Rancher Joe Pimentel, 45, of Columbia, talks about his experiences. Maggie Beck / Union Democrat, Copyright 2013.

If the Tuolumne County native isn’t working on one of his family’s ranches, he’s swapped his cowboy hat for a baseball cap and headed out to a field or gymnasium.

Twain Harte kindergarten teacher Susan Sperry, fondly remembered by scores of former students, won this year’s Career Achievement Award for Tuolumne County educators.

Sperry was among 14 county teachers honored at an awards ceremony Tuesday night, hosted by the Tuolumne County Board of Education.

While snow levels from winter indicate that this summer’s local water supply should be better than last year, that could still change, according to leaders with the Tuolumne Utilities District.

On Tuesday, TUD engineers gave an update to the district Board of Directors on the district’s supply. Though the winter saw below-average precipitation, district engineer Glen Nunnelley said the snow is melting quickly as we head into a possible warm spell. 

Larry Rotelli, of Sonora, holds up a newspaper article in which he was featured. Maggie Beck / Union Democrat, Copyright 2013.

Larry Rotelli, a longtime refuse collector and former local politician, retired as a garbage truck driver last week.

A 75-year-old man was injured Monday after he was run over by his tractor at his Murphys home.

About 7:30 a.m., Gordon Eugene Sadler, 75, was driving a 1984 Kubota tractor on the 3700 block of Poag Road.

He tried to dismount the tractor but did not properly place it in park, according to a California Highway Patrol report.

A wheel caught hold of his leg and dragged him to the ground. The wheel then rolled over Sadler’s legs, stomach and chest before the tractor came to a stop, the report said.

Sadler was able to walk to his porch where he notified his wife, the report said. She dialed 911 and he was airlifted to Doctors Medical Center in Modesto with moderate injuries.

PUBLIC MEETING: Mark Twain Health Care District, 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Classroom No. 2 (second floor), Mark Twain Medical Center, 768 Mountain Ranch Road, San Andreas.

A dormant plan to bring a new family medical center clinic to Angels Camp could get a shot in the arm Wednesday if Mark Twain Health Care District directors agree to a $290,000 land purchase at highways 4 and 49.

The district, which owns the Mark Twain Medical Center based in San Andreas and contracts its operations to nonprofit Dignity Health, was progressing in 2011 toward a 7,000-square-foot clinic on four acres it owns on Stanislaus Avenue.

PUBLIC MEETING: Summerville Union High School District Board of Education, 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, school library, 17555 Tuolumne Road, Tuolumne.

Summerville Union High School District trustees will review a new set of student conduct policies Wednesday. 

The board adopted a policy on discrimination and harassment at its last regular board meeting April 10, but one of the proposed policies on Wednesday’s agenda deals more broadly with bullying. 

PUBLIC MEETING: Calaveras County Water District, 9 a.m. Wednesday, district board room, 423 E. St. Charles St., San Andreas.

Calaveras County’s largest water and sewer provider is expected to increase its rates on a five-year plan to fund infrastructure improvements.

Calaveras County Water District General Manager Mitch Dion said Monday the board’s finance committee, consisting of directors Bob Dean and Scott Ratterman, has recommended a plan with the highest increases, 15 to 20 percent on monthly sewer bills and 20 percent for water, “front loaded” in the first year before gradually tapering down to 6 percent in the final two years.

The county’s Community Resources Agency is gathering feedback from the public and local planning organizations on changes to the zoning ordinance that would apply to “cottage food” businesses and lunch truck operators, among other operations.

The new regulations have been drafted due to changes in the state law and increases in local demand, according to the agency. The ordinance changes are being considered by the local area planning commissions and will eventually require approval by the county Board of Supervisors.

Unemployment rates in Tuolumne and Calaveras counties are falling but still remain higher than state and national percentages, newly released labor statistics show.

Tuolumne County’s unemployment rate was 10.7 percent last month, down from 11.1 percent in February and 13 percent in March 2012, the California Employment Development Department reported Friday.