SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS: Last year, Congress
reauthorized a new form of the Secure Schools program. There will be declining federal
payments for the years 2008-2011 to replace lost 25 percent timber receipt revenue from
National Forest harvest that used to be split between County schools and roads. The
payments are based on a formula of pre-Northwest Forest Plan harvest revenues and will
come in at $8.6 million; $7.2 million; $6.2 million; and $5.4 million over the next years.
(This compares with $49,509, which is the projected share of timber receipts we would get
on current harvest levels.)
A portion of the funds will be split between roads and schools, a
portion will go to offset County Search and Rescue and other National Forest-related County
services, and a portion will go to the revived Siskiyou County Resource Advisory Committee
(RAC.) This 15 member committee is a composite of three groups of five members: a resource
users group; a government, teachers and public group; and a group that includes
environmentalists and dispersed recreation interests. Appointments are made by the
Secretary of Agriculture and there are current openings.
Many great projects have been funded by the RAC in prior years. This
year, we have about $1.43 million to allocate to projects until the end of September,
2009. Project applications will be considered monthly and presentations on larger projects
under development would be welcome. The types of projects considered include fuels
management, restoration of streams and watersheds, enhancing forest health, ecosystems and
water quality. All should have a relationship to the National Forest or adjacent
communities. This year, the Board of Supervisors recommended to the RAC that they
emphasize fuel reduction projects and projects that would help to establish an
infrastructure to remove, transport, utilize and market biomass and small diameter trees.
This could include establishing sorting yards, purchasing specialized equipment for
removal or to establish a business for value-added wood products. The idea is to create a
long-lasting system to offset the cost of fuel reduction and to create jobs in Forest
communities.
A workshop on project applications and the approval process will be
held on April 20 at 4 p.m. at the Conference room in the Holiday INN Express on Montague
Road at the North end of Yreka.
(See https://wwwnotes.fs.fed.us/wo/secure_rural_schools.nsf
for a committee member application, a more detailed description of the categories, project
submission applications, meeting dates etc. Call Davida Carnahan at 530-841-4485 for more
information)
LOW INCOME
HEATING ASSISTANCE: Now is a good time for low
income qualified individuals to sign up for weatherizing and heating assistance with
electrical, wood, propane and oil needs to prepare for next fall and winter. Federal
funding has doubled since last year, allowing assistance for 500 more households
(electrical) and 900 more (other heating sources) households than last year. Contact
Michael Flannery at Great Northern Corporation 938-4115
ADULT LITERACY SERVICES: The
Siskiyou County Library now has learning coaches available at the library in Yreka, Etna
and Mt. Shasta. A learner may sign up to have a learning coach assist them in their
reading and writing goals for two one hour sessions a week. Learners and potential coaches
are encouraged to call 841-5916 for additional information
CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION
AWARENESS EVENT: The Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors has named April as Child
Abuse Prevention Month. A one mile track walk and 5k walk/run for awareness will be held
at the Yreka High School Track on April 4. Registration starts at 9 with races at 10 a.m.
Participants may pre-register at www.first5siskiyou.org
The cost is ten dollars for an individual and twenty dollars for a team or family up to
ten members. (This includes a T-shirt.) Registration on race day is twelve dollars or
three canned food items. Call 530-926-5927 for information.
YOUTH SUMMER EMPLOYMENT:
As part of the stimulus package, a new summer job program is being offered for youth and
young adults age 16-24. The Siskiyou Training and Employment Program (STEP) is looking for
work sites where supervision and appropriate work could be made available. The youth will
be carried on STEP’s payroll and will be covered for worker’s compensation
insurance. Call 530-938-3231 for information. |
