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An Open Letter To The Residents Of Mariposa County From Glenn Bell,  Former Incident Information Officer
For The Ferguson Rock Slide

To the people of Mariposa and Mariposa County:
 
Although this is a little late, I would like to commend the people of Mariposa and Mariposa County for their friendliness during the Ferguson Rockslide Incident.  I was assigned there as part of an Incident Management Team from June 21 - July 4, as an Information Officer. This was my first ever visit to the area.  While news of the rockslide closing RT 140 seemed to spell doom and gloom to the town of Mariposa, residents did not show that attitude.  The Tourist Bureau also reinforced that attitude to visitors when they stopped in for  information.
 
Although the slide is still active, I see in the Mariposa Sun-Times Web page the first of the temporary bridges is about to open.  And soon, the second bridge will be finished, and a TEMPORARY solution will be in place.  You all must keep pressure on the officials in charge that a more PERMANENT solution must be found.  And, I believe you will.
 
I am from Pennsylvania, and I related to folks I worked with we had a similar situation occur in the North Central Region of Pennsylvania.  The solution was costly, and rock slides still occur, but they are manageable. 
 
Additionally, Mariposa has an excellent base of Gold Rush history to rely upon.  This history is an excellent reason to advertise to Yosemite tourists what Mariposa and Mariposa County have to offer to see when they come to Yosemite.  Think of Mariposa as the place to stay, and Yosemite as a place to visit.  YART is an excellent means for tourists to leave the driving to others.
 
I had the opportunity to visit Coulterville after working hours one evening.  I am a history buff, and, what they have developed in their town is quite interesting.  I also had the opportunity to visit the California History Museum in Mariposa one evening.  There had been a lecture series there, and the museum was still open.  I wandered in, and rather than telling me the museum was closed, the guide (I don't remember her name) encouraged me to look around.  This type of hospitality is definitely encouraging
 
I have added the Mariposa Sun-Times to my list of websites, and will still continue to follow the progress with the slide, and solutions.
 
Keep up the good work.  Never give up.
 
Glenn Bell 
 		    






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