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Vol. 81, No.
16 • Feather Publishing
and all of the Indian
/larch 9,2011
Valley Area
'Writing,' to victory
Taylorsville Elementary
School sixth-grader Justus
Eaglesmith is tops when it
comes to spelling.
He is the local champion
for the Scripps National
Spelling Bee and will ad-
vance to regional cOmpeti-
tion in Redding this week.
After some tough compe-
tition from his classmates,
Eaglesmith won with the
correct spelling of the word
"writhe."
Other winners were
Matthew Brooks in second;
Drew Tilton, third; Halley
Machado, fourth; and
Moriah Fitch, fifth.
Teachers appreciate the
diligence of all the students
who participated, and the
assistance of Veronica
Tilton, who organized the
spelling bee.
Primary class winners,
who competed •at a later
date, were Garrett Miille,
Rosemary Balbiani, Alexis
Goodson, Andrew Putnam
and Brian Smalley.
Taylorsville Elementary
School sixth-grader Justus
Eaglesmith (rear left) is the
local champion of the
Scripps National Spelling
Bee. In second through fifth
place were Matthew Brooks,
Drew Tilton, Hailey
Machado and Moriah Fitch•
Photo by Alicia Knadler
Joshua Sebold
Staff Writer
jsebold@plumasnews.com
The Plumas County Board
of Supervisors approved the
filling of three positions in
the Social Services Depart-
ment at a meeting Tuesday,
March 2.
New Supervisor Jon
Kennedy made the motion to
approve the action, telling his
fellow board members he had
an opportunity to speak with
Social Services Director
Elliott Smart about some
clarifying questions since the
last time this item was on the
agenda.
Supervisor Lori Simpson
took the opportunity to dis-
cuss the anticipated changes
in how the state and counties
interact.
"A lot that weighs upon our
mind is the realignment that
may be coming down."
Smart told her there were
still questions about what the
state would do but "things
are beginning to emerge that
address the concerns that
counties have raised."
He reported the state draft-
ed a constitutional guarantee
that some counties requested,
promising, "Funds will
be available for those pro-
grams."
The director said a recent
Department of Finance
report seemed to indicate
that the tax streams the state
proposed to give the counties
to fundheaIth and human
services would fund those
programs at the same levels
as in the current budgeL
Smart also indicated the
finance department proposed
to restore $80 million in
funding that previous Gov.
Arnold .Schwarzenegger cut
two years ago.
The department head
commented, it was "pretty
unlikely" that realignment
would: threaten the child
welfare program but if it did
he would likely eliminate
some contracts and make
other Changes rather than cut
the position he was asking
for authority to refill.
Smart's proposed action
only involves two actual new
employees being hired.
The department is looking
to fill a mandated program
manager position to work
on food stamps and child
support, which will become
vacant due to retirement at
the end of the month.
Smart also wants to refill
a social worker position in
the adult protective services
unit that investigates "the
most serious allegations of
abuse or neglect," which
became vacant at the end of
January.
The third position, a
similar investigative post in
child protective services, was
approved in case the depart-
ment decides to make an
internal hire to fill the adult
protective vacancy.
, .q,
Joshua Sebold Keller said the agency gram," helamented. "It's just only had funding for half as the community development
Staff Writer already withstood a loss of one of those things where the many in 2011.. block grant system, primarily
jsebold@plumasnews.com funding in weatherization most in need are always the Keller told the commissionused locally for subsidizing
and energy assistance pro-onesthat get cut first." funding for the Section 8 water and sewer projects and
Community Development grams as the stimulus pack- "I agree with Bob," Chester rental housing assistance funding groups like Plumas
Commission (CDC) staff de- age faded into the distance, Commissioner SherrieThrall program for low-income fam- Rural Services and the
livered gloomy reports about from the CDC's perspective, chimed in. "This is coming at ilies wot:ld likely be frozen to Plumas Crisis Intervention
the future of the agency's He explained the group wasa time when most all of our preserve the people already and Resource Center, was one
federal funding at the group's expecting further cuts in all constituents who are on the in the program, of the main programs in the
last two meetingS, programs for 2011 and 2012. program can least afford to He added that a reserve ac- crosshairs.
The bad news began to pile Keller told the commissionget it slashed." count in another public hous- Keller said the program
up when Executive Director the energy assistance pro-"Well, we're already get-ing program was "vulnerable was slated for a 50 percent
David Keller told the commis- gram, which can pay one ting calls on the decrease in to recapture" by the reds.reduction, while the House of
sion the House of Representa- month's heating or energy in-home supportive set- The director indicatedcom-Representatives was aiming
tives finally submitted its bill bill for a family per year on vices," Meacher added. "So munity action agency fundsto eliminate it completely.
for reductions, five months an emergency basis, was this is just the same group of were also on the chopping The director explained the
into the federalfiscalyear, moving into "what we see people probably." block, with a 50 percent cut program was recently mis-
"That's probably the deep- as an era of really reduced "That's right," Keller re- anticipated in 2012 and 2011 used in some larger areas,
est we've ever been into a fis- resources." sponded. "It's going to hit in funding still up in the air. which might damage the
cal year in which the govern- Indian Valley Commission- a lot of different ways and at- He said the 33 community- small counties and cities that
ment does not have a budget er Robert Meacher said he eas because so many of the based organizations that re- actually need the funding.
so it's unbelievably unset- disagreed with the feds cut- agencies that we work with ceived funding in Lassen, Yagerhofer said 4th Con-
tling to everyone and very ring this program at a time are under the gun in terms of Plumas and Sierra countiesgressional District Rep. Tom
difficult to plan." when Congress vowed to cuts." this year were already McClintock, who represents
The director indicated this target waste and inefficiency. CDC Finance Director Tom warned not to spend any ofPlumas, recently introduced
year's budget was so late that "I don't think there's folks Yagerhofer reported the pro- the funds until more informa- a bill to eliminate the block
work on the 2012 budget was out there getting an unjust gram served between 500 and tion was available, grants completely.
already beginning, enrichment from this pro- 600 families in 2010 and likely Finally, Keller explained "I don't think he realizes
the distinction totally be-
tween large entitlement com-
munities and small rural
competitive communities,
like the ones that make up a
good part of his district," the
financial director added.
"I think he realizes it, he's
just for 'cut everything,'"
Quincy Commissioner Lori
Simpson responded.
Keller told the board the
CDC continued to receive
funding based on the 2010
levels in most situations and
asked the commission to
appoint a subcommittee to
begin planning how the
group should address the an-
ticipated changes to a fiscal
year already in progress.
Thrall and Meacher agreed
to join the ad hoc committee,
as Keller indicated their dis-
tricts would likely face the
largest impact from the cuts
due to the significance of
local public housing projects.
?,
ir
ul
Delaine Fragnoli issued since the state budget A number were graduates me be more than just a
Managing Editor crisis began, from local high schools who babysitter," said another. "I
dfragnoli@plumasnews.com Board chairman BillElliottchose to remain in Plumascan get a meaningful job
cautioned the packed board- County so they could attend right now," said a student
Trustees for Feather River room that the layoffs might FRC and study in the from Chester.
College voted unanimously not come to pass, but by law program. History instructor Tom
Friday, March 4, to reduce the college had to notify Shelley Miller, who runs Heaney, speaking as a
the school's academic faculty affected employees of the the program, told trustees parent, said his children
by the equivalent of 2.5 possibility by March 15. The she was "baffled" by her went to child care facilities
positions. An additionalposi- school must make a final program's inclusion on the staffed by ECE grads. "They
tion, in early childhood decision on the layoffs bylist of cuts. She said 83 per- are vital to this community.
education (ECE), was saved May 15. • cent of her students are local Of all the programs on the
after impassioned testimonyCollege president Dr. Ron grads. Her program also list (of cuts), this one stands
from students, teachers, Taylor called the action"pre- boasts a very high employ- out for its connection of
parents and staff during cautionary, preliminary and ment rate. ECE"ispart of the collegeto community."
public comment, a part-- a small part-- of the infrastructure of each and Biology instructor Anna
The cuts include half-time budget picture." every community," she said. Thompson noted that the pro-
equivalents in men's basket- Trustees voted down a "~/ou can't have economicposed cuts disproportionately
ball, women's basketball and similar proposal last yeardevelopment without earlytargeted programs that large-
physical education, and after an outcry by students childhood education." ly serve women-- women's
a full-time equivalent in and faculty. The men's andStudents testified to basketball, ECE and office
administrative office man- women's basketball and theMiller's power as a teacher, management -- and called
agement, office management positions One, a Plumas Charter them "unfair." She pointed
The layoffs come as the were repeats from last year's School graduate from out the importance of having
college faces delayed pay- list. Greenville, broke down intrained child care workers
ments and budget cuts at the At last week's meeting, a tears, saying she had just in helping to identify and
state level. They are the first dozen supporters spoke in three classes to finish to prevent child abuse and "
faculty layoff notices to be defense of the ECE program, graduate. The program "lets domestic violence.
Haley White, women's
basketball coach, defended
her program. She reiterated
Thompson's concerns about
women's programs taking the
brunt of the cuts. She noted
that 69 percent of the school's
athletes were male and 31
percent were female, which
is out of line with the overall
student population.
White pointed out that
athletes fill the dorins and
the athletic center and make
those ventures viable for the
college.
After public comment,
trustee John Schramel imme-
diately motioned that the
ECE position be removed
from the list of possible cuts.
He was quickly seconded by
John Sheehan.
It took several attempts
before there was a clear vote
on the motion. Some trustees
See FRC, page 5A
111[!!!!1111!!!!!!117
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