The Mountain Messenger

Local Agencies Participate in Active Shooter Training

training1.jpgParticipants secure and treat a simulated shooting victim

SIERRAVILLE — March 23, 2024, at the Old Sierraville School Community Center, a Multiagency Active Shooter Rescue Task Force Training was led by instructor John Hughes of EMSCES911 (a medical training organization). During the morning session, participants learned and practiced triage, treat and move, and stop the bleed techniques utilizing interactive mannequins and “victims.” In the afternoon, these techniques were applied as teams in a simulated environment full of distractions and challenges.

training2.jpgA hallway is cleared for a simulated patient

Although Sierra County has not yet experienced an event such as those depicted in the practice scenarios, it is reassuring to know our dedicated first responders continue to prepare for the worst. The individual skills practiced may come in handy on a call in the future. Agencies represented included Eastern Plumas Health Care Ambulance, US Forest Service Tahoe Forest, Sierra County Fire Protect...

Fatal Mountain Lion Attack in El Dorado County

Lab1.jpgThe Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Wildlife Forensics Lab analyzes samples to match mountain lion DNA

GEORGETOWN — A mountain lion attack on Saturday, March 23rd, resulted in the death of a 21-year-old male and serious injury to his 18-year-old brother. According to a press release by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the brothers had been antler hunting in a remote area of El Dorado County near Georgetown. The younger brother was able to dial 911 after sustaining injuries, but the older was pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders. The incident marks the first confirmed fatality caused by a mountain lion in California since 2004.

Fish and Wildlife immediately authorized a professional trapper to locate and euthanize the mountain lion, and the task was carried out hours after the incident. The next day, the department’s Wildlife Forensics Laboratory was able to confirm that DNA collected from the euthanized mountain lion matched DNA found at the site of the a...

Heuer Tours Community Center

DSCN2953.JPGSupervisor Heuer in the demolished interior of the Downieville Community Center. Photo by Billy Epps

DOWNIEVILLE — Sierra County’s District 2 Supervisor Lila Heuer arranged a tour of the rapidly progressing Downieville Community Center remodeling project on Monday, March 27th. In a Facebook post, Heuer commended the efforts of county employees and expressed gratitude for construction workers. That morning, Heuer attended a weekly strength and conditioning class, one of many services (including Senior Lunch) displaced from the Community Center to other venues during construction. An optimistic construction calendar would put the Community Center’s grand re-opening in July.

Yuba Gallery to Open

The-Yuba-Gallery.jpgThe Yuba Gallery on Downieville’s Main Street

DOWNIEVILLE —The Sierra County Art Council is pleased to announce the seasonal opening of the Yuba Gallery next door to the Yuba Theatre at 208 Main Street in Downieville. The opening of the Yuba Gallery will be held on the weekend of the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour on Friday, April 5. Will call tickets for the film festival will be available in The Yuba Gallery. The Gallery will be open on weekends from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. until Labor Day when we will be open Thursday through Sunday throughout the summer. The Yuba Gallery features locally made arts and crafts and will act as a community resource for information and advertising of local events and programs.

Among those artists exhibiting in The Yuba Gallery are: Peggy Daigle fiber arts, Lynn Fill fiber arts, Kat Macchia fiber arts, Sharon Mansfield botanical-dyed clothing, Mark Stevenson Photography, Jeff Milliken fine art, Katie O’Hara-Kelly fine art and pastels, B.J. Jordan waterco...

Trivia Thrives in Downieville

DOWNIEVILLE — Two weeks ago, while this correspondent was out of town, The Divas returned after a lengthy absence to win the game held on 3/14. Capitan de los Gatitos placed second by outscoring the third-place Good Notes. And, unexpectedly, the normally very strong Hansen Bridge team came across the finish line “out-of-the-money.”

However, last Thursday, 3/21, this same team, Hansen Bridge, shared the lead from the 2nd through 4th rounds, then dropped into a three-way tie for second place in round 5 when The Three Amigos jumped into the lead. However, HB managed to slip back into first place in the final round by selecting the right answer for four out of the five final questions, while The Three Amigos managed just two, falling into a tie for third place.

Meanwhile, The House team, in last place after round 2, was taken over from Boomtown’s host starting in round 3, when a threesome from Camptonville showed a bit late. By correctly answering 75 percent of the next (more valuable) 16 qu...