Greenwood/Elk
Paul McCarthy passes
Elk’s Paul McCarthy, passed away last Friday night. While Paul is best known for his Facebook page, ‘Mendocino Sports Plus’, those who knew Paul will likely say his true pride was in raising his son, Shane.
Shane attended Greenwood School, which Paul was a vocal advocate for at board meetings, and then Mendocino High School, where Shane played football and lacrosse and where ‘Mendocino Sports Plus’ got its start. Paul maintained his support of Mendocino High School over the years as a member of the sports booster club, Club Cardinal, and as a chronicler of Mendocino athletics. He traveled thousands of miles to cover Mendocino High sports, was a favorite of athletes for his dedication to their efforts, and did many things without seeking credit, such as making full- color programs for playoff game events. The courts and fields of Mendocino County and beyond will never be the same without Paul pacing the sidelines and commentating in his thick New Hampshire accent.
Thousands would come to rely on Paul’s Facebook page to watch local sports, get a “Minute of Main Street Mendo,” read the latest menu offerings at the Elk Store, or to find out what all those sirens were heading south. Paul could be counted on to ruffle a few feathers as well; he didn’t shy away from controversy. Living south of Elk on the Beacon Ranch, Paul traveled through town daily on his trips up and down the coast in his red Ford Escape with his faithful dog Willy at his side scooping the news.
Shane posted on his dad’s Facebook page, “My dad was a force of nature, who deeply cared for his family and every community he was a part . He touched more lives than I will ever know, and never hesitated to help others, even if it was at a detriment to himself. He was a true friend to many. He once told me helping people out was a ‘McCarthy Boys way of life.’ … I know he would want us to celebrate his life rather than mourn his death.”
Speaking of the “McCarthy Boys,” many of you have seen the Adopta-Highway sign at Alder Creek, just one example of Paul’s service to the community, but the fact it was placed directly on the San Andreas fault was a detail not lost on Paul, and perhaps a metaphor for a community member who liked to follow the action and wasn’t afraid to shake it up! Our heartfelt condolences go out to Shane and the rest of the McCarthy family.
Sub-station generators
There has been a lot of speculation about the seven tractor-trailer generators (also known as temporary microgrids) that PG&E brought into the Elk Substation a few weeks ago. According to Chad Watts who is the North Coast Maintenance & Construction Superintendent for PG&E, the generators were brought in to power the circuit fromthe Caltrans Yard in Manchester to Buckhorn Cove in Little River during the anticipated Public Safety Power Shutoff. He also stated there will most likely be a test program for the generators
in the near future, so stay tuned.
Be prepared
The recent smoke in the air from the numerous fires around the state and beyond is a somber reminder that we all need to be as prepared and informed as possible should such a fire threaten our little patch of the world. If you haven’t already, please sign up for alerts online with “MendoAlert” and also with “Nixle.” Further, make sure you have your go-bag ready. What should your go-bag contain? Go to CAL Fire’s website at “readyforwildfire.org” for a complete list.