rock saws and pry bars to steal several prehistoric works of art from the Volcanic Tablelands north of Bishop.

Christmas steps into spotlight

November 26, 2012

With Thanksgiving left-overs wrapped up in the fridge, Inyo County residents can now turn their attention to a cornucopia of Christmas-related community events being held this weekend through Dec. 24. 

State board rules LADWP needs to continue dust control

November 21, 2012

In a long-awaited decision, the California Air Resources Board Monday ruled that the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is required to continue dust mitigation measures on dry portions of Owens Lake.
The decision comes in response to an appeal filed by the City of Los Angeles and means that the state agency agrees with the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District’s claim that the LADWP has not met its dust-control obligations. A lawsuit filed in federal court by the City of L.A. against both Great Basin and its Air Pollution Control officer, Ted Schade, is still pending.

California’s Teacher of the Year visits Eastern Sierra educators

November 21, 2012

Rebecca Mieliwocki makes those she’s speaking to wish they were teachers, or at least had the skills to inspire or cajole young people to learn. As the 2012 Teacher of the Year, that’s Mieliwocki’s job, to be the face of the profession in what she describes as a political atmosphere in which teachers are often disparaged.
Mieliwocki was in friendly company when she spoke to a group of Eastern Sierra administrators, Inyo County board members and students at a luncheon hosted Nov. 13 by Inyo County Superintendent of Schools Terry McAteer at the Jill Kinmont Boothe School.

The battle over the bighorn

November 21, 2012

One hundred years ago, the fleet-footed Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep kept time to the mountains, moving upslope to summer pastures in the spring, down slope to winter ranges in the fall when blizzards beset the high Sierra.
They roamed between Olancha and Bridgeport, walking knife-edged ridges, dodging mountain lions and avalanches, sleeping under a thick, warm blanket of snow when temperatures plummeted to 10 below.