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TODAy’s WEATHER The rich history of the Pine Creek tungsten mine See page 14 Partly Cloudy 59° HI | 30° LO SUnday monday 57° | 28° 48° | 24° The best of times See page 19 The Inyo Register SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2019 | INYOREGISTER.COM | SERVING THE EASTERN SIERRA AND BEYOND SINCE 1870 | 75¢ Employees feel negative impacts of federal shutdown Roughly 300 federal jobs are located in Inyo County By Jon Klusmire Register Correspondent As the partial federal gov- ernment shutdown nears the one month mark, Inyo County’s corps of federal employees are feeling the pinch of going without pay- checks and are also con- cerned about the daunting task of making up a month’s worth of missed work. A number of local federal employees recently revealed their concerns for their own financial situation and the potential longer term impacts of not being able to handle the routine, daily tasks criti- cal to the operation of the various federal agencies that are closed due to the shut- down. With the federal gov- ernment owning and manag- ing 92 percent of 10,000 square miles that make up Inyo County, even those rou- tine responsibilities can have a huge impact on the local area and its tourism-based Volunteerism unaffected by furlough economy. Another impact involves the private sector partners of Yaney MacIver, a furloughed Forest Service employee, works at preparing a salad for eral employees volunteered to prepare and serve Friday’s lunch. local federal agencies which lunch service Friday at the Soup Kitchen. MacIver, along with other furloughed fed- Photo by Mike Chacanaca have also been locked out of their jobs. While federal employees will see back pay once the government reopens, the private sector Donations help re-open federal visitor centers employees will not. The impact of lost federal pay- their non-profit partners have Block 14 exhibits. Those visi- maneuvered existing funding generous contributions of checks on the local economy Non-profits, found ways to partially re- tor centers will be open over so it can reopen some previ- park partners who have pro- might be more subtle as private business open visitor centers in the the Martin Luther King Day ously closed parts of the vided support during the those employees delay pur- Eastern Sierra and Death three-day weekend, and the sprawling park. lapse in appropriations,” said chases, cut back on dining contribute to Valley. next weekend. Also, the privately owned Death Valley National Park out and entertainment, and keep centers The non-profit, Bishop- In Death Valley National resorts, hotels, campgrounds Superintendent Mike curtail day-to-day spending. based Eastern Sierra Park, the Furnace Creek and other facilities at Furnace Reynolds in a press release. As the shutdown contin- staffed Interpretive Association Visitor Center has been open Creek -- the Oasis at Death “Their efforts have contribut- ues, those larger impacts will announced that it will use its for some time, thanks to the Valley and the Ranch at ed significantly to our ability likely become more apparent By Jon Klusmire resources to reopen the donations from the Death Death Valley -- and the to maintain access and limit- since federal employees are Register Correspondent Mammoth Lakes Welcome Valley Natural History Panamint Springs Resort and ed services to Death Valley some of the higher paid Center, the Eastern Sierra Association, the non-profit the Stovepipe Wells Resort National Park.” workers in Inyo County. Working around the feder- Interagency Visitor Center organization that operates are also open and serving vis- The impact on local com- Statistics from the California al government’s shutdown, south of Lone Pine, and the the visitor centers in the park. itors. munities and workers of the Employment Development several federal agencies and Manzanar Visitor Center and The Park Service has also “We greatly appreciate the See DONATIONS E Page 3 Department note that in 2018 the federal payroll in Inyo County is about $4.4 million. The state reports that there are roughly 300 federal jobs Death Valley National County departments in Inyo County. Those federal jobs pay substantially more than the average private sec- offering online tor job throughout Inyo Park to restore County. The average federal salary was about $1,200 a payment options week in 2018, compared to the average weekly pay for accessibility Road - Filming Permit private sector workers of Credit, debit Road - Grading Permit $721 a week. Dantes View, – Dantes View, Artists able to restore accessibility to cards and Echeck Road - Wide Load Permit “I’m doing a lot better than Drive, Natural Bridge, the park. Special Events Permit a lot of my co-workers,” sev- Mesquite Sand Harmony Borax Works and Through generous dona- being accepted Inyo County Water eral of whom are “dual- Mustard Canyon, Salt Creek, tions from the Death Valley for variety of Systems: income couples” who both Dunes among Keane Wonder Mine, Mesquite Natural History Association, Water billing/invoice work for closed federal agen- areas visitors will Sand Dunes, and Historic the Furnace Creek Visitor fees, services Inyo County Easter Sierra cies, and have children, mort- Stovepipe Wells Roads. Center will remain open. Museum: gages and other expenses be able to access Because of the distances Entrance fees and camping Register Staff Donations that cannot be put off, said a and complexities involved fees will not be collected and Memberships federal employee who, like all Register Staff and unknown nature of all ranger programs will not be Several Inyo County In addition to the above See SHUTDOWN E Page 3 Death Valley National Park issues, the opening of these offered. Departments are now offer- mentioned County announced today that some sites may take a week or lon- The National Park Service ing a convenient online cred- Departments accepting cred- INDEX recently closed areas of the ger. Scotty’s Castle remains cares for special places saved it/debit card and Echeck pay- it/debit card and Echeck pay- park will once again be acces- closed due to flood damage. by the American people so ment options to the public. ments, the public can also Calendar ..........10 History ..............14 sible to visitors in the coming Mosaic Canyon Road remains that all may experience our Available now, the following make online payments for a Classifieds ........12 Mtn. Rpt ...........19 days. Some visitor services, closed in association with heritage. services and fees can be paid variety of services and fees Faces .................17 TV Listings.........10 including campgrounds and water utility work for “We greatly appreciate the for at the Inyo County web- for Environmental Health, Features ...........18 Weather ............. 2 the Stovepipe Wells Contact Stovepipe Wells Village. generous contributions of site, or through this link: Probation, and the Treasurer/ Station, will also reopen using Upper and Lower Wildrose park partners who have pro- https://www.inyocounty.us/ Tax Collector. QUOTE OF THE DAY revenue generated by recre- Roads are closed due to snow vided support during the OnlinePayments/ Most major credit/debit “Thousands of geniuses ation fees. Visitors should go and ice. lapse in appropriations,” said I n y o C o u n t y S h e r i f f : cards are accepted including live and die undiscovered - to the park website at nps. National Park Service offi- park superintendent Dog licensing fees Visa, Mastercard, Discover either by themselves or by gov/deva while planning their cials have determined that by Reynolds. “Their efforts have Inyo County Public Works: and American Express, and others.’” trip to get the latest informa- using Federal Land and contributed significantly to Building/Safety - Building E-checks. tion on accessibility and avail- Recreation Enhancement our ability to maintain access Permit “I am hopeful that the – Mark Twain able services. funds to immediately bring and limited services to Death Building Safety - Grading public will find convenience Areas that have been back park maintenance crews Valley National Park.” Permit and ease in the online pay- Copyright ©2019 recently closed but that are to clean restrooms, remove For updates on the shut- Facility Rental Agreement ment feature,” stated Inyo Horizon Publications, Inc. or will be accessible to park trash, and remove health and down, please visit www.doi. Road - Encroachment County Treasurer Alisha Vol. 149, Issue 9 visitors include: safety risks park staff will be gov/shutdown. Permit McMurtrie. 2 SATURDAY, JANUARY 19, 2019 The Inyo Register LOTTO Daily 3 Fantasy 5 Lucky Star. Winning race Wednesday’s midday Wednesday’s picks: time was 1:44.65. picks: 3, 7, 9, 32, 35 5, 7, 9 Thursday’s picks: SuperLotto Plus Wednesday’s evening 22, 24, 30, 33, 38 Numbers for Wednesday, picks: Jan. 16: 0, 3, 6 Daily Derby 1, 22, 34, 37, 44 27 Thursday’s midday picks: Wednesday’s picks: First 4, 6, 8 Powerball place No. 11 Money Bags; Numbers for Wednesday, Thursday’s evening picks: second place No. 9 Winning 0, 7, 8 Jan. 16: Spirit; third place No. 12 14, 29, 31, 56, 61 1 Lucky Charms. Winning race Daily 4 time was 1:48.58. For additional updates, call Wednesday’s picks: Thursday’s picks: First (900) 776-4000 from a touch- 5, 7, 8, 9 place No. 9 Winning Spirit; tone phone. This is a toll call. Or, Thursday’s picks: second place No. 8 Gorgeous visit www.calottery.com on the 1, 2, 3, 7 George; third place No. 2 Internet. SENIOR CENTER MENU The Bishop Senior Center serves up hot lunches Monday through Friday except for holidays. File photo Following is the menu provided by the kitchens at senior centers in Bishop and Lone Pine, as well as the Meals on Wheels program (weekends excluded).