PAGE 8 • APRIL 17, 2002 • THE INTERMOUNTAIN NEWS Have a Change? Want to Add a FAX Number? How about an e-mail address? Cellular telephone number?
Fire Chief Sullivan asked to come back for 2 more weeks BY MEG FOX With the Burney Fire Department fast becoming a riderless horse and the front offi ce temporarily closed, Fire Chief Larry Sullivan agreed to come back on duty for at least two weeks. Commissioner Donna Sylvester telephoned Chief Sullivan with the board’s urgent request in the middle of their April 10 meeting at the fi re hall. “I would rather pay the chief than have the whole department fall apart,” said Commissioner Sally Preheim. “He accepted graciously and will resume his duties, effective 8 a.m. tomorrow morning for two weeks,” Sylvester announced. “He didn’t even hesitate,” noted Harold Van Cleave, the department’s former battalion chief. Staff has diminished during the past year and the troubled fi re department has been without a fi re chief since December, when Sullivan left after a closed session personnel meeting. The board announced he would use his accumulated vacation time until his retirement in May. The call for the Chief’s immediate return came as a result of Lt. Rick Moore needing some time to be with his <strong>new</strong>born daughter, Administrative Secretary Lenetta Harris being on vacation, and accumulating issues that only a chief can handle. Lts. Jason Moore and Jody Hughes said in January they would be available for duty to help Moore, but apparently are not now able to. “Circumstances have Crisis class offered by refuge here Shasta County Women’s Refuge offers training for Certifi ed Crisis Intervention and Advocacy through Shasta College. The class is 66 hours in the classroom plus an orientation. This class offers comprehensive training in understanding and responding to domestic violence and sexual assault. SCWR will offer this class in the <strong>Intermountain</strong> area starting May 3. To sign up call Claudia at 335-5388 to sign up. Deadline to sign up is Friday, April 19. EARNIE GRAHAM New <strong>post</strong> -From Page 1 years, also own ranch property in the area and have family in Live Oak. Their daughter Jennifer, a senior at Burney High School, will be attending nearby Sacramento State University. The <strong>Graham</strong>s will also be closer to their son Albert, III, a student at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and their daughter Wendy, who is in the construction industry in Los Angeles. <strong>Graham</strong>’s replacement here is Eric Newton, superintendent of Sweetwater County School District No. 2 in Green River, Wy. changed and we don’t have that coverage,” Commissioner Donna Caldwell said. “I’m very concerned. And I’m very concerned about the legal ramifi cations of not having a leader.” The commissioners are working towards their goal of hiring a <strong>new</strong> chief by July or August, while the To Do list that only a Chief can do gets longer. In a matter that needed a fi re chief’s advice – and signature – the commissioners talked about whether or not they wanted to sign a form from their accountant, Charles Pillon, CPA, of Burney, pertaining to the release of documents used in his audit report for fi scal year ending June 30, 2001. Commissioner Lynn Miller wasn’t ready to sign at all. “I have a ton of questions on this. I don’t know where these numbers come from. We have to sign this and I’m not signing it ‘til I know what it says.” Commissioners also questioned Pillon’s statement with the audit concerning his April 2 letter about “internal control over fi nancial reporting.” “Where is this letter?” asked Commissioner Ann Walker and Board President Sylvester then made copies to give to the board and audience saying she had only received the letter that day. In the letter, Pillon said “there are too many accounting jobs performed by one person with no known effective oversight or review by management.” Miller agreed that the offi ce needs internal controls, but that the answer was working with the secretary to improve the system, not hiring a second person as Pillon suggested. He also recommended that the district implement an effective budget to actual review process…”so that no actual amounts exceed the budgeted amount for the fi scal year.” The commissioners weren’t ready to accept the audit, either, and agreed to ask Pillon to the next board meeting to explain it. A fi re chief was deemed necessary to help Meryl Guiles, a resident of the Black Ranch Road area outside of town. She once again came to a board meeting to ask the commissioners what they were doing about rising insurance rates for fi re district residents who live more than fi ve miles from a fi re department and more than 1,000 feet from a hydrant. “Someone needs to do something. It’s not doing me any good to be in this district,” said Guiles. “We’ve tabled this until August when we have a <strong>new</strong> chief on line…” said Sylvester, adding that the board does not have the expertise to deal with the Insurance Services Offi ce (ISO) and inspections of the area. The absence of a fi re chief was also an issue during a discussion on updating the rules and regulations. “We have no hiring policy whatsoever,” said Commissioner Walker. “And we also need an in-house hiring policy.” Sylvester decided that, along with the issue of background checks, county counsel should draft the whole policy. A chief was needed to help the commissioners with a <strong>new</strong> EMS Support Offi cer. The board approved the concept of the position, but wasn’t qualifi ed to approve someone for the <strong>post</strong>. The commissioners had questions that couldn’t be answered at the meeting concerning the duty roster and payment for the hours that Howard Fincher and Courtney Cleckler have already put in. “I get tired of hearing we don’t have a chief,” said Walker. Spring musical on stage THE INTERMOUNTAIN NEWS • APRIL 17, 2002 • PAGE 9 NEWS PHOTOS / Ron Harrington PHOTO / Anna Strickland Burney Junior-Senior High School students are starring in the spring musical, Lumberjacks and Wedding Belles, directed by Janice Barnes, at 7 p.m. April 25, 25 and 27 at the Liz Polley Performing Arts Center at the District Offi ce in Burney. Tickets for numbered seats are $4 per person and are available at Burney High School. Student shares opinion on state land buy EDITORIAL By NATALIE MARTIN (Written as part of her Fall River High School Senior Project in journalism) Vote yes for Proposition 40, for Clean Water, Clean Air, Safe Neighborhood Parks, and Coastal Protection. Who wouldn’t want to vote for this? Of course people want these things, but what it doesn’t say is that it gives the state government power to spend $2.6 billion on privately owned land like the Shintaffer Ranch. Small towns like Fall River don’t need cleaner air or better water, in fact, by buying the Shintaffer Ranch the State of California will ultimately pollute the water by letting the levies that separate the land and river go. When the levies are broken, the water level is lowered resulting in an increase in the water temperature. As the temperature rises, the mosquito and insect population increases. Mosquitoes bring many problems. Not only are they troublesome, but they also carry diseases. Public Health agencies believe that mosquitoes can transmit encephalitis and other harmful diseases throughout the world. Mosquito control issues was discussed at the February 13 meeting in Fall River Mills about the purchase of the Shintaffer Ranch by the surrounding landowners and Ranchers. It was stated that the state Department of Fish and Game would take care of the mosquitoes by spraying them. But spraying mosquitoes pollutes the air and since it will be over water, spraying also will pollute the water. The water is an important part of this community. Not only do more than 35 families drink right out of the river, it is also used by children of Race to the finish all ages as a summertime activity. The families who drink out of this water, including my own, will need <strong>new</strong> ways of getting water to their homes. The increase of both temperature and bacteria will make it unsatisfactory even to bathe in. The increase in bacteria will not only affect the water but also the air. The entire area around the Shintaffer Ranch will have the stench of a mucky swamp. That’s an enormous difference from the clean crisp air we have today. One of the stated reasons for buying the Shintaffer property was to create a wildlife habitat. I live directly across from the Shintaffer Ranch and, as I look out my window, I can see water covered with beautiful birds, the home and habitat for more than 20 species. Another reason given for acquiring the land is to set up a place for fi sherman to launch their boats. Once Athletes from Burney, Fall River and Big Valley high schools are slated to compete Saturday at Shasta College in the John Frank Memorial meet. Last Saturday, Fall River runner Jack Arnold, in top photo, and Burney JV runner Paige Logan, photo above, took part in the Hornet Classic at Enterprise High School in Redding. Arnold took second in the 800m. the government owns this property, some believe, they are going to set it up so the fi sherman have access every two miles. This isn’t needed; Fall River already has numerous places to launch boats. My father, a river front landowner, has not once refused his boat launch to anyone who has called and asked fi rst. There are many places along the river like this. Once the government owns our water, they can say who goes on it and what kind of boat is allowed. Fall River doesn’t need hundreds of boats on our river. The ecosystem of our river has stayed preserved from its natural springs at Ahjumawi all the way to the Fall River dam. It needs to stay preserved. With boats comes garbage, waves that erodes the levees, and they may bring other harmful prospects that our water has not yet been subjected to. The government is buying up California. Once all of our land is taken, what else is going to be affected? The government takes our money and then buys our own land. They are slowly going to buy and control everything. If money needs to be spent to save our resources, spend it in LA instead of Northern California were the ecosystem will be destroyed. Even though Proposition 40 passed a few weeks ago and the State bought the Shintaffer property, I strongly believe that our community needs to stand together and make sure that not only our river rights, but also our rights to clean water are upheld. We need to fi ght for the levees to be maintained and for the purity of our water and air. Girl, gal book club started by library The Fall River Valley Library has started a Girl and a Gal Book Club (G&G Book Club). You must be in the fourth, fi fth or sixth grade this school year and be accompanied by a female adult to join. The group meets on the fourth Monday of the month to discuss a book and share a potluck dinner. The book chosen serves as the dinner’s theme. Most of the books will deal with girls, their lives and ability to overcome adversity. The fi rst selection is “Matilda” by Roald Dahl. The library has several copies of the book to borrow, and for a nominal fee, books to purchase. This month’s selection is $1. The library hours are Monday 5:00 to 7:00 and Tuesday-Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For more information phone the library at 336- 6445, Lynn 336-5433 or Phyllis the librarian 336-6749. Space is limited so sign up soon.
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