HOLIDAY LIGHTS: Union Democrat seeks displays ' ' Ltfr
MORE IN SIERRA LIVING:Winter blues no match for bulbs; Local gardeners share favorite ideas for giving, B1
1 HEMOl HER LODE'S LEADING INFORMATION SOURCE SINCE1854 • SONORA, CALIFORNIA
WEEKEND EC. 5-7, 2015
TODAY'S REABiRBOA RB BRIEFING
Mother lode
Censusdatashowsincomedown,pevertvup By ALEK MacLEAN
olumne and Calaveras counties. Income decreased in both New fi ve-year estimates counties from 2010 through released this week by the 2014 over the previous fiveU.S. Census Bureau provide year period, while the pera glimpse of the Great Reces- centage of people living in sion's lingering effects on Tu- poverty increased, according The Union Democrat
Holiday dinner — The Sonora 49er Rotary Club presented its annual Harry Smith Memorial Holiday Dinner on Thursday in Sonora.A2
to the estimates. The National Bureau of Economic Research identifies the periodofthe recession as December 2007 through June 2009. "I think it's lingering effects from the Great Recession,
plus the transition of how the world is changing," said Larry Cope, executivedirectorofthe Central Sierra Economic Development District. The data comes from the
can Community Survey, an ongoing efFort that samples a smallpercentage ofthe population each year. Tuolumne County's median household income fell about 9
Census Bureau's f i ve-year
estimates through the Ameri-
CalaverasCoun' updatesButte Fire damages
srucures esro e
See CENSUS/Back Page
Scbools:
Every
Upcoming roadwork planned in Tuolumne and Calaveras counties including times, dates, locations and possible delays.A2-3
lottery dollar counts
News Notes-
By SEAN CARSON
Sacramento Kings to help Calaveras County; Area 12 needs council members; Substance found in Woods Creek; Man hit by car in downtown Sonora. A3-5
The Union Democrat
Roadwork-
Calaveras County officials Friday said the final tally of structures destroyed in the Butte Fire is 769, and 503 of them were homes. Initially, Cal Fire reported 818 structures, including 475 residences, and the county indicated housing losses hovered around the 550 range. Sharon Torrence, a public information officer with the county, said the 769 figure
The dollar scratcher you just bought is a small but meaningful contribution to the 10school sitesKassandra Boothbudgetsfor as director ofFiscalServicesfortheCalaveras Unified School District. A portion of that money goes to California public education, and despite amounting to 2 percent of most budgets, "every dollar makes a big contribution," Booth said. Mother Lode schools received the final portion of $1.39 billion dollars in state lottery money collected during 2014-15,State Controller Betty T. Yee said this week. "The whole thing about the lottery is that it does generate a lot of money, but what schoolsare getting is not as much as one might think," said Tami Ethier, assistant superintendent of Business Services for the Tuolumne County Superintendent of Schools Office. In 2014-15, the lottery generated $5.5 billion in total sales, the highest total in its history. Next year, estimates reach $6 billion in revenue, according to the California State Lottery Commission. For over 30 years, a portion of lottery sales and unclaimed prize money has funded public education. In 2010, legislation passed
comes from a number of different sources
to m aximize t h e
including Federal Emergency Management Agency assessments and the county assessor' soffice.She said sta6ers from the assessor's office have gone out to look at properties that pay taxes.
given to schools and, prior to that, Proposition 20 specifieda portion ofthem oney be usedforinstructional materials in 2000.
Sean andHeard — This week's photo opinion asks, "What is the best or worst Secret Santa gift you' ve ever received?" A3
Sierra Nevada ConsewancyBoard members plan to tour Rim Fire areas.A3
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Poll question — This week's poll question asks, "Are you afraid of a terrorist attack?" Vote online at www.uniondemocrat. corn.A4
OplnlOn — stiehm: Patti Davis' new novel helps bury old wounds; Rasmussen: Pearl Harbor fading from collective memory.A4
SPORTS • BIG CATCH:The Sonora Bass Anglers fished Don Pedro for their ninth tournament of the year.C1 • GIRLS HOOPS:Wildcats fall to Alameda, will play for third.C1 • COLUMBIA BASKETBALL:Claim Jumpers win fourth straight game.C1 • MLB: Barry Bonds to coach Miami hitters.C1
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Guy McCarthy / Union Democrat
Contract workers in hazardous materials gear remove debris Friday on about 3.5 acres off Jesus Maria Road, where the Butte Fire destroyed two houses, two garages and a shop.
Includes 503 homes, $450 million estimated in economic losses By JASON COWAN The Union Democrat
See LOSSES/Back Page
A sign posted at a structure damaged by the Butte Fire near Jesus Maria Road warns homeowners of potential seams.
a m ount
See LO1TERY/Back Page
Cancer center benefactor George White dies at 73 By LACEY PETERSON The Union Democrat
George White, who lived in relativeobscurity for most of his life until making a several million dollar donation to Sonora Regional Medical Cen-
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ter, died Nov. 26 at his made the bequest in home in Groveland. He honor of his late wife, was 73. Diana J. White, who White's $3.3 million died in 2011. estategiftwasthelargHe had a 40-year caest single community White reer asowner operator donation for the hosof a janitorial supply pital's new cancer center. He business. He enjoyed telling
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people he was a janitor, he said in an interview in July. White was born on Sept. 25, 1942, in Spartanburg, South Carolina. White came to Californiaby train as a teenager and lived for a while in the Bay Area before returning to
South Carolina. He returned to California as an adult and started his own business with nothing more than a ninthgrade education. He was almost 40 when he See WH1TE/Back Page
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