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WawonaNews.com - September 2019

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Visitor Dies After Falling From the Half Dome Cables

(CNN) A Yosemite National Park visitor died after falling from the cables at the Half Dome on Thursday morning, according to National Park officials.
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29-year-old Danielle Burnett, from Lake Havasu City, Arizona, fell over 500 feet down a rocky surface and was pronounced dead when the Park Rangers arrived on the scene, National Park Public Affairs Officer Scoot Gediman said in a statement to CNN.

The incident is under investigation.
One of Burnett's family members posted on Facebook confirming the loss, "It's with a broken heart to inform you all that our beautiful Danielle left us yesterday doing something she loved so much... this will take time."

The last death on the famous Half Dome was in May of 2018, when a hiker slipped and fell during dangerous weather conditions. It was the first incident since 2010.

The famous landmark in Yosemite is a 14 to 16 mile round trip hike that ends with a 400 foot cable climb up to the top of the rock formation, according to the park's website. A guide for hikers strongly indicates caution when climbing the cables, and notes that "since 1919, relatively few people have fallen and died on the cables. However, injuries are not uncommon for those acting irresponsibly."The cables are only up from about May to October due to weather, and permits are required to make the hike.

Since only 300 hikers are allowed to make the climb a day, when the cables are in use, the permits are based on a preseason lottery and daily application lotteries. 75 of the 300 hiking spots are reserved for backpackers and those staying overnight on the trail.​
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YOSEMITE-WAWONA ELEMENTARY CHARTER SCHOOL
Board of Directors Regular Meeting
Tuesday, September 10, 2019
5:30 P.M.
Wawona Elementary School
7925 Chilnualana Falls Road
Wawona, CA

  1. CALL TO ORDER

  1. ROLL CALL
 
MONTHLY ITEMS AND FINANCIAL REPORTS

  1. CONSENT AGENDA
NOTE: The Board will be asked to approve all of the following items by a single vote, unless any member of the Board or of the public asks that an item be removed from the consent agenda and considered and discussed separately.
 
3.1- Approval of Agenda
3.2– Approval of Minutes of the regular meeting of Aug. 13
3.3 - Approve Warrants
3.4 – Accept Donations to YWECS
               
  1. HEARING OF PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD
The public may address the Board on any matter pertaining to the school that is not on the agenda. There will be no Board discussion and no action will be taken unless listed on a subsequent agenda. Speakers will be limited to 3 minutes.
 
ACTION ITEMS

  1. APPROVAL OF AGREEMENT WITH “THE PAYROLL PEOPLE” TO HANDLE PAYROLL EXPENSES FOR THE 2019-20 SCHOOL YEAR
Consideration and action on the agreement to have “The Payroll People” handle payroll and tax submissions on behalf of the employees of YWECS.

  1. APPROVE THE USE OF THE MADERA COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION SUBSTITUTE POOL TO SECURE SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS FOR THE 2019-20 SCHOOL YEAR.
Consideration and action on the decision to utilize the MCOE Substitute Pool to staff the school with a credentialed teacher when necessary and setting a rate of pay.

  1. INCREASE THE HOURS OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT BY 1 PER DAY.
Consideration and action on increasing the hours of the instructional assistant from 6.5 per day to 7.5 per day.

  1. TAKE ACTION ON THE DECISION TO APPOINT ADDITIONAL YWECS BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBERS IN OCTOBER.
Consideration and action on the desire on the part of the Board of Directors to add additional members.
INFORMATION ITEMS
  1. STAFF REPORTS
 

  1. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS

  1. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Request that various items be placed on the next agenda for discussion and/or action. 

  1. NEXT BOARD MEETING
Unless otherwise announced, the next regular meeting of the Board of Directors will be scheduled for Tuesday , October 8, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. at the Wawona School.

  1. CLOSED SESSION:    Personnel/Negotiations/Litigation
Note: The Board will consider and may act upon any of the following items in closed session. Any action taken will be reported publicly at the end of closed session as required by law.

  1. Personnel (Gov. Code 54957)

  1. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION:  Announce Closed Session Actions

  1. ADJOURNMENT
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Fall Wawona Hotel Dining Room Hours


Breakfast: 7-10 AM
Lunch: 11:30-2PM
Dinner: 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM

​2019 Wawona Friends of the Library Book/ Bake/ Craft Sale Results

The annual sale began at 8 a.m. after the community volunteers set up the EZ Ups and tables. The tables were soon covered with all the books, DVD’s, crafts, and baked goods. The volunteers at the bake sale table were busy marking prices and bagging baked items baked by the very generous bakers of Wawona.  Dave Sischo was arranging his birds and bird houses on the craft table. Many thanks go to the other crafters who donated their handmade items for the craft table.

Also, setting up in the library parking lot was Stanley Valim with his table of Yosemite memorabilia, Nancy Robbins with her collection of Yosemite photographs, and Stacy Boydstun with Wawona School and Yosemite souvenir items.
The parking lot was crowded with shoppers by 9 a.m. when the sale officially opened.  Lusa Andrews and her team were busy selling raffle tickets with Rachel Morrow (one of our librarians and a long-time volunteer). 

Anderson Stansberry was the official raffle spinner and he drew the winning raffle tickets. Winners included:
Jennifer Wuchner:  Ice Cream Cake donated by the Pine Tree Market 
Laura Cortez:  Watercolor donated by Shirley Spencer                                                
Ian Rippetoe:  Photo on Metal donated by Nancy Robins                                     
Susan Baker:  16” x 20” Matted Photo donated by Nancy Robbins                        
Diane Bopp:  Stereopticon Viewer w/card donated by Stanley Valim.               
Pat McDonald:  Bird House donated by Dave Sischo 
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Last minute bargains at the bake sale table and book tables made for some very happy shoppers!  By 3:30 p.m. the library parking lot was cleared and our hard working volunteers called it a day!             
The Wawona Friends of the Library was the real winner for the day with sales totaling $1886.50.  



Yoga is canceled the next 2 weeks - 8/28 and 9/4. We'll resume again on 9/11!
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CONSTRUCTION & TRAFFIC DELAYS 
Caltrans Repairs on Hwy 41 
Caltrans is repairing or replacing 19 culverts on State Route 41 between Miami Mountain Road and the park boundary, in Mariposa County. Work began the week of August 5 and will continue through summer 2020. Please expect delays, drive carefully, and watch for work crews and equipment on the highway.  (J. Donovan)
 
Forestry Update
Forestry will be conducting hazard tree removal along Highway 41/Wawona Road between the South Entrance and Wawona Campground starting 8/19.  Forestry crews work hard to keep traffic holds as short as possible.  (B. See)
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       GAINES FIRE UPDATE
This is an important message from the Mariposa County Sheriff Alert System:
All Fire Advisements and Road Closures will be lifted at of 7pm tonight 8/17/2019. There may still be fire suppression equipment in the area. Please drive with caution and watch for fire personnel.
The Gaines Fire started Friday (8/16/2019 in Mariposa County.
Fire Name:Gains Fire
Start TIme: 1pm 8/16/2019
Start Location: Mt. Gains / Bear Valley Rd

Day 2 – Gaines Fire (8/17/2019)
#MMU #GainesFire #GainesIC
VEGETATION FIRE
Gaines Mtn Road cross of Bear Valley Road and Number 9 Road
Full Wildland Dispatch
CAL FIRE reports the Gaines Fire in Mariposa County is at 1,300 Acres with 15% Containment and is Under Investigation.
Group Guidelines: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MFandE/permalink/1260184040780429/
Day 1 Thread: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MFandE/permalink/1448169965315168/
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​Glacier Point Road to Close in 2021. Public comment period open.

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Glacier Point Road in Yosemite National Park will be closed for road construction in 2021.

The Glacier Point Road Rehabilitation Project will start in spring 2021 and the road is expected to be closed at least through that fall.

Yosemite officials announced the closure in a news release Monday, along with a public meeting and comment period about the Glacier Point Road Rehabilitation Project.

The meeting will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Oakhurst Community Center, 39800 Fresno Flats Road, Oakhurst.

The public comment period is open until Sept. 19. More information is available at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/glacierpointroadrehab.

Badger Pass Ski Area, located off Glacier Point Road, will remain open and operational during the 2020-21 winter season, said Yosemite spokesperson Jamie Richards.

“The road construction will only impact the spring/summer recreational opportunities,” Richards said, “like driving from the Badger Pass intersection to the Glacier Point Parking Area.”

Yosemite is recommending a full closure of Glacier Point Road from spring through fall 2021, and partial closures (30-minute traffic delays) in 2022.

“If the road is not closed completely the first year, it could take an extra year to complete the project, with significant extra cost,” the park wrote on its website. “Keeping the road open would also jeopardize visitor and worker safety, as the public would traverse narrow roads with steep drop-offs and other hazards. The park will make a final determination on construction phasing when civic engagement and environmental compliance processes are concluded.”

Richards said hiking trails in the area, such as the Four Mile Trail, Pohono Trail, and Panorama Trail will remain open, but hikers will need to stay outside of work zones. All trailheads on Glacier Point Road, like McGurk Meadow, will close in 2021. Hikers can still access trails from outside the Glacier Point Road corridor, Richards said.

The rehabilitation project will address “multiple severe safety issues” on 10 miles of road between Badger Pass Ski Area and Glacier Point – a popular tourist destination at the end of the road, with panoramic views of the High Sierra and Yosemite Valley below.

The project aims to do the following:
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▪ Pulverize and repave 10 miles of road between Badger Pass and Glacier Point.
▪ Repair the narrow hairpin turns between Washburn Point and Glacier Point to address vehicular safety issues.
▪ Construct additional parking and new vault toilets near the Sentinel Dome Trailhead, located along Glacier Point Road.
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At the Oakhurst meeting, park staff will provide presentations about the project from 4:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., followed by an open house from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Public feedback about the project will also be gathered during this meeting.
Additional information will also be provided about upcoming roadwork and construction along Tioga Road, the park’s connector over the Sierra Nevada.

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YOSEMITE-WAWONA ELEMENTARY CHARTER SCHOOL
Board of Directors Regular Meeting
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
5:30 P.M.

 (Or immediately following the Welcome Back Picnic/Parent Meet and Greet)
Wawona Elementary School
7925 Chilnualana Falls Road
Wawona, CA
 
  1. CALL TO ORDER
 
  1. ROLL CALL
 
MONTHLY ITEMS AND FINANCIAL REPORTS
 
  1. CONSENT AGENDA
NOTE: The Board will be asked to approve all of the following items by a single vote, unless any member of the Board or of the public asks that an item be removed from the consent agenda and considered and discussed separately.
 
3.1- Approval of Agenda
3.2– Approval of Minutes of the regular meeting of June 25
3.3 - Approve Warrants
3.4 – Approve the hiring of Sylvia Loza for the classroom aide position
3.5 – Accept Donations to YWECS
                Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad
                The Redwoods in Yosemite
               
 
  1. HEARING OF PERSONS WISHING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD
The public may address the Board on any matter pertaining to the school that is not on the agenda. There will be no Board discussion and no action will be taken unless listed on a subsequent agenda. Speakers will be limited to 3 minutes.
 
ACTION ITEMS
  1. APPROVAL TO PAYING FOR RE-KEYING THE SCHOOL BUILDING
Consideration and action on getting bids to re-key the school building.
 
 
INFORMATION ITEMS
  1. STAFF REPORTS
Stacy Boydstun will update the Board on the Opening of YWECS on Thursday, August 15.
 
  1. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS
 
  1. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Request that various items be placed on the next agenda for discussion and/or action. 
 
  1. NEXT BOARD MEETING
Unless otherwise announced, the next regular meeting of the Board of Directors will be scheduled for Tuesday , September 10, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. at the Wawona School.
 
  1. CLOSED SESSION:    Personnel/Negotiations/Litigation
Note: The Board will consider and may act upon any of the following items in closed session. Any action taken will be reported publically at the end of closed session as required by law.
 
  1. Personnel (Gov. Code 54957)
 
  1. RECONVENE IN OPEN SESSION:  Announce Closed Session Actions
 
  1. ADJOURNMENT
 
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         HOEDOWN IN THE OLD GREY BARN 



THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE &
THE GOLD DUST DANCERS
INVITE YOU TO
A HOEDOWN
IN THE OLD GREY BARN
Saturday, August 10, 2019
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
No experience needed.
Instruction provided.
JUST FOR FUN!

      Buckshot's Amazing Yearly BBQ.  Thanks, Burrel!

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