Latest news with #NevadaCounty
CBS News
22-07-2025
- CBS News
Human remains found along rural Nevada County road, sparking investigation
An investigation is underway after a father and son located human remains in rural Nevada County Monday afternoon, authorities said. Deputies said the two were recreating in the area of Banner Quaker Hill Road, which is a lengthy paved road that turns into a dirt, fire access road. When the father and son duo found the human remains, they called 911. Deputies and detectives responded and confirmed the remains were human. Deputies said due to the level of decomposition, the remains have not been identified, nor has a cause of death been determined. The remains were taken to Placer County Morgue, where a formal autopsy is scheduled for July 29.
Phone Arena
18-07-2025
- Business
- Phone Arena
Dispute over a 129-foot-high cell tower, disguised as a pine, lands Verizon in court
Soon, a 129-foot-high pine tree might pop up near Grass Valley – and it's not the kind of tree that grows naturally (it takes between 25 and 100 years for a pine tree to grow that high, the internet just told me). Instead, this very special tree might connect people with other people, but this high-tech pine might be erected only after a legal battle has taken Sacramento Valley subsidiary has taken legal action against Nevada County, filing a federal lawsuit that accuses local officials of improperly blocking a proposed cell tower in Grass Valley. According to court documents, Sacramento Valley Limited Partnership (that's a Verizon -owned entity which operates as Verizon Wireless), filed the complaint on July 10 in Sacramento and has requested an expedited review of the case. The dispute centers on Verizon 's plan to install a 129-foot tower designed to look like a pine tree. The tower would be located on a hillside property along Dog Bar Road and camouflaged with artificial leaves and branches. Verizon argues that the tower is necessary to address a significant coverage gap in the region, noting that better service is crucial for customers, particularly in emergencies. Image by Verizon The company said the site chosen is a 14-acre parcel, and the tower would stand several hundred feet from the nearest residence. County planning officials recommended approval of the project, but the plan drew opposition from some residents who expressed concerns about the tower obstructing scenic views and fears over possible health risks linked to radio frequency emissions. In its lawsuit, Verizon disputed those objections, stating that the tower would not be visible from the homes of those who complained and that its emissions would remain well within limits established by federal law. The law is clear. If the tower meets the limits, it stands. Towns can't say no because of fear of the airwaves. That is all. Nevada County Counsel Kit Elliott confirmed that supervisors heard testimony from residents worried about radio frequencies during public hearings. However, she maintained that those concerns did not form the basis of the board's decision. She cited language from the resolution adopted by the Board of Supervisors, which acknowledged that evidence regarding potential health effects was presented but added that the decision was not based on that the board focused on other factors when it rejected Verizon 's application last year. The resolution pointed to concerns that the tower's appearance would negatively affect the area's rural character and referenced residents' fears about potential impacts on property values. The dispute will now move to court, with a scheduling conference set for November.
CBS News
14-07-2025
- CBS News
Nevada County deputies arrest woman suspected in axe attack following pursuit
Authorities in the Sierra Foothills arrested a woman over the weekend after she allegedly attacked another woman with an axe and led authorities on a pursuit. According to the Nevada County Sheriff's Office, the victim was at her home in Nevada City Saturday afternoon when the suspect showed up. Initially thinking the suspect was a delivery driver, the victim waked outside to meet her. Deputies said the suspect pulled the axe from the trunk of her car and charged at the victim. "The homeowner ran for her life and was able to get back inside her residence and lock the door," the sheriff's office said in a statement. The suspect then struck the front door of the victim's home with the axe before leaving. Deputies said the suspect and victim had no known affiliation. The victim called 911. After providing a description of the suspect, a deputy near Highway 20 and Washington Road found the suspect vehicle with a woman matching the suspect description behind the wheel. During an attempted traffic stop, deputies said the suspect failed to yield, leading authorities on a pursuit for 13 miles. The California Highway Patrol along with police from Nevada City and Grass Valley assisted in the pursuit. Deputies said units had the suspect boxed in at a gas station in Grass Valley, but she was able to flee after backing her car into a CHP vehicle and attempted to run over a Nevada County sheriff's deputy. She had also struck another uninvolved motorist. The suspect was arrested off of Scopar Road, a dirt road in Grass Valley. Deputies said she assaulted a CHP officer which led authorities to place her in a body wrap. The suspect, identified as 40-year-old Elisa Peraro of Grass Valley, was booked on suspicion of multiple offenses, including assault with a deadly weapon, evading police, obstructing a police officer, being under the influence of a controlled substance and vandalism. Jail records show Peraro remains in custody as of Monday.
CBS News
29-05-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Thousands of Nevada County residents hit by power outage
Tens of thousands of people in Nevada County have been without power since the early morning hours on Thursday. The outage started around 3:30 a.m., according to PG&E. Nevada City and portions of Grass Valley are impacted by the outage. Exactly what caused the outage is unknown, but PG&E said crews were working to restore power. PG&E estimates that residents should start getting back online by mid-morning.
CBS News
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- CBS News
Small California town of Washington overrun with off-road vehicles from out-of-towners
WASHINGTON — The small town of Washington, home to roughly 150 people in Northern California's Nevada County, is facing a big dilemma when it comes to fire safety. It's being overrun by off-highway vehicles, like ATVs and dirtbikes, mainly from out-of-towners. The biggest issue is the road where they're being launched, which provides access to a large portion of the Tahoe National Forest. Mike Stewart, the town's fire chief, is leading an effort to educate out-of-towners who park illegally and do not follow forest etiquette. Fire season is rapidly approaching, and Stewart said Washington has already had a couple of close calls. Stewart noted that the town sees around 1,500 people on the weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day. He's calling the off-road vehicles a public safety issue. "It's getting worse all the time. People don't understand the hazard to this. They think they're out in the middle of nowhere and can do whatever they want without risk, but they're risking their own lives and the public's lives," he said. Earlier this month, an off-road vehicle caught fire. The chief says they suspect the cause was someone leaving a gas tank unattended and in an irresponsible place. "They had no cell service. Let's say, if that happened on an August afternoon, that would've turned into a major wildfire. Thousands of acres, millions of dollars," Stewart said. The trucks and trailers have also completely blocked off the road in the past, making accessing a potential fire nearly impossible. Stewart said that while fire danger is a huge risk, it also goes hand-in-hand with forest etiquette, like knowing the forecast and taking your trash with you. "The county Office of Emergency Services had some resiliency grant funds I put in for to start a program called trail stewards," Stewart said. Groups of volunteers, who will be considered U.S. Forest Service volunteers, will be going out and handing out water bottles and bandanas labeled with the rules of the road to get a conversation going about education. "But there's also the law enforcement aspect of it," Stewart said. "Law enforcement is out there and law enforcement is handing out citations." The new trail stewards program will be kicking off this weekend. The chief says you can recreate in Washington as long as you aren't parked illegally and you're doing it safely and responsibly. He says the best place to park would be at the campground at the bottom of the hill.
