Communities Rising June 29
Well, I know you’ve heard the news. As of July 31, no more Plumas News. Judging from my inbox not many are surprised by this, but no one wants to see the lights go out on small town/small county news. I agree that independent rural generated news is important and vital and I hope something will fill the void.
I have some hope and a tale to tell. Where I mostly am now is Orange County, where we once had a solid ultra conservative news source (the Orange County Register) and a progressive weekly (the OC Weekly). The Register was bought out by a media conglomerate so there’s no real local news anymore and the OC Weekly went out of print. The Los Angeles Times is struggling so it barely covers Orange County.
In the absence of no one watching you can imagine the grift.
Enter Voice of the OC (https://voiceofoc.org/). It runs on donations and is a non-profit and it’s pretty much where most people in Orange County get our news now. Many of the reporters there used to work at the Register or they’re straight out of college and have the tenacity to sit through long city council meetings.
They’ve uncovered big stories and won many prestigious journalism awards and the website has done a great deal to unify a county that while “purple” was opposite ends red and blue. They have a section where they post all agencies’ press releases on the daily so that residents get info on fire, police, schools, water, etc.
It’s my hope that we do something similar in Plumas County—perhaps a mix of seasoned former reporters and young college students tying in with local radio stations to come together and keep it all happening.
Speaking of coming together, the Save Our Schools campaign in Indian Valley seems to have made a few strides.
According to Kest Porter, the PCOE Foundation decided to put most of the two million dollars in a CD for the next seven months to give all of those involved time to look at the proposal to combine both school systems on one campus. That part of the proposal was enacted on June 22.
The Save Our Schools campaign is now waiting on a date (as of yesterday) to set up meetings with the two systems.
Also I’ve heard from a number of people that because perhaps our towns look empty, people are speeding through town. Last night a beloved cat was killed by a speeder on Hot Springs Road. Other pets have been killed on North Valley Road. Slow down.
Have a wonderful 4th of July weekend whether you head to the rodeo in Taylorsville, the parade, or brave hanging with the tourists at High Sierra Music Festival.
I’ve heard from a number of people that email may have bounced back from [email protected]. So sorry about that. You are welcomed to try again now, or send information to [email protected]. Either way I am happy to post information on events in our communities until July 31. Send away.
Here’s some of what I do have.
Taylorsville Pool
Open Swim time! Open swim is noon to 4 p.m. and starts this Saturday. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Family pass sign-ups start tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. at the pool ($120 for the season). The pool needs volunteers. Open swim is mostly every Saturday in the summer with the exception of fair week, with additional open swim days July 6 through 8, August 3 through 5, 10 through 12, 17 through 19, and 24 through 26 along with September 2. Cost is still $4.00 a swim for ages 5 to 64; $2.00 for seniors.
Historic Hall Dance
Get your dancing shoes on, it’s time for the annual dance at the Taylorsville Historic Hall on Sunday, July 2 from 9 p.m. to midnight. There will be a dj and a cash bar plus all your friends and neighbors. Entrance fee is $10 per person and proceeds go to help with the upkeep of the hall.
Forest Therapy
“Come relax and restore in nature with us” the flyer reads. Forest Therapy at Round Valley Reservoir takes place on Sunday, July 9 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and is free. To register call or text Natalie at (530) 927-8784 or email at [email protected].
