GBU Mountain News LXXII August 31, 2014 (PDF)

GBU Mountain News

GBU Mountain News

August 31, 2014 - LXXII
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independent - unbiased – professional
August 31, 2014 – LXXII

6.0 South Napa Earthquake
- What area is next? -

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GBU Mountain News
August 31, 2014 - LXXII
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Facts & Numbers related to the South
Napa Earthquake
Compiled by Gunnar J Kuepper
A 6.0 magnitude quake struck on Sunday, August 24,
2014, at 3:20 a.m. local time about five miles northwest
of the City of American Canyon in Napa County. The
earthquake originated at a depth of 10.8km. The shaking
intensity in American Canyon and Napa was a “VII” on
the Modified Mercalli Scale, suggesting very strong
shaking occurred. Ground shaking was felt as far south as
Salinas, east to Sacramento, and north to Ukiah. The U.S.
Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that aftershocks
should be expected for the next week.
According to the USGS, as of Tuesday, August 26, 2014
at 09:00 a.m. there have been 84 aftershocks, four of
which were magnitude M3.0 or greater. The earthquake
caused damage throughout four counties (Napa, Solano,
Alameda, and Sonoma).
The USGS stated in their Tectonic Summary: the
earthquake was located four miles northwest of the City
of American Canyon, five miles southwest of the City of
Napa, eight miles northwest of Vallejo and 50 miles
southwest of Sacramento. The earthquake occurred
within a 44-mile-wide set of major faults of the San
Andreas Fault system (the same fault that goes right
through the middle of Gorman, Lebec, Frazier Park,
Cuddy Valley, and PMC). The San Andreas Fault System
forms the boundary between the Pacific and the North
American tectonic plates.
The earthquake was epicentered at the eastern shore of
San Pablo Bay between two major active fault systems:
the Hayward-Rodgers Creek Fault system on the west
and the Concord-Green Valley Fault system on the east.
The earthquake occurred near the well-known West Napa
Fault, and the less well known Carneros-Franklin Faults,
which juxtapose different suites of rocks.
Impact
Initially 17,000 PG&E customers lost power in the City
of Napa. However, as of Tuesday, August 26, 2014 all
PG&E customers have been fully restored, with the
exception of red tagged buildings. All gas issues have
been resolved as well.
County of Napa (population ~140,000):
As of Wednesday, August 27, inspectors had reviewed
613 structures in Napa, the county seat with a population
of ~80,000: 113 structures were red-tagged and
uninhabitable, while 500 were yellow-tagged, meaning
that the building structures were structurally safe and
owners and tenants could occupy the spaces.

Alexandria Square in Napa,
Photo by Christopher Mardorf / FEMA

Historic buildings damaged include the Uptown Theater,
Napa Valley Opera House, Sam Kee Laundry, Goodman
Library, Napa County Courthouse. Other buildings in the
Napa downtown, including the Post Office, area appear
to be severely damaged as well. But it wasn’t only the
older office buildings in downtown that sustained
damage from the quake. The three-story Napa Square,
built in 2008, had also been red-tagged by inspectors.
Subsequently hundreds of downtown tenants have been
displaced because of damaged offices and buildings.
The Napa Air Traffic Control Tower is currently not
operational due to broken windows and structural
damage.
The City of Napa reported 209 injuries and 0 fatalities.
The Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, a level
III adult trauma center, treated and released 216 patients,
mainly with injuries resulting from falling debris.
Thirteen people were admitted and six of those were
classified as critical.
Four buildings in the Napa Valley Mobile Home Park
were destroyed by fire. Out of the park's 255 homes at
least 35 others had structural damage. The City Fire and
Red Cross teamed up and visited the Mobile Home Parks
throughout the city to assist residents affected by the
earthquake.
The City of Napa has updated their website
(www.cityofnapa.org) to include advisories and
information regarding water supplies and usage (90 water
line leaks/breaks, 8 water lines repaired), PG&E will
continue courtesy checks for residents.

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August 31, 2014 - LXXII
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Accessibility for the Points of Distribution (POD) of
water and food, including considerations for bus routes,
parking, entrances, and restrooms (if open to the public)
was initially a concern. A plan for those that cannot get
to the POD and an accessible plan for communicating
how to request assistance may be needed.
Solano County
In the City of Vallejo (population ~120,000), the largest
city in Solano County, thirty structures have been red
tagged as of 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 26 and
thirty-four buildings have been yellow tagged so far.
Vallejo still is conducting building assessments, mostly
glass and building facades. Wide spread damage, mostly
chimneys, is reported in the older part of town.
Damage to county buildings is estimated at $650,000, in
the City of Vallejo there are six county buildings: three
of those buildings will have limited operations. Two
buildings sustained minor in Fairfield.
Currently 25 minor injuries reported at local hospitals.
Alameda County
In the City of Vallejo (population ~120,000) thirty
structures have been red tagged as of 10:00 a.m. on
Tuesday, August 26 and thirty-four buildings have been
yellow tagged so far. Vallejo still is conducting building
assessments, mostly glass and building facades. Wide
spread damage in older part of town, mostly chimneys.
Transportation
On several roads in Napa, Solano, and Sonoma Counties
the pavement buckled and cracked. The California
Department of Transportation has made $2 million in
Emergency Relief funds available immediately. The
funds are intended to cover repair costs for roads and
bridges damaged by the earthquake. As far as it is
reported no streets have been closed so far. Southbound
SR 29 traffic is reduced to one lane from the Junction of
SR 121 to the Napa River/George Butler Bridge due to
some additional pavement separation from aftershocks.
On SR 37, Solano Westbound traffic is also reduced to
one lane due to some additional pavement separation
from aftershocks.
Railways: Burlington Northern Santa Fe Freight Railway
have opened most tracks and reported no issues. Two
subdivisions have not yet been opened because they still
need to have the bridges inspected.
The CA Northern Railroad reported no damages but track
inspections are still being conducted.
At the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) no
trains were running until at least Tuesday, August 26,
2014.

The Napa Valley Railroad reported heavy damage to
Napa Station and no trains will be running until
inspections are performed. As of Sunday late night,
August 24, Amtrak was back to full operation.
Surveys have been completed and there are no reports of
damage or releases at Bay Area Refineries and Marine
Oil Terminals.
Economic Numbers & Earthquake Impact
 800: Approximate number of Napa Valley wineries
 13,400: daily visitors to the area spending an average
of $3.8 million
 3 million: annual visitors to the area
 $1.4 billion: annual direct tourism spending
 $50 billion: Annual economic impact of Napa
Valley’s wine industry and related businesses on the
U.S., according to the trade group Napa Valley
Vinters
 $13.3 billion: Annual economic impact of the
region’s wine industry, according to the trade group
Napa Valley Vinters
 $1.3 billion: Amount of annual taxes generated by
the region’s wine industry
 46,000: Full-time jobs or equivalent in the region’s
wine industry
 $656 million: Value of Napa County’s grape harvest
in 2013
 174,000 tons: Napa County’s grape harvest in 2013
 Number of cases of wine produced in Napa in 2012:
49.7 million
 $1 billion: Economic impact of the quake on Napa
Valley, according to USGS
 Estimated amount of wine lost by the B.R. Cohn
Winery in Sonoma: 50 percent
 Value of wine lost at the Cult 24 wine bar: $50,000
A number of wineries suffered damage to their barrel
storage areas, wine inventory and production equipment.
However, most wineries were open for business on
Tuesday or even Monday after the quake.
The next major earthquake expected in the Southern
Section of the San Andreas Fault (between Parkfield and
the Salton Sea) may have a magnitude 8.0 or greater. A
magnitude 8.0 is about 1,000 times stronger than a
magnitude 6.0 earthquake. Numerous communities in our
region, from Palmdale to Pine Mountain Club, are
located right on-top of the San Andreas Fault. Imagine
the consequences if Frazier Mountain, Mount Pinos, and
all the hills south of Frazier Mountain Park and Mil
Protrero Road moves 15 feet to the north.

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GBU Mountain News
August 31, 2014 - LXXII
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Content
1. 6.0 South Napa Earthquake - What area is next? by
Gunnar J Kuepper
2. All Things Local
 Important Phone Numbers
 Upcoming Events
 Much Ado About Nothing! The reported drama
in PMC that was nothing
 Frazier Park Sheriff's Deputies found
methamphetamine and controlled substance
paraphernalia hidden inside a SUV during a
traffic stop
 House Fire in Frazier Park
 Back to the Future - Movie Night in the Park
 Upcoming Grand Opening of Fire Station 58 in
Pine Mountain Club
 Mountain Chamber of Commerce Mixer with
Barry Zoeller, Vice President for Corporate
Communications and Marketing at Tejon Ranch
Company
 Fire Crews informed and entertained at Frazier
Mountain Park
 Safety Tips for the New School Year
 Steve Berry running for the School Board
 Candidates for the School Board of Trustees
have started Campaigning
 Public Transportation in the Frazier Park Area
3. All Things Regional
 Driving under the Influence (DUI) has serious
consequences in Kern County
o DUI with fatal crash: 23 years in prison
o DUI with fatal outcome: 10 years in prison
o Texas DUI: Eye for an Eye?
o Bakersfield: Suspected Drunk Driver kills
Two
o Editorial: Rewards & Punishment for Drunk
Drivers / Killers? - Taft: School
Superintendent again arrested for DUI
4. All Things Global
 Current Threats to World Peace & Global
Stability
o Russian - Ukrainian Crisis

o
o
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5.
6.

7.
8.

9.

10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.

ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria)
Israel - Palestine Conflict
Socioeconomic & Political Consequences of
Global Climate Changes
2014 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa
Known Unknowns
Unknown Unknowns

o
o
o
People
 Happy Birthday Anthony
Law Enforcement Corner
 Kern County Sheriff’s Office – Frazier Park
Incident Log August 15 - 28
 Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD)
 California Highway Patrol
 Bakersfield Police Department (BPD)
Cooking & Food
 Honey Cake (Honigkuchen)
Animals Matter
 Bandit – Available for adoption at the Shelter on
the Hill in Lebec
 Video(s) of the week
Our Library
 Board of Supervisors approved the library’s
Fiscal Year 14/15 budget with the $200,000
additional allocation needed to keep every
location’s hours of opening as they are currently
 Appalachian Music
 Happy Birthday Fred
Calendar
Incidents & Accidents - Homicides, Arrests, Traffic
Accidents, Fires & Rescues throughout Kern County
Arts – Music – Theatre
 First Opportunity for a Mural in Frazier Park
Business Affairs
Teens
Nature, Science & Technology
Weather
 Frazier Park Weather Forecast
Kern County
 Board of Supervisors Meetings
Safety & Disaster Preparedness

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August 31, 2014 - LXXII
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19. Media Affairs
 Gossip or Journalism? by Gunnar J Kuepper
20. Legislative Affairs
 State Senator Fuller Statement Opposing
Groundwater Power Grab
21. Where to Go – What to Do
22. Op-Ed
23. Health & Fitness
24. Classifieds
 Cars
 Job Openings

Capture the Beauty
Portraits by Gunnar J Kuepper

Please contact me for details and rates (661)- 487- 1655

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GBU Mountain News
August 31, 2014 - LXXII
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All Things Local

Much Ado About Nothing! The reported
drama in PMC that was nothing

Important Phone Numbers
Fire
911
Ambulance
911
Sheriff or CHP
911

On a frontpage article of a local paper with a variety of
photos showing Sheriff’s and CHP cars the community
could read “Sheriff, CHP units rush to PMC for
brandishing weapon call.” Aaaah PMC, the village of
unlimited crime and never-ending violence, from rapes to
guns, and where even the Board is nearly consistently
accused of violating the law by a local reporter.
However, here is how the Sheriff described the situation:
At about 6:15 PM, deputies were dispatched to a house
on the 16600 block of Mil Potrero Frontage Road in
PMC to investigate criminal threats. Jose Grenados was
arrested for suspicion of making criminal threats and
committing vandalism. He was reportedly holding a knife
during part the incident, but did not threaten to stab or
cut anyone with it.
May I assume that there are some in this little private
club deep in the woods that just need the drama and the
sensationalism, even if they destroy the reputation of
their own village. Just saying….
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Frazier Park Sheriff Station
661-245-3440
Southern California Edison
800-655-4555
Southern California Gas
800-427-2200
Pacific Gas & Electric (PGE)
800-743-5000
El Tejon Unified School District 661-248-6247
Frazier Park Library
661-245-1267
Supervisor David Couch
661-868-3680
Fire Station 56 (Lebec)
661-248-6426
Fire Station 57 (Frazier Park)
661-245-3706
Dentist Porazik, Lebec
661-245-1434
The Photographer (fires, accidents, weddings, & all other disasters)
661-487-1655

Upcoming Events in the Frazier Mountain
Communities


September 5: Grand-Opening of Fire Station 58
in Pine Mountain Club
 September 13: Low-Cost Vaccination, Licensing
& Microchip Clinic in Frazier Park
 September 13: Shelter on the Hill's 11th Annual
Wine & Cheese Fundraiser
 October 26: Zombie Fest in Frazier Park
####

In an age when scientists are creating
artificial intelligence, too many of our
educational institutions seem to be creating
artificial stupidity.
Thomas Sowell

Here, however is something noteworthy:
Frazier Park Sheriff's Deputies found
methamphetamine
and
controlled
substance paraphernalia hidden inside a
SUV during a traffic stop
On Friday, August 29, 2014, at about 12:30 PM, a deputy
stopped a lifted SUV without mud flaps behind the rear
tires near the Midway market in Lake of the Woods. The
deputies located approximately 27 grams of suspected
methamphetamine
and
controlled
substance
paraphernalia hidden inside the vehicle and arrested the
driver, Los Angeles County resident Travis Videgain, for
suspicion of possessing methamphetamine for sales,
being under the influence of a controlled substance,
possessing controlled substance paraphernalia, and
driving on a suspended driver's license. A passenger in
the vehicle, Frazier Park resident Dawn Swanson, was
arrested for suspicion of possessing methamphetamine
for sales, being under the influence of a controlled
substance, and possessing controlled substance
paraphernalia.
Congratulations to our deputies for their excellent work!
####

####

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GBU Mountain News
August 31, 2014 - LXXII
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House Fire in Frazier Park
On Friday. August 29, 2014 at around 3:00 p.m. a fire
started at a small house at the corner of Irvon and Julin
Trails.

Neighbors immediately tried to contain the flames using
garden hoses, to no avail. Minutes later Kern County Fire
Engine 57 (Frazier Park) arrived, followed by Fire
Engine 56 (Lebec), a Wildland Fire Engine from the
Chuchupete Forest Station, Batallion 5 Chief Kushen,
and Fire Engine 58 (PMC). The first arriving emergency
unit, the US Forest Service law enforcement officer XX
had already made sure that everybody was outside the
danger area.
The crew from Engine 57 stopped the spread of the
flames at the 490 square foot house on 4125 Irvon Trail
within minutes.
The house, built in 1940, is fully insured for fire,
according to a statement by its owner Tommy Thompson
of Frazier Park. The home has sustained severe damage
to the front and the interior, but is still standing with no

A car parked in front of the house was also damaged by
the radiant heat.
According to some witnesses the fire may have started
outside the home near the porch. However, the cause of
the fire is under investigation at this point in time.
No injuries have been reported.

####

Back to the Future - Movie Night in the
Park

On Friday, August 22, 2014, Supervisor David Couch
made another movie night in the Frazier Mountain Park
possible. About 120 people, many of those children,
came to enjoy the Steven Spielberg’s 1985 movie “Back
to the Future.”
The film featured young Michael J. Fox who travelled
with the help of Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown in a
DeLorean car into the year 1955, brings his teenage
parents together, and travels back to 1985.
####
wall of roof collapse. Unfortunately, the current
occupants, Sam E and Sara W, have to find, at least for a
couple of weeks, a new place to live.

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GBU Mountain News
August 31, 2014 - LXXII
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Upcoming Grand Opening of Fire Station
58 in Pine Mountain Club

On Friday, September 5th, 2014 at 10:00am, the Kern
County Fire Department is honored to host the opening
of the newest fire station, #58, located in Pine Mountain
Club at 2410 Symonds Drive.
This grand opening will feature an inaugural flag raising
by the Kern County Fire Department Honor Guard and
dedications by Kern County Fire Department Fire Chief
Brian Marshall and 4th District Supervisor David Couch.
Station tours will be given after the ceremony.
Station #58 is the latest Kern County Fire Department
station to be constructed. This new station was
constructed on land donated by the Pine Mountain
Community and built under the supervision of the
County of Kern General Services Department’s
Construction Services.
Station #58 is the first and currently the only paramedic
station in the Kern County Fire Department. The station
houses Engine 58 and Patrol 58 and can accommodate up
to nine firefighters in a safe and healthy work
environment. This station also features a helipad.
####

Chamber of Commerce Mixer with Barry
Zoeller, Vice President for Corporate
Communications and Marketing at Tejon
Ranch Company
On August 21, 2014 the Mountain Communities
Chamber of Commerce held a mixer at Day Spa in
Frazier Park. The main speaker for the evening was
Barry
Zoeller,
Vice
President,
Corporate
Communications and Marketing for the Tejon Ranch
Company. He gave a great overview of the construction,
completion, and expectations of the Outlets at Tejon.

Currently more than 2,000 people are employed by the
more than 70 businesses in that complex.

Barry Zoeller speaking in the courtyard with Chamber
President Scott Parsons (to the right) listening

Scott Parsons, the new President of the Mountain
Communities Chamber of Commerce talked to the GBU
Mountain News about the event. He expressed his
gratitude for all that came, particularly the speakers, and
he thanked particularly Robin Chassie Willoughby for
hosting the event at her Mountain Day Spa. According to
Scott the next priority of the Chamber is finishing the
“Sign” Project. The two advertisement signs along
Frazier Mountain Park Road are sitting idle for more than
a year. The $60,000 construction was finished in the
summer of 2013 (Scott Parson joined the Chamber board
and became its President in the spring of 2014). Scott
also stated that the Chamber will not be able to sponsor
and run the Holiday Faire. “This endeavor is financially
not sustainable for the Chamber at this point in time”
Scott said. The Chamber has currently a membership of
about 75 local businesses and organizations. The next
mixer will be held in September at the Ridge Route
Museum in Frazier Park, and Scott emphasized that every
business and organization in the area is welcome to
attend. Also seen at the August 21 mixer were Adriaan
Garcia and Tony Christolear from the CHP Tejon Office
as well as Kent Miller, Superintendent with State Hungry
Park SVRA.

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