A tough assignment for any forest official – take over as top boss during the biggest wildfire, possibly ever. That’s what happened to Marlene Finley. She is the Interim Inyo National Forest Supervisor. Finley took on this job in the middle of the Inyo Complex Fires. In fact, she has performed video public service ads […]
Killing bears for what they might do. That’s how Mammoth’s Bear specialist, Steve Searles describes the Department of Fish and Game philosophy of handling wildlife. Even though popular response goes against killing problem bears, DFG officials say it’s the only way. When DFG destroyed a familiar bear on Monday, public response registered strong objections to […]
With New Zealand Mud Snails gumming up the works at the Hot Creek Fish Hatchery, the Department of Fish and Game has had to scramble to keep up trout stocking obligations in the Eastern Sierra. Recognizing the economic impact of fishing on the summer tourist season, the Mono County Fisheries Commission has raised close to […]
In the pre-dawn hours Sunday morning, Bishop Police arrested a juvenile for attempted robbery of a motel with a board. According to Bishop Police Detective Dave Jepson, an intoxicated juvenile is alleged to have entered the La Quinta Motel carrying a board. When the juvenile allegedly threatened to rob the night clerk, a brief struggle […]
We’ll start Bureaucrat Beat today with some thank-you’s. First, to US Forest Service Public Information Officer Nancy Upham. She has gone to work to look for answers to public questions about the Inyo Complex fire. One of the biggest public complaints we have heard – the seeming lack of co-ordination among the various agencies to […]
In another controversy over desert roads, a federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit aimed to re-open Surprise Canyon, (near Ballarat) to off road vehicle use. When mining was still active, the road up Surprise Canyon supplied Panamint City, high up in the Panamint Mountains. Since then the road has washed out repeatedly, leaving a […]
After a rash of bike thefts in Mammoth Lakes, police are asking residents to lock up their bikes. Targeting bikes valued up to $2,000, Sgt. Karen Smart with the Mammoth Police says that basically someone is shopping for high end road bikes and mountain bikes in town. The bikes have been stolen off decks, porches, […]
Last week’s Marijuana cultivation raids in the Sierra foothills have prompted the Forest Service to advise the public to “be vigilant when visiting the forest.” Acting Forest Supervisor Marlene Finley said that officials see absolutely no need for the public to stay away from the Forest, but to remain aware of that they might encounter […]
The bear in Mammoth Lakes, described as a public safety issue by the Department of Fish and Game, died this morning when DFG wardens tranquilized him and shot him. Residents and Mammoth’s bear expert, Steve Searles are not happy. Searles called the destruction of the bear “an enormous setback.” Searles said he has received many […]
Thursday night, reports of a severely hypothermic woman unable to walk, filtered down the Mt. Whitney trail by word of mouth. When three volunteers with Inyo County Search and Rescue arrived at the Whitney Portal trailhead, they met many hikers with similar reports, including the sick womans husband who said that his wife, Mary Jane, […]
In Mammoth Lakes, groundwater levels have gone down, surface water looks skimpy, and some wells have issues. Add it all up and it equals much tougher water use restrictions in town. The Mammoth Community Water District Board met Thursday to talk about this. Level 1 water restrictions were last used in the dry year of […]
The Mammoth Town Council proposed that Linda Dempsey donate her Snowcreek Athletic Club to the Town. In a letter dated Tuesday, the Town Manager and three Councilmen restated that a purchase of the Club by local government would not work out financially. That letter, signed by Rob Clark for Councilmen Skip Harvey, Kirk Stapp and […]
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