VINETOWINE: Wines, brews great for gift-giving, B1 III,I I( • I
MORE IN FOOD:A pearto remember — classic fruit and cheese combination an easy fix; Chili a quick morning-after meal, B1 I
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THE MOTHER LODE'SLEADING INFORMATION SOURCE SINCE 1854 • SO NORA, CALIFORNIA
TUESDAY
DECEMBER 22, 2015
Weather
A special thank you to UnionDemocrat subscriber Tom Clayton, of Sonora.
Storms to continue through Eriday
SANTA'S WORKSHOP
TODAY'S RHLDiRBOA RD BRIEFING
By GUY McCARTHY The Union Democrat 0
Christmas
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SelVICes —Churches throughout the Mother Lode will hold special services on Christmas Eve Thursday and Christmas Day Friday. A3
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Steady rains Monday at lower elevations in Tuolumne County prompted authorities to make sand available for sandbagging in Tuolumne, Columbia, Jamestown and Big Oak Flat. A flash flood watch was in effect until4p.m .today forrecentburn areas.Potentialfor debris flows in the Butte Fire scar in Calaveras County and
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Crime — BurgerKing
the Rim Fire scar in the Stan-
robbery suspect sought; Woman, 27, booked on weapons charge; Two booked on suspicion of Mi-Wuk burglary.A2-3
islaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park was described as moderate. There's a 1 0 0 p ercent chance rains will continue today, and there's a colder storm forecast Thursday into the night. For early Christmas Day, rain and snow showers are possible at elevations including the Soulsbyville area with highs in the 40s. Residents who need sand for s a ndbagging s hould bring their own shovels and sandbags, sherifl"s personnel said. Sand is available in Tuolumne at the end of Chestnut and at the corner of Baker and Cedar, in Columbia in the parking lot at
News NotesUpcoming events in the Mother Lode.A2
OPIhIOh —Chapman: Should terror threats close our schools? Barone: Brokered national convention not happening. A4
News elsewhere — State, nation and world news.A6-7
SPORTS
Maggie Beck/ Union Democrat
Purchase photosonline at www.uniondemocrat.corn
Merritt Land Boyce, 6, of Jamestown (above), sits on Santa's lap as she asks for pixie dust, new skis and ski boots for Christmas. She asked for pixie dust so she can fly to school.
Sweet, funny, magical items top lists of Mother Lode children By LACEY PETERSON
See WEATHER / Back Page
The Union Democrat
• KICKIN' AND RACIN':TCAM swimmers race at annual Kick event.C1 • PREPS ROUNDUP: Summerville wins Hilmar basketball tournament.C1 • AWARDS:American Pharoah, Curry and Spieth up for AP Male Athlete; Lloyd, Rousey, Williams up for AP Female Athlete.C1%
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.
Pixiedust,dolls,Legos,iPads,puppiesand, for some, a new or peaceful home topped the Christmas wish lists of many Mother Lode children this year. Back when Robert and Paula Linssen, of Columbia, started playing Santa and Mrs. Claus for the City of Sonora in the mid-1990s, drones as toys weren't available, or iPads for that matter. Afler about a decade or so break, the Linssen's are back downtown sitting for photos taken on smart phones, a change &om the Polaroid pictures Paula Linssen used to take.
Every day, children who visit Santa say something funny or cute, the Linssens said.
Last week, 6-year-old Merritt Land Boyce, of Jamestown, sat on Santa Linssen's lap and asked for pixie dust, new skis and ski boots for Christmas. She wanted pixie dust so she can fly to school. Linssen said his friend works at a daycare, and she told the children she knows Santa and he fixed her car for her. One of the children asked, 'Why don't you just ask him
By GUY McCARTHY The Union Democrat
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The children ask a lot of questions about the North Pole, the elves and the reindeer. "The answer to that is, the reindeer magic only works
Cutting Christmas trees in the Stanislaus National Forest is forbidden, and law enforcement officers used to catch 100 to 200 people a year doing it. Nowadays the number of people who get cited is about a half-dozen each holiday season, said Patrol Capt. Heidi Rieck, the law enforcement supervisor for Stanislaus NationalForest. A citation for illegally cuttinga treeiscostly:$300,and no negotiating for a lower fine. '%'e've made dozens of contacts this fall," Rieck said. "Not everyone gets cited." If law enforcement officers catch a commercial dealer taking multiple trees, they can take that person before a federalmagistrate and ask restitution of several hundred dollars per tree, Rieck said.
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for a new car?
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Claus (Robert Linssen) waves to passersS byante from his workshop in downtown Sonora.
SeeWISHES / Back Page
Communities prepare for free holiday meals grounds Thursday. The meal will cooking, will take place from 10 a.m. be served from noon to 6 p.m. on to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.
By SEAN CARSON The Union Democrat
NEWS TIPS? PHONE: 770-7153,5i84534 NEWS: editorIuniondemocrat.corn FEATUR ES: featIIreslitniondemocrat.corn SPORTS: sporlsIuniondemocratcom EVENTS ANDWEEKENDER: wtnkenderluniondemocrat.atm lETTHII lettersluniondemocratatm CAlAVERAS BUREAU:770-7197 NEWSR OOMFAX:532-6451 SUBSCR IBERSERVICES: 533-3614
Christmas tree cutting illegal in Stan forest
Drones are a new request this year.
Christmas Eve. The event is open to
Interested volunteers can arrive at
Mother Lode residents have no
all and will feature live music and a excuse to miss a hot meal and fel- visit from Santa Claus with gifts for lowship this week with several every child who arrives. Last year, gatherings planned throughout Tu- the dinner served more than 1,800 olumne and Calaveras counties. meals with the help of 221 volunThe annual Christmas Eve Day teers. Dinner will r eturn t o th e Sierra
the Sierra Building to assist. The meal is hosted by several community sponsors who volunteer time each year, said organizer Cathie Peacock. Southside Senior Services will
Preparation for the event, includ-
Building at the Mother Lode Fair- ing decorating, table setting, and
See MEALS / Back Page
See TREES/Back Page
de
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Sonora Regional
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DR. KENICHI MIYATA is now accepting patients.
Medical Center
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Call 209-536-5750 to schedule an appointment.
~A.dvent1et Health
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