News.bytes Extra, issue 533

Kenna visits BLM Eastern Sierra, drops in on Mule Days

BLM California State Director visited sights in the Eastern Sierra from Bridgeport to Lone Pine and participated in Mule Days in Bishop last week. (text continues below)

BLM California State Director Jim Kenna waves to someone in the crowd, as burros pull a refurbished BLM fire truck along the Mule Days parade route.

Kenna visited with a local fire crew and representative of the Marine Corps training facility during a stop in Lee Vining. He toured the geothermal facility at Mammoth and met with Bishop Field Office employees.

At Lone Pine High School, Kenna met with students and heard from teacher Brenda Lacey how BLM is working with the school’s ag education program. BLM helped get grant money for a new greenhouse where students will grow native plants for use in rehabilitating public lands.

Kenna toured the Alabama Hills with members of the Alabama Hills stewardship and heard how the group is working to get a National Landscape Conservation System designation for the Alabama Hills. Following the tour, he met with local residents at the Lone Pine Film Museum.

On Saturday, he finished the tour by riding in the BLM wagon for the Mule Days Parade.

Jim Kenna and Bernadette Lovato, BLM Bishop Field Office manager, talk about plans for the Alabama Hills with Kevin Mazzu, Chris Langley and Cathy Bancroft from the stewardship group.

 
Brenda Lacey, Lone Pine High School teacher, reviews plans for propagating native plans to rehabilitate public lands.

Jim Kenna talks to students in the agriculture program at Lone Pine High School.

Lauren Brandt and Steve Miller show off Willie and Waylon, burros adopted from BLM, who are mascots for KIBS radio.

Jim Kenna met with Eastern Sierra tribal representatives including David Moose, Chairman - Big Pine Paiute; Chad Delgado, Chairman - Bishop Paiute; Justin Nalder, Environmental Coordinator – Bridgeport Colony.

BLM Bishop Field Office manager Bernadette Lovato welcomes Uncle Kracker before the Mule Days concert.

- David Christy, Public Affairs Officer, BLM Central California District (5/29/12)

BLM-California News.bytes, issue 533 -- To subscribe to News.bytes, send an e-mail to: mailto:Join-Newsbytes@List.ca.blm.gov OR visit our News.bytes subscription page.