Aug. 31

Ex-chief, 3 of 4 incumbents win seats on Foothill board

By Nick Baptista

   Three of the four appointed incumbents running for election to the Foothill Fire Protection District Board of Directors were retained by voters last Tuesday, according to unofficial results released by the county elections department, but the one challenger to win a board seat is the ex-fire chief who has had a stormy relationship with several of the board members.

   In other special district races decided Tuesday, challenger Phil McCartney defeated incumbent Charlie Hebrard for the Division 1 seat on the Calaveras County Water District board, CCWD Division 5 Director Jeff Davidson won re-election over challenger Carol Barzee, and all four incumbents running for seats on the Valley Springs Public Utility District board were retained by the voters.

   Ed Anderson finished first in the race for three four-year seats on the Foothill board with 500 votes. Former Fire Chief Jeff Palm finished second with 469 and Ken Glissman won the final seat with 456 votes.

   Anderson and Glissman were on the board when Palm was demoted to assistant fire chief.

   “I believe the voters saw I’ve hung in there for the good of the district,” Palm said after the election. “This in not for payback. I really care for this district and want it to get on a progressive path forward. I will bring a different point of view to the board and my overall objective is to have a safer community and a more respected fire district.”

   Jon Rolland attracted 451 votes, appointed incumbent Robert W. Fry finished with 359, Sharon Floyd captured 347 votes and Jerry A. Smith had 104.

   Incumbent Ron Spradlin finished with a high of 541 votes in the two-person race with Steve L. Gleason for a two-year term on the Foothill board. Gleason, another former Foothill chief garnered 453 votes.

   Measure E for the Foothill Fire Protection District passed with 88 percent of the vote.

   McCartney captured 59 percent of the vote in the CCWD race, while Davidson finished with 57 percent.

   Incumbents Andy Whitaker with 55 votes and Lucille Allee with 44 won four-year terms on the VSPUD board, while incumbents Rob Robertson with 49 and Connie Gleason with 42 won the two two-year seats up for election. Mal Ponte finished with 23 votes in the four-year race, while Tony Glenn had 21 votes and Mary De Witt had 15 in the two-year race.

   The mail-in ballot procedure for the special district races in 16 precincts attracted a 32.76 percent turnout.  

Aug. 24

Busy ABA week

The Valley Springs Area Business Association and its members had a busy social calendar this month with an Aug. 15 luncheon and an Aug. 17 mixer-dinner. East Bay Municipal Utility District Ranger Steve Diers talked about the recreational activities going on at EBMUD’s Camanche and Pardee reservoirs, including work on the Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail and volunteer opportunities. Liz, left in photo at left, and Phil Weaver, seated, were the hosts for the Friday evening mixer at Sheng Chi Kung Fu. The gathering attracted a large crowd to the martial arts studio and included a barbecue dinner. The ABA’s next activity is a Sept. 19 luncheon at La Contenta Bar and Grill and Planning Commissioner Steve Kearney will be the speaker. Reservations are requested and can be made by calling Esther Taber at 786-2791.

Aug. 22

Clint Gleason

Firefighter says he was dismissed for "political reasons"

By Nick Baptista

   Another veteran volunteer of the Foothill Fire Protection District has been dismissed for what he says are “political” reasons on the eve of an election to select four of five members to the district’s Board of Directors.

   Lt. Clint Gleason, who has been with the district since 1998 and is the son of one of the candidates challenging the four board incumbents up for election, was dismissed Thursday evening minutes after he returned to the station from a call to help with a 66-acre blaze off Gold Strike Road in San Andreas.

   The district has been embroiled in controversy since the firing of Assistant Chief Drew Utterback in 2006 and at the same time the demotion of then-chief Jeff Palm to the rank of assistant. Palm was dismissed from the department earlier this year and is running for one of the board seats.

   Gleason said when he returned to the fire he was called into a meeting with Chief Mike Siligo. Gleason was handed a letter of dismissal and told to turn in his equipment. Gleason said there was a brief discussion where he was told he was not a “team player” for refusing to sign a recent letter to the editor from volunteers supporting the board’s incumbents and there was there was a “conflict of interest” since his father Steve Gleason, a former chief of the department, one of the challengers.

   Chief Siligo says no such discussion took place.

   “He was dismissed because of his attitude,” Siligo said.

   A portion of Gleason’s dismissal letter from Siligo says “From day one of my appointment with this District I was aware of your attitudes towards members of this District, including fellow firefighters, staff personnel, and Board members that do not display a parallel interest with your own.”

   Later it says, “I have not seen that ability of desire in you to help in making positive changes. The past is the past; don’t wait for it to repeat itself. Your gamble that this District will return to yesterday’s values is a risky bet.”

   “I’ve been trying to stay out of all the politics, Clint Gleason said.

   However, with his dismissal, Gleason accused the board and chief of making several misrepresentations to the public about the department.

   Gleason questioned a recent newsletter and flier released on the eve of the election about the number of volunteers and Class B drivers within the department. Although the department’s volunteer ranks have swelled from less than 10 to 22 in just the past few months, he said, the vast majority of the volunteers are very inexperienced. He added that he knows of only four in the department who possess the Class B licenses for operating the heavier rigs.

   Chief Siligo said Gleason’s accusations were incorrect.

   Gleason added that the department’s main engine to fight structure fires had faulty brakes and the station being built in Burson did not have exhaust defractors as required by law.

   Siligo said the fire engine in question was completely safe to operate and while Gleason is correct the Burson station does not have exhaust defractors, they are not necessary because the building is not connected to any living quarters.

   “All fabrications,” Board member Ron Spradlin called Gleason’s statements about the department. “I’m sorry he has to approach it that way. He’s making the board and the administration look bad. That’s unprofessional on his part.”

  Gleason also said recent board actions to purchase new equipment and hire paid firefighters were politically motivated “to look good” going into the election.  

Aug. 17

Writer/journalist Sal Manna in front of the historic Late House with the new book he has co-authored.

Trio of authors release book on area's history

By Nick Baptista

   Three local writers have collaborated to produce a new history book concentrating on Calaveras County’s northern communities including Burson, Camanche, Campo Seco, Jenny Lind, Mokelumne Hill, Paloma, San Andreas, Valley Springs, Wallace and West Point.

   “Northern Calaveras County” by Judith Marvin, Julia Costello and Sal Manna is published by Arcadia Publishing in Mount Pleasant, S.C., and is another edition in their popular Images of America series.

   The book will be available Aug. 27 and all three authors will participate in book-signing events planned Aug. 31 in Valley Springs and Sept. 1 in Murphys.

   The Valley Springs News is hosting the Aug. 31 book signing from 5 to 7 p.m. at its 10-G Nove Way office. The book sells for $19.99, but can be obtained for free with a two-year subscription or renewal to The Valley Springs News for $48.

   The Sept. 1 book signing is from noon to 2 p.m. at Murphys Books in the Sierra Hills Shopping Center on Highway 4.

   “You’re probably not going to find a more authoritative book on the area - not just now, but probably for decades,” said Manna, who is president for the Society for the Preservation of West Calaveras History, which he founded in 2006, and writer of the popular “Something From Nothing: The Early History of West Calaveras County” historical series published the first Wednesday of every month in The Valley Springs News.

   Marvin for many years was the curator and director of the Calaveras County Museum and Archives, while Costello is an archaeologist and an authority on cultural resource management of historic sites in the western United States.

   The book features approximately 200 photos from sources such as the County Historical Society and private and personal collections, including a cover photo out of the Burson-Jenny Lind area c.1900 of a threshing crew.

   “You will have never seen this many photos of this area of the county in one place,” Manna said, “and some of the photos will be found no where else.”

   All of the photos have been re-mastered to look as good as they ever have or ever will.

   “Sal chronicles the past of western Calaveras County and we chronicle the present,” said The Valley Springs News co-owner Vip Hale. “We have many of the same readers and we’re pleased to be able to offer them a free copy of this historic book for the cost of a new subscription or an extension.”

   “Anyone who is interested in Native Americans, gold mines, logging, ranching, farming, early family life and railroads will find something of interest in the book,” Manna said.

   “Residents, longtime or new, should be interested in this book because it tells the story of where they live and no other book does that,” Manna said, “and I hope they will also give it to friends and family outside of this area to tell them about the place they live in.”

   Although primarily a book on the area’s history, the final chapter also takes a look at the present and the area’s future, Manna added.

   The book will be available through the authors and at area bookstores and retailers.  

Aug. 15

The King Of Swing at the awards stage.

Valley Springs woman's horse wins world title

   The King Of Swing, a Painted Horse owned by Virginia Abbott of Valley Springs, captured a world championship title at the 2007 World Championship Paint Horse Show.

   The King Of Swing is a 5-year-old gelding. The horse captured the championship in Junior Hunter Hack and was shown by Roger Deromedi.

   Horses in the Junior Hunter Hack class were judged on their ability to clear two small jumps and then were shown at the walk, trot and canter to a panel of judges. The King Of Swing bested a field of 12 for the title. Winning a world championship means a particular horse and rider are the best Paint Horse team in the world in a particular event.

   The show was from June 24 to July 7 in Fort Worth, Texas. It is the premier event of the American Paint Horse Association. The World Championship Paint Horse Show is the largest gathering of Paint Horses in the world. For two weeks, competitors and spectators witnessed nearly 2,000 horses competing in a total of 183 events that showcased the talents of each horse and rider. Prizes and payouts totaled more than $400,000. 

   Open competitors may be youth, amateurs, or professional trainers, and they can compete on their own horses or horses owned by another individual.

   APHA was founded 45 years ago and has since registered nearly 1 million American Paint Horses. The association serves about 100,000 active members. APHA works not only to record Paint Horse pedigrees, but also to preserve and promote the history, breeding, training, racing, showing, sales and enjoyment of American Paint Horses.  

Aug. 10

Planning Commissioner Steve Kearney addresses the West Calaveras Rotary Club.

Planning commissioner: Public needs to get involved in the process

By Nick Baptista

   First-year District 5 Planning Commissioner Steve Kearney would like to see greater public participation in the planning process and along those lines he hopes a move to have some Planning Commission meetings in the evening will be well received by citizens.

   Kearney, who was appointed to the Planning Commission at the beginning of this year by Supervisor Russ Thomas, talked about his first seven months on the panel at Thursday’s meeting of the Rotary Club of West Calaveras.

   “Sooner or later,” Kearney said, nearly every resident will have an occasion to attend a Planning Commission meeting on an issue of importance to them and the daytime meetings are inconvenient for the average person who is working at that time.

   The commission is planning to hold an evening meeting in September and Kearney said he hopes it is well attended.

   The first-year commissioner said pressure groups are exerting more and more influence at the Planning Commission level, but it is the individual citizen’s input that he finds has the greatest impact on the decision-making process.

   The Valley Springs area is “on the verge of an explosion (in development) and it has to be well thought out to avoid the explosion from being destructive,” he said.

   Calaveras County continues to be one of the fastest growing counties in the state and Kearney cited Valley Springs’ closeness and accessibility to major centers in the Central Valley and even the Bay Area as the force behind additional, nearly unprecedented growth in the area.

   The pressure of growth will change the factors that attracted many to the area and further strain services – such as law enforcement – and those concerns need to be addressed, he said.

   The county has to consider services when approving new building, especially the new 100-plus housing subdivisions, he said.

   Those services include schools, sheriff’s protection and where to get the water for those homes, he added, and the delivery of an adequate supply of water to new homes and existing homes is becoming a major concern that has to be looked at carefully.

   The lack of a retail base in the county is also a concern.

   Calaveras County residents are buying most of the necessities of life elsewhere, such as shoes and clothing, since there is not a great selection of those items here, he said.

   “The other counties love us,” he added.  

Aug. 8

Jenny Line Fire unit sent to help fight Zaca blaze

   Calaveras County firefighting units – including one engine and four firefighters from the Jenny Lind Fire Protection District – have been sent to assist with combating the Zaca Fire in Santa Barbara County.

   Jenny Lind Fire Chief Brian Chavez-Ochoa said his district received the call the past weekend and the Jenny Lind unit will be used for structure protection.

   In addition to Jenny Lind, units from Altaville-Melones, Copperopolis, Murphys and Sonora were dispatched to the blaze, the chief said.

   The fire started July 4 and remains in steep, rocky terrain with poor access. The fire has burned nearly 70,000 acres and is threatening 453 homes and 62 other structures.

   Much of the blaze has been in the Los Padres National Forest, approximately 15 miles northeast of Buellton and an evacuation order is in effect for several areas around the fire.

   The chief said Jenny Lind likely would have a unit at the fire until it is contained and that is not expected until Sept. 7. In the meantime, crews will be swapped out on the weekends.  

Aug. 3

Foothill Fire Protection District Director Ed Anderson turns his back to the camera Tuesday afternoon at the Burson Post Office after being caught breaking federal regulations prohibiting campaigning activities at post offices.

Foothill candidate has run-in with the law

By Nick Baptista

   Foothill Fire Protection District Director Ed Anderson ran afoul of postal regulations Tuesday as he took his campaign to the entrance of the Burson Post Office.

   Anderson, who was appointed to Foothill’s Board of Directors in August of 2005 to fill the remaining term of John Loverin, is seeking election to the seat this month.

   The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Department received a call at 2:07 p.m. Tuesday that Anderson was campaigning in front of the post office, in violation of a section in the Postal Operations Manual, and refused to leave.

   Deputy Deayrian Sanchez responded to the call. She confirmed a citizen’s complaint had been lodged against Anderson. While the deputy was asking Anderson to leave peacefully, he tried to hand her his campaign literature and said she should take a moment to read it since her boss, Sheriff Dennis Downum, was one of the people endorsing him.

   Anderson became irate, claiming he was being harassed, when The Valley Springs News began taking photos of the incident and he left the scene.

   Anderson was warned he was in violation of the Postal Operations Manual barring soliciting, passing out leaflets and electioneering on post office property.

   Those rules, according to Northern California Postal Spokesperson Gus Ruiz, are intended to keep the pathway to the post office clear so postal customers can conduct their business without being stopped.

   Anderson was asking those entering the post office whether they were registered voters.

   Federal regulations concerning “Conduct on Postal Property” specify fines of not more than $50, or imprisonment of not more than 30 days, or both, for those found guilty of violating the federal rules and regulations.

   Ruiz said the Postal Service would not pursue the incident as a criminal matter if Anderson would abide by the regulations and not return to the post office for the purpose of campaigning.

   Anderson is one of four appointed incumbents to the board seeking election. The other incumbents are Ken Glissman, Wayne Fry and Ron Spradlin.

   The challengers are Steve Gleason, Sharon Floyd, Jeff Palm, Jon Rolland and Jerry Smith.

Aug. 1

Karen David, left, Tanya Nichols and Sandy Brais plan to make Salon Bellagio an exclusive salon in Valley Springs.

Salon Bellagio opens with Italian theme

   Salon Bellagio has celebrated its grand opening.

   The salon at Suite 2B in the Valley Springs Professional Center at 4 Jean St., next to Calaveras Telephone, opened June 5. The salon specializes in facial and hair care, make-up, message therapy, body wraps and waxing.

   Owner Karen David has been in the business locally for nine years and always wanted to own her own business.

   She believes the growing Valley Springs area is ready for something more upscale and said Salon Bellagio will fill that niche. The salon offers the No. 1 hair care and skin care lines.

   Bellagio means beautiful in Italian and the theme was cared to the interior decoration with an authentic Italian countryside look.

   David, who is a hair designer and color specialist, is assisted by Tanya Nichols, a message therapist, and Sandy Brais, a hair designer and make-up and skin specialist.

   Nichols has been a local resident for nine years and message therapist for nearly four years. Business management is another one of her specialties.

   Brais, who is a MAC make-up artist, has been in the area for a half year.

   The business is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. The phone number is 772-7822. Walk-ins are accepted, but appointments are recommended.   

Mail: P.O. Box 1297, Valley Springs, CA 95252 
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