News

RAW: Skier dies after fall in Wipe Out Chute

February 4, 2013

A 49-year-old skier died Sunday, Feb. 3 at Mammoth Mountain after a nasty fall in one of the two Wipe Out chutes near the top of the mountain, according to a statement issued Monday by the ski area.

The accident happened at approximately 12:40 p.m., according to the statement.

A male skier, 49, lost control and fell in upper Wipe Out 2 (a Double Black Diamond run at the top of Mammoth Mountain).

According to witnesses, the guest fell, slid down the chute, collided with a rock and continued to slide. 

Mammoth schools to improve safety plans; public hearing on Feb. 28

February 1, 2013

The Mammoth Unified School District will refine its school safety plans in the wake of the school shootings in Newtown, Conn., according to schools superintendent Rich Boccia.

Speaking at a school board meeting on Thursday, Jan. 24, Boccia announced a multi-effort ramp-up that would involve the Mammoth Lakes Police Department, the Mono County Sheriff’s Department, the California Highway Patrol, the Mammoth Fire District and other emergency personnel.

Lynda Salcido appointed as acting county administrator for Mono County

February 1, 2013

The Mono County Board of Supervisors appointed Lynda Salcido as “Acting County Administrative Officer (CAO)” on Tuesday, Jan. 29.

A long-term county employee, Salcido is also Mono County’s director of Public Health, a position she has held for 13 years. She also served as the county’s Emergency Medical Services director after former county fire rescue chief Mark Mikulicich retired in 2011.

RAW: Tioga Road rehabilitation plan available

February 1, 2013

According to the National Park Service, Yosemite National Park has signed the Tioga Road Rehabilitation Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).

The FONSI records the decision of the National Park Service to rehabilitate, restore and resurface approximately 41 miles of the Tioga Road. The Tioga Road, bounded on both sides by State Highway 120, and open seasonally, is a popular east-west crossing of the Sierra Nevada.

Stolen petroglyphs recovered, culprits still at large

February 1, 2013

A set of petroglyph panels stolen from a cultural site north of Bishop last fall have been returned to the Bureau of Land Management but authorities are still looking for those responsible for the theft and the damage at the site.

Phone calls to the BLM seeking comment on how the petroglyph panels were recovered were not returned.
The damaged petroglyph site was first reported in October, 2012, at which time authorities said six panels had been removed by rock saws and chisels.

June Lake hosts first Winter Festival and triathlon Feb 1-Feb. 3

January 30, 2013

Giant blocks of snow have been delivered to 19 businesses and organizations along June Lake's Main Street for the community-wide Snow Sculpture Competition this Saturday afternoon, Feb. 2—all part of the inaugural June Lake Winter Festival & Triple Threat Triathlon, Feb. 1-3.

Jeanne Standley "Celebration of Life" on Wednesday, Jan. 30

January 28, 2013

Mammoth Hospital Auxiliary invites the community to join us as we share happy memories and celebrate the life of Jeanne Standley who passed away on December 24, 2012.  It will be Wednesday, January 30, 2013, from 3:00 to 6:00 PM at the Mammoth Lakes Community Center on Forest Trail, just east of Minaret.

‘One Day in Yosemite’

January 25, 2013

Filmmaker Bumgardner completes ambitious video

Last June 26 was not a particularly unusual day in Yosemite National Park. It was a bit crowded in the Valley and along the Tioga Road features, but it was not weekend heavy.

Ho hum.

But to filmmaker Steve Bumgardner, no day is ever a ho-hum day in the park. On June 26, 2012, he made it extraordinary.

Dramatic theater breaks out at Planning Commission

January 25, 2013

Klassen dons boxing gloves, challenges Hertzog to fight

If they’d known what was coming, the members of the Mammoth Lakes Planning Commission might have wanted to sell tickets to their meeting Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 23.