Great video by The Nomads and Santa Cruz Bicycles documenting their incredible mountain ride in the Lakes Basin near Graeagle! Check out their video and site… It’s summer – get out there and enjoy it!
Click here to see The Nomads Write Up!!!
Graeagle’s 4th of July Celebration was featured on Lake Tahoe News! (Hint: Watch 2:36 – 3:33 of the video).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olPYKImsdAM
Julie Arnold of the USPS Blairsden-Graeagle has retired with a fare well:
Although I haven’t seen many of you over the last several months please know I have thought of you often.
It is with pleasure and some sadness that I now bid you a fond farewell.
In my many years of travel and service I can still say without a doubt that the people here were the BEST I’ve ever had an opportunity to serve.
God Bless you all and thank you for making my last years the best of my career.
Your Retired Postmaster,
Julie Arnold
USFS MEETING TOMORROW 10:00 am Blairsden Office (Mohawk Ranger Station)
They want to shut down Snowmobile access to Lake Davis this winter on the Westside of the lake.
We need people!!!!! Come tomorrow or your forest will be closed to you this winter.
U.S. Forest Service
Pacific Southwest Region
Earl Ford, Plumas National Forest Supervisor…
“We are anxious to have the Loyalton plant open because of the significant help it will provide in our management of the national forest.”
Plumas Rural Services, Loyalton Biomass Power Plant Revitalization
The Forest Service has awarded a grant of $70,125 to Plumas Rural Services to help obtain the necessary engineering services to complete the purchase and restart Sierra Pacific Industries’ Loyalton Biomass Power Plant. The plant was closed in 2010 because of low power prices, but a new owner will open up different market options. The Loyalton Biomass Power Plant was the largest private, year-round employer in Sierra County before it closed, with 19 jobs on-site and another 50 jobs off-site in the supply chain. The unique partnership between Plumas Rural Services and Sierra Pacific Industries will significantly benefit the economic well-being of a rural county, and reopen a critical disposal site for excess urban, agricultural and forest woody biomass from both private and public lands.
“These grants will help dispose of materials that increase fire danger and reduce smoke pollution while creating renewable energy for California,” said Randy Moore, Pacific Southwest Regional Forester. “This is truly a win-win since these projects create sustainable jobs and renewable energy from excess forest biomass that could otherwise contribute to catastrophic wildfires.”
This is huge for Plumas county loggers and land owners. Since the mill in Quincy has stopped taking chips (biomass) from most loggers it has put loggers out of work. Not to mention the tops of the trees that are usually used for biomass are left in the forest to rot and create fire danger. Land owners such as Graeagle Land & Water company will not log their land if the mill will not take their biomass because they don’t want to leave the tops of the trees in the woods. It looks bad, increases fire danger and is a financial disadvantage. Having the Loyalton plant back up and running will not only help loggers and land owners but keep the competition fair between the regions biomass power plants.
Smoke Signals – August 12th 2012
Greetings from Chief Graeagle, sending “Smoke Signals” from Long Lake in Beautiful Plumas County.
What a difference a year makes! 20 feet of snow last year and only 5 feet this last winter! What will next year bring? One thing for sure, we will be having the best picnic celebration as always.
After considerable research by Squaw Peggy Ross and Chief Graeagle we have determined the the first year to hold these picnics was in 1965. What this means is that the celebration of Graeagle Lumber Company Alumni now stands at 47 years. Wow, thanks to all the alumni, family and friends that continue to support this great event annually.
We are attempting to bring some sanity to the buffet. We are asking that we all support something new for the picnic.
Those with the last names starting with A to H will please bring Main Course items including beans. Those in the I to Q will bring salad & bread. Those in the R to Z will bring desserts. Each year we will rotate the list and announce it in the “Smoke Signals.” We hope this will even out the grub brought by the many tribes, so we do not have too much of any one thing and not enough for others. Thank you for your patience and help in this endeavor.
As we have done in the past we will start the day of with some seet tooth fixings and great Sierra Mud! At 1PM the grub line will form for what has become the best feast this side of the Mississippi! Please remember our new *rotating schedule* and bring generous portions of your grub category. Don’t forget your plates, napkins and eating tools.
As most know, we have had a change in the “Refreshment Tent.” Again, this yearwe have Squaw Sue and Rosemary from the Hangtown tribe. They will have their wicked Bloody Mary’s along with soda’s, beer, wine and of course, Graeagle ditch water. We wish to thank them for their long journey to the North. As soon as lunch is finished we will start the raffle. Squaw Janice Rogers and Chief Graeagle have just finished a big Pow Wow and have everything in order for a great raffle. Tickets are $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00.
Squaw Peggy Ross received smoke signals from Squaw Lisa Thompson that she will be unable to lead the picture board committee at this time. This part of the celebration has become very popular with the young, and not so young. It takes us back to the “old days” and back to the present. If we could get a chairperson for this part, the Chief would be very grateful. Let him know if you can help.
As we gather for this 47th annual picnic lets say Thank You to the grandparents, Parents, Brothers & Sisters who have left before us to sit with the great spirit and to those that we lost this year. You have truly left us with the “Gift of a Lifetime”…..
DEAN LANTRIP * ANDY STEVENSON * SHIRLEY WEST * ED LONGABAUGH
P.O. BOX 708 Placerville, CA 95667 (530) 622-2962 pjross@bigvalley.net
Today, road construction has started on the Frazier Creek bridge. Construction consists of grinding up three inches of the old asphalt and down to the concrete on the bridge where they will then repave it. Paint the bridge and fix any structural problems they come across on the bridge. They will then move from the Frazier Creek bridge to the Graeagle Creek Bridge.
Have you ever noticed the east bound Frazier Creek sign is spelled different than the west bound sign?!
The Middle Fork Bridge is still under construction. So far it has been cleaned, painted and foundation work underneath the bridge. They have done the grinding and now need to repave it.
Expect one-way traffic control with a pilot car to escort you through the area, with up to a five minute wait. Late this summer all bridge rehabilitation construction will be complete and Graeagle will be restored to its usual traffic where an occasional deer will hold you up!
On July 8th, many residents of Graeagle and Reno recognized the picture and write up of Aaron Klein in the Reno Gazette Journal. Aaron and his family moved to Graeagle, CA when he was two years old when his father, Bob Klein was hired as head pro at Graeagle Meadows Golf Course. Bob, on his 25th year at Graeagle Meadows continues to bring enthusiasm and passion for his profession and has passed it on to Aaron.
Aaron started middle school in Reno and went to Reno High School. He later achieved a bachelors degree in business at the University of Nevada, Reno. Aaron then went to work for the Reno-Tahoe Open where his hard work has now earned him the title of operations manager of the tournament. Aaron has even helped other tournaments who have reached out for his expertise. Earlier this summer, Aaron received life changing news. He has been accepted to the University of Oregon sports marketing masters program. An exclusive program that will give him a huge advantage in the sports industry. Good job Aaron, we look forward to another great year at the RTO!
Reno Gazette Journal:
BACKGROUND
I’ve been around the game of golf my entire life and started working at golf courses when I was in high school. My first involvement with the Reno-Tahoe Open was as a volunteer standard bearer when I was 16. I believe my involvement with golf, coupled with my education as a marketing major at Nevada, has led me to my current position.
WHY I DO WHAT I DO
I grew up in Graeagle, Ca. and moved to Reno in middle school; I graduated from Reno High and received my Bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Nevada. One thing that many people don’t know about the Reno-Tahoe Open is that we are a nonprofit organization, and have donated more than $2.2 million back to the community since our inception in 1999. There’s something very rewarding about being part of an organization that gives back and promotes the region in a positive manner to an international audience.
WHAT BROUGHT ME TO RENO
What is there to not like about Reno? The area has so much to offer; there are a lot of great golf courses, world-class skiing, hiking, biking, and a plethora of great events. Reno is definitely a small town with all the amenities of a much larger community.
WHAT I DO TO LEAVE WORK AT THE OFFICE
For me, making time each day to exercise is a great way to get my mind off work. We’re always connected these days with our smartphones, but it is important to break away for a period of time. Golfing/getting together with friends are other great ways to break away.
HOW I GIVE BACK TO MY COMMUNITY
We have some great fundraising opportunities with the Reno-Tahoe Open Foundation. From our Birdies for Charity program to Chip in For Schools, it is rewarding to see the work we do impact various local school organizations and nonprofits. I am always trying to come up with new things to incorporate into our event.
BEST BUSINESS BOOK I’VE READ LATELY
Not a book, but I’m an avid reader of the Sports Business Journal. It keeps me current on the sports business world and is full of best practice ideas
BEST PLACE IN RENO TO MEET WITH CLIENTS OR COLLEAGUES
Of course, a round of golf is always great, but Pinocchio’s Bar & Grill is a favorite of mine.
MY LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY
I am always trying to push myself out of my comfort zone with a “never settle for mediocrity” mentality. I believe this gives me a good example to lead by.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
I received the Millennium Scholarship which enabled me to attend the University of Nevada. Many of our staff here at the Foundation went to school on this scholarship and last year we established the Kenny Guinn Millennium Scholarship fund and the tournament was able to donate over $24,000 to this fund. It was an honor working for an organization that donated back to the very fund that helped pay for my education.
IF I COULD DO SOMETHING ELSE, I WOULD…
In addition to being around golf my entire life, I played ice hockey growing up. If I could do something else, I would try to bring a minor league hockey team to Reno. We have some great some great sports offerings here in Reno, but I would love to see an ice rink and a resurgence of professional hockey here in Reno.
Graeagle has done it again, celebrating America’s birthday in style. A huge barn dance, over 600 fireworks lighting up the sky, civil war reenactments, gun fights, 2,300 pancakes and to top it off, a parade! Making the 40th annual Mohawk Valley Independence Day celebrations a hit and bringing in people from all over.
The Graeagle barn dance (formerly the Blairsden street dance) started off the weekend. Locals where there amongst the tourist mingling and dancing the night away. While car enthusiast had there classic cars on display. The Graeagle Lions puts on the event and it all went smoothly, minus a small fender bender in the start of the night.
Saturday morning threw a few golfers off when cannons were fired at the civil war reenactment. Drawing in an astonishing crowd, allowing us to never forget our civil war and history of our country. The civil war crew put a lot into the show. Arriving in Graeagle Thursday, they immediately started setting up camp, as if it was the early 1860’s again. Not only do they put on a show to give us a glimpse of war but they show you how people in that time lived and survived.
The fireworks were a hit. With 605 fireworks on the books and 30 “cakes” the show was far from spectacular. Having a new pyro crew that did the entire show electronically, making it one of the best shows yet. When they have to push the public back more than previous years… you knew it was going to be good!
Sunday morning the Graeagle Volunteer Fire Department kicked off their biggest fundraiser of the year, the fireman’s pancake breakfast. Although most of the firefighters were exhausted from treating over 10 patients the night before they managed to cook for 754 people. Between gin fizz, breakfast and raffle sales the Graeagle Fire Department had a success as they were raising money for their backcountry search and rescue equipment. Graeagle Fire thanks all of those who came out.
To top it off was the parade with Grand Marshalls Dink & Dave Riff. Long time Graeagle residents of Graeagle who have been involved with the community and many organizations making a difference in our community. Following was the concert in the park, food, beer and western shooting shows. Making a perfect weekend to be with the family and celebrate America.
We would like to recognize Graeagle Land & Water Company and their employees for all their unseen work to make the weekend happen… couldn’t happen without them.
Now we ask you, what could happen to make the weekend and its events better? We appreciate any input you might have to enhance the 41st Mohawk Valley Independence day celebrations.