HEALTH CARE PREP FOOTBALL

President Trump Bruins, Miners hit

plans to end subsi- road for league
dies for insurers contests
NEWS | A8 SPORTS | B6

Friday, October 13, 2017 FOUNDED IN 1864 TO PRESERVE THE UNION ... ONE AND INSEPARABLE WWW.THEUNION.COM $1

Residents
return after
evacuation
order lifted
By Alan Riquelmy
Staff Writer

The final evacuation order was lifted for

the Lobo Fire almost four days after the first
flames began to spread through Nevada
County.
The necessary safety checks made, author-
ities at noon Thursday allowed people back
into the Rough and Ready area — ending the
last mandatory evacuation zone caused by two
wildfires that continue to burn.
The Lobo Fire, at 829 acres Thursday morn-
PHOTOS BY ELIAS FUNEZ/[email protected] ing, destroyed buildings and left thousands
Cal Fire’s NEU Unit Chief George Morris III begins Thursday evening’s standing room only community meeting on without power, though only about 60 PG&E
area wildfires at the Nevada County government center. Cal Fire chiefs explained their initial attack response on customers had no power that afternoon. The
both the Lobo Fire and McCourtney Fire and gave updates on the status of each. fire was at
FOR YOUR 52 percent

Fire victims asked to be patient INFORMATION

Residents who know their
home was destroyed, or who
contain-
ment
Thursday
evening.
want to find out if their home
By Matthew Pera Residents
was damaged, should call the
Staff Writer of the final
county at 530-265-1218.
evacuation
In less than two hours, the Lobo area were
Fire grew from 10 to 500 acres. allowed in as firefighters continued their work
As aggressive winds picked up to contain the blaze and ensure no embers
early Monday morning, firefight- restarted parts of the fire.
ers called in for help battling the Before the evacuation was lifted firefighters
flames, but resources were spread examined electrical poles and lines as assess-
thin with multiple fires burning ment teams checked damaged and destroyed
throughout the state, including the buildings, said Mary Eldridge, public informa-
nearby McCourtney Fire, which tion officer with Cal Fire.
prompted evacuation orders just “That’s a top priority — people obviously
hours before the Lobo Fire began want to get back inside their homes,” Eldridge
spreading quickly. said about an hour before the evacuation or-
Cal Fire’s Nevada-Yuba-Placer der was lifted.
Unit Battalion Chief Jim Hudson
recounted the initial attack Thurs- RETURN, A6
day night at a community meeting
for Nevada County residents affect-
ed by wildfires.
“You can have all the line and
hose in the world around it, but
when the wind came up on it like
that it just blew it against the ter-
rain, downhill, and we were getting
significant spotting,” Hudson said.
Battalion Chief Landon Hack told
a similar story about the McCourt-
ney Fire, which spread rapidly Sun-
day night and into early Monday
morning as a result of heavy winds.
“With the conditions — the wind,
the smoke, roads being blocked
by trees, power lines — it made it TOP: Tom Tornell speaks with Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mike Martin out of ELIAS FUNEZ/[email protected]
difficult to get a true assessment,” Santa Clara before Thursday night’s Nevada County Community meet- An evacuated resident of Lake Wildwood
he said. ing on the Wind Fire Complex. ABOVE: Cal Fire NEU Battalion Chief Jim makes phone calls as the Lobo Fire burns
Hudson gives updates on the Lobo Fire while a map of the fire’s boundar- across the lake Monday morning from the
MEETING, A6 ies is shown on the screen behind him. Lake Wildwood dam.

River Valley Community Bank breaks ground

By Liz Kellar future construction of a permanent site, which fronts Brunswick Road
Staff Writer branch location. and which will also have access to a
“Our board gave us the green light to realigned Town Talk Road.
Nevada County’s economy has been move into Grass Valley four and a half Wallis described the style of the
slow to recover from the recession. years ago and we opened the branch building as Gold Rush architecture
One bright spot celebrated a mile- fairly quickly,” said CEO John M. Jelav- with a contemporary feel and noted it
stone Thursday, breaking ground for a ich. “That initial location was secured includes space for additional tenants.
brand-new building to cement its roots quickly, but we knew it wouldn’t be Jelavich called the new facility “a vis-
in the county. sufficient in the long run. We had been ible demonstration of our commitment
River Valley Community Bank, looking actively for the last couple of to the community,” and said he hopes it
which got its start in Yuba City, first years as we built our customer base, will be up and running by next fall.
moved to Nevada County a little over and the result is what we’re celebrating He said River Valley has started the ELIAS FUNEZ/[email protected]
four years ago. today — the groundbreaking.” preliminary groundwork and is hoping Community politicians and dignitaries gather on
In June, the bank closed escrow on a On Thursday, Jelavich and build- to start construction soon. the 500 block of Brunswick Road on the edge of the
parcel of land at the corner of Bruns- ing architect Robert Wallis unveiled a Glenbrook Basin, for a groundbreaking ceremony of
wick and Town Talk roads for the rendering of the new building at the BANK, A6 the new River Valley Community Bank.

OBITUARIES WEATHER INDEX Woman who died in Fire Department responded was extinguished, said Eli
Rosemary Hill; Evelyn Horan; RV fire identified to reports of a structure fire Deakle with the Grass Valley
Advice B3
June McKenzie; Toni Thompson; A 50-year-old Nevada around 6:45 a.m. Thursday Emergency Command
Blotter A2 County woman died Oct. near the intersection Center.
Sharon Tobiassen
Comics B2 5 as the result of a fire that of Grizzly Hill Road and An investigation into
Page A5 Cryptoquote A6 started in an RV near North Turnagain Arm, according to the incident is ongoing,
Lottery A5 San Juan, authorities said. the Nevada County Sheriff’s according to Freya Johnson,
VOLUME 152 ISSUE 295 Opinion A4 Shelley Elliott was pro- Office. a public information officer
Outdoors B1 nounced dead at the scene The fire spread to ap- for the North San Juan Fire
when firefighters from Cal proximately one-quarter Department.
H: 67˚ L: 43˚ Sports B6
Fire and the North San Juan acre of vegetation before it — Matt Pera
See full forecast, Stocks A6
Page A7 Sudoku A6
Sunny The Union Circulation: 530-273-9565
 The Union | Friday, October 13, 2017 | A3

LOCAL
Wildwood market, pharmacy open during crisis
By Liz Kellar
Staff Writer

Monday, thousands of Lake

Wildwood residents were forced
to flee their homes, in some
cases waiting hours to exit the
gated community.
But several local businesses
worked overtime to make the
evacuation a little bit easier.
Holiday Market, just across
Pleasant Valley Road from Lake
Wildwood, was able to power up
by generator by 1 p.m. Monday,
said assistant manager Matthew
Tange.
Tange was awake by 4:30 a.m.,
packed up and evacuated his
own home before heading to
work at 7 a.m. After conferring
with his boss, a mobile gener-
ator was ordered from Chico,
Tange said.
“We got it up and running by 1
and we opened for business,” he
said. “That’s how smooth it was.”
Monday as people evacuated,
customers came in primarily
for water and quick snacks they
could take with them, Tange
said. Some evacuees opted to
stay in the parking lot in RVs
and other vehicles.
Holiday Market was a good PHOTO BY LIZ KELLAR/[email protected]
neighbor to the Thai restaurant Pleasant Valley Pharmacy stayed open during the power outage Monday and Tuesday, with pharmacist DeAnn Sumner putting up a large
next door as well, storing their “OPEN” sign on the door to let customers know.
food for them.
Tuesday, “As soon as they lifted Monday, pharmacist DeAnn prescriptions for anything any- Wednesday. to be able to do something for
the evacuation, we started get- Sumner got in at 9 a.m., and one needed,” Sumner said. “The “We were dead in the water people, to step up to help (my)
ting busier,” Tange said. made a large sign to hang on the doctors were amazing.” before the power came back neighbors,” Sumner said. “It was
Pleasant Valley Pharmacy went door to let customers know they Tuesday, the power came back on,” she said, showing off all fun, actually.”
above and beyond during the were open. on at 4:30 p.m., and Sumner of her hand-written lists of
power outage as well, ensuring “I was able to use my cell stayed until 8 p.m. to make sure patients and medications To contact Staff Writer Liz
its customers were able to fill any phone to call doctors in Grass she could fill everyone’s pre- needed. Kellar, email lkellar@theunion.
emergency medication needs. Valley and get emergency scriptions for when they came in “It was a real opportunity, com or call 530-477-4236.

Concert Involuntary manslaughter Firefighters

turned suspect back in jail battle 2 blazes
benefit
By Sean Jordan
Features Editor
By Alan Riquelmy
Staff Writer
in Glenbrook
Hightower-Malta, was
allowed to attend the res-
idential treatment facility
have been affected by a
lack of medication.
“My understanding is

Basin camp
A man facing an in- in late September pending he was praying too loud,”
What started as a regu- voluntary manslaugh- trial. Judge Robert Tice- Granger said. “He was
lar event has turned into a ter charge is back in the Raskin allowed Milkey’s singing too loud. He’s
benefit concert for those who Nevada County Jail after release on his own recog- exhibiting some behav-
have been affected by the re- authorities say he was nizance to enter the pro- ior problem we don’t Firefighters early Thursday extinguished a quar-
cent fires in western Nevada removed from a treatment gram, though he couldn’t understand.” ter-acre fire in a Glenbrook Basin transient camp
County. facility for leave the treatment center Granger left open the before responding to a second, nearby fire, neither
The Rayos with Ancient refusing to without returning to jail. possibility that her client, of which caused any injuries, authorities said.
Wave Tribe dance concert is go to bed. His stint at the facility who didn’t appear Thurs- The Grass Valley Fire Department responded
set to perform at the Miners Con- lasted less than a week day in court, could again around midnight to a fire between Sutton Way and
Foundry at 8 p.m. Friday. ner E. after he was spotted in be released on his own Brunswick Road, staying for two hours, Battalion
Collaborating with Yu- Milkey, 25, the center’s kitchen after recognizance, a suggestion Chief Steve Smith said.
banet and KVMR, Saul and remained hours, Probation Officer Deputy District Attorney “There was nobody there when we got there,”
Elena Rayos have decided to in jail Tarah Guild said. James Morris opposed. Smith added.
enact change and help those Conner Milkey Thursday “He was asked to go to “He didn’t even make it a Firefighters learned about a second, 10-by-10-
affected by donating all the afternoon bed numerous times,” she week and we’re still talking foot fire off Plaza Drive while at the first blaze, the
proceeds to a relief fund that under $65,000 in bond. said. “He refused.” about possible O.R. in the battalion chief said.
will benefit those who lost He returned to Nevada According to Guild, future?” he asked. “The second fire was more roadside,” Smith said,
their homes in the recent County this week after Milkey said the employees The judge then set noting it was about 200 yards from the first blaze.
fires in the community. leaving a Santa Rosa facil- couldn’t tell him what to Milkey’s next court hear- It’s unknown if the two fires are connected. The
The fund will be created ity, a probation officer tes- do. Employees then escort- ing for Oct. 26. causes of both remain under investigation, he
after the concert with a web- tified Thursday in Nevada ed him from the building. added.
site to follow. County Superior Court. Defense attorney Jenni- To contact Staff Writer Other agencies that responded to the fires in-
Donation jars will be up Milkey, accused in the fer Granger, who rep- Alan Riquelmy, email clude Nevada County Consolidated, Nevada City
on the stage so people who May 2016 drug-related resents Milkey, argued that [email protected] and Cal Fire, Smith said.

Haunted
attend the show can also jailhouse death of Joshua her client’s behavior could or call 530-477-4239. — Staff Writer Alan Riquelmy

Haunted
donate what they can.
“If everyone in the com-
munity kicks down a buck
or two we can really make a

Nevada County
difference,” said Saul Rayos.
“I have a personal school

Nevada County
friend who lost his house on
the ridge. He was helping his

B R A H M S
neighbor and then his place
went down.
“After that I knew I had
to do something,” he said. “I
was thinking, ‘How do we
make this happen? How do
FIRST SYMPHONY
The Union will include a special section on Saturday, October
we help Yubanet so they can Friday, October 13 at 7:30 pm 21 featuring the ghost stories of Nevada County just in time for
keep everyone informed and
then how do we help the Amaral Center at the Fairgrounds Halloween. Haunted Places of Nevada County will include great
community that has been Andrew Grams, conductor stories from our rich history, as well as first person accounts of
affected?”
Rachel Barton Pine, violin hauntings that our neighbors have experienced.
Those who have been
affected by the fires or lost Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera Don’t be afraid; advertise today in Haunted Nevada County.
their homes may be able to PROKOFIEV Violin Concerto No. 1
attend the concert for free.
“We may not be able to BRAHMS Symphony No.1
take the pain away but we
can at least show that they
have support,” said Rayos.

To contact Features Editor

Sean Jordan, email
[email protected] or
call 530-477-4219.

KNOW & GO
What: The Rayos with
Ancient Wave Tribe dance AD SIZE
concert and benefit.
3 Col x 6” (4.92” x 6”): $266 Black & White
When: 8 p.m. Friday
$347 Color
Where: Miners Foundry,
325 Spring Street Nevada Reserve your ad space by October 13
City.
Info: https://miners- Publishes October 21
foundry.org/event/
rayos-ancient-wave-tribe/
T IC K E TS START AT $35 Contact your Account Manager Today.
Tickets: $20. All proceeds ORD E R YO URS NOW ! Or contact Valerie Costa
will go into a relief fund to
(530) 477-4237
help those affected by the
recent fires.
(530) 265-6124 MusicintheMountains.org [email protected]
A4 | Friday, October 13, 2017 | The Union

IDEAS & OPINIONS

DON ROGERS, Publisher | [email protected] 530-477-4299

BRIAN HAMILTON, Editor | [email protected] 530-477-4249

The opinions expressed on this page are those of the individual

authors who express them and do not necessarily reflect the views of
The Union. If you would like to share your thoughts with The Union,
email [email protected]. See policies below for information.

Free, unfettered
press assures
America’s future
I
n a recent column, OTHER VOICES
Manny Montes indict- Dick Sciaroni
ed both the American
mainstream press and Sidney Harris succinctly
academia, attacking their explained the difference be-
motives and patriotism tween the two notions: the
while decrying the evils of patriot loves his country for
progressive ideology. When what it does while the na-
thoughtfully examined, his tionalist loves his no matter
attack is unbridled polemic what it does. The former
that seeks a return to the creates a feeling of respon-
past. sibility while the latter only
Mr. Montes takes aim foments blind arrogance.
at the mainstream me- Likewise, in his call for

Neither rain nor fire

dia, claiming that it “has common sense — a concept
abdicated the traditional each of us is free to frame
journalist role at attempts as we choose — Mr. Montes
of reporting the news complains that government

I
objectively.” has become “a leviathan
Yet the role of the press is that impinges on every f you know reporter Union Now feature for lots of neighbors shared
not simply reporting facts. facet of our lives ... while Liz Kellar at all, you live reports collected posts photos, news reports, tips,
“The Constitution specif- free enterprise is replaced know it could only go from our folks, competi- what they heard from a
ically selected the press ... with the burdens of over this way: Roused by tors, agencies and citizens neighbor, the downed
to play an important role taxation and regulation.” a neighbor Sunday night, alike. No one cared whose tree down the street. Juan
in the discussion of public He elevates hyperbole over seeing the fire front across was whose or where people Browne, the airline pilot
affairs. Thus the press pragmatism while ignoring the NID ditch and coming went to find updates. That with a true gift for vid-
serves and was designed to the obvious: The America fast, she in flip flops and wasn’t the point. eo and clear explanation,
serve as a powerful antidote of 1789 no longer exists. her husband and son in DON ROGERS But our online traffic provided great insights.
to any abuses of power by At the end of the Revolu- bare feet escape. Publisher numbers were eye-pop- Tim O’Brien and Annita
governmental officials and tionary War — when we Oh, but wait! She needs ping: 186,000 article page Kasparian were, as always,
as a constitutionally chosen exchanged the ruling aris- her laptop, and the other endured. views Monday alone, not terrific contributors, too,
means for keeping offi- tocracy residing in Britain car. They drive back, flames People hitting their counting visits to adver- among a host of photogra-
cials elected by the people for another living in Ameri- about at the door now. She horns, beating on doors, tisements or classifieds or phers who sent us enough
responsible to all the people ca — there were some 2.7 finds what she needs and sometimes risking them- such. Add Tuesday and up to fill photo pages in print
whom they were selected million people in the new- flees. for days running.
to serve.” — Justice Hugo ly-liberated colonies. Today Not necessarily the The internet has changed everything, The internet has changed
Black in Mills v. Alabama, there are some 320 million brightest of colleagues at everything, of course, ex-
384 U.S. 214 (1966). Americans, more than a that moment, but easily the of course, except for the essential fact cept for the essential fact
To prosper, America hundred-fold increase. most determined. of small-town journalism,
needs a free press to shine While the primary struc- It will surprise no one
of small-town journalism … The local which is distinct from the
a spotlight on our politi- ture of our government she let her husband and paper and radio stations rely on real nose-holding big time
cal leaders. While it must remains unchanged — a son scoot on down to Lin- version. The local paper
report the facts, the press tripartite power-sharing coln, figuring she couldn’t participation, not just watching or and radio stations rely on
must also question those arrangement of Congress, sleep anyway. Might as well real participation, not just
facts and the politicians President and Supreme cover this. listening but joining in. watching or listening but
whose goals are oftentimes Court — the government Editor Brian Hamilton joining in.
self-aggrandizement rather established in 1789 has had no such harrowing selves to get everyone out through Wednesday, we No question this will
than leadership. Without a understandably expanded tale, thankfully. But he ahead of the flames. had what once might have evolve. So-called legacy
press unencumbered by at- to meet the needs of a 21st was on it all night, too, Here, homes were been a month’s worth of news staffs are shrink-
tempts to limit its reporting century America. posting updates, catching lost among the 50 or so article page views, at nearly ing. Today the local radio
to “the facts” and mistaken Calls for patience as Pres- video from allegedly retired structures that burned up. 380,000. station that once served
accusations of anti-Amer- ident Trump pursues pol- photographer John Hart, Across Northern Califor- The live feed had 70,000 as go-to in times like this
icanism, the people will icies he claims will “raise coordinating coverage nia, it was worse: 23 dead visits. The metrics on our but no longer can, maybe
not merely be uninformed. all boats” through free of what turned out to be as I write early Thursday live Facebook videos and tomorrow the newspaper.
They will no longer believe (i.e., unregulated) markets two surprisingly intense morning, having checked social media postings easily Eventually blogs with no
anything but what they must be questioned. His wildfires. email and for text alerts matched the count on our income and few readers
want to believe, and un- projections of 3 percent About a quarter of The first thing. website. The scanner feed may join echo chambers
principled politicians will growth in GDP, a return Union’s staff had to evacu- I’m proud of our staff. we added to The Union online and agencies pump-
exploit that void in spades. of jobs from overseas, and ate their homes, some not They got after it, as col- Now peaked at 3,000 lis- ing out press releases, and
Mr. Montes’ claim that better education through knowing for another day leagues across the state did, teners at the same time. that will have to do.
academia provides a “dis- so-called school choice is whether they still had a as they always do. What- The Facebook news This is a possible future,
torted, left-wing, political- more than likely wishful house. ever lapses we might have groups alone were of little among others, for local
ly correct, anti-American thinking. We study the Me? Slept like a baby up had, they weren’t from lack use, mostly the usual gos- news. Plenty of communi-
indoctrination,” is polemic, past not merely for its own in Nevada City, practiced of effort, or dedication. sip and cries for someone, ties go without now. I don’t
not reasoned argument. sake, but to understand the my new routine of avoid- We got video, stories, anyone to tell ’em what was think they’re better for it.
While the majority of ac- future. A thoroughgoing ing email and media for updates as timely and ac- going on. To the degree But no doubt I have my
ademics tends to the left, understanding of econom- an hour after getting up curate as the circumstances news media posted reports biases, too, assuming Liz
and may sometimes appear ic history is the product around 5:30 a.m., and had allowed. We did a good job or neighbors shared those and others like her will al-
to express “politically-cor- of discussion and debate a great writing session on of getting it all in context reports, there was some ways be there, dodging fire
rect” views, claiming that — a dialogue of thesis and a side project, my medita- for the print edition, al- actual information amid a at their own homes if they
academia is “anti-Ameri- antithesis — undertaken in tive art. though we should have run heavy dose of rumor and must, so crucial is their
can” is dangerous hyper- order to reach a consensus Only after all that did I maps there, too. “seen across the street” work.
bole. By characterizing to be applied to the future. see my texts, my emails, We posted to local observations, valuable for
teachers and educators as The vast majority of econ- pull up the website to see Facebook news groups, we what they are. Publisher Don Rogers can
anti-American, he ques- omists today tell us that what a night our neigh- tweeted, we contributed There’s a hallowed place be reached at drogers@
tions their patriotism, a President Trump’s econom- bors and colleagues had everywhere we could. The for crowdsourcing. And theunion.com or 477-4299.
charge as easily made as it ic projections border on the
is cheap and tawdry. What Pollyanna-ish and it will be
does it mean to be a patri-
ot? G.B. Shaw opined that
“Patriotism is ... a convic-
decades before we might
see the hoped-for results of
expanded school choice.
Thanks to ‘Love March’ attendees
W
tion that a particular coun- In other words, the hope
try is the best in the world for a better future must be e were so very don’t know how. How many to not see those conditions
OTHER VOICES
because [one was] born in more than a simple wish heartened to of us were on Mill Street when they benefit you and
Janeen Singer, Daniela
it …” Samuel Johnson, a for vindication of Presi- see such an and did nothing to help your place in a hierarchal
Fernandez, Catherine Stifter
keen observer of the human dent Trump’s policies, one outpouring Imani, nothing to stop the society that places white
and Mags Yen-Chuang
condition, noted that “Pa- grounded in history that of support for Imani and perpetrators? How many people at the top.
Matthews
triotism is the last refuge of seeks the prosperity of all his family after the racist Mill Street type of incidents We want to invite you to
a scoundrel.” Even George participants in that unique event that happened just have occurred for people of take a deeper look at the
Washington warned against experiment begun some days before. Over 1,000 of is about.” color in our community? conditions that perpetuate
the dangers “pretended 228 years ago — the United you stopped what you were Can we consider for a This is not an isolated inci- racism within yourself, this
patriotism.” States of America. doing to be there. moment that what hap- dent, it just happens to be community, and the coun-
Simply put, Mr. Mon- This is far more than try at large. May the love
tes confuses patriotism Dick Sciaroni lives in Grass we’ve seen on the bridge in How many Mill Street type of incidents walk be a single step in a
with nationalism. The late Valley. Nevada City for Black Lives journey of difficult and nec-
Matter events. It’s also far have occurred for people of color in our essary self-examination and
more than we’ve seen for examination of the legacy
OUR POLICIES anti-racist workshops held
community? of “Gold Country.” Love is a
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Union accepts one submission per locally. It was beautiful. beginning.
Letters are limited to 200 words. author, per 30-day period, although As a group of local orga- pened to Imani may be one that many folks heard If you’re looking for local
Kudos must be 100 words or less. an opportunity for rebuttal will be nizers, we’ve been imagin- what this community is and about. resources, check out the
Please include your name, address and granted on a case-by-case basis. Due ing what it would be like if has been about? It’s wonderful that over work of Creating Com-
phone number. to length, letters to the editor are often this many people showed We don’t mean everyone 1,000 people can show munities Beyond Bias,
able to be published sooner than Other up to prevent this kind all the time, but if we’re up in the name of love Indivisible Women, and
OTHER VOICES Voices submissions. In the interest of of event from happening, truly honest about both the and diversity. And, if real our work through Racial
“Other Voices” may be 500 to 750 clarity, The Union only accepts electronic rather than showing up in racial slurs and the silence change is going to happen Literacy Nevada County.
words in length. Please include your submissions. Selection of letters and reaction to it. We saw on of bystanders, Nevada in this community — more Each group offers regular
name, address, daytime phone number Other Voices for publication is at the Facebook that one commu- County residents showed is required. Culturally, we local events.
and a paragraph at the end describing discretion of the editor. The Union nity member said we must themselves to be complic- tend to react to crises yet Janeen Singer, Daniela
yourself. reserves the right to edit for length, walk for love “to show that it with racism. Many do many fail to see the em- Fernandez, Catherine Stifter
clarity and content on all submissions. the horrible act a few days not feel that they need to bedded patterns that create and Mags Yen-Chuang
EMAIL TO All submissions become the property of ago against Jamal’s son is step up to interrupt racism conditions for racism and Matthews
[email protected] The Union. NOT what this community when they see it or they hate crimes. It’s even easier Racial Literacy Nevada County
A6 | Friday, October 13, 2017 | The Union

FROM PAGE ONE

MEETING
From page A1

Residents who lost their homes in the fires were ad-

vised by county officials to be patient at the Thursday
night meeting.
Though evacuation orders have been lifted, resi-
dents should not disturb the wreckage on their prop-
erties before teams can assess the damages, officials
said.
Amy Irani, director of the Nevada County Envi-
ronmental Health Department, said teams will soon
check damaged properties for hazardous waste.
Nevada County Assessor Sue Horne said residents
should contact her office to begin assessing prop-
erties for damage, which may qualify some for tax
reductions.
The McCourtney and Lobo fires are still in progress,
firefighters said, and residents should remain cautious
until they are fully contained.
“Leave your property as it is and don’t do any dis-
turbance yet, because there are health protections
you should put into place … give us a few days, let
the folks from the state come down and assess your
property before you start doing a lot of work yourself,”
Irani said.
The causes of the Lobo and McCourntey Fires are
still under investigation, Cal Fire officials said.
ELIAS FUNEZ/[email protected]
To contact Staff Writer Matthew Pera, email mpera@ A pair of Nevada County Sheriff’s deputies assess an advancing front of the Lobo Fire Monday afternoon as the blaze
theunion.com or call 530-477-4231. grew to over 900 acres by Monday evening.

CRYPTOQUOTE RETURN firefighters have cut a line

around a blaze that’s at
shelters shortly after the
evacuation was lifted.
A fire weather watch is
in effect from tonight to
From page A1
least the width of nearby Two shelters opened Saturday night. That watch
The county’s second blaze fire fuels. If nearby grass is earlier this week later takes into account wind
— the McCourtney Fire, a foot tall, the line — cut to combined into one at Twin speeds, temperature, hu-
near the Nevada County bare mineral soil — must Cities Church, which had midity and fire fuels, said
Fairgrounds — reached 76 at least be a foot wide, El- about 25 people Thursday Brooke Bingaman, meteo-
acres Thursday evening. It dridge said. afternoon. The fairgrounds rologist with the National
was 89 percent contained. “That also means trim- was used as an animal Weather Service.
The McCourtney Fire’s ming up trees,” she added. shelter and held some 320 “We’ve had all summer to
mandatory evacuation pre- animals, including hors- dry out and we haven’t had
viously was lifted. WRAPPING UP es, goats and a 120-pound our first significant rainfall
“Containment” is a word County officials an- turtle, said Taylor Wolfe, an yet,” she said.
used to designate that nounced the closure of its administrative analyst with Winds occur in areas
the county. where air pressure is dif-
Wolfe encouraged pet ferent. The closer high and
THE DAY ON WALL STREET
owners to collect their low pressure systems are,

OCT. 12, 2017 animals and bring an ID

when they arrive at the fair-
the stronger the winds, Bin-
gaman said.
A DAY ON WALL STREET grounds, 11228 McCourt- Winds today are forecast
ney Road, Grass Valley. to reach around 6 mph and
Oct. 12, 2017 23,000 between 5 to 7 mph tonight,
Dow Jones STRONG WINDS the National Weather Ser-
22,000
industrials Strong winds late Sunday vice states.
SU| DO| KU -31.88
21,000

20,000
and early Monday helped
fan the flames of fires
Saturday’s winds are ex-
pected to reach between 9
Fill in the grid so that 22,841.01
A M J J A S O across Northern California. to 13 mph.
every row, every column, Pct. change from previous: -0.14% High 22,884.82 Low 22,821.13 Winds are again in Nevada
and every 3x3 box contains County’s forecast, though To contact Staff Writer
Oct. 12, 2017
the digits 1 through 9. 6,600 they aren’t expected to Alan Riquelmy, email
Nasdaq compare with those earlier [email protected]
Tips and computer program composite
6,400
6,200 this week. or call 530-477-4239.
at: sudoku.com -12.04 6,000
5,800
Solution to previous puzzle 6,591.51 5,600
A M
Pct. change from previous: -0.18%
J J A S O
High 6,613.50 Low 6,586.32
BANK “I think the economy is
From page A1 moving in the right direc-
tion,” he said. “People are
Oct. 12, 2017 2,550
Standard & “Assuming we can get doing things that require
2,500
Poor’s 500 2,450
things started before the financing.”
2,400 wet weather hits, we would River Valley is “predomi-
-4.31 2,350 be in good shape to relocate nantly a commercial bank,
2,550.93 2,300 by the third quarter of next that’s the sweet spot we
A M J J A S O
year,” Jelavich said. “A lot of serve,” Jelavich said. “We
Pct. change from previous: -0.17% High 2,555.33 Low 2,548.31
it will come down to weath- get behind that segment,
AP
COMMODITIES er and what we’re able to enable them to expand op-
get done.” erations or grow, and that
▼ Gold $1,295.70 ▼ Silver $17.26
Jelavich noted that the
region has been in a “pro-
helps the community with
jobs. We’re excited to have
longed period of economic that positive impact.”
LOCAL STOCKS malaise” but that there have For more information
Name Last Prev. Cls. Name Last Prev. Cls. been encouraging signs, visit www.myrvcb.com.
AT&T 35.86 38.19 PG&E Corp. 64.50 69.15 with business owners mak-
Bank of America 25.45 25.83 Safeway Inc. Delisted ing investments that had To contact Staff Writer
BNP Paribas SA 66.82 66.82 TriCounties Bank 41.99 41.85
Emgold Mining .02 .02 Verizon 48.35 48.86 been deferred and starting Liz Kellar, email lkellar@
Hewlett-Packard 20.40 20.41 Wells Fargo & Co. 55.21 55.66 new projects, and with in- theunion.com or call
Newmont Mining 38.39 38.08 Westamer Bncp 58.45 58.88 terest rates trending up. 530-477-4236.