DEATH VALLEY, Calif. – A elderly husband and wife from Las Vegas, Nevada were found dead in Death Valley National Park on January 13th, according to law enforcement officials.

Paul Fischer, 73, called the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office to report that he had just killed his wife, Mary Fischer, 72.  Mr. Fischer stated his intention to kill himself and told the 911 operator  where to find them. Mr. Fischer left a note in their vehicle which explained that his wife was suffering from chronic health conditions.

Law enforcement officials from Inyo County Sheriff’s Office, Inyo County Coroner’s Office, National Park Service, California Highway Patrol and Bureau of Land Management responded to this incident.

If you are in crisis, contact 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling 988, or go online to 988lifeline.org. Services are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All calls are confidential.

The Bishop Fire Department is looking for community-minded individuals who are interested in serving others and volunteering as firefighters or EMTs in the new year.

The Bishop Fire Department is holding a new volunteer orientation to kick-off 2023. Anyone who is interested in joining the department is invited to attend the department’s weekly trainings this January,
at 6:45 p.m. every Wednesday at the Fire Training Facility, 960 Poleta Road in Bishop.

There are a few prerequisites to serving on the department, such as passing a background check and physical, but no prior firefighting experience is required. Volunteers can anticipate spending roughly 20 hours per month responding to calls, trainings and meetings. Volunteers respond to a variety of emergency and life safety calls, including fires and medical emergencies, as well as anything from carbon monoxide and propane leaks to weather related incidents, traffic accidents and other service calls. The department’s dedicated staff and volunteers mentor and guide new firefighters through the onboarding and training process.

All of the initial training for firefighters is done in-house, and the department will work with perspective EMTs to help them through EMT class and national registry.

Being a volunteer firefighter or EMT is a catalyst for both personal and professional growth, and it can be extremely rewarding. In recent years, many newly graduated students have joined the department to gain experience and enhance their career goals. In addition to extensive public safety training, working
with a volunteer department can open countless doors for opportunity. Bishop volunteers have participated in several wildfire deployments through Cal Fire, helped with fire prevention education programs in local schools, provided EMS standby for arena events at the Tri-County Fairgrounds, and participated in various local events and activities.

The department has fitness program incentives, as well as a recently implemented volunteer length of service pension program for volunteers who dedicate ten years or more to the department.
Anyone who would like more information about joining the Bishop Fire Department can call (760) 873-5485, or email jdell@cityofbishop.com.

MONO COUNTY — Caltrans announced today it has completed a project to improve safety on U.S. Highway 395 in Mono County. The $21.4 million project includes $13 million in federal funding for the construction phase.

Engineers identified this stretch of U.S. 395 for improvements that would increase traveler safety by addressing shoulder and median width, curve radius, stopping sight distance, and embankment slopes to meet newer state standards and specifications.

Construction on the North Sherwin Shoulders Project Construction began in April 2021 from 2.4 miles south of Lower Rock Creek Road to 0.3 miles north. From November 2021 to May 2022, construction paused while the project was in winter suspension.

This project widened the paved highway shoulders to 10 feet and improved sight distances around curves. Construction crews also:

· Installed retaining walls,

· Flattened soil slopes next to the highway,

· Replaced or installed guardrails,

· Upgraded drainage systems,

· Installed skip rumble strips between travel lanes and shoulders,

· Added a bicycle right turn pocket at U.S. 395 and Lower Rock Creek Road.

For more information, visit the District 9 Projects page: North Sherwin Shoulders Project | Caltrans.

For those with sensory disabilities requiring alternate formats (i.e. Braille, large print, sign language interpreter, etc.) and those needing information in a language other than English, please contact Bob Gossman at 760-881-7145 or TTY 711.

INDEPENDENCE – Inyo County’s Board of Supervisors will look a lot different when it convenes for its first meeting
of 2023.

The Board and staff will officially welcome newly elected District 1 Supervisor Trina Orrill and District 3 Supervisor Scott Marcellin on Tuesday, January 3 when the duo takes its hard-won seats on the dais after successful runoff elections in November.

Both incoming supervisors come from the private sector where each owns a small business in the Bishop area. They also both have prior experience in public service – Marcellin as a longtime member of the
Bishop Rural Fire Protection District Board of Commissioners and Orrill as a member of the Bishop Unified School District Board of Trustees.

Marcellin and Orrill won runoff elections in November to replace longtime Supervisors Rick Pucci and Dan Totheroh, respectively. The outgoing public servants are retiring with a combined 20 years of service on the Board of Supervisors.

Pucci and Totheroh were treated to fond farewells at the final meeting of 2022. In addition to approving proclamations on December 20 honoring the supervisors for their years of diligent and dedicated service, remaining Board members Jeff Griffiths, Jennifer Roeser, and Matt Kingsley shared their individual well wishes, favorite memories, and overall admiration. Staff members also chimed in with their expressions of gratitude for Pucci and
Totheroh’s leadership and support.

Supervisors Orrill and Marcellin will be sworn in during the traditional, ceremonial swearing-in ceremony scheduled for noon January 3, 2023 in the historic courtroom on the top floor of the Inyo County Courthouse, 168 N. Edwards St. Presiding Judge Stephen M. Place will preside over the ceremony and the public is welcome to attend.

Marcellin and Orrill are both eager to start in their new roles.

“I look forward to my first meeting as District 3 Supervisor,” said Marcellin. “I cannot replace the knowledge that Supervisor Pucci brought to the district, but I can bring a new perspective and knowledge of my own. I will take this oath knowing the responsibility it carries. I look forward to serving the people of District 3 and Inyo County.”

“It is such an honor to be sworn in as District 1 Supervisor, joining Inyo County’s team of elected representatives. I truly look forward to serving District 1, our County, and its communities and am excited to be working alongside the many dedicated individuals who keep Inyo County running,” Orrill said. “I would like to extend a special thank you to outgoing Supervisors Totheroh and Pucci for their many years of dedication and service to Inyo County and its residents. Taking my seat amongst the current supervisors, I look forward to working toward the goals the residents of District 1 shared with me during my campaign, and much more for the benefit of Inyo County.”

Also being sworn in this coming Tuesday are Superintendent of Schools Barry Simpson, Assessor Dave Stottlemyre, Auditor-Controller Amy Shepherd, Coroner Jason Molinar, District Attorney Tom Hardy, Public Administrator/Public Guardian Patricia Barton, and Treasurer-Tax Collector Alisha McMurtrie – all of whom won uncontested races for re-election.

Joining the incumbents will be Clerk-Recorder Danielle Sexton, who was appointed by the Board in 2021 to serve out the remainder of the then-vacant term and won election to a full term in November; and Stephanie Rennie, chief investigator for the D.A.’s Office who won the runoff election for Sheriff.

Orrill and Marcellin are not the only new faces joining the County team. New Inyo County Film Commissioner Jesse Steele replaces longtime Film Commissioner Chris Langley, whose service has been greatly appreciated.

Steele can be reached at (760) 938-0144 or film@inyocounty.us. Orrill can be reached at (760) 878-8818 or torrill@inyocounty.us. Contact Marcellin at (760) 878-8791 or smarcellin@inyocounty.us.

On December 13, 2022, a Mammoth Lakes man pled guilty to two felony counts of assault with a stun gun or taser as well as two counts of felony child endangerment under circumstances or conditions likely to cause great bodily injury or death after an investigation discovered Mr. Lopez used a stun gun to discipline his two elementary school-aged children.

In November of 2022, an investigation by the Mammoth Lakes Police Department revealed that Mr. Lopez had recently purchased a stun gun online and admitted using it on his children to “keep them still.” One of the children had what appeared to be a burn mark or bruise where Mr. Lopez was described to have applied the stun gun. The children were removed from the home and Mr. Lopez was arrested and taken to the Mono County Jail where he has remained
since his arrest.

During service of a search warrant on Mr. Lopez’s home, officers found a black “Police” branded taser as well as a usable quantity of methamphetamine. It was determined the methamphetamine was well within reach of the children and the children disclosed they watched their father consume methamphetamine on multiple occasions.

District Attorney Elect David Anderson stated, “This is one of the most egregious child abuse cases I have seen in the decade I
have been in this office. While I believe addiction issues must be treated, when you assault little, vulnerable children who trust you to defend them, protecting those children will always be my priority. I will be seeking a state prison term for Mr. Lopez.”

Mr. Lopez is scheduled to be sentenced in Bridgeport on February 14, 2023. He faces a maximum penalty of 8 years and 8 months in state prison. Mr. Lopez remains in custody on $200,000 bail.

The Mono County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Search and Rescue (SAR) Team is an all-volunteer non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives. When called by the MCSO, the Team responds for searches and rescues at any time, in any weather, for as long as it takes, for free. Each year, the Team honors members for their individual excellence and public service and shares in the experience with family, friends, and the community alike. This year the Team
held a Holiday and Awards party at the Palisades Room at The Village Lodge in Mammoth Lakes on the evening of Saturday, December 3, 2022.

The Team’s primary annual honor for achievement is the Pete Schoerner Rescue Member of the Year award. The award is named in memory of a beloved teammate who died in an iceclimbing accident in 1996, and it is given to the Team member who represents exceptional leadership, individual excellence, and achievement. This year, the Pete Schoerner Rescue
Member of the Year award was awarded to Jerry Evans. Jerry is a very active member of the team responding to 73% of the calls for 2022 and 356 team events since joining the team.
Jerry is often the first to show in the building during a call and often last to leave, bringing a great amount of experience, maturity, and great decision-making support to the Team missions. In addition to his great mission support, Jerry is a member of the Board of Directors, lending his experience to overall Team growth.

New members in training are called Candidate Members, and must undergo training, practice, and testing in eighteen skill categories before being considered for advancement to Rescue
Member. Completion of all requirements takes a lot of dedication and faithfulness over a period that is typically a year or more. The Team honors one Candidate Member each year with the
Rick Mosher Candidate Member of the Year Award. Rick Mosher is the only team member to have died in the line of duty while searching in a small airplane that crashed during an
operation on August 15, 1979. This year the Team selected Jacob Lipman as the Rick Mosher Candidate Member of the Year. Jacob is very active in many areas of Team responses to calls, training, and education. Since joining the team, he has participated in 56 team events and has advanced to Rescue Member, all in his first year. Jacob is a model example of what it means to be a new member to our Team and jumped right in with tremendous commitment.

The Team relies heavily on Support members who ensure our facilities and equipment are ready for any mission any time. This year the Team voted to recognize Bruce Torrence for his
outstanding dedication and commitment to the success of our team. Bruce is the Facility Manager for the team and is working, on a daily basis, to attend to any needs of equipment and make sure everything is operating perfectly. This work varies from repairs and
maintenance on vehicles, restocking supplies on the rescue vehicles or tending to building maintenance and snow removal. In addition to these tasks, Bruce manages all team uniforms, purchasing or repairing what we need for our missions. Bruce’s efforts ensure our facilities, vehicles, gear, and team are ready for any mission. His tireless work and dedication are critical to our success and defines the role of an outstanding support member for Mono County
Search and Rescue.

Additionally, a 30-year service award was presented to Steve Case, who was also awarded the Pete Schoerner Rescue Member of the Year Award in 2006. To date, Steve has completed 693 operations and trainings, was a member of the Board of Directors and serves as our lead Tracking Trainer. Steve is a beloved member of our team and provides a wealth of knowledge on locations, trails, conditions, and mission approach.

A 10-year service plaque was awarded to Megan Guffey, who was also awarded CandidateMember of the Year back in 2012, her first year on the team. To date, Megan has completed a combined 177 operations and trainings.The SAR team wishes to thank members of the community for their generous support.

(Jerry Evans & Rob Patterson MOSAR President) (Jacob Lipman & Rob Patterson)

The Inyo County Clerk/Recorder & Registrar of Voters Office would like to inform
the public that there will be a Swearing in Ceremony for the following elected
offices:

County Superintendent of Schools

Supervisor, 1st District
Supervisor, 3rd District

Assessor
Auditor
Coroner

County Clerk-Recorder
District Attorney

Public Administrator/Public Guardian

Sheriff

Treasurer-Tax Collector

on Tuesday, January 3, 2022 at 12:00 Noon at the Historic Courthouse Courtroom, top floor located at 168 N. Edwards St., Independence, CA. The public is welcome to attend. Please contact the Inyo County Clerk/Recorder & Registrar of Voters Office at 760-878-0220 with questions.

MONO COUNTY, Calif. (DECEMBER 06, 2022) – Mono County has recently seen a surge in both Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and Influenza (Flu) disease activity, In addition, Mono County Public Health is anticipating an additional increase in COVID-19
(Coronavirus) infection heading into the holiday season. As a result, Mono County Public Health is urging residents and visitors to take precautions, and seek appropriate care when ill.

“The winter viruses have arrived earlier than expected, and are trending to remain active longer than usual this winter season,” said Dr. Caryn Slack, MD, MPH, Mono County Health Officer. “A triple threat of Flu, COVID-19, and RSV has descended upon Mono
County, and simple proactive measures can help prevent and reduce local spread.” Craig Burrows, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Mammoth Hospital adds, “Masking is a very simple intervention to prevent the spread of other viral illnesses besides COVID-19.
If you are symptomatic with congestion, sneezing and coughing, and have to go out in public, please wear a mask to protect other people you come in contact with.”

According to a news release from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), RSV, Flu, and COVID-19 are impacting Californians earlier than usual this year, and residents are encouraged to “continue being vigilant in preventing the rapid spread of winter viruses.” The release urges residents to “protect themselves with vaccinations for Flu and COVID-19, to stay home when sick and to wear masks.”

While the surge is evident based upon rising hospitalization numbers and increased volume of outpatient/Emergency Department visits for these illness’ symptoms, the actual levels of RSV, Flu, and COVID-19 disease in the community are difficult to
quantify. Residents and visitors are asked to report their positive at-home COVID-19 tests via the CDPH portal: https://primary.health/cdph/ to more accurately track local
COVID-19 infection.

Influenza (Flu) Vaccine Flu vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization, and death. Similar to wearing a mask, the flu vaccine protects the vaccinated person and the people
around them. Getting a flu vaccine can also save healthcare resources. Flu vaccination is part of a comprehensive public health strategy to reduce the burden of flu, and helps to preserve scarce healthcare resources for the care of patients with COVID-19.

Benefits of Flu Vaccination:
• Help keep you and your loved ones out of the hospital;
• Help preserve scarce medical resources to care for COVID-19 patients; and,
• Protect frontline healthcare workers who will be caring for people sick with respiratory illnesses this fall and winter.

COVID-19 Bivalent Vaccine Booster In August 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended the emergency
use authorizations (EUAs) of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to authorize bivalent formulations of the vaccines for use as a single booster dose at least two months following primary or booster vaccination. This updated
booster provides better protection against COVID-19 caused by the Omicron Variant.

“The bivalent booster is recommended for individuals age 12 (Pfizer-BioNTech) and older who are at least two months out from completing their primary series, or receiving their original booster(s),” said Dr. Caryn Slack, MD, MPH, Mono County Health
Officer. “The development of this updated booster follows the influenza platform that has been in place for decades, essentially using a scientific formula to enhance the existing recipe and strengthen the vaccine’s protection against the COVID-19 strain as it has evolved. We are experiencing a 90 percent efficacy rate with the bivalent booster locally.”

Bivalent COVID-19 Booster Eligibility:
• Individuals 18 years of age and older are eligible for a single booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent if it has been at least two months since they have completed primary vaccination or have received the most recent booster
dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.
• Individuals 12 years of age and older are eligible for a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, Bivalent if it has been at least two months since they have completed primary vaccination or have received the most recent booster dose with any authorized or approved monovalent COVID-19 vaccine.
It remains safe to receive COVID-19 vaccines and flu shots at the same time.

For more information, questions, or concerns, please call Mono County Public Health at(760) 924-1830 or follow up with your pediatrician or medical provider.

BISHOP, Calif. — The Bureau of Land Management California announces the selection of Sherri Lisius as the Bishop Field Manager. Her career in public service and natural resources has spanned over 20 years and she has embraced the challenge of overseeing management of more than 750,000 acres of public land surface and approximately 2 million acres of subsurface mineral estate in the eastern Sierra region of central California.

“The Bishop Field office manages some of the most spectacular public lands in the country and I am really excited to take on this new role. It is a great honor to be able to work with the communities of the eastern Sierra, our partners, and the visitors to ensure these special places are available for the use and enjoyment of current and future generations,” Lisius says.

Sherri has a strong track record of leadership and fostering partnerships throughout the eastern Sierra Nevada region in various capacities as Assistant Field Manager, Wildlife Biologist, and Acting Field Manager. Highlights of her career include guiding the completion of the Alabama Hills National Scenic Area Management Plan and coordination of the Bi-State sage-grouse interagency effort. She has served in several detail assignments at the BLM Headquarters and in Oklahoma. Prior to working for the BLM, she worked as a Wildlife Biologist for the US Forest Service in both the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and the Tonto National Forest. She also worked at the National Park Service serving at Yosemite National Park and Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Park.

“We are fortunate to have Sherri’s experience, wisdom and collaborative leadership style as part of the BLM California,” says BLM Central California District Manager Chris Heppe. “Her extensive knowledge of natural resource management and community partnerships in the eastern Sierra will benefit BLM’s multiple-use and sustained yield mission in the Bishop Field Office.”

Lisius grew up in central Oregon, however, she has been a resident of the eastern Sierra for over 13 years. She holds a degree in Wildlife from Humboldt State University. When Sherri isn’t busy managing public lands, she can be found backpacking and enjoying public land throughout the west with her husband. Lisius succeeds Steve Nelson who retired in December 2021.

MONO COUNTY, Calif. (December 07, 2022) – Yesterday, the Mono County Board of Supervisors appointed Wendilyn (Wendi) Grasseschi to serve as Mono County’s first Wildfire Mitigation
Coordinator. The Wildfire Mitigation Coordinator is tasked with organizing, coordinating, and assessing countywide activities related to wildfire mitigation. In this role, Ms. Grasseschi will
complete a comprehensive review of existing wildfire mitigation groups and their projects, and identify opportunities to improve partnerships, communication, and cooperation.

“Mono County is committed to ensuring the protection and safety of our residents and visitors,” said Bob Gardner, Chair of the Mono County Board of Supervisors. “We are grateful to have Wendi in this new role, where the protection of local lives and property from wildfire will be her top priority.”

The Wildfire Mitigation Coordinator role was created in response to the ongoing wildfire crisis in the Eastern Sierra, and the need to protect lives and property from wildfire harm, and to educate
the public on wildfire dangers and how to reduce them. Ms. Grasseschi will facilitate building relationships between community partners and county emergency response personnel. The
Wildfire Mitigation Coordinator reports to the Director of Emergency Management.

Ms. Grasseschi most recently served as a News Editor/Reporter for the Mammoth Times, covering both the Town of Mammoth Lakes and Mono County governments. Ms. Grasseschi has extensive fire and leadership experience, including serving as a Wilderness/Fire Crew Supervisor, Wildland Fire Crew Leader, Interagency Wildland “Hotshot” Firefighter, and a Wildland Firefighter. Ms. Grasseschi has a Bachelor of Science degree from Humboldt State University with a
concentration in Natural Resource Planning and Interpretation/Environmental Communication.