Archive - News Article
March 29th, 2011
By
Mike Bodine/Register Staff
Local men and woman who have devoted themselves to caring for one of the Eastern Sierra’s most precious landscapes have been recognized by the Sierra Business Council with a 2011 Vision Award.
Announced earlier this month, the Sierra Vision Award is being accepted by the Alabama Hills Stewardship Program as both a validation of the group’s blood, sweat and tears and a source of inspiration as they continue their efforts to preserve and protect the public lands west of Lone Pine.
March 24th
By
Mike Bodine/Register Staff
“Show Big Pine home is where the heart is,” Sherri Newman of Jake’s Saloon said in a press release announcing its own benefit fundraiser for victims of the Center Fire. “The time is now to show our support at home. Bring it in, bring it big, bring it for Big Pine.”
Relief efforts for victims of the blaze continue to be organized, locally and throughout the state. There are fundraisers and clean-ups of all sorts planned for the days and weeks ahead.
By
Mike Gervais/Register Staff
With more high winds forecast this week, firefighters remain in Big Pine monitoring the burn area left by the Center Fire that destroyed 19 homes on Friday.
CalFire investigators are also on scene, assessing damages, the path of destruction and the blaze’s point of origin near the Bernasconi Education Center as they determine a cause.
“The fire was called at 100 percent contained at 18:00 (6 p.m.) Sunday, but we still have resources on scene mopping up and looking for hot spots,” said CalFire Battalion Chief Mike Smith.
She’s been called dynamic, determined, gracious, fierce, compassionate, resourceful, even rebellious.
She’s been labeled a firebrand, a trailblazer, a pioneer, an activist, a do-gooder and a go-getter.
At heart, she’s a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, and by trade a retired laboratory technologist and politician.
In reality, Bishop resident Betty Denton is a woman who defies description; someone who’s spent a life pursuing myriad dreams and goals, helping others to achieve theirs, and affecting lasting change for the good of the community.
March 21st
By
Mike Bodine/Register Staff
Just days after the Center Fire in Big Pine destroyed 19 homes, the community and local service agencies are stepping up to provide aid to those displaced. Preliminary estimates put the damage caused by the blaze at more than $4.5 million.
There are also reports of the amazing community tenor of the tiny town.
“It’s worth emphasizing the supportive community spirit,” said Mary Chasin, Red Cross supervisor of Health Services for the Los Angeles region. “It’s never easy after a disaster but this community is very resilient.”
By
Mike Gervais/Register Staff
While many residents were able to return to their homes in Big Pine Saturday morning, the homecoming was bittersweet as some found they had no homes to return to, their residences and worldly possessions destroyed during the night by the 800-acre Center Fire.
A total of 19 homes were destroyed in the fire, which broke out at about 3:30 p.m. Friday near the Bernasconi Center west of town. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Preliminary estimates put the cost of damages from the fire at $4.5 million.
March 18th
By
Mike Gervais/Register Staff
A fire that broke out west of Big Pine prompted wide-spread mandatory evacuation orders Friday evening.
Details on the movement of the fire are scarce. The blaze was first reported shortly before 4 p.m. California Highway Patrol officers at the scene at about 5 p.m. reported that the Bernasconi Center had not been damaged, but a wood shed at Palisade Glacier High School had been burned.
By 6 p.m. Friday, U.S. 395 was closed from Bishop to Independence with reports of the fire threatening to jump County Road west of the highway.
March 17th
Increasing concern about Japan’s unfolding nuclear disaster has reached the Eastern Sierra.
However, concerns about potential impacts from a nuclear meltdown 5,000 miles away are, at least for the time being, unwarranted.
While the situation in Japan is constantly changing, Inyo-Mono Public Health Officer Dr. Rick Johnson, said that there is still no threat to those living in Inyo or Mono counties. Johnson is offering advice on what local citizens can do as well as putting the situation into perspective.
Ten years after its formation, Eastern Sierra Land Trust is celebrating both its birthday and national accreditation.
With a seal of approval from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance, Eastern Sierra Land Trust hopes it can gain more credibility with grant providers and potential land owners and members.
March 15th
The third time appears to be the charm for Inyo National Forest, which announced last week that Ed Armenta of Arizona is slated to become its next head honcho.
Armenta, currently the district ranger of the Payson District of the Tonto National Forest, will be the third Forest Service employee to step into the forest supervisor post vacated by Jim Upchurch in September 2010.
Upchurch transferred to Coronado National Forest and two temporary replacements had filled the position until a permanent replacement – Armenta – could be named.
