The Plumas Sun • June 23rd, 2024

Crescent Mills solar array draws concerns at town hall meeting

A solar array proposed for Stampfli Lane near Crescent Mills drew questions at a June 11 town hall meeting hosted by Plumas County Supervisor Kevin Goss.

The crowd of around 60 mostly Indian Valley residents heard updates on a proposal to reopen operations at Engels Mine and legislation providing tax relief for Dixie Fire victims who have received settlement payments from Pacific Gas and Electric Co. But it was the potential for solar panels in the meadow off Stampfli Lane that drew the most in

The Plumas Sun • June 8th, 2024

Updated income limits shift ReCoverCA housing eligibility

Assemblywoman Megan Dahle reports that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently updated its income limits, impacting eligibility criteria for California Department of Housing and Community Development ReCoverCA housing programs. Key details include the following:
• Revised income limits: The ReCoverCA housing programs benefit low- to moderate-income households with an annual gross income not exceeding 80% of the area median income for the county. These income limits are base

The Plumas Sun • June 3rd, 2024

Dixie Fire Collaborative urges policy on spending PG&E settlement

Allocating Plumas County’s $7.8 million Dixie Fire settlement from Pacific Gas & Electric Co. has been in limbo for over a year. Numerous discussions have been scheduled for the Plumas County Board of Supervisors to approve guidelines on how to spend the fund. A decision, however, has been shuffled from one agenda to another.

The supervisors have proposed adopting a policy to guide spending the settlement fund in September, October and November, 2023, and March, 2024. At their March 12 meeting,

The Plumas Sun • June 2nd, 2024

Everyone invited to Town Hall Community Meeting

On Tuesday, June 11, from 5 to 8 p.m., the community is invited to attend a Town Hall Community Meeting at the Historic Taylorsville Hall. This meeting provides an opportunity for community members to engage directly with legislative advocates and experts to better understand ongoing recovery efforts and legislative processes affecting them. Topics include postfire tax relief, US Copper’s proposed mine and a proposed solar project. All are invited regardless of the location of their residence.

The Plumas Sun • May 26th, 2024

Tax relief for fire victims still uncertain

Victims of the Dixie Fire are in jeopardy of being victimized yet again.

State and federal taxes, imposed on settlement funds paid by Pacific Gas and Electric Co., threaten to slash compensation payments by over 50%, affecting how — and whether — many victims rebuild. Local, state and federal officials have joined a bipartisan effort to pass legislation that would exempt thousands of wildfire victims from having to pay income tax on their settlement money.

The federal campaign celebrated May 2

The Plumas Sun • May 21st, 2024

PG&E resumes undergrounding efforts

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. is resuming work to underground power lines in Plumas County along highways 89 and 70, as well as in Greenville. Contractors for PG&E are doing most of the work, which involves trenching in and alongside roadways.

Burying powerlines is the most effective solution to reducing the risk of wildfire from electrical equipment, said PG&E, reducing the risk of ignitions in areas at the highest risk of wildfire by nearly 98%. Undergrounding also makes power more reliable by

The Plumas Sun • May 17th, 2024

Fifth annual Plumas Cal-TREX teaches 60+

Over the course of a week, 68 individuals from over 27 different organizations were introduced to the world of the Plumas Cal-TREX. From April 28 to May 4, fire professionals, interested local residents, students and more attended the fifth annual Plumas Prescribed Fire Training Exchange, learning tools to further their careers in and knowledge of prescribed fire. The theme of the week was “Objectives,” and students were encouraged to ask questions constantly to ensure that all learning, fire an

The Plumas Sun • May 17th, 2024

Next generation participates in prescribed fire training

This year’s fifth installment of the Plumas Cal-TREX — Prescribed Fire Training Exchange — program included a unique twist: the active involvement of local students from Plumas Charter School.

In collaboration with the Plumas Fire Safe Council, students were given the opportunity to participate in the final day of the week-long Cal-TREX program, engaging in hands-on training sessions covering a variety of essential topics related to prescribed fire implementation. Students participated in the m

The Plumas Sun • April 29th, 2024

Chester fire tax in voters’ hands

A special election to determine the future of the Chester Fire Department is in the hands of voters throughout the Chester Public Utilities District.

Mailed April 8, the special ballot measure asks voters to approve one of two levels of financial commitment designed to generate as much as $2 million annually to fund the fire department and its ambulance services.

One measure asks voters to approve a $1,500 per parcel annual tax to fund a full-service, full-time professionally staffed Chester f

The Plumas Sun • April 23rd, 2024

Locals meet with Rep. Kiley to discuss fire insurance

On Tuesday, March 26, a group of Plumas and Sierra county representatives held a meeting with Congressman Kevin Kiley to discuss his home-hardening bill, HR 6861, and the California Fair Plan impact to local communities.

“The home-hardening bill is a good move in the right direction,” said organizers, “and we talked to him about current challenges beyond policy cancellations — for example, fire insurance plans are written by ZIP code and even homes with the lowest 0 fire rating cannot get polic

The Plumas Sun • April 22nd, 2024

Kiley hosts virtual office in Greenville

Wednesday, April 24, Congressman Kevin Kiley’s office will host a mobile district visit from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Dixie Fire Collaborative office at 127 Crescent St., Suite 2, Greenville.

A district representative from Kiley’s office will respond to any constituent needs or questions, the DFC reports. Kiley himself will not be in attendance.

The DFC invites the public to stop by to ask questions or provide comments to the congressman’s district representative.

The Plumas Sun • April 13th, 2024

Fire safe council hosts Wildfire Preparedness Fair

The Plumas County Fire Safe Council is set to host its annual Wildfire Preparedness Fair on May 11 starting at 10 a.m. The event will take place at the Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds, 204 Fairground Rd in Quincy, in collaboration with the Plumas County Children’s Council.

“The fair is an excellent opportunity for Plumas County residents to learn about wildfire preparedness while socializing with neighbors,” say organizers. The event will cover various topics, including home hardening, defensi

The Plumas Sun • April 8th, 2024

State holds virtual insurance workshop April 23

The California Department of Insurance announces it will conduct a virtual public workshop regarding potential changes to the California Code of Regulations to allow property and casualty insurers to

use catastrophe models for purposes of ratemaking.

The public is invited to participate in the workshop discussions. To increase public participation and improve the quality of any regulations that Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara ultimately adopts, interested parties are invited to attend the

The Plumas Sun • April 8th, 2024

Homeowners eligible for up to $500,000 to rebuild

The California Department of Housing and Community Development is providing funding through ReCoverCA Housing Programs to homeowners affected by FEMA-declared 2021 disaster, the Dixie Fire.

Homeowners and landlords willing to rent to low-to-moderate income households may be eligible for up to $500,000 to repair and reconstruct their homes, or up to $50,000 for wildfire mitigation retrofits to reduce risk and improve resiliency in the event of future disasters.

The Dixie Fire Collaborative is o

The Plumas Sun • April 8th, 2024

Presentation on home hardening set for Graeagle

On Tuesday, April 23, Graeagle Fire Protection District Firewise Community and Valley Ranch Firewise Community will be co-hosting a presentation on home hardening, a term for protecting a home from the threat of wildfire. This presentation will be held at the Graeagle Fire Hall, 7620 Highway 89 in Graeagle at 6:30 p.m.

Guest speaker Tommy Brenzovich, Plumas County Fire Safe Council mitigation assistance program manager, will address the potential threats to a home in the event of a wildfire and

The Plumas Sun • April 6th, 2024

Survey helps new fund identify local industry, business needs

The Almanor Foundation recently established the Jerry and Yvonne Kehr Education Fund. The purpose of the fund is to give financial support to educational, artistic and vocational initiatives and provide resources that enhance avenues of learning for students of all ages. The fund aims to foster educational

opportunities, promote innovation and ensure equal access to education.

The fund committee is gathering data across sectors to better understand the needs of communities, schools, teachers a

The Plumas Sun • March 30th, 2024

Bills pending on tax relief for Dixie victims

With the April 15 deadline approaching for federal and state tax filing, Dixie Fire victims like Sue Weber, former chair of the Dixie Fire Collaborative, are closely watching the disaster tax relief assistance bills working their way through congress and the California state Legislature.

Weber, who lost everything in the Dixie Fire, had accompanied U.S. 3rd District Rep. Kevin Kiley on his tour of fire-ravaged Greenville last September. She stressed the need for this tax relief as fire settleme

The Plumas Sun • March 16th, 2024

Conservation project assistance available for landowners

The Feather River Resource Conservation District announced it is partnering with the Natural Resources Conservation Service to enroll private landowners in the Environmental Quality Incentive Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program, which provide technical and financial assistance to implement conservation projects.

Conservation projects are based on landowner goals and property needs. Projects could include practices like forest stand improvements, fuels reduction, brush removal and i

The Plumas Sun • March 15th, 2024

PG&E offers scam avoidance advice

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. reports that scammers continue to take advantage of PG&E customers. In fact, in 2023, PG&E received nearly 43,000 reports from customers who were targeted by scammers impersonating the company, and customers lost approximately $875,000 in fraudulent payments, with the average customer losing $785.

Reports of utility scams targeting customers were at an all-time high during 2023. Unfortunately, said PG&E, that number is likely just the tip of the iceberg for overall

The Plumas Sun • March 12th, 2024

County officials draft plan to fund fire-safe homes

Plumas County officials have partnered with federal, state and local agencies to craft a proposal that could help up to 90 homeowners make their houses resilient to wildfire.

The tentative plan, approved March 5 by the Plumas County Board of Supervisors, will leverage several sources of funding to make the county eligible for $2.6 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency funds.

“This is the first home-hardening program in the county to my knowledge. In areas that haven’t seen wildfire lo

The Plumas Sun • February 28th, 2024

Beckwourth Peak fire charts a path in eastern Plumas County

The newly created Beckwourth Peak Fire Protection District, approved by voters Nov. 7, 2023, authorized the formation of a board of directors. The new board of the brand new fire district includes Richard McLaughlin, president; Daniel Smith, vice president; Melissa Klundby; Cary Curtis; and Larry Smith.

“The entire board is excited and energized to move the process forward,” McLaughlin said at the district’s Jan. 22 special meeting. “With the assistance of the current Beckwourth and Sierra Vall

The Plumas Sun • February 26th, 2024

Firewise meeting open to all Lake Almanor area residents, landowners

The Firewise communities of the Lake Almanor Basin are hosting a meeting for all residents and landowners in the area. It will be held March 8 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Chester Fire Department at 251 Chester Airport Rd.

Organizers report that the event will include information on the standards for making a home more resistant to fire, including the new Zone 0. “Creating this defensible space may make a big difference in your insurance costs and the ability to get fire insurance for your home,

The Plumas Sun • February 22nd, 2024

FRC teams with SPI to address local workforce training needs

In an effort to meet local labor market demand, Feather River College is now offering a commercial driver’s license program, reports Nick Maffei, FRC’s director of marketing, communications and outreach. “Through a valuable collaboration with Sierra Pacific Industries, Feather River College will have access to one of SPI’s manual semitruck-and-trailers to utilize as a training tool for students interested in a career in transportation and trucking,” he said.

The program consists of two classes

The Plumas Sun • February 20th, 2024

Webinar addresses wildfire safety, homeowners insurance

Sierra Forward, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting California’s foothill and mountain communities, invites anyone worried about wildfire safety or concerned about homeowners insurance to join a virtual webinar Thursday, Feb. 22, at 6 p.m.

The speaker will be Ken Pimlott, principal management analyst for El Dorado County and former Cal Fire chief. Pimlott has been working with a team to create a coordinated effort in the county to prepare for wildfires. Webinar attendees will learn about how th