Show your
support during
Thursday, October 19, 2017
Ashes and twisted metal are all that remain of this home along McCourtney Road in Grass Valley, where the flames from
the McCourtney Fire scorched 76 acres. The fire was 100 percent contained by Saturday, nearly a week after the fire
Are you insured?
broke out during an extreme windstorm that ignited more than 20 wildfires across the state.
Moratorium on insurance policies affect prospective Nevada County homeowners
By Alan Riquelmy
Staff Writer
T
he bad news about his home
insurance came a day before
George Fitz planned to sign the
paperwork for his new house.
Fitz, moving here from Santa
Monica, intended to sign the papers
this past Friday and close on the
Union Hill-area home the following
Monday.
Then came the call.
“She said, ‘I really hate to tell you. I
hate to make this call,’” Fitz said.
The home insurance policy Fitz
planned to buy was in limbo because
of the Lobo and McCourtney fires
that erupted late Oct. 8. An insur-
ance moratorium was in place across
Nevada County. The $1,237 policy,
with a $1,000 deductible, was no
longer an option, Fitz said.
He spent the next day calling as
many insurance agents as he could.
“And everyone basically gave me a
‘No,’” Fitz said. “‘You cannot get in-
surance right now.’”
Fitz’ home was financed through
his Santa Monica house, which he
said is the equivalent of closing on
his new home with cash. He could
have bought his new home without
insurance.
“Which seems sketchy, as there’s
two fires going on up there,” he
added.
Fitz opted for the California FAIR
Plan — an insurance pool that pro-
vides basic insurance to those who
can’t get a policy through the insur-
ance market.
That plan cost $1,911, and only
covered fire. An additional policy for
personal property and liability cost
another $997, for a total insurance
cost of $2,908 — over two times the
initial price.
“They were just all denying cover-
age,” Fitz said. “The whole county, is
what they told me.”
OBITUARIES
John Fellman; Donald Lovas;
Ronald McMahon; John
Mitchell; Michael Mozzetti;
Barbara Shively; Lucy Sloate;
Tiana Trumbo Page A5
VOLUME 152 ISSUE 300
FOUNDED IN 1864 TO PRESERVE THE UNION ... ONE AND INSEPARABLE
The remnants of a home sit behind a no trespassing sign on McCourtney Road
after the McCourtney Fire swept through the area more than a week ago, caus-
ing significant structure loss.
THE EFFECTS
Richard Harris had a few people
contact his Grass Valley insurance
company with questions about their
policies as the Lobo and McCourtney
fires burned.
“We were getting phone calls,” said
Harris, owner of Harris Insurance
Services. “‘Are they going to raise my
rates? Are my quotes still good?’ Your
quote is still good.”
According to Harris, those who
own their homes and had insurance
faced little problems, at least initially.
Those who had no insurance and
wanted to buy it during the fires, or
those in Fitz’s situation, didn’t fare
as well.
An insurance moratorium, enacted
during the blazes, meant insurance
companies would write no new poli-
cies during the fires, Harris said.
“Everything’s a go and then a fire
happens,” Harris said.
Larry Ingersoll, manager of Placer
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ELIAS FUNEZ/EFUNEZ@THEUNION.COM
SUBMITTED BY ALLISON KALT
Title Company, said he also saw
effects from the fires. A few people
discovered that a lender would no
longer provide a home loan until the
fires were extinguished and an in-
spector had visited the site.
“Sometimes that does delay es-
crow,” he said, adding that the situa-
tion is slowly returning to normal.
Fitz didn’t face that problem, as his
Southern California home financed
his new house. However, he opted for
insurance and found himself at what
at the time was his only resort — the
California FAIR Plan.
Teresa Dietrich, who in January
will become president of the Nevada
County Association of Realtors, said
she’s seen a number of people use the
plan, including herself at one point.
“It does cover your structure,” Di-
etrich said. “It does not cover your
contents. It definitely had some
INSURANCE, A6
District OKs smaller version
of water tunnel plan
B3
SAN JOSE — A water agen-
A2 cy has voted for a stripped
B2 down, less costly version of
A2 Gov. Jerry Brown’s $16 billion
A6 project to build two massive
A4 water tunnels under the
B1 Sacramento-San Joaquin
River Delta.
B6
The Santa Clara Valley
A6
A2
The Union Circulation: 530-273-9565
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for a 2 x 1 ad
For more information, contact:
Laci Lund
477-4208 • llund@theunion.com
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WWW.THEUNION.COM $1
Sue Hoek
announces
supes run
By Alan Riquelmy Hoek currently is the
Staff Writer only candidate who’s an-
nounced for the seat.
Sue Hoek, a small busi- “Sue is an outstanding
ness owner and rancher in individual,” Weston said.
Nevada County, said she’s “She loves this county.
never been interested in She’s well versed in all the
being what she called a issues.”
“politician.” Hoek said she doesn’t
She does, however, con- have the answers to issues
sider herself a good listen- like homelessness and
er and someone who’d be marijuana. She said the
a great supervisor. key to finding those an-
On Wednesday Hoek, swers is communication.
60, announced she’d run “I think it’s going to be
for the Nevada County a community collabora-
Board of Supervisors, tion,” she said of home-
District 4. lessness. “Not the county,
“I was born here, raised not the cities, but all of us
here,” Hoek said. “I’ve together.”
raised my family here. I Concerning marijuana,
just want to give back that Hoek said compromise is
way.” essential. She doesn’t want
Hoek will run for the the county to divide itself
seat currently held by into two sides — support-
Supervisor Hank Weston, ers and opponents — and
who’s said he won’t seek she’s spoken with people
re-election. on several sides of the is-
Weston said he antic- sue to hear their input.
ipates making a formal
endorsement in the future. HOEK, A6
SUBMITTED PHOTO
A construction crew prepares to pour concrete in the
pool at Pioneer Park Monday, part of a nearly half-
million dollar repair project that is forcing Nevada City
to take out a loan.
Hefty expenses force
city to take out loans
By Matthew Pera City staff identified “sig-
Staff Writer nificant deterioration of
the pool structure” nearly
Nevada City plans to three years ago, according
take out loans to fund two to a staff report. The repair
large expenses it incurred project is partially funded
this year, each with close by tax money as well as a
to half-million dollar price grant, but the remaining
tags: the purchase of a portion of the $429,813
property at 425 Nimrod St. price tag will be paid off
inside Pioneer Park and the in monthly installments
Pioneer Park swimming of about $3,000 on a Cer-
pool repair project. tificate of Deposit Secure
City councilmembers Loan, the report states.
agreed this month that In June, the city agreed
loans are the city’s best op- to purchase a property at
tion to fund both expenses, 425 Nimrod St., which
which they say are paying Parks and Recreation
for projects that will benefit
the city in the long term. LOANS, A6
Water District’s board voted rejected the plan, but the
7-0 Tuesday to adopt a set of huge Metropolitan Water
principles endorsing a proj- District of Southern California
ect with just one tunnel. voted to pay its share.
The San Jose Mercury The newspaper says if the
News says the vote further governor decides to pursue
throws the future of one of a smaller Delta project, it
Brown’s major construction could take years for new
priorities into doubt. environmental and engi-
Recently, the Westlands neering studies.
Water District in Fresno — Associated Press
 The Union | Thursday, October 19, 2017 | A3

LOCAL

Students welcomed back after fire

First Responders are honored
at all-school assembly at
school of the arts
Submitted to The Union

Students at Nevada City School of the

Arts got an unanticipated break last week
while the Lobo fire threatened the tran-
sitional K-8 Charter School, located on
Bitney Springs Road.
Several acres of the campus were
scorched, and were it not for the school’s
maintenance crew and first responders
from local fire departments, the buildings
would likely have been destroyed.
“I’ve been anticipating something such
as this for 15 years,” said Ian MacMil-
len, the school’s facility and maintenance PHOTO SUBMITTED BY NEVADA CITY
manager. SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
MacMillen and his wife live in a house School facilities employee Al Kirchner SUBMITTED PHOTO BY KIAL JAMES
on campus and were the first to battle the works the fire line during the Lobo Fire Nevada City School of the Arts students hold signs thanking first responders to the Lobo
fire, along with co-worker Al Kirchner. A that threatened the school. Fire during Monday morning’s gathering at the school.
fire break had been established years ago
and helped keep the flames at bay, but the for several days as hot spots continued to as representatives from the Penn Valley significant damage. Repair work began
ferocity of the winds pushed the fire be- break out. Fire Department. Also honored were Cal on Thursday and continued through the
yond the break, heading toward the school “To say that we are grateful would be Fire Dispatcher Captain Scott Eckman weekend to get the system back online.
buildings. an understatement,” said School Director and first responder Justin Martin of the Nevada City School of the Arts does not
Cal Fire air support laid retardant Holly Pettitt of her employees and the first Sheriff ’s department, in recognition of the take the October break like most other
between the hillside and the buildings, responders. “They truly are heroes and we many people involved in a crisis of this schools in Nevada County.
dozers were used to establish more break are delighted to thank them and celebrate magnitude, and Pascal Fusshoeller of Yu- “Last week was enough of a break, we
lines, hand crews and fire trucks were de- them this morning.” baNet for the tireless work of keeping the need to get our kids back into the class-
ployed and the combined efforts kept the Students, parents, faculty and staff gath- community informed. room,” said Pettitt.
fire within 100 feet of the school’s upper ered outside on Monday morning to thank Although no buildings were harmed, the
campus buildings. All responders kept vigil and honor the school’s employees as well on-site water treatment facility suffered Source: Nevada City School of the Arts

Police partner with IN BRIEF

Presentation on Gore release. Community of the

Riebes to support project

movie set for tonight This 20-minute slide Mountains, 246 South
A power point synop- show condenses Gore’s Church St. in Grass Valley.
sis of Al Gore’s recent- film, attempting to chal- There is no admission
ly released film, “An lenge viewers to face the charge, refreshments
By Liz Kellar PINK PATCH PROJECT Inconvenient Sequel: reality of global warming, will be served and all are
Staff Writer Through Oct. 31, patches are available for Truth to Power,” will be the threat it presents, and welcome. For more infor-
a $10 donation, pink hats for $25, at the presented at 7 tonight what humanity must do mation call 530-274-1519,
This October, Nevada City’s police offi- front counter of the Nevada City Police at the regular monthly to ensure the future of a or go to: www.ncclimat-
cers have been sporting touches of pink — Department, 317 Broad St., or by calling meeting of the Nevada livable planet. echangecoaltion.org
with pink T-shirts under their uniforms or Monica Barbao at 530-265-4700. County Climate Change The program is at the
highlighted pink uniform caps — to raise Coalition, according to a Unitarian Universalist Source: Rev. Don Baldwin
awareness of breast cancer. fundraiser, Barbao said.
All month long, the department also Cooper initially bought 30 of the patches,
has been selling specially designed pink so Barbao ordered another 100. After Rie-

The Art of Living

patches as part of a nationwide fundraising
project, thanks to the hard work of records
supervisor Monica Barbao.
“I’m giving Monica all the credit,” said
Police Chief Tim Foley. “She came up with
the idea and she has done a wonderful job.”
Barbao first spotted the pink patches
on Vallejo Police staff at a training session
several months ago, she said. Intrigued,
she discovered they had been designed for
their department’s Pink Patch Project, a
breast cancer awareness fundraiser where
participating police agencies across the
country sell their pink patches with all
profits going to cancer treatment, research
and education.
Barbao got the go-ahead from Foley
to run with it, designed and ordered 100
patches.
And then, she said, she realized she need-
ed to sell them. She started small, placing
them on the front counter and posting on
her personal Facebook page.
“Patch collectors started messaging me,”
Barbao said. “I sold 40 or 50 that way, just
over Facebook.”
Then Jay Cooper from Riebes Auto
Parts called and wanted to help with the
bes started an incentive-based contest for
its regional drivers involving the patches,
Barbao back-ordered another 100 patches.
Riebes then decided to host a tri-tip lun-
cheon fundraiser, with all of the proceeds
going to Barbao’s designated charity: the
Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital Founda-
tion/Barbara Schmidt Millar Fund, which
will be distributed directly to women and
men of Nevada County who are in need of
mammograms. In addition, a scholarship
established in Millar’s honor will be award-
ed to a female high school graduate of Ne-
vada County that is pursuing her education
in the healthcare field.
The luncheon, held on Wednesday at
Riebes’ Nevada City location at 535 Searls
Ave., raised more than $600, and Napa
and Riebes each donated $1,000 during
the event, Barbao said.
“It’s been more than I expected, that it
would turn into this,” Barbao said. “We’ll
definitely do it next year — it could be a
new tradition.”
To contact Staff Writer Liz Kellar,
email lkellar@theunion.com or call
530-477-4236.

Theaters raise funds for fire victims

Sierra Theaters to donate
5 percent of box office to
Salvation Army
Submitted to The Union
Sierra Theaters, which
includes Sierra Cinemas
on East Main Street, Del
Oro Theatre in downtown
Grass Valley, and Sutton
Cinemas on Sutton Way in
the Brunswick Basin will
donate 5 percent of the
weekend’s box office to Sal-
vation Army in support of
their relief efforts for those
affected by the fires locally.
The theaters are timing
this fundraiser to coincide
with the opening of the
film, Only the Brave, at
Sierra Cinemas. Only the
Brave, based on the true
story of the Granite Moun-
tain Hotshots, is the heroic
story of one unit of local
Money Monday
firefighters that through fundraiser will include all
hope, determination, sacri- the regularly scheduled
fice, and the drive to protect movies showing Friday
families, communities and through Sunday in Grass
our country become one of Valley.
the most elite firefighting For showtimes, visit www.
teams in the country. sierratheaters.com. Community-based and nonprofit, Eskaton
The film opens Friday
at Sierra Cinemas, but the Source: Sierra Theaters
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A6 | Thursday, October 19, 2017 | The Union

FROM PAGE ONE

INSURANCE jumped on it since I was the larger clean-up effort
From page A1 happy to get a good policy starts, she added.
for less than the Fair Plan Homeowners who want
limitations to it. It had thing,” Fitz said in an assistance from the county
some gaps.” email. and state in cleaning their
Dietrich said home insur- properties should contact
ance prices can change for NEXT STEPS the county’s Environmen-
a new homeowner after the The fires destroyed 22 tal Health Department at
first year. Some people will homes in Nevada County, 530-265-1222 and com-
find they can secure a better with an unknown number plete a “right of entry”
rate their second year. of structures damaged. The form to allow workers to
Fitz found that he could destruction has led about enter, Dyck said.
get a better rate once the 40 people — homeowners, The fires that raged
moratorium was lifted. renters and their family — across Northern California
On Wednesday Fitz dis- to approach Nevada Coun- this month likely will lead
cussed a one-year policy ty officials and seek help in to discussion among legis-
that covers everything the wake of the fires, said lators next year.
for $1,747, with a $1,000 Mali Dyck, interim deputy State Sen. Ted Gaines
deductible. He’ll cancel CEO, in an email. said he expects the Leg-
his other policies, get that The state Department of islature to scrutinize all
money back and end up Toxic Substances Control aspects of the fires, in-
paying about $500 more today will begin evaluating cluding insurance, when it
than the initial insurance properties in the county as reconvenes.
plan. it works to safely dispose of “I think it’s going to be
“I just immediately hazardous materials before interesting to see what
happens in the next ses-
sion,” he added.
THE DAY ON WALL STREET To contact Staff Writer

OCT.
A DAY ON 18, 2017
WALL STREET
Alan Riquelmy, email
ariquelmy@theunion.com
ELIAS FUNEZ/EFUNEZ@THEUNION.COM
The charred remains of vehicles on this McCourtney Road property are the only way to
or call 530-477-4239. identify where a home once stood.
Oct. 18, 2017
Dow Jones 23,000
industrials 22,000
21,000
HOEK Advisory Commission release states. and that we protect our core
160.16 From page A1 and the Nevada County “As a small business own- services no matter what
20,000 Resource Conservation Dis- er and rancher I understand happens to the economy.”
23,157.60
A M J J A S O Hoek has served as trict. Hoek also is a member what it takes to keep a busi-
Pct. change from previous: 0.70% High 23,172.93 Low 23,086.75 president of the Nevada of the Penn Valley Cham- ness operating,” Hoek said To contact Staff Writer
County Farm Bureau. She’s ber of Commerce, multiple in her release. “Now more Alan Riquelmy, email
Oct. 18, 2017
6,600 also served on the Neva- cattlemen’s associations than ever we need to ensure ariquelmy@theunion.com
Nasdaq da County Agricultural and Twin Cities Church, a our county is fiscally sound, or call 530-477-4239.
6,400
composite
6,200 California Lottery

0.56 6,000
6,624.22 5,800
LOTTERY www.calottery.com LOANS on a Single Family Residence
A M J J A S O
From page A1 Secured Term Loan, the re-
Pct. change from previous: 0.01% High 6,635.52 Low 6,613.55 DAILY 3 MEGA MILLIONS port states.
Oct. 18: Oct. 17: Supervisor Dawn Zydonis City councilmembers
Oct. 18, 2017 2,600
Midday: 3-1-1 31-45-49-56-70 called an “island” of land voted unanimously to fund
Standard &
Poor’s 500 2,500 Evening: 3-2-7 Mega number: 11 within Pioneer Park that the both expenses through
2,400 Jackpot: $20 million city previously didn’t own. loans.
1.90 It was the city’s long-term “I think we have to do it,”
2,561.26
2,300
DAILY 4 goal to acquire the property, said Councilmember Rein-
A M J J A S O
Oct. 18: 6-3-7-4 POWERBALL according to a staff report, ette Senum.
Pct. change from previous: 0.07% High 2,564.11 Low 2,559.67 but no plans are set in place Mayor Duane Strawser
Oct. 18:
AP yet for how the property will agreed, noting that “we have
30-49-54-66-69
COMMODITIES DAILY DERBY Powerball: 8 be used. so many people who use the
Oct. 18: Jackpot: $156 million “It’s a future conversation pool and who count on the
▼ Gold $1,280.90 ▼ Silver $16.975
1st: 06 Whirl Win
2nd: 10 Solid Gold
we’ll have to have, as far as
use,” said Interim City Man-
pool.”
“I’m personally against
3rd: 08 Gorgeous George SUPER LOTTO ager Catrina Olson. taking out loans … but
LOCAL STOCKS The city is offsetting some I don’t think we have a
Time: 1:41.20 PLUS of the $433,866 cost of the choice,” Strawser said.
Name Last Prev. Cls. Name Last Prev. Cls. Oct. 18:
AT&T 35.71 36.23 PG&E Corp. 56.44 57.44 purchase by renting the
5-10-24-33-35
Bank of America
BNP Paribas SA
26.48
67.62
26.20
66.65
Safeway Inc.
TriCounties Bank
Delisted
41.97 41.57
FANTASY 5 Mega number: 13
property to its previous own- To contact Staff Writer
Emgold Mining .02 .02 Verizon 48.65 48.40 Oct. 18: 1-12-20-25-34 ers until June, but it plans to Matthew Pera, email
Hewlett-Packard 21.72 21.55 Wells Fargo & Co. 53.41 53.19
Jackpot: $24 million pay off the rest in monthly mpera@theunion.com or
Newmont Mining 37.86 38.35 Westamer Bncp 57.90 57.55 installments of about $2,300 call 530-477-4231.

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