News, Views & Culture of the Eastern Sierra

20 Pages·2016·12.39 MB·English

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News, Views & Culture of the Eastern Sierra
Local boys make good... Sweetwater String Band returns to the
Mobil Mart this Thursday, June 9. See story, p. 7
Saturday, June 4, 2016 FREE Vol. 14, No. 23
IF YOU’RE LOST, DO YOU CARE WHAT FINDS YOU?
RIDING FOR MULES
Debating the use of drones in Search and Rescue
By Giles
In early April, First Re- ficer for the Mammoth & “mechanical transport” and
sponders and drone Mono Lake Ranger Districts, therefore cannot “take off
experts gathered at the drone use is regulated by from, land in, or be operated
University of Nevada-Reno the Federal Aviation Agency from congressionally desig-
(UNR) for a symposium on (F.A.A). The U.S. Depart- nated wilderness areas.” Rec-
drones as tools for Search ment of Agriculture (USDA) reational users may not fly
and Rescue. recently provided Forest UAS in areas with Temporary
Drones fall under the F.A.A Service administrators and Flight Restrictions such as
classification of unmanned law enforcement with a fact wildfires. They must be flown
aircraft systems (UAS’s). sheet titled, “Recreational at least 5 miles from any air-
Legislators at the state and Drone Tips”, which outlines port or backcountry airstrip.
federal level are currently F.A.A rules and provides some Special permitting is required
grappling with how to regu- ethical guidelines for us- for commercial drone use
late recreational and govern- ers. The information in that such as photography and
ment use of the new tech- document is also available to information gathering.
nology, which appears to be the public through a website Public agencies that want
evolving faster than they can titled “Know Before You Fly.” to use drones have to apply
write new rules. Among these regulations is for a Certificate of Waiver of
The event was hosted by a restriction on aircraft that Authorization (COA) from the
the Nevada Advanced Auton- weigh more than 55 pounds F.A.A, which allows them to
omous Systems Innovation including a fuel source. UAS operate a drone for a
Center (NAASIC) from UNR, are considered both “mo-
which is promoting drone torized equipment” and see DRONES, page 17
use in Search and Rescue as
YOGA FOR EVERYBODY
a way of mitigating the risk
posed to searchers. A recent
incident on Carson Peak,
in which an individual was
caught in an avalanche, has
prompted further discussion
of whether or not drones
Donna Tatum raised a glass for the American Mule Museum last Fri-
could be especially useful in
day. Story and photos p. 19.
winter search and rescue.
LET’S CLARIFY THIS A spokesperson for Mam-
moth Lakes Police Depart-
In an election marked by mistakes, The Sheet tries
ment (MLPD) told The Sheet
to make things simple
it does not currently possess
By Rea or operate drones for its
The election of 2016 has There are only two seats up operations. Chief Frievalt of
certainly been a re- for election on Mammoth’s Mammoth Lakes Fire Depart-
markable one, both on Council. ment said that MLFD does
the national and local level. The Elections Commis- not use drones for fire fight-
Mono County, not to be left sion then, after weighing the ing purposes at this time, but
out of the fray, has played options, decided to run a that he could see the tactical
its part in an election cycle separate ballot for the Town benefit of the technology.
that threatens to leave voters Council alongside the June 7 “We are very careful about
disenfranchised and results primary election. Mammoth protecting people’s privacy.
contested. voters were sent a separate That being said, if I thought
Among the most grievous ballot for Town Council. there was a way for us to
mistakes was the “proofread- Further confusing the increase our services, we’d
ing error” that Mono County situation, the Fifty Center look at it. It’s just a little too
Clerk Bob Musil made on advised on Thursday, May 26 new, and it’s not something PHOTO: REA
the Mammoth Town Council that voters should not return that would be critical to our Everybody loves Lindsay Schneider’s summertime Yoga in the Park,
ballot, telling voters to pick their original ballots, leading services right now.” which began on Wednesday, June 1. Schneider teaches an hour-long
donation-based class at Mammoth Creek Park each Wednesday, where
three, not two, candidates According to Lawson Reif,
running for Town Council. see ELECTION, page 8 Assistant Recreation Of- all are welcome.
L ousy paper MHS Seniors Airbnbs? New citizens Say no to Jeremiah
/p. 2/ /p. 10-11/ /p. 4/ /p. 13/ /p. 12/
2 I www.thesheetnews.com THE SHEET I Saturday, June 4, 2016
sheet
Ted Carleton .......
VLADIMIR MUSIL the Jack of all Lunches
760.937.4613 / [email protected]
Little did I realize that the biggest threat to democracy in Mono
June Simpkins
County wasn’t China, or Russia, but Bob Musil. ..Jack of everything else
Perhaps we should call him Bob the Paler. 760.937.3967 / [email protected]
The Airbnb public relations fiasco (How do agenda items like this just Mike Bodine ..................
Writer
pop up out of nowhere? How tone deaf is Dan Holler?) is yet one more News, Views & Culture of the Eastern Sierra
[email protected]
reminder that if the Town wishes to retain Dan Holler as Town Manager,
it will require a pro-active and micro-managing Town Council. Laissez- “Cum eorum quae tenet, est for- Sarah Rea .....................Writer
faire won’t cut it. Trust me, I married French. If I pull laissez-faire, I’m tis et quis sit pars” 209.605.1860
out sleeping in the goat pen replaced by piles of shoe boxes on my side -Tuck Pendleton Charles James .............
Contributor
of the bed. JACK LUNCH 760.614.0546
I heard Wednesday evening that the Town let Steph Daniel go. She’s
PUBLISHER Clouds McCloud .........
worked either seasonally or full-time in the Town’s Recreation Dept. Ass-trologer
P.O. Box 8088
since 1991. Abagael Giles .................
Writer
Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546
Literally, in mid-thought, I’ve been corrected by Recreation Manager 802.578.3476
760.924.0048/[email protected]
Stu Brown, who says she is on “administrative leave.”
An adjudicated paper of general circula-
While that verbiage was not used by the many MHS Seniors I spoke
tion. ©2016 The Sheet, all rights reserved. For a subscription to The Sheet contact
with this week as I took their photos and asked them what they were
Lunch at his above e-mail address, or call the
doing next year (see spread on pages 10 and 11), I have noticed a sharp
Check out www.thesheetnews.com for office. Issues are mailed out bi-weekly. Cost
uptick in the uses of two phrases. “Gap year” and “Don’t know.” A third
is $65/year.
more content, daily updates and free online
phrase, “Don’t give a damn,” is implied.
classifieds.
If I were graduating in 2016 and answering the question, I imagine I
might reply, “Gap decade.” Bodine nods. He knows. Further, when asked if there’s anything about town that she’s discov-
I am impressed by Tyler Searles’ plans to go to trade school for weld- ered to be either better or worse than she expected since she’s moved
ing and then use that skill to travel the world and pay his way. here, she replied, tongue in cheek (perhaps), “Well, the paper sucks.”
As a writer, I never had any skills. Perhaps that’s a skill in itself. A Touché.
few women took me in during those early years. Their fathers hadn’t I asked Burrows what differentiates her from the field, and she talked
warned them about falling in love with potential. They knew I’d be a about her experience on both sides of the labor issue. She’s negotiated
disappointment. union contracts as a School Board member in the San Diego area, yet
They had me pegged for administrative leave before their daughters she’s also been a union member as a nurse. Given that Mammoth is in
did. the midst of its own labor negotiations, she thinks this experience in
finding common ground could be helpful.
When we were communicating about setting up an interview for “You really have to take care of your employees without breaking the
this week, Town Council candidate Jennifer Burrows signed one of her bank,” she said. “When I was on the school board, I was in the school
emails Jennnnnnnnnnn - a reference to her first misspelled campaign every day, talking to teachers, staff, students … I felt I was intimately
signs (since replaced) and an indication that she has a sense of humor. familiar with [the people] whom I was representing.”
But in most respects, she is a fairly traditional candidate. She talks
about leadership, “getting things done,” reducing the shoulder sea-
sons, supporting air service, giving Main Street a facelift but most of all,
trumpeting the virtues of the community and the place.
“It’s still cool to stumble upon lakes and trails I’ve never used before,”
she says. “I don’t mind getting lost. That’s where you find the unexpect-
ed.”
In the competitive Mono District 4 race, I asked Peters and Fesko to
give their best pitches. I would’ve asked Tems but he’s spent the entire
campaign seemingly on administrative leave.
I asked each candidate to give me 200 words which I will now con-
dense to about 20 apiece.
The Peters message: I work with people, get along with people, solve
problems, volunteer in my community and raised kids here.
The Fesko message: I’ve served you faithfully and either delivered
services or prevented them from being cut. Electing a newbie = taking a
step backward.
STOKE
T HE FIRE
Gear up, tune up and get ready– Mammoth Bike Park
opens June 10. Save up to $40 on your Mammoth+Summit
or Mammoth-only pass now and be ready to rip on day
one. Cali4nia Passholders save even more.
BIKE PASS PRICES GO UP JUNE 6
4 I www.thesheetnews.com THE SHEET I Saturday, June 4, 2016
LOCAL NEWS
AIRBNBRILLIANT? AIRBNBS? RENTAL ISSUE RESURFACES
Local operators want level playing field vs. internet “operator”
By Rea
Mammoth Town Council agreement, and therefore is not changes I don’t think they will do it said “Mr. Holler notes Mr. [Andy]
discussed an agreement subject to the same rules and regula- for us,” he said. Morris has been working on it for
between the Town of Mam- tions as “operators.” “we won’t be making an agreement several months, but it appears this
moth Lakes and the online booking However, in the document brought on this the way it sits today,” said is the first time the citizenry and
company Airbnb on the collection before council, Airbnb agreed to as- Mayor Pro Tem Shields Richardson. business community has been made
of Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) sume the duties of a TOT “Operator” Members of lodging associa- aware. Still, Mr. Holler proposes
on Wednesday, June 1 but ultimately with respect to booking transactions tions and hotels spoke passionately Council pass it now.”
refused to consider the agreement between hosts on guests on its “Plat- and were upset that Council was John Morris said that all of the
prepared by Town Manager Dan form” (its website). It proposed to even considering the agreement. Town’s businesses and homeowners
Holler. begin collecting TOT on July 1, 2016, More than once the term “a slap in collect and pay TBID, that all home-
Council moved the agenda item which is why the agreement was the face” was used to describe the owners who rent must have individ-
forward on Wednesday night due to brought before Council on Wednes- feelings of those who felt that any ual TOT certifications, and that they
the amount of public interest. There day—the agreement would have agreement with Airbnb in which the must abide by all conditions of the
were several people who wished to to be approved by June 7 to go into company did not pay TBID would Quality of Life Ordinance. “It should
speak during the public comment effect on July 1, said Town Attorney put them at a disadvantage. be the same for everyone else.”
period against the Town authorizing Morris. “Really all we’re looking for is a Teri Stehlik, who sits on the TOT
any agreement with Airbnb in which “This is as far as we’re going to be level playing field,” said John Mor- Compliance Committee, said that
the company refuses to collect Tour- able to get Airbnb to go,” said Mor- ris, the Chairman of the Mammoth even though Council was not going
ism Business Improvement District ris, noting that “in some ways this Lakes Tourism Board of Directors to consider the agreement, she was
tax, or TBID. is a better agreement than some and Director of Operations for Snow- frustrated that it got as far as a Coun-
Holler told Council that he and the I’ve seen in other cities.” He men- creek Resort. cil meeting.
Town Attorney, Andy Morris, have tioned that the town of Truckee also “It was almost a slap in the face to “I’m not sure why we have to have
been working with Airbnb “quite rejected a similar agreement with us to see this contract where MLT, any type of contract with Airbnb
extensively” to come to a reasonable the company based on their refusal which is the governing body of the for them to follow the letter of the
agreement, but that the company to collect TBID as well as “a lack of TBID, was not consulted,” said Mor- law that we have in this community
has historically been loath to collect transparency,” said Morris. ris. already,” Stehlik said.
TBID and TOT in other resort com- He told Council that Airbnb only Others who spoke agreed that it She also said that for Airbnb not
munities. Airbnb does not see itself collects TBID in San Diego County in seemed as though the proposed to consider itself an “operator” was
as a “renter,” or as the “operator” of California. agreement was a rush job. Lisa Isaacs ludicrous. “I can read you what an
any “hotel,” it states in the proposed “Unless something significant wrote an e-comment in which she see AIRBNB, page 5
THE SHEET I Saturday, June 4, 2016 www.thesheetnews.com LOCAL NEWS I 5
AIRBNB NO ASTI AND SPUMANTE:
continued from page 1 ROSSY TRIAL CONTINUED
‘operator’ is, and they fit that de- in 190 countries. Many cities have By James
scription to a ’T,’” she said. fought to collect taxes owed from the The $1.5 million Inyo County also named her husband, Kenneth
“Why we would even bring this company that it has escaped paying Welfare Department embezzle- Rossy, as participating in the scheme,
forward? I think it is a slap in the by claiming it is not an “operator.” ment case of former Health and they decided to be tried separately.
face to our entire community…we Patrick Dougherty, the General Human Services Employment and In a court case that has induced
work as a town to support your TOT Manager of the Westin Monache Eligibility Supervisor, Dawndee Rossy, ire from many in the public, there
income which is the largest source of resort, also spoke at Wednesday’s came off yet another break last Friday. is hope that the trial might finally
our income and your budget.” meeting, telling Council that, al- Judge Philip Argento pronounced be concluded sometime in July or
Stehlik said that she hoped that the though “we can’t hide from the shar- his tentative rulings on requests by August. It has proven a complicated
Town would send “ ing economy…I the defense to have certain pre-trial case. The original court trial date
a cease and desist think Airbnb has statements made by Rossy stricken scheduled for October 6, 2014, was
letter to Airbnb I think it is a slap in to be talked to.” from the record and on the 500 pieces vacated when Rossy requested more
“tomorrow.” He said that of evidence that he reviewed over the time to make a change in her coun-
Gregg Martino, the face to our entire the rules must hiatuses in the trial. sel. David Evans of Pasadena, would
who both spoke apply to every- As reported by Sierra Wave reporter eventually take over Rossy’s defense
at Council and community... one equally, not Deb Murphy, it did not go well for and create yet another delay, the
submitted a letter least because Rossy’s defense as Argento ruled latest one more than a year long. On
prior to the meet- Airbnb does not against defense arguments to exclude February 3, Rossy was offered what
ing, said in his let- contribute to the the pre-trail confession Rossy made many considered a very generous
ter that he feared community of to Bishop Police on January 17, 2013. plea deal by a very reluctant District
entering into the Mammoth like At that time, she admitted to fraudu- Attorney Thomas Hardy of eight years
agreement would - Teri Stehlik other operators lently using Electronic Benefit Trans- in state prison. Despite a warning
“give a safe haven do. action cards under fictitious names. by the judge that, if the deal was
to those persons ” “I’m going to In Rossy’s favor was the judge’s rul- not accepted and the charges were
who will rent be [at the Pan- ing that, of the 31 counts of identity proven, she would face “a long-time
their single family orama Dome] on theft for which she was originally in prison.” She declined the offer the
homes in violation Saturday build- charged, only those that personally next day.
of the Town’s zon- ing trails, I don’t appeared in court would be consid- As the trial trudges forward to what
ing laws.” think Airbnb is going to be standing ered. Overall, Argento’s rulings do many hope is a conclusion, the de-
He said that entering into the next to me.” not appear to have any effect on the fense has until June 10 to offer rebut-
agreement with Airbnb “shows the Mayor Michael Raimondo said amount of the funds that Rossy is ac- tals to the judge’s rulings, followed by
town is more interesting in get- that the proposed agreement was a cused of having embezzled. the response of the D.A.’s office to the
ting TOTs than enforcing its zoning “non-starter” for him. However, “I Rossy is being tried on 137 counts defense rebuttals, and then addition-
laws…” and that the agreement definitely think there are going to be of embezzlement dating from 2009 al arguments scheduled for June 24.
would make it easier for illegal rent- some further things like this coming and 2013. Court-appointed defense For now, in a case that seems to have
als to hide behind Airbnb. our way.” attorney, David Evans had asked the had continuing delays from arrest to
“It’s clear there is some distaste judge on February 23, the first day of court, the trial is scheduled to resume
for profiting from activities that we the trial, to exclude all of Rossy’s pre- on June 27, although even that in this
know to be illegal,” said Town Attor- vious statements, including one that long-running case, could be subject
ney Morris when discussing the pro- included a confession on January 17, to change.
posed agreement at the beginning 2013 admitting to fraudulently using
of the meeting. He said that “city- Electronic Benefit Transaction cards
Cert. Arb. # WE-9537A • CA D-49 Lic.# 976309 • Bonded & Insured
friendly” legislation is one way to get under fictitious names. Arrested on
Tree Removal • Tree Pruning • Lot Clearing
companies like Airbnb to comply 760-709-6893 April 11, Rossy waived her right to a
with things like TOT and TBID col- www.skylinearborist.com jury trial and Argento was appointed
lection, but that the booking indus- to oversee the trial. While Dawndee
try has succeeded in killing many of Serving Mammoth, Bishop & June Lake
these bills. Founded in 2008, Airbnb
CCW - Up to 37 States
has grown into a behemoth in in-
dustry. It has over 1,500,000 listings

One-day Concealed Carry Firearms Class
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4:00-6:00
6 I LOCAL NEWS www.thesheetnews.com THE SHEET I Saturday, June 4, 2016
TOWN SEEKS STOPGAP FIX FOR LEAKY POOL
By Giles
This week’s Mammoth Recre- gram. The Commission is currently Parks and Recreation Sponsorship Hopefully the existing donation pro-
ation Commission Meeting researching whether or not local Program, which will be discussed gram and the proposed sponsorship
was the last regularly sched- sponsors will legally be able to post further at the August Meeting of the program will help us to appeal to the
uled public meeting until August. logos and business names on signs Recreation Commission. public for their support.”
There will soon be three vacancies at the ballpark, which is on Los Brown added to the discussion
on the Commission, and new appli- Angeles Department of Water and that, “As we’re discussing with the
cants will be reviewed in July. Power land. These logos are en es- Whitmore Pool, there is a lot of
Parks and Recreation Manager sential component of the proposed deferred maintenance on our parks.
Stuart Brown gave an update to
FAIRGROUNDS SET TO HOST RODEO
Commissioners about the status of
the Whitmore Public Pool. He said,
FINALS ONCE AGAIN
“We’re trying to ascertain where the
leak is from, and are having other By Bodine
folks come in to evaluate whether The California High School Ro- a vacation. for floating the river, a fishing pole,
or not we can fix this in season.”
deo Association (CHSRA) Finals Bishop Chamber of Commerce a bicycle, hiking boots and clubs for
Brown told the Commission that he
are returning to Bishop for the Executive Director Tawni Thomson the golf tournament. Their only flaw
is looking into updating the heaters,
12th consecutive year, with competi- estimates the event brings in about seems to be that they suffer from be-
and that they should expect regular
tion beginning on June 14. $600,000 to the community in lodg- ing teenagers.
updates throughout the summer
More than 300 contestants and ing, gasoline and sales tax. The CHSRA Queen will be crowned
about plans to fix the problem.
their families will converge at the Tri- The kids have to be upstanding citi- that week, too.
Brown added that the town will
County Fairgrounds. There are more zens, respectful and courteous during The events are held in the morning
be working with Mono County, with
than a dozen events, with entrants their stay. They’ve worked hard to get and evening, so nobody has to suffer
whom they jointly own the pool, to
from nine districts. Top finishers to this level of competition and prob- in the Owens Valley afternoon sun.
secure financing to fix the leak(s).
advance to the National High School ably won’t to do anything “risky,” said The morning shows are free, $7 for
“As you know, this is a facility that
Rodeo Finals in Gillette, Wyoming. Thomson. Just in case they do get out the evening shows. All proceeds go
is past its operational lifespan.” Vice-
Getting to the Owens Valley is a of hand, they’re pretty easy to spot; to the CHSRA. The golf tournament
Chair Terri Stehlik said, “Perhaps this
long drive for anyone in the state, but they have to wear their vest and num- will be held at noon on Sunday, June
is a rude awakening that the facility
the CHSRA wouldn’t want it any other bers the entire time they’re in Bishop, 12 at the Bishop Country Club. The
is past its time and we need to look
way. not just in the arena. They could first rodeo starts at 7 p.m. on Tuesday
urgently into other alternatives.”
“We’ll keep coming here forever if be disqualified if their number gets and then 7 p.m. on Wednesday and
The Commission also discussed
we can,” Tracey Scott, CHSRA’s Pulic reported, according to Suzie Wolfers- Thursday.
other projects at Whitmore Recre-
Affairs Rep. told The Sheet June 1. berger of the Tri-County Fairgrounds. Tri-County Fairgrounds has won
ation Area, including the need for
“It’s a perfect setting.” Not too many But the kids are the highlight of the the competitive contract to hold the
new turf for one of the fields. Foot-
of the contestants and their families show. They’re outdoorsy folks and event for more than a decade. But
loose Sports has offered to purchase
have ever been to the Eastside and Bishop is a perfect fit. The teenagers it’s not just free money for the town,
the material for a new windscreen
this is a good introduction, she said. know, or have heard about Bishop it has to provide things like $5,000
at the ball park through the Parks
Once they find out what the area has from fellow competitors, and know to worth of trophy belt buckles, security
and Recreation Sponsorship Pro-
to offer, they often turn the event into bring essential summer gear; a tube and a welcome dinner for contestants
and their families. The top Cowboy
WEEKLY SPECIALS and Cowgirl will receive horse trail-
ers, courtesy of the community, and
valued at about $7,000 a-piece.
The chamber and fairgrounds are
always looking for sponsors, even $10
or $20 adds up quickly, said Wolfers-
berger. Thomson explained the event
Quality baked goods
gets some funding from the City of
at the foot of the Sierra Bishop and Inyo County but it relies
heavily on volunteers and the gener-
Bakery • Cafe • Community ousity of the community. Thomson
wanted to thank the many sponsors
Natural bakery
MMSA Employee Night: $3 games, $1 shoes. who have already contributed. To
Live music and dinner
sponsor or volunteer contact Thom-
served on weekends Must show employee pass or I.D.
son at 760.873.8405 or Wolfersberger
Beer and wine
at 760.873.3588. To view the full
Family friendly
2 For Tuesdays: Buy 1 game and get the 2nd FREE. Includes shoe rentals. schedule of events go to chsra.com.
Indoor/outdoor seating
Located at the McGee Creek
Lodge, Crowley Lake
Wild Wednesdays: $2 games and $2 Shoe Rentals.
Hours Starting June 1
Open 6 days a week, Tuesday-Sunday
Tuesday-Thursday: 6:30am-2pm Ladies Night: Ladies bowl 2 games FREE.
Friday-Saturday: 6:30am-9pm
Sunday: 6:30am-3pm
Live Music Cosmic Bowling: 9pm to close.
May 27-28 at 6pm – Saint Billy Bodley
June 4 – Milo Cagle Kids Bowl Free: 2 game maximum with paying Adult, Noon to 5:00
June 10 – Silver Mountain String Band Cosmic Bowling: 9pm to close.
June 11 – Cruiseship Volunteers Duo
June 18 – Bodie 601
June 25 – Good Livin Kids Bowl Free: 2 game maximum with paying Adult, Noon to 5:00
Dinner Friday and Saturday
NEW Qubica AMF XLi Edge Pinspotters and Ball Lifts
EVENTS & TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE
1561 Crowley Lake Dr. Crowly Lake
760.914.2696 • OPEN DAILY •
[email protected]
facebook.com/EastSideBakeShop 3029 CHATEAU • 760.934.4200 • MAMMOTHROCKNBOWL.COM
THE SHEET I Saturday, June 4, 2016 www.thesheetnews.com I 7
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
SWEET MOUNTAIN SOCIALISTS DESCEND UPON LEE VINING
By Rea
The Mobil Mart in Lee Vining,
probably the East Side’s most
iconic summer music venue,
hosts two bands formed in the High
Sierra this coming week.
The Mountain Men Collective of
Mariposa and the Sweetwater String
Band, who are scattered among
the Sierra and Rockies, are playing
Sunday, June 5 and Thursday, June 9,
respectively.
The Mobil gig will launch
Sweetwater String Band off on its west
coast summer tour—they’ll also be
playing such high-profile events as
the Kate Wolf Music Festival and the
Strawberry Music Festival. Andy Roberts of the Mountain Men
When asked how his band managed Collective.
to find time to keep their “cello-driven PHOTO: SWEETWATER STRING BAND
High Sierra soulgrass” sound tight Jeff Meadway, Patrick Ferguson, David Huebner and Scott Roberts are Sweetwater manifest differently each time you see
when they are flung across the West, String Band. them, are an Americana string band
Sweetwater’s guitarist Jeff Meadway us beer if we were willing to make fools beginning at 6 p.m. on June 9. sprung from a vibrant community of
of McGee Creek said the band has a of ourselves,” Meadway said, and the The Mountain Men Collective West Side singers and pickers who
natural flow together, and that playing rest was history. features banjo player Andy sometimes find themselves around a
music, for them, is usually effortless. The band also includes Scott “Tarantula” Roberts, who also fronts campfire for long enough to put a few
“We meet up a day or two in advance, Roberts, on mandolin, who met his the Trespassers, darlings of the High tunes together. They find themselves
with a bottle of whiskey, and figure it wife in Mammoth and now lives Sierra music scene for over a decade. at home playing everywhere from bars
out,” he said. in Colorado, David Huebner, cello, He will take the stage with Kaye and in San Francisco to barns in Yosemite
The band traces its origins to the formerly of Bishop and now of Jared Jesperson, a husband and wife National Park. They’ll be making the
now-defunct Tap in Mammoth. Wyoming and Patrick Ferguson of duo who play cello and mandolin trip over the newly-opened Tioga Pass
“One of the bartenders said he had a Santa Cruz on bass. The band will be in their own band, The Jespersons. for a sweet Sunday afternoon show on
mShiecerto Apdh hoonriezo anntadl M hOeS w.qaxsp _wLialylionugt 1t o 2 g6/i0v5e/ 16 2s3in:4g8i n Pga gthe e1 sunset down at the Mobil The Mountain Men Collective, who June 5, beginning at 4 p.m.
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8 I ELECTION www.thesheetnews.com THE SHEET I Saturday, June 4, 2016
ELECTION
continued from page 1
some readers (possibly 14) to throw and issue a special election.” He also portunity for improvement because How to vote
away the original ballots mailed told Mammoth Town Council that we have so many absentee voters.
to them. In truth, voters must fill he and District Two Supervisor Fred Maybe they could figure out how to Vote-by-mail or Absentee:
out their primary ballots and then Stump felt the County “should” pay explain it a little better.”
subsequently fill out their special for a special election if the results However, “My bottom line is to try
Return two ballots, each in a
ballots for Town Council. The Times of the Town Council election were and take an optimist’s view,” Bello-
separate envelope. The ballot for
reported that it regrets the error. challenged. mo said. “This has
Town Council comes with a pre-paid
“I jokingly told my husband to Katie Bellomo “ been a mess, but envelope, paid for by Mono County
throw his [ballot] in the fireplace,” of Mono City maybe the good
Office of Elections. The original bal-
said District Five Supervisor Stacy called The Sheet I jokingly told my part is people will lot covers all offices and measures
Corless, who took it upon herself to to express her pay attention to
other than Mammoth Town Council.
correct much of the misinformation sentiment that husband to throw his the importance of
Votes for Town Council on the origi-
by posting clear, concise instruc- the instructional voting and be more
nal ballot will not be counted.
[ballot] in the fireplace.
tions on the Mono County website. sheet included educated about it.”
Mail both ballots by Tuesday, June
Further compounding the con- in her absentee What follows are
7 or, alternatively, return your ballots
cerns about the ballot, this week, ballot could lead clear, concise and
in person to the Mono County Com-
voters realized that there was no to confusion. (hopefully) help-
munity Development Department
“pro” argument for Measure G Instructions said ful instructions
on the second floor of the Minaret
printed in the sample ballot sent that she may for voters in their
Mall during business hours until
to voters in the Mammoth Unified have her mail- - Stacy Corless, District Five attempts to navi-
June 6.
School District. Measure G would in ballot post- Supervisor gate the electoral
Return your ballots in person to
extend the current parcel tax for an marked by June ” process.
the polling place at the Mammoth
additional five years. “It was left off 7, and that the
High School Library at 365 Sierra
of the sample ballot because of a election would Mammoth Town
Park Rd. from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m on
proofing mistake,” said Bob Musil. be “certified” on Council: There is
Tuesday, June 7.
“It does not affect the actual ballot, June 10. an error on the
No matter how you return your
because the actual ballot doesn’t “I said ‘well wait a minute, how is sample ballot. You may only vote
ballots, you must use the return en-
have the arguments in favor or that fair? I want my ballot counted for two Council candidates. You
velope provided with each ballot.
against.” by June 7,” she said. After some will need to fill out two ballots—the
If you voted for Town Council on
“A proofing mistake” was also Mu- investigation, she realized that, al- original primary election ballot and
your original ballot, all votes will be
sil’s explanation for the snafu on the though the election might be called an additional Town Council Ballot.
counted except the one for Town
Town Council ballot. on June 7, in a close vote the results
Council.
Musil told The Sheet that he didn’t would not be official until all the Measure G: The argument for
yet know who would pay for a spe- mail-in ballots were counted. Measure G was left out of the sample Voting in person:
cial election if Measure G’s results “We ended up feeling maybe this ballot. You can find it on the Mono
are contested. “That would be up is one of those areas where it would County website.
If you vote in person on June 7,
to the supporters of Measure G, be good to figure out how to clarify
you will be given two ballots at your
whether they wanted to go to court the insert,” she said. “Here’s an op-
polling place in Mammoth Lakes,
one for the primary, offices and
measures and one specifically for
Mammoth Town Council.
If you did not receive or threw
away your original ballot, you have
only two choices at this time: Pick
up a new ballot at the Bridgeport
Mono County Elections office before
June 7 or show up in person to the
Mammoth High School Library on
June 7 to cast a provisional ballot.
Once your eligibility to vote is con-
firmed, your vote will be counted.
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We’re Moving. Move with us.
TRAIL DAYS
MAMMOTH LAKES TRAIL SYSTEM
2016 SUMMER OF STEWARDSHIP
Come celebrate our 8th season!
NATIONAL TRAILS DAY ON
PANORAMA DOME
SATURDAY, JUNE 4
8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Join SEMBA and Footloose
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Kick Off Meet at the
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10 I GRADUATION www.thesheetnews.com THE SHEET I Saturday, June 4, 2016
MHS SENIORS
The Sheet bravely traveled to Mammoth High School this week for our an-
nual cat-herding expedition. Here are this year’s seniors and a snapshot and
what they are planning to do next year.
From left: Taylor Sanders, Cal Poly SLO (Engineering); Sarah Adler, Cal State Channel
Islands (Health Science); Jewel Scholl, Cerro Coso (Child Development); Fleur Con-
nolly, Cuesta College (Undecided); Max Mueller, Gap Year; Trinity McKee, Cerro Coso
(Nursing).
From left: Mario Rios, Cerro Coso (Kinesiology); Juan Pablo Prieto, Cal State Channel
Islands (Psychology); Gio Lopez, Cerro Coso (General Education); Christian Calixto,
Cerro Coso (Business); Jemery Laguna Alvarado, UCSD (Undecided), Ian Ezell, U.S.
Army.
On rock: Kira Shultz, UCSB (Biology). Front row, from left: Cody Underkoffler, Linfield
College (Communications); Jake Liuag, Cuesta (Linguistics); Grayson Dozier, Gap
Year; Callie Mowat, San Diego State (Athletic Training); Jessica Van Winkle, Vanguard
University (Int’l Studies). Second row, from left: Perry Moyer, Cerro Coso then transfer
(Marine Transportation); Tatum Sandvigen, UCSB (Undecided); Lex Brode, San Diego
State (Nutrition). In back: Edwin Molina, University of Nevada-Reno (Computer
Engineering).
From left: Sandra Alejandre, Cerro Coso (Nursing); Leilani Michael, Cerro Coso (Nurs-
ing); Liz Serrano, Cosmetology; Jessica Ramos, Cerro Coso (Child Development); Katia
Flores, Cerro Coso (LVN); Heidy Alvarado, Cosmetology; Lizeth Esquivel, Cerro Coso
(Nursing); Alex Serrato, Cerro Coso (Business).

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