Around Yucaipa: Weekly News Roundup: December 9 Late Edition

Here's all the news that was fit to print from the past week. It's mostly human interest stories, which is a very good thing.

• Dec. 5, 2006, Redlands Daily Facts, "Fire damages vintage cars in Live Oak Canyon"

This week's fire was near the Redlands-Yucaipa border in Live Oak Canyon, sparked by a car being moved at Amity Storage Ranch. No injuries, but one building was damaged.

• Dec. 7, 2006, News Mirror, "Women dominate awards ceremony

The Yucaipa Valley Chamber of Commerce held their awards banquet last Friday. Among the honorees:

Firefighter of the Year: Fire Apparatus Engineer/Paramedic Patti West
Peace Officer of the Year: Acting Detective Holly Leipert
Chamber Member of the Year: Lisa Cox, owner of No Surprises, Party Planning and Decor
Citizen of the Year: Sue Gray, owner of the Kopper Kettle Kafe and Katering Company.

A resident of Yucaipa since she was a child, Gray has contributed to the city and its other residents in many ways, including her involvement in the Relay for Life, the Avon Breast Cancer Walk, Vision Quest, the Yucaipa Historical Society, Yucaipa Little Theater, the Yucaipa Animal Placements Society, the Boy Scouts of America, Make a Difference Day, the Inland Harvest Food Drive, the Crafton Hills Geology Club, the Wa'at Indians Day and the Yucaipa Woman's Club.

Other nominees were Elizabeth Calbraith, fund raiser on behalf of Yucaipa Elementary School, Bob Erickson, involved in pediatric doctors mentoring and Terrific Kids program, and Sue Brown, involved on the school board, Iris Festival, YAPS and FreedomFest.

New Chamber of Commerce officers were also installed.

• Dec. 7, 2006, News Mirror, "Mark Schrader is one of Yucaipa's unique stories"

Learn about Yucaipan Mark Schrader, who is an autopsy assistant for the San Bernardino County Coroner's Office.

• Dec. 7, 2006, San Bernardino Sun, "Six go out of their way to help others

A Yucaipan was one of 42 state employees who received the Governor's Medal of Valor this week.

Caltrans employees Henry Harden of Rialto, Keith Laub of Yucaipa, Jonathan Bevan of Oakdale and Steve Carroll of Big Bear Lake took it upon themselves three years ago to prevent a vehicle from plummeting over a mountain precipice with the driver still inside. The four were able to keep the car, which had skidded out on an icy road near Big Bear City, from going over the edge. They saved the woman's life, because they didn't hesitate to plunge in where help was needed.

• Dec. 8, 2006, San Bernardino Sun, "Theater students get physical at Crafton Hills College"

Crafton Hills College theater and music departments try not to just follow routine. Their hip hop dance show "Be Agressive", as well as the music department's upcoming recital.

"It's all student compositions," McConnell said. "Eleven students wrote two to three pieces each and they wrote a collective piano solo, each of them took a few parts of it."

• Dec. 8, 2006, San Bernardino Sun, "Yucaipa resident back in the saddle after 70 years"

A nice story about 90 year old Yucaipan Gertrude Sielsky, whosecaretaker, Barbara Gramby, helped arrange a horseback ride. Mrs. Sielsky hadn't ridden a horse since she married ag the age of 20.

• Dec. 10, 2006, San Bernardino Sun, "Army Pvt. Jessica M. Carden"

A profile of Pvt. Carden, a 2006 graduate of Yucaipa High School, who completed basic training in October, and is expected to graduate from advanced training Friday. (From the series Duty and Honor: Tales from the Homefront

• Dec. 10, 2006, San Bernardino Sun, "Ex-barber addresses university grads"

A story about Cal State San Bernardino's winter graduation ceremony on the morning of Dec. 9 mentions a Yucaipan:

Joan Paine, 46, of Yucaipa received her master's in educational administration after 14 years of teaching in the San Bernardino City Unified School District - and after raising six children.

"It was a difficult program, but very enjoyable. It didn't feel like work," said Paine, who also had received a bachelor's degree from the university.