February 10, 1971 (12 pages)

% peRroDTCALs Setvitig the communities of Nevada City, Grass Valley, Red Dog, You Bet, Town Talk, Glenbrook, Little York, Cherokee, Mooney Flat, Sweetland, Alpha Onieds, French Corral, Rough and Ready, Graniteville, North San Juan, North Bloomfield, Humbug, Relief Hill, Washington, Blue Tent, La ‘Barr Meadows, Cedar Ridge, Union Hill, Peardale, Summit City, Walloupa, Gouge Eye, Lime Kiln, Chicago Park, Wolf, Christmas Hill, Liberty Hill, Sailor Flat, Lake City, Selby Flat, Grizzly Hill, Gold Flat, Soggsville, Gold Bar, LoweltHill, Bourbon Hill, Scotch Hill, North Columbia, Columbia Hill, Brandy Flat, Sebastopol, Quaker Hill, Willow Valley Newtown, Indian Flat, Bridgeport, Birchville, Moore’ s Flat, Orleans Flat, Remington Hill, Anthony House, Delirium Tremens, i a NUMBER 4 ———————————— VOLUME 49 10 Cents A Copy Published Wednesdays, Nevada City WEDNESDAY, icici 10, 971 Wet snow has been major winter problem Throughout history winter storms have left destruction in their paths and utility crews have braved the wilds of the high country to restore power and telephone service. This year has been no different from the past. What started to be a wild winter, has shaped up to be a sunny January and thus far -February. Mother Nature -is only predictable in that she never changes with the modern trend of men and equipment. ‘During the early storms in December Pacific Gas & Elec-_ noticed. tric Co,, crews to reAfter a islet Walt the” store power to the tiny town of Varley resident skied back and Alleghany in Sierra county. found the 35-year-old Gleason Even with the modern day equipment for snow rem roads to this area were closed, PG&E repair crews set out on modern day equipment, snow cats and moved to the troubled areas, The weight of wet snow caused the outages, damaging lines, Years ago these utility crews didn't have snow cats to move over snow. It was done the hard way -with ski equipment and snow shoes, Many will recall. the tragic winter of 1938 when in early February, day after day of snow toppled pine trees, caved roofs in and the utility crews in defiance of a howling blizzards worked feverishly to restore ' power and phone service. Heavy snow and trees between the Spanish Mine and Alleghany accounted for about 20 breaks in a line. On Feb. 8 the storm had continued. into it's eighth day. Four PG&E linemen were in the Spanish Mine area, braving the storm. They were William Ghidotti, Gerald Peard, Alex Scott and J. H, Gleason, The party returned to Grass Valley after fighting the snow for nine days which were spent entirely on skis and snow shoes, with the exception of the short time they rode to and from the Washington junction on the Tahoe-Truckee Highway. Weary, tired and listlessfrom _ their continual battle, the group eee returned just before the heaviest wind storm in a quarter of a century hit the entire area. After the linemen had the briefest rest, they were called out to aid in restoring power stk 8.98528 to the tangled ‘lines in Grass mumbling. Valley. The snow continued to cause problems in Sierra county and Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. employe George Wilson and his partner, Ralph Gleason used snow shoes to walk the line from Goodyears to Alleghany to find and repair breaks in the line. On Feb, 11, Gleason and Wilson were caught in the heart of this same blizzard. The pair . headed for a shelter cabin lo. cated near the vicinity of the power lines, Wilson skied. gread sat J stricken, laying in the trail Wilson sensed Gleason was in critical condition and sought to carry him to the cabin. The man slumped into unconsciousnessand Wilson was unable fo carry the husky Gleason in the deep snow. He leaned Gleason against a tree stump and _ skied to the cabin and returned with anarmful of wood, Wilson built a fire and kept it going throughout the afternoon, He worked on Gleason but was unable to get a response. About 6:30 p.m. Wilson knew Gleason had died, rigor mortis had set in, Weary and grief stricken, the Grass Valleyan planned to remain by the fire. At 11 p.m, more snow and cold forced him to continue for help. He placed Gleason's skis on end in the snow, put his coat over the dead man and headed for Goodyear's Bar, seven miles away. After 3 in the morning, Wilson staggered into Goodyear's Bar, and collapsed. It was four fe hours later before he was able ; to convey a message ofthe death of his friend. Tahoe National Forest personnel and Goodyear's residents teamed up to bring in the dead man, a struggle which took seven hours, For his struggle and great efforts. to save his friend, George Wilson was later honored by the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co, George. Wilson has retired and still resides -in the Golden Empire area, . UTILITY LINES, heavy with wet snow, bow precariously and demonstrate the winter problems for local repair crews, If the thin line holds then it is also subjected to falling limbs and uprooted trees, always at the height of a storm. A PLAQUE hangs in the telephone office in Grass Valley honoring George Wilson for an act of noteworthy public service near Downieville,California. © ‘

% peRroDTCALs Setvitig the communities of Nevada City, Grass Valley, Red Dog, You Bet, Town Talk, Glenbrook, Little York, Cherokee, Mooney Flat, Sweetland, Alpha Onieds, French Corral, Rough and Ready, Graniteville, North San Juan, North Bloomfield, Humbug, Relief Hill, Washington, Blue Tent, La ‘Barr Meadows, Cedar Ridge, Union Hill, Peardale, Summit City, Walloupa, Gouge Eye, Lime Kiln, Chicago Park, Wolf, Christmas Hill, Liberty Hill, Sailor Flat, Lake City, Selby Flat, Grizzly Hill, Gold Flat, Soggsville, Gold Bar, LoweltHill, Bourbon Hill, Scotch Hill, North Columbia, Columbia Hill, Brandy Flat, Sebastopol, Quaker Hill, Willow Valley Newtown, Indian Flat, Bridgeport, Birchville, Moore’ s Flat, Orleans Flat, Remington Hill, Anthony House, Delirium Tremens, i a NUMBER 4 ———————————— VOLUME 49 10 Cents A Copy Published Wednesdays, Nevada City WEDNESDAY, icici 10, 971 Wet snow has been major winter problem Throughout history winter storms have left destruction in their paths and utility crews have braved the wilds of the high country to restore power and telephone service. This year has been no different from the past. What started to be a wild winter, has shaped up to be a sunny January and thus far -February. Mother Nature -is only predictable in that she never changes with the modern trend of men and equipment. ‘During the early storms in December Pacific Gas & Elec-_ noticed. tric Co,, crews to reAfter a islet Walt the” store power to the tiny town of Varley resident skied back and Alleghany in Sierra county. found the 35-year-old Gleason Even with the modern day equipment for snow rem roads to this area were closed, PG&E repair crews set out on modern day equipment, snow cats and moved to the troubled areas, The weight of wet snow caused the outages, damaging lines, Years ago these utility crews didn't have snow cats to move over snow. It was done the hard way -with ski equipment and snow shoes, Many will recall. the tragic winter of 1938 when in early February, day after day of snow toppled pine trees, caved roofs in and the utility crews in defiance of a howling blizzards worked feverishly to restore ' power and phone service. Heavy snow and trees between the Spanish Mine and Alleghany accounted for about 20 breaks in a line. On Feb. 8 the storm had continued. into it's eighth day. Four PG&E linemen were in the Spanish Mine area, braving the storm. They were William Ghidotti, Gerald Peard, Alex Scott and J. H, Gleason, The party returned to Grass Valley after fighting the snow for nine days which were spent entirely on skis and snow shoes, with the exception of the short time they rode to and from the Washington junction on the Tahoe-Truckee Highway. Weary, tired and listlessfrom _ their continual battle, the group

eee returned just before the heaviest wind storm in a quarter of a century hit the entire area. After the linemen had the briefest rest, they were called out to aid in restoring power stk 8.98528 to the tangled ‘lines in Grass mumbling. Valley. The snow continued to cause problems in Sierra county and Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. employe George Wilson and his partner, Ralph Gleason used snow shoes to walk the line from Goodyears to Alleghany to find and repair breaks in the line. On Feb, 11, Gleason and Wilson were caught in the heart of this same blizzard. The pair . headed for a shelter cabin lo. cated near the vicinity of the power lines, Wilson skied. gread sat J stricken, laying in the trail Wilson sensed Gleason was in critical condition and sought to carry him to the cabin. The man slumped into unconsciousnessand Wilson was unable fo carry the husky Gleason in the deep snow. He leaned Gleason against a tree stump and _ skied to the cabin and returned with anarmful of wood, Wilson built a fire and kept it going throughout the afternoon, He worked on Gleason but was unable to get a response. About 6:30 p.m. Wilson knew Gleason had died, rigor mortis had set in, Weary and grief stricken, the Grass Valleyan planned to remain by the fire. At 11 p.m, more snow and cold forced him to continue for help. He placed Gleason's skis on end in the snow, put his coat over the dead man and headed for Goodyear's Bar, seven miles away. After 3 in the morning, Wilson staggered into Goodyear's Bar, and collapsed. It was four fe hours later before he was able ; to convey a message ofthe death of his friend. Tahoe National Forest personnel and Goodyear's residents teamed up to bring in the dead man, a struggle which took seven hours, For his struggle and great efforts. to save his friend, George Wilson was later honored by the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co, George. Wilson has retired and still resides -in the Golden Empire area, . UTILITY LINES, heavy with wet snow, bow precariously and demonstrate the winter problems for local repair crews, If the thin line holds then it is also subjected to falling limbs and uprooted trees, always at the height of a storm. A PLAQUE hangs in the telephone office in Grass Valley honoring George Wilson for an act of noteworthy public service near Downieville,California. © ‘