Mariposa County 2011 Year in Review - May

A month by month look back at the top stories for 2011. May 2011.

Other months:
January 2011 - February 2011 - March 2011 - April 2011 - May 2011 - June 2011

July 2011 - August 2011 - October 2011 - November 2011 - December 2011

Yosemite Rangers Responded to Three Unrelated Fatalities on Friday, May 13, 2011

Willie Nelson Concert Moved To Ironestone Winery In Murphys

Tuolumne County Touted As Model For Rural Economic Development In California

Tuesday Evening May 10, 2011 Mariposa County Sign Ordinance Workshop
The sign at the County Line is illegal. The Board of Supervisors (BOS) did not want to replicate what committees have already done. A follow-up meeting will be held on Monday, June 13, 2011. Then this ordinance will either go to the Planning Commission or to the Board of Supervisors for formal hearings. Mr. Cann said that he personally hates that this has presented some degree of strife in the community.

The Mariposa County Pioneer Wagon Train Officially Cancelled
This is the 36^th annual wagon train event, but due to the EHV-1 virus in horses which has spread throughout California and other states, the Wagon Train Board of Director’s has cancelled their ride portion of the wagon train event this year.

The Mariposa County Board of Supervisors Received the Annual Report from the Economic Development Corporation of Mariposa on Tuesday, May 17, 2011 (With Audio)
Marilyn Lidyoff currently spends less than thirty minutes a week on EDC business. (As the Business Development Coordinator for the county Marilyn Lidyoff spends many hours writing grants that are business related such as the Micro Enterprise Loan Program for new businesses in the county.) Supervisor Lee Stetson mentions a "Business Tax" could be a tremendous benefit. Then he changes it to "License." Mr. Biery mentions a group of people coming together in the county to fund a public affairs consultant. The retainer for this consultant is $5,000 a month with a thirty day cancellation clause and Kevin Cann has been out in the community getting funding for this. He said various organizations will hopefully pitch in for a year of funding. He said that the consultant will help to bring a conference center and performing arts center to Mariposa with additional hotel rooms.

State Parks Announces Closures Including California Mining & Mineral Museum and Railtown 1897

Sheila E. is coming to Mariposa
Sheila E. is coming to Mariposa on Thursday, June 2, 2011 to present the Grammy award to the Mariposa County High School Grizzly Band.

Grammy-Award Winning Percussionist Sheila E To Present MCHS Grizzly Band With Grammy Signature Schools Enterprise Award

Redistricting the Supervisorial District Boundaries in Mariposa County

Pete Judy, Mariposa County Chief Probation Officer addresses the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors on AB109 and the Supreme Court decision addressing California Prison overpopulation (With Audio)
Mariposa County Chief Probation Officer Pete Judy, provided information to the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, May 24, 2011 on the Supreme Court decision addressing California Prison overpopulation and AB 109 and how it will affect Mariposa County.

Odd Fellows Help American Legion With Boy's State

New Emergency Medical Responders

MCFD Fire Academy Graduates Twelve

May 3, 2011 Mariposa County Board of Supervisors (BOS) Meeting (With Audio)
Authorize the Board of Supervisors Chair to Sign a Letter Opposing AB 392 (Alejo) – Ralph M. Brown Act; Posting Agendas.
This item was passed without a mention by the BOS or the CAO. This is a bill in the California legislature that would require the county to post all supporting documents of the agenda online and other items. The CAO opposes this due to Mariposa County's "Precarious Financial Situation."

May 10, 2011 Mariposa County Unified School District Board Of Trustees Meeting on the Closure of the Coulterville/Greeley Hill and Catheys Valley Schools (With Audio)
The Mariposa County Unified School District Board Of Trustees tabled closing the Coulterville/Greeley Hill and Catheys Valley schools on Tuesday evenings meeting. The school closures will be further discussed at a special meeting to be held this Thursday, May 12 at 6:00 p.m. at the Mariposa County High School Auditorium.

Mariposa County Unified School District Board Of Trustees Vote to Close Catheys Valley and Coulterville/Greeley Hill Schools (With Audio)
Mr. Rosander said that this is the most significant crises the schools have ever faced, school budgets have been sliced by 20% in the last two years, that the schools in the county are currently facing a $700,000 to $1,000,000 shortfall in the next twelve months. He said the total budget is $10,500,000 and that $1,000,000 is about to go away. Also that school enrollment is steadily declining, in 1995 there were 2,700 students, today there is barely over 1,900 students, that families have left Mariposa County primarily for economic reasons. The decline in the student enrollments has led to $4,200,000 in lost revenue to the district. That the county can longer afford to run thirteen schools. The failure of MCUSD is not an option, that a budget has to be submitted on time, that the district has to remain solvent and this will require closing some schools.

Master Gardeners Graduate The Class Of 2011

Mariposa VFW Post 6042 Provides $2, 200 to the Mariposa County High School Band
The money will be used to help pay for their New York trip.

Mariposa County Fire, Perpetual Trophy Winner

Mariposa County Board of Supervisors Discuss A Report by the County Auditor on a Equity Adjustment for the Assistant Auditor (With Audio)
Mr Davis said that the former Auditor had decided not to grant any equity adjustments to the Assistant County Auditor because he felt that the person gets longevity pay and that if he included that in the salary calculation that the person made sufficient money. Mr Davis said that CAO Rick Benson had not agreed with that position and had told the former Auditor that he did not agree. But the former Auditor was firm in his decision. Former Auditor Chris Ebie mentions that he takes great exception to the letter that the Auditor sent to the BOS that accuses him of unjust and improper treatment to the Assistant Auditor. Supervisor Jim Allen said he was bothered by the comments of unjust treatment of an county employee in Mr. Davis's letter and he never treated anybody unjustly in his former job and did not need to be in the document. And the wording that is in the document is that if the BOS does not approve the Resolution that they treat county employees unjustly. He takes offence to this.

Local Recipient Of Violet Richardson Award Is Regional Finalist

IOOF Contributes To The Mariposa Student Loan Association

Don Pedro Fire Station Ground Breaking Ceremony

Coulterville Odd Fellows Lodge Members Receives Pins

Cathi Boze, Mariposa County Agricultural Commissioner addreses the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors on the Equine Herpes Myeloencephalopathy Virus

California Grew By 0.8 Percent In 2010 while Mariposa County Declined by .01 Percent as Residents Moved out of the County
The California Department of Finance estimates that Mariposa County had 18,261 residents as of 1/01/2011 compared to 18,277 residents on 1/01/2010. That corresponds to a .01 percent drop in population.

2011 Mariposa Butterfly Hat Contest Winners

Friends of the Fair Non Profit to Form in Mariposa County