FRANCIS: Coach lets game clock run out after 44 years MORE IN SPORTS:Mother LodeManiacs finish second in league, C2
AND INSIDE:SELPATransition graduation, Back Page
THE MOTHER LODE'SLEADING INFORMATION SOURCE SINCE 1854 • SO NORA, CALIFORNIA
TUESDAY
JUNE 2, 2015
Cia Council
A special thank you to Union Democrat subscriber Maureen Ke//ey, ofColumbia.
Senora Projects
TUOLUMNE VFW POST 4748
TODAY 'S REABiRBOA RB
to move forward
BRIEFING
Water, paving contracts OK'd By ALEX MacLEAN The Union Democrat
Pic of the WeekTo submit your original photos, email a highresolution jpg file to editor@uniondemocrat. corn. Includea caption with information about the photo. Please, no more than one submission per month per photographer. This weekly feature typically runs Tuesdays.A2
Pelf' honoml — Students and staff at Columbia Elementary School honored Principal Ed Pelfrey on Monday witha handmade banner, cards and gifts.A2
News NotesUpcoming events in the Mother Lode.A2
OPlnlOn — Innovation in foothills alive, well. A4
Purchase photos online at www.uniondemocrat.corn
VFtN post 4748 Honor Guard members (above, from left) Frank Hurst, of Sonora, Cris Smith, of Soulsbyville, and Robert Willhoite, of Sonora, demonstrate a flag ceremony Saturday morning during the Memorial Day observance at Carters Cemetery in Tuolumne. Photos by Maggie Beck,The Union Democrat
Tuolumne's Veterans o fForeignWars post4748 chosetoobserue Memorial Day Saturday on its traditional May 30 date. The first national celebration of the holiday was May 30,1868,at Arlington National Cemetery. A federallaw took effect in 1971changing it to the last Monday in May to create a conuenient three-day weekend.Originally known as Decoration Day, the name was gradually changed to Memorial Day.
FOOD 5 DRINK
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• WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER: Dubliner Cheese and Tomato Stuffed Chicken Breasts.B1 • FOOD BY JUDE: Grilling an easy meal method.B1 • DRINK UP:Plant waters make a splash.B1 • SNAPSHOTS: Memorial Day services and Sonora Elementary annual Lip Sync highlighted in photos.BS
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A 21-gun salute ended Saturday' s Memorial Day observance (above). Peter Jelito, of Tuolumne (left), salutes during the ceremony. Color Guard members Larry Bramblett, of Sonora (far left, at left), and George Hunter, of Jamestown, hold flags during the event.
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Early fire season declaml in Yosemite By GUY McCARTHY
near the park's northwest entrance oA'
Highway 120. "Residents and homeowners are Fire personnel in Yosemite have de- urged to clear a defensible space of 100 clared fire season in the national park, feet or to property lines around homes and they intend to begin defensible and other structures in an effort to respace inspections in residential areas duce the risk of fire hazards," Gary this week. Wuchner, fire education and informaInspections were expected to com- tion manager for Yosemite National mence Monday at areas including Park, said in an announcement. Hodgdon Meadows and Aspen Valley On Saturday,the burn scar &om The Union Democrat
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one of the most recent large fires in
Yosemite was still evident near Half Dome. The Meadow Fire was sparked by lightning in August before strong winds blew the fire up in early September, prompting helicopter evacuations of some climbers and hikers, and closure of some trails. The blaze charred more than 4,700 acres in the upper Merced
Weather Page C6
trict identified various areas
throughout the city with insufficient "fire flows," accordSee COUNCIL / Back Page
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Two significant infrastructure projects in Sonora are set to move forward this summer with the awarding of construction contracts Monday evening. The Sonora City Council unanimously approved contractsfor a projectto improve the city's water flow out of fire hydrants in residential areas, as well as another to repave a nearly one-mile stretch of South Washington Street. A $1 million contract for the projectto im prove water flows for fire suppression in residentialareas of Sonora was awarded to the Oakdalebased Mozingo Construction Inc., which placed the lowest bid out of three that the city received. The project came about after Tuolumne Utilities Dis-
See FIRE / Back Page
Today:High SS, Low 57 Wednesday:High Ss, Low 55 Thursday:High S3, Low 53
Board discusses 2015-16 budget By TORI THOMAS The Union Democrat
The Bret H arte U nion High School District Board of Trustees Monday discussed next year's budget and named new distr ictemployees. Gloria Carrillo, district chief business official, discussed the preliminary budget of $9,770,042 forthe 201516 year. "Right now, we are writing our budget assuming a 2 percentincrease in property taxes and no other increase in income," she said. "It is completely balanced. We' re spendingeverydime we'replanning on getting." The board also approved a motion that Bob Bock continue his role as board consultant to assist in varying capacitiesfor the next three years. Bock assisted the board in See SCHOOL/Back Page
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