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Vol.'88, No. 24 www.plumasnews.com 530-283-0800 Wednesday, May 2, 2018
Sam Williams
Staff Writer
swilliarns@lassennews'c m
Most of us know about OR-7,
the first wild wolf in California'
in nearly a century, but there
are other wolves that have been
detected in the Golden State of
which you may not be aware,
according to an April 2018 post
on the California Department of
Fish and Wildlife site,
wildlife.ca.gov.
According to the website, the
CDFW believes it's important
for residents to know the state of
California is not reintroducing
the wolves, gray wolves pose
little safety risk to humans,
wolves in California are
protected under both the
California and federal
Endangered Species Acts, CDFW
encourages the use of non-lethal
methods to avoid and/or
minimize livestock losses from
wolves and CDFW values and
investigates public information
regarding wolf sightings.
Kent Laudon, a wolf biologist
from the CDFW, said the wolves
naturally disperse from their
natal territory, sometimes
covering large distances.
"Wolves are long-distance,
big-time travelers," Laudon
said. '.'That's just how canids are
wired Wolves are built for it.
They have those long legs,
especially if you see them after
they shed.their winter coats
They're kind of like the
long-distance runners of the
animal world. They travel great
distances "
Researchers want to know
where the wolves go when they
leave their pack. Laudon said
biologists are working to create
a detailed DNA database to track
See Wolf, page 8A
To
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ip
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Maggie Wells
Staff Writer
mwells@plumasnews.com
It's been only two weeks
since this year's Plumas
County students made their
way back to the county from
the country of Uganda. For the
majority of them a good deal
h is changed in a short period
of time--and as two of them
recount--their lives will never
be the same.
As they reacclimatize to life
in Plumas County (students on
this year's trip hailed from
Indian Valley, Chester and
, Quincy), two students, Annika
Bengard and Alylish
See Uganda, page 2A Avery Mclntyre demonstrates bubble blowing for anxious preschoolers. Photos submitted
When your safari bus gets stuck in the mud, make other plans for the day.
In the city, they take limos to prom; in the country? Golf carts. Here is a cart full of seniors
arriving at the Greenville Town Hall. FrOm left: Kelsy Heard, Destiny Potts and Emma Sordi.
Photo submitted
See Prom, page 4A
Almanor spillway
bridge to get
needed repairs
Caltrans and its contractor
Q&D Construction Inc. will
be replacing the existing
Lake Almanor Spillway
bridge on Highway 89 due to
severe deterioration and
other deficiencies.
Preliminary construction
work has already taken place
without affecting traffic, but
to demolish the existing
bridge and construct a detour
on the spillway while
building the new structure, it
is necessary to divert traffic
onto Highway 147 for
approximately one month.
Caltrans asks drivers to note
Highway 147 will be under
one-way traffic control beginning
April 30 through July 1.
Beginning Monday, May 7,
traffic on Highway 89 coming
from Canyon Dam and
Greenville will be
temporarily diverted onto
Highway 147. Residents and
visitors to Lake Almanor's
West Shore on Highway 89
will be allowed through up to
12 miles from the Highway
89/36 junction.
Motorists coming from
Chester or Red Bluff on
Highway 36 are advised to
avoid Highway 89 and stay on
147.
The $9 million project is
slated for completion by
mid-November 2018.
Construction may occur on
weekends. Night work is not
afltieipated. Caltrans thanks
the public in advance for
their patience and
understanding.
leave
Kepple to move
on to new plans
Debra Moore
Managing Editor
dmoore@plumasnews.com
It was only supposed to be
temporary when Dr. Jeff
Kepple agreed to become the
interim chief executive
officer of Plumas District
hospital while the board
looked for a new leader. That
was four years ago.
Last week he sent letters to
his staff and the board
announcing that he would be
leaving the position by Dec.
31, 2018.
He will make his official
announcement during the
hospital district's next
meeting, scheduled for May
10, but the news is already
spreading.
"People are happy for me,"
he said during a conversation
after made his
announcement, though he
acknowledged that some were
saddened by the news. Kepple
took over the job when the
hospital was Struggling on
many fronts and has
managed to bring financial
stability, improve the facility,
hire key medical personnel,
give raises to staff, improve
patient relations and more.
Kepple said that it was a
difficult to make the decision
to leave the position, but he
wants to concentrate his time
and energy on family and
See Kepple, page 8A
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