May 28

   Umbrellas - sported by Maria Behm and her granddaughter Madison Behm of Valley Springs - were standard equipment at the fifth annual Foothill Classics Car Show and Swap Meet.

Car lovers brave the elements

By Nick Baptista

   It was a rainy and soggy day for the fifth annual Foothill Classics Car Show and Swap Meet, but that didn’t dampen spirits as more than 150 vehicles were on display Saturday at Veterans Memorial Park in Valley Springs.

   Deborah Norton of Stockton took best of show with a 1973 Plymouth Barracuda.

   Frank Betancourt, one of the show’s organizers, was pleased with the turnout.

   “Everyone seemed to be in good spirits,” he said.

   The show had attracted 204 early registrations, and probably would have had another 50 more the day of the event, if it had not rained, he added.

   Lee and Cindy Hieber of Valley Springs were the winners of the crate engine drawing and decided to take the $1,000 cash alternative, while Terry and Teresa Costa of Murphys were the winners of the 50/50 drawing, which came in at $240.

   The show was open to vehicles from 1975 and earlier. Valley Springs car enthusiast had a good showing in the list of awards.

   Dick Yoes won the best paint category with his 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air, while Flora McLeod won best stock with a 1966 Shelby GT.

   Best full custom went to Bob McLeod and his 1949 Mercury two-door coupe, while Bill and Carol Sousa won the special interest award with a 1919 Ford T-Bucket and Richard Fautt took the best rat rod honor with a 1924 Dodge coupe.

   Out-of-town winners were: Larry and Sandy Molina, Manteca; best upholstery, 1937 Ford coupe; Reba Malone, Sacramento, best motor, 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air; Dona Gomes, Stockton, best hot rod, 1941 Chevrolet deluxe coupe; Bob and Rita Calvin, Mokelumne Hill, best mild custom, 1949 GMC panel truck; Larry Parks, Napa, best under construction, 1957 Chevrolet pickup; Bill and Kathy Dean, Pine Grove, best graphics, 1949 Mercury four-door sedan; Len Catania, Livermore, best truck, 1946 Chevrolet pickup; Jim Braghetta, West Point, longest distance for driving an open roadster in the rain, 1923 Ford Roadster; and Lee Barnard, Stockton, youngest rodder, with a car he has owned for 50 years, 1939 Ford coupe.

   Calaveras Coachmen received the club participation award with 13 registered entries.

   A percentage of proceeds from the event benefit local youth-oriented organizations and programs – such as the Calaveras High School auto shop and Little League.  

May 23

U.S. Post Office carrier Gail Camenzind delivers mail to Chris Ferguson's box, while Valley Springs Postmaster Dann Myers displays "The Wall" picture frame, one of the items available in his mailbox improvement contest.

Post office launches contest to improve area's mailboxes

By Nick Baptista

   Valley Springs Postmaster Dann Myers is asking all postal delivery patrons to inspect and repair their mailboxes and participate in a contest marking Mailbox Improvement Week.

   The U.S. Post Office observation of Mailbox Improvement Week began on Monday, and Myers has a contest extending into next month to encourage customers to make any repairs to their mailboxes and be eligible to receive a free gift.

   “Repairing mailboxes improves the appearance of our community and also makes delivering and receiving mail safer for our carriers and customers,” he said.

   In addition, replacing or adding house numbers to a box decreases the chance of a misdelivery, Myers said.

   The Postal Service also says it is in the best interest of a customer to display their address numbers on both sides of the box because law enforcement and fire personnel depend on mailboxes to locate people and many times they approach from a different direction than the carrier.

   The Postal Service makes the annual request because of the wear and tear that occurs to mailboxes every year, especially during the winter.

   Myers has solicited the services of the Valley Springs Area Business Association to judge the mailbox improvement program. Judging will be based on appearance, visibility of delivery numbers, proper height and proximity from the roadway, and creativity.

   Winner of the most improved mailbox contest will receive a choice of the U.S. Post Office’s Official Licensed Retail Products on display in the Valley Springs post office lobby. The items include commemorative picture frames. They retail from $35 to $49.

   In addition to making sure all the numbers are on the mailbox, repairs could include replacing loose hinges on a mailbox door, repainting a mailbox that may have rusted or the paint has started to peel and remounting a mailbox post that may have become loose.

   Entry forms will be available in the post office lobby, or from any mail carrier. The deadline to return the entry form and be eligible for the contest is June 17.

May 21

Nurse Jaymee Loverin, left, was credited for helping Valley Springs Elementary School sixth-grader Sarah Simons receive medical attention following Friday’s thrill ride accident at the Calaveras County Fair. Simons was one of three airlifted from the scene.

Four Valley Springs schoolgirls among 23 injured at county fair

By Nick Baptista

   Four classmates from Valley Springs Elementary School were enjoying a day at the Calaveras County Fair aboard the YoYo swing ride when it collapsed at approximately 6 p.m. Friday.

   The four were among 23 injured fair-goers who were sent to area and regional hospitals for treatment of injuries sustained in the accident that put a damper on the 2008 edition of the fair and frog jump.

   By Sunday, all of those injured had been released from the hospitals and sent home, including Sarah Simons, a Valley Springs Elementary School sixth-grader, who was one of three accident victims airlifted from the scene. She was taken to U.C. Davis Medical Center in Sacramento. A 20-year-old woman was transported by air ambulance to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto, while a 14-year-old girl was flown to Memorial Medical Center, also in Modesto.

   Sarah, the daughter of Jason and Peggy Simons, is a student in Stacy Carter’s sixth-grade class at VSE.

   She was with four other classmates at the fair under the supervision of one of the girl’s mothers, Pam Kramer. Three of Sarah’s friends – Samantha Bearwald, Jolene Blankenship and Courtney Couch were on the ride at the time. Kramer’s daughter Miranda was resting at the time and not on the ride.

   Sarah’s father Jason was thankful for Kramer’s presence at the hectic scene, keeping him and wife Peggy informed as best as possible despite the chaos and confusion.

   Jason also appreciated the efforts of Jaymee Loverin, a nurse at the scene, who re-evaluated Sarah and determined her injuries were more serious than first thought.

   Sarah, who was at the apex of the ride when it broke down, remembered hitting the ground twice before it came to a stop. She sustained scrapes and bruises to her chest, legs and tailbones. She is scheduled to return to UCD Medical Center in two weeks for an evaluation.

   The three other Valley Springs girls also sustained scrapes, cuts and bruises.

   Sarah, who said she heard a sound similar to a gunshot when the ride broke down, doubts she’ll ever go on another carnival ride.

   Initial reports had Sarah being flown to Sonora Regional Medical Center. The Simons had arrived at the facility only to find their daughter was not there.

   Kramer, who was at Mark Twain St. Joseph’s Hospital at the time with the other girls, talked to an ambulance driver who found out Sarah had been taken to UCD Medical Center.

   Kramer immediately drove to Sacramento sensing Sarah would be alone for several hours before her parents would arrive at the hospital. It was not until approximately midnight that the Simons were able to see their daughter.

   The Simons are in the dark about the medical bills, but “things will get straightened out,” Jason said.

   Sheriff’s investigators and Cal OSHA officials immediately began an investigation of the accident, and all of the carnival rides were closed. “Kiddie rides” re-opened Saturday afternoon, with the bulk of the carnival rides not resuming operation until Sunday, the last day of the fair.

   According to the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Department, the collapse of the YoYo was the first such accident of its kind in the history of the Calaveras County Fair.

   The incident was reported regionally and nationally.

   Last Wednesday, the opening day of the fair, two carnival employees were arrested on outstanding warrants.

   James Gorman, 35, of Quincy, Mass., and Robert Mitchell, 48, of San Francisco were identified as those arrested.

   Gorman had a warrant for his arrest out of Massachusetts for assault with a deadly weapon and failure to register as a sex offender. While being handcuffed, he reportedly broke free and fled on foot. He was captured after a foot chase through the midway and a parking lot.

   He is in the Calaveras County Jail awaiting extradition to Massachusetts.

   Mitchell was wanted on a warrant alleging failure to register as a sex offender.

   The celebrated frog jump, the traditional highlight of the fair, was won by “Skeeter Eater,” jockeyed by Jacob Smith, 16, of Fresno. “Skeeter Eater” had a winning jump of 19 feet, 3 ½ inches.  

May 16

Miss Calaveras 2008 Amanda Warden, right, of Valley Springs with first runner-up Sandy McClenahan, shows some excitement after winning the title Wednesday night.

Valley Springs lass wins 2008 Miss Calaveras title

   Amanda Warden of Valley Springs won the title of Miss Calaveras on Wednesday as the 2008 Calaveras County Fair and Jumping Frog Jubilee began its five-day run.

   Warden, the 17-year-old daughter of Mike and Julie Warden, is a senior at Calaveras High School.

   The new Miss Calaveras was selected by a panel of five judges based on interviews, talent, health and fitness and evening gown competition. Warden entertained the judges and crowd by singing “Legacy.”

   She wins a $1,000 scholarship from the Angels-Murphys Rotary Club. Bret Harte High School senior Sandy McClenahan was selected the first runner-up and received a $600 scholarship, while Kayla Wilson of San Andreas was chosen second runner-up and will receive a $400 scholarship. Wilson also won the talent portion of the competition with a modern dance routine and was selected Miss Congeniality, receiving an additional $100 scholarship.

   Miss Calaveras contestant Katherine “Kat” Jones of Valley Springs received the Miss Community Service Award and a $250 scholarship, while Erin Bryant, also of Valley Springs and a senior at Mountain Oaks High School, was selected Miss Photogenic and received a $100 scholarship.

    Kayte Lowry, 15, of Bret Harte, finished first in the Saddle Queen competition, while Calaveras High School senior Stacey Fischer, 18, finished as first runner-up.  

May 9

Michael McDaniel, a Vietnam veteran and two-time Purple Heart recipient, receives a Quilt of Valor from Gail Belmont.

Vietnam veterans aid Quilts of Valor

By Nick Baptista

   What began as a donation to assist the local Quilts of Valor program ended as a tribute to a Vietnam veteran’s service to his country 40 years ago.

   Rancho Calaveras resident Michael McDaniel presented a $1,000 check from the Viet Nam Veterans of Diablo Valley to Belmont Quilts of Valor during Tuesday’s monthly meeting of the Loose Threads Quilt Guild of Valley Springs. McDaniel is a past president of Viet Nam Veterans of Diablo Valley and last month asked Gail Belmont from Quilts of Valor to speak before the group.

   Belmont’s presentation was so powerful, the Viet Nam Veterans decided to make a donation to the cause, McDaniel said.

   “We’re very rarely moved so much,” McDaniel said. “We have a great amount of appreciation for what Quilts of Valor is doing.”

   Viet Nam Veterans of Diablo Valley extends associate membership to all current veterans, and one of the vets at Belmont’s presentation is a triple amputee and had received a Quilt of Valor, McDaniel added.

   The quilt is a prized possession and made a difference in the young man’s life, he said, and in all, Viet Nam Veterans of Diablo Valley has four double or triple amputees as associate members.

   “The guys from Diablo Valley appreciate all the groups’ efforts to show support and make sure no soldier coming home is not appreciated,” McDaniel said.

   The donation will go toward quilt materials and shipping expenses, Belmont said. She estimates the $1,000 will equate to 35 quilts.

   As a surprise, Belmont presented McDaniel with a Quilt of Valor.

   McDaniel, a local appraiser, served in Vietnam from September of 1967 to April of 1969 in the U.S. Marine Corps. He received two Purple Hearts and was wounded his last day in Vietnam and airlifted out.

   “I’m overwhelmed,” McDaniel said. “I was not expecting that. It’s very touching and something I will cherish forever.”

   Geene Silva pieced the top. It has a Marine Corps insignia in the center and smaller ones serve as a border.

   Valley Springs area women have been creating quilts for wounded U.S. service men and women since hostilities began in Afghanistan and Iraq. Quilts of Valor is a nationwide foundation with similar groups across the county working to provide quilts to comfort all combat-wounded service members.

   Belmont Quilts of Valor has become the Northern California Quilts of Valor coordinator and that involves receiving donated quilts from other guilds and sewing groups and shipping them to the troops.  

May 2

District 1 Supervisor hopefuls, from left, Kathy Mazzaferro, Zerrall McDaniel and Gary Tofanelli listen as moderator Nick Baptista poses another question at Wednesday’s Meet the Candidates Night in Valley Springs. Photo by Laura Baptista.

District 1 supervisor candidates tackle a variety of issues

By Nick Baptista

   Similarities and differences between the three candidates running for the District 1 seat on the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors were revealed during a lengthy series of questioning at a political forum Wednesday evening in Valley Springs.

   All three supervisor hopefuls, Kathy Mazzaferro, Zerrall McDaniel and Gary Tofanelli, participated in the Meet the Candidates Night hosted by The Valley Springs News. The election is June 3.

   The candidates answered nearly 20 questions posed to them by the audience of approximately 70 people and the local newspaper.

   The Ridge at Trinitas project attracted four questions from the audience, generally along the lines of how each candidate would vote on the proposal, which is going through environmental review.

   McDaniel and Tofanelli said they would have to look at the project’s documentation before making any decisions, while Mazzaferro took the strongest stand saying the developer (Mike Nemee) should bear the full financial responsibility for area road improvements, be ready to provide an additional source of water and prepared to install a sewer system that re-claims graywater for use on his project, all at his expense.

   “I don’t want the aquifer damaged,” she added.

   All three candidates agreed installation of a traffic light at the downtown intersection of Highway 12 and 26 was not the solution to the community’s rush-hour woes.

   “I can’t see the downtown and a stop light, it doesn’t compute,” Tofanelli said.

   “A stop light would change the quality of life in Valley Springs,” McDaniel said.

   All were in favor of a bypass to divert traffic from the intersection, but the solution could be years away, Mazzaferro and Tofanelli agreed.

   All three had different approaches toward solving the county’s budget woes.

   Tofanelli said the county needs to expand its economic base by attracting more retail services and at the same time convince county residents it’s in their best interest to shop locally. He also said that proposed commercial projects, such as the shopping center envisioned for Highway 26 and Hogan Dam Road, should be placed on the fast-tract at the county level.

   McDaniel criticized county government for subsidizing development to the tune of $1.2 million and said the county needs to address its fee schedule and ordinances to stem the red ink.

   Mazzaferro said fiscal responsibility rests with the county’s department heads and the Board of Supervisors. She said everyone is going to be asked to make sacrifices and citizens can help by being more involved and offering their services as volunteers.

   “Shameful,” was McDaniel’s reaction when asked about the stalemate between the county and the federal government for permission to clear debris and overgrown vegetation from flood-prone Cosgrove Creek. “My heart goes out to (the residents).”

   She said the county is not pushing hard enough to get the fed’s OK for the clean-up. The county and the public need to put pressure on the federal government and letter-writing is one way to do so, she added.

   Tofanelli said he “feels horrible” about the Cosgrove Creek situation and its impact on homeowners and residents. He also said more pressure needs to be applied to the feds.

   Along with putting pressure on the federal government, Mazzaferro said the problem could have been avoided if the county had listened to the people who had lived in the area for many years and cautioned against building homes in a flood plain.

   In response to a question about the possibility of the county building an annex and library in Valley Springs to bring county services closer to its major population center, Mazzaferro and McDaniel agreed the time is coming when there will be enough of a population in the area to pressure the county to consider making such a move.

   Facing a $2.3 million deficit, and continued tough times ahead, Tofanelli said it’s unlikely the county would entertain such plans any time soon. He suggested that the county should look at the number of vacant buildings in Toyon as a location to service the Valley Springs area.

   All three agreed that the next District 1 supervisor would play an important role in re-districting after the 2010 census and Valley Springs and Rancho Calaveras should be in the same district.

   Valley Springs’ future was also a hot topic at Meet the Candidates Night.

   District 1 supervisor hopefuls tackled questions about incorporation, whether the community should have its own high school, what can be done to raise money for a new community hall and development.

   When asked about their thoughts on incorporation, the candidates said it would be a long process.

   “It’s Valley Springs’ choice,” Mazzaferro said. If the citizens were for it, she would support it.

   Tofanelli cautioned that county services would be curtailed if Valley Springs were incorporated. A new city would have to pay for its own police force or contract with the county for such services. Fire protection and water and sewer service would also need to be addressed, he added.

   McDaniel said she did not want to sound negative toward the idea, but incorporation would require a strong tax base.

   Tofanelli said he was “absolutely” in favor of a high school in Valley Springs and added that a satellite campus for higher education will also be beneficial for the community, students and employers looking for a well-trained work force.

   McDaniel, a Calaveras Unified School District trustee, said a Valley Springs high school campus is in the district’s master plan, but it’s a matter of having enough students to become eligible for state funding.

   She also said the school district has worked toward attracting higher education to the area and it was a shame that San Joaquin Delta College dropped plans to place a satellite campus in Valley Springs.

   Given the growing student population in the area, Mazzaferro said she’s pretty certain there will be a Valley Springs high school.

   However, instead of a satellite college campus, Mazzaferro said she’d rather see a full-scale community college in the area.

   Tofanelli did not foresee any money coming from the county for construction of a new community center. He said the American Legion and the public would need to continue holding events and fundraisers to reach their goal of $500,000 for the building.

   McDaniel said she met with the American Legion and heard what they do and why. She said it’s a shame that the veterans do not have a new hall and she was willing to get on the bandwagon and help them build public support for possible re-consideration of the proposal.

   Mazzaferro said there was something fundamentally wrong with holding bake sales to get the funds to build a new hall for the veterans and the community.

   If the memorial district asks for another vote on funding, she said better explanation would be a key factor to get community buy-in.

   “What’s in it for me?” needs to be explained to the average voter, she said.

   Along the lines of development, Mazzaferro said it’s not a matter of what she wants, but what the public wants.

   Tofanelli said scrutiny of development does not end when the new General Plan is completed.

   “You’re not done guys,” he said. “It’s up to you after that to elect the right person to follow that plan.”

   He said the county has had general plans for many years and has not followed them.

   McDaniel said she like to see every community in Calaveras have its own specific identity and “brand it and protect it.”

   The traits for District 1’s next planning commissioner were also discussed.

   Tofanelli would look for someone with experience in construction and planning.

   McDaniel would seek someone who is comfortable working with and listening to people, along with being willing to put in the time to educate themselves about the state’s laws. They would need to make fair and consistent decisions and the courage to obey the laws.

   Mazzaferro said the appointment is too complicated for someone with just a construction background and she doesn’t want someone who would be learning while on the job. She would seek someone who already understands planning and all of its regulations.

   Public transportation expansion was also a question posed to the candidates.

   Increased ridership could possibly pay for expansion, McDaniel said.

   Transit is subsidized, Mazzaferro said, and expansion is great if the public is willing to pay for it.

   “Is it something we can afford?” she added.

   Tofanelli said he is “all for expanding it.”

   He added that all public transportation is subsidized and with gas prices skyrocketing more people will take advantage of the bus system.

   With more people using the system, Tofanelli said, the percentage of the subsidy becomes less and less.  

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