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A roundup of news in “brief” |
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Friday, 04 January 2008 |
Every week on page 3, readers can find small “bites” or “briefs” of short news items. We've collected a few noteworthy items from last year to remind you of stories, including the issue dates in which they first appeared, that weren't covered anywhere else, including other sections of our Year in Review.
Land trade continues, minus hospital (April 26)
What has been known as the Hospital Land Exchange for the property between Hwy 203 and Mammoth Hospital (where Mammoth Community Church now stands) is shifting hands once again. The three parties that were invested in the land trade with the Forest Service were Mono County, the Town of Mammoth Lakes and Mammoth Hospital. At a Town/County meeting last week, Town Manager Rob Clark announced that the hospital has fallen out of that ménage à trois.
The hospital’s 40,000 square-foot expansion that was recently completed drained their bank account for the time being, according to Clark, which is why they will have to step away from the land trade table.
A possible replacement would be the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), but they already have new ideas about what their terms would be, including buying their own separate portion of the property rather than everyone buying an undivided one-third interest as was planned before. -MT
Schlafmann named new Mammoth/Mono Deputy District Ranger (May 10)
The Inyo National Forest recently announced it has promoted Mike Schlafmann, whom many in the Eastern Sierra know as the Winter Sports Specialist on the Inyo, to the position of Deputy District Ranger for the Mammoth and Mono Lake Ranger Districts. Schlafmann takes over the position from Molly Brown, who left the Forest last fall for a position with the BLM in Oregon. He is working out of the Lee Vining Ranger Station and can be reached at (760) 647-3033.
Also joining the Inyo National Forest Leadership Team is Mary Beth Hennessy. Hennessy has worked as the Wilderness Planner on the Inyo for many years, and was recently promoted to the position of Resource Officer. Jeff Marsolais was named Inyo Recreation Officer and comes from the Eldorado National Forest on the west side of the Sierra. –MT/USFS
Inyo National Forest celebrates Centennial (May 24)
Exacly one century ago, on May 25, 1907, the Inyo National Forest was created by proclamation of President Teddy Roosevelt. Originally known as the Inyo Forest Reserve, this small Forest was primarily located along the banks of the Owens River. It grew over the years to include much of the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada range and the Inyo and White Mountain ranges of the far western Great Basin. Today the Inyo is 2.1 million acres of scenic beauty and awe-inspiring destinations.
Throughout the year the Forest Service and some of its partners will be providing ways that people can share their thoughts about how and why the Inyo National Forest is special to them. Stay tuned for information about these opportunities as well as opportunities to participate in volunteer stewardship events such as National Trails Day on June 2, Friends of the Forest on July 7 and National Public Lands Day on Sept. 29. Dates and times and ways to participate in special programs and volunteer events will be posted soon on the Forest Service Web site at www.fs.fed.us/r5/inyo/ and the Town of Mammoth Lakes Web site at www.visitmammoth.com.
Inyo National Forest is looking for more historic photos and stories. If you have some to share, contact Nancy Upham at (760) 873-2427 or
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-MT/USFS
Mammoth Lakes Library gets $148,500 grant (June 21)
Mono County Superintendent of Schools Catherine Hiatt announced late last week that the Mammoth Library has received a $148,500 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help build the new Mammoth Lakes Library.
Hiatt expressed thanks to Congressman Buck McKeon (R-25th District) for his assistance and support in obtaining the funds, as well as to Bill Michael, Mono County Librarian, and his staff, who have been working on the funding source for several months.
The library is on target to open in the fall of 2007, though it is still $420,000 short of the total needed to complete the project. Donations may be made to the Mammoth Lakes Friends of the library, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization so that your support is 100 percent tax deductible and 100 percent goes toward the building of the library. -MT
Governor Schwarzenegger appoints Mammoth's Johnson to California Emergency Council (Aug. 2)
With an administrative policy not taking any chances on health, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger last week appointed Mammoth local Richard O. Johnson, M.D., MPH, 61, to the California Emergency Council. The Council is an advisory body to the Governor in times of emergency, assembled to minimize the effects in times of crises by recommending ameliorative action.
Johnson comes highly recommended to the post, with health credentials that are robust and impressive. He has served as the public health officer for Mono County since 2002 and also has served as interim public health officer for Inyo County since 2006. He serves as the MHOAC, the Medical Health Operational Area Coordinator for both counties. Additionally, Johnson has served as a pediatrician for the Southern Mono Healthcare District at Mammoth Hospital since 1996. -MT
Hospital CEO Myers resigns (Aug. 30)
Gary Myers, Chief Executive Officer of the Southern Mono Healthcare District, has resigned, effective Dec. 31, during an early morning closed session of the Board of Directors on Monday, Aug. 27. Myers has served in this post since January 1995. The Board will begin a formal search process for a new Chief Executive Officer immediately led by board members Jack Copeland and Don Sage, Board Chair.
In a press release from Mammoth Hospital, Myers stated:
“It has been an honor and a privilege to lead the vision and mission of the District for the past 13 years. Several years ago, the board charged me with an aggressive strategic plan to recruit new physicians and other professionals, develop high quality new services, build new facilities, and acquire new technology to create a state-of-the-art healthcare system for our community residents and visitors. All of those assets and infrastructure are now in place and I’m very proud of what our team here at Mammoth Hospital has accomplished over the years. For me, it’s been an immensely pleasurable time in my life to work alongside such intelligent and dedicated professionals and to have had the opportunity to learn so much from everyone. It’s been very gratifying to witness the trust and support of the community that they’ve invested in the hospital as well. While I’ll miss the close working relationship with our physicians, other senior managers, and so many others, I’m excited about the opportunities that lie ahead. I plan to re-enter clinical practice in physical therapy on a part time basis later next year and spend more time with my family enjoying all that the Eastern Sierra has to offer.” -SMHD
Mammoth, local mountains receive season's first dusting of snow (Sept. 27)
As clouds rolled in and end of day temperatures dropped, the greater Mammoth Lakes area was gifted during Wednesday night, Sept. 19, with the season's first dusting of snow. The light layer of white snow on the mountain has brought the feeling of winter back to Mammoth and weather forecasts are calling for scattered snow showers throughout the next few days.
During the day Thursday, Sept. 20, both State Routes 120 west, aka “Tioga Pass,” and 108, “Sonora Pass,” were both temporarily closed due to snow.
On Mammoth Mountain, the operations crew reported approximately one inch of snow at the top of the mountain. With the light dusting, many locals reportedly experienced a cause for optimism regarding the approaching winter season.
According to reports from the Ski Area, crews on the Mountain have been hard at work on many pre-season mountain improvements. Leading the list of improvements is the new high-speed six-pack chair lift, Cloud Nine, which is set to go into service this season, whisking skiers and boarders from the Eagle Lodge side of the Mountain to an elevation of 10,371 feet near Dragon's Back. Mammoth Mountain's opening day is scheduled for Nov. 8, weather permitting. -MT/MMSA
NOTE TO READERS: At press time for our Jan. 3-9, 2008, edition, the Mountain's accumulation of snow was sitting at approximately 55 inches of base depth. A few additional inches of snow were logged during the last weekend of 2007, and a major storm was being watched, with potential heavy snow headed our way, possibly by the time this issue is on newsstands. -MT
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Last Updated ( Friday, 11 January 2008 )
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