Property values slip less

Written by Sean Janssen, The Union Democrat  August 02, 2012 01:19 pm http://www.uniondemocrat.com/News/Local-News/Property-values-slip-less The total value of assessed property in Calaveras  County continued to fall this year, though at a slower rate than the year prior. Figures released by County Assessor Leslie Davis  this week placed the gross secured property tax roll at $5.46 billion in 2012, a  4.37 percent drop from 2011. The drop is less... Read More

Speak up for Mokelumne River recreation and protection on Monday and Tuesday

Three different foothill governing bodies will discuss the Mokelumne River at their meetings next week. We hope you can go and speak up for river protection and recreation. Protecting and using the Moke is good for people, fish and wildlife — and for our local economy. And thanks to everyone who came to the BLM hearing on July 31. Monday, August 13, 7 pm The Jackson City Council will consider a letter of support for the BLM’s proposed... Read More

Commercial rafting gets mostly a thumbs up

By Joel Metzger | Posted: Friday, August 3, 2012 10:14 am Few concerns were raised at a public meeting held in Amador County Tuesday regarding a three-year pilot study of commercial recreation on the Mokelumne River. The program would include opportunities for commercial rafting, kayaking lessons and guided fishing excursions. If there are no major public objections to the study, it will likely begin early next year, allowing a limited number... Read More

Foothill Conservancy Seeking Staff

The Foothill Conservancy, a small 501(c)(3) community-based nonprofit conservation organization based in Pine Grove-Pioneer, is seeking an interim executive director. The position is FT limited-term with the potential to become permanent. See job announcement and application information at http://www.foothillconservancy.org/pages/events.cgi?calcatid=1&calid=410&_fn_=410.407.409 Foothill Conservancy also has an opening for a watershed conservation associate.... Read More

Report blasts housing agency

Written by Chris Caskey, The Union Democrat July 10, 2012 11:02 am Area cities and counties should have guarded themselves against liabilities created by the financial collapse of a local affordable-housing agency last year, the Tuolumne County Civil Grand Jury reported last week. In the Grand Jury’s annual report, the investigative body made up of local citizens, detailed the rise and fall of the Central Sierra Planning Council and recommended... Read More

Trinitas Golf Course Costly For Calaveras County?

July 13, 2012    02:34 pm Tracey Petersen, MML Reporter Calaveras County, CA – The former owners of the 280 acre Trinitas golf course have filed an appeal to overturn a decision by a lower court last year. That ruling determined golf is not a legal form of agritourism in Calaveras County. Former Trinitas owners Michael and Michelle Nemee had hoped a victory in the agritourism case would make the course legal. The course was built without... Read More

Unemployment Down in Lode

Written by Union Democrat staff June 20, 2012 02:36 pm Union Democrat Staff Jobless claims fell slightly for the second straight month in the Mother Lode, according to job market data released Friday. The unemployment rate in Tuolumne County was at 11.7 percent in May, according to the California Employment Development Department, a half-percent decrease compared to April when that figure was 12.2 percent. Unemployment has fluctuated slightly... Read More

Judge tosses out agritourism case

Posted: Tuesday, June 26, 2012 9:09 am | Updated: 9:29 am, Fri Jun 29, 2012. By Joel Metzger | 5 comments Posted on June 26, 2012 United States District Court Judge Lawrence J. O’Neill dismissed an appeal filed by the former owners of Trinitas Golf Course Friday on the grounds they no longer own the property and the appeal is no longer a “live controversy.” In their appeal, Mike and Michelle Nemee pleaded for a judicial declaration stating their... Read More

Calaveras County Approves Tenuous Budget

By Dana M. Nichols Record Staff Writer June 27, 2012 12:00 AM SAN ANDREAS – A bare-bones, $139 million Calaveras County budget for the coming fiscal year won the grudging approval Tuesday of the Board of Supervisors. After four straight years of cuts, county departments are for the most part a shadow of what they once were. Sheriff deputies no longer have time to respond to burglary reports. Health workers can’t keep up with sexually transmitted... Read More

Cal Fire Suspends Burning

Written by Union Democrat staff | June 14, 2012 01:31 pm Cal Fire has announced it will suspend all debris-burning permits in the Tuolumne-Calaveras county coverage area effective 8 a.m. Monday. Affected areas include all of Tuolumne and Calaveras counties as well as eastern Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties. “The extended weather forecast shows that our region is entering the typical hot, dry summer weather pattern,” said Tuolumne-Calaveras... Read More