GUIDE INSIDE: CarGazing reviews 20'l6 models Guide 5 thew
MORE INSIDE: Large turnout anticipated for forum oncontroversial proposed discount store in Columbia, A3
THE MOl HER LODE'S LEADING INFORMAl ION SOURCE SINCE 1854 • SONORA, CALIFORNIA g
Q
FRIDAY
OCTOBER 23, 2015
Soulsdwille ElementarySchool
TODAY 'S REABiRBOA RB
aeena oin
BRIEFING
By SEAN CARSON The Union Democrat
cess
Sean Carson /Union Democrat
Soulsbyville Elementary School fourth graders eat lunch Thursday from new green trays. The students are (front
to back): left row — Mckayla Marenco, Gabrielle Andrews (obscured) and Ashley Keith; right row — Cloyie Richie, Nevaeh Moonan and Destini Petts.
Teddy BearClinic — About 500 children attended a Teddy Bear Clinic for all kindergartners in Calaveras County hosted Mark Twain Medical Center in San Andreas.A2
Soulsbyville Elementary School student Dean Trimeloni has a new job on the "green line," an environmentally friendly addition to the school cafeteria launched this month. Starting Oct. 12, the school replaced Styrofoam lunch trays and plastic utensils with reusable plastic trays and flatware. In addition, every Wednesday a meatless menu provides easilycompostable food waste for a garden taking shape on the campus. Trimeloni Thursday volunteered to gather the green plastic trays from students, stacking
them inbins before he delivered the trays to kitchen sta6'for cleaning. "Our school wanted to help the environment, so we don't throw away the trays anymore," Trimeloni said. The school used to go through about 250 to 300 oftheStyrofoam trays a day,and an equal number of "spork kits" — plastic-wrapped packages with a spoon with fork tines, napkin and plastic straw, Cafeteria Manager Tami Smith said. Per day,the waste cost about $14.25 and filled eight trash cans, Smith said.
OV.
OKS McClintock 'default prevention' bill.A3
Seen andHeard — This week's photo opinion asks, "What are you most looking forward to this winter?" A3
See SCHOOL / Back Page
CensusBureau
Ieitellimile River
Debt plan — House
reen
rownsi nso on an cenic s u
Poverty foothills Report: About 12,600 residents at or below line
OPlnIOn —Technology trumping human relations; Principal takes political correctness too far.A4
By LACEY PETERSON
TOWn hall — Sheriff,
The Union Democrat
CHP to address crime at Groveland meeting.A5
se •1 J~r
I
TUD WOrk — Sewer r.
upgrades planned.Ae
4
::r
pj's TiP
COMMUNITY
' I. C
Sonora might be one of the "Richest Small Towns in America," but thousands of Mother Lode residents are living in poverty. The US. Census Bureau releasedits 2014 income reports this week, and 14.8 percent of Americans are living in poverty, or about 46.7 million people. T uolumne County h a s about 7,800 people, or 14.5 percent ofresidents, living at or below the poverty line. In Calaveras County, 10.9 percent ofresidents, or about
• DANCE MINISTRY: "The Heart of Worship, a Night of Dance Ministry" will be presented Saturday in the Sanctuary at the Word of Life Church in Mi-Wuk Village.B1 • MAKING MUSIC: New church organ has classic sounds.B1 • VETS' CORNER:Vietnam Cavalry veterans sought.B1 • CLASS OF 1950: The Sonora High School Class of 1950 gathered recently.B1
The Mokelumne River flows Thursday under the Middle Bar Bridge. Gov. Jerry Brown Oct. 9 signed the Mokelumne Wild and Scenic River study bill.
River to remain untouched for next two years I
Between C slaver as and Amador counties, beyond a winding stretch of highway along steep hillsides, lies a river within a canyon. It is there — in the Mokelumne River — where birds chirp loudly and the water flows between rocks within the riverbed with ease. The whole area seems untouched.
And for the next two years, at least, it will remain that way. On Oct. 9, Gov. Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 142, the Mokelumne Wild and Scenic Assembly Bill 142, the Mokelumne Wild and Scenic River study bill, was SeeRIVER/Back Page introduced by Assemblyman Frank Bigelow earlier this year.
In ' •
According t o fed e r al guidelines, a family of four at the poverty level is making $24,250 a year, or about $2,020 a month. A single person who makes $11,770 a year is at the poverty line. A family of three in poverty has an annual household income of $20,090. In T u olumne C ounty, 3,150 families (5,603 people) received CalFresh (food stamps) in August, said Michael Weston, of the state Department of Social Services in Sacramento. In July, 560 Tuolumne County families received CalWorks (cash aid). In Calaveras County, 2,900
The Union Democrat
• CLASH IN TUOLUMNE:Bears' Fulkerson returns, to playQB; Preuss to m ake his varsity debut.C1 • SONORA Cats go for 2nd straight MLL title vs. Buffs.C1 • BULLFROGS:Bret Harte eyes 4th victory vs. Riverbank.C2
•
ment assistance.
By JASON COWAN
SPORTS
•
Maggie Beck / Union Democrat
Purchasephotos online at www.uniondemocrat.corn
•
•
's
4,800 people, were living in poverty in 2014. What does it mean to live in poverty? While some Sonorans are living high on the hog (the town was ranked in August as the 36th richest small town in America by Bloomberg Business), many local residents can't make it without govern-
Calendar.....................................A2 O b ituaries........ Comics........................................C5 Opinion............ Community/Religion................ B1 Sports............... Crime ..........................................A5 T V......................
:::::::A4
Weather
Today: High So, Low 47
Page C6
Sunday:High So, Low 45
See POVERTY/ Back Page
Saturday:High S2, Low 49
s
II IIIIIII 511 5 3 0 0 10 3
I
-s
t sr OEa AND Pill'
® ]g pygng. f ~ g6o/rd'
r