Chris Gilbert

Whether a new law ever ends up being enforced in California, its impacts on local waste streams appear to be uncertain. The so-called Truth in Recycling Law generally prohibits companies from using the “chasing arrows” symbol, or otherwise implying that a product is recyclable, unless it actually ends up being re-used by consumers. But a federal court has issued a preliminary injunction, at the request of manufacturers, blocking enforcement, which had been scheduled for October. Julie Miller is a senior community development technician at Nevada County Public Works. She says it's hoped the law will provide more clarity for consumers…

It's now a two-person race for one of two open seats on the Board of Trustees in the Nevada Joint Union High School District. Keith Allen is an official candidate for the Area Five seat in November, which is being vacated by Ken Johnson. It's his first attempt at being elected to public office. And he says he was inspired to run after seeing all the turmoil in the last year or so at Board meetings, which often centered around the Every Student Belongs resolution. It failed, at least initially, last year, on a 3-2 vote, despite impassioned favorable comments from the audience…

There are still two weekends left to take in the Sierra Theatre Company's latest production at the Nevada Theatre. The company's marketing director, Laura Lebleu, says it's what's called the “enchanted” edition of the musical “Cinderella”…

There's only about one month left if you want to weigh in on Nevada County's so-called Resource Resiliency Roadmap. That's a long-term plan to help communities prepare for increasingly frequent extreme weather. Public Information Officer Taylor Wolfe says the draft Roadmap builds on 18 months of community engagement, through workshops and surveys. She says results from one survey that were recently released are now out. And it shows 87-percent support for bold or moderate county action on climate change…

Benefits from the recently-approved benefit assessment increase were especially felt this past week for the Higgins Fire Protection District. Appearing on KNCO's On the Town on Thursday, District Captain and Public Information Officer, Spencer Albrecht, said passage of the measure in 2024 has allowed the re-opening of their third station, on Dog Bar Road. And the 16-acre Combie Fire was just south of there…

National Night Out is just one day away. In Western Nevada County, the event alternates each year between Grass Valley and Nevada City. And this year it's taking place at Pioneer Park. It's described as a community-building campaign that promotes law enforcement partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie, to make them a safer and better place to be. One of the organizers is Grass Valley Police officer Mel Bird, who talked about the fun activities on a recent KNCO: On the Town…

August is also Child Support Awareness Month in Nevada County. County Supervisors approved the annual resolution at their recent meeting. The local department also serves neighboring Sierra County and is now referred to as the Sierra Nevada Regional Department of Child Support Services. And it continues to get high statewide marks. Director Paul Johnson proudly told the Board that they were ranked number-two in the state out of 47 agencies, last year, and are number-one so far this fiscal year. The overall ranking is based on four metrics that not only includes collections but also such services as paternity establishment…

With some residential electricity customers dealing with some of the highest bills of the year, due to summer heat keeping air conditioners on longer, they can look forward to some relief from PG and E, starting this month. Paul Moreno, with Marketing and Communications, says the two Climate Credits are now being applied in August and September, when usage is higher, instead of April and October…

A longtime member of the NID Board of Directors is seeking a third four-year term in the November election. Chris Bierwagen is an official candidate for re-election to the Division Two seat, which includes Alta Sierra and the Peardale-Chicago Park area. He says his lifelong interest in water issues runs deep in the family…

Here’s how the “five-step-no-tiger” method can turn a vicious circle into a virtuous one.