KNCO » Local News

Butterfly Garden of Remembrance

Paul Haas — Sat, 25 May 2013 01:18:15 +0000

The first time Paula Bertness walked through the Hospice Butterfly Garden of Remembrance was to honor her own mother, now she’s a Hospice Volunteer and organizer of the event.
Click here to listen to Paula Bertness

This is the 13th year of the Butterfly Garden of Remembrance on the Hooper and Weaver Mortuary grounds in Nevada City over Memorial weekend. People can get remembrance cards to fill out from the Hospice of the Foothills office or at the remembrance garden, fill them out, they are then laminated and placed on a butterfly stake. After the event the remembrance cards are returned to the family.
Click here to listen to Paula Bertness

Last year over 600 remembrance cards were placed in the Hospice Butterfly Garden of Remembrance. Hours are 10 am to 4pm over the 3 day Memorial weekend.

Memorial Day Bridge Tour

Paul Haas — Sat, 25 May 2013 01:10:52 +0000

In Nevada County there are 15 bridges officially named and marked with a plaque in honor of 17 local Airmen, Marines and Soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our American freedoms and liberties. On Memorial Day, May 27th the Friends of Nevada County Military will be hosting a walking tour and a bus tour of memorial bridges dedicated to fallen soldiers from Nevada County. Earlier this month the Nevada County Board of Supervisors presented a plaque of recognition to thank the Volunteers from Friends of Nevada County Military, and other local veterans organizations for leading the tours. Supervisor Ed Scofield commented on how important it is to have the memorials on the bridges .

Click here to listen to Ed Scofield

Bus tours and a walking tour of the memorial plaques will take off from Memorial Park in Grass Valley at 1 o’clock, following a Memorial Day ceremony in the park. The tours will go from 1 until 3 p.m.

CHP Max Enforcement and DUI Checkpoint

Paul Haas — Fri, 24 May 2013 22:14:28 +0000

Like many other holidays, the California Highway Patrol will be (is) out in force this weekend, looking for drunk drivers.
Click here to listen to Officer Morrison

C-H-P officer Marc Morrison says the Memorial Day Maximum Enforcement Period (begins 6pm Friday) and runs through 11:59pm Monday night.
In addition to maximum enforcement, CHP is also setting up a DUI Checkpoint in Grass valley Saturday night.
Click here to listen to CHP Sgt. Whiting

CHP Sgt. Whiting says if you are approaching the checkpoint and decide you do not want to proceed though it, there is an outlet.
Click here to listen to CHP Sgt. Whiting

The safest and surest way to avoid a DUI… is to not drink and drive.

Drew Reynolds Softball Tournament This Weekend

Geoff Flynn — Fri, 24 May 2013 20:44:17 +0000

Some of the best softball players from the area, and some from out of town, are playing at Memorial Park this weekend. It’s the tenth annual Drew Reynolds Memorial Softball Tournament. Reynolds was the U-P-S driver who was struck and killed by a driver under the influence of methamphetamine in 2004. Tournament organizer and Reynolds’ brother-in-law Mike Malarae says that Drew loved softball, and proceeds for the tournament go to various non-profit organizations…

Listen to Mike Malarae 1

As for the softball, Malarae says the tournament is very competitive…

Listen to Mike Malarae 2

That allows players to meet new people and have new teammates. The tournament runs through Sunday, and Malarae says there will be a ‘secret special guest’ on the final day…

Listen to Mike Malarae 3

Food and drinks are available at Memorial Park during the games. The closing ceremony is at 3:30pm Sunday.

Teen Partying Presents Unhealthy Trends

Paul Haas — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:00:04 +0000

A disturbing trend in teen partying is presenting itself in Western Nevada County and its results are devastating, especially to young girls. According to Grass Valley Police School Resource Officer Jim Amaral, an alarming number of teens are drinking or doing drugs to the point of losing self control in regards to sexual promiscuity.
Click here to listen to School Resource Officer Jim Amaral

It’s extremely frustrating for law enforcement because this is behavior that can be avoided.
Click here to listen to School Resource Officer Jim Amaral

What’s even more alarming is how often these parties are taking place and the resulting effect on the young girls.
Click here to listen to School Resource Officer Jim Amaral

The attitude amongst these teens is that the fault is being placed on the girls.
Click here to listen to School Resource Officer Jim Amaral

And because of the message that is being sent to the teens, often times the girls do not report what has happened to them.
Click here to listen to School Resource Officer Jim Amaral

Law enforcement is also concerned with parent acceptance of these activities.
Click here to listen to School Resource Officer Jim Amaral

It appears that parents are not monitoring teen activity and in-turn allowing more freedom for an age group that still needs guidance and support.
Click here to listen to School Resource Officer Jim Amaral

Officer Amaral is also quick to point out that it is not all children in the community.
Click here to listen to School Resource Officer Jim Amaral

Amaral has these words of advice for parents of teenage girls.
Click here to listen to School Resource Officer Jim Amaral

Nevada County has a number of organizations that can help young girls that have been victimized including the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Coalition and student support organizations at each school in the high school district.

Early Morning Fire at Peterson’s Corner

Paul Haas — Fri, 24 May 2013 18:56:45 +0000

Firefighters were dispatched to a structure fire at 5:00 am this morning on Hwy 49 and Pleasant Valley Road across from Petersons Corner.
Dispatch received a call for a roof on fire, but the two-story commercial structure was fully involved when the first unit arrived on scene.there was a slow moving grass fire on the backside of the house that was extending to the outside of an outbuilding. The grass fire and the out building were quickly extinguished and Firefighters attacked the main structure together. Firefighters extinguished the top floor without any extension to the downstairs. As firefighters attacked the fire there was a salvage operation going on downstairs. Cars that were parked close to the structure were moved and the contents of the downstairs were moved out and protected with tarps.
North San Juan Fire, Camptonville Fire and CAL FIRE units responded to the incident. CHP helped with traffic control.
Units still remain on scene, the cause of the fire is under investigation. The cause of the fire MIGHT have been embers from the wood stove that landed on the roof.

Earthquake Shakes Nevada County

Paul Haas — Fri, 24 May 2013 04:02:36 +0000

A 5.7 magnitude earthquake centered approximately 7 miles west/northwest of Greenville, CA, just east of Lake Almanor, shook Northern California at 8:47 PM. Much of Nevada county felt the initial quake.

5 additional tremors ranging from 3.2 -3.5 occurred in Chester, Greenville (3), Westwood in Plumas and Lassen Counties between 8:55 and 9:09.

4 additional tremors of 2.5 – 2.7 in the same area as other aftershocks between 9:23 and 9:29

Where is West Nile?

Paul Haas — Fri, 24 May 2013 03:10:38 +0000

West Nile is not a town in Egypt- However, it is a a deadly virus that is spread through mosquitoes. With the warmer weather mosquitoes are beginning to make a presence in Nevada County. County Agricultural Commissioner, Jeff Pylam says that there hasn’t been a human related case of West Nile Virus in Nevada County for several years.
Click here to listen to Jeff Pylman

Because the virus is transmitted through mosquito bites it is important to take precautions.
Click here to listen to Jeff Pylman

For more information on West Nile Virus and the Nevada County Mosquito Control Program visit mynevadacounty.com

–30–

Beware of the Rattler

Paul Haas — Fri, 24 May 2013 02:25:15 +0000

The unseasonably dry winter and recent warm weather has also brought an increase in the number of rattlesnake encounters in Nevada and Placer counties. Rattle snake expert, Len Ramirez says its earlier than usual.
Click here to listen to Len Ramirez

Because the season has already started Ramirez has some recommendations to help prevent rattlesnake issues
Click here to listen to Len Ramirez

If you have children and dogs in your household Ramirez has these suggestions.
Click here to listen to Len Ramirez

If you happen to come upon a rattlesnake, Ramirez says its important to remain calm.
Click here to listen to Len Ramirez

And if you are actually bitten by a rattlesnake, the best snake bite kit is the use of technology.
Click here to listen to Len Ramirez

You may also gently wash the area with soap and water; remove watches and rings, and keep the affected area as stable as possible.

Do not apply tourniquets, pack the bite in ice, cut the would with a knife, try to suck the venom out with your mouth, and do not drink alcohol.

For more information on rattlesnakes, snakebites, and snake removal visit RamirezRattlesnakeRemoval.com

Plane Crash Near Truckee

Paul Haas — Fri, 24 May 2013 01:37:35 +0000

A plane crash occurred approximately 7 miles east of Truckee airport around 3:00 Thursday afternoon. The reporting party was the sole occupant of the single engine aircraft and was able to contact the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office via cell phone. CALFIRE and the CHP provided helicopter crews to airlift the victim from the crash site. Cause of the crash is unknown. The investigation has been turned over to the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board.