BIG NIGHT FORBEARS: S'ville hoopsters top Wildcats, C1 MORE IN SPORTS: Prepsroundup — Sonora girls beat county foe Summerville, C1
INSIDE: State, nation andworld news, A6-7
THE MOTHER LODE'SLEADING INFORMATION SOURCE SINCE 1854 • SO NORA, CALIFORNIA
WEEKEND
JANUARY 9-11, 2016
Powerdall
TODAY'S RijLDiRBOAR D
Alluring jackpot
SIERRA SNOW •
•
BRIEFING
tops $800M Past winner: 'Be careful what
you wish for'
Kay Glaves-
'Queen of Groveland' dies Thursday at age 90.A2
By GUY McCARTHY The Union Democrat
City government
A lot of money is being touted by people who run the nationwide Powerball lottery numbers game. At least one previous winner with Mother Lode ties has advisedovertheyearsit'swise to appreciate what you already have,and it'spointlessto covet the life of a millionaire. But sage advice held little truck Friday with many Mother Loders, who joined hordes of peoplein 44 states and three other jurisdictions buying $2 chancesat a jackpot billed as $800 million, the largest jackpot in Powerball and Mega Millions history. "I sold more than 15 tickets in the past hour," cashier Jennifer Justice said before 5 p.m. inside the Valero gas station store on South Washington Street in Sonora. Columbia resident Dorothy McCargar held up her quick pick Powerb all ticket and smiled. 'This is the one, the first one!" McCargar said. "That' s the one!"
— Sonora considers lifting pot-growing ban. A3
Tough talk —controversial rabbi to speak at Calaveras Republican meeting.A3
Seen andHeard — This week's photo opinion asks,uDo you own a gun/guns? Why, or why not'?"A3
ROadwOrk — Alist of roadwork planned in Tuolumne and Calaveras counties, including times, dates, locations and possible delays.A3
OpinionRasmussen: End federal monopoly on health care regulation. Cushman: President Obama deflects, distracts from crises. A4
Poll question — This week's poll question asks, "Will President Obama's executive action on guns make Americans safer?" Vote online at www.uniondemocrat. corn. A4
News NotesUpcoming events in the Mother Lode.AS
SIERRA LIVING
• BIG BIRDING DAY: Uncommon birds spotted in yearly Audubon Society count.B1 • IN THE GARDEN: Monarch butterfly decline 'disastrous'.B1
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Winter season may be best ever, business owners say
Drewrey's store stocks allofthe typicalproducts expectedata generalstore— drinks,food,candy — in additionto snow suppliessuch asboots,plasticsleds and gloves. By ALEX MacLEAN Boots were flying off the shelves over the holiday seaThe Union Democrat son, he said. Some customers told him that larger stores in Sonora were sold out. It's only a few weeks into winter and businesses Drewrey is looking forward to two more three-day throughout the Mother Lode are calling this their best weekends in the next couple months and hoping the season in years, if not ever. frenetic pace will continue. The rush of visitors coming &om out of the area to Although the scene was quiet at the Strawberry Inn play in the snow has no doubt taken some locals by sur- in Strawberry on Friday, it's likely just the calm before another storm. prise and created issues with traffic and littering. However, business owners who rely on tourism durAssistant Manager Patrik Hofmann said nearly all of ing the winter months say the recent boost is a welcome the inn's 15 rooms are booked for the weekend. change &om the past four years of drought that brought "Most people just live up here seasonally, so all of little snow and few patrons. these businesses depend on the snow," he said. James Drewrey, owner of Mi-Wuk General Store in About five miles up Highway 108 &om Strawberry is Mi-Wuk Village, declared this the best winter he's expe- one of the area's popular attractions, Leland Kgh Sirienced in the 22 years he's owned the business. erra Snow Play. uI don't know where they all came from," he said."The last three winters haven't been busy at all." SeeWIRIER/Back Page
Railtown chief to switch tracks By SEAN CARSON The Union Democrat
Sonoran to march in championship game By LACEY PETERSON The Union Democrat
Sonora High graduate Chloe Liggett will march Monday night in the Clemson University Tiger band during the biggest college football game of the year. Liggett, 19, plays clarinet with more than 350 other students &om South Carolina's Clemson University. The Clemson Tigers will face off with University of Alabama's Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff champi-
de
Courtney Virgilio, MD
Maggie Beck/Union Democrat
Sonora residents (from left) Cal Johnson, Nicole Brennecke and Bob Poston riding chair three Friday to the top of Dodge Ridge. Recent snow has boosted visits to the Highway 108 corridor.
Calendar.......... Comics............. Crime ............... Obituaries........
onship game to be held in Glendale, Arizona at University of Phoenix Stadium. Liggett is a &eshman at Clemson, studying computer science. She plans to attend Clemson's graduate program in animation to pursue a career in film animation. Liggett graduated &om Sonora High School in June and this fall made the big move across the country to South Carolina. Her twin brother, Scott Liggett, also chose to attend Clemson and studies business.
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They are the children of Tiffeny and Andy Flies, of Soulsbyville, and Pete and Alisa Liggett, of Columbia, South Carolina. It's nice that the twins have a lot of family and &iends in South Carolina, Mrs. Flies said. In high school, Liggett also played trombone in the jazz band. Liggett said Sonora High band teacher Yvonne Denton has been her favorite music teacher.
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J g
Mon d ay: High 56, Low sa
Railtown 1897 State Kstoric Park, and Tuolumne County parks will lose a guiding force this month. S ector S u perintendent Kim Baker ann ounced t h i s w eek plans t o
Bake r
step down for a job with the California State Parks Off K ghway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division (OHMVR) in Sacramento after 13 years managing State Parks in the county. She will oversee operations at thestate'seightparks that cater tothe motorized pastime. See BAKER/Back Page
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