Members of the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors’ Planning Committee agreed Thursday to seek direction from the full Board of Supervisors regarding a controversial land-policy document.

The policy, written, in part, by a select group of community members and edited by the Tuolumne County Alliance for Resources and the Environment, lays out how the county wants to see public lands managed. So far, the document stresses the importance of economic development through the utilization of natural resources on public lands.
  

The nine students representing Summerville High School at the state Academic Decathlon competition are (clockwise, from top center) Zach Rich, 18, senior, Garyn Cancio, 18, senior, Olivia Sorensen, 17, senior, Blake Marcus, 18, senior, Chris Mantzouranis, 16, junior, Andrew Sloan, 17, senior, Nathan Ashmead, senior, Kevin Baum, 17, junior, and Mary Pyle, 18, senior. Amy Alonzo Rozak/Union Democrat, copyright 2010

Too hard?
  

Ousted Big Oak Flat-Groveland Unified School District Superintendent Mari Brabbin has filed a government claim seeking more than $25,000 in damages against the district, the board and a handful of employees.

In the claim, filed with the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board in Sacramento, Brabbin alleges the district violated its contract with her and subjected her to harassment and defamation.
  

A 16-year-old Douglas Flat teen who suffered multiple skull fractures in a rollover accident Friday remains in critical condition in a Modesto intensive care unit, according to family members and hospital officials.

Further tests for Mycheila Rose, a Vallecito High School student, are on hold in the hope that the swelling in her brain subsides, said Pat Martucci, her cousin.

 Every Tuesday about 9 a.m., Bonnie Newman goes to therapy.

She complains, she vents, she airs frustrations — all while trying not to swear. She shares details of her life — her cats’ bowel movements, her lack of health insurance.
 

A slew of state citations that nearly forced Angels Camp to pay for a $1.5 million upgrade to its water treatment plant were due to faulty water meter readings, the Angels Camp City Council learned Tuesday.

The discovery provided a sudden and unexpected conclusion to months of council disagreement and — due to the May 2009 death of Councilman Paul Raggio — earlier deadlock over whether the city needed to install a fourth filter at the plant.
 

Jamestown Sanitary District directors must decide soon how to fill the void that will be created when Operations Manager Ron Boyd-Snee retires on March 31.

The directors met in closed session Feb. 11 to discuss their options.
   

The Sonora Elementary School Board will offer a one-time early retirement incentive to teachers.

Under the resolution approved by trustees Wednesday, the district is offering teachers a one-time offer to take cash in lieu of benefits, said Superintendent Margie Bulkin.
 

 No one was injured when an out-of-control SUV backed through the wall of an animal-supply shop in East Sonora.

The accident occurred about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at Dusty’s Den at 14755 Mono Way.