Eastern Sierra News

A Message from the Bishop Chamber of Commerce Re: July 28, 2025 Bishop City Council Meeting & Chamber-City Partnership We extend a heartfelt thank you to the many community members who attended the Bishop City Council meeting on July 28, 2025, in support of the Bishop Chamber of Commerce and the A-Frame building that currently houses the Bishop Information Center and our staff offices. We also sincerely thank Mayor Kong and the City Councilmembers for listening to the public comments. At the close of the public comment period, Councilmember Muchovej requested clarification regarding the City of Bishop’s current support for the Bishop Chamber of Commerce. For those that were not able to attend the meeting in person or virtually, the recording is available here: https://bishop-ca.granicus.com/player/clip/1664?view_id=8&redirect=true The following provides a comprehensive and historic background to the longstanding, mutually beneficial partnership between the City of Bishop govern...

A celebration of life has been scheduled for Brett Jourdan, the egg man as he is so affectionately known for August 2 next Saturday from 2 to 5 PM at the VFW hall at 486 Short St., this will be a casual event with good food, so bring your appetite and your stories to share and I would like to thank you all in advance for all the condolences we received. It was very heartwarming to see how many people that he affected their lives https://sierrawave.net/celebration-of-life-for-brett-jourdan/

July 30, 2025 Today, Governor Newsom signed Assemblyman Tangipa’s bill, AB 377, calling for a comprehensive budget and spending plan for the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment of the High Speed Rail.   Assemblyman Tangipa issued the following statement: “After years of mismanagement, delays, and ballooning costs, it’s no surprise that the High Speed Rail has become a nationally recognized failure.   After 15 years without a legal funding plan, AB 377 will finally put an end to the endless spending.   Republicans have consistently pushed for real accountability, and it’s clear the decision to sign AB 377 was a political necessity. My bill is an important step to make sure Fresno and the Central Valley are not left with an unfinished monument of wasted taxpayer dollars, leaving us as a modern day Stonehenge.”   Contact: Ian Coolbear, Chief of Staff Office of Asm. Tangipa ian.coolbear@asm.ca.gov 916-319-2008 https://sierrawave.net/high-speed-rail-bill-signing-statement-asm-tangipa/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: 7/30/2025 Nate Reade, Agricultural Commissioner (760 878-8158 Rob Miller, OVMAP Program Supervisor (760) 873-7853 Dr. James Richardson, Inyo County Health Officer (760) 920-0433 Stephanie Tanksley, Inyo County Public Health Deputy Director (760) 873-7868   WEST NILE VIRUS FOUND IN MOSQUITOES TRAPPED IN INYO COUNTY   The Owens Valley Mosquito Abatement Program (OVMAP) confirmed today that a single mosquito sample trapped yesterday 7/29/2025 tested positive for West Nile virus. This is the first occurrence of West Nile virus in Inyo County since 2023. Prior to that, West Nile virus had been detected in the Owens Valley several years since first being discovered in our area in 2004. During that time, four human infections were reported, and 3 horses died after being infected with West Nile virus. The single positive sample in Inyo County comes during the same week that 135 samples were positive for the disease statewide.   “For every...

Forecast Discussion Owens Valley / Mammoth Lakes / Mono County / Death Valley Dennis Mattinson / Sierra Atmospheric Forecaster Synopsis - THU JUL 31 2025 It's the last day of July. A drier and warmer synoptic pattern is developing, as that Pacific trough that's been hanging around off the coast exits the area. Looking into next week, more typical August weather is likely, as high pressure centered over the Southern Plains expands Westward...DMATT Area Wide Temperatures Today: Bishop: 95 / 52 Big Pine: 94 / 59 Independence: 94 / 63 Lone Pine: 94 / 66 Olancha: 96 / 68 Mammoth Lakes: 73 / 47 Death Valley: 115 / 86 https://sierrawave.net/?p=96468

NORTHERN INYO HEALTHCARE DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ SPECIAL MEETING August 1, 2025 at 8:00 am The Board meets in person at 2957 Birch Street, Bishop CA 93514. Members of the public will be allowed to attend in in person. Public comments can be made in person.   https://sierrawave.net/northern-inyo-healthcare-district-board-of-directors-special-meeting-august-1-2025-at-800-am/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 2025 FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Amy Weurdig, Regional Director (760) 872-1153 2025 Child Support Awareness Month RANCHO CORDOVA, CA – August is Child Support Awareness Month, recognized in California and nationwide. This year, it’s important to acknowledge the positive changes and modernization under the Newsom administration and across the country: in the last five years there has been more legislative action improving the child support program than in the past five decades. Child support services remain free for paying parents and the annual fee for recipients is a fraction of what they receive and never more than $35. The calculations to determine child support amounts have been revised for the first time in 60 years, creating more reasonable orders that parents can pay. Some more recent changes to the program are parents released from incarceration have more time to establish themselves before resuming payments, more money than ever before ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Eastern Sierra Land Trust Phone: (760) 873‑4554 | Email: darlene@eslt.org Lands & Legacy 2025: “Denim & Diamonds – Boots on the Ground for Conservation” Mammoth Lakes, Calif. (July 29, 2025)  Eastern Sierra Land Trust (ESLT) is proud to announce Lands & Legacy 2025, its signature annual celebration, taking place Thursday, September 11, 2025, from 5:30–9:00 PM at Parallax Restaurant, Mammoth Lakes. Join ESLT in raising funds for future projects that protect land and natural resources across the Eastern Sierra. This year’s theme, “Denim & Diamonds – Boots on the Ground for Conservation”, invites guests to combine rugged western style with a touch of sparkle, all in support of protecting the Eastern Sierra. Sponsorship Opportunities: Sponsors are recognized for championing land conservation in the Eastern Sierra. ESLT welcomes additional partnerships. Sponsorship packages include event visibility, recognition across channels, an...

¡Qué tal, obispo! La reunión del Concejo Municipal del 28 de julio de 2025 (6:15-9:20 p.m., Cámaras del Concejo Municipal) fue de larga distancia, pero el espíritu de Bishop brilló. Como nueva escritora de Sierra Wave, estaba encantada de lucir mi pase de prensa, pero me lo quité para hablar como residente durante los comentarios públicos, manteniéndolo profesional. La participación fue enorme, con comentarios públicos hasta las 19:20 horas, pero atentos. Sus oídos estaban abiertos, y la voz de Bishop era alta.       El marco A en 690 N. Main St. robó el espectáculo. El comentario público fue eléctrico: los guachenos se presentaron con pegatinas en apoyo del Edificio de la Cámara. Jennifer Beaudean, propietaria de un negocio local, elogió el impulso turístico del A-frame. Jerry Core, otro dueño de negocios, criticó el mal momento del consejo, sirviendo a la Cámara con un aviso de desalojo justo antes de los Días Mulo. Gayla Wolf de Honey Bee Photography y Aaron Schat, otro empresario, ...

  Please note that the Board will be in closed session – and the Zoom feed will be paused – from 8:30-10 a.m. during the August 5 meeting. These meetings are accessible to the public both in person and, for convenience, via Zoom webinar. The Zoom webinars are accessible to the public at https://zoom.us/j/868254781. The meetings may also be accessed by telephone at the following numbers: (669) 900-6833; (346) 248-7799; (253) 215-8782; (929) 205-6099; (301) 715-8592; (312) 626-6799. Webinar ID: 868 254 781. Anyone unable to attend the August 5 Board meeting in person who wishes to make either a general public comment or a comment on a specific agenda item may do so by utilizing the Zoom "hand-raising” feature when appropriate during the meetings (the Chair will call on those who wish to speak). Generally, speakers are limited to three minutes. Remote participation for members of the public is provided for convenience only. In the event that the remote participation connection malfun...

https://sierrawave.net/inyo-county-board-of-supervisors-special-meeting-agenda-august-6th/

Area Forecast Discussion Owens Valley / Mammoth Lakes / Mono County / Death Valley Dennis Mattinson / Sierra Atmospheric Forecaster Synopsis - WED JUL 30 2025 Scattered t-storm activity is possible here and there, as a weak Pacific trough to our West and a building ridge to our East remain in place. As the week progresses that ridge becomes more dominant, pushing our temperatures to seasonal. All of this with mostly dry conditions prevailing...DMATT Area Wide Temperatures Today: Bishop: 92 / 51 Big Pine: 95 / 59 Independence: 94 / 63 Lone Pine: 94 / 65 Olancha: 97 / 68 Mammoth Lakes: 71 / 46 Death Valley: 115 / 86 https://sierrawave.net/?p=96428

Inyo County Community Baby Shower - Hosted at LIFE Night - Thursday, August 7, 2025 - 5:00 pm-6:30 pm Location: 1360 N. Main Street, Consolidated Office Building, right next to Grocery Outlet Who’s invited: Families who are currently pregnant or have welcomed a baby in the past year will receive special giveaways & benefits. What to expect: A fun, family-friendly event with interactive activity rooms for all ages. Dinner is served at 6:30 pm. Extra resources, gifts, & celebration for new & expecting parents All community members are welcome to LIFE NIGHT! Questions? Call Inyo County WIC at 760-872-1885 https://sierrawave.net/inyo-county-community-baby-shower-by-hhs-public-health-prevention/

The recording of Supervisor Orrill’s community meeting last night can be found here for those interested: https://inyococa.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3315/media https://sierrawave.net/supervisor-orrills-community-meeting-great-content-including-a-caltrans-proposed-round-about-for-wye-and-hwy-6/

Howdy, Bishop! The City Council meeting on July 28, 2025 (6:15–9:20 p.m.-ish, City Council Chambers) was a long haul, but Bishop’s spirit shone bright. As a new Sierra Wave writer, I was thrilled to sport my press pass, but I took it off to speak as a resident during public comment, keeping it professional. The turnout was huge, with public comment running until 7:20 p.m.-ish, catching the council off guard but attentive. Their ears were open, and Bishop’s voice was loud.   The A-frame at 690 N. Main St. stole the show. Public comment was electric: The Guachenos showed up with stickers in support of the Chamber Building. Jennifer Beaudean, a local business owner, hailed the A-frame’s tourism boost. Jerry Core, another business owner, slammed the council’s poor timing, serving the Chamber with an eviction notice just before Mule Days. Gayla Wolf of Honey Bee Photography and Aaron Schat, another business owner, backed the A-frame’s value. Another resident voiced concerns about losing the...

Area Forecast Discussion Owens Valley / Mammoth Lakes / Mono County / Death Valley Dennis Mattinson / Sierra Atmospheric Forecaster Synopsis - TUE JUL 29 2025 T-storms to our North over Reno continue today, where yesterday they picked .05 - 1.0 inches of precipitation. Low chances of t-storms still exist today over the Crest. Near average temps continue this week for us, for quite nice later July weather...DMATT Area Wide Temperatures Today: Bishop: 96 / 52 Big Pine: 95 / 58 Independence: 96 / 62 Lone Pine: 95 / 65 Olancha: 97 / 67 Mammoth Lakes: 74 / 48 Death Valley: 116 / 87 https://sierrawave.net/?p=96420

July 24, 2025 UC White Mountain Research Center (WMRC) will be cohosting an opening reception for its “Art in Nature” art auction on Thursday, August 7th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Inyo Arts Council (IAC) gallery at 150 Willow Street in Bishop. This preview will showcase donated art to be auctioned off at WMRC’s Owens Valley Station Open House on Sunday, October 19th, 2025. This event is part of the center’s 75th anniversary programming. The “Art in Nature” preview show will run at IAC from August 7th through the 27th. The WMRC is a multi-disciplinary, system-wide, research unit of the University of California Natural Reserve System and is currently managed by UCLA. It was established in 1950 by UC Berkeley physiologist Nello Pace and serves as a laboratory for interdisciplinary research and site for college-level courses. Located in eastern California, the Center is now comprised of four separate sites in the White Mountains and Bishop locales: including some of the highest al...

  Sprinkles & Smiles This Thursday, July 31 from 4–5pm, we’re celebrating the Grand Opening of Local Scoop’s new Mammoth spot with a ribbon cutting! They'll put a smile on your face with 24 flavors (plus sprinkles)–you’ll want to keep coming back. Bring the kids, grab a cone, and help us cheer on this sweet family-run biz.  >>> Click here for more information – or just turn up. Free Power Lunch Free lunch + helpful info? Yes, please. On Tuesday, August 5 at Roberto’s Café, as part of the Chamber's Power Lunch program, learn how the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) impacts nonprofits. Small businesses can also discover lending strategies with Access Plus Capital. Hosted by Eastern Sierra Community Bank. Open to all but please RSVP.  >>> Click here to register   >>> Click here for the flyer This Week Monday, July 28 Kids Summer Series Minaret Cinemas Open Mic Monday Distant Brewing Tuesday, July 29 Kids Summer Series Minaret Cinemas Weekly...

Mammoth Lakes, CA, JULY 26, 2025 – The Forest Fire Lookout Association has partnered with the Inyo National Forest to re-activate the Bald Mountain Fire Lookout and to staff it with volunteers to provide early fire detection on the Mono Lake Ranger District. The FFLA is seeking volunteers age 18 and over to assist at the lookout this season and in future fire seasons. Volunteers will be trained by experienced lookout staff to detect and report wildfire smoke, assist in locating fires, and serve as docents to provide public information on the mountaintop. Volunteers who join the program are expected to work the equivalent of one 9:30 am to 6:00 pm shift per month during the June-October season. ShiSs may be broken into 4-hour segments if enough people apply. Training will consist of a 3-hour overview/orienta1on held in Mammoth Lakes on August 23 from 10 am to 1 pm (make-up arrangements will be made for those who cannot be there), followed by an op1onal tour of the tower; and then two ...

News Briefs from July 22 Board of Supervisors Meeting WELCOME TO THE TEAM The Board of Supervisors was introduced to the following new employees at its July 22 meeting: - District Attorney - Senior Deputy District Attorney Brad Braaten - Public Works - Building and Maintenance Worker Michael DeHaven - Sheriff's Office - Cook Rebecca Avila and Correctional Officer Julio Gonzalez - Administrator – Emergency Services Manager Lisa Cox   At its prior meeting, the Board happily congratulated the following employees on reaching service milestones during the second quarter of 2025: - Probation – Penni Brown, 15 years; Alejandro Quezada, 10 years - Sheriff’s Office – Jill Patton, 15 years; Shayla Brown, 15 years; Ryan Reuther, 10 years; and Robin Henry, 5 years - Health and Human Services – Skye Milos, 15 years; and Colleen Wilson, 5 years. - Information Services – Denver Billing, 5 years   THE FUTURE OF HOUSING Deputy County Administrator Meaghan McCamman ur...

Howdy Editor, The City of Bishop’s plan to evict our Chamber of Commerce from its iconic A-frame at 690 N. Main St. by October 30, 2025, threatens our tourism economy—Mule Days, visitor services, and local businesses could take a big hit. The city claims the A-frame’s unsafe, which might be true, but that doesn’t change that Tawni Thomson emailed me, “I recently offered Chamber funds to repair the A-frame, but Deston Dishion and Jose Garcia refused, saying it’s ‘not up for discussion.’” Why not donate the A-frame to the Chamber for self-funded repairs, especially since builders I’ve consulted say it’s fixable? I have reached out to the city with a Public Records Act request for an engineering report, but have not been sent one so far. I reached out to Mayor Karen Kong, she told me, “We get various requests from local residents for a recreation center at the park, and that is the only parcel where such a structure could go,” believing the city owns it. My Inyo County GIS and Assessor’s ...

MESSAGE: If you were summoned to appear in INDEPENDENCE on Monday, July 28, 2025, this panel has been canceled and you DO NOT need to appear. https://sierrawave.net/jury-duty-announcement-20/

NWS HeatRisk is a color-numeric-based index that provides a forecast risk of heat-related impacts to occur over a 24-hour period. HeatRisk takes into consideration: - How unusual the heat is for the time of the year. - The duration of the heat, including both daytime and nighttime temperatures. - If those temperatures pose an elevated risk of heat-related impacts based on data from the CDC. https://sierrawave.net/nws-heat-briefing-owens-valley-to-stay-minor-while-death-valley-will-be-moderate/

Supervisor Orrill to hold Community Meeting Residents interested in upcoming highway projects and park and campground improvements are invited to attend a community meeting being hosted by District 1 Supervisor Trina Orrill next week. The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. Monday, July 28 in the Community Room of the Clint G. Quilter Consolidated Office Building, 1360 N. Main St., Bishop. A Zoom option is also available for those who prefer to attend remotely: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83119996155?pwd=CfBajaUURaOpxrCSBacMCHxqTa1W5Y.1. Caltrans District 9 Construction Public Information Officer Michael Lingberg will be in attendance to provide updates on current and future highway projects, including the Meadow Farms ADA project. According to Caltrans, the project will upgrade pedestrian facilities to comply with State pedestrian accessibility design standards, and will comprise of upgrading non-standard curb ramps, driveways, pedestrian push buttons, restriping pavement markings, relo...

MEDIA CONTACT: Justin Caporusso/Caporusso Communications justin@caporussocommunications.com (916) 412-0571 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Explore Yosemite for Free: Mono County's YARTS Voucher Program Now Active MONO COUNTY, Calif. (July 24, 2025) – Mono County is pleased to announce that the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) Summer Voucher Program is now active and available to all Mono County residents. This pilot program offers a fantastic opportunity for residents to reserve free tickets on YARTS, providing convenient and environmentally friendly access through Yosemite National Park and surrounding communities. A reservation on YART also provides residents with free entrance at Yosemite National Park! The YARTS Summer Voucher Program aims to enhance accessibility to Yosemite National Park for local residents, promoting sustainable transportation options and reducing traffic congestion. "We are thrilled to see the YARTS Summer Voucher Program active again...

NORTHERN INYO HEALTHCARE DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ SPECIAL MEETING July 24, 2025 at 1:00 pm The Board meets in person at 2957 Birch Street Bishop, CA 93514. Members of the public will be allowed to attend in person. Public comments can be made in person. TO CONNECT VIA ZOOM: (A link is also available on the NIHD Website) https://zoom.us/j/213497015?pwd=TDlIWXRuWjE4T1Y2YVFWbnF2aGk5UT09 Meeting ID: 213 497 015 Password: 608092 PHONE CONNECTION: 888 475 4499 US Toll-free 877 853 5257 US Toll-free Meeting ID: 213 497 015 https://sierrawave.net/northern-inyo-healthcare-district-board-of-directors-special-meeting-july-24-2025-at-100-pm/