INSIDE: Blogger earns national attention for DIY creativity MORE IN SIERRA LIVING:OpenGarden Dayis Feb. 6; Bonsai demonstration planned; Audubon plans field trips, B1
THE MOTHER LODE'SLEADING INFORMATION SOURCE SINCE 1854 • SO NORA, CALIFORNIA
WEEKEND
JAN. 30-FEB. 1, 2016
Fire feelawsuit
TODAY'S RijLDiRBOAR D NOTICES
Cancellation -A potluck dinner and movie slated for Sunday at Calvary Chapel Sonora has been postponed due to weather. A new date has not yet been set. Contact the church at 533-8820.
fee in a lawsuit challenging the fee as an illegal tax. The Howard Jarvis TaxpayA Sacramento County Su- ers Association announced periorCourt judge has grant- this week that all property ed class action statusforrural owners in California who are property owners paying the payingthe annual fee of up state'sannual fire protection to $150, which includes many
throughout the Mother Lode, will be part of the class-action suit moving forward unless they chooseto optout. If the association prevails in the lawsuit, property owners who don't opt out could be entitled to a refund for the
By ALEX MacLEAN The Union Democrat
BRIEFING
State Sen. Tom Berryhill, RTwain Harte, issued a statement Friday declaring that the recent ruling means the fee "could soon be a thing of the past!"
fees paid since the state began collecting them in 2012. Many residents and political leaders in the Mother Lode have voiced opposition to thefee since it wa s established in July 2011 with the signing of Assembly Bill 29.
See LAWSUIT / Back Page
TuolumneCounty
ACADEMIC DECATHLON
Shooting threat rumors prompted a lockdown Friday morning at Bret Harte High School.A2
Medical pot an evolving issue
Weather — Colder
By ALEX MacLEAN
temperatures moving in; more rain, snow forecast through weekend.A3
The Union Democrat
Sonora City Council — Beautification plans, pot, Yosemite on council agenda.A2
Bet Harte lockdown-
A notable shift has occurred in recent months when it comes tothe conversation
RoadWork — A list
about medical marijuana in T u o lumne County. ON PAGE
of roadwork planned in Tuolumne and Calaveras counties, including times, dates, locations and possible delays.A3
E
The Tuolumne County
/
OPlnlon — Harrop:
Poll question
union dem ocrat.corn. A4
News elsewhere — Treasure hunter searches for missing fan; Alphabet Inc. could dethrone Apple; Syria peacetalks offto shaky and chaotic start.AB
SPORTS • Hoops:
Board of
Su - o n Sonora
pervisors
w i l l C i t y Council
hold a p u blic agenda hearing at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday to consider approving an ordinance that for the first time ever would allow qualified patients and caregiversto legally grow a
Why cheap oil is not good for the environment. Saunders: Playing hardball atYosemite National Park.A4
— This week's poll question asks, "How confident are you that recent rainfall means the drought is ending?" Vote online at www.
A2: M edical m a rijuana
certain amount of marijuana
Purchase photos online at www.uniondemocrat.corn
plantson their properties in the unincorporated area. "This whole transition is moving cannabis and people in the cannabis industry from the shadows and into the light," said Kira Tucker, of Tuolumne Cannabis Advocates, a pro-marijuana group that has 352 members on Facebook.
Maggie Beck/ Union Democrat
Tioga High School teacher Emily Hanchett leads her class Friday in a lesson on impromptu speeches in preparation for the upcoming Academic Decathlon.
Tioga junior: Competition
'pushes you to be better' By SEAN CARSON The Union Democrat
Michael Ridgley, a Tioga High School junior holding a C average,isaboutto enter a competition touted for outstanding academic achievement. And he's ready for the challenge. Ridgley will join 75 students from five high schools to compete in the 34th annual Regional Academic De-
Calaveras beats Sonora at Bud Castle Gym.C1 • NFL: Super Bowl preview.C1 • COLLEGE FOOTBALL:Kelly agrees to 6-year deal with Notre Dame.C3
cathlon Competition on Feb. 6 at Sonora High School. Participating schools include Mountain Oaks School and Bret Harte, Sonora, Summerville and Tioga high schools. "It pushes you to be better knowing you got a horrible grade last year. You want to compete and get a better grade this year," Ridgley said. Competition begins as early as Wednesday, with some students writing essays and preparing interviews for judging the day of the event. On that day, students then face off in a series of quizzes and events touching
See BOARD / Back Page
Miller: City still eyeing gas station property
See ACADEC / Back Page
r.
'I'I'i
Tioga High School sophomore Summer Avery, 15 (left), holds a timer for sophomore Josh Skelley, 16, Friday morning, as he practices for the impromptu speech section of the Academic Decathlon. The program was reinstated at the school two years ago after a nine-year hiatus and is open to ninth through 12th grades.
I j<
NEWS TIPS? PHONE: 770-7153,58s4534 NBNS:editorLguniondemocrat.corn FEATUR ES: featuresluniondemocrat.cor n SPORTS: sporlsluniondemocratcom EVENTS ANDWEEKENDER: weekend erluniondemocrat.corn LElTERS: letiersluniondemocratcom CAlAVERAS BUREAU:770-7197 NEWSROO MFAX:5324451 SUBSCR IBERSERVICES: 533-3614
By ALEX MacLEAN The Union Democrat
The City of Sonora's top administrator says the city still plans to acquire a Chevron gas station at Mono Way and Greenley Road for an intersection widening project,despite a letter from the owner that surfaced publicly this week stating negotiations have yet to take place. City Administrator Tim Miller said he has since scheduled a meeting for TuesSee CITY/ Back Page
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