the PHOTO COURTESY OF FRANK FRIEVALT Debbie Frievalt with her father, Jerry Finley, at a 4th of July picnic, News,sheet Views & Culture of the Eastern Sierra showing off her famous “Strawberry Pop Cake.” See Frievalt’s obituary, p. 4. Saturday, May 6, 2017 FREE Vol. 15, No. 18 A GRAVE AFFAIR Dying to know more about Lone Pine’s cemeteries? CARS IN BLOOM By Giles he Town of Lone Pine four cemeteries. It’s more is a small place. When laborious than collecting TMount Whitney Cem- census data about the exist- etery District Director Linda ing population—there’s more Haun moved there from information to catalogue. Orange County in the early Haun is a published author 2000s, a neighbor offered a of five novels of historical few pithy words of advice: non-fiction, all based in the “Don’t even kick a dog,” it Eastern Sierra. She is also a could belong to someone you photographer, and used to know. travel to the Owens Valley According to the 2015 cen- for work before relocating to sus, Lone Pine has a popula- Lone Pine. She became fasci- tion of 1,923 people. Since nated with the local cemeter- being hired as the Manager of ies while doing research for the Mount Whitney Cemetery her first book, “Dear Carrie: District ten years ago, Haun Letters from the Eastern has partnered with staff, lo- Sierra 1878-1899.” cal businesses, visitors and “Back in about 2003, I historians to catalogue and was using names of people computerize information in the Pioneer Cemetery in about the more than 2,000 PHOTO:SEARLES people interred in Lone Pine’s see GRAVE, page 12 As the snow melts, cars are in bloom all around Mammoth. Mammoth Lakes Police Department red- tagged sixty vehicles this week and gave them 72 hour notice before they will be towed. I NEED A BOND-AID MLR Recommends financing the MUF using a bond. By Giles t Tuesday’s Mammoth At Tuesday’s meeting, Trails Department funding Lakes Recreation members of the Board of $500,000, ongoing mainte- A(MLR) Board meet- (excepting Mayor Shields nance and operations costs ing, Board members voted to Richardson, who abstained) for the new facilities, and recommend that Mammoth’s voted 5-0 to recommend funding for existing program- Town Council initiate a $5 financing several priority ming. million bond to finance the projects in phases over the Town Finance Director Rob construction of a new Multi- next ten years by leverag- Patterson told Board mem- Use Facility (MUF) at Mam- ing nearly all of the existing bers that interest rates are moth Creek Park West. Measure R and U reserve currently at 3.5 percent. The Board deliberated for funds in a bond. The Board This plan still leaves a $1.5 two and a half hours over the recommended that $2.5 mil- to $2 million funding gap. comments made in the Envi- lion in one-time capital be There was some disagree- ronmental Impact Statement allocated to the construction ment among Board members (EIS), published on April 25. of the Mammoth Arts and about whether or not a re- Forty five negative comments Cultural Center (MACC), and quest could be made to Town were lodged in the EIS. Only that $9.5 million be allocated Council for General Fund one member of the public to finance the construction of dollars to cover it. spoke in favor of the “value- the MUF. The MLR Board is cur- engineered” $9 million proj- Of those funds, $5 million rently reviewing applicants to ect, which, if Town Council would come from bonds, to replace founding Executive approves a bond, would lock be paid back over ten years Director Rich Boccia. Accord- up all but $448,780 (per year) with annual debt payments ing to Board President Tom in Measure R and U funds for of $601,207 from Measure R. Johnson, fundraising acumen other things. This funding scenario in- is a primary focus of that Measures R and U generate cluded funding for a $50,000 candidate search and many approximately $1.25 million PHOTO: GILES Feasibility Study regarding of the applicants currently annually. Flowers placed on a settler’s grave at Lone Pine’s Pioneer Cemetery. an Aquatic Center, one-time see BOND, page 7 In the cheap seats Steal from the rich? Heavy metal The Boys in Blue Nice catch! /p. 9/ /p. 5/ /p. 6/ /p. 10/ /p. 13/ 2 I www.thesheetnews.com THE SHEET I Saturday, May 6, 2017 the Ted Carleton ....... Jack of all Lunches IN SEARCH OF... A PHOTOGRAPHER 760.937.4613 / [email protected] There was a point at Wednesday night’s Mammoth Lakes Town Council June Simpkins... meeting where Council approved a proclamation declaring May 7-13 as Jack of everything else Public Service Recognition Week. So everyone got up to take a picture, and 760.937.3967 / [email protected] seeing as I was the only non-public employee in the room, they asked me to sheet Mike Bodine ..................Writer take it. News, Views & Culture of the Eastern Sierra [email protected] When you’ve got one member of the public in the room prior to key agenda items regarding three budget-related items, it gives one some pause. “Ritatem brunneis illud, quod ea melius Sarah Rea .....................Writer Here’s what you missed. agere.” [email protected] The Town budgeted for $11.5 million in Transient Occupancy tax revenue -Danny DeVito as Frank Reynolds this fiscal year (2016-2017). It looks like the actual number will come in at a Charles James .............Contributor staggering $5 million over budget. 760.614.0546 JACK LUNCH Some highlights regarding where that surplus will go. Clouds McCloud ......... Increased expenditures related to snow removal, overtime, damage to PUBLISHER Ass-trologer equipment and infrastructure, etc. will consume about $600,000 of the sur- P.O. Box 8088 Abagael Giles .................Writer plus funds. To wit: Public Works Director Grady Dutton estimates the Town Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546 [email protected] will have to purchase 1,000 new snow poles this year (in a normal year the 760.924.0048 town would replace 300-400). They cost $39 apiece. /[email protected] An adjudicated paper of general circula- The Town plans to invest another $900,000 in road, infrastructure, and For a subscription to The Sheet contact drainage improvements. tion. ©2017 The Sheet, all rights reserved. Lunch at his above e-mail address, or call the The tentative plan is to set aside $1.2 million for capital improvements office. Issues are mailed out bi-weekly. Cost www.thesheetnews.com and an increase in reserves. Additionally, the reserve fund, which Coun- Check out for is $65/year. cilman Fernie noted at one point had dropped below $500,000, will now more content, daily updates and free online exceed $4 million. classifieds. $1 million of the surplus will go non-governmenal organizations like public works/parks position and the other a police sergeant. Mammoth Lakes Tourism which are awarded a percentage of the Town’s A new police sergeant, FYI, costs approximately $177,000 per year in salary TOT. and benefits. Public safety is not cheap. MLT alone will reap a $750,000 windfall. ----- According to the minutes from MLT’s March meeting, the organization I suppose while we’re at it we should give you an update on consultant already has in excess of $5 million cash on hand. spending over just the past seven weeks since our last update in the March Councilman Wentworth noted that he and Fernie are serving on a sub- 18 issue. committee which is reviewing the history of how the town finances transit, housing and marketing. The subcommittee is expected to make recommen- Reinard Brandley (airport) $41,250 dations regarding the possible reallocation or recalibration of funding for HMC Architects (various) $24,020 these categories. Alta (Walk, Bike, Ride) $15,200 For example, housing is supposed to receive a percentage point of TOT Michael Baker (MUF, Hillside CEQAs) $23,895 but hasn’t received anything close to that in recent years. Meanwhile, MLT Dinsmore (Downtown) $34,413 has so much money coming in that it literally can’t spend it all. PCR (FAR analysis) $10,540 Looking ahead, the proposed budget for 2017-2018 will use $12.5 million as the baseline revenue assumption for TOT. The Town plans to hire two new employees for next year, one a hybrid see EDITORIAL, page 9 #5 FELICI PIANO TRIO 2016-17 CONCERTS Mountain Sports Specialists Since 1977 The Felici Trio MayPlay It is a happy talent to know how to play! (Ralph Waldo Emerson) SATURDAY @ 7:30 pm May 6, 2017 Cerro Coso College, Mammoth Lakes SUNDAY @ 4:00 pm May 7, 2017 Cerro Coso College, Bishop e Eastern Sierra’s Friendly and Knowledgeable Climbing Shop We stock a large selection of supplies for all your climbing, hiking, and outdoor adventures. ! ! ! Hike Climb Run Camp Rentals are available including tents, packs, sleeping bags, bouldering pads and climbing shoes. Open 7 days a week including holidays Tickets are available online at 224 North Main St., Bishop, CA 93514 ChamberMusicUnbound.org Eastsidesports.com, [email protected] or at the Booky Joint, the Inyo Council for the Arts, and at the door on concert nights 760-873-7520 Full Page TBD Per Ted 4 I LOCAL NEWS www.thesheetnews.com THE SHEET I Saturday, May 6, 2017 OBITUARY DEBBIE FRIEVALT 1964-2017 n Tuesday morning, they gath- Another past supervisor from her the hill, so she sent her down to lend a ered at the Mammoth Lakes Fire early firefighting days, former Mam- hand at the DSES Thrift Shop located OStation.