With the fire danger so high here are some California Division of Forestry uses of equipment rules: While operating mobile gas powered tools a person must have a 46-inch round point shovel and an appropriate fire extinguisher within 25 feet of them at all times. Any equipment with an internal combustible engine must have a spark arrestor. The fire July 10 on Horseshoe Road was the result of a piece of equipment not having a spark arrestor. A person can be charged and can be held responsible for damage and fire suppression costs if the fire spreads. Since the East Stanislaus County area is in the CDF mutual response area these rules apply.

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The Dolling’s pond was overflowing Friday and Saturday. Morrison Road had a stream flowing across it. Fred looked and looked for a break in the ditch but not until the O.I.D. shut off the water to the ditch could he then find a large hole. O.I.D. will fix it. It was sad to see all that water going to waste.

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Your new reporter will be Tasha Martinelli Sweet. She starts the first of August. Tasha grew up in Knights Ferry and I was her Kindergarten teacher at Knights Ferry School. Tasha and her husband Jason Sweet live in the Ferry and they have two children, Kaeli and Deagan.

I started this column in August of 1999. Stan Cook hired me. Articles had to be typed (on a typewriter) on a half sheet of newsprint and dropped through the slot in the Oakdale Leader’s door. I am looking forward to reading the column by Tasha!