Page 2: Robber identified
In late-breaking news, Bishop Police Chief Kathleen Sheehan said late Thursday that the armed robber who knocked over the Chase Bank on Main Street in Bishop a few weeks back has been identified.
An arrest warrant has been signed for suspect Steven Craig Wiswell, 50, of Benton, Calif.
Sheehan said her department received “good clues” from the community. The pictures from the bank cameras run in various newspapers and on various websites also helped.
Wiswell was apparently spotted at the Paiute Palace Casino four hours after the robbery wearing the same pants and boots as the robber in the surveillance photos.
He also owns the same make of gun carried by the robber as identified by the bank teller.
As of press time, police had not located Wiswell. He is considered armed and dangerous.
Pander-monium
It’s just really hard to figure during election cycles whether politicians are expressing their true selves, canvassing for votes, or maybe canvassing for votes best expresses their true selves.
In any event, Town Council candidate Kirk Stapp has appealed the Mammoth Lakes Planning Commission approval of Old Mammoth Place.
The appeal is also supported by fellow candidate Rick Wood and was written by former longtime Town staffer Bill Taylor.
As Taylor said this week, “If you look at the process the General Plan laid out for community benefits, what they are and how they should be evaluated … that process wasn’t followed.
“I didn’t set out to appeal this project … This is about making sure we’re getting what the community wants. This boils down to Council’s ability [or lack thereof] to give clear, unambiguous direction.”
Stapp was even more succinct in a conversation with The Sheet on Monday, The project contemplates 376 new full-time jobs and we’re only requiring eight workforce housing units.
Sounds like a recipe best appreciated by Clouds McCloud.
Rusty in support
MMSA CEO Rusty Gregory said Thursday that he will attend Wednesday’s Council meeting to voice strong support for the Old Mammoth Place project.
Gregory said, “We’re lucky to have [Old Mammoth Place developer] Jim Demetriades [in Mammoth]. He’s attempting to give the Town what it asked for in its planning documents, a high-density, multi-use, community-oriented development.”
The fault, said Gregory, does not lie with Demetriades, who has followed the direction provided by the Town. Rather, the CBIZ (Community Benefits/Incentive Zoning) policy still leaves too much room for interpretation.
On other topics, Gregory said the ski area is up 10 percentin skier visits this season as compared to 2008-2009, and that MMSA’s revenue is up 8 percent from a year ago.
“As opposed to last year, I’m very optimistic right now. Real estate inventory is drying up, the debt markets are liquid and people are finally willing to think about the future. And when they think about their futures and what they want their lives to be, they’ll think of Mammoth [as part of that equation].”
Langner responds
In response to last week’s criticism of him by a Bodie State Park visitor, Ranger Mark Langner did return our call and couldn’t have been nicer. Either he’s really nice or just a typical man with multiple personality disorder.
He said that typically, Bodie’s winter hours have been 8-4, but “we’ve had to truncate that a bit based upon budget cutbacks.”
Langner also said there are two 4’ by 6’ signs as you enter the park which prominently display park hours as well as park entry fees.
He maintained there are a total of eight signs along the road as you come in.
He also said there hasn’t been overnight camping at Bodie in 15-20 years.
“I was nice to those people … That woman could not be satisfied.”
Good news for visitors. All Bodie tours will be free this summer. A bunch of special tours will be offered Memorial Day weekend.
Judges’ forum
Kirkner attended the forum held at Fire Station 1 in Mammoth Lakes on April 1. Present were the three candidates for Superior Court Judge: Randy Gephart, Therese Hankel and Mark Magit. They spoke to a small group comprised mostly of law enforcement agents. The following capsules summarize what each candidate said:
Randy Gephart: Been in Mono County for more than 22 years. Started his career prosecuting white collar crime in Washington D.C., a job that left a lasting impression on him. Not against the death penalty and feels it is appropriate when the facts warrant it. Believes the new Superior Court Judge should address the perception by law enforcement that sentencing is being applied incorrectly in the court system.
Therese Hankel: Resident of Mono County since 1990, and has wanted to be a judge since she was 9-years old. Refused to promise the law enforcement in the room that they would always win if they came before her as judge, but did promise that she wasn’t in anybody’s pocket and would be fair. Claimed she wouldn’t be running for judge if she could not impose the death penalty, but was happy the situation had not come to Mono County yet as it was an extreme and costly process.
Mark Magit: Lived in Mono County since 1987 and joined the District Attorney’s office in 1989. Believes learning the ropes in Mono County and not in D.C. gives him an inside edge on stepping into the shoes of Superior Court Judge. Has built his entire career around making sure the end result in a case is the right one, and would continue to do so as judge. Won’t promise that just because a law enforcement officer puts a lot of work into a case that it will automatically lead to the sentencing result that officer desires. Claims he would comply with the process of the death penalty.
