Around the Web
 Plan Could Save Railtown And Fairgrounds
 County Administrator Craig Pedro is proposing that the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) that is placed on hotels, be expanded to include campgrounds, houseboats and RV parks.

Up-dated: SST Badger Pass Daily Ski Report for February 3, 2012
Badger Pass is located in Yosemite National Park.
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Prayers and Donations Accepted for Andie Anderson
Andie Anderson is three years old and was recently diagnosed with a type of cancer that attacks bone tissue. Donations are accepted at Yosemite Bank under the name Andie Anderson.
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The second annual Tour de Habitat event is coming this Sunday, February 5, 2012
Tour de Habitat, the stationary bike-a-thon, will be on February 11 from 1:00-6:00 pm at New Life Christian Fellowship on Cole Road. Come join the fun on that Saturday afternoon! Participants will ride a bike for only 15 minutes each on teams of six. For those more avid bikers, the 50-mile road ride will be held on Feb. 5 at 11:00 and will begin and end at 5092 Smith Road in Mariposa, taking the scenic Bear Valley/Hornitos route.
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January 2012 Nonfarm Payroll Employment rises by 243, 000 as the Unemployment Rate declined by 0.2 percentage point to 8.3 percent
The change in total nonfarm payroll employment for November was revised from +100,000 to +157,000, and the change for December was revised from +200,000 to +203,000.
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Today in Area News
Merced and Mariposa youngsters recognized for ag-related projects
Read the Area News..

Around the Web
The Auto Club used to post way finding signs in LA.
Photos of Photos of Los Angeles
Thanks Tom O.
And
California Man Pleads Guilty in Extortion Scheme
An Angels Camp, California man pleaded guilty today to a federal extortion charge in connection with last year’s special gubernatorial election held in West Virginia, announced U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin.
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Statement by Assemblymember Olsen on Assembly Action to Protect Rural School Bus Funding
"I am really pleased that SB 81 passed the Assembly today. This measure will keep the buses rolling and ensure that our kids will be treated fairly across the state regardless of where they live or where they go to school."
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Governor Brown Sends Pension Reform Language to Legislature
Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today delivered the proposed language for his 12-point pension reform plan to leaders of the state legislature’s Conference Committee on Public Employee Pensions.
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Denham Amendment Adopted By Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, to be included in American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act
“Highway bill money should be used on highways,” said Congressman Denham, Subcommittee Chair on the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. “This Administration and the California legislature want high-speed rail at any cost, they will spend lavishly without a disciplined plan and say anything to get it done..."
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California REALTORS® applaud Obama’s proposal to help troubled homeowners
“We are pleased that President Obama understands that a recovery in the housing market is essential to a recovery in the nation’s economy,” said C.A.R. President LeFrancis Arnold.
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Forest Ranger Visits Kiwanis Preschool Children
The exciting culmination of the children’s study of forest animals at Kiwanis Preschool was a visit from forest ranger Sharon Miyako.   She visited the classroom to talk to the children about how forest rangers help protect our environment and wildlife...
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Sierra Artists' Gallery Announces A Call For Entries For The Elizabeth Specht Memorial Miniatures Fine Art Show
A CALL FOR ENTRIES... All artists of miniatures are invited to enter up to six submissions as awards will be given in Still Life, Animal, Portrait, Landscape, Seascape, and 3 Dimensional. Artwork may not exceed 48 square inches (including mat and frame) with a maximum art work size of 25 square inches...
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Mariposa County Planning Commission Meeting Agenda for Friday, February 3, 2012
Cancelled
Agenda

Plan Your Weekend
Weekend Special Edition Out & About
BINGO at Mariposa Senior Center, Lion's Club Crab Feed, Super Bowl Party, Rotarty Crab Feed, Book Sale and much more...
Special Weekend Out and About Edition

Merced Ranch Supply
NEW Sale Added with Special Pricing through Tuesday, February 14, on Valentine gifts like jewelry, clothing and much more!
See Sales Page...

Growers Are Needed For The Mariposa Tomato Fest This September
Master Gardeners Association will be hosting a free public workshop, “So, you think you want a spring vegetable garden in Mariposa...Where do you start?”, on Saturday, February 4...
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Super Bowl Party At The Canyon Bar & Grill
Join us on Sunday, February 5th at the Canyon Bar & Grill at Cedar Lodge for a Super Bowl Party! Watch the BIG GAME on 8 large flat screen TV's with your friends and family...
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We Are Very Pleased To Welcome
The 'Gold Rush Trading Post'
To The Sierra Sun Times Family

Movement on the Stroming Road Building!
Reports are coming out that the building may change from Mariposa County hands to the General Service Administration later this month. Earlier reports stated that the building needed $500,000 in upgrades. More later...

Yosemite/Mariposa Tourism Director to Leave Mariposa?
DAYTONA BEACH -- After a six-month search, local officials and community members will get their first chance today to meet the finalists who could become the Daytona area's top tourism marketing executive. The fourth finalist, Jeffrey Hentz, executive director and CEO of Destination Yosemite and the Mariposa County Convention & Visitors Bureau in Mariposa, Calif., asked for his interview with the HAAA board to be delayed in order to deal with the effects on tourism in his area.
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Around the Web
Jerry Brown, lawmakers back bill protecting school bus money
Rural and urban school districts in California that make heavy use of buses appear safe -- for now. State lawmakers are fast-tracking legislation that would transform a $248 million midyear school bus cut into a general-purpose reduction that hits each K-12 district evenly. The Assembly Budget Committee passed Senate Bill 81 with bipartisan support Tuesday, while an aide to Gov. Jerry Brown testified that the governor supports the proposal.
Read More at the Sac. Bee...

Butterfly Garden Club of Mariposa
The Butterfly Garden Club of Mariposa is pleased to announce a lecture by Beth Pratt, California Director of the National Wildlife Foundation on Thursday, February 16, 2012. This event begins at 1:00 P.M. at the Senior Center on Spriggs Lane in Mariposa. Topics to include: Climate Change as it affects California, Working in your Backyard Garden, & helping our Wildlife. A PowerPoint presentation will accompany the lecture. Interested persons are welcome.
For more information call: 209-966-3840 or 209-742-6939.

Congressman Denham Announces 2012 Mobile Office Hours Schedule for Mariposa and other Communities
In Mariposa on February 22 at the Mariposa Library Community Room, 4978 10th Street, Mariposa, CA 95338 from 2:00-3:00pm.
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Second California 2012 Snow Survey Shows Continuing Dry Conditions
Snow surveyors today confirmed that water content in California's mountain snowpack is far below normal for this time of year. Manual and electronic readings record the snowpack's statewide water content at only 37 percent of normal for the date. That is just 23 percent of the average April 1 reading, when the snowpack normally is at its peak before the spring melt.
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A Small Shaker Wednesday February 1, 2012
A 1.5 Magnitude Earthquake near Ben Hur Road and the intersection of Beach Road during the morning hours.
Earthquake and Google Map

Mariposa Lion’s Club Presents 22^nd Annual Crab Feed
This years event will be at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds in Bldg. A on Saturday, February 4th, 2012. Take-out will be available between 5-6 p.m. with a No-Host Bar starting at 6 p.m. and Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m., at a cost of $30 per person. All proceeds Benefit Community Activities...
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Denham Statement on Natural Resources Markup Of American Energy & Infrastructure Jobs Act
“In the Valley there is no denying that gas prices are too high and major infrastructure projects are needed immediately." said Congressman Jeff Denham, Member of the Natural Resources Committee and Subcommittee Chair on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
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School Bus Burns on Spring Hill in Mariposa County
On a routine trip to Mariposa Monday afternoon January 30, 2012 , Mariposa Public Utilities District (MPUD) Fire Captain Dennis Buck happened on a small Mariposa County Unified School District (MCUSD) school bus in the smoldering phase of an engine compartment fire.
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New Developments on Federal Unemployment Extensions (Up-dated January 31, 2012)
Currently, there are more than 1.1 million people certifying for benefits in California. The majority of these customers are collecting on a federal extension claim while the remainder are somewhere in the midst of a regular unemployment claim.
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State of California Controller Announces that State May Run Out of Cash in March 2012
State Controller John Chiang announced that the state could face a $3.3 billion cash deficit by early March unless the Legislature and Governor intervene.
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Around the Web
Freddie Mac Betting Against Struggling Homeowners (With Audio)
And
Single-Payer Bill Fails In California Senate
A single-payer health plan failed by two votes in the California State Senate Thursday, January 26, 2012 .
The Sacramento Bee: Universal Health Care Proposal Stalls In California Senate
Legislation to create a universal health care system in California stalled in the state Senate Thursday ahead of a key legislative deadline, signaling it will likely fail to advance this year. The so-called "Medicare for all" proposal, Senate Bill 810, fell short of the 21 votes needed to pass the upper house, by a vote of 19-15. Four moderate Democrats abstained and one joined Republicans in voting against the bill (Van Oot and Sanders, 1/27).

Governor Brown Issues Proclamation Declaring Fred Korematsu Day
Fred Korematsu was, in the best sense of both words, an ordinary hero. A native Californian, born and raised in Oakland and a welder by trade, he simply refused to accept his government's order to relocate under the brutal and misguided policy of Japanese-American internment during World War II.
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Letter to the Editor - Thank God for Mariposa!
Thank God for Mariposa! My wonderful husband Robert Kirkland passed away on Jan. 27, 2012 after a sudden onset of a very aggressive form of bone marrow cancer.
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Letter to the Editor - SRA Fire Fees
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Letter to the Editor - Budget cuts impact rural school bus service
Here's a group working to keep rural bus service alive and well.
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Regional Council of Rural Counties: Bill to Eliminate Supervisor’s Pension Defeated
During January 2012 an Assembly committee heard and subsequently defeated a measure that would eliminate the ability of future county supervisors (and other non "full-time" elected officeholders) from participating in a public retirement system.
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Leroy Radanovich's Mariposa Life: Please Read - An Attempt To Help Those Who Really Care To Understand County Financing Related To The Tourism Business
The conversation going on at this time about the county finances based on our principal economic generator, needs a little fresh air.
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Mariposa Butterfly Festival Seeking Volunteers
...for the upcoming three day event that takes place during the first weekend in May. ...Thursday evening, February 9^th at the Miners Inn in Mariposa there will be a Butterfly Festival “Call for Volunteers” Meeting. Starting at 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
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Area News
Area News

Mariposa for today: Sunny, with a high near 59. East wind at 7 mph becoming south. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 35. East wind between 3 and 6 mph.
Mariposa topped out at 56 degrees yesterday at the Sierra Sun Times Weather Station.
Mariposa Weekend Weather: Sunny to mostly sunny with a high near 61 degrees.
Mariposa Tuesday Weather: A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55
Read more about yesterday's weather and the extended outlook on the Weather Page.

Friday's Area Forecast
53 - 63 Today: Sunny today with the high temps inline with Thursday's high temps over the area by a couple of degrees. Most Area Weather Stations are reporting overnight temps in the 30's with the lower elevations in the 40's.

Yosemite Valley: Sunny, with a high near 49. East northeast wind between 7 and 10 mph becoming calm.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 30. East northeast wind between 7 and 11 mph.
Complete Weather Coverage

Petty theft was reported from Paso Pass Road and Hite's Cove Road.
Theft of gas was reported from Triangle Road.
The caller from Saint Andrews Road reported fiduciary elder abuse.
The caller from Worman Road reported that someone had left a threatening message.
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Mortgage rates hit new low; 3.87 percent for 30-year fixed
Mortgage rates hit new historic lows this week, as the average 30-year fixed rate fell to 3.87 percent, according to Freddie Mac Mortgage Market Survey released Thursday. The 30-year dropped this week after nudging up a bit last week to 3.98 percent, but overall the rate has remained below 4 percent for a couple months.
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This section will no longer be updated daily due to Agritourism regulations in Mariposa County

Sheep ranchers in a tight spot
Drought in Texas and New Mexico last year brought greater numbers of sheep to the West Coast as ranchers in the stricken states moved or sold flocks to California ranches with better rangeland. Now that our state is also seeing less rainfall, the once-abundant forage is disappearing quickly. The California Wool Growers Association says that they have heard from some ranchers struggling to find enough feed. While a number of ranchers have begun selling lambs earlier than in previous years, others are finding feed alternatives for their flocks until the rain provides a reprieve.

Jerry Brown delivers pension reform language to legislators
Gov. Jerry Brown has sent language for his 12-point pension reform plan to the Legislature's Conference Committee on Public Employee Pensions. The proposals are divided into two groups. The constitutional amendment Brown offered broadly outlines the pension changes more narrowly defined in the language to change state law. The governor's plan won't go forward without two-thirds of the Legislature voting to put the constitutional changes on the Nov. 6 ballot, which would then need voter approval from a majority.
Read More at the Sac.Bee...

Employment indicators point to stronger growth in California
California's economy produced its strongest growth in five years during the first quarter of 2012, according to an index of leading employment indicators published by Chapman University. The index released Thursday by the A. Gary Anderson Center for Economic Research jumped to 109.2 this quarter from 106.4 in the fourth quarter of last year.
Read More at the LA Times...

Greece Seeks Second Rescue, Fights for Euro
Greece’s fight to win its second international bailout may only open a new chapter in its struggle to remain in the euro area. The rescue plan, which European officials and Greek creditors say may be wrapped up in coming days, includes a loss of more than 70 percent for bondholders in a voluntary debt exchange and loans likely to exceed the 130 billion euros ($171 billion) now on the table. That won’t stanch the bleeding, say economists including Holger Schmieding of Berenberg Bank in London.
Read More at Bloomberg...