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Cecil Ray, the district manager of the Fall River Mills Community Services District who oversaw the construction of the Sewer plant and lines, and put in many of the district’s water lines during his career questioned the district’s use of the US Department of Agriculture’s) USDA’s grant and loan totaling approximately $1 mil. to replace the section of main line from Ray’s Market to the Airport when, he says, it does not have a history of problems like the section in front of Sportsman Liquor and some of the smaller lines like Long Street and Grand Rapids. He questioned the wisdom of using much of the USDA money to replace that section when the district is considering a a 10% increase in rates.

Fall River Joint Unified School District held a hearing May 9 regarding the elimination of “Tier III” categorical fund flexibility transfers and program closures. 2009 legislation enacted gave school districts flexibility in the use of several previously restricted state categorical programs.
The programs are considered unrestricted funds and can be used for any educational purpose. In March of 2011, legislation was enacted that extended the flexibility for an additional two years through 2014/2015.
Fall River Joint Unified School District proposed and intends to accept and maximize state categorical funds and will utilize the flexibility to transfer funds in the Tier III categorical programs for use in any educational purpose.
There will be programs which will not be funded by the Fall River Joint Unified School District although the funds will be accepted and “flexed” or used for other educational purposes. For specifics on which programs are to be flexed visit the FRJUSD website and view the meeting minutes and documents.

SACRAMENTO – The California State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (BOF) is holding two special meetings this month to receive public comment on its draft permanent regulation for the State Responsibility Area (SRA) Fire Prevention Benefit Fee.
The first special meeting will start at 10 a.m. on May 16 at the San Diego County Board of Supervisors Chambers in San Diego.
The second meeting will start at 1 p.m. on May 23 at the Shasta County Board of Supervisors Chambers in Redding. More information, including meeting locations and agendas, and a copy of the draft regulation can be found on the Board’s website at: http://www.bof.fire.ca.gov/.

McArthur – One of a series of “Water Talks” was presented to a capacity crowd at the Lions Hall last week. The educational panel featuring four speakers focused on the unique geo-hydroecological system of the Fall River.
Meadow Barr of California Trout, the sponsoring organization, explained that they were planning an ongoing series of talks providing information and educational on a variety of water topics. Local and regional experts will be available during these talks to help the public learn about water related topics. Barr went on to explain, “Our goal is for the public to be more informed and be able to participate in policy related to water. We want to be able to help the public understand the many facets of water.”

BURNEY – Jack Goode of Mt. Shasta drove to the Pit River Casino alone Saturday, and had the enviable problem of how to drive two cars home after his ticket was drawn that earned him a brand new 2012 Honda Civic.
Asked how he’d manage, he replied, “I’ll just have to figure something out,” as he was grinning from ear-to-ear and still whooping it up.
The car giveaway was a part of the Pit River Casino’s 16th anniversary party that carried over into Mother’s Day on Sunday. Shift manager Uriel Chacon had a packed house go eerily silent as he drew the winning ticket from a drum filled with stubs earned by patrons who won $50 jackpots over the past four months.

The Fall River Mills Community Services District posted an agenda for a special meeting, listing two items of possible litigation against Bill Brunner of Fall River Mills and the Community Services District. However the district’s board Chairman Bill Johnson cancelled the meeting because, he said, the agenda hadn’t listed the items to be discussed as closed session items Wednesday evening. He did not refer to the items listed on the agenda.
The agenda listed the two items “Telephone call received by Bill Johnson, Chairman of the FRVCSD Board on May 7, 2012 from Amy Mickelson, regarding possible litigation pertaining to Bill Brunner’s comment on the FRVCSD blog about a post by Barbarara (sic) Briggs.” The second item was “Email addressed to Bill Brunner and CC-ed to the FRVCSD from Dungan Barr(sic) (attorney at law) threatening litigation of the FRVCSD, board and John Van den Bergh (District Manager of the CSD), regarding Bill Brunner’s comment on the FRVCSD blog about a post by Barbarara (sic) Briggs.

A couple of things: First, Donna and my home was built in the 50’s and has almost as many creaks and hitches as I do.
One of those hitches was a sliding glass door to the back yard.
Because of arthritis of the rollers 75% of the time it had to be lifted and pulled to close.
Step in Scott Brulc of Scott’s Glass. Scott not only performed a back door transplant, he surgically removed the sliding glass door and replaced it with beautiful French doors.
They not only look beautiful, they open beautifully.
Thanks Scott.
Second, I have no desire or intention of getting embroiled or entwined in the potential lawsuit of Amy Mickelson against Bill Brunner, John Van den Bergh and the Community Services District (CSD).
As a party who uses and pays for water and sewer service from the CSD it concerns me that the District even has a web site with a blog that the public is tacitly encouraged to use to attack and belittle people. It concerns me even more that having been basically told by one of those who have been so attacked that they’d best clean up their act or they were going to be sued, and that they haven’t had the common sense to correct the problem to show good faith.
In my book the least they should do is delete any mention in any article or response to the offended party (Amy Mickelson), or eliminate the potential of being embroiled in that suit or possibly other suits, by eliminating the blog portion of their web page and stick to articles about the district and not attack those they don’t like for whatever reason.
The CSD board is in the process of considering a budget that requires a 10% rate increase and expect to take up the matter of that increase soon.
As a rate payer, I understand there may be an increase and I’ll reserve judgment on the need for 10% until they state their case. However, if the district becomes embroiled in a lawsuit, 10% isn’t going to touch their deficit.
It would be nice to see the board use their heads and immediately attempt to take steps to head the suit off.

McArthur – The Burney Fall River Education Foundation had a successful fundraiser event last weekend at the Inter- Mountain fairgrounds. The group raised over $14,000 with the auction, raffle and other festivities for the evening. Dinner revenues have not been totaled yet.
This annual event helps to fund the many projects of the foundation. Last school year over $59,000 was awarded to schools within the Fall River Joint Unified School District. Technology advancements, equipment, field trips, solar power and classroom programs have all been funded through the work of the foundation.
President Ralene Metcalf said, “The dinner was a big success and we would like to thank everyone who contributes and attends.”
Many local business, organizations and individuals donate items, time and resources to the fundraiser. Local artists have always been very generous to the event. A Jim Reams original of the Glenburn Church was a big seller in the auction and was purchased by Bill Myers, pastor of the church.

Regular unleaded gasoline briefly dipped below $4 last week in Burney and went to $3.98 at the Pit River Minimart.
By Sunday it was back to $4.00 when the other two in downtown Burney held fast.
Sunday afternoon Rocky Ledge Shell was at $4.15. USA was at $4.05 and Burney Mart at $4.07.
Seven gas stations were below the $4 mark in Redding, ranging from $3.96 to $3.99.

FALL RIVER MILLS – Joseph “Ray” Morrison (pictured above with Jim Hamlin on the left and Matt Rees on the right) finalized his $30,000 donation to Mayers Memorial Hospital on May 2.
The escrow company sent the documents back to Pat Thomason of High Country Real Estate early last week.
Morrison, Mayers CEO Matt Rees, and Board President Jim Hamlin met with Thomason and signed the documents Wednesday.
Thomason donated her time to the transaction as a service to the community.
The donation squares off the northwestern corner of the districts Fall River property.