Sleep Train Amphitheatre’s Summer Concert Series Heats Up Yuba County

Posted 07.29.10

Veteran Country Music acts Toby Keith and Trace Adkins took the stage at Sleep Train Amphitheatre Thursday night in a hot performance.

Located in Wheatland, Yuba County’s southern most city, the Amphitheater boasts stadium outdoor seating and open-air lawn seating.

Additional concerts this season include the Vans Warped Tour 2010 on August 12, and John Mayer on August 21. For more information, visit Live Nation http://www.livenation.com/Sleep-Train-Amphitheatre-in-Wheatland-tickets-Wheatland/venue/229440

 

Event Honors High Growth Businesses, and Features Venture Capital Panel

Posted 07.01.10

A kick-off business event recognizing local innovative growth companies took place at Frank M. Booth’s corporate offices in Marysville on June 29. The event was coordinated by GROWYuba-Sutter, an organization represented by a number of public, non-profit, and private-sector organizations that recognize most job growth will be driven by existing entrepreneurial firms.

Fifty firms termed the “Fab 50” were showcased and honored during the networking event. Companies selected to participate were recognized because of their economic contributions to the regional economy. Information about the companies’ achievements was presented and a business survey will help establish the first Yuba-Sutter Growth Company Index.

In addition, local food and beverages were sampled and a panel of financial experts, including venture capitalist and private equity firms presented “Where the Money is in 2010.” To receive information about future events like this, call 530.749.7560.

 

40,000 sq ft Manufacturing Headquarters Opened

Posted 06.11.10

Officially, Placer WaterWorks has been manufacturing parts at its newly constructed business park since 2009. However, owners Karl and Sheila Kern celebrated an Open House and tour of their new facility at 1325 Furneaux Road June 11, 2010. The company has completed over 40,000 square feet of new construction in developing their Yuba County-based manufacturing and headquarters facility.

Utility providers, customers and government officials attended the company’s Open House tour and ceremony that showcased their machine shop and ability to create and customize high-quality valves, fittings and parts designed for water services and wastewater treatment plants.;

For more information about Placer WaterWorks custom manufacturing products and services, visit their website at www.placerwaterworks.com or call 530.742.9675.

 

100-Year Flood Protection Confirmed

Posted 06.01.10

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has informed the Three Rivers Levee Improvement Authority (TRLIA) and Yuba County officials, that 29 miles of levees improved by TRLIA meet FEMA’s certification criteria. As a result, FEMA will accredit the levee system as providing 100-year flood protection.

Levee accreditation by FEMA means that areas in Linda, Olivehurst, Arboga and Plumas Lake – except those affected by internal drainage issues – will not be “mapped” into a Special Flood Hazard Area when FEMA’s new Flood Insurance Rate Maps take effect in February 2011. It also means Yuba County will maintain the ability to implement its General Plan for these areas, and property owners with mortgages will not be required to purchase flood insurance.

Since 2004, more than $405 million has been invested to improve the levees, which failed catastrophically in 1986 and 1997. Of the total project cost, approximately $265 million was funded by the State through Early Implementation Program (EIP) and Proposition 13 funds. Funding was also provided by the State Department of Fish & Game, Yuba County, the Yuba County Water Agency, Reclamation District 784, and local development interests.

While FEMA only certifies levees for 100-year protection, the levees have been designed to withstand a 200-year flood event. Strong levees are the first line of defense against flooding. However, FEMA, the Department of Water Resources, Yuba County and TRLIA strongly encourage property owners to consider purchasing flood insurance as additional protection for their structures and contents.

Low-cost flood insurance is available through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (www.floodsmart.gov). For more information about TRLIA’s levee certification and accreditation, please visit its new website at www.trlia.org or contact Paul Brunner, TRLIA Executive Director, at (530) 749-7841.

 

Yuba County buying foothills park property

Posted 03.4.10

Yuba County is in escrow to buy a 90-acre campground and recreational vehicle park on Highway 20 in the foothills with plans to open it for full community access this summer.

Kevin Mallen, the county's community services and development director, said Sycamore Ranch Campground will eventually be joined with the existing Hammon Grove Park to its east in a 121-acre regional park with Yuba River access, campgrounds, picnic areas and more.

 

Yuba County Perspectives 2010

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING!

Contact on future events:  jfleming@co.yuba.ca.us

 

Crime numbers down in Yuba County

Posted 01.29.10



Crime in Yuba County dropped across the board in 2009 from a year earlier, defying the normal pattern of increased crime when the economy is bad.

Property crimes dropped by 29 percent from 2008, while violent crimes dropped by 20 percent. Overall crime reports dropped by 28 percent, according to the report released this week by the Yuba County Sheriff's Department.

In a press release, Yuba County Sheriff Steve Durfor said a number of new programs helped explain the drop, including adoption of CompStat to better track ongoing crime statistics and establishing better relationships with residents.

Though crime reports dropped in all specific categories in Yuba County last year, the most notable drops were in homicides, which went from six in 2008 to two last year, and burglaries, which went from 503 to 314.

There were also sizable drops in aggravated assaults and larceny thefts. Two other categories, vehicle thefts and forcible rapes, were down by only one or two reports last year from 2008.

Yuba County Water Agency Accepts State’s Highest Environmental Award

Posted 01.04.10

Supervisors Roger Abe and John Nicoletti bookended Governor Schwarzenegger as he presented the Yuba County Water Agency (YCWA) with the 2009 Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award for the “Lower Yuba River Accord” September 30 in Los Angeles. Conservation groups who assisted in completing the Accord, including The Bay Institute and Trout Unlimited, were also congratulated.

“This honor recognizes YCWA’s commitment to the Lower Yuba Rriver’s salmon and steelhead and to our community’s economic needs,” said YCWA Chairman Sid Muck. “We’re honored to be recognized by the Governor for our work.” The Yuba Accord established a new operational program for YCWA’s facilities, including the new Bullard’s Bar Dam and Reservoir, allowing the Agency to increase in-stream flows along 24 miles of the Lower Yuba River.

“The Lower Yuba is one of California’s signature salmon streams,” noted YCWA Director John Nicoletti. “The Yuba Accord’s fisheries provisions, including higher flows and a $6 million monitoring and evaluation program, will benefit the lower Yuba’s fisheries.” Seventeen organizations worked on the Accord to protect fish, farmers and the local economy.

 

Celebrating Enhanced Flood Protection and Promoting Flood Awareness in Yuba County

Posted 12.30.09

More than 200 people celebrated the completion of the Feather River Levee Improvements — a project designed to provide 200-year flood protection to 40,000 residents in south Yuba County — during an October 26, 2009 ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“The Upper Yuba River work is all that stands between us and the strongest flood protection in Northern California,” said Three Rivers Levee Improvement Authority Board Chair Mary Jane Griego. “This is a significant achievement of our community, and we appreciate the State’s continuing support for our program.” The Feather River Levee improvements, part of the TRLIA’s $405 million levee improvement program, includes the state’s longest setback levee at six miles in length. The 13 miles of new and improved levees along the Feather River also provide regional flood protection and environmental benefits. The State is covering nearly half of the cost of the overall program.

By 2011 TRLIA should have completed the final levee improvement phase along the Yuba River to the north-east of the Feather River setback levee. For more information, visit www.trlia.org.

 

Yuba County Family of the Year Announced

Posted 11.28.09

Maggie Walker, 51, is a vice president with the St. Isidore parents' club in addition to her job with the Salvation Army Open Door program, serving as an extraordinary minister at the Marysville church, and being a surrogate parent at Camp Singer with Bi-County Juvenile Hall.
Larry Walker, 50, works the late shift at Sunsweet Growers, allowing him to have breakfast and dinner with the girls as well as taking part in their activities. He also belongs to the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Knights of Columbus.

They adopted their three granddaughters in 2003.

 

YuCAD Announces New Members

Posted 11.05.09

• Chaussee Appraisal Service, Shelley Chaussee-Nacin, Appraiser
• Chris Cartwright, Real Estate Investor & Developer
• Coldwell Banker Commercial, Bosanek & Flores , John Taylor, Broker
• Enterprise Rancheria, Charles Banks-Altekruse, Communications Manager
• First American Title
• RE/MAX GoldMary Jane Kelley, Realtor
• Ron Dougherty, Olivehurst Public Utility District Board Member
• Single Real Estate, Billie Single, Realtor
• The Candy Box Ethel Padgett, Owner
• Yuba County Entertainment, LLC, Joe Kirklin
• Yuba County Supervisor Hal Stocker
• Yuba County Supervisor Roger Abe

Click Here for a complete list of Investors

 

Yuba Sutter Economic Development CEO Passes

Posted 11.04.09

YuCAD sends its thoughts and condolences to the family of Steve Brammer, Chief Operating Officer for the Yuba-Sutter Economic Development Corporation, who passed away this week. Steve worked tirelessly on behalf of economic development in the Yuba-Sutter community and was involved with numerous groups and projects committed to the area's growth and success. Steve and his staff were great supporters of YuCAD and the ChooseYuba.com website efforts. Services are pending.

 

Feather River levee renovation completed

Posted 10.26.09

About 200 people, many of them state and local government officials, gathered on the completed Feather River levee to mark progress aimed at avoiding such a situation, for a ceremony marked with lots of thanks, congratulations and acknowledgments for who'd gotten it done.

That the Feather River work finished about five years after TRLIA was formed, many noted, showed both how strongly local agencies had worked together and how worthwhile the project had proved to state money lenders.

"This is Yuba County's Mount Rushmore, and I think all of you have a face on it," said John Nicoletti, a Yuba County supervisor and member of TRLIA's board of directors, during the ceremony.

"It was an excellent example of solving a problem with partnerships within a community," Chrisman said. "That's so important."

That status was reaffirmed last week, when the state announced TRLIA will receive $47.5 million for levee work set for next year on the Yuba River near Linda.

 

Cotton Rosser Inducted to Rodeo Hall of Fame

Posted 10.19.09

Over the years, Cotton Rosser has received many accolades for the entertaining, colorful and patriotic rodeos put on by his Flying U Rodeo Company and this weekend, the local legend will be honored yet again when he is inducted into the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum Rodeo Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City.

"I got into the rodeo business in '56 and have been going ever since," said Rosser, who bought his ranch in 1952 before opening Cotton's Cowboy Corral, a western apparel store in Marysville, in 1955. "It's provided for my whole family. I didn't get rich, but I've lived rich and I've got to live my dream. It's been a great life."

Induction into the Hall of Fame is one of the top honors that can be bestowed on a rodeo cowboy or performers with inductees chosen annually by a vote of the Rodeo Historical Society membership. Only nine inductees will be recognized during this weekend's ceremony in Oklahoma City.

 

7-Eleven Celebrates First Grand Opening in South County

Posted 10.16.09

Eight two years after the first convenience store started in Texas as an icehouse, 7-Eleven officials celebrated its third retail operation in Yuba County at 5380 Lindhurst Avenue Saturday, September 12.

Owner Javir Rana accepted a business welcome basket from Yuba County Supervisor Mary Jane Greigo. “This is the first opening of a new 7-Eleven in the Yuba-Sutter area over the last couple of decades,” said Rana.

 

Posted 6.22.09

Business Financing Available

YSEDC has $3.2 million to lend to Yuba-Sutter businesses

Whether you need money to finance business start-up costs, supplies, marketing, wages, equipment, inventory or even building purchases, Yuba-Sutt er Economic Development Corporati on can help. Eligible borrowers include established small- and medium-sized businesses or new start-up businesses and can be corporations, partnerships or sole proprietors that are located within Yuba and Sutter counties.

"Under the program mandates, job creation at a rate of one job per $35,000 borrowed would create more than 90 jobs if we can get this money out and into the hands of the local businesses," says Steve Brammer, President and Chief Operating Officer for the corporation.""Our loan portfolio actually boasts a one-in-$10,000-job-creati on ratio which has the potential to bring the job creation number in at over 320 new jobs for the area".

In general, loans are available from $25,000 to $150,000 and based on the loan and the borrower needs, the interest rate is generally fixed at or below prime rate.

Bigger projects are considered as well and there are a number of additional programs we work closely with including the Microenterprise Training and Loan Program, Clearinghouse CDFI's CORE Loan and New Markets Tax Credit Programs and SBA 504 Loan Program.

Interested businesses must complete a Yuba-Sutter Economic Development Corporation loan application with a business plan. Additional requirements include creation of one job for every $35,000 borrowed, adequate new or existing collateral as loan security, and a commitment of new equity by the borrower (10% for existing businesses, 20% for start-ups).

For more information, please contact TRLIA Executive Director Paul Brunner at 530.749.5679.

 

Posted 5.22.09

South Yuba County Property Owners Approve Levee Maintenance Benefit Assessment

TRLIA Board to Consider Adopting Benefit Assessment District on June 2

MARYSVILLE, CA - The Three Rivers Levee Improvement Authority (TRLIA) announced today that property owners in South Yuba County have approved a benefit assessment to pay for long-term maintenance and operations on 29 miles of improved levees. Results will be officially announced at the June 2 TRLIA Board meeting, at which time the Board will consider official action to form the Benefit Assessment District.

Ballot tabulation was completed by a third-party certified public accountant on Wednesday afternoon, with results showing that 62 percent of the weighted ballots returned by property owners were in favor of the benefit assessment. In total, approximately 25 percent of the 9,288 ballots were returned.

“Given these tough economic times, the results speak volumes about our community’s commitment to public safety,” said Yuba County Supervisor Mary Jane Griego, chair of TRLIA. “We’ve been extremely aggressive in our efforts to provide the best flood protection in Northern California, and our property owners are partnering with us to accomplish that goal. We’re so appreciative of their support.”

The assessment is expected to raise approximately $800,000 in the first year, the estimated cost for Reclamation District 784 to maintain levees to strict state and federal standards. "These funds are critical to ensuring levees provide 200-year flood protection as designed, and to FEMA’s recognizing these levees on updated flood hazard maps,” said Paul Brunner, TRLIA executive director. FEMA will not include levees on flood maps unless TRLIA and RD 784 can demonstrate provisions for a standards-based maintenance program.

TRLIA is managing more than $400 million in improvements to 29 miles of levees protecting the communities of Linda, Olivehurst, and Plumas Lake. Nearly half the funding is provided by the state on the condition that levees are continuously maintained to urban standards. “In addition, we need to provide for maintenance to remain eligible for tens of millions in state funding for the final stage of work on the Yuba River," said Yuba County Supervisor and TRLIA Board Member John Nicoletti. The last of the levee improvement work is expected to be completed in 2010.

RD 784 officials were pleased with the community's show of support for ongoing levee maintenance. "We’re entering a new era in levee maintenance and operations," said Steve Fordice, RD 784 general manager. “The revenues from this assessment will be invested in the equipment, manpower, and professional expertise needed to provide urban flood protection to our communities.”

Per state law, each property’s assessment is proportional to the special benefit it receives from better, stronger flood protection. The proposed assessment district was divided into four zones, with properties grouped by similar benefit. Within each zone, benefit was determined by the risk of flooding and the expected flood damage absent levee improvements. Rates within each zone were adjusted by property type and parcel size. About 67 percent of the weighted vote was held by owners of single-family homes. Annual rates for single family residential properties range between $11 and $148.

For more information, please contact TRLIA Executive Director Paul Brunner at 530.749.5679.

Businessman, former Marine new Yuba supervisor

From the Appeal-Democrat, April 15, 2009

Andy Vasquez Jr., a small business owner and reserve Yuba County sheriff's deputy, has been named to a vacancy on the Yuba County Board of Supervisors.

Vasquez, 62, was appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to finish the term of former 1st District Supervisor Dan Logue, who vacated the seat when he was elected to the state Assembly in November.

Vasquez and Logue are from Linda, the town that constitutes much of the district.

"I'm taking office during difficult times," Vasquez said. "My main concern is that I want to bring jobs and create some opportunities for people to work."

That means working to cut through red tape for businesses, Vasquez said. But the county also has to make sure to provide adequate funding for fire and sheriff's departments, he added.

Vasquez will be sworn in before next week's supervisors meeting. The position has an annual salary of $41,180.

Once he's formally in office, Vasquez said, he plans to spend much of his time listening and learning about how the county operates.

"I have a lot to learn," he said. "As a reserve deputy, you learn there are two sides to every coin."

Until he learns more about county government, Vasquez said, he wouldn't comment on issues facing the county such as levee repair. But he did have an opinion on the proposed Enterprise Rancheria casino that would be near Wheatland.

"The voters spoke on the casino," he said of a 2005 advisory measure in which Yuba County voters opposed the project. "It's our job to represent the voters."

Vasquez said he plans to run for re-election next year to a full four-year term. Between now and then, he said, he hopes to meet everyone in Linda who he doesn't already know.

Logue, who said he backed Vasquez's bid for the spot, said he believes Vasquez will be a strong public advocate on the board.

"He cares about Yuba County, and he cares about Linda," Logue said. "The biggest issue is to learn the issues and work with the other members to move the county in the right direction."

Logue said levee repairs, water, jobs and bringing in more retail are the top issues Vasquez will face.

"My advice is to do a lot of listening," Logue said. "Listening, then talking. And put the people first."

A Republican like Logue, Vasquez has owned Andy Vasquez & Associates since 1984. The Linda-based business does repair work on shop equipment used in auto repair shops across Northern California, Vasquez said.

Vasquez was a computer programmer from 1977 to 1984, and served in Vietnam as a U.S. Marine, in which he was enlisted from 1965 to 1972.

He's also a member of the county's Juvenile Justice Commission and chairs its Methamphetamine Awareness Committee.

He credited Logue, state Sen. Sam Aanestad, R-Grass Valley, Yuba County Sheriff Steven Durfor and people who wrote the governor on his behalf for his getting the position.

At least five other people, including a former supervisor, had applied for the position, though two ultimately withdrew their names.

Statewide Award for Levee Setback Engineering

Paul Brunner, TRLIA Director, and levee setback engineering team receiving award.

Project engineer GEI Consultants, Inc. and Three Rivers Levee improvement Authority (TRLIA) accepted a Flood Control Project of the Year Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) at an awards ceremony held in Sacramento February 24, 2009. ASCE Region 9 represents over 18,000 members in four regional sections throughout California, including the metropolitan areas of San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento.

The "Project of the Year Award" was presented for the Bear River Setback Levee Project, which is being constructed along the Yuba County side of the Feather River and will greatly enhance flood protection levels.

New Pharmacy Opens in Olivehurst

A full-service Rite Aid held a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Yuba Sutter Chamber of Commerce January 22, 2009. The 17,340 square-foot pharmacy is one of the leading national drugstore chains operating more than 4,900 stores in 31 states.

The Olivehurst Rite Aid, is located at 5075 Olivehurst Boulevard.