WINTER SPORTS:Dodge Ridge off to 'powderful' start MORE IN SPORTS: MACTAdonates to Disaster Relief Fund, C3
AND INSIDE: Business community gives thanks
1HE MOl HERLODE'S LEADING INFORMATION SOURCE SINCE1854 • SONORA, CALIFORNIA
THURSDA Y
NOVEMBER 26, 2015
From theEditor
TOD AY'S READER BOARD
Today' s paper
THANKSGIVING
BRIEFING
Giving thanksThe Mother Lode Christian School Women' s Service Fellowship held a free Thanksgiving dinner Wednesday at the Tuolumne Memorial Hall.A2
MedlCBre — Rural counties get fewer Medicare options.A3
Tax aid — eutte Fire homeowners may qualify for tax deferral. A3
TOy dnVe — Collections underway for annual CHP toy drive.A3
Vital StatS — A list of births, marriages and deaths recorded in Tuolumne County.A3
News NotesUpcoming events in the Mother Lode.A3
OPlnlOn —Thanksgiving a good time to set aside differencesA4
Arrest madeMan suspected of abusing elder mother arrested in Groveland. A5
HEALTH 5 MEDICINE • SMART STUFFING: Thanksgiving revelers should eat, drink in moderation.B1 • HEALTH COSTS: Experts foresee big hike in Medicare drug plan.B1 • DR. OZ:Antibiotics can lead to weight gain, especially in teens.B1
Staff, guests
another milestone
celebrate
By LYN RIDDLE The Union Democrat
holiday at local eateries
&A
There have been many firsts for The Union Democrat since we shifted our publication schedule to become a morning paper earlier this year. Today, we mark yet another with our first Thanksgiving Day paper. While we, in the newsroom, love to think of the pleasure you will find in the stories we' ve worked hard to
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By SEAN CARSON The Union Democrat
While many stress over the right time to pop in the turkey today, chef Melodic Ferguson has 300 pounds of turkey, prime rib, and an arrayofseafood tojuggle. She worried about the timing for months. As the banquet manager and head chef at Black Oak Casino Resort, Ferguson is in charge of serving the 300 to 400 guests that have become regularsat the casino's 'Thanksgiving in the Ballroom" banquet, now in its third year. Chefs and restaurant staff across th e
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report, we do know many of
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Lode are working feverishly today to prepare holiday meals, giving up time with family to be with an adopted kin of co-workers and regulars. The meals are being offered in all sorts of businesses, from hotel restaurants to local breakfast joints, and surprisingly no one is complaining. At Black Oak Casino, Ferguson works on all her meals with Catering Sales Manager Laura Ryan. "I book it, she cooks it," Ryan said. Ferguson decorates the See FAMILY / Back Page
you are going straight for the Black Friday ads and inserts. You won't be disappointed. So that our e mployees could spend time with family, our deadlines were earlier than usual Wednesday night, which explains why some late-night sports are not in this paper. ThankfuHy the Warriors made history Tuesday night as the first NBA team tostartaseason at16-0. Likewise, deadlines will be earlier today so no late-night sports results in the Friday paper. Sorry Panthers, Cowboys, Bears and Packers fans. We promise to make it up to you on Saturday. Full lottery results will be a day late. Our business office is closed
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today but the newsroom is
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still cranking along, reporting the news on this day of thanksgiving. G overnment o f fices a n d See PAPER / Back Page Maggie Beck/ Union Democrat
Banquet manager and head chef at Black Oak Casino Resort Melodic Ferguson Wednesday placesa centerpiece on a table.
Santa,
Mayflower descendants in theMother lode
parade coming
Women discuss infamous relative, family ties By LACEY PETERSON
to town
The Union Democrat
NEWS TIPS?
Nobody in the Plymouth Colony of Mayflower settlers would have ever guessed that descendents of John Billington would be university educated Christian women living in California. Three of his great-granddaughters (about 12 to 16 generations down the line) met each other living in Tuolumne County more than 10 years ago through the American Association of University Women. Carol Leeman, a retired teacher and principal, and Janet LuQuire, a retiredteacher,had been friends for
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CORRECTION
By GUY McCARTHY The Union Democrat
Whatever you do the day after Thanksgiving — take a walk, spend time with family, shop, watch college football or clean up after all the turkey — there's a local Mother Lode tradi tion to be aware of Friday afternoon. This year's version is billed by promoters as "Historic Downtown Sonora's 32nd Annual Christmas Parade" and it'sscheduled to startat5:30 p.m., rain or shine. Downtown residents know this means it's a good idea to avoid School Street, where parade participants line up starting at 3 p.m. No through traffic will be allowed on
severalyears,before they met Anita A headline accompanying a story in the Nov. 25 Union Democrat incorrectly reported information about the E. coli outbreak linked to chicken salad purchased at Costco. No one has died. Nineteen have contracted E. coli.
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Maggie Beck/Union Democrat
Martin in 2001. Martin, a retired vocational rehabilitation coordinator, moved to Sonora from the Bay Area and joined AAUW. The three were in the AAUW book club and while LuQuire and
Sonora residents Anita Martin, 84 (left), and Janet Luouire, 83, are both descendants of Mayflower settlers.
See MAYFLOWER/ Back Page
See PARADE / Back Page
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