School Delays And Cancelations Due To Slick Roads

Tuolumne County, CA – A stretch of Wards Ferry Road was closed this morning due to public safety concerns over storm damage on the roadway. The closure will also allow Tuolumne County Public Works crews to assess the situation, which they plan to do tomorrow. The closed span is between Richards Ranch and 17077 Wards Ferry Road in the Sonora area. The decision to shut down the area, according to road officials, came after finding “substantial storm damage,” which included several land and rock slides. They added that one area of major concern is where the road appears to be “sliding away.”

Sonora, CA – Travelers along Highway 108 and Mono Way may have noticed some tall fencing put up, all near former homeless camps. The fences are made of wrought iron and are 7 feet high. On Thursday, crews began installing the barriers along the Highway 108 eastbound off-ramp up to Stockton Road. That is near the former Camp Hope that was shut down last year after the City of Sonora and Caltrans joined forces, citing ordinance violations and health concerns for its closure, as earlier reported here. The two also worked together in 2021 to get fencing put up around a Caltrans property on Mono Way near the Greenley Road intersection, where fire was a concern, as detailed here. The third location is behind the Lowe’s and Walmart stores along Highway 108.

San Andreas, CA – Those wanting to give in-person feedback on the Calaveras County Evacuation Needs Assessment and Preparedness Plan will have two chances next month. City of Angels Camp officials noted, “In the midst of a local and state-declared emergency, it is a perfect time to remember that we need to plan for evacuations. With our heritage roads (barely single lane) and steep grades, we need to identify a plan for our community safety.”

San Andreas, CA — Calaveras County’s Tree Mortality Program foresters have spotted new areas of high tree mortality, with surveys recently completed around the Blue Lake Springs area of Arnold, the greater Big Trees Village region, and around the 2015 Butte Fire burn scar. Trees impacted by years...

Calaveras County, CA – Calaveras County has a new hotline set up for those impacted by the recent storm damage to get free cleanup help. Those needing assistance must act quickly, as the hotline will only be staffed through Friday, January 27. Callers will be able to speak with representatives from several relief organizations to request assistance with cleaning up after the recent flooding. County officials detailed, “This hotline will connect people with reputable and vetted voluntary relief agencies that will assist in debris cleanup and mucking out, as they are able. All services are free, but service is not guaranteed due to the expected overwhelming need.”

Valley Springs, CA – A caller recently reported an unconscious woman inside a parked vehicle at a Valley Springs shopping center, but it was no medical emergency. Calaveras County sheriff’s deputies headed to the Valley Oaks Center strip mall off Highway 26 in Valley Springs. There they found 36-year-old Rehnee Briggs of Lodi slumped over the vehicle’s center console. After waking her, deputies found no medical emergency, but noticed drug paraphernalia on the steering column, according to sheriff’s spokesperson Lt. Greg Stark.

Dianne Edith Burk, Born April 8, 1943 in Stockton, California passed away Thursday, January 19, 2023 at her residence in Sonora, California. At her request, private family graveside services were held in St. James Catholic Cemetery in Jamestown, California Terzich & Wilson Cremation-Funeral Home entrusted with Funeral arrangements. Date of...

Jamestown, CA — John Petter, a local engineer, ham radio enthusiast, and friend to many, has died. Petter, 80, passed away peacefully this past Saturday. He moved to Tuolumne County in 1991, first working for Olsen Technology, and then spending 11 years as Clarke Broadcasting’s Chief Engineer, playing an integral role overseeing technical aspects for the radio stations KVML, Star 92.7 and 93.5 KKBN, until his retirement in 2013.

Billie “Bill” Lee Rife, Born March 3, 1928 in Kearny, Nebraska passed away Tuesday, December 27, 2022 in Our Lady of Perpetual Nursing in Stockton, California. Private burial was in Dudley Cemetery in Greeley Hill, California. Terzich & Wilson Cremation-Funeral Home entrusted with Funeral arrangements. Date of Death:...

Sonora, CA — The CIF Sac Joaquin Section will be holding a series of meetings over the coming months to realign several of the high school sports leagues in an effort to bring more balance among the competing schools. The initial realignment plan was released at the first meeting...

San Andreas, CA – Capuchin monkey Zeppo, PAWS pictured in the image box, has a new home, as PAWS has relocated all the animals from its two other wildlife refuges in California to its San Andreas sanctuary in Calaveras County. “As of this month, all of the rescued and...

Raymond “Ray” Louis Stiffler, Born September 15, 1935 in Royal Oak, Michigan passed away Friday, January 20, 2023 at Sonora Senior Living in Jamestown, California. Terzich & Wilson Cremation-Funeral Home entrusted with Cremation arrangements. Date of Death: 01/20/2023. Age: 87. Residence: Sonora ,CA.

Chinese Camp, CA – A man and woman being evicted from a home they rented in Chinese Camp threatened another “Ruby Ridge” standoff with deputies if they attempted to force him to leave. It was a reference to the eleven-day siege that took place in 1992 in...

There are a few events happening in the Mother Lode this weekend. Sonora High Boys Soccer Pancake Breakfast at the Sonora Applebee’s is this Saturday, January 28th from 8 am to 10 am. Silent auction items will be on site with lottery tickets for a basket, the funds raised will help support Wildcat Soccer.

Martell, CA — In Amador County, a man was arrested after running from law enforcement and being caught with numerous stolen bank cards. Sheriff’s deputies approached 27-year-old Darian Keeling of Sutter Creek sitting on a park bench at around 10:30pm near the Lowes in Martell. He initially told the deputy he was someone else, and admitted the bank cards in his possession were stolen. As Keeling was being detained, he ran away on foot through the parking lot. After a brief chase, he was caught, and arrested. Keeling was later booked into Amador County Jail. An investigation into the stolen cards is ongoing.

Dorothy Dean Logan Born October 7, 1926 in Bakersfield, California passed away Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at Avalon Care Center Sonora. Graveside services will be held. Terzich & Wilson Cremation-Funeral Home entrusted with Funeral arrangements. Date of Death: 01/25/2023. Age: 97. Residence: Sonora, CA (formerly of Bakersfield) Services: Graveside services...

Michael “Mike” Wayne Foster, Born September 26, 1961 in Grass Valley, California passed away Thursday, December 29, 2022 at Adventist Health Sonora. Funeral Services have been held and interment was in Mt. Shadow Cemetery in Sonora, California. Terzich & Wilson Cremation-Funeral Home entrusted with arrangements. Date of Death:...

Sharrin Franklin, born May 25, 1939 in San Francisco passed away Jan. 24, 2023. She volunteered at the Senior center, and owned and was the bookkeeper at S&W Freight Service. She loved camping within RV with her husband (Warren passed in 2005) and loved her cat Lukas. Date of Death:...

Burson, CA — A multi-agency drug bust in the 10000 block of Camanche Parkway in Burson led to three arrests on drug and theft-related charges. SWAT teams in Calaveras and Amador counties were involved, along with the CHP, and the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office Air Operations. A search...

William Henry Walker, Born November 25, 1928 in Racine, Wisconsin passed away Friday, January 13, 2023 at Adventist Health Sonora. Cremation is planned with inurnment with Military Honors will be Los Angeles National Cemetery in Los Angeles, California. Terzich & Wilson Cremation-Funeral Home entrusted with Cremation arrangements. Date of Death:...