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Thursday, October 12, 2017 FOUNDED IN 1864 TO PRESERVE THE UNION ... ONE AND INSEPARABLE WWW.THEUNION.COM $1
Smoke
expected
to remain
through Friday
By Alan Riquelmy INFORMATION
Staff Writer According to a release
from Nevada County,
A hazy sky met Nevada there will be a commu-
County residents as they nity meeting for Nevada
drove to work Wednesday County residents affect-
morning. ed by the McCourtney
That haze remained and Lobo Fires. The
through the day, and the event will take place
conditions that come with at 6:30 tonight in the
it are expected to stay supervisor’s chamber
through Friday, according at the Rood Center, 950
to the Northern Sierra
Maidu Avenue, Nevada
Air Quality Management
City.
SUBMITTED BY ALLISON KALT District.
Sara and Albert Iannetta sit outside Twin Cities Church in Grass Valley, which opened its doors as a Salvation Army Several large fires send that smoke south,
disaster relief center for evacuees of the local fires. The Iannettas have lived in the Rough and Ready area for the past 30 burning in Northern said Eric Kurph, a meteo-
years and look forward to being able to return home. California are producing rologist with the National
Rallying in a
the smoke, including the Weather Service.
Lobo and McCourtney Whether that shift
fires in Nevada County. benefits Nevada County
Winds have pushed it to remains to be seen.
the northeast, though a
shift is expected to soon SMOKE, A6
time of need
Nevada County steps up to help those displaced by fires
By Liz Kellar
Staff Writer
B
y 5:30 a.m. Monday, just a
few short hours after wild-
fires raging through Nevada
County began forcing the MATTHEW PERA / MPERA@THEUNION.COM
evacuations of residents from Rough Chris Smith (left) helps her friend Jory Stewart walk
and Ready, Lake Wildwood and the her horses, Jesse and Misty, Wednesday afternoon at
McCourtney Road areas, Twin Cities the Fairgrounds. Stewart brought her horses to the
Church Pastor Ron Thompson was al- emergency animal shelter around 4 a.m. Monday
ready stepping up to help. Twin Cities when she was warned by a neighbor that flames from
was tapped as a second shelter, follow- the Lobo Fire were encroaching on her neighborhood.
ing the earlier opening of First Baptist
Church on Ridge Road.
“The county called and asked if we
would be a host, to have displaced
Evacuated animals
people come here,” he said. “We said
yes and started making arrangements.”
The Lobo fire marks only the second SUBMITTED BY ALLISON KALT
not home yet
time Twin Cities has been called on for Roughly 50 evacuated people are being helped by the Salvation Army and By Matthew Pera abundance of pet food,
shelter services. During the Oroville volunteers at Twin Cities Church in Grass Valley. While some are being housed Staff Writer hay, water and tools to the
Dam evacuation, the church served as in the church, others have opted to camp in RV’s and tents in the church’s response team, according
a center for clothing donations, but no parking lot. More than 350 animals to Bill Alexander, sec-
one spent the night and no food was were at the Nevada Coun- ond-in-command volun-
served, Thompson said. NEVADA COUNTY TO OPEN HELP LINE ty Fairgrounds Tuesday teer. Some have brought
“So we really got our feet wet” this Residents who know their home was destroyed or who want to find out if their night, including horses, food and drinks for the
time, he said. “But we have some home was damaged by the fires can call the county at 530-265-1218 after 9 a.m. llamas, dogs, cats, birds volunteers, too, he said.
really quality people who figured it Thursday to start the recovery process. County staff answering this line will be and reptiles. “This community and
out quickly. And we have amazing able to confirm if an address is on our list of affected properties. Property owners Some residents, whose these people are unbeliev-
volunteers — we’ve had one wom- will be asked for contact information and other basic questions. In addition, infor- houses were spared from able,” said Pat Ehlers, lead
an here 8 to 10 hours a day serving, mation will continue to be updated on the Nevada County Office of Emergency the flames of multiple volunteer for the response
snacks, drinks, fruit, coffee — especial- Services social media sites and at www.MyNevadaCounty.com. fires burning in Nevada team.
ly coffee.” County, brought their Animal owners
The church designated some staff in the lot, and about 50 spent the issues, with special needs,” Thompson livestock and pets home streamed in and out of the
members to support the county-run night on cots Monday night.” said. “We’re open until they say they Wednesday. But due to shelter Wednesday, walk-
shelter, Thompson said. Approximately two-thirds of the don’t need us.” high wind advisories, ing, feeding and checking
“There’s a lot of need, there’s a lot of shelter guests went home when Lake Nevada County officials were plan- many opted to leave their in on their animals, many
fear,” he said. “We’re just sitting down Wildwood opened back up Tuesday, ning on staffing the shelter through animals at the Fair- of which have been at the
and talking to people.” with about 25 staying Tuesday night at the weekend, depending on the grounds, where the Ne- Fairgrounds since early
On Monday, Thompson said he the shelter. weather. vada County Veterinary Monday morning.
stopped to get several dozen dough- On Wednesday, an estimated 50 “It will be open … for the foreseeable Disaster Response Team
nuts and arrived at 9 a.m. to find evac- people were at Twin Cities after the future,” said administrative analyst is operating an emergency To contact Staff Writer
uees already coming in. two shelters were consolidated. Taylor Wolfe. animal shelter. Matthew Pera, email
“We had 150 in the first wave,” he “Rough and Ready folk is what we Community mem- mpera@theunion.com or
said. “We had people in RVs and cars have right now — people with medical FIRE, A6 bers have donated an call 530-477-4231.
OBITUARIES WEATHER INDEX Governor gives juvenile The legislation conforms State officials said about
Carmen Brocke murderers chance state law to recent U.S. three dozen offenders will
Advice B3
Evelyn Horan at leaving prison Supreme Court decisions be eligible for hearings over
Blotter A2 SACRAMENTO — Inmates banning mandatory life the next three years.
Sharon Tobiassen
Comics B2 serving life sentences for sentences for those under The high court last year
Page A5 Cryptoquote A5 crimes they committed as 18 convicted of murder. ruled that nearly all juvenile
Lottery A5 juveniles will get a chance at SB394 automatically gives offenders should eventually
VOLUME 152 ISSUE 294 Opinion A4 leaving prison under one of the offenders a chance have a chance at parole
Family Focus B1 several criminal justice bills at parole after 25 years, unless their crime reflects a
signed into law Wednesday though there’s no guaran- “permanent incorrigibility.”
H: 64˚ L: 44˚ Sports B6
by Gov. Jerry Brown. tee they will be released. — Associated Press
See full forecast, Stocks A5
Page A7 Sudoku A5
Sunny The Union Circulation: 530-273-9565
A6 | Thursday, October 12, 2017 | The Union
FROM PAGE ONE & NATION
FIRE Army at P.O. Box 1358, Grass
From page A1 Valley CA 95945.
The Red Cross has been inun-
Long-term help for evacuees is dated with donations of physical
in the works as well, Wolfe said; goods, said Steve Walsh, the di-
an information phone line will be rector of communications for the
open by this morning to help as- Gold Country region.
sist residents who know or think Red Cross volunteers were at
they may have lost their homes. the First Baptist Church shelter,
and have provided 100 comfort
HOW YOU CAN HELP kits of toiletries for evacuees,
Like others involved in helping Walsh said.
local fire victims, Thompson said “We have no physical needs at
Twin Cities does not have any any of our shelters, which is great
need for volunteers or physical news,” he said.
donations. Those wishing to donate
“We have a benevolence fund money can designate the funds
that we use to help people in for California wildfires, and all
ASSOCIATED PRESS need,” Thompson said. that money will be used for that
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump threatened NBC’s broadcast licenses because he’s not happy The Salvation Army moved purpose, Walsh said. To donate,
with how its news division has covered him. But experts say it’s not likely his threats would lead to from First Baptist to Twin Cities go online to redcross.org or call
any action against the company. Wednesday and will continue to 1-800-RED-CROSS.
provide three nutritious meals a But community members who
Trump threatens NBC but experts day “until everyone goes home,”
said Major Ray Yant. “We’re also
serving the volunteers, because
are short on cash but want to help
do have some options.
“Anyone who wants to donate
see no real risk to licenses they need to take care of them-
selves, too. … We’re here for the
long haul.”
clothes, toiletries, any basic neces-
sities, for men, women or chil-
dren, they can bring them to the
By Tali Arbel says that’s tough to prove. Following his tweet, Trump The Salvation Army has all the station and we will accept them,”
AP Technology Writer “The reality is it is just about told reporters in the Oval Of- help it needs, as well as water, he said Rough and Ready firefight-
impossible to make that show- fice, “It’s frankly disgusting the said, adding that monetary dona- er Allison Kitchen; the volun-
NEW YORK — President ing,” he said. “All this stuff is way the press is able to write tions will go to provide vouchers teer fire department is located at
Donald Trump is threatening opinion.” whatever they want to write or gift cards for people who have 14506 Rough and Ready Highway.
NBC’s broadcast licenses be- As long as someone can and people should look into it.” been burned out of their homes. “Right now we’re here around the
cause he’s not happy with how demonstrate a reason to be- The president has long railed Checks can be earmarked for clock, so they can come whenever.”
its news division has covered lieve something is true, it’s not against mainstream media or- disaster relief and 100 percent of
him. But experts say his threats a character issue, he said. ganizations, deriding them as that money will go to those indi- Contact reporter Liz Kellar at
aren’t likely to lead to any Feld said he can recall just “fake news.” viduals in need, Yant said; dona- 530-477-4236 or by email at
action. two instances in the past 20 FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is a tions can be sent to the Salvation lkellar@theunion.com.
The NBC network itself years when there has been a re- Trump appointee, but experts
doesn’t need a license to oper- newal challenge. One involved say he can’t pull a license just
ate, but individual stations do. an owner of radio stations who because he feels like it. Renew-
NBC owns several stations in was convicted of child mo- als come up every eight years,
major cities. Stations owned lestation, and the other when and challenges are heard by an
by other companies such as someone died as part of a radio administrative law judge.
Tribune and Cox carry NBC’s station’s contest. Both lost their The judge’s decision can be
news shows and other pro- licenses. overruled by political appoin-
grams elsewhere. Licenses Although yanking a license tees at the FCC, however. And
come from the Federal Com- is rare, just the threat could the agency could start a special
munications Commission, an put pressure on NBC’s news proceeding to revoke a license,
independent government agen- coverage. said Erwin Krasnow, former
cy whose chairman is a Trump “The words ‘license renew- general counsel of NAB.
appointee. al’ are ones which have had Even so, Krasnow said a
Trump tweeted Wednesday, a chilling effect in the past challenge is unlikely because
“With all of the Fake News on broadcasters,” said lawyer of the First Amendment and
coming out of NBC and the Floyd Abrams, an expert on the because the Communications
Networks, at what point is it First Amendment, citing Rich- Act governing the FCC doesn’t
appropriate to challenge their ard Nixon’s attempts to sway allow for censorship.
License? Bad for country!” news coverage as president. Pai’s past statements also
NBC spokeswoman Hilary “The threat, however unlikely, suggest he wouldn’t use the
Smith had no comment. The is one that broadcasters will agency’s powers to regulate
FCC did not respond to mes- have to take seriously.” news coverage. In a Septem-
sages seeking comment. The National Association of ber speech, Pai noted that
These days, license renew- Broadcasters, a trade group, while people want the FCC
als are fairly routine. A station said it was contrary to First to take action against cable
could be deemed unfit and Amendment principles “for any news channels like Fox News,
have its license stripped if it government official to threat- MSNBC, or CNN because they
were telling lies and spreading en the revocation of an FCC disagree with the coverage,
fake news, as Trump claims. license simply because of a dis- “these demands are fundamen- SUBMITTED BY ALLISON KALT
But Harold Feld of the con- agreement with the reporting tally at odds with our legal and Salvation Army volunteer Mike Unwin works to prepare the evening
sumer group Public Knowledge of a journalist.” cultural traditions.” meal for the fire evacuees at Twin Cities Church Wednesday evening.
SMOKE especially sensitive. Church, with room to spare in
From page A1 The numbers Wednesday night both shelters.”
on each of the western Nevada Wolfe said staff are tracking
“It’s a challenging thing to County fires were the same as time worked and shelter ex-
project smoke,” Kurph warned earlier in the day. The Lobo Fire penses, though it’s unknown
about the prediction. was at 857 acres with 30 percent how much the fires will cost the
Officials caution people to containment while the McCourt- county.
stay indoors, regardless of their ney Fire was at 76 acres with 65 The Nevada County Board of
health. Jill Blake, Nevada Coun- percent containment. Supervisors on Tuesday passed
ty’s public health director, said a resolution proclaiming a local
people should avoid using their FIRE FALLOUT emergency because of the fires.
air-conditioning indoors or in Nevada County initially opened That declaration will enable the
the car, unless they can recircu- two shelters for those forced to county to qualify for state and
late the air. evacuate because of the fires, federal funding to offset the costs
“There are genuine concerns leading about 80 people to use incurred from the blazes, said
out there,” Blake said. them. On Wednesday they con- Stephen Monaghan, the county’s
Smoke contains what the air solidated the shelters into one at chief information officer. ELIAS FUNEZ/EFUNEZ@THEUNION.COM
quality district calls fine partic- Twin Cities Church, 11726 Rough “We’re going to have a lot of Tents, trailers, and RV’s fill the parking lot of Twin Cities Church in
ulate matter. Concentrations of and Ready Highway, in Grass cleanup,” Monaghan said. Grass Valley on Wednesday as smoke lingers from a number of area
that matter can irritate eyes and Valley. Several power outages struck blazes.
throats and lead to headaches, “It makes more sense to consol- Nevada County in the wake of
nausea, congestion, coughing idate logistically,” Taylor Wolfe, the fires. PG&E reported that Wednesday morning. To contact Staff Writer Alan
and chest pain. People with an administrative analyst with some 8,500 customers had no Affected areas include Penn Riquelmy, email ariquelmy@
asthma, heart or lung conditions the county, said in an email. “We power Monday afternoon. That Valley, Rough and Ready, Grass theunion.com or call
and pregnant women can be had few people at First Baptist number had dropped to 463 by Valley and Nevada City. 530-477-4239.
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