VOLUME XLIX, NUMBER 4 Your Local News Source Since 1963 SERVING LIVERMORE • PLEASANTON • SUNOL THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2012 Changing Weather Makes Cattle Business a Gamble Even as storm clouds gathered the rain return, or will the rest of In a typical year, Banke man- cattle are healthy and have ad- The herds typically consist of last week following two of the the winter be dry? ages 240-360 steers in pastures equate food during the winter yearling steers called stockers driest months in memory, lo- Some ranchers, like Liver- at the southeast end of Del Valle. months. Like most ranchers, that are weaned and can fend cal cattle ranchers were trying more’s Paul Banke, made the This year, the herd belongs to Banke is a good amateur vet- for themselves. If they arrive to evaluate the business con- decision to ship some cattle out Monson Ranches of eastern erinarian. “Eighty percent of the in November, the year turns wet sequences of the lack of grass to make room for others. Some, Washington State. Last week, problems I see, I know what to and the grass grows tall, it is rea- caused by the drought. like San Ramon's Jeff Nielsen, because of the lack of grass, he do,” he says. Being competent sonable to expect a gain of 300 This week, there seemed to be were postponing the decision a sent off 100 head to a small feed- also means knowing when to pounds or more per head by the as many questions as answers. little longer. “If it gets dry again, lot in Winnemucca, Nev., to make call in a professional vet, which time they are ready for shipping Winter grass is vital for cattle we’ll have to send some away,” room for 173 that remained. he does when necessary. But he to a processing center in spring. to gain weight. A skinny cow he said. He also has cattle of his own, runs a business, and if he can Shipping off 100 head in Find Out What's brings little return. The inch Banke is a third generation 280 cow-calf pairs that he hopes keep the cattle healthy at no cost January means taking a loss, at Happening or two of rain that fell over the rancher who raises his own cattle to build up to perhaps 350 pairs by his own efforts, he does. least on those. Despite the recent Check out the weekend will start the grass and manages herds for others. if the rain returns. In managing herds that be- rain, there is no guarantee that the growing again, but how much Hikers at Del Valle Regional Park Managing herds for distant long to others, Banke receives rest of the winter will be much second section and how fast? Once started, will often see his managed herds. owners means making sure the payment based on weight gain. (See CATTLE, page 12) Section II is filled with infor- mation about arts, entertainment and special events. There are education stories, a variety of features, and the arts and enter- Livermore tainment and bulletin board. School Board Planning Begins To Bring Back Selects New The 4th of July Trustee Festivities The Livermore Valley A group of volunteers has Joint Unified School District begun the effort to bring back (LVJUSD) Board of Trustees ap- Livermore’s 4th of July fire- pointed Belia Martinez as Trustee works. after public interviews of seven The 2011 fireworks were prospective candidates were held canceled due to budget shortfalls on Saturday, January 21, 2012. for both the City of Livermore The open seat was created and LARPD. The goal is to when Stewart Gary was elected bring back the event this year. to the Livermore City Council in Decisions would need to be November. The new trustee was made quickly in order to reserve installed at the January 24, 2012 the fireworks by the March 31 Board of Education meeting and deadline. Half the cost of the will serve through December fireworks would have to be paid 2012, when Gary’s term would at that time. have ended. The City of Livermore and Martinez brings with her Livermore Area Recreation and a broad range of experience. Park District (LARPD) hosted a Photo - Doug Jorgensen Raised in south Texas in an un- session last Wednesday to gauge The brown hills caused by dry weather have raised concerns among cattle ranchers in the area. the level of interest in holding derprivileged background, she the annual fireworks show. Last recognized the importance of night, Jan. 25, the volunteers met a formal education and the op- to discuss options. portunities it would present for At the first meeting, Assistant CalTrans to Start Over on a 2nd Niles Canyon Area's EIR her future. After graduating from City Manager Troy Brown and By Ron McNicoll dered in November by a judge the east end near Sunol, might not the standard 3:1 ratio of new high school, she enlisted in the LARPD Assistant General Man- CalTrans will start all over to settle with critics. have the environmental review habitat to replace lost habitat. United States Army. Her first tour ager John Lawrence provided again on its Niles Canyon road It was not until Jan. 19 at process restarted, said Jeff Miller, Gregory Townsend, a spokesman was in Korea, followed by Wash- input on what the task would improvement project's EIR for a meeting with stakeholders director of the Alameda Creek for CalTrans, said that he could ington State where she served her entail. Phase 2, adding it to the previ- in Oakland that CalTrans an- Alliance (ACA). not confirm that. country and earned financial as- Lawrence said, “We believe ously announced fresh start it nounced it will begin the EIR Miller also said that CalTrans Miller and others oppose the sistance for a college education. this is something that can happen. will take for the phase 1 EIR. process over again on phase 2, is trying to obtain a favorable bridge project's design, claiming Returning to Texas, she enrolled The consensus is that people re- CalTrans agreed about a as well. change from the U.S. Fish & that the road will be straightened at Texas Woman’s University and ally want to see fireworks.” month ago to start over on its However, phase 3, which is Wildlife Service. CalTrans would out so much that it will encourage received a Bachelor’s Degree in Key factors identified were phase 1 project, after being or- the reconstruction of a bridge at like a lower mitigation rate than (See CALTRANS, page 12) Business with a concentration in the need for a solid community Finance. Following graduation, based structure to provide ongo- she worked as an Account Man- ing support in the form of fund- ager for Consolidated Freight raising, a clear understanding of Zone 7 Freezes Flood Control Fee, Approves Funds To Study It Way, Project Manager for Veri- the type of event to be held, the zon and Information Technology cost, and a venue. As expected, Zone 7 Water spoke at the public hearing. The oppose it. On long term goals about any Lawrence talked about LAR- Agency directors have frozen board also discussed the item at Livermore city engineer Cheri future rise in the fee, Sheets said, Recruiter for Source EDP, and PD’s cost. Based on previous 4th the flood control fee this year at its December meeting. Sheets had in mind encouraging "We want it to reflect what we are a Real Estate Agent for Wind- of July celebrations, continuation $1 per square foot of covered, The Valley cities in which more development when she told paying for." ermere. of the event would require a impermeable surface. developers deal with the flood the Independent, "We are pleased Zone 7 adopted a long-term In her many years as a Liver- $45,750 subsidy. Total expenses The board acted unanimously control fee were all aware of the that the fee is not going up this Stream Management Master more resident, she has immersed are $75,750. However, revenue at its meeting on Jan. 18. No one proposed fee freeze, and did not year. It will help." (See ZONE 7, page 4) (See TRUSTEE, page 12) is provided by parking, sales, admission, and vendors. He said that volunteers may be able to produce the event at a Fewer Resources Available lower costs. Brown said that city staff had To Deal with Growing brainstormed and reduced the cost to the city from $53,071 to $7,970. This was accomplished Human Services Needs by assigning the celebration as a Valley communities will use a training day for police personnel, in services. It provides us with reducing the cost for the depart- report on human services needs an idea of where to focus limited ment from $24,607 to $3000. The assessment to target funding to funds." city eliminated a $7500 grant to produce the greatest impact. The good news, according LARPD. Public works labor, Both the Livermore and to Prasher, is that income and estimated at 145 hours at a cost Pleasanton city councils heard a employment rates are higher in of $16,000, was eliminated by summary of the report at meet- this area than the rest of Alameda taking hours from other jobs the ings this week. County. Linguistic isolation, par- employees undertake, such as The study was a collaboration ticularly among Spanish speak- trimming trees. among Livermore, Pleasanton ers, is decreasing. However, the The venue would also have to and Dublin. It analyzed systems, isolation of Pacific islanders be determined.