The Tuolumne County Auditor-Controller’s Office has received an award that leaders say will cut down on borrowing costs should the county move to seek financing. The Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting was conferred on the Auditor-Controller’s Office by the Government Finance Officers Association. The Chicago-based group touts a membership of 17,500 government ... Full Story »
A Modesto man who pleaded guilty to rape was sentenced Monday to 16 months in state prison. Stephen Paul Sargent, 60, will get credits for the 157 days he was in jail, taking his sentence down to about six months, according to District Attorney Donald Segerstrom. He will also pay $200 in restitution fees and be forced to register as a sex offender. Full Story »
A Tuolumne County Superior Court judge sentenced a man who admitted to burning down an O’Byrnes Ferry Road home — then attempted to retract his guilty plea — to eight years in prison Monday. George Landecho Lopez, 36, was sentenced for burning down the home of Kari Faughnan and her estranged husband, Steven Faughnan, on July 18, 2008. He will serve the longest sentence the court could give him. Full Story »
The three clumps of cream-colored portables that the Calaveras County Health Services Agency calls home turned 20 years old this year. Nobody threw a party,” joked Kevin Brady, who makes up one-half of the two-man Buildings and Grounds Department. Full Story »
Road crews labored through 12-hour shifts starting late Sunday night to clear Calaveras County roads, but funds for the work remain uncertain. The county has traditionally paid for snow removal with money from California’s 18-cent-a-gallon gas tax, a third of which goes to cities and counties. Full Story »
Letter to editor: Janet Maffei’s letter (Nov. 25) explains what a smart move it is to buy the property for the new courthouse, etc. The letter is classic bureau-speak. Full Story »
THURSDAY 10:01 a.m., San Andreas — There was an altercation at Calaveras River Academy, 150 Old Oak Road. 11:56 a.m., Valley Springs — A fight was reported on the first block of Highway 26. Full Story »
Jean Troedson died Dec. 2 at her home in Twain Harte. She was 75. Mrs. Troedson was born in Empire and lived there her entire life until retiring to Twain Harte five years ago. She worked for the Empire School district for 25 years. Full Story »
The Sonora City Council presented Sonora resident and New York Yankees relief pitcher Phil Coke with a proclamation at the City Council meeting Monday for his part in his team’s 2009 World Series victory. Coke, who graduated from Sonora High School in 2001, pitched in the World Series, which ended in a Yankee victory on Nov. 4. Full Story »
Bells are ringing this holiday season in Tuolumne and Calaveras counties as Salvation Army volunteers collect donations for the annual kettle drives. Money collected from Thanksgiving through Christmas Eve by bell ringers is used to help “fall-in-the-cracks people,” said Peggy DuTemple, chairwoman of the Sonora Service Extension Unit of the Salvation Army. Full Story »
Property tax payments have been coming in at a steady clip over the last week, with the county depositing an average of $1 million per day during that period. One day even saw a $2 million deposit. “Collections are coming in pretty steady,” said Tuolumne County Treasurer Del Hodges. “The majority of people are still paying their property taxes.” Full Story »
State Sen. Dave Cogdill is set to make an appearance before the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday to explain water legislation that was passed by the Legislature last month. He will also field questions from supervisors after his presentation. He is set to begin speaking at 10:30 a.m. Full Story »
This winter’s first foothill snow storm forced most schools to close campuses, and led to traffic snarls in Calaveras and Tuolumne counties this morning. The storm had dumped several inches of snow in Sonora and Angels Camp this morning, and more was expected throughout the day. The chance of snow tonight is forecast to drop to 30 percent. Full Story »
If you called the Calaveras County Assessor’s Office in the past year, you probably heard this: “Assessor’s Office, can you hold please?” The office’s phone lines have been tied up by homeowners with a once-unusual request that has rocketed to an unfortunate popularity: That the value of their property be lowered. Full Story »
With their city administrator on his way to Iraq in March, the Angels Camp City Council will hold a workshop Tuesday on how to manage city business in his absence. Tim Shearer, a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, will report to active duty at Fort Dix, N.J., on Jan. 22 and hop on a plane in March to begin a year-long deployment in Iraq. Full Story »
Monday’s winter storm prompted the early opening of the Phoenix Lake Road bridge. The move is an “emergency measure,” according to Tuolumne County Public Works Director Peter Rei, who had ordered the new bridge closed during ongoing work and a concrete curing process set to be complete Dec. 11. Full Story »
Wintry weather wreaked havoc in the Mother Lode Monday, resulting in road closures, sliding cars and power outages. However, the storm was good news for ski areas. Dodge Ridge Ski Resort in Pinecrest announced this morning that it will open Friday after receiving two feet of snow at the base and three feet at the summit. Full Story »
To the editor: Sullivan Creek Bridge and Highway 108 accidents. Could there be a connection to the rash of injury accidents near Via Este on Highway 108, and the closure of the Sullivan Creek bridge on Phoenix Lake? Full Story »
Former Tuolumne County resident Jamie Elizabeth (Cashman) Neathery died Nov. 24 of cancer at the Alexander Cohen Hospice House in Hughson. She was 52. Full Story »
WEDNESDAY 7:07 a.m., Twain Harte — A large piece of concrete was thrown through a window on the 18800 block of Manzanita Drive. 8:23 a.m., Sonora area — Gasoline and a battery were reported stolen from the 21400 block of Green Oaks Court. Full Story »
Due to the severe weather and unsafe traffic conditions in many delivery areas, your Monday newspaper will be delivered late. Sadly, in some areas, we will have to deliver your Monday newspaper tomorrow - along with your Tuesday Union Democrat. We regret the inconvenience this may cause you, our valued readers. As you know, the safety of our carriers - with these road conditions - is our primary ... Full Story »
All schools in Calaveras and Tuolumne counties have cancelled school today, with the exception of Mother Adventist Junior Academy in Sonora, which is on a two-hour delay. Full Story »
Sonora High School Wildcat football team narrowly lost game three of the Division 4 Sac Joaquin Semi-Finals on Friday night in Auburn. The final score was 15-14, with Placer High scoring the winning touchdown and a two point conversion in the final quarter. See Monday's Union Democrat for full game coverage. Full Story »
Lode Hotel owner Tim Ashlock is on schedule to fix the sagging structure’s safety issues within two weeks. At the Nov. 17 Angels Camp City Council meeting, Ashlock was given a “drop-dead” date of Dec. 15 to fix the issues at the building. Full Story »
Five years after an increased tax on hotel and motel lodgings was defeated for the third consecutive time by Calaveras County voters, it once again is on the minds of county officials. Exploring raising the tax — officially called the transient occupancy tax, or TOT — from 6 percent to 10 percent was one of the staff-suggested tasks included in a draft county strategic plan given a tentative ... Full Story »
Christmas decorations illuminate Berlin's main shopping streets. AP Photo/Franka Bruns
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