WREATHS:Simple DIY projectscansaveyou m oney MORE IN SIERRA LIVING: 'All-Star' plants thrive in the foothills, B1
A N D IN SPORTS:New Giants pitcher ready to help win, CZ
1 HEMOl HER LOGE'S LEADING INFORMATION SOURCE SINCE1854 • SONORA, CALIFORNIA
WEEKEND DECEMBER 12-14, 2015
Butte Firerecovery
TODAY'S READiRROA RD BRIEFING knees and her rear-end where she sat while searching, she examined what she located — an acorn, damaged, Stacy Fox-McLarty was digging with a significant chip to its body. through the damp leaves and the exThen, the emotions overcame her. "Look at this one. It's not pretty, it' s cess mud in the front yard of a resinot perfect .It's squished and ithas a dence in Murphys. After a short excavation, with damp huge chunk missing out of it. But it' s spotsfrom a passing storm cellon her still good. Just because it's beat up and By JASON COWAN The Union Democrat
it's bruised and it's broken, doesn' t mean it's not going to live," said FoxMcLarty as her voice softened. "And that's our community. We are not fixed. We' re still broken. But we have life." Fox-McLarty is a recently divorced mother of three. She has a child who is terminally ill. Other than the oc-
casional odd job, she is unemployed. Her children probably will not have a Christmas this year, she said. But despite all that, there she sat Friday morning, dirtying her fingers to lookfor seedlings that she plans to replant in the Butte Fire burn to help See SEEDS/Back Page
Christmas cheer — Jamestown School District students share songs of the season with elderly, special care patients in Sonora.A2
SONORA HIGH WILDCATS
Cold storm welcomed, more on way
Thinning project — Columbia College Forestry and Natural Resources Club students help reduce forest fire fuels by harvesting white fir, incense cedar to sell as Christmas trees.A3
By GUY McCARTHY The Union Democrat
Dodge Ridge and Bear Valley each receivedat least a foot of snow from the storm system that swept over the Mother Lode and the Central Sierra Nevada on Thursday, and forecasters say more snow is possible again Sunday. Employees at Strawberry Inn on Highway 108 just past the turnoff to Pinecrest and Dodge Ridge said they still had plenty of snow on the ground Friday afternoon. "We got some yesterday, like 8 inches maybe," said Patrick Hoffman, assistant manager at Strawberry Inn. 'The road is open and clear right now. It's no problem. It wasn't a big storm, but we did get some snow. It looks good for now." Bartender Aden Wrede said this winter is looking good so far, especially
LOw water — Lake Don Pedro Community Services District directors vote to extend emergency water supply construction projects as reservoir hits new record low.A3
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Drop the Drugs-
compared to the past few wet seasons.
"This is my third year up here," W rede said. "It's better,m uch better than the last few winters. It's nice to see snow on the ground definitely. Dodge Ridge should have a nice layer of powder." Dodge Ridge estimated the ski resort received 14 inches in 24 hours precedingFriday.Forecasters are calling for12 inches orm ore ofadditional
Calaveras County law enforcement offers a safe place for people to dispose of unwanted medications.A5
NEWS ELSEWHERE
Photos by Tracy Barbutes
• MOSCOW:Russian President Vladimir Putin says country provided air cover to a leading Western-backed opposition group in Syria.A6
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Friday night with
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PUBLIC OFFICIALS • Senator Tom Berryhill (R). State Senate District 14: 4641 Spyres, Suite 2, Modesto, CA 95356; 576-6470. Two-year term ends 2016. • Assemblyman Frank Bigelow (R). Congressional District 5: 33-C Broadway, Jackson, CA 95642. Phone: 916-3192005 or 209-223-0505. Two-year term ends 2016.
Sonora's historic football season ended a 42-18 loss to the
Autistic man focuses on his abilities
Hanford Bullpups at Dunlavy Field in the Norcal final
of the Division IV AA California Interscholastic Federation State Football Championship Bowl Games. The Wildcats finished with a 12-2 record and claimed the Sac- Joaquin Section Division V championship. For
The Sonora Wildcats take the field at the start of the championship game against the Hanford Bullpups at Dunlavy Field in Sonora Friday night (top). Wildcats players support one another after losing to the Hanford Bull pups (above). Nate Gookin (17) takes a handoff from quarterback Sam Page (5) early in the first quarter (right).
By LACEY PETERSON The Union Democrat
Dustin Keith wants to make movies. And one day, he'd like to stand up at an awards show and say, "To all the people with Asperger's, this is what you can accomplish. I'm a shining example of what you can do." Even with autism spectrum disorders being diagnosed in early childhood and hyper-aware parents bending over backwards to get children "mainstreamed" in school, autism still carries a stigma that those with the disorder are unfeeling and somehow less than everyone else. Keith, 27, of Sonora, attends Colum-
the full game story, seePage C1.
SeeAUTISM / Back Page
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