Category: Misc

Traffic Fatality at Big Creek

5:30 pm – identification of the badly burned body is still on-going, however, a wallet was found with ID that matched the registration on the vehicle. This information does NOT point to a Big Sur local, but to someone who lives in town.

2:00 pm – KSBY confirms the driver, and sole occupant, of the vehicle died in the accident. There is speculation about who the driver was, but nothing is confirmed at this time.

10:30 am – A vehicle went over the side of the road at Big Creek this morning and caught fire. CHP, MCSO and others on the scene. It is too steep for a cliff & rescue operation, so a 300 ft cable is being brought in, as well as a medical unit. There is not a lot of hope that there are any survivors, but one never knows. There is no indication of a vegetation fire, only a lot of smoke at this time.

Ft. Hunter Liggett Survey

The Army is looking for information to help them conduct an environmental assessment investigation for a munitions site at Fort Hunter Liggett. This brief community interview would help the Army in preparing that assessment and Sup. Potter thought that there might be members of the Big Sur community who would have information that they would want to share. Instructions are included on the first page and you can contact Rebecca Nicholas at (915) 267-8856 or Rebecca_Nicholas@URSCorp.com for more details.

She can send you the survey, if you have input you would like considered, or you can contact me directly at kwnovoa@mac.com and I will send it to you.

Updates

Just a wee reminder to check the Announcement page for updates (added link to Health Center’s Salud); USFS Press releases (re brush work on roads); and Cal-Trans (current press releases re road repair).

I am using these other pages often to post updates, as they become available.

May 19, 2010

No news for today. I’ll be out and about the Big Sur environs with my camera and meeting with friends . Looks to be a gorgeous day for it shaping up! Have a glorious one.

Oh, I have been meaning to mention the construction going on just north of Willow Creek. It is not showing up on any of the CT announcements, but it is significant, involving closing one lane, with alternate flagging. Wait times are not bad, however.

Missing Kayaker

All the local media are reporting a missing kayaker who had been camping at Plaskett Creek Campground. His vehicle was found at the campground, but his kayak and gear was gone. He went camping last Wednesday, but was reported missing when he did not return home Sunday around noon as intended. He is 51 year-old Randall Young of Morro Bay.

“Monterey Sherriffs are investigating whether a white kayak, found on Sand Dollar Beach by a local resident, is that of Randall Young.

The Coast Guard is searching the waters with an 87-foot patrol boat, while an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station San Francisco is searching the coastal areas of Big Sur.

Anyone with information about Randall Young, a 6′ 3″ white male, is asked to contact either the Monetery Sherriff’s office at 831-647-7702, or the Coast Guard at 510-437-3701.”

Being temporarily out of the loop, I have no information beyond that carried by local media. This is the second visitor to the South Coast who has gone missing this year – actually, George Carpenter originally went missing around Christmas of 2009, but a full scale search was not conducted until after the New Year. Our prayers go out to Mr. Young’s family and friends.

bigsurkate news

First, the voting on the new Spring Header photo is going great! Keep it up. This tells me I need to see about doing these more than twice a year, and am strongly considering that option. We love seeing the work of all sorts of photographers of our beloved coast. Voting continues until March 19th at midnight, so make your voice heard!

Second, after 19 months since the creation of this blog, I have finally added a new author, my friend, fellow blogger, and long-time Big Surian, Avis Latone, aka bigsurwoman. She has agreed to come on board to assist me if I find myself out for a while, for whatever reason. She is a very busy woman, running the store at Lucia Lodge, doing her own photography, and her own blog, so I don’t expect her to post often, but I AM hoping that she will chime in occasionally with her own perspective on the news, events, and what it means to live here in God’s country. It might be fun for her to create a new page about working the tourist trade – it can be funny, sometimes. Like the questions they ask. “Does this road ever straighten out?” “Are we above sea level?” Welcome, Avis!

Lastly, I finally completed the History Spotlight for April, and it will be posted on April 1st (and no, not as an April Fool’s Day joke). It is different than what I have offered in the past, but I think you will enjoy it. I have two more in the works, but they both require extensive in-person research, so this feature may have to be bi-monthly.

If you have any suggestions, requests, admonitions, please feel free to post them in the comments below, or send me a private email at kwnovoa@mac.com.

bigsurkate, March 15, 2010

March Photo Contest

I am putting out a call for the best spring photo of Big Sur — winner’s photo to be featured as my header on March 21st, the spring equinox, for the spring. It will be replaced on June 21st. Credit will be given to the photographer during the spring feature. Only one submission per person, please. I would publish the 10 finalists The deadline for submissions would be March 14th. As soon as the judges have chosen the top 10, I would then post them on my blog, and give the readers the final vote to March 20th, and announce the winner on March 21st. This would be an anonymous panel of judges, and judges would also be able to submit a photograph. I am hoping to get a few more volunteer judges. Contact me immediately if you would like to volunteer to be a judge. If you want to enter the contest, also contact me with your entry by March 14th. ONLY ONE ENTRY PER PERSON PLEASE! Because of the timing, I expect most of these photographs to be from last year. Contact me at kwnovoa@mac.com to either volunteer to judge the entries, and/or to submit a photograph. Thanks for your participation!

Deaf, mute, and blind

… that’s the way I feel. I have been without any internet since Thursday night. I am sitting at the River Inn, on their wireless, posting this. I should have a new cellular modem this afternoon, and will be back in action then, with some photos, some thoughts, and other ramblings from a wayward mind.

2:30 pm – YAY!! I am back!! Did you miss me? I know Debbie did, she called me last night to make sure I was okay.

Missing George Carpenter

Yesterday, his dog Scooter was taken to the area, but he did not go in any particular direction, nor did he find George. SAR volunteers are out today, and the weather is perfect for such a search. I wish them all the luck and guidance they need to bring George home.

Search for Geo. Carpenter to resume

KION reported tonight that the search for 74-year-old George Carpenter, missing since 12/23/09, whose Jeep was found on Saturday near Lion’s Den, and whose dog showed up at a home on Los Burros last Wednesday, will resume on Sunday, January 31st. San Luis Obispo paper confirms this report. Article here
With weather clearing, what I don’t understand is why searchers are waiting until Sunday. Why not tomorrow, Thursday, January 28th? The family feels as if George, a rockhound, may be investigating old mining claims in our area.