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TheSATURDAY, JULY 18, 2015Inyo | INYOREGISTER.COM | SERVING THERegister EASTERN SIERRA AND BEYOND SINCE 1870 | 75¢ Eastside mourns James Wilson Entrepreneur, activist, community supporter dies at 67
By Darcy Ellis Managing Editor
The thoughtful and unassuming aren’t generally known for making the history books, nor are they usually the ones whose exploits become legacy. James Wilson is a notable exception – a man whose name may forever be synonymous with both Eastside recreation and conservation efforts, simply because he followed his passions, stuck to his principles and saw the wisdom in thinking ahead. Thus it was a huge, collective loss and crushing blow when Wilson died Wednesday at Renown Hospital in Reno. He had suffered a stroke over the weekend and never regained con- sciousness. The longtime Bishop resident and former business owner leaves behind his beloved wife, Kay, daughter, Roseanne, son-in-law, Bay, and grandson, Ansel. He was 67. At the time of his death, Wilson was a member of the Rotary Club of Bishop, where he was chairman of the International Service Committee; the Eastern Sierra chapter of the Audubon Society, which he helped found in 1983; and a board member of Friends of the Inyo, which he co-founded in 1986. Wilson was a former longtime member of the California Wilderness Coalition and past member of the Bishop Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Eulogies honoring Wilson and his contributions to the mountain sports culture, economy and environmental health of the Eastside are widespread in the wake of his death, and the grief being expressed is profound. His passing comes not just as a shock to the close-knit Eastside community, but a punch in the gut; Wilson was a friend, mentor and role model to many who admire him for his honesty, loyalty, generosity, steadfastness, sly humor and grace. “James was my brother in every sense of the word other than by blood,” said decades’ long friend and confidante Barbara Kelley, who also worked with Wilson on the Friends of the Inyo board. “He’s everything good anyone can say about James Wilson (l), a co-founder of Friends of the Inyo, mingles with tion to being longtime friends, Wilson, Vocelka and Kelley helped him.” good friend Barbara Kelley and her husband Derrick Vocelka at the form the Eastern Sierra Friends of Machik in 2005. See WILSON Page 8 2014 open house of FOI’s offices on Barlow Lane in Bishop. In addi- Photo by Mike Gervais NIH warned about liability Residents balk at District CEO says law in this matter do you understand what will happen proposed 15-home union is out for next?” Dr. Eric Richman asked during a board meeting at the money, not the Tallman Pavilion at the Tri- care for County Fairgrounds. “This development issue will go to arbitration. In community other words, you and your Homes would be od for the proposed project expensive CEO (Victoria will now end on Aug. 15. By Terrance Vestal Alexander-Lane) will have no built on 2.75 “Comments will be Associate Editor say in the outcome. That reviewed and where appropri- could potentially be very acres where ate, incorporated into the A local doctor said expensive – and that would Bishop Nursery document,” Planning Director Wednesday that if Northern not be the fault of the union, Gary Schley said. A second Inyo Hospital’s administra- but this board’s inability to currently sits public hearing for the project tion continues to drag its negotiate.” will be held during the Aug. heels on important negotiat- Registered nurses, nurse By Kristina Blüm 10 council meeting. The ini- ing points with the nurses’ practitioners and physician Register Correspondent tial environmental evaluation union, it could lead to a cost- assistants at NIH organized a will be voted upon during the ly outcome even as the union as part of the American During Monday’s meeting council’s Aug. 24 meeting. administration hopes to pay Federation of State, County, of the Bishop City Council, The tract map would then go down the entity’s expenses. and Municipal Employees, Denise Hayden, Victoria Alexander-Lane, residents of Rome Drive and to the Planning Commission, “If you continue to ignore which was certified by the NIH Board of Directors Northern Inyo Hospital Home Street, as well as a cur- tentatively scheduled for Aug. your responsibility and the state of California in March. Vice President CEO rent employee of the Bishop 25. Since February, the move Nursery, spoke in protest of John Carlson has been a to form the union and policy Tentative Tract Map 250. Rome Drive property owner INDEX changes at the hospital have Known as the Kingston for 35 years. He said, “We Calendar ...... 12 Mtn. Report .... 15 led to some heated board Subdivision, this project never received any notifica- Classifieds ...... 16 Obituaries ...... 2 meetings. would include the removal of tion about the project. There Faces ...... 9 TV Listings...... 12 In an apparent move to the Bishop Nursery facility was something posted on the History ...... 14 Weather ...... 2 head off any heated confron- and construction of 15 new street sign next to the lost cat tations at Wednesday’s meet- homes on what is now the sign. Why weren’t we noti- QUOTE OF THE DAY ing, board Vice President nursery property. fied?” Carlson went on to Denise Hayden, who chaired Due to the public’s question the proposed proj- “From what we the meeting in board response, the city has extend- ect’s 36-foot-wide street. President MC Hubbard’s ed the public comment peri- “This street looks like it get, we can make absence, told members of the od, which was scheduled to would be problematic for a living; what we public in the audience “this is close Monday. Mayor Pat emergency vehicles or park- not a town hall meeting.” Gardner said, “After recom- ing,” he said. give, however, “This is a business meet- mendations from city staff, Terry Tye, another resi- makes a life” ing,” Hayden said. “We want we are extending the public dent of Rome Drive, brought to hear from you but we can’t comment period for another a 2.5-page long statement on – Arthur Ashe respond to your concerns.” 30 days, to allow more time behalf of himself and his Those who spoke during for public comment, to allow neighbors, raising concerns Copyright ©2015 the public comment period of people to contact city staff about the project’s impact on Horizon Publications, Inc. the meeting would be held to Dr. Eric Richman, Randy Short, and ask questions and get the environment and the lives Vol. 145, Issue 86 See NIH Page 5 Private Citizen Private Citizen answers.” The comment peri- See PROJECT Page 3 The Inyo Register
OPINIONSATURDAY, JULY 18, 2015 4 RENA MLODECKI Publisher | DARCY ELLIS Editor Political cartoons published in this newspaper – as with letters to the editor and op-eds – do not necessarily reflect the opinions of The Inyo Register, its employ- under the Act of March 3, 1876. Combining Inyo Register, founded 1883; Inyo Independent and Owens Valley Progress-Citizen, founded 1870; and the Sierra Daily News. ees or its parent company. These cartoons are merely intended to present food-for-thought in a different medium. The Inyo Register (ISSN 1095-5089) Published All contents are the property of Horizon California Publications Inc. and cannot be reproduced in any way without the written consent of publisher. Postmaster: Send tri-weekly by Horizon California Publications Inc., 1180 N. Main Street, Ste. 108, Bishop, CA 93514. Entered as a Paid Periodical at the office of Bishop, California 93514, address changes to The Inyo Register, 1180 N. Main Street, Ste. 108, Bishop, CA 93514. Phone (760) 873-3535. Fax (760) 873-3591
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