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Be Counted! Census forms should be filled out by the individual in whose name a housing unit is owned or rented, on behalf of everyone living in the household. Photo courtesy of U.S. Census Bureau, Public Information Office |
CommentsSpot News Briefs: Nevada County
11 March - 7 April 2010
Published: March 11, 2010
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Officer of the Year
Arnulfo “Arnie” Lopez, a Truckee High School graduate and member of the Truckee Police Department since 2004, has been named Officer of the Year for 2009. As a field training officer in the patrol division, Lopez is responsible for training and orienting new officers to service in the Truckee community. Lopez also assists with the coordination of the Adopt-a-Family Program with Tahoe Women’s Services during the Christmas season and volunteers with the Sierra Mountain Soccer Club’s Conexión de Fútbol program.
Supes Say No to Outsourcing
The Nevada County Supervisors put a contentious issue to bed on Feb. 23 when they agreed to table a discussion about outsourcing the county library system in favor of an option recommended by several ad-hoc advisory committees instead. A unanimous vote approved the modified “Option A,” which will reduce hours and cut staff to address a $400,000 deficit within the library system.
Reaction from the public in attendance was overwhelmingly positive. Former county librarian Madeline Helling, after whom one of the county libraries is named, thanked the supervisors for responding to the public. “This is democracy in action,” she said. Fifth District Supervisor Ted Owens had praise for the public’s involvement in the process and for county CEO Rick Haffey for managing an unenviable task well, but he also had cautionary words: “We’ve weathered this storm and gone a little further, but we can’t relax.”
Repair California is Broken
Repair California, an organization that tried to bring the first constitutional convention to the state in 130 years, has ended its campaign due to insufficient funding. The effort had focused on four specific areas of reform: the budget process; the election and initiative process; restoring the balance of power between the state and local governments; and creating new systems to improve government effectiveness.
“The work on the Constitutional Convention received tremendous praise, but praise doesn’t put your measures on the ballot,” said Jim Wunderman, the president and CEO of the Bay Area Council, the organization that started the Convention movement.
2010 Census Underway
2010 census forms have begun to arrive and should be completed and mailed back by April 1, Census Day. The 2010 form is shorter than in the past, making it even easier to complete. Households without regular mail delivery will receive a hand-delivered packet from census workers. In very remote areas, with characteristically low rates of questionnaire return, residents get an in-person visit from a census staffer. The census does not ask about the legal status of respondents or their Social Security numbers.
Participation rates in the 2000 census in our region ranged from a low of 49 percent in Sierra and Alpine counties to a high of 73 percent in Nevada County. Info: 2010.census.gov
Excellence in Education Funds Awarded
The Excellence in Education Foundation has awarded $19,790 in mini grants to teachers and classrooms throughout the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District. Mini grants were added to the foundation’s giving program last year in response to a growing need for classroom supplies. Mini grants allow individual teachers to apply for grants up to $400 and can include consumable items, which are not normally funded by the foundation. This year, the foundation received 125 grant requests and awarded funds to 67 applicants. Most grants provided for classroom materials including art supplies, science materials, food for culinary classes, and supplies for Living History Days. The foundation also funded rock and mineral kits for elementary science, math enhancement tools, games for building motor skills, and digital cameras. In addition to the $59,000 for district technology, the combined funding for fall grants and mini grants brings the total money awarded by Excellence in Education to $165,155 this school year.
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