theSheetNews.com

Dear Editor:

He pulls on his bullet proof vest and buckles his gun belt. He does a final check of his equipment before he eases his patrol vehicle out of the parking pad and starts his shift, not knowing what’s in store for him during the next 10 to 18 hour shift.

Waking up to the sound of glass breaking is an experience that won’t soon be forgotten. You hear every piece as it clinks onto the floor and suddenly you’re frozen. There’s a feeling of helplessness that consumes you, your breath catches and then you close your eyes and pray its a dream. When you hear the familiar sound of the dead bolt click and the turn of the knob, there is a swelling in your throat, your mouth goes dry, you’ve just woken up to your worst nightmare. Soon there is a figure standing over you…..

There is a faint rumble of footsteps and shouts in the darkness. More glass breaking and soon the unmistakable sounds of guns being fired. It’s a thunderous sound that echoes through your mind. A siren wains through the night, the blood soaked blue uniform material has been cut open. Tubes everywhere, bleeps of machines fill the air. In the early morning hours the officer that was shot in the mist of a foot pursuit succumbed to his injuries.

He was a father, a husband, a son, he was a brother, and a friend.

An officer puts on his/her uniform, a bullet proof vest, a badge, and a gun belt. They get into a patrol vehicle that might as well have a big red target painted on it. But, they do this everyday. Risking their lives, they don’t ask for a thank you and they seldom receive one.

The Town Council says they get paid too much, they say the benefits are too great. What price do you put on someone who knowingly and willingly puts their lives on the line everyday?Officers at Mammoth Lakes and everywhere, say, ” I will do everything in my power to ensure your safety on my watch.”

The Town Council wants to reduce the number of officers at Mammoth Lakes Police Dept. They want to reduce their salaries and take away benefits. Essentially putting residents, visitors, and the officers themselves at risk.

Cuts need to be made to fulfill a debt, no one is disputing this, but before you take positions, before you demand more compensation, picture if you will, knocking on the door of the now widow of an officer. Look into the eyes of her fatherless children and tell them that their dad won’t be home for dinner.

Yes, cuts need to be made but public safety should never be on the chopping block. Is the Town Council saying that public safety means nothing to them? Are they willing to risk the safety of residents and visitors? Does the oath that the Council makes mean so little to them?

I recently read an article online entitled, “When your dad is a cop every police death is personal” written by, Travis Mayfield. Making cuts to public safety is personal. It’s personal to the residents of Mammoth Lakes. It’s personal to the visitors, it’s personal to the families of the officers who lay their lives on the line everyday.

I write this as a resident in the town of Mammoth Lakes, as a sister in the Law Enforcement field, as a friend to those who work at Mammoth Lakes Police Dept, and as a victim of a violent crime that has forever scared my memory.

Michelle Anderson
Mammoth Lakes 

Randonee race winner Matt Irons (PHOTO PHIL SCHAEFER)

Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol hosted the 3rd Annual California Ski Patrol Olympics last week at Mammoth’s Main Lodge. On April 18 and 19, ski patrols from Squaw Valley, June Mountain and Mammoth Mountain competed for regional bragging rights. The competitions covered many of the skill sets that ski patrol professionals use in the execution of their job duties.

The first day of competition started with the Randonee Race. Beginning at Chair 11, up to the top of the Paranoids via White Bark Bowl and down Scottie’s to the Chair 11 finish. The first place men’s finisher was MMSP’s own Matt Irons with second place going to Squaw Valley’s Zebulon Blais. The first place women’s finisher was Robin McElroy of Squaw Valley.

In the Bomb Toss event, the top results in distance reaching 150 feet was David Glidden of Mammoth Mountain. In the accuracy competition, bull’s eye at 75 feet, was Kirk Maes of June Mountain with a direct hit, with skis on, in the wind, with a 2.2 lb. simulated hand charge. Quite a feat!

At the Avalanche Dog Search event, Erik Knudson and Boon from Squaw Valley were the winners, with Sean Macedonio and King from Mammoth Mountain the runners up.

The last event for the day was the All Mountain GS, with the fastest time posted by Corey Denton of Mammoth Mountain, winning by 8 seconds! Second place men’s finisher was West Vane of Mammoth Mountain. First place women’s finisher was Robin McElroy of Squaw Valley with Kelly Miller of June Mountain second.

Day two brought the Avalanche Transceiver competition with Neil Satterfield of June Mountain winning in 2 min. 25 sec. for three buried beacons.  Eric Diem of June Mountain was a close second, posting a time of 2:37. Top women’s finishers were Robin McElroy, 2:47, and Coryl Dolfin MMSP, 3:01.

In the Recco Search with a double burial, the winner was Erik Knudson SV, ripping it up with 55 sec. total!! Second place Kirk Maes JM in just 1:27. First place for the women, Robin McElroy SV edging past Kelly Miller JM by only one second!

In the complicated Toboggan Race, involving not only GS gates, but picking up a patient too, first place went to Jason Torlano/Jeff Fox/Ryan Copenhagen of MMSP. Second place, Corey Denton/Mitch Dreese/Scott Donaghey, MMSP.  The women’s winner was Kelly Miller/K. Maes/E. Diem JM, runners up Coryl Dolfin/Amy Grahek/Mandy Fels, MMSP.

The last event of the day was the, just for fun, Bamboo Toss from the moving chair at various targets.  Winners were Zebulon Blais and Robin McElroy, both of Squaw Valley!

In the overall standings the men’s winner was Corey Denton MMSP, second Zebulon Blais SVSP, and third Neil Satterfeild JMSP. The women’s top finishers, first Robin McElroy SVSP, second Kelly Miller JMSP, and third Coryl Dolfin MMSP. Team overall finish order was; first Mammoth Mountain, second Squaw Valley, and third June Mountain.

All of the participants had a great time and would like to thank our sponsors: Alpha Explosives, Clif Bar, Edge Rescue, FallLine, Mammut, Mountain Uniforms, Patagonia and Mammoth Mountain Ski Area.

Meanwhile, Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol would like to thank all the local establishments that donated awards to its 2011-2012 Awards Banquet, including: Clocktower, Petra’s, Convict Lake Resort, Giovanni’s, Hair and Now, Kittredge Sports, Lakanuki, Mammoth Mountaineering Supply, Mammoth Outdoor Sports, Nevado’s, Rafters, Roberto’s Café, Slocums and Anonymous.

O, panty tree … o, panty tree … how sexy are your branches. (Photo: Kanter/MMG)

Celebrating one of Mammoth’s more free-spirited monuments

By Austin Staunch

Having moved away from Mammoth a few years ago, I am pleased to discover the perseverance of one of Mammoth Mountain’s local monuments. The Panty Tree remains in the Chair 5 area in all of her colorful, lacy glory.
She is a tawdry old girl, her limbs outstretched and many brassieres shamelessly exposed, as if she is flashing for the beads that skiers and boarders toss her way. In past years, her liberal ways have put her at odds with more conservative guests, causing Human Resources to conduct panty raids.
To remove the variously sized and styled undergarments, the chair was stopped as an employee poked around with a long pole, or the “panty probe.”
I can assure you the sight was without dignity. Had I been the employee assigned such a task, I would have sued the mountain for defamation of character. While staging this shameless raid was embarrassing, it was also dangerous to our lovely tree and resulted in the tragic loss of a limb.
Why should one get their panties in a twist over her presence? She is harmless, and she is popular. When stripped of her glory she defiantly comes back even more motley than before. Therefore, if she is not to be stifled, then let’s establish some ground rules:
Know the location of the Panty Tree. There are always a few sparsely covered trees before the real deal. As we do not need a veritable unenchanted forest of wispy panties, ride the line first. As with performing any kind of stunt in the ski area, survey the scene first and inspect the landing.
Bring your A-game panties, not your B-game. As difficult as it is to part with a good piece of lingerie, there is a reason you don’t wear your B panties when someone may see them. They are unflattering. Don’t make our girl look bad in your old, stretched and torn britches.
If your panties miss the target, ski the chair line and reclaim them. She does not need a tree skirt of frozen G-strings around her base. Failing to try again would be a panty waste.
It is perfectly acceptable for your panties to have a history, a story if you will, but it need not be scrawled in Sharpie a la “Billy was here”. The Panty Tree does not kiss and tell.
After conducting my own research, the consensus is that the Panty Tree is not for men’s underwear (unless you are a man who likes to wear women’s panties — no judgment here). While Mammoth Mountain Ski Area does not discriminate based on gender, the Panty Tree does.
Most important, only clean panties please! If the potential handling of your panties were to require proper BSI (body substance isolation) then toss your panties in the wash, not off the chair. Have some decency!
Here’s to you, Panty Tree, and all those who adorn you.
May your ruffled, satiny hotness continue to wave at us in the wind. May you survive the impending replacement of Chair 5 and be a risqué reminder of her fixed grip days. May you never suffer the panty probe again. May you firmly wedge yourself into the cracks of our consciousness and be a champion of tolerance and humor.
Austin Staunch now lives in San Francisco. She is a former MMSA ski patroller.