SIERRA LIVING: Heritage gardens alive with history MORE IN SIERRA LIVING:Petadoption event a success, B1
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BACK PAGE:Calaveras GrandJury Report offers critiques and praise, AS
THE MOTHER LODE'SLEADING INFORMATION SOURCE SINCE 1854 • SO NORA, CALIFORNIA
WEEKEND
JUNE 27-29, 2015
Odergefell v.Hodges
Tuolumne County
TODAY'S RijLDiRBOAR D
Court packed for Morse hearing
BRIEFING
Fair prepSummerville High School FFA students weigh their animals before the Mother Lode Fair.A2
Alleged cat-killer faces a year in jail or $20K fine
Study sessionThe Calaveras County Board of Supervisors and Calaveras County Planning Commission will hold a public study session Tuesday on the county's overall growth plan.A2
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By JASON COWAN The Union Democrat
The Tuolumne County Superior Court had an unusual buzz on Friday morning. In fact, the bailiff had to ask the audience to remain silent on
News NotesUpcoming events in the Mother Lode.A2
Open housesset
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— Forest Service seeks input on over-snow vehicle plan.A3
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c o urtwas packed well beMor s e fore the defendant many had come to see entered at 10 a.m. Spencer Morse, 19, found a seat toward the back of the room. There was never a time when his supporters did not room
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RoadworkRoadwork planned in Tuolumne and Calaveras counties including dates, times, locations and possible delays.A3
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aCCident — citrus Heights man spills trailer-load of fine gravel.A3
Oplnlon — squeezing the last drop out of a lemon: Proposed health benefit for retiring Columbia superintendent is wrong; Why we ran the gay marriage letter.A4
Poll question — This week's poll question asks, "Would you buy a self-driving car?u A4
SPORTS
have an arm around him.
He sat, looking downward until he was called to the stand to hear the charges against him — felony cruelty to animals. He was charged in connection with a June 15 incident in which a man killed a cat at an apartment complex on the 200 block of Greenley Road. Security cameras showed a man pull into the parking lot in a red Toyota Celica on June 15 at11:11 p.m. He gotoutof
Tdbune Content Agency
Supporters of gay marriage celebrate outside the Supreme Court on Friday in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down bans on same-sex marriage in a historic 5-4 ruling.
Local couple celebrates landmark decision By SEAN CARSON The Union Democrat
Heidi Russell awoke in her Lake Don Pedro home Friday morning to see her Facebook page filled with the news that the U.S. Supreme Court had legalized same-sexmarriage acrossthenation. She turned on her television for confirmation. In a 5-4 vote, the court ruled the Con-
See MORSE / Back Page
Chatom Winery
stitution guarantees same-sex couples • HOOPS CAMP:The Sonora High School boys' basketball program hosted the 2015 Wildcat Shooting Camp this week at Columbia College.C1 • ACKERMAN:Anglers stay successful despite low water, heat.C1 • SOCCER:Lloyd lifts US over China, 1-0; Americans will face Germany in World Cup semifinals.C1 • FUNDRAISER: Bowling event to benefit vets, youths.C1
Auction yields two high bidders
the right to marry. Individual states can no longer ban the unions, and same-sex couples will have equal access to all of the benefits and rights granted to heterosexual unions.
Russell and her wife, Glenda Dortch, were the first same-sex couple to receive a marriage license in Tuolumne County after California legalized gay marriage in 2008. Now, they feel an expanded sense of security. ''What concerned us was traveling in other states with no marital rights," said Russell. "For example, in some
By LACEY PETERSON
Heidi Russell (left) and wife, Glenda Dortch, stand in front of the Tuolumne County Administration Center Friday, where in 2008 the couple became the first in the county to receive a same-sex marriage license. There are 1,138 benefits, rights and protecti ons provided on the basis of m arital status under federal law, according to the The Human Rights Cam-
higher premiums for life and home insurance than heterosexual married couplesbecause the state did notrecognize their partnership.
we would not be able to go see our wife paign. in the ICU." Prior to 2008, the couple was paying
See MARRIAGE / Back Page
states, ifw e were to have a car accident,
The Union Democrat
Sean Carson /Union Democrat
Purchasephotos online at www.uniondemocrat.corn
Chatom Winery and Vineyards in Douglas Flat were put up for auction Friday, and the two high bidders must wait to see if the owner will accepttheirproposals. The business parcel and adjoining ranch/vineyard parcel had high bids by two separate bidders. The lugh bidder for the winery was Angels Camp resident Dorian Faught, who bid $1.35 million. Faught is well
CORRECTION A Stuffed Animal Sleepover slated for July 30 at the Tuolumne County Library in Sonora will allow children to make super-hero capes for their stuffed animals, who will then have a "slumber party." Only stuffed animals — not children — are allowed to spend the night at the library.
Storyteller Riddle at helm of paper By JASON COWAN The Union Democrat
Lyn Riddle has been named editor of the of The Union Democrat. Riddle has spent her career working for newspapers in Wyoming, California and South Carolina and was an adjunct
de
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professor of journalism at Furman University in Greenville, S.C. Eight years in a college classroom helped her feel rejuvenated and refreshed, she said. Teaching your passion to young scholars at university can have that kind of effect.
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the historic Murphys Hotel in Murphys. Faught owned the hotel for about 10 years and sold the bar, restaurant and hotel businesses in 2012. He still owns the property. The winery portion of Chatom is on 32 acres and
"It was a fantastic experience," said Riddle, who also spent some time teaching at Converse College in Spartanburg, S.C. "I think it helped me to remember why I'm doing this work in the first place and then to remember some of
Weather Page C6
Meet Dr. Singhal. An expert in cancer. And kindness.
known for his ownership of
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Pgg
See AUCTION/Back Page
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