Hawthorne and Mammoth Lakes, CA (May 22, 2023) — Advanced Air, the Los Angeles-based public charter
airline, and Mammoth Lakes Tourism announced today that summer flights direct between Mammoth Lakes and
Southern California’s Los Angeles and San Diego will resume June 30th – September 4th.

Advanced Air will provide two semi-private flights a week (Fridays and Sundays) straight into the Mammoth
Yosemite Airport (MMH) from Hawthorne (HHR) in 55 minutes and Carlsbad (CLD) in 85 minutes. Travelers will fly
in and out of private terminals and avoid airport traffic, long security lines and TSA. Free shuttle service will continue
to be offered to/from the Hawthorne Municipal Airport for travelers arriving into LAX from an outside destination,
providing easy summer access to Mammoth Lakes from anywhere in the world.

“Two years ago, when we began offering direct, semi-private flights from Southern California to Mammoth, we knew
there would be a strong demand for an easy, convenient, and quick way to get to the mountains. The response and
utilization of our service has exceeded our expectations and been rewarding to witness,” said Levi Stockton,
Founder & President of Advanced Air. “Southern California has one of the most passionate Mammoth fanbases in
the world and we’re thrilled to partner with Mammoth Lakes Tourism to bring travelers to one of their favorite
summer destinations.”

“Summer in Mammoth Lakes is a phenomenal time to visit and with service via Advanced Air, we continue to
provide easy access to our most loyal audience, as well as a convenient way for our locals to travel for summer
vacations of their own” said Mammoth Lakes Tourism Executive Director, John Urdi.

This marks the second year that Advanced Air and Mammoth Lakes Tourism have provided direct flights between
Southern California and Mammoth Lakes. Upcoming summer events in Mammoth include the 4th of July Parade,
Bluesapalooza, Mammoth Wine Festival, Mammoth Rocks Music Festival, and Pedalpalooza.

To book tickets, please go to https://advancedairlines.com or call 1-800-393-7035.

For more information, follow
@advancedairlines on Instagram and Facebook.

Inyo County recently welcomed a new face to its ranks to take on the leadership position responsible for the information
systems, equipment, and communications throughout the organization.

The Board of Supervisors has approved a contract with Noam Shendar to serve as the county’s Chief Information Officer
– a reconfiguration of the role formerly known as Information Services (IS) Director. Shendar steps into a vacancy left by
IS Director Scott Armstrong who recently accepted the county’s offer to serve as Regional Broadband Coordinator. In the
wake of Armstrong’s departure, county leaders decided to update both the job title and job description to meet the needs
of the department and be consistent with professional standards.

Leading an eleven-person team, including Assistant CIO Jayme Westervelt, Shendar is responsible for not only planning,
organizing, and directing work in the IS Department, but also providing the vision and strategic direction that ensures the
county’s ability to successfully integrate people and technology to improve business processes, create efficiencies,
guarantee transparency, and thoughtfully implement systems that support good governance.

More specifically, Shendar is charged with:
• Planning, organizing, evaluating, budgeting, and prioritizing recommendations regarding the acquisition,
installation, and maintenance of all county technology and information systems;
• Overseeing security initiatives and implementing effective approaches that keep agency assets, data, and staff
safe;
• Driving customer-facing technology solutions which better connect people to county services;
• Ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements;
• Developing and interpreting internal policies;
• Tracking and implementing applicable legislation;
• Monitoring new technology and evaluating its use in support of the county;
• Conducting effective business analysis in order to successfully procure, implement, and utilize technology
throughout the organization;
• Negotiating and administering contracts for the procurement and support of information technology throughout
the county;
• Pursuing and maintaining partnerships with public and private entities which benefit the area through
collaborative service delivery efforts and cost sharing; and
• Acting as a liaison between Department Heads, County Administration and the Board of Supervisors in
improving digital literacy and transformative approaches to government.

Shendar brings to the position nearly three decades of experience in technology and public service. A 12-year Inyo
County resident, Shendar describes himself as a mule enthusiast and “lifelong nerd.” He began his career at Intel
designing computer chips, and progressed over the years to become a technology executive at a number of companies, big
and small. Shendar has a long and extensive background in cloud, virtualization, and enterprise storage solutions, and
most recently has been an original executive team member at Zadara, a global edge-cloud provider. Locally, he is
international services chair at the Bishop Rotary Club, secretary and board member of the Bishop Amateur Radio Club,
and a candidate with Inyo Search and Rescue. He is married to Rachel, a legal aid attorney in Bishop, and his hobbies
include mule riding and packing, backpacking, skiing, motorbiking, and amateur radio.

The Inyo County Sheriff’s Office continues to actively investigate the homicide of a local resident
whose body was recently found southeast of Independence.

Deputies responding to a report of a deceased individual discovered the body of 34-year-old
Independence resident Dorothy Erin McQueen’s on April 10 off of Mazourka Canyon Road. Since
then, investigators have been following numerous leads and a forensic autopsy was conducted.

While investigators understand that the public is anxious for additional details and updates, they
must also limit the amount of information they can release in order to protect the integrity of the
investigation.

“Unfortunately, at this time our office cannot release any additional information due to the sensitive
nature of the ongoing investigation,” Sheriff Stephanie Rennie said. “Our investigators, in
collaboration with investigators from the Inyo County District Attorney’s Office, are working diligently
and tirelessly to ensure a thorough and complete investigation is conducted.”

The Inyo County Sheriff’s Office has also received vital assistance from the Mono County Sheriff’s
Office and California Department of Justice.

“Our deepest sympathies go out to the family of Ms. McQueen and her close friends and loved
ones,” Rennie said, adding, “We at the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office understand the community’s
concerns and once we can release further information, we will do so expeditiously.”

Investigators have a dedicated phone line to receive tips from the public on this specific case.
Anyone with any information regarding this case is urged to contact the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office
Investigators Team at (760) 878-0383 option 4.

On Wednesday, April 26, Bishop Union High School (BUHS) students competed in the 2023 Trig-Star competition, a contest based on the practical application of trigonometry. Sophomore Alyssa Buchholz, daughter of BUHS math teacher Diedre Buchholz, secured first place with a score of 94 on her test after results were announced on Friday, May 12. She finished the exam in 24 minutes, 47 seconds, earning the fastest time in the local competition at BUHS and fifth place statewide. Her first-place local win merited a cash prize of $150.

Rounding out the BUHS winners, junior Brianna Coombes finished in second place with a score of 88 in 60 minutes flat, earning $75. Junior Victor Tordby finished his test in 37 minutes, 51 seconds and achieved a score of 84, earning him third place. His fellow junior Broderick Carter placed fourth by scoring 83 on his exam and completing it in exactly one hour. Third and fourth places were awarded $50 and $25.

The Trig-Star competition tests the students’ abilities to apply math to real-world situations and heightens the awareness of Land Surveying as a profession. The competition is sponsored by the National Society of Professional Surveyors, the California Land Surveyors Association, Caltrans, and the BUHS Mathletes. The Land Surveying profession is the art, science, and technology of locating or determining (by measurement) the shape or size of any portion of the earth’s surface and representing these surveys on maps.

In March of this year, Caltrans District 9 Senior Transportation Surveyor Sereyna Cagle gave a presentation introducing the land-surveying profession and Trig-Star Competition to a Bishop Union High School math class led by Diedre Buchholz.

Funding for the local and statewide competition came from the California Transportation Foundation (CTF), the National Society of Professional Surveyors, and the BUHS Mathletes. The BUHS Mathletes matched the monetary awards from the CTF this year.

Where there is a will, there is a way – as the saying goes – and that keeps the small but mighty
Northern Inyo Hospital Auxiliary moving forward.

Recently the group installed its 2023-2024 slate of officers, demonstrating a never-ending
commitment to Northern Inyo Hospital and the communities it serves. NIHD Board Chair Mary
Mae Kilpatrick swore in Judy Fratella as President, Karen Benson as Vice President, Sharon Moore
as Treasurer, Carole Sample as Corresponding Secretary, and Betty Dickey as Recording Secretary.

The financially struggling Healthcare District made special provisions for celebrating the Auxiliary.
Hospital employees donated the funds to treat the group to the Bishop County Club luncheon.
Board Chair Kilpatrick personally purchased a corsage for each member. Interim Chief Executive
Officer Stephen DelRossi and Interim Chief Medical Officer Dr. Stefan Schunk took time from their
schedules to speak highly of the Auxiliary’s most recent fundraising efforts.

As always, the installation’s highlight was the recognition of the service hours put in by members.
As a group, the members gave 6,515.5 hours or roughly 271 full days, for the benefit of the
Healthcare District in 2022-2023. These new hours bring the total number worked by the
Auxiliary during 1982-2023 to 301,960.5 hours. President Fratella awarded service pins to those
members who reached milestones in their personal service hours. Fratella herself reached 12,000
cumulative hours. Others honored included:
 Sharon Moore with a Lifetime Hours of Service of 19,500;
 Diane Remick and Judy Speed with 6,500 hours;
 Vivian Mitchel with 6,000 hours;
 Betty Dickey with 5,500 hours;
 Cheryl Underhill and Nan Giddings, each with 2,500;
 Carole Sample with 2,000 hours; and,Karen Benson, Pat Hawley, and Marti Witters had 500 hours.

For more than 60 years, Auxiliary members have invested time, talent, and treasure in the health
and well-being of the Northern Inyo Healthcare District residents. Within the last year, while
getting back on its collective feet after the pandemic, the Auxiliary met a new financial milestone,
putting its lifetime total at $650,000 toward equipment purchases for the hospital.

The group raises funds through its popular Holiday Craft Boutiques, community donations, and
the operation of the hospital’s Gift Shop. The Gift Shop sales of handmade quilts, baby clothing,
flower bouquets, and See’s Candy often make the difference between a good and great fiscal
year for the group.

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic presented many challenges for President Fratella and her
volunteers. The Auxiliary shut down for more than a year, unable to work in the Gift Shop or hold
its fundraising boutique due to health and safety mandates.

“We had no revenue stream from our gift shop or boutique, which impacted us financially,”
Fratella explains. “We did manage to get back on our feet, and we’re back operating the gift shop
and preparing for our third boutique since the shutdown.”

However, the pandemic left one lasting effect on the Auxiliary: a decrease in membership.
“Volunteer groups around the country are struggling with this issue, and we know Inyo County
has many volunteer opportunities,” Fratella explains. “We believe that what we do has lasting
value and benefits many people, often in challenging times, like those we just passed through.”

Membership in the Auxiliary is open to men and women. Fratella reminds everyone that all help
is welcome and appreciated and that there are no prerequisites for membership.

“Everyone thinks they have to be a crafter to join, but that’s not true,” Fratella said. “We need
people with all talents to help us reach our goals. The more hands contributing to the collective
goal, the better.”

The Auxiliary meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. at the Birch Street Annex,
2957 Birch St., Bishop. Anyone interested in making a financial donation or joining the Auxiliary
may call Sharon Moore at (760) 872-4198 for details.

NIHD Board Chair Mary Mae Kilpatrick (in yellow) swore in the 2023-24 NIH
Hospital Auxiliary officers during a luncheon at Bishop County Club. From left to right are Corresponding
Secretary Carole Sample, Vice President Karen Benson, President Judy Fratella, Mary Mae Kilpatrick,
Treasurer Sharon Moore and Recording Secretary Betty Dickey. Photo by Barbara Laughon/Northern Inyo
Healthcare District.

Auxiliary Recording Secretary Betty Dickey samples the fresh potato chips offered
during the NIH Auxiliary Installation lunch. Donations from the Healthcare District’s employees paid for the
luncheon. Photo by Barbara Laughon/Northern Inyo Healthcare District

DEATH VALLEY, Calif. – Firefighters from the National Park Service and Southern Inyo Fire Protection District responded to a truck fire on Highway 190 just outside the east boundary of Death Valley National Park on May 17.

The semi-truck was pulling two dumpster trailers full of brush trimmings. After climbing 3,000 feet out of Death Valley, the truck broke down, then caught on fire.

Firefighters used firefighting foam to contain the fire to the cab and the first trailer. Fortunately, there were no injuries. Highway 190 was temporarily closed.

DEATH VALLEY, Calif. – The National Park Service (NPS) and partners recently removed trash and dangerous chemicals left behind from an illegal marijuana grow site operation in Jail Canyon in Death Valley National Park.  Jail Canyon has reopened to public visitation now that the safety closure has been lifted. 

An active marijuana grow operation was discovered during a fly-over of Jail Canyon, located in the western slope of the Panamint Mountains. Over 10,000 plants were eradicated with an estimated sale value of over $7million. Upon learning that they were discovered, the growers abandoned the site. They left behind a damaged landscape, trash and hazardous chemicals.  

Jail Canyon is one over 20 illegal grow sites which have been found near springs in remote canyons in the park over the past decade. The growers typically terrace the landscape and install irrigation tubing to divert water to the marijuana plants. Workers have poached wildlife for food. They stockpiled chemicals and applied pesticides to protect their illegal crop, contaminating water sources in the process. The most dangerous chemical found in Jail Canyon was carbofuran, which is very toxic to humans and wildlife. 

On April 27, park rangers and American Conservation Experience (ACE) members hiked through dense vegetation into Jail Canyon, and bagged up tubing, tarps, bedding, and other trash. A few days later, the California Air National Guard used their Pave Hawk helicopter to perform a “longline operation”. This operation consisted of dropping large cargo nets to the park rangers in the canyon who then loaded the garbage into the nets. 35 cubic yards of trash were removed, and the site was returned to a more natural state.  

When hiking in remote areas of the park, visitors are advised to be aware of their surroundings, and pay attention to things which seem unusual such as modern trash, well-used human trails, or tubing. If you discover a grow site, leave the area immediately and report the location to the NPS  at a visitor center or call the NPS tip line at 888-653-0009.  

Due to the rugged, often trailless terrain of Death Valley National Park, the NPS has increased the use of surveillance to detect the presence of new grow operations to protect park resources and improve visitor safety.

On Monday, April 10, 2013, at about 3:11 p.m., Inyo County Sheriff’s deputies responded to Mazourka Canyon Road, east of Independence, CA, for the report of a deceased person. Upon arrival, deputies located a deceased female. Initial investigation identified the decedent as 34-year-old Independence resident Dorothy Erin McQueen.

Further investigation, including a forensic autopsy, has been completed.

This is an ongoing homicide investigation. Anyone with information is urged to call the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office at
(760) 878-0383 option #4.

As the financial situation at Northern Inyo Healthcare District reaches dire levels, a planned effort to “right-size” the operation is underway. Regrettably, NIHD anticipates eliminating about 15
positions, or less than 4 percent of its 460-member workforce, no later than April 21.

These nonclinical reductions include roles within support and administration. Severance, and in a few cases, job relocation at a lower pay rate within the District, will be offered to those impacted
by these changes.

“Our focus steadfastly remains on delivering quality care for the community,” Interim Chief Executive Officer Lionel “Chad” Chadwick says. “To that extent, no positions in direct patient care
are being reduced. However, it should be noted the District has made great efforts to reduce the number of contracted traveling nurses within our operations, providing substantial cost savings.”

Like many healthcare facilities nationwide, NIHD has experienced financial strain from the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, high inflation, and labor shortages. The most significant
effect continues to be low reimbursement rates for Medi-Cal and Medicare, together a large percentage of NIHD’s revenue. While workforce reductions like this are regretful, uncomfortable,
and distasteful, Chadwick says NIHD must continue examining all opportunities to maintain a sustainable healthcare facility.

Chadwick notes that while 15 positions may seem small to the public, since December, the District froze several positions as those became vacant due to retirements, resignations, or
interdepartmental relocations. Savings from the frozen positions is $1.5 million. Chadwick anticipates the District will save an additional $1.5 million with the 15-member reduction in force.

Still, Chadwick notes, more is needed. “Our Turnaround Group has taken a deep dive into our operations, hoping to find ways to balance our finances and improve our efficiencies,” Chadwick
says. “We’ve acted on many opportunities, large and small, in hopes of not having to undergo this workforce reduction. Unfortunately, the community needs to understand we are facing more
difficult decisions, which may affect service lines, days of operation, hours of operations, and more. Everything is on the table. As I’ve told the team, there are no sacred cows.”

That includes Interim CEO Chadwick himself. At last Wednesday’s special NIHD Board of Directors meeting, he proposed elevating Chief Financial Officer Stephen DelRossi to Interim CEO for at
least six months while DelRossi maintained his permanent role as CFO. The Board immediately entered negotiations with DelRossi.

If an agreement is reached, the move would either eliminate Chadwick’s role or reduce his role to an on-call consultant, saving the District an executive salary. The outcome of DelRossi’s
negotiations will most likely be announced at the Board’s next meeting, Wednesday, April 19.

Chief Nursing Officer Allison Partridge also holds a dual leadership role serving as Interim Chief Operations Officer. The District rounds out its Executive Team with Hospitalist Dr. Stefan Schunk
serving as Interim Chief Medical Officer following the recent departure of Dr. Joy Engblade to be closer to family.

In total, NIHD employs 460 people across its services which include a 25-bed critical access hospital, a 24-hour emergency department, a primary care rural health clinic, a diagnostic
imaging center, a rehabilitation services center, and clinics specializing in women’s health, orthopedics, internal medicine, pediatrics, allergies, general surgery, colorectal surgery, breast
cancer surgery, and urology.

The District was one of the first healthcare districts formed in the state in 1946. Voted into existence by its communities in January 1946, NIHD is one of 54 healthcare districts serving the
state’s rural areas. According to the Association of California Healthcare Districts, facilities like NIHD provide access to essential health services and are directly accountable at the community
level. As a result, tens of millions of Californians can access care that would otherwise

In the continuing effort to combat snow accumulation to our forest facilities, heavy equipment crews have dug out the first 800 feet of Deadman Creek Road from Highway 395 South in Crestview. This presents a major hazard for over-snow travelers who encounter this area, as the depth of snow to the ground is between 12 – 16 feet deep.

Snow poles have been erected with orange flagging tape to outline this area. We are working on improved signage to alert area users to the hazard. The cleared section of road is closed to the public by Mono County.

If you are snowmobiling west of Highway 395 between Mammoth Scenic Loop and Glass Creek Road, be sure to significantly slow your speed and be on the lookout for this area.

Please avoid this area until it no longer presents a hazard; which could be months.

INDEPENDENCE – County of Inyo and City of Bishop officials are optimistic that recent efforts to secure temporary Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for the greater Bishop area will allow for continued coverage after the current EMS provider ceases operations later this month.

It was announced Tuesday that, under the pressure of that looming deadline, the County and City have successfully found a qualified firm to bridge the EMS coverage gap on a temporary basis until a longer-term solution is identified.

The clock has been ticking down to the loss of Northern Inyo County ambulance service since January, when Symons Emergency Services announced it would be ceasing Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulance services in the greater Bishop Exclusive Operating Area (EOA) effective April 22. According to Health & Human Services Director Marilyn Mann, the County is now in the process of contracting with Coast2Coast Public Safety, a private firm headquartered in Lake Havasu, AZ. Coast2Coast was one of two
prospective contractors that responded to the County’s Request for Proposals (RFP) for temporary ambulance service. The RFP was issued on March 9 with a closing date of March 20, after which proposals were reviewed by both City of Bishop and County of Inyo personnel.

Coast2Coast specializes in public safety services ranging from Security, EMS, Fire Rescue, and Emergency Management to K-9 Narcotics and Explosives Detection, Electronics Detection, and Search and Rescue. The firm has thus far demonstrated an eagerness to branch into Inyo County, even if on a temporary basis. Mann said upon notification to Coast2Coast of the contract award, the firm had already secured an agreement with a local ER
physician to serve as its medical director; begun the process to obtain Drug Enforcement Administration approval to administer life-saving drugs; applied for Medi-Cal and Medicare billing numbers; registered their ambulances in California; contacted Bishop Police Department and its dispatch and obtained the correct service channels and frequencies; and negotiated with Symons for the use of its building on West Line Street as a local headquarters.
Coast2Coast has committed to one ALS ambulance and a second providing a minimum of Basic Life Support.

Ensuring continuous access to life-saving EMS has been priority number one for the City of Bishop and County of Inyo since Symons’ January announcement. The contract with Coast2Coast is the culmination of a lot of hard work, collaboration, research, and determination on the part of both agencies, and quite a feat given the short timeframe in which to react.

“We’re committed to ensure there’s not a gap in ambulance service and believe we’ll be able to achieve that,” Inyo County Administrator Nate Greenberg told the Board of Supervisors.

The past four months have also included the County and City collaborating on long-term solutions to the EMS situation with the aid of the Bishop Rural Fire Protection District. To that end, both agencies have engaged the services of Emergency Services Consulting International to assess the state of EMS in the City of Bishop and beyond. Greenberg said the analysis will be a multi-month process expected to produce information critical to re-establishing a long-term provider in the EOA.

Greenberg and the Board of Supervisors expressed their gratitude to Mann and Assistant HHS Director Anna Scott, who were instrumental in drafting the RFP in a short timeframe. Supervisors Scott Marcellin and Trina Orrill, representing Districts 3 and 1 respectively, said the work being done by the County and City is helping to assuage their constituents’ fears about the loss of ambulance service.