Sierra County Prospect 21st Century Twice Weekly News    
Letters to the Editor
Dear Editor and Citizens of Sierra County
Tuesday Feb 16 your County supervisors took away your most cherished right as an American Citizen and that was your right to express your wishs thru the ballot box,( Pat Whitley did make a motion to give us this right but no other supervisor wanted to to put this issue on the ballot). While most of us are usually against taxes that are imposed on us by our elected officials , we are glad when we are given the right to express our wishs for or against a person,or issue or tax that comes up on our voting ballot.
          As a board member on Friends of the Loyalton City Pool , (folcp) ,I am greatly disappointed that my elected officials took this right away from me and my fellow citizens . We knew that trying to pass a tax bond of $80 per year was going to be a difficult challenge . As a committee of committed citizens we were up to this challenge of convincing two thirds of our Sierra Valley neighbors that $80 per year for maintenance on a rebuilt pool would benefit them and others. Our United States Constitution says for the people, by the people. What happened to by the people ? Would our elected officials vote themselves into office if they had the power ? Will they pass more taxes without our vote? We only asked for the right to guide our own destiny and they stole that right from us, you and me.
      It does not seem fair that our county supervisors stepped forward to guarantee maintenance on the state funded purchase of the Yuba Theatre in Downeville a few years ago ,with no vote needed from the voters for maintenance on the building.We had to go thru the work of convincing our neighbors, by a two thirds majority vote on the June ballot, to maintain the Loyalton pool for twenty years. We were denied this simple right just to put this measure on the ballot. 
           Did our county supervisors and others who spoke up to to encourage other supervisors to vote against the right of the people to put this on the June ballot  believe we could get the votes needed to pass this measure ?  Do they have some secret agenda to spend this money ,if the pool is denied this money?  I guess so , I see no other explanation for this bizarre behavior.When we as a nation become afraid of what the the voters might vote for on our voting ballot, and deny us that right, we must realize the great peril we are all in as a nation that , I hope, cherishes 
                 "LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL"
                 Bob Macey rural Loyalton                           
Thank you,
Sierra Valley Hay
sierravalleyhay.com






1/17/10
Letter sent in by reader Tom Dotta, about the "Roundup Group". 

Dear Tom,
 
 I would like to thank you and all the people involved with trying to save the property rights we still have. Your work on this project will be priceless to our children and grand children. For the people that don't know, our property rights have been eroding for years. When I was a kid in Gardnerville, Nevada the valley had over twenty-five dairies. I thought recently there were only two in operation. I was wrong. My cousins dairy is shut down now and I believe there's only one operating in the valley. I haven't spoken to the owner Mr. Hellwinkel but heard he couldn't fight the system anymore. What will be next? I think the HSRA (High Sierra Rural Alliance) and groups like them will stop when we are all broke and the state owns all our land. We would like our legislators to do the right thing and protect our rights. I believe their listening to the loudest voice at this time and it's not ours. If we make ours louder maybe they will listen. If we come together we can make a difference. I know this, all the people that own property in Sierra and Plumas Counties should be very concerned with what happens to their property rights. This land is our land and we all need to defend the rights of our neighbors and friends. The next change could effect even more land owners. I'm very sorry that I haven't been home to help all of you in the fight to save our property rights. I've been a little busy lately. I have moved from my old base in Baghdad, Iraq. I'm now located south of Baghdad at FOB Kalsu. It's very small and surrounded by farm land.  We fly in on Blackhawk choppers and the views were memorable. The farms are about forty acres and most all work is done buy hand. The places lucky enough to have a cow or two have them tethered out because of the lack of fences. I saw the people working their land and it made me extremely homesick. It's been difficult this tour because I'm staying a full year or more. I think about our troops staying up to sixteen months and my heart goes out to them and their families. These young men and women are doing a great job and everyone at home needs thank them for their service. I'm the lucky one because I get to see their sacrifice first hand. I have the opportunity each day to thank them and to support them on this mission. I know this has been difficult on my wife Johna, and without her support I wouldn't have made it this long. She is holding our life together at home and I'm so proud of her.
   We may be downsizeing this mission soon and sending some of our troops home. I'm trying to go to Afghanistan after I'm done here. It's heating up there and maybe they will need some troop support. I just don't want to come home until the job is done.  I've been very blessed that my son Justin was able to serve two years over here and that I will do the same. We love our country and we will sacrifice what ever it takes to keep another 9-11 from happening.
   The new base has returned my mind to the reality that I'm in a war zone. After a few months of quiet we tend to forget where we are. Twelve hours a day and seven days a week make the months a little fuzzy. We've been hit four times in the last twenty days. Mostly RPG's and mortars. When you spend two to four hours in a bunker and can hear these things whistling by and exploding you think of some very weird things. The first thing is you hope that everyone is in the clear and alright. Then you think about your family. Do they know that I love them? Will they be alright if something happens to me? That's just in the first two minutes and we still have hours to go waiting for the all clear. The other morning while going through this process I thought of  Johna and the work she has done for the ranch. Then I though of you Tom and all the new friends there that I haven't even met, and the work all of you are doing to save our property rights. I'm sorry that I can't be there. This is something I can't control. In 1968 I enlisted in the Navy during the Vietnam War. Now forty years later I'm in Iraq. I don't have to be here. I want to be here. I believe there are people in the world that would like to take our way of life away from us. Since 9-11 they have changed the way we do business and live our lives. I don't want my family to live in fear every time they fly or go to the city. I'm willing to risk my life for my country. I'm willing to do this for the people of Iraq and Afghanistan to have a better life with freedom. I'm willing to do this for everyone in the United States. As a proud American I will even defend the rights of people in groups like the HSRA, even knowing that they WOULD NOT do the same for me.
 
   Thank You again Tom and all of you working to protect our property rights.  May God Bless our Troops and America, Bob Thran
Please feel free to forward to all that care about our Freedom.

1/17/10

Dear Editor,

Robert Thran's letter in the Prospect is the same "piece" published in the BOO in November. It's not completely accurate. His parcel numbers, ownership record, and maps are public record. Here it is in a nutshell:

-The 250 acres is West of hwy 49- on the valley floor.
-He owns and has sold other properties adjacent to the 250 acres.
-I think he subdivided the original property he purchased into four parcels. This is easily discovered.
-Sierra County is NOT bankrupt
-There is NO limitation on the size of a residence on Williamson Act properties.
-HSRA people do live here.
.
Mike Freschi






1/13/10

Letter from: Bob Thran

Reg: tentative parcel split of 250 acres in Sierra Valley

 

I have been working with the county of Plumas on a tentative parcel map for a 250 acre parcel in Sierra Valley that is zoned 80 acre minimum, the 250 acres we are talking about are in the foothills with rock outcroppings. This land is well above the high water table of the valley floor. If this property is split into 80 acre parcels, it will still remain in agricultural preserve. The argument I have been given by the County Agricultural specialist is how you could split this property in 80 acre parcels and have an economically viable property. They are saying that keeping it 250 acres will make it an economical viable property? According to long time residents and neighbors of this property, the ranch was never economically viable even when it was 1000 acres. I have been given photos of the property before the wells were all "sucked dry", by large irrigation operations in Sierra Valley, there were springs and ponds on my property. Has anyone taken a look at the success of the Sierra Valley Farms owned by the Romano’s , it is less than 80 acres and has been a viable food producing operation for 14 years.

And now we come to High Sierra Rural Alliance. This group of people and groups like theirs, seem to have caused more damage to rural life in America than all of the floods, storms, and droughts to have ever hit this land. These groups don’t live here, they contribute to our economy in very few ways, if any. Yet they want to tell us what we can do with our land. Groups like this have caused 95% of my family members that farm or ranch, to move to other states, or just give up on a business that has been going on for five generations on my fathers side, and six generations on my mothers side. . What’s next for these people? Maybe when they knock on your door and tell you to turn off your lights because they can’t see the stars, or tell you not to build your house or barn on your property because it blocks their view of the sunset, maybe then you will know what these people are all about. When the High Sierra Rural Alliance and their members are done with Plumas County it will look just like Sierra County, economically bankrupt, no jobs, no business, no people. I believe these people have already infiltrated our county offices, and also the local newspaper. How naive of me to think the county employees would be impartial and do their jobs with fairness and unbiased, every step of the way in this process, they have said they will do one thing, and months later when I ask about progress, they change what they’ve said. Each time I ask "What do you need?" they say "Just this"…..and each time I complete a task, they say they need something else.

This process should have taken a few months to complete, instead it has been years. The county has never said anything about a planning change until now, wouldn’t you think someone would have stepped up and said something to me before now? Before I have spent thousands of dollars on this parcel map? I have been in the planning department numerous times, my land was zoned 80 acres in the master plan that was in effect when I purchased the property. I am not asking to change the zoning, my property is in the Williamson Act, according to some members of the High Sierra Rural Alliance, the fear is MCMANSIONS will be built on these parcels, have they read the Williamson Act? It is very clear that no dwelling can be more that 2400 sq. ft. that isn’t much of a McMansion. Their line of defense is to use words like "subdivisions" and "McMansions" to hit nerves with the public who don’t know otherwise.

This project was started in good faith by my son and I, we have compled 85% of the clean up of the land, we have removed 42 old cars, 28commercial chest type freezers, two mobile homes, 46 TV’s stoves and refrigerators, wire fencing, tin roofing, box springs and everything else that the people of beautiful Sierra Valley chose to dump on this property. I almost forgot the tires, I’ve been trying for four years to forget the tires, we had over 800 of them, 400 of those were still on the wheels, these had to be cut off with a sawzall, we went through over $200.00 in blades. You can see from the pictures, it has not been an easy job. You may now know why I get upset when someone calls me a developer. I am not here no rape the land and move on, I ask where were are all these people when my son and I were cleaning this place up? I hear them call themselves stewards of the land, and environmentalists, they are only paper pushers, they know how to lobby and put pressure on politicians, like you supervisors. I don’t envy any of you for the job you have to do, these people don’t live here, and they won’t get their hands dirty here, they just want to dictate what others should do with "their" land.

 

These properties can contribute to the economy of this State. Maybe only in a small way, but in a positive way. I know these three parcels can contribute more to the county and state through taxes, jobs and of course agriculture, than if left in one parcel. If the people of High Sierra Rural Alliance want to stop all progress in Plumas County, they should have bought this land,. If they owned it, I wouldn’t be standing here today telling them how to develop it, if they had started this process years ago, Plumas County would be just like Iraq, stuck in the 12th Century. When you go home tonight, make some cookies and thank a farmer, when you have friends over for a bar-b-que, thank a rancher, and if you succeed at putting us all out of business, thank yourselves.

I am currently in Iraq, supporting my country and hope this letter reaches some people who understand my frustration and perhaps help me with some answers, is there anyone else out there that feels the same way I do? If so, now is the time to speak up for your rights as property owners, don’t wait until it is too late.

Thank you,

Robert Thran

1/13/10

From Reader: Angela Ronson

It started December 16, 2002, when I was 32 years old. I had a bleeding stroke at work, an AVM (arterio-venus malformation) burst. I didn't know about it and drove home for lunch. I lost consciousness for a bit and had an accident. I was taken back to work. I got a bad headache at my office and walked with help to the clinic.

At the clinic I stopped breathing. They took me to a hospital where they put me on a helicopter and flew me to a trauma center. There they did brain surgery to stop the bleeding. That surgery was risky, something like 30% survival. Afterwards, I was in a coma. I remember my family being told I would always be in a coma, and if I came out, I would be a vegetable.

I did come out of the coma, but couldn't talk or move, which made me appear to be a vegetable, although I could understand what was being said. I was alive, but had something in my head that could kill me at any time - from something as simple as shaking my head "no."

The AVM was large and too deep in my brain to be removed. It was just left there though the bleeding stopped. I was only able to move my left side after some therapy. I taught myself to talk. I taught myself how do things with limited movement on my non-dominant side; I was right handed but could only move my left. I taught myself how to manipulate the control on my electric wheelchair with my left hand, how to type on the computer with my left index finger, and how to write left-handed. I had worked with babies as an infant development specialist, so I already knew a lot of what to do. It was good that I could talk again, then I could tell others what had to be done. I still wondered what kind of vegetable I was, and I would ask others.

In 2004, doctors at Stanford were able to remove the AVM, and I was able to move my right side again. Since then I have been learning to use my right side and do things like typing with both hands. In therapy, I'm basically doing everything to my right side that was done to my left. Because of my infant training, I was already familiar with how to get development started. Now I just repeat what I remember what was done to my left.

As great as it was was to move my right side, the most important thing about surgery is that I no longer have that thing in my head anymore. Nobody expected this kind of recovery: What kind of vegetable can think, talk or write? I still don't know what kind of vegetable I am.

1/10/10

Dear digieditor,
Your current where's it at photo is, as you note, a federal facility.
I believe it unreasonable to ask Sierra County residents to be
familiar with such gummint houses, as we live in these back woods to
evade and avoid the awesome power of the Federal authorities.
Or are you just trying to find out how many sympathizers there are
for the usurping, over-reaching, tyrannical bureaucrats who would
lash us into serfdom, who would crush us with their might? Or make us
visit them where our visages and presence will probably be
photographed, fingerprinted and DNAed?
Just whose side are you on, anyway?
­A RED white and blue reader in the styx.
PS: having just read more of your digirag, I am delighted that
Sierra County's mediums have a nutcase such as yourself.
If nothing else, you make Messenger editor Russell appear pretty
goddamn normal.
A thankful, if occasional, reader who really doesn't like electrons
in any form (except maybe pornography and morning toast)


Dear reluctant reader,
I was dropping the netflix in the chute when I thought “oh, shazblat, we don’t have a new ‘where in Sierra’”. I took a picture of what was in front of me. That’s the methodology we generally use.
The last thing we here at the Prospect would do is to encourage people to participate in anything govern-mental. The next to the last thing we would do is ask you to give up some DNA, which might well result in the scrapping of the whole idea of evolution. We have already publicly acknowledged that the Mountain Messenger’s Don Russell is pretty goddamn near, but by no means completely, normal.
It is rare to find a reader with such a nimble command of the language, or such a facile sense of rhythm; might you be one of the unclaimed children of said Russell; have you any idea who your pa might be (don’t fret, it’s a wise child…)? Was your ma fond of drink?
Finally, please send the link to the porn site that will toast bread.
P.S. It must be hell living in the styx.








January 6, 2010

Dear Editor of the Sierra County Prospect,

I have been meaning to write you for a many a moon (twelve) now.  Congratulations on your online newspaper!  It is really “cutting edge” or perhaps ‘over the edge.”  (Doesn’t that sound sharp?)

As you toil, dear editor, and chisel words for no compensation and feeble hopes of fame, who would of guessed that you would become a member of the “fourth estate” and I would become a member of the “second estate.” (Twelve moons now.)  It appears that many “estate” things are going on, but alas, no money to be found.  These estate holdings, puts us at polar opposites. You know, I say “tomato”, you report “potato.”

Truthfully, I must admit, that I only read the “Prospect” to check on “Cooter.”  You say he is a “good boy?” He must be if you are his master and what he has to put up with in that respect.

We can always use more opinions and voices rising out of the pines, the gold mines, the rushing rivers, deep canyons, clear creeks, mountain tops, and alpine valleys. As Julie Andrews once wailed, “The hills are alive.”
She meant music, but opinions are like music to us small town politicians, especially when they tend to favor and roll our way. (Hint, hint!)

Keep doing what you are doing but please stay on your side of the Sierra and don’t come over hill and dale to listen to our “govmint” meetings, I don’t want to read about myself in that gosh dern, prospecting for dirt, cyber horse and pony show, that you have so lovingly created.

Happy New Year!
Lori A. Simpson
A Citizen of Plumas County
Quincy, CA






December 27 09

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the announced retirement of Judge Pangman one can only hope he will be joined in the Home for the Criminally Inane by the District Attorney and the "esteamed (sic)" Don Russell. They can continue their inane pronouncements and judgments together and leave the rest of us in peace.
 
Maybe someone who understands and practices their profession by the rules of law and common civility will bring us a real Justice System and a real newspaper that meets the legal definitions of their positions.
Kathy Kelley





December 11, 2009
Re:  Hush Yo Mouth Initiative (Glen Simmons)

Now just a minute here!
 
Here's how the Glen Simmons amendment will work (hypothetical, but eerily possible).  Italics indicate language excerpted from the Initiative.
 
I'm sitting in a bar in Loyalton, having a beer with Sam, a Sierra County public works worker (government employee).  He declares loud enough for all to hear that Fred, the Fresno city manager was recently dismissed because he has a drug problem (a statement of material fact about ... the dismissal of government employees).  Actually, Sam and I both know that Fred was dismissed because he was padding his expense account, and that he unequivocally does not have a drug problem.  Thus, Sam intentionally made a false statement of material fact. 
 
As a government employee, Sam may be held criminally liable.  As a private citizen, I am permitted to criminally prosecute Sam as a suspected violator.  I am confident the courts will find Sam guilty.  He will end up paying a big fine ($10,000 to $500,000) and/or spend some hard time in the clink (2 to 10 year prison term).   And when he gets out, he will never be able to get a job as a government official or employee or member of the media.
 
How do those hobnail boots fit, Mr. Simmons?

Dave Wiltsee
Applegate, CA





December 1, 2009

Editor:

The Miss Jody Community Thanksgiving Dinner was a great success once again. Thanks to the efforts of many wonderful people the event was a joyous, happy occasion for those who came to dine and the many volunteers who made it happen.

We thank everyone who helped and the following are those we know, there are many who donated anonymously and I may have inadvertently left out someone’s name that helped but we are so grateful for your help.

We especially acknowledge the efforts of Dan and Ingrid Larson at Downieville Grocery, Larry and Kathy Breed at the Sierra City Country Store, Don and Mary Kay Potter of the Grubstake, Don Russell of the Mountain Messenger, sierracountyprospect.com, E. Clampus Vitus Downie Chapter #1849 and Cindy McCreary of Sierra Hardware.

The dinner was wonderful thanks to the efforts of Nancy and Lou Phillippi, Irmke Schoebel and Glenn Deibler, Anne Hutchison and David Hutchison, Frank and Betty Jo Lang, Lee Adams, Emily Kidwell, Amanda Sanchez, Frank Sanchez, Kaydee Haldsted, JoAnn Kies, Steve Kies, Tom and Susan Hopkins, Steve Behrens, Pat and Larry Hudson, Doris Carpenter, Liz Fisher, Kathy Whitlow, Danielle Burr, Linda and Paul Guffin, Nancy Carnahan, John and Liz Luster, Miriam Dines, Will and Jean Clark, and Justin and Hannah Ryu, Mary Jo Rust and other volunteers who I may have missed.

Some of the many donations were received from Marian LaFollette, Gary and Lora Lee Grutkowski, Michelle Anderson, Gunnar & Cindy Ellsmore, Michael and Karen Galan, Dr. Hiroyasu Hataoka, Patricia Lawrence, Docia Bostrom, Marian Kinzler, Barbara Seley, Laura Marshall, Mike Fogli, Bailey Edgeman, Evan Dailey, Jean, Julie and Jeff Newfarmer and many donations were left anonymously at the check stands at the grocery stores in Sierra City and Downieville. Thank you all so very much.

Over $2,200.00 was received in donations. After paying expenses for the Miss Jody Dinner which served 132 including 12 home deliveries more than $1,800.00 will be given to the Western Sierra Food Bank to use for providing food to those who need supplies and the Christmas Baskets delivered in time for Christmas meals.

Although this is a wonderful amount from this community, it does not begin to fill the need for year round food assistance. The Western Sierra Food Bank helps anyone who needs food. No prequalification needed. This year has been especially difficult for many families, people with loss of income and fixed income seniors and the WSFB has been hit hard. We thank everyone for helping so much and we ask that those who can donate remember hunger happens all year long.

Happy Holidays to you and yours and once again, Thank You.

Downieville Lions Club

Gold Circuit United Methodist Church

Assembly of God Church





Thoughtful and Intelligent Reader Writes:

Read my first Prospect today.  Wry, readable, and downright fun.  If only your coverage area included Placer County.  I'd pay a sheep's head of silver to turn you loose on our government meetings.  Methinks Mark Twain lives on.
 
That said, has anybody ever mentioned you look a lot like Thomas Jefferson?
 
Dave Wiltsee
Applegate, CA





Dear Digiteditor,
I have a real, albeit old, computer, not one of those IBM types.
When I try to open your digirag, all i get is little 1s and 0s all 
over my screen. When I take it to the bathroom, all the little 1s and 
0s fall all over the place, clogging up the sink and shower drains.
I believe you should just pay The Mountain Messenger to disseminate 
your delusions, lies and warped opinions.
It is, as you know, the best, most permanent and respected journal in 
Sierra County, a credit to our people, a shining example of 
journalistic impartiality, fairness and all the other good things you 
damned Democrats wouldn't know anything about.

Besides, the aforementioned literary endeavor probably needs the  money, and knowing how your type loves a warm and fuzzy feeling, you'd cop one, knowing you are buying local and supporting Sierra County businesses. I believe the transaction can be accomplished at mtnmess@cwo.com

yours truly,
a concerned sometimes reader and news-know-it-all


Dear Aged Colleague,

I believe if you’ll put your glasses on you’ll see that all those 1s and 0s in the bathroom are actually your hair.

Your suggestion that the hoary reputation of the Mountain Messenger should be sullied with my ranting for the sake money is shocking, sir. There is a name for people who do such things for money, and it isn’t a polite name.

I also scoff at your suggestion that the Messenger might need the money. It is known up and down the state that the Mountain Messenger, California’s oldest weekly newspaper, is also the only newspaper of record in the county. Everyone knows the old miners in the county don’t make a movement without the Messenger. No, the Messenger’s place as the receptacle for county and other business is secure.

On the other hand, publishing the Prospect in the Messenger would kill more trees. If they were Sierra County trees and biomass, it would almost be worth it.

Anyway, getting that warm, fuzzy feeling you allude to is easy when you’re the editor of the Sierra County Prospect!

Ed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Write something and send it in: lte@sierracountyprospect.com

We reserve the right to edit all submissions for space, content, or the use of naughty words.

Here are a few simple tips for your "letters to the editor:"
1.     Don’t drink hard liquor or do meth before writing to your editor. Writing rambling, pointless text is my job. We’ll snip your rambling to a paraphrase, and you don’t want that. We’d like to see letters no longer than 250 words. You can send more, but we might leave some out.
2.     Don’t insult anyone by name. Law suits give me prickly heat. If you want to call someone out into the street, go out into the street and do it. (If you’re going to do that, we’d appreciate a heads up: 448 9092.)

3.     Hate. We have freedom of expression in America. If you really want to air your mindless hatred against this group or that, send it in, we might publish it, BUT we will also critique it and make editorial remarks about it and above all have fun with it. Think it over.

Some "do’s:"
1.     Do write in to thank people for helping you or making a contribution to the community. We should, and will, fill pages with that.  It is the ten thousand acts of selfless kindness that our people do that keep our communities alive.
2.     Do write in to inform your neighbors and cousins about what is going on with your group, your family, or yourself.
3.     Do use the Letters to complain about specific problems with government representatives. However, to avoid looking like a loon, be sure to get your facts straight. Your first complaint should be to the department of the person or decision of your complaint. Once your facts are straight and you’ve given the department a chance to correct the problem and they haven’t, by all means, write in. We will contact that person or department for a response. Do it, it’s good for the community. Encouraging violence against the government, not so much. We don’t condone that, and will edit or ignore such letters.
4.     This is also the correct forum for remarks about public policy. Be specific, share how bad policy has caused problems, and how good policy is helping.
5.     Do use the Letters to complain about OR compliment local businesses. Be specific and factual.

If you’ve read this far, and still want to write to the Editor, please email to: lte@sierracountyprospect.com
OR actually write with pen or crayon on paper and send it to:
LTE
Sierra County Prospect
POB 155
Calpine, CA 96124

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