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3R man hurt in bike accident

  Chris Thompson, 43, of Three Rivers faces danger everyday on the job. He’s a lineman who works for a contractor that installs power lines and transmission towers.
   In his leisure time, he rides a racing bike and is an avid kayaker. In fact, it was the Kaweah River that was the key factor in his decision to make his home base on North Fork Drive seven years ago.
   The morning of Thursday, July 1, started like so many others. Chris was cruising down North Fork Drive and just pulling out of the section that nearby residents refer to as “Deadman’s Curve,” located about a quarter-mile above the North Fork Bridge and just before the straight stretch that extends to Pierce’s Corner.
   Not surprisingly, there have been numerous car accidents in this section of North Fork Drive. The most recent one was another near-fatal that occurred Sunday, July 10. (See story below.)
   Chris estimated he was going 25 mph when he looked up at an oncoming motorist at the same time the bike hit some wavy bumps in the asphalt.

  “The next thing I knew the bike went down and I hit head first,” Chris recalled. “My bike helmet literally blew up but it did exactly what it was supposed to do: absorb the impact.”
   Chris estimates he slid at least 15 yards on his side before coming to a grinding halt, partly on the gravel shoulder and partly on the roadway. A woman walking her dog quickly approached the sprawled out biker and asked if there was anything she could do.

  “I couldn’t even respond to her immediately as I was still trying to check all my parts and assess the damage,” Chris recalled. “I was bleeding from the nose, my back and shoulder hurt, I was extremely nauseous, and I could feel all my blood rush to my belly. I said to the woman, ‘Call an ambulance. I’m going into shock.’”
   Chris remained conscious throughout the entire incident. Tulare County firefighters arrived on the scene at 8:38 a.m., within six minutes after dispatch fielded the 911 call. He remembers the firefighters loading him on a board.

  “Whatever you do don’t touch my head,” Chris recalls telling the EMTs.
   The Exeter Ambulance arrived on scene at 8:57 a.m. and transported the patient to Kaweah Delta Medical Center where he had same-day surgery on a broken hip.
   Today, Chris is on the mend, but awaiting a shoulder operation that his doctors advised Chris to hold off on until he no longer needs crutches. In good spirits and able to reflect on his experience, Chris said the real shocker came when he received the ambulance bill of $1,880. Fortunately, he has an excellent insurance policy from an employer who he won’t be returning to work for in 2010.
   Editor’s note: To the woman who was walking her dog at the scene on July 1, please contact John Elliott at the Commonwealth (260-2909). You have a message from Chris.

Kaweah motorist arrested in DUI accident

  A 40-year-old Kaweah man was arrested after the 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser he was driving northbound left the North Fork Drive roadway, collided with a fence, and became hung up on some boulders about a quarter-mile north of North Fork Bridge. The accident occurred Sunday, July 11, just after 9 p.m.
   The driver fled the scene, but was detained as he was walking along North Fork Drive.
   After the CHP arrived at the scene, the man was arrested on suspicion of DUI and booked into Tulare County Jail.
   The vehicle had expired Virginia license tags and the driver was not carrying a valid driver’s license. The man was identified by a California identification card that was found in his possession.
   According to CHP officer Flynn, acting public information officer, the severity of the charges will depend on the driver’s blood alcohol content. Those results are pending.

Visalia Electric Railroad on display

at Kaweah Heritage Visitor Center

by Larry Butler

  Fifteen members of the Visalia Electric Railroad Modelers and Historical Society were at Lake Kaweah on Saturday, July 10. The purpose of their visit was to deliver a valuable gift to the Kaweah Heritage Visitor Center.
   An important part of the history of Lake Kaweah and Terminus Dam is the rail system that served the area in the early 20th century. It was absolutely unique and helped mold the character and economy of the Kaweah valley.
   In the age of steam railroads, a cleaner, quieter, “greener” technology — electrical power — began to replace coal-burning locomotives in many larger cities. This new locomotion even found its way into a few railroads serving rural communities such as Exeter and Lemon Cove.
   The Visalia Electric Railroad began passenger service in 1908, and before long the orange electric cars were hauling loads of people to a special destination on the banks of the Kaweah River. Terminus Beach offered visitors a large deck along the river for dancing and special events such as professional boxing matches.
   During summer, the cool waters of the Kaweah attracted hundreds of swimmers seeking relief from the Central Valley heat. On Independence Day 1915, the VE punched 5,000 tickets.
   Since its founding 15 years ago, this historical organization has been dedicated to the preservation of the history of the VE through the modeling and interpretation of rolling stock and railroad layouts.

  “For many years, the Visalia Electric Railroad was the link to the outside world for the residents and the agricultural goods they produced,” said Ed Keogh, president of the nonprofit group.
   When approached to participate in the renovation of the Lake Kaweah visitor center, Ed Keogh met with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers volunteers to develop ideas and interpretive concepts. Over a period of several months, rolling stock models were sourced, modified, and finished to faithfully represent the railcars that serviced Terminus. While the models were being built by group members, an appropriate setting was under construction at the visitor center.
   The new exhibit now features a “ticket window,” complete with a posted schedule of arrivals and departures from July 18, 1915. Built into the window are two cases that feature the gems of the exhibit — HO-scale (1:87) models of the railcars and locomotives that served here. The most unique is a replica of an electrically-powered “interurban” car like the ones that brought swimmers to Terminus.
   The visitor center at Lake Kaweah has changed over the past several months. With the addition of new displays on the dam, the fusegates, water management, early residents, and the flora and fauna of the Kaweah, visitors can learn more about the unique history and culture of the lake bed and the surrounding Corps of Engineers property.
   Valerie McKay, USACE park ranger, observed that the generosity of the gift from VERMHS allows visitors to understand why “…the name of the dam is Terminus Dam.”
   For more information about VERMHS, contact Ed Keogh at rlrdr57@att.net or 734-6422.
  Larry Butler is an USACE volunteer at Lake Kaweah.

Favorite HOT summertime reads

by Sarah Elliott

  Grab an ice-cold glass of lemonade and climb into your hammock. Here is the first of two installments about some of our favorite summertime reads — some recent publications, some classics — that will keep you thoroughly entertained whether relaxing at the river or struggling through the dog days.

Lonesome Dove
   It’s been 25 years since Larry McMurtry came on the scene with this blockbuster. If you read just one Western novel in your life, make sure this is the one.
   It’s the tale of a pair of former Texas Rangers who embark on a cattle drive from Texas to Montana through untamed, wild country. The story is filled with all the harrowing adventures that can possibly be had while on that dusty trail.
   Follow Augustus McCrae and Woodrow Call as they battle sandstorms, snakes, bad food, bad water, Comanches, and more. Like only a storyteller like McMurtry can do, each character is so well-developed that the reader is quickly roped in and along for the ride.
   Be prepared to laugh... and cry… sometimes on the same page.   When Lonesome Dove is over but you aren’t ready to let Gus and Call ride off into the sunset, then move onto the prequels (which were both written after Lonesome Dove), Deadman’s Walk and Comanche Moon, in that order.
   Lonesome Dove was made into a television movie; as usual, the book is the more gripping account. It’s the reader’s imagination that best tells this adventure.

The Last Season
   While author Eric Blehm is still basking in the acclaim of his most recent release — The Only Thing Worth Dying For: How Eleven Green Berets Forged a New Afghanistan — he will always be locally renowned for his 2006 account of the mysterious disappearance of longtime ranger Randy Morgenson. Randy was an idealist who fiercely protected his summertime home that is the hundreds of thousands acres known as Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
   After nearly 30 years as a seasonal backcountry ranger, Randy left his Bench Lake ranger cabin one day in the summer of 1996 and was never heard from again. A massive search and investigation ensued but no trace of Randy was found.
   Discussion swirled about Randy’s disillusionment with various aspects of his life, from his marriage to his summer employer, the National Park Service. As experienced as Randy was in the Sierra, it was nearly unfathomable that he could have succumbed as the result of an accident, so theories such as suicide, foul play, and planned disappearance all made the rounds.
   It wasn’t until five years later, nearly to the day, that the question of what happened to Randy was finally answered. No spoiler alert here; get the book (available at local parks visitor centers and online) and read all about it.
   Eric Blehm’s meticulous research creates a fascinating biography that depicts how Randy got to where he was, both physically and intellectually.

Last Child
in the Woods
   If you are feeling guilty about the kids spending so much time inside this summer (“It’s hot!” “There’s nothing to do!”), this book will reinforce that emotion while convincing you to take them outside… a lot. They will be better people as a result, according to author Richard Louv.
   Louv is single-handedly responsible for coining the terms “nature deficit disorder” and “denatured childhood” after compiling several studies that point to exposure to nature as essential for a child’s healthy physical and emotional development. The current disturbing disconnect robs children in many ways, Louv surmises, linking the lack of nature to obesity, attention disorders, depression, lack of creativity, and a foreboding warning that nature itself will experience a deficit of stewards in generations to come.
   In other words, nature needs children as much as children need nature.
   So, pack up a picnic, buckle the kids in the car, take the short drive to where it’s cool (Giant Forest is less than an hour away), and let the kids experience some disorganized, unstructured, not-using-their-inside-voices, get-dirty, creative play while you sit in the shade of a Big Tree and read!
   It’s time for a “nature-child reunion,” as author Louv would say.

Food Rules:
An Eater’s Manual
   This pocket-size book by Michael Pollan, America’s most trusted resource on all things edible, will be a quick read for anyone who is ready to make the commitment toward better eating or for others who need a refresher course. It’s a condensation of Fast Food Nation and Omnivore’s Dilemma in an easy-to-read format that will spell out the commonsense rules of sustenance that we as a society have cast aside in our quest for super-sized, mega-gulp, venti, two-for-one dollar deals of manufactured quasi-food products.
   There are simple mantras such as “If it came from a plant, eat it; if it was made in a plant, don’t” and “Eat animals that have themselves eaten well.” Eating has become such a complicated matter, but this book proves it needn’t be.
   Its three parts, each ask and answer a question about our diets: Part I: What should I eat? (Food). Part II: What kind of food should I eat? (Mostly plants). Part III: How should I eat? (Not too much). These are the basic tenets of eating, but since we all need reinforcement every now and then, this guidebook will lead you down the right grocery aisle.
   There is an overabundance of diet books that claim to be the salvation to permanent weight loss and healthy eating, but this book is so basic, so obvious, that it breaks the mold.
   And remember, as Michael Pollan writes, “It’s not food if it arrived through the window of your car.”

Arctic Homestead
   This book is what I’m currently reading. It has been on my list since its release in 2000.
   The true story is eerily refreshing to read about subzero winters in the Far North while experiencing the hot summer nights of the Sierra foothills.
   This book is based on the journals of Norma Cobb and written by Charles Sasser from Norma's viewpoint. Norma reportedly is the last woman to claim land under the Homestead Act.
   That land, however, happens to be located about 150 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska, near the Arctic Circle in the beautiful yet isolated Minook Valley.
   In their quest to have land of their own, the Cobbs venture to Alaska in 1972 with their combined family of five young children, ages three to nine (no nature-deficit disorder here).
   I’m not going to spoil this worthy read by flipping to the end of the book so some details are certainly missing. But so far the “Cobbs and their Kernels” are having a non-stop adventure. There have been money problems, harsh winters, run-ins with bears and wolves, a shooting, thefts, threats, hard lessons in frontier justice, and even some “hairy man” (aka Bushman) sightings. This memoir is a page-turner and a very cool read.
   The preceding are a few of Sarah’s favorite books. Next, John will reveal his picks. Want to contribute? Share your recommendations.

Woodlake will be chilling at

12th annual Custom Car and Bike Show

by Brian Rothhammer

  What’s the coolest thing to do on the hottest night in town? Chillin’ at the Oldies but Goodies Street Dance and Cruise Night, of course.
   Woodlake is the place to be this Friday night for some “show ‘n’ shine” and to dance to the music of DJ Tony Avila as feeling good sets the tone for Woodlake’s 12th annual Custom Car and Bike Show.
I  f you’d like to shine up your ride and display it in the show, entries are still available during Cruise Night and on the day of the event (Saturday, July 17) for $20.
   The entry fee includes a ticket for the 50/50 raffle, a dash plaque, and a meal ticket good at any restaurant in town. The first 150 entries get a free event T-shirt.
   Just chillin’ is free. This is the 12th year that the Woodlake Chamber of Commerce and their sponsors have presented these events as “…a gift to the Woodlake community,” and to “invite folks in neighboring communities to visit our friendly town,” said Rudy Garcia, one of the event’s organizers.
   Saturday morning’s forecast is too cool for school. Even as the thermometer rises, coolness sets in again as hundreds of the smoothest, sweetest machines on wheels glide into Woodlake City Park.
   Move-in is from 7 to 10 a.m. This is when hot rods, bikers, cruisers, and more get their assigned spots and set about polishing and massaging their rolling sculptures. Many folks develop an affinity for their cars but here it’s extreme.
   The degree of engineering, the level of craftsmanship, the endless hours spent on some of these machines to elevate them to a status of elegance and beauty is phenomenal. There are also the “Rat Rods,” apparent mismatched heaps of pieces and parts still “in the leather.”
   Be it a perfectly restored classic, a “rude boy” hot rod, a Harley, Vespa, or Schwinn, you will see it here. You’ll also meet a diverse assemblage of folks of all ages sharing a common appreciation and fellowship as they admire each others’ restored prides and joys.
   All through the day, vendors will offer their wares. Woodlake’s great eateries will also be showcased with lots of car show specials.
   At noon the judging begins. There are 31 categories, each with a first, second, and third place winner.
   The awards ceremony starts at 2 p.m. Last year 84 trophies were awarded to all the coolest winners.
   So let’s see; the coolest cars in the hemisphere, custom motorcycles, cruising bicycles, all kinds of the coolest people…
   Woodlake Car Show? It’s obviously the cool place to be.

3R car buff enters classic Edsel

at Woodlake Car Show

by Brian Rothhammer

  Bill Drewry of Three Rivers, winner of a second place trophy at the 2009 Custom Car Show, will be sharing his 1959 Edsel Ranger at the Woodlake event on Saturday, July 17. He acquired it seven years ago because “it was all there” and, according to Bill, a worthy classic to add to his collection.
   With the Edsel, its own inglorious history outshines even its best restorations. That epic story has created a unique value for Edsel owners a half-century later.

  Edsel unveiled— E-Day. That was a greatly anticipated day in 1957 when a car was unveiled that was to launch a whole new division of the Ford Motor Company.
   Ford initiated a massive market research program in 1955 to determine what car Americans wanted in their future and after an intensive design campaign came up with the Edsel.
   The very first CBS TV show to be live broadcast to the nation, then “tape delayed” for re-broadcast in the Pacific Time zone, was The Edsel Show, a star-studded Edsel marketing extravaganza. Bing Crosby hosted with musical guests Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Rosemary Clooney, and comedian Bob Hope.
   The telecast was one of the highest rated shows of the year. Soon huge lines of eager buyers waited outside spanking-new showrooms to catch a first glimpse of “The Newest Thing on Wheels.”
   When the doors finally opened, people were underwhelmed. It wasn’t a hideously bad creation nor was it a lemon. It just didn’t live up to the hype.
   Soon afterward, Bob Hope quipped that the distinctive upright grille of the Edsel resembled “an Oldsmobile sucking a lemon.”
Other popular entertainers assailed the poor Edsel as it became the butt of numerous one- liners. Then came allegations of quality control issues and other damaging rumors. Whether the criticism was justified or not, the Edsel was doomed by all the bad press and publicity.
   Sales were poor for the 1958 model year and worse for 1959, even after a thorough redesign. Very few 1960 Edsels were built before the plug was pulled in November 1959 by Ford president Robert McNamara.
   A rather anticlimactic end to a car that was to be the cornerstone of an entire automotive division named for Henry Ford‘s only son. The very name Edsel became synonymous with failure on a grand scale, though Edsel Ford had been a very successful president (1919-1943) of Ford Motor Company.
   Ironically, a prototype for a mid-sized Edsel became the highly successful Mercury Comet.
   Bill plans to have the Edsel painted soon in a red and white two-tone for his 50th high school reunion this fall. Stop by the Woodlake Car Show this Saturday and greet Bill and see his classic Edsel.

Reception this weekend for 3R artists

  Four artists explore clay mono prints in a show opening this weekend in Visalia — Shirley Keller, Karen Kimball, Marn Reich, and Claudine Feibusch. The artists, three from Three Rivers, one from the Bay Area, took a workshop from Diana Crain at The Art Farm in Petaluma.
   Mitch Lyons, who is the creator of “clay mono printing,” trained Diana. Feibusch, Keller, Kimball and Reich liked the medium enough to pull together resources and set up a workshop, taught by another Mitch Lyons student, in one of their homes in Three Rivers. They continue to meet for a weekend every now and then to play with the art form. This show is the result of this collaboration.

Shirley A. Blair Keller
Artist, Writer, Photographer
Three Rivers
   Shirley explores how nature impinges on our lives through photography, art, ceramics, and writing. She has shown ink quilts in San Francisco; ceramic masks and photography in Tulare, Visalia, Porterville, and Three Rivers; and has won awards over the years. Discarded objects made into art is a recent exploration. Shirley is the secretary/treasurer for 1st Saturday Three Rivers and opens Spirit Hill Studio to the public during 1st Saturdays in Three Rivers.

Karen Kimball
Artist, Three Rivers
   Karen dabbled in graphic arts before discovering the clay mono print process in 2008. Since then she has become a devotee of the freedom and spontaneity of the clay print art form. The concepts of layering, composition, and color, common to both graphic art and clay mono print, are more challenging and fun in the clay process due to the unpredictability of layers, of color and design on a clay slab. Karen enjoys this element of surprise.
   Karen is a past president of the Arts Alliance of Three Rivers.

Marn Reich
Ceramics Artist, Three Rivers
   Marn began working in clay about 15 years ago in a College of the Sequoias class. Since then, she has taken classes and workshops all over California. Her work has won ribbons at Visalia Art League shows and the Tulare County Fair, where in 2009, her sculpture won Best of Show. She has pieces of art in collections throughout the United States.

  “I get most of my joy from creating things whether it is with clay, fabric, words, or any other medium.”

Claudine Feibusch
Artist, El Cerrito
   Claudine Feibusch received her early art training from her father, a graphic artist and graduate of the Kansas City Art Institute. Her work has been exhibited at galleries in Fresno, Visalia, Three Rivers, El Cerrito, San Rosa, and San Francisco. Her work is in private collections across the country. She is a mixed-media artist who has explored ceramics, painting, construction, and sculpture.

Kids will go crazy for

Plum Horse ranch camp

by Kathryn Keeley

  “The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man,” was Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s philosophy. This is also the mantra for the Plum Horse Crazy Ranch.
   Located east of Exeter, the founders of the Ranch recognize the therapeutic value in horses, and use it as counseling for victims of domestic, sexual or substance abuse, as well as horseback riding lessons. This summer, in order to raise money for the organization, the group is hosting a summer camp for seven-to-18-year-olds to learn how to ride, groom, and saddle horses.

  “The bread and butter around the Ranch is riding lessons,” said Amanda Cate, founder Renee Cate’s daughter and vice president of the Ranch. “This summer, with the economy being what it is, we were hit hard because we have less clients for lessons. We decided to have a kids’ camp to fundraise for the ranch.”
   The camp takes place on July 22 to 24, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., and is located at 30669 Hamilton Drive in Mehrten Valley. There is room for 12 kids and the camp fills up fast, Cate said. In addition, the camp offers arts and crafts, as well as special presenters discussing various horse-related topics.
   Though the riding lessons pay the bills at Plum Horse Crazy Ranch, the organization was established to assist those in need using Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP).

  “My mom, Renee Cate, started the organization,” said Amanda. “She has always been a horse person, so she combined her counseling skills with her love of horses to create this program that works not only with domestic violence victims, but also sexual assault survivors and substance abuse addicts.”
   Plum Horse Crazy Ranch became a corporation two years ago, receiving nonprofit status 18 months ago. Their first summer camp fundraiser was last month.

  “If we get enough interest in our kids’ camp this month, we will definitely have more next summer,” Amanda explained.
The cost of the camp is $75 per child, and there are discounts for siblings.

  “I always tell everyone the ages are six to 99; if you can get on the horse, we’ll teach you how to ride, and it will be a lot of fun,” Amanda said.
   Plum Horse Crazy Ranch is looking for volunteers, as well as donations of hay, grain, and veterinary supplies. Monetary donations are also appreciated and are tax deductible.
   Visit the Ranch’s website at www.plumhorsecrazyranch.com for more information or register kids for camp by calling 305-0239.

  Kathryn Keeley of Three Rivers is a senior at Woodlake High School. She is currently working as a summer intern with The Kaweah Commonwealth.

The Tail Waggin' Tutor

  Griffyn Boley of Three Rivers is a 100-pound, two-year-old golden retriever who is, according to owner Jennifer Boley, very mellow and has a big heart.
   Grif is a certified therapy dog who currently assists two hospices. Each week, he visits patients and offers a pleasant diversion to their daily routines, and the patients greatly anticipate the visits.

  “You would be amazed at how bringing a loveable dog to visit a hospice patient can cheer them up,” said Jennifer. “They will talk of their childhood and pets they have had or worked with; anything that made them happy.”
   Griffyn is also a “Tail Waggin’ Tutor” who will visit the library and school to encourage kids to read.
   For many years, Jennifer Boley has raised and trained golden retrievers. She also works at Lone Oak Veterinary Clinic in Three Rivers.

Belarus students visit 3R, Sequoia

by Mark Tilchen

  A group of high school foreign exchange students from Belarus visited Sequoia National Park a couple weeks ago to see the mighty trees and volunteer at the local national parks. Fourteen students from WorldLink rode the Visalia shuttle to the parks to spend a day touring the Giant Forest.
   Five of the students stayed in Three Rivers for a few days to perform volunteer projects for the Sequoia Natural History Association while others went to volunteer projects in Visalia. The Sequoia students worked on various chores at the Beetle Rock Education Center in Giant Forest and at SNHA’s Ash Mountain office.
   This was the second year Belarus students have volunteered for SNHA.
   The nonprofit WorldLink organization sponsors foreign exchange students through a program called FLEX or Future Leaders Exchange. Operated by the U.S. State Department, FLEX brings high-achieving high school students from former Soviet Union countries to the United States to learn about democracy and the American way of life.
   In 2007 and 2008, The Kaweah Commonwealth reported on WorldLink girls from Tajikistan, who spent 10 months living with families in Three Rivers and attended Woodlake High School.
   Belarus is a small European country on the southwestern border of Russia. While other former Soviet countries send exchange students to spend a school year in America, the Belarus program places students in homes for three weeks.
   During this period, they learn about American culture, improve their English skills, and volunteer. The students spend an additional week in Washington, D.C., before returning home.
   Three Rivers has hosted WorldLink students since 2006. This year, 30 students will be placed in homes throughout Tulare County.
   The next round of 10-month students arrives in late August and some still need host families. If you are interested in becoming a host family or have questions about the role of the host family, contact Adina Escarsega at wobigong@yahoo.com.
   Mark Tilchen is the executive director for Sequoia Natural History Association. For information on volunteer programs or tips on hosting WorldLink students, contact him at 565-3759.

OBITUARY

Rhea Ernst
1957 ~ 2010
   Rhea L. Ernst died Wednesday, June 30, after a long, courageous battle with cancer. She was 53.
   Rhea was a longtime employee of the National Park Service. She worked at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks for 15 years.
   In 1980, Rhea began her career as a volunteer at Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis, Mo., where she was born and raised. That same year, she was offered a paid position as a seasonal ranger.
   In 1981, Rhea became a permanent employee. The following year, she attended the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, which would start her on her path as a protection ranger.
   In 1984, Rhea came to California. She transferred to Death Valley National Park, where she worked at Scotty’s Castle in interpretation and law enforcement.
   In 1990, Rhea arrived in Sequoia-Kings Canyon, where she worked as a dispatcher and, later, as a fee collection supervisor.
   In August 2005, Rhea left the NPS and her job at Sequoia-Kings Canyon. She moved to Colorado to be closer to family as she battled cancer. While there, she held positions with the Centers for Disease Control and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service until she ended her federal career with a medical disability retirement in August 2008.
   A memorial service is pending.