All posts by jd

Real estate broker, civil engineer and general contractor.
Business

Hot Potato for Nation’s Largest Potato Grower

One of the nation’s largest potato growers has been indicted by a Riverside County Criminal Grand Jury on charges of laundering campaign contributions in violation of state law.

James Larry Minor, 70, of San Jacinto in Riverside County, was  arraigned at 10 in Department 52 of Riverside County Superior Court. The indictment charges him with conspiracy to violate the state Political Reform Act by donating money in the name of another, committing perjury, and filing a false document.

Minor is owner of Agri-Empire Corp. in San Jacinto, which ships millions of potatoes destined for fast food restaurants and family kitchens to supermarkets and brokers across the nation. Its predecessor, San Jacinto Packing Company, was founded by the Minor family in 1943 with an $800 loan.

Minor is accused of illegally donating nearly $40,000 in the names of family members (including his sons, daughter, son-in-law and daughters-in-law), friends, and business associates to the Jeff Stone for State Senate Campaign in 2009. The practice is known as money laundering because it is designed to hide the true source of campaign donations and allows an individual to exceed the legal limits for donating to a state political campaign. The limit was $3,900 in 2009.

Minor is also accused of perjury and filing a false statement in connection with his donations to the Committee to Elect Brenda Salas for State Assembly Campaign in 2006. The limit that year was $3,300, and Minor contributed a total of $26,400 in the names of others. Minor illegally filed a major donor statement with the Fair Political Practices Commission under penalty of perjury that failed to list any of those donations to Salas.

Minor faces a maximum sentence of four years and eight months in state prison, and a fine of $60,000 imposed by the FPPC.

The indictment, issued by the grand jury in December, will be unsealed at tomorrow’s court hearing.

The money laundering investigation was conducted by the Attorney General’s Bureau of Investigation and Intelligence. It was presented to the grand jury by Deputy Attorney General Alana Cohen Butler of the criminal division.

Source Attorney General of California

For all your real estate needs Call
John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
(530) 263-1091
Email jodell@nevadacounty.com

DRE# 00669941

Real Estate

Banks Push Home Buyers to Put Down More Cash

1 Comment


Many economists and housing analysts blame lax lending standards – including no-down payment, no-document loans – for contributing to the challenges in the current real estate cycle.  As a result, most lending institutions have increased minimum down payment requirements.  Now, a new proposal by the Obama administration calls for gradually raising down payments to a minimum of 10 percent on conventional loans – those that can be bought or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

MAKING SENSE OF THE STORY

  • Banks have found that larger down payments discourage delinquencies by increasing the buyers’ exposure to loss and reducing the impact of declining prices.  According to a study by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, buyers who made smaller down payments were more likely to default during “unfavorable economic circumstances, such as a housing market slowdown or job loss.”
  • A recent analysis showed the median down payment in nine major U.S. cities rose to 22 percent last year on properties purchased with conventional mortgages.  That percentage doubled in three years and represents the highest median down payment since the data were first tracked in 1997.
  • Higher borrowing costs and larger down payments could cause housing prices to decline further, analysts say.  For now, borrowers who can’t afford such amounts are turning to alternative programs, such as loans for veterans or those backed by the Federal Housing Administration.  Some industry experts say this has created a nonconventional mortgage market for riskier borrowers and those who don’t qualify for conventional loans.

Read the full story

For all your real estate needs Call
John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
(530) 263-1091
Email jodell@nevadacounty.com

DRE# 00669941

animals

How to Protect Your Pets From Predators

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFW4w-61hic
This is a video of a coyote “playing” with a family dog. Notice that the coyote keeps running into the bushes. Coyotes travel in packs and will play with a dog, luring the dog into the bushes where the rest of the pack is. Once in the bushes, the coyotes will kill and devour the dog.

by Lisa J. Lehr

Most of us living in Nevada County moved here because we like the rural environment. Rural environments include wildlife, and that, for the most part, is a plus; however, most of us also share our lives with beloved pets, and clashes between wildlife and pets often end in heartache for the pet owner.

Coyotes are a particularly ubiquitous wild critter here in Nevada County, and pets falling prey to coyotes is a far too common occurrence. The consolation—if there is any—is that, compared to a car accident, dog attack, or abduction by a person with evil intentions, death by coyote is quick and, as far as we know, relatively suffering-free. Coyotes kill to eat, and they do it efficiently.

Still, it is heartbreaking to lose a cherished pet, and it is our responsibility to take care of them.

Coyotes are difficult to eradicate. They are becoming alarmingly unafraid of humans, with daytime sightings becoming more frequent. Trapping and relocating coyotes is not as good an idea as it may sound, as any young coyotes orphaned by this process will seek easy prey—e.g., our pets.

They can be frightened, so if you see one, try shaking a noisemaker (like a can full of hardware) or throwing things at it. Fire a Super Soaker (high-powered toy water gun) filled with water or vinegar.

More often, though, we don’t see them lurking around our property, as they are naturally nocturnal. The key to keeping coyotes away from your home (and your pets, your children, and you) is to eliminate all that attracts coyotes—mainly food. Coyotes are generalists, meaning they’ll eat just about anything.

With that in mind:

  • Keep your cats and small dogs indoors at night; your medium and large dogs, too. Coyotes hunting in packs can take down a fairly big animal.
  • Rabbits, chickens, etc. that are kept outdoors need protection: strong fencing with a top, and/or a small enclosure inside it that they can hide in.
  • Don’t let your pets’ food become coyote bait. Cats are best fed indoors, and dogs should be fed only what they will eat all at once, with no leftovers.
  • Be careful with your bird feeders. Place them close to your house, and clean up spills. Do not feed squirrels, deer, or other wildlife. Any naturalist will tell you that birds are the only wild critters we should feed.
  • Put garden compost in enclosed bins, and gather your ripe fruits and vegetables immediately.
  • If your cats wear bells on their collars, take them off. The same bells that supposedly alert birds to your cats’ presence also betray their whereabouts to coyotes. (Once you’ve cleaned up the birdseed, you’ll have fewer birds within your cats’ reach, anyway.) One final consideration: cats who wear bells learn to be stealthier hunters, which leaves us with no reason that cats should ever wear bells.
  • Besides food, coyotes are attracted to potential partners. An unneutered male dog will be attracted to a female coyote; a male coyote will be attracted to an unspayed female dog; both scenarios spell trouble. Spay and neuter your pets.
  • Mothballs and ammonia around your property may repel coyotes, as will a motion-sensitive light.
  • Consider a fence. The type of fencing will need to be one that deters climbing and is in accordance with the CC&Rs of your neighborhood; at least six feet tall and extending six inches below ground. Some clever person has invented a “roll fence”; it has a rolling piece at the top, which keeps your cats from climbing out, or any uninvited guests from climbing in. As they try to grasp the top bar, it rolls. Wild critters stay out, tame ones in, and you and your pets live happily ever after.

Coyotes will always be among us, but we don’t have to live in fear for our pets’ lives. Our best bet is to make them feel so unwelcome in civilization that they’ll pack up their families and move back to the wilderness.

Lisa J. Lehr is a writer and copywriter as well as animal lover living in Grass Valley. She can help you promote your business with a full range of online and offline marketing pieces. A member of Empire Toastmasters, she’s available to speak to your business or professional group. Visit her website www.justrightcopy.com for more information, opt in for a message series, and receive a free Marketing Guide.

animals

There’s a Bear Living Under My House!


Picture taken by Jeff Toff’s cousin in Lake Tahoe

A friend of mine has a cousin who lives in Lake Tahoe. This winter a black bear decided to use the cousin’s space under his house to live in. Making it nice and cozy for the bear, the bear dislodged the heating ducts so he could stay warm during the winter. Being warm, the bear did not want to come out, but he got spooked when humans came around and he run up a tree as you can see in the picture.

A little information on the black bear which is also known as the American black bear, they’re the smallest and most common species of bear. They’re omnivores, eating whatever is in season and with a wide variety of food, making them a survivor over other bear species that have become extinct.  However, it’s said that 85% of their diet is vegetarian.  It’s estimated that there are twice as many black bears as all other species of bears.

They range in size from  125 to 550 pounds, can run at speeds from 25 to 30 mph. However, compared to brown bear attacks, violent encounters with black bears rarely lead to serious injury. But the majority of black bear attacks tend to be motivated more by hunger rather than territoriality, and thus victims have a higher probability of surviving by fighting back rather than submitting

By the way, the bear’s OK, he came down and went on his way looking for another warm place to camp out. Hopefully with forced air heat.

Source for information on black bears: Wikipedia
Source for story Jeff Toff

For all your real estate needs Call
John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
Email jodell@nevadacounty.com

DRE# 006689941

nevada county fair

Nevada County Fairgrounds’ CEO to Serve as Vice President on Western Fairs Association’s Board of Directors

Sandy Woods
Sandy Woods

Sandy Woods, Chief Executive Officer of the Nevada County Fairgrounds, has been elected as Vice President of the Western Fairs Association’s (WFA) Board of Directors. Woods was recently recognized at the association’s annual conference in Reno.

Woods will serve a one year term as Vice President, and will then become President of the WFA Board of Directors in 2012. All WFA directors are elected by their peers.

As a member of the Board, Woods will represent the more than 800 WFA members and will work on their behalf for legislative advocacy, as well as govern the activities and policies of the association.

The Western Fairs Association is a non-profit trade association serving the Fair industry throughout the Western United States and Canada. WFA serves fair-related businesses, fair management, fair board directors, festivals, and industry associations.

The 2011 Nevada County Fair is August 10 – 14.

By: Wendy Oak
Publicist,
Nevada County Fairgrounds

(530) 273-6217
wsoaks@gmail.com

Website: www.NevadaCountyFair.com

Business

Former Bank Officer and City Councilman Plead Guilty to Embezzling $3.7 Million Over 10 Years

SACRAMENTO—United States Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that Stephen Marich, 43, of Ely, Nevada, pleaded guilty today before United States District Judge Kent J. Dawson in federal court in Las Vegas to embezzling at least $3.7 million from the First National Bank of Ely over about 10 years.

Upon discovering Marich’s activity, the Bank of Ely promptly reported it to law enforcement and followed up with a thorough internal investigation.

The case was extensively investigated by the FBI. They have determined that Marich acted alone. This case is being prosecuted by Eastern District of California Assistant United States Attorney Matthew D. Segal.

According to the plea agreement, from the mid-1990s until about December 7, 2009, Marich was an employee of the First National Bank of Ely, most recently as a vice president. Marich admitted using his control over a treasury bill account to steal at least $3.7. He used the funds for his personal benefit and also to make transfers to offshore online gambling enterprises. According to public accounts, Marich was an Ely city councilman until he resigned during this investigation.

Marich is scheduled to be sentenced on May 11, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. The maximum statutory penalty for an embezzlement of more than $1 million by a bank employee is 30 years in prison. The actual sentence, however, will be determined at the discretion of the court after consideration of any applicable statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, which take into account a number of variables.

Source: FBI

Business

How Local Business People Are Becoming Stronger Leaders

Nevada County Toastmasters Area 64
Nevada County Toastmasters Area 64

by Lisa J. Lehr

Would you like to have more communicative employees—or be one? Have a more effective sales force, or be a trainer with phenomenal presentation skills? Be a more confident, competent leader? Be persuasive, inspirational, and/or entertaining?

That’s what 235,000 people around the world are doing right now, and it’s called Toastmasters International.

This might sound like a shameless plug for Toastmasters…and perhaps it is, because I’ve been a member of Toastmasters for over 10 months now, and I love it, and so do my fellow Toastmasters, and we’d love to have more company!

Toastmasters is an international organization that provides training in speaking and leadership that is on a par with expensive and extensive professional training programs, yet at a fraction of the cost and time commitment.

Nevada County is lucky to have four different Toastmasters Clubs—unusual for a community of our size. Mother Lode Toastmasters meets Monday evenings; Early Risers Toastmasters, Tuesday mornings; Penn Valley Club, Wednesday evenings; and the club I belong to, Empire Toastmasters, meets every Friday at noon at Trolley Junction Restaurant (at the Northern Queen Hotel) in Nevada City.

We’re a small, friendly, supportive group dedicated to helping each other improve at a comfortable pace, wherever we each currently are with our speaking and leadership skills. Our meetings are open to anyone who is interested. Come as a guest; you’ll be invited (but not required!) to participate in Table Topics, in which participants each speak impromptu for about a minute on a given theme. It’s often the highlight of the meeting, and almost always provides the most laughs. Lunch is $14 and reservations are not required.

My fellow Toastmasters and I are available to do a presentation for your business or organization that will explain the program in much greater detail. My own personal and professional growth through Toastmasters has been nothing short of astonishing in less than a year, and my fellow club members have similar stories to tell about being “the shyest person who ever lived”—but no more, thanks to Toastmasters!

Visit this link for more information about the local clubs:

http://www.toastmastersnevadacounty.org/

Lisa J. Lehr is a writer and copywriter living in Grass Valley. She can help you promote your business with a full range of online and offline marketing pieces. A member of Empire Toastmasters, she’s available to speak to your business or professional group. Visit her website www.justrightcopy.com for more information, opt in for a message series, and receive a free Marketing Guide.

Real Estate

Online Mortgage Shopping Made Easier

Moss on Rocks Photo by John J. O'Dell
Moss on Rocks Photo by John J. O'Dell


The vast amount of information available online about mortgages – such as interest rates, loan benchmarks, prepayment penalties, and the like – can cause home buyers to feel confused and overwhelmed when shopping for a mortgage.  Most surprisingly, a recent survey found that only 61 percent of homeowners surveyed said they comparison shopped for a mortgage, and 39 percent said they took out a home loan based on just one quote.

MAKING SENSE OF THE STORY

  • Resulting from consumer feedback about lending Web sites being unhelpful or difficult to navigate, some of the nation’s leading mortgage sites have responded by working to become more consumer-friendly.  The revamped sites allow borrowers to not only browse lender rates and terms, but also learn about market trends and read comments from other loan shoppers.
  • One of the challenges borrowers have, according to Keith T. Gumbinger, the vice president of HSH Association, is that while there is plenty of mortgage information available, consumers often have difficulty understanding the technical aspects of a mortgage, such as when an adjustable rate mortgage actually adjusts, and when a prepayment penalty applies.
  • One site, LendingTree, allows consumers to browse quotes from various lenders, read an array of industry articles, use research tools and calculators, and peruse consumer-generated ratings and reviews of lenders.  In December, the company created an online feature in which borrowers can post a mortgage-related question to be answered by a LendingTree loan specialist.
  • Online direct lender, Quicken Loans, offers an expanding number of customer-written reviews on buying and refinancing.  Beginning in March, consumers can download Quicken Loan’s iPhone app and track when appraisals come in, closing dates are set, and when other time-sensitive hurdles in the home-buying process are reached.
  • Some major lenders also are making changes, including Bank of America, which offers articles and tools specifically for first-time buyers, and another set for more experienced borrowers.
  • Of course, borrowers also can forgo the online aspect of mortgage shopping, and instead work with an experienced mortgage broker who can help guide the buyer through the process, including locking in the best rates available for their situation.

Read the full story

For all your real estate needs Call

John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
(530) 263-1091

DRE# 00669941