Tag Archives: Nevada County

Real Estate

Hard Money Lender Tom Hastert Demands Jury Trial

Thomas Hastert
Thomas Hastert

It’s hard for me to imagine a man like Thomas Hastert a man who worked so hard to get ahead in this world becoming a felon. Hastert worked for the Nevada County Sheriff’s office, studied to become an attorney, then got his real estate broker’s license.

Once he got his broker’s license he proceed to engage in hard money lending in direct conflict with the law, making construction loans without fully funding them, a felony.

In addition, Hastert pleaded no contest to 62 counts of embezzlement, offering and selling unregistered and unqualified securities by false and incomplete communications. According to the Attorney General of California amounting to $20 million lost by his clients. That’s a lot of money to handle and lose. A standard fee for the mortgage broker Hastert is to charge is about 3 percent of the loan amount which means Hastert would have pocketed about $600,000.

Hastert’s attorneys and the California Deputy Attorney General Keith Lyon had reached a plea bargain that would have given Hastert five years in state prison. Normally that type of sentence means two and one-half years and he’s out of prison.

However, at the sentencing Judge Sean Dowling rejected the plea agreement and came back with his own sentencing of eight years and four months. Hastert’s attorney refused the new sentencing and demanded a jury trial.

I met Thomas Hastert some time ago, while he was an attorney. I did some investigations (as a civil engineer) for Hastert regarding building code violations for some of the real estate cases that he had. My impression of him at that time was that he was a nice person and I had no idea that he would resort to what he did. What does a person like that think? We have the Bernard Madoff, the Sir Walter Stanford’s who look you in the eye with a smile and steal your pocket book at the same time.

What do you think?

Business, Education

California State Board of Education Cooks Their Books

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state-board-of-educa-book1
It seems that the California Department of Education has taken a leaf from Wall Street and AIG. Let’s keep the bad CEO’s which in this case are superintendents and their staff, layoff school teachers, and then cook the books on the rate of dropouts in the State’s high schools.

By using Wall Street techniques and new math, they claimed that the overall dropout rate for California dropped from 21.1 percent to 20.1 percent in 2008. But they noted only 68.3 percent graduated! The best guess is that the other 11 percent of students went into an equivalent of an offshore account where they were given a triple A rating.

Calling this unsecured account a derivative, they may somehow have become an asset instead of a liability.

It is my understanding that this account will be sold for additional funding for employing more staff for the management team and the administration.

In further accounting maneuvers, just a few months ago, they raised the high school dropout rate from 12 to 24 percent. Wall Street would indeed be proud of this administration.

By the way, according to the 2007-08 report from the National Education Association we spend more than $300,000 annually for each classroom of 25 students. My daughter is a school teacher and she has to buy paper and pencils for her students.

You know why? 75% of that money goes to salaries, benefits, administration and other overhead costs. That’s $9,000 per student or $225,000 per classroom per year for overhead. Now you know why they can’t provide pencils and paper.

Quoting the Visalia Times-Delta

““While enrollment has dropped by 70,000 in the last four years, the Department of Education (actually the districts themselves do the hiring) used its increasing funds to hire just 3,800 additional teachers while adding 15,600 more nonclassroom employees between 2004 and 2007. Our schools must have a reliable stream of funding, but it should be based on actual enrollment needs.”

Did you get that, they hired 76% more overhead then they did teachers. Yet, every time they cut the state budget for schools they lay off—teachers.

If you think this needs to be fixed, let your favorite politician know what’s going on.

nevada county fair

Nevada County Fair Partners with Summer Youth Employment Program

Photo courtesy Nevada County Fair
Photo courtesy Nevada County Fair

The Nevada County Fairgrounds has partnered with One-Stop Business and Career Center’s Summer Youth Program to provide jobs and training to Nevada County youth.

The program provides young adults with employment skills in a planned, structured learning environment. It is designed to provide specific behavioral skills appropriate for the workplace, as well as to promote the development of good work habits and basic work skills. Each applicant must go through a job interview process before being placed in the program.

At the Fairgrounds, the young adults have been busy doing winter clean-up of the Fairgrounds, building benches, preparing various areas for this year’s Fair, installing bicycle stalls, landscaping, and painting. Their current project involves designing and landscaping a garden memorial, from its inception to its completion, near Gate 4.

“I believe in empowering our youth,” said Clif Mackinley, work program supervisor at the Fairgrounds, “and this program does just that. It empowers them, teaches them life and employment skills, and teaches them about taking responsibility on the job.”

The program, which is funded through federal dollars received from the Private Industry Council, provides participants the opportunity to work 40 hours per week at the Fairgrounds until the end of September.

“The work these young adults do is so beneficial to our Fairgrounds and our community,” said Robin Hauck, Deputy Manager at the Fairgrounds. “They are hard workers, with a strong work ethic, and their work is already evident to Fairgrounds’ visitors. It is a delight to have them working at the Fairgrounds.”

Contact: Robin Hauck, Deputy Manager
(530) 273-6217; robin@nevadacountyfair.com

For more information about the Nevada County Fair, August 12 – 16, call 273-6217 or visit www.nevadacountyfair.com. For information about the One-Stop Business and Career Center, call (530) 265-7088.

By Wendy Oaks

Nevada County Information, Recreation

Ed Scofield Inducted into Hall of Fame

Ed Scofield
Ed Scofield

Ed Scofield has been named as the 2009 inductee into the Nevada County Fair’s Hall of Fame. The Fair’s Board of Directors chose Ed for this honor because of his support, dedication and commitment, which is evident throughout the Fairgrounds today.

Scofield retired at the end of 2008 after serving as the CEO of the Fairgrounds for 26 years. During his tenure, he helped the Fairgrounds become visible as one of the top ten outstanding rural fairs in America, oversaw the formation of the Draft Horse Classic and the Country Christmas Faire, and fostered the partnership with Music in the Mountains and their concert seasons at the Fairgrounds. Within the Fair industry he has served as Past President of the Western Fairs Association and was elected to the Western Fair’s prestigious Hall of Fame for contributions to the Fair industry.

“Ed has provided vision and leadership to the Fairgrounds, and he has been instrumental in creating the venues that we all enjoy today,” said CEO Sandy Woods. “He is admired and respected by many and it is a well-deserved honor for Ed to be named to the Hall of Fame.”
A native in Nevada County, Ed has been active in the community from an early age, starting in leadership roles in 4H.

Most recently, he was elected to the Nevada County Board of Supervisors. He has also served his community as a big brother in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program; Past President of the Grass Valley/Nevada County Chamber of Commerce; Past President of Grass Valley Rotary; and as a former Grass Valley City Council member.

Ed will be formally inducted into the Hall of Fame at opening day ceremonies on Wednesday, August 12. In addition to access to the Fair and its many activities, he will receive a portrait donated by Schaffers Originals.

For more information about the Nevada County Fair, August 12 – 16, call 273-6217 or visit Nevada County Fair

Entertainment

Name The Nevada County Fair’s 2009 Mascot

Art work by Janene Powell
Art work by Janene Powell

Sandy Woods, Chief Executive Officer, for the Nevada County Fairgrounds has announced a contest to name their mascot.

This year’s Nevada County Fair mascot is busy preparing for the annual Fair, “A Hare’s Magical A-Fair,” August 12 – 16. However, the rabbit mascot needs a name, and the Fairgrounds wants to know what you think her name should be.

Visit the Fair’s website at www.nevadacountyfair.com and submit a name for the rabbit. If the name you submit is selected, you win. It’s that easy!The contest runs now through July 15.For a complete list of contest rules or information about the contest, visit www.nevadacountyfair.com or call (530) 273-6217.

The lucky winner will receive a Nevada County Fair package that includes two free admission tickets for each day of the Fair, a 5-day parking pass for the Fair, and ride coupons.

For those without access to the Internet, entry forms are also available at the Nevada County Fairgrounds office on McCourtney Road.

Nevada County Fair                   August 12 – 16
2009 Draft Horse Classic          September 24 – 27
2009 Country Christmas Faire  November 27 – 29

Here’s a schedule of upcoming events at the Nevada County Fairgrounds.2009

Press release by Wendy Oaks

By the way if you have never attended or been to the fairgrounds, you are in for a treat. It is beautiful, with a covering of majestic pine trees and unlike any fairgrounds you have ever gone too!  John O’Dell

Hiking, State Parks

South Yuba River State Park, Nevada County, California

Bridgeport Covered Bridge, Nevada County, CA
Bridgeport Covered Bridge, Nevada County, CA

The South Yuba River State Park, located in Nevada County,  is a 20-mile portion of the South Yuba River canyon stretching from Malakoff Diggings State Historic Park to Bridgeport covered bridge. The area includes the longest single-span covered bridge in the world, the steep rugged canyon of the South Yuba River, and the Independence Trail — the first identified wheelchair-accessible wilderness trail in the country.

Bridgeport is the centerpiece of the South Yuba River State Park which is one of only nine covered bridges built in the United States prior to 1900. Built in 1862 at 251 feet, it is still the longest single span covered bridge of its type in the United States. One theory as to why bridges were covered is that they were built of wood, and a covered wooden bridge would last longer. The Bridge is a State and National Historic Landmark.
There are many of things to do in the park:

swimming (Including shallow areas where children under family supervision can swim)
hiking
panning for gold
beautiful wildflowers in the spring
exploring the trails leading to historic mining sites
Docent-led history, nature, and gold-panning tours are also offered at selected times throughout the year.

The State of California Park division is offering gold panning lessons and you can log on to their web site at South Yuba River SP for their schedule.

Either Marya Miller or another birder offers a bird hike on the last Sunday of every month at 9:00 AM. Sitting astride the South Yuba River it is the seasonal home to a considerable variety of birds. The wide variety of avian life found throughout the year at Bridgeport is one of its prime attractions. While incomplete, a list would include several varieties of woodpeckers, swallows, owls, wild turkeys, black phoebes, hummingbirds, warblers, wrens, vireos and a wide variety of raptors, including golden and bald eagles.

Adventuresome hikers have a choice of trails ranging in difficulty from the easiest (Independence Trail), to other more strenuous trails throughout the park

South Yuba River State Park headquarters located at Bridgeport, 17660 Pleasant Valley Rd can be accessed from Highway 20 west of Grass Valley or from Higway 49 north of Nevada City. Remote portions of the park are accessible from Edwards Crossing, Purdon Crossing, and Highway 49.


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Nevada County Home & Land Statistics, Real Estate

Nevada County’s Median Home Prices, Better Then Southern California’s

Scotts Flat Lake, picture taken from my deck. May 24,2009
Scotts Flat Lake, picture taken from my deck. May 24,2009

 Compared to the six-county region of Southern California, we’re not doing too bad here in Nevada County. Our median price in April was $279,500, compared to Southern California’s $247,000. In addition, their market dropped from $250,000 in March and 35.8 percent from $385,000 a year ago.  

Southern California’s median last month was the lowest since 2002, and was 51.1 percent below the peak of $505,000, which was hit in spring and summer of 2007.

 “The dip in median prices ran counter to recent reported buying frenzies that have had economists, analysts and Realtors saying the market was recovering. What could be skewing the median down is the lack of high-end coastal sales, which means higher sale prices are missing from the data, DataQuick officials said.”

“Last month’s Southland sales were the highest for that month since April 2006, when 27,114 homes sold, but were 18.2 percent below the average April sales total since 1988, when DataQuick’s statistics begin. Foreclosure resales made up a lot of those sales. In April, they accounted for 53.6 percent of all Southland resale’s last month. It was the seventh consecutive month in which post-foreclosure properties made up more than half of all resales.”

“John Walsh, MDA DataQuick president offered a word of caution for the market. Foreclosures could keep coming. The effect of mounting job losses could trigger more defaults, and a new wave of foreclosures on ‘option ARM’ loans and ’stated income’ loans used in mid- to high-end markets could also come, Walsh said.”

“‘If job cuts remain deep and foreclosures spike, then the past few months might later be viewed as nothing more than a brief calm before the next foreclosure storm,’ Walsh said.”

However, I have noticed a large increase in sales in Nevada County in May and I will have a full report on May’s sales in the first week of June. Our median price in Nevada County has risen to $299,000 in May.

Hiking

South Yuba River Independence Trail in Nevada County

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independence-trail-bench-tr

One of the many nice trails located in Nevada County is the South Yuba River Independence Trail. I have walked this trail many times and it is truly a unique natural and historic jewel. The trail is fairly level, with wheelchair accessibility on both on the west and the east trail.

The main entrance to the Trail is on Highway 49, 5.5 miles from Nevada City, heading towards Downieville, near the South Yuba River bridge. Parking is available beside the road, with several marked disabled spaces. Highlighting the West Trail is a waterfall one mile from the entrance. People and wheelchairs travel a switchback ramp from Flume 28 (520 feet long) to the swirling waters of Rush Creek. Also featured on the west side is an overlook of the Yuba River, surrounded by canyon flora. The East Trail features cliff-hanging flumes, more views of the river and foothill landscapes, with a total of two and a half miles of maintained trail. There are picnic areas, outhouses, and scenic vistas all around. The Independence Trail is for all people, with its gradual, level walkway – from young mothers with stroller kids, to serious hikers and joggers, to seniors with limited mobility, to those in wheelchairs. Bathrooms are available along the way.

The origin of the Independence Trail was an old, abandoned miner’s ditch, previously known as the Excelsior Canal. It was built to carry water from the South Yuba river to hydraulic mining sites in Smartsville, 25 miles downstream. When California outlawed hydraulic mining in 1884, the ditch was used for irrigation until 1967, when it was abandoned. In 1975, a docent of the Oakland Museum, John Olmsted, re-discovered the whole water system consisting of the ditch, the berm, where the ditch-tender walked, and the wooden flumes which bridged the ravines. He had the vision to recognize that this could be the answer to a friend’s lifelong dream: “Please find me a level wilderness trail where I can reach out and touch the wildflowers from my wheel chair.”

Hiking distance: 2.5 miles downstream (west) or upstream (east) The west trail offers a 4.3 mile loop along a swimming trail to Jones Bar Road and then goes back to Excelsior Canal and back to the start.
To start Go 5.5 miles from Nevada City towards Downieville just short of the South Yuba River. There is parking along Hwy 49 including handicapped spaces.

Caution:
Winter and Spring weather conditions can cause the trail to become muddy and impassable for wheelchairs.

Call the South Yuba River State Park for trail condition information before you go.

More Information South Yuba Indendence Trail


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Hiking

Nevada County Community Celebration of Trails to be Held June 6, 2009

Independence Trail off Hwy 49, Outside Nevada City, Towards Downieville
Independence Trail off Hwy 49, Outside Nevada City, Towards Downieville

By: YubaNet.com
And Nevada County Land Trust

Grass Valley, CA May 15, 2009 – On Saturday, June 6 community members will enjoy the second annual Nevada County Celebration of Trails. Events will include a series of hosted trail rides, walks, and other activities throughout the day, between 10:00 am and noon. At 12:30 pm, everyone is invited to a community event held in the parking area of Twin Cities Church in Grass Valley to share trails information and hear exciting announcements of new trails to be dedicated.

Nevada County Land Trust, along with our western Nevada County community partners will sponsor this event to observe National Trails Day. Partners include a number of organizations interested in building, promoting, and maintaining local trail systems including: the City of Nevada City, Gold Country Trails Council, Bicyclists of Nevada County, Friends of Deer Creek, County of Nevada Planning Department, Rattlesnake Neighborhood Association and Sierra Outdoors with John Skinner and Greg Archbald.

National Trails Day is a celebration of trails that evolved from the report of President Ronald Reagan’s President’s Commission on Americans Outdoors. In 1987, the report recommended that all Americans be able to go out their front doors and within fifteen minutes, be on trails that wind through their cities or towns and bring them back without retracing steps. The recommendation, dubbed Trails for All Americans, became the impetus behind several public and private parties joining American Hiking Society in launching National Trails Day in 1993.

Trails activities: 10 am to noon

The public can choose events that suit their interests. Most events are free of charge.

– City of Nevada City and Sierra Club
What: A family friendly hike that will include natural, Maidu, mining, logging and modern history
Where: Hirschman’s Pond Trail – Trailhead located at 115 Cement Hill Rd.
When: 11:00am to 11:30am
Bring: Bug repellent and water. Sorry no strollers

– Nevada County Land Trust and Bicyclists of Nevada County
What: Kenny Ranch Trails, walk, run, mountain bike ride.
Where: Twin Cities Church parking area
When: 10 a.m. to Noon
Bring: Good walking shoes, water and/or your bike

– Friends of Deer Creek and American Rivers
What: National Trails Day Work Day. Volunteer to help work on a local trail.
Where: Champion Mine Rd at Old Downieville Hwy split – take Champion Mine Rd for a couple hundred yards and park in the pull-outs on the right – Trailhead is on the left.
When: 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Bring: Work clothes and water

– Gold Country Trails Council
What: Poker Ride at Skillman Horse Camp
Where: Tahoe National Forest
When: Sign up begins at 8:30 a.m. Ride out at 10 a.m.
For entry forms visit GCTC online at www.goldcountrytrailscouncil.org or contact Mary Johnson at 530.477.8501.

Celebration of Trails Event: 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Join us to celebrate and learn more about trails, hiking activities and outdoor recreation in our community.

– Trails Celebration hosted by Nevada County Land Trust
What: Trails celebration, award ceremony and gathering of outdoor organizations and enthusiasts.
Where: Twin Cities Church parking area, 11726 Rough and Ready Highway, Grass Valley
When: 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.

A full detail of events and activities can be found at Nevada County Land Trust-Trails Event

Business

Chrysler May Terminate Liberty Motors Chrysler-Dodge Dealership

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Liberty Motors
Liberty Motors

Wow, in continuing bad news for Grass Valley’s tax revenues and our local shopping, Chrysler has announced that they are trying to close 789 dealerships according to CNN today. One of the chosen one’s is our local Chrysler dealer, G.K. Alcombrack, Inc. known as Liberty Motors Dodge Chrysler off of Freeman Lane.

Since Chrysler is in bankruptcy court, they are asking that the sales and service agreements between Chrysler Motors LLC and the 789 dealerships be terminated.

Chrysler has already sent letters to the dealerships and “Upon approval from the court, your agreement will be rejected on or about June 9, 2009”. This represents about 25% of their dealerships and represents about 14% of their sales.

So now we have lost Weaver GMAC, Ford has moved to Auburn and we may lose Chrysler. The only car sales remaining in Western Nevada County will be used car dealers. If we want to buy a new car, we’ll have to go out of town. Not a good thing, sorry to say. That means we have not only lost our dealerships, but when we want warranty work, that’s another trip out of town and more lost revenue.

I talked to Ernie Shewmaker today, salesman for Liberty Motors and he stated that they will continue to sell used cars at their present site. He claims they have not ordered any vehicles from Chrysler in months. However, their website still reflects that they are a Chrysler dealer.

To read the full story got to CNN Chrysler Closing 789 Dealerships

For a map of the 789 Dealerships to be closed go to New York Times Maps of Closings