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1 HEMOl HER LODE'S LEADING INFORMATION SODRCE SINCE1854 • SONORA, CALIFORNIA
FRIDAY
FEBRUARY 5, 2016
ColumdiaDollar General
TOD AY'S READER BOARD
Supervisors set to decide fate of proposed store
BRIEFING
By ALEK MacLEAN The Union Democrat
International Women's DayThe Center for a Non Violent Community will honor local women who have contributed to the community at a gala luncheon on March 7 at Black Oak Casino Hotel.A2
Both sides of the debate over a proposed Dollar General store in Columbia are gearingup for the fi nalpublic showdown where a panel of three Tuolumne County supervisorsis set to decide whether the project can move forward. A special meeting i s scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Columbia Elementary School gymnasi-
'radii g,;
sane tsgtt soatat
Butte Fire clean-
' JosH patttay gt
islet or i
uP — More than half
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of debris cleared from burn area properties. A2
um, at 22540 Parrotts Ferry
Road, to consider Cross Development's appeal of the Tuolumne County Planning Commission's Dec. 16 decision denying the Texasbased developer's request
OPlnlOn — union Democrat editorial: Dollar General developers, take the hint.A4
Vehicle accident
Purchase photos online at www.uniondemocrat.corn
Maggie Beck /Union Democrat
Sonora High School graduates Josh (left) and Neil Parry present a golden commemorative football Thursday to Sonora High School as part of the Super Bowl High School Honor Roll program. Josh Parry played in Super Bowl 39.
— Murphys man hurt after vehicle plummets off bridge in San Andreas.Back Page
Sonora grad, ex-NFL player Josh Parry presents
News elsewhere
By BILL ROZAK
— Democratic race down to two as Clinton, Sanders faceoff in last before NH primary; Central Valley quakes triggered by oilfield; Missing student died 'slow death' in Egypt. Back Page
The Union Democrat
SPORTS
school with commemorative Super Bowl football cry player that ever played in a Super Bowl as partofits 50-yearcelebration ofthe big game. Parry was a member of the PhiladelJosh Parry was thinking about just mailphia Eagles in 2004 when they lost ing it in because he's never been comto the New England Patriots in fortable speaking to large groups. Super Bowl XXXIX "This means a lot,n Parry But mailing it in has never been his style. said. nI was thinkmg of So the f orjust mailing the mer N a t i onal ball to the ofFootball League fice because I d on't lik e b i g f ullback m e t h is most r e crowds, but my cent challenge wife (Kelli) said h ead on a n d no way, and she addressed the was right. This is student body at where it all starthis alma mater, ed. It's where I S onora H i g h got the love for School. the game and everything that goes with it." peared ThursT he ev e n t day afternoon to started with a promote the golden anniversary of the Su- f ootball highlight video of Parry and his per Bowl and present the high school with b rother, Neil, who is two years younger and a goldcommemorative football as part of wr 'th whom he has a deep connection. the NFL's Super Bowl High School Honor Sonora Principal Ben Howell, who Roll program. The NFL is honoring high schools of evSee PARRY / Back Page
S UP E R
• ANOTHER TITLE?: Calaveras High grapplars eye sixth straight title.C1 • RAIDERS:Oakland $41 M below spending minimum.C1 • NHL:Thornton, Donskoi lead Sharks over Blues.C1 • NBA: Obama salutes NBA champ Warriors at White House.C2 • PREPS:Redskins seek first place tia with Summerville.C2
for permits toconstruct a
9,100-square-f oot store at Parrotts Ferry Road and Howser Lane. "There are n o o t h er county appeals," said Mike Laird,deputy director of the county's Community Resources Agency. "The
See STORE/Back Page
assess esasaas
Proposed North Elevation
Original North Elevation
Courtesy
Developers say they have taken extra steps to make the proposed Dollar General's design more consistent with historic buildings in Columbia. The original proposal is at the bottom, the revised is at the top.
QO®L
Forecasters say to expect break from El Nin™o storms Warm weather at high elevations
is melting, changing snowpack
By GUY McCARTHY The Union Democrat
Cold, wet weather patterns that brought so much recent rain and snow to the
Central Sierra Nevada are
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board's decision is final." Laird noted that litigation would be the only recourse for either side if they' re unhappy with the board's decision. Since the project was proposed in October 2014, Columbia-area r e sidents have voiced fierce opposition to allowing a national discount-st ore chain to open a location less than a halfmile from the entrance of Columbia State H istoric Park. Those in opposition argue that such a modern commercial d evelopment would diminish the town's rural and historic character, which they say is the economic backbone of their community. "It'sour opportunity to draw a line in the sand and make it well known that the community has very strong feelings about preserving the historical heritage that
expectedto ease for the next
seven to 10 days, bringing warmer, drier conditions to the Mother Lode and higher elevations. F orecasters said th e change is happening because El ¹ino is taking a break. People who study snowpack in Yosemite National Park and along the steep EastsideSierra ¹
A rapt audience watches videos of the Parry brothers throughout their football careers during Thursday's ceremony.
In '
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Weather Page C6
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Today:High 67, Low 32 Saturday:High 64, Low 33 Sunday:High 67, Low 36
vada said warmer weather
is raising concerns for avalanche activity. Sunshine is forecast from today through Wednesday for AngelsCamp, Columbia, Sonora and Jamestown, where daytime highs are expectedtoclimb from the 50s and 60s today into the low 70s by early next week. The trend is expected to b r in g a b ove-average warmth for this time of year, 10 to 15 degrees warmer than usual, with potential for "near record high" temSee WEATHER/ Back Page
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