Harris anticipates that the number of cars on the road will be the same as last year.
Click here to listen to AAA Spokesperson, Cynthia Harris

Air travel is seeing a large decrease this year.
Click here to listen to AAA Spokesperson, Cynthia Harris

Other modes of transportation are also on the low side.
Click here to listen to AAA Spokesperson, Cynthia Harris

Harris says that Memorial Day travel patterns traditionally represents travel trends for the July 4th and Labor Day weekends.
AAA also says there is no correlation between gas prices and decreased travel.

The CHP says drivers need to check with their physicians to determine if they are in any danger of losing consciousness or medication could cause the driver to be dangerous on the road. The DMV will independently evaluate if the person should retain their license.

Officer Morrison says the driver lost consciousness because of a medical condition. The 1998 Toyota the man was driving suffered major damage. The driver was not seriously injured in the accident.

The Sergeant says it was very fortunate no one was on the side walk or in the business. The pickup was embedded several feet into the vacant building. The driver did not suffer any serious injures.

Dale Oakes

Some not so smart criminals made a critical planning mistake before committing their crime…
Would-be thieves forgot to put gas in their get away vehicle. Sergeant Johnson says the incident started when a witness saw two men take several expensive mountain bikes from a residence on Sutton Way, Tuesday afternoon. Johnson says the witness gave a description of a white pickup and of the two men involved. A very short time later Nevada County Sheriff deputies and a Grass Valley Police officer responded to a suspicious white pickup on Highway 49 at La Barr Meadows Road. Sergeant Johnson says the two stolen bikes were found in the bed of the pickup.
Click here to listen to Sgt. Steve Johnson

30 year old Dale Oakes of Grass Valley and 22 year old Kalen Turner of Nevada City were both taken into custody for suspicion of receiving stolen property and possession of dangerous drugs. Sergeant Johnson says it was determined the two woman were not involved in the criminal activity and released.

–30–

Empire Toastmasters of Grass Valley, CA saw one of its long-time members, Distinguished Toastmaster Anna Oates, receive the Herb Yarbrough Sustained Service Award on May 18^th at the Toastmasters District 39 Spring Conference in Stockton, CA.

Ms. Oates is 84 years old and has been a Toastmaster for 30 years. During her 30 years Ms. Oates has served as both an Area Governor and Division Governor, always achieving Distinguished Status. She has mentored both new and seasoned members. She has attended 29 of 30 International Conventions missing only one due a foot injury.

One of Ms. Oates’ most noted accomplishments as a Toastmaster was joining with other Region 1 Toastmasters in 1989 to found a Toastmasters Club in Georgia  then part of Southern Russia. The club was dubbed the “Love Thy Neighbor” club. Because of the restrictions on sending Russian currency outside the nation to the United States to pay dues, Ms. Oates actually paid the dues for the members for several years, out of her own pocket.

Ms. Oates received a plaque that displayed not only her name, but the name of all of the previous Herb Yarbrough Award winners. At the next Spring Conference in 2014, the plaque will be passed to the next recipient and Ms. Oates will be given her own plaque to commemorate her award.

Ms. Oates was stunned and honored to receive the award. She is pictured below with District Governor  and Distinguished Toastmaster Diane Bish.

The newest cursing news shows that researchers are really running out of stuff to look into.  They took the time to see which state in our great nation, swears the most.  Yes, really, a report to discover which state has the foulest mouths.

It comes as no surprise to me.  The winner is a four letter state itself, OHIO!  Long time readers on my ramblings will remember my previous blog about my problems with the Buckeye state.  But I was shocked to learn that my mid-western neighbors were America’s Biggest Potty Mouths.

Ohioans swear once every 150 conversations.  Doesn’t sound too bad, but it is double the rate that the good people of Washington State.  Washington State came in as the least cursing state.

All these leads me to believe there is another study to be done.  Are the people of Ohio just lazy with their language, or are they just the clumsiest people in the nation verbally relieving their pain . . . . . . . .

Most campgrounds and recreation sites within the Tahoe National Forest will be open for Memorial Day and most trails are open with only patches of snow on north facing slopes.  “The dry winter and spring this past year has enabled us to get campgrounds open earlier than normal,” stated Tom Quinn, Forest Supervisor.  “The light snow pack permitted most of the sites to be open for the holiday weekend, which is unusual.  Hikers will still find some snow patches in the high country, especially on north facing slopes or in shaded areas, however much of the forest is snow free.  This lack of snow and reduced rainfall are making for very dry conditions, however.  We are moving into fire season much earlier than usual, especially on the east side of the Forest.  Please be especially careful with your campfires this year.  Campfire permits are required outside of developed campgrounds and are free at all Forest Service, BLM, and Cal Fire offices,” advised Quinn. 

The following status report of campgrounds, roads and trails is listed by major transportation corridor or area.

Bullards Bar Reservoir – Yuba County

All campgrounds, picnic areas, and boat ramps are open.   Shoreline camping is available.

Highway 49 – Sierra County

Most all campgrounds, picnic areas and trails in the lower and upper elevations are open along the North Yuba River.  These include Indian Valley, Ramshorn, Rocky Rest, Carlton, Cal-Ida, Fiddle Creek, Union Flat, Loganville, Wild Plum, Yuba Pass, Sierra, and Chapman Campgrounds.   

Sierra Buttes Area – Sierra County

Gold Lakes Road is open.  Most TNF campgrounds in the area are open except for Salmon Creek due to paving of the campground.  Packer Lake Road is open past Packer Saddle.

Highway 89 North – Sierra and Nevada Counties

Most all the campgrounds are open including Cottonwood, Cold Creek, and Upper and Lower Little Truckee.

Jackson Meadow Area – Sierra County

The road is currently open to Jackson Meadow Reservoir and campgrounds will be open for Memorial Day. 

The campgrounds are open around Boca, Prosser and Stampede Reservoirs. 

Highway 89- South – Placer County

Granite Flat, Silver Creek and Goose Meadows Campgrounds are open.

Interstate 80 – Nevada and Placer Counties

The Pacific Crest Trail and other trails along the Sierra crest still have some snow drifts. 

Campgrounds including Big Bend, Hampshire Rocks and Indian Springs are expected to be open by Memorial Day.  (Call for information on campground water availability at Hampshire Rocks and Indian Springs – 530-367-2224.) North Fork, Tunnel Mills and Onion Valley Campgrounds are open.

Rattlesnake Road is open beyond Woodchuck Campground.   Woodchuck Campground is open.  Loch Leven trails still have some snow.

Highway 20 – Nevada County

White Cloud and Skillman Campgrounds are open.  The Pioneer Trail is open.  Rock Creek Nature Trail is open.

Bowman Lake Road – Nevada County

The Bowman Road is open to Faucherie.  Campgrounds including Bowman, Jackson Creek, Canyon and Faucherie are open.   Carr and Lindsey Lake Campgrounds are also open. 

Foresthill Area – Placer County

Sugar Pine Reservoir campgrounds and picnic areas are open.  Big Reservoir campground (Morning Star) will be open for Memorial Day weekend.  The Sugar Pine OHV Trails are open.

Mumford Bar and Beacroft Trails are open, but there are many trees down on the trail and considerable brush and poison oak on the lower parts of the trail.

French Meadows campgrounds and boat ramps are accessible, but drinking water systems are still being tested.  Talbot campground and Trailhead to Granite Chief Wilderness are open.  Placer Big Trees Grove and picnic area are open.  Robinson Flat Campground is open but water tests not fully completed. (Call for information on campground water availability – 530-367-2224).

River Caution!

Even though water levels are down for this time of year, rivers are running fast and cold.  Caution should be taken near the water – especially with children and pets.   

For More Information

For more information, see the Tahoe National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe or call one of the Ranger Stations listed below:

Tahoe National Forest Headquarters – in Nevada City (530) 265-4531

American River Ranger District – in Foresthill (530) 367-2224

Sierraville Ranger District – in Sierraville (530) 994-3401

Truckee Ranger District – in Truckee (530) 587-3558

Yuba River Ranger District – in Camptonville (530) 288-3231.

Reservoirs East of Truckee – Nevada County

Listen to Ted Gaines 1

Gaines has introduced legislation to try to repeal the fee. Gaines says he’s concerned about a lot of tax proposals in the legislature right now…

Listen to Ted Gaines 2

Tonight’s meeting will be in the Board of Supervisors chambers from 6 to 8pm.

Courses are subject to cancellation if there are not enough people enrolled, but Michaels doesn’t think that’s going to be a problem.
Click here to listen to Sue Michaels

Some courses may be crowded, so early registration gives you a better chance of getting the class. You can register online at www.sierracollege.edu. They are also accepting registration for fall classes.