-Headline News

Eight month old Chips is ready for release into the wilds on April 19 in Humboldt bobcat territory. Photo courtesy Sierra Wildlife Rescue

Feather Publishing

  Chips the bobcat continues to attract the limelight with news of her recent release.

  Found by a Mad River Hand Crew firefighter when she was just four weeks old, the kitten was initially taken to Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care for medical treatment and rehabilitation.

Caltrans is preparing to widen a section of lanes along Highway 32 by removing trees along the roadside. Construction could commence as early as the beginning of June and will cause complete and partial road closures until the work is finished. Photo by Samantha P. Hawthorne

Samantha P. Hawthorne

  The California Department of Transportation has completed its tree removal project along Highway 32 and will be opening bids for curve improvement and shoulder widening April 23.

  According to Caltrans Senior Construction Engineer Jim Rogers, it should take two to three weeks for the contract to be awarded and another four to five weeks before work begins. He said at the soonest, work could commence by the beginning of June.

Portola native Mia Krakowski, 23, will be hiking the Pacific Crest Trail by herself. She will begin her journey April 23 and plans to finish around the end of August.Photo courtesy Mia Krakowski

Carolyn Carter

  On April 23, 23-year-old Mia Krakowski will be taking a hike. For most Portola natives this is a common recreational activity, but most Portola natives do not hike the 2,663-mile Pacific Crest Trail all by themselves.

  Krakowski will be embarking on her first long-distance hike through the West. She will be taking about five months and will begin at the PCT trailhead near the Mexican border. She plans to be finished around August or September.

  Given the extensive resources and research required to get a thorough understanding on the utilization of woody biomass, Indian Valley Community Services District board members decided to put a hold on taking action on the matter.

  During their April 10 meeting, the board members agreed that research into the subject is so extensive that it would take hiring a full-time engineer to get the proper handle on things.

  Plumas County employees will continue to work four nine-hour days — at least that’s the assumption county supervisors will begin with as they start the next fiscal year’s budget process.

  During the board’s April 9 meeting, the county’s budget consultant, Susan Scarlett, said that she and county Auditor Roberta Allen were beginning to work on the 2013-14 budget and wanted direction.