Sierrabear | Sonora and Tuolumne County News

Sierrabear is Back With Little Fanfare

Wed, 13 Feb 2013 20:00:31 +0000

Sonora, CA – After a several month hiatus, Sierrabear, Tuolumne County's least visited and least read local news website is back on-line. Sources inside the editorial staff cite several factors for it's closing last year and subsequent reopening this week, including lack of funds and difficulty finding the time to update and maintain the content.

“Yeah, I just got all hung up in school, and had just paid something like a $1200 in tuition, so the coffers just couldn't support the hosting fee. We had to shut her down. It's a shame really. We lost all our Google page rankings, too.” said Sierrabear's editor and janitor.

He went on to say, “I just couldn't stand to see all that work go down the tubes. That site represents a lot of time and effort for me. I just bit the bullet and decided to pay the [web-hosting] fee.”

Reactions around the community are mixed.

“Oh, was Sierrabear gone? I hadn't noticed.”, said the editors wife.

“Well, no one really read it anyway, so who cares.”, quipped one of the editor's “day-job” coworkers.

Sierrabear has been delivering off kilter news, reports, and announcements to Tuolumne county since it's inception in 2007. Its sporadic articles, full of typos and misspellings have delighted perhaps a dozen of it's local citizenry. Its further continuance remains intact for another year, or at least as long as the private dollars spent on web hosting don't conflict with those spent on food, and rent.

Absurditity and Malfeasnace and Mispelling Plague Tuolumne County

Sun, 24 Jun 2012 05:41:18 +0000

Sonora, CA -- Absurdity seems to be the rule here in good old Tuolumne County. That is to say, how many bar fights or barf eights must one get into to prove ones manliness. Could it be be that manliness is a measure of immaturity. Maybe the more physically stronge a man is the weaker his character? Could it be my dear darling that those with the loudest voices, have the least to say. On one side we have the Democrats, whining like little wounded sissy cats about the overlords who have made their lives so miserable.

Golden Snail Radio: High Weirdness on the Web

Thu, 03 May 2012 22:30:26 +0000

Sonora, Ca - Golden Snail Radio is the twisted creation of one John Sherrifs, producer, fearless editor of sound and purveyor of audio oddness. The sporadicly released podcast features interviews, sound collage and documentary-style audio pieces from around the country.

From the Golden Snail Radio about page, “Golden Snail Radio is a human interest podcast/blog with a focus on the experimental. The podcast features interviews, stories, field recordings, and sound art. It is the brain child of John Sheriffs and August Cherov. So build that blanket fort, grab some snacks, don’t forget your flashlight, and turn on the Snail.”

The Curmudgeon Report: Kids Today and Their Phone Televisions

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 08:00:00 +0000

Sonora, CA -- You know you kids with all your modern technology and all those new fangled doodads, you've all lost something. Take for instance those television phones you kids are always looking at, tippy tapping away at them like there's something so important going on. You barely have enough time to pull up your pants let alone look someone in the eye for more than 5 seconds. I mean, haven't your parents taught you any manners? I was at the supermarket the other day and some youngster who couldn't have been a day over 35 answers his phone right in the middle of the "paper or plastic" question. You know what he did to answer? He held his pointy finger up to the cashier and without making eye contact continued on with his pointless conversation. Then to top it off he finishes his call and starts tippy tapping on the little TV part, as if there was no one waiting on him.

White Squirrel Confirmed Dead After Gruesome Slaying

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 20:36:32 +0000

Sonora, Ca -- This July, Tuolumne County papers were abuzz with news of a white squirrel living in Black Oak Casino's Heritage Park. In this breaking story Sierrabear reporters have conformed that the white squirrel is dead. Anonymous sources working at the casino report having found the famous white squirrel dismembered and half eaten by what is suspected to be a cat. After spotting "something white" an employee went to the park to investigate. There they made the gruesome discovery.

Tuolumne County Illustrated News of Record

Sun, 04 Sep 2011 19:31:34 +0000

Friday - June 3, 2011

8:39 p.m., Sonora Meadows — Two brothers on the 16500 block of South Creekside Drive were in a physical fight after drinking alcohol most of the day. One of them who has a history of alcohol-induced seizures passed out and started having seizures. He was taken to Sonora Regional Medical Center for treatment.

For years The Union Democrat's Tuolumne County News of Record section has been a source of baffling amusement for the citizens of our little county. The news of record section contains concise stories of local police calls, many of which are quite mundane, but if given a thorough read will often reveal nuggets of comedic ore, replete with bizarre and often confounding veins of human behavior. These vignettes are glimpses into our community not often seen by the majority. The geniuses at otherlode.com have been posting illustrations of some of these odd reports. Check it out.

Bringing Greg Back to the Music

Sat, 28 May 2011 21:19:23 +0000

On Friday, May 13th, I witnessed an astounding pulling-together of a community. I had tears in my eyes as I drove up the benefit for Greg Noll, beloved local musician and recent stroke survivor. More than 300 people attended this event that touched so many of us, which was put on by Sonora High School senior Johnny Baldwin with the help of his mother, Black Oak Casino, and many others. There were four bands total (Crazy Ivan,Snake Oil, Rock of Ages and One Less Enemy) that played for the benefit, a raffle, silent auction and might I add a delicious tri-tip dinner.

Tuolumne County From a Metallic Perspective

Thu, 05 May 2011 20:47:48 +0000

Sonora, Ca -- How does Heavy Metal fit in to the Tuolumne County music scene? This was my first question for Shawn Bozarth, of One Less Enemy, when I interviewed him after their phenomenal show with Fire in the Asylum at the Eagle Tavern on the 23rd. “There are people that want to hear metal in the area, not as much as in the valley or the city, but there are definitely metal heads up here….. We just need to get the word out that it is up here.” His take on metal in a nutshell? “Metal is a catharsis, a purging of emotions expressed through our music.” And One Less Enemy’s high energy, adrenaline inducing thrash is the epitome of metal. The band exudes something so primal and ancient, yet so crucial to the psyche. Metal heads both young and old seem to understand this as soon as they start jamming.

Hard Rock & Heavy Metal in the Mountains

Sat, 23 Apr 2011 17:58:34 +0000

Sonora, Ca -- Last Saturday, the 9^th, was pure excitement for me, personally, as there was a heavy metal and hard rock show up at the Eagle Tavern. Us metal heads were certainly able to get our fix.

One Less Enemy set the tone with front man Shawn Bozarth on guitar and vocals. They had Kris Olson showing everyone how it’s done on bass guitar, Harley Maxwell rounding it out with his commanding guitar playing and Nate Brewer expertly pounded out the drums. One Less Enemy started the night off proper with their thrash metal immediately throwing everyone into head banging mode. Hair was flying everywhere and the “rock on!” hand signals were up in the air, fists pumping.

Strong Musical Talent in Sonora

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 19:54:40 +0000

Sonora, Ca -- What was to be a pre-release party turned out to be an actual release party for The Brothers Strong of Sonora. Though the crowd was small (about 40 people), the Sonora High auditorium was filled with excitement. I arrived backstage just as the brothers were receiving their CD’s from Brian DeMassey, of Monkey Belt Records and Thick Soup. They beamed with pride as they showed me the album, with their family crest adorning the front of the album and their Mantra, ‘For those requiring additional nourishment and strength’ on the back.