NevCo News

I've mentioned it, before. Our newspaper, The Union, isn't about global news. Or national news. Or even California news. There's a bit of all that, on page 6 (today, it's the AP article about Mr. Spitzer). But, it's OK. We have other sources for that fluff. The Union's all about Nevada County, as it should be. And where else could we get that?

I love The Union. It's been given a facelift, this week. New colors ("spectacular", like our "surrounding geography"); an "industry standard"-sized page (1/2" narrower--finally!); new section names ("Flavor", instead of the confusing "Food and Wine"), etc. I like the changes. Unfortunately, it appears we've got the same writers.

Today, the front page is all about a production crew working here in Grass Valley/Nevada City this week to shoot a few commercials for Sony. Seven, in fact. Big stuff! And the crew of 75 is staying at the local Holiday Inn Express. And spending a lot of money, apparently. On food, trinkets and wine, says the article. "Trinkets"? Can't we sell something a bit more, uh, dignified? Come to Gold Country to stock up on your trinkets! Who could resist?! Anyway, with camera crews around every corner, I'll bet we'll all be just a little better groomed before we head off for the Safeway.

Last weekend, Grass Valley celebrated St. Piran's Day (somehow, they managed without us, since we were in SF, at the time). St. Piran is the patron saint of tin miners (as if you didn't know), who came from Cornwall, England, during the Gold Rush to help dig up the gold. The event reaches a screaming climax with the Cornish pasty toss. A pasty (short "a", please!) is a meat/potato pastry. Or, in this case, a dog-food pastry. Yup, they make 'em out of dog food for the toss to make clean-up just a matter of letting the dogs out (hoo, hoohoo, hoohoo!).

Speaking of dogs, the big event for next weekend will be that Gibson, the World's Tallest Dog (as officially certified by You Know Who) will be the subject of a British film as he's walking (or, being walked) around town. Locals (like us) are encouraged to come join the fun as extras. Gibson lives here (presumably with humans of some kind) in Grass Valley and is almost 43" tall, at the shoulder. He's a harlequin Great Dane, and I've seen him, gadding about downtown. I said to myself, at the time, "yikes!--that's a big dog!!", though I had no idea that he was the actual factual World's Tallest Dog. Now, I know. He's been on more TV shows in more countries than, well, most dogs, has his paw prints in cement on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and has a new book out called, "Gibson Speaks", a children's book about his adventures. "Adventures"? Perhaps he's also explored Antarctica. Wouldn't surprise me. Guess I should've fed Wylie more. Here's a link to Gibson's website (of course!) his blog (naturally!) and store (right). http://gibsondog.com/

We'll wrap this up with a few (you knew it!) Blotter Bits from the last week.

"10:37 a.m.--A caller reported losing a diabetic testing machine somewhere in Nevada County" [I guess we can be grateful it wasn't a contact lens]

"7:42 a.m.--A caller reported a boy was skateboarding down the middle of Hughes Road." [Alert Homeland Security!]

[taken together:]
"9:53 a.m.--A caller from the 15000 block of Pleasant Valley Road reported the theft of a gate opener."
"2:06 p.m.--A caller from the 16000 block of Pleasant Valley Road reported the theft of a gate opener." [Someone needs to alert the folks on the 17000 block]

"9:08 a.m.--A caller from the 17000 block of Highway 20 reported being blackmailed by a county department." [How else is a county department supposed to raise revenue in light of all the budget cuts?!!]

"6:07 p.m.--A woman in the police station lobby reported her neighbor on Juan Way was terrorizing her. The neighbor shot a "wrist rocket" onto the woman's windshield, damaging it. The "terrorism" was an ongoing issue. Police contacted the woman and determined there was no crime." [Perhaps Homeland Security should just move their headquarters to Grass Valley]

"12:01 a.m.--A caller reported a man on East Main Street was walking in the roadway, shouting and scaring people. Police contacted the man, who was fine." [A matter of opinion, apparently]

"10:36 p.m.--Police arrested a 20-year-old man on South Auburn Street at Winchester Street on a local warrant. The man asked for police to drop off his personal bag to a 43-year-old man at a motel up the street. Police arrested the 43-year-old man on a local warrant." [what are friends for?]