News

Gregory confronts rumors, says Mammoth Mountain not for sale

April 16, 2013

Mammoth Mountain Ski Area CEO Rusty Gregory confronted persistent rumors that Mammoth Mountain has is going to be sold or has been sold to Vail Resorts with five short words Tuesday.

“We are not for sale,” he said, to a Bridgeport courthouse room full of June Lake residents and the Mono County Board of Supervisors. He said he was talking to a top executive of the company a few weeks ago about something unrelated and perhaps, that was where the rumor was coming from.

What's Up, Up Here? April 12- 18

April 15, 2013

A very swell time around here this past week, with Karla Souzaand Luis Mendezin town, and if you don’t know who they are, you’re not up to speed on the biggest film stars in Mexico. They starred in the brand new “Nosotros los Nobles,” and were here for a little rest and relaxation. By the way, Souza was big-time in Aspenbefore re-locating to Mexico City, in case you were wondering. …

Gobi Desert dust storm article causes ‘diplomatic brouhaha’

April 15, 2013

March 22 event got international attention

A deluge of white dust that blanketed the Owens and Long Valley region this past Sunday was not from China’s Gobi—unlike the white haze that hit the region three weeks ago Friday.

Both local and federal air pollution measurement instruments traced the thick white haze on March 22 to the Gobi Desert. A dust storm there had also been plaguing the Chinese city of Beijing a few days earlier.

Bishop residents arrested after allegedly embezzling $1.5 million from county's poor

April 12, 2013

Investigators with the Inyo County District Attorney’s Office arrested two residents Thursday afternoon in connection with alleged embezzlement at Inyo County Health and Human Services’ welfare office.

Health and Human Resources Manager Dawndee Rossy, 46, of Bishop, has been charged with two counts of grand theft, 34 counts of identity theft, two counts of embezzlement, one count of possession of controlled substance, one count of welfare fraud and four counts of criminal conspiracy.

Residents weigh in on county priorities

April 12, 2013

County citizens lob everything from solar energy to algae blooms at supervisors

County residents hit their county supervisors Tuesday with a blizzard of suggestions designed to make the county function better and to bring an ever-increasing number of people into the county.

It was all part of a county-sponsored workshop, and the ideas flew fast and furious.

County moves toward solar energy

April 9, 2013

Bridgeport building could be first pilot project

It seems a shame, with more than 300 days of sunshine, that Mono County buildings don’t take advantage of solar power more often, according to at least one county supervisor.

That supervisor, Larry Johnston, has been trying to change this over the past two years of his term, bringing solar energy to meetings again and again.

Finally, his efforts may pay off.

County eyes its own solution to garbage woes

April 9, 2013

A breakdown in communication with Town of Mammoth still problematic

Mono County and the Town of Mammoth Lakes have been dancing around each other over the issue of garbage for many years.

On Tuesday, the Mono County Board of Supervisors, for the first time, indicated it might be willing to “take out the trash” alone, if need be—even if it means raising parcel fee rates.

‘Kamikaze Bike Games’ rounding into shape

April 9, 2013

Four-day event will feature ‘Gran Fondos’ on roads, mountain

The band-new Kamikaze Bike Games, a five-day event scheduled for the first week of September, will add several new features to some familiar events.

Apart from bringing back mountain bike racing on Mammoth Mountain for the third time since 2005, the Sept. 4-8 festival this year folds in the stalwart Sept. 7 High Sierra Fall Century road bike ride, with a “Gran Fondo” twist.

Halferty replaces Hennarty as housing chief

April 8, 2013

The Mammoth Lakes Housing, Inc. (MLH) Board of Directors announced this past week that current Deputy Director Jennifer Halferty has been appointed to serve as the Executive Director for Mammoth Lakes Housing.

Halferty has been with the non-profit workforce housing organization for the past seven years and before that she worked four years in the administration department of the Mono County Library.

She replaces Pam Hennarty, who resigned the position to take a job with Inyo County.