REPORTERS' NOTEBOOK - The blog by Sun-Star news staff

Sinkhole blamed on rotted roots, animals

scottjason — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:05:57 -0400

Sandy soil, rotted roots and burrowing animals were what caused a percolation pond's wall to give out in Livingston, releasing about 3 million gallons of treated sewage into the Merced River, according to a report by Condor Earth Technologies.

The report, attached for your own reading enjoyment, was given to me by City Manager Richard Warne a couple days back. It shows there wasn't any negligence on the city's part, though concedes that most of the evidence of what caused the collapse crumbled and washed away. It suggests the city regularly inspect for signs of erosion.

No justice for Merced County

scottjason — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:47:27 -0400

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced judicial appointments today, though none of the 30 are for Merced County Superior Court.

The local system still has one opening, which was set to be filled this month, court CEO Kathie Goetsch told me. She's heard that a few candidates are going through the state's vetting process. She doesn't know who, and it's unclear when a decision will be made.

Writing the wrongs of eating

scottjason — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:20:34 -0400

Michael Pollan gives away the point of his latest book, "In Defense of Food," on page one.

"Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants," he writes.

Sadly, that doesn't reflect most American diets, which is eat (processed) food. A lot. Mainly meat.

Don't get me wrong. I like a tri-tip as much as the next guy. The problem, though, is that some form of animal constitutes the main dish in far too many meals. Pollan says that people should think of meat as a side dish.

Coming home from the war, via the Merced ER

MikeTharp — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:00:01 -0400

After three days at McClatchy's Washington bureau and another nine visiting family and friends in Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin and Corpus Christi, I finally pointed the Elvismobile toward the 99 from L.A. yesterday morning.

An hour into the trip, my contacts were bugging me so I stopped at a rest area, took 'em out and replaced 'em with my glasses.

Within minutes my right eye had swelled shut, and the pain felt as if somebody were dragging sand grains across it. I literally held the eye open for the next four hours till I finally got home after nearly two months away.

The power of dreams -- carbon emissions not included

victorpatton — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 12:39:30 -0400

I had the pleasure of meeting Louis Palmer on Friday -- a Swiss man who is five months away from being the first person to circle the world in a solar-powered, zero-carbon emission car.

For those that have not yet read the whole story about his stop in Merced, click here: http://www.mercedsunstar.com/167/story/353793.html

The thing that amazed me the most about Palmer (besides the fact that he speaks six languages) is the fact that he envisioned building his solar-powered car at age 14. At an age when most kids are caught up in trying to be cool among their peers (myself included), this guy was trying to figure out how to build the vehicle of the future.

Mints and the high school district

abisuz — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:04:57 -0400

At this week’s Merced Union High School District board meeting, a presentation was given on the district’s BTSA induction program.

BTSA, or beginning teacher support and assessment, is a state-funded instructor induction program co-sponsored by the California Department of Education and the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. It is designed to support the professional development of beginning teachers. Along the way, the program also helps those teachers meet the requirements to finalize their teaching credentials.

More residents entering council races

scottjason — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:31:35 -0400

Though Aug. 8 -- the deadline to run for office -- seems eons away, the council races I cover are finally heating up.

It's just a notch above lukewarm now that I got a press release from Joe Rivero (not the one already on the council) announcing his candidacy.

This means that it will be a three-person contest for two seats. Lesa Rasmussen and Gary Frago are the incumbents and now Rivero has tossed his name in.

Starbucks closing Atwater store

scottjason — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:30:59 -0400

Starbucks released the full list of the 600 stores it's shutting down, and the one at Bellevue Road and Winton Way in Atwater is among the casualties.

It's the only one in Merced County, though there are a bunch others closing in the Valley. No date for when the barista will serve up the last iced Americano.

The full list can be viewed here.

Is the Merced City Council developing a taste for special meetings?

ReporterLeslieAlbrecht — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:31:15 -0400

Twice in the past six weeks the Merced City Council has broken its regular routine of meeting on the first and third Monday of the month to call "special meetings". Instead of waiting until its next regularly scheduled meeting, the council has met to vote on items its says need urgent action.

What's so important in Merced these days? Dealing with the impact of the housing bust.

In both cases, the council called special meetings to vote on actions that directly address foreclosures and a frozen real estate market.

Finishing touches on Castle terminal

scottjason — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:55:57 -0400

I cruised around Castle Commerce Center Thursday before I met up with the military folks for the story I wrote about Operation Hydra.

First I stopped by the former American School of Aviation headquarters, which had a couple broken office chairs in the parking lot, some trash from Carls Jr. and a lock on the front door.

It'll remain a sad chapter in Castle's redevelopment history.

Then I checked out the much-hyped terminal, which will accommodate commercial travel in and out of the airport. It's an airport, right?