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.„-,;-;,-~+ INSIDE: Sonora's Second Saturday brings art, music MORE IN WEEKENDER:ITSAFilm Festival showcases 105 short films; Columbia Jazz Series showcases 'X Factor' contestant
1HE MOl HERLODE'S LEADING INFORMATION SODRCE SINCE1854 • SONORA, CALIFORNIA
THURSDA Y
NOVEMBER 12 2015
Dollar General
TODAY'S READER BOARD BRIEFING
Holiday bells-
By ALEX MacLEAN
forthe projectwasvandalized with gra%ti. Opponents of the store's A dispute over a proposed proposedlocation at the corDollar General store in Co- ner of Howser Lane and Parlumbia got ugly this week rotts Ferry Road were quick when a sign offering support to denounce the vandalism The Union Democrat
Salvation Army seeking volunteer bell-ringers for holiday collection. A2
Dorm thelts —columbia College "guest" allegedly steals electronics from rooms of sleeping residents.A3
Wednesday through a post on the "Stop Dollar General-Columbia State Historic Park" Facebook page. "We understand the emotions this project has evoked in the local community," the
post stated, "but defacing a sign or doing any act that would hurt the legitimate concerns of the Stop Dollar General effort cannot be condoned." The sign featured a ren-
VETERANS DAY
HEALTH
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See DISPUTE / Back Page
Future of medical pot in question
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• KNOWYOUR SALT: Pop quiz tests your knowledgeofsodium's many hiding places.B1 • DRS. OZ AND ROIZEN:Feeling lonely activates the sympathetic nervous system, which often leads to overeating.B1
deringofthe proposed Dollar General, billing it as "Columbia's First Hometown Variety Store." In a p revious Facebook
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Industryleaders seek continued cooperation after death of sheriff
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By JASON COWAN The Union Democrat
SPORTS
The medical marijuana industry
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Cal a v eras
County has not always been ascutting edge as it is today. As recently as 2009, when Dennis Downum was county sheriff, medical marijuana patients were being discouraged from theirpractices, said Tom Liberty, the former director of Collective Patient
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Resources. • BEARS REACH FINAL:Summerville shuts out Delhi in semifinal game.C1 • WATER POLO: Sonora Wildcats boys' team advances to title game of CIF SacJoaquin Section Division III Championship.C1
The Columbia Foot Dragoons (above) give a rifle salute to those who have served in the military during a Veterans Day ceremony Wednesday at Columbia Cemetery. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Copperopolis branch, led by Kevin Reiman (below), present the colors prior to the singing of the national anthem Wednesday in Copperopolis.
Copperopolis, Columbia events celebrate those who served
NEWS ELSEWHERE
By JASON COWAN and ALEX MacLEAN The Union Democrat
• GOP DEBATE:Candidates seemed kinder, but cease-fire likely temporary.AS • SYRIA:Global push to end war by international community most serious yet.AS • OBAMA: President urges public to honor veterans long after annual holiday.AS • CHIPOTLE:Diners head to reopened chain after restaurant was forced to close doors amid E. coli outbreak.AS
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built up with every note and each step toward those concentrated outside the Old Corner Saloon. Of the nearly 45,000people who live in Calaveras County, 12 percent are vetSee VETS / Back Page
See SHERIFF / Back Page
Use of tech teaching tools grows
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By SEAN CARSON The Union Democrat
Brightly li t o r b s w heeled about the fioor of Laura DeMars' fourth- and fis-grade class Monday, while students controlled the devices with school-owned iPads. The little robots, on loan from the Tuolumne County Schools Maggie Beck /Union Democrat Office, are one of several ways inWorking to program a Dash and Dot Robot novation in learning and educaMonday are fifth-graders (from left) NickWalker, tional tools is taking hold across Zachary Radzikowski and Brandon Gunter. the county.
PHONE: 770-7153,5884534 NEWS: editorounIondemocrat.tx>m FEATUR ES: feattiresltiniondemocral.corn SPORTS: sportsltiitondemocratcom EVENTS ANDWEEKENDER: weekenderlunIondemocrat txrm lETTERSi lettersOunIondemocratixrm CAlAVERAS BUREAU:770-7197 NEINSROO MF/DE532-8451 SUBSCR IBERSERVICES: 533-3814
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of the 11th month — a quarter of a mileaway from the end-point along Main Street, excitement
The Veterans Day Parade in Copperopolis was heard before it was seen for the dozens in attendance Wednesday. But as the celebration, led by Bret Harte's marching band, began — on the 11th hour of the 11th day
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He said it wasn't unheard of for people with permitsto bearrested. "On the patient end of things, there were people that were afraid to grow, even for themselves. There were people, real medical marijuana patients with paperwork, who were being arrestedfor simple possession," said Liberty. "What would t y pically happen is that they would be arrested and spend a night or two in jail. The district attorney would decline to press charges." The reputation in the county changed in 2010 when Gary Kuntz became county sheriff. Relations with l a w e n f orcement
Alex MacLean /Union Democrat IaboveI; Jason Cowan /Union Democrat Ibelow)
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Meet Dr. Singhal. An expert in cancer. And kindness.
At Twain Harte School, the district spent a p proximately $60,000 this year to purchase 100 iPads and 90 Chromebooks. The district still has about $3,000 to spend this year on new devices with close to $65,000 set aside
That is where Brian Thomas comes in. The director of innovation for the county office brought 11 robots to the class Monday. Included were five Sphero roboticballs,moved by an interover the next three years. nal gyroscopic motor; five Dash By the end of that time, a de- and Dot robot kits, three-wheel vice will be in the hands of every robots with a movable head on third- through eighth-grade stu- top; and a two-wheeled cylindent, Principal Dan Mayers said. der-shaped robot called Olie The question is now what is the nextstep?Mayers said. See TECHNOLOGY/ Back Page
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