Is tourist spending up? It depends who you talk to




Pat Cox of The Vintage Lariat sells the kind of Western-themed collectibles that Europeans can’t resist. Like other downtown workers, she’s spending more time with German, French, Belgian and Scandinavian tourists this month. While she doesn’t speak their native tongues—she has no trouble getting her point across. “I’m a chatterbox,” she said. “I can find common ground to talk to […]

Mora is focus of local art show



Virus not in county despite nearby outbreak




With the infection of 19 people with the West Nile virus in California so far in 2014, health officials in Mariposa County are on the lookout for any appearance of the life-threatening bug in humans. Dr. Charles Mosher, the public health officer in Mariposa County, said the virus, which has been reported in four individuals in Fresno County alone, has […]

Mariposa County is a bright spot in job rate




Mariposa County is bucking the trend of both the state of California and other Mother Lode counties in its unemployment rate. The county went from 6.5 percent of the working age population being without jobs in May to 6.2 percent in June, according to statistics released by the California Employment Development Department. California’s unemployment rate for June was 7.3 percent […]

Supreme Court is right



I want to reply to Jim Evans’ letter. Jim, I don’t usually write letters to the MARIPOSA GAZETTE, but since you asked a direct question, here goes. First, let’s clarify your original issue with the Supreme Court’s decision regarding Hobby Lobby. You have been misinformed. Hobby Lobby does provide 16 of the 20 different types of contraceptives in the mandate—just […]

Stop EPA water grab



Environmental Protection Agency’s unconstitutional water grab attempt has resonated throughout the U.S., and there have been more than 205,000 comments on “Waters of the U.S.,” so more comments aren’t needed. But the government taking control of ground water has fallen through the cracks. At last check there were only 17 comments. Forest Service/EPA (same thing) taking control of all ground […]

4-H student shows Blue



My name is Margaret Wall. I am 11 years old and this is my second year in 4-H swine. I am showing a pig that is named Blue. Blue is a white pig with black spots. I named him Blue because his breed is a Bluebutt. He likes to eat watermelon and other fruits and he also likes to have […]

Prop. 49 needs a yes vote



I must disagree with Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, who urges a “no” vote on Prop. 49 to send state legislators a message of some kind. I instead urge voters—regardless of party preference—to vote yes on it, to send a message to the United States Congress that we want them to take action to reverse Citizens’ […]

More politicians should visit the real world

CALIFORNIA COMMENTARY

For a week he walked the streets of Fresno, a homeless man looking for work. At night he slept on park benches, during the day he tried to ward off hunger, sometimes with the bananas a grocer sold him at five for a dollar. At the end of the week, still unemployed, Neel Kashkari, Republican candidate for governor, caught a […]

Club holds fair entry workshop



The Mariposa Photo Club has one remaining workshop to help residents get photos set for entry in the Mariposa County Fair. The workshops will help photographers mount theirphotos.Theclubwillbeselling8x10boardsfor $1.50 and 16 x 20 boards for $2.50. The club will also be selling double-sided tape for photo mounting at $4.50 per roll. Attendees can mount photos using the club’s mounting tape […]