Wednesday, Jul. 02, 2008

July 2 in Merced history

July 2, 1958

BOOTLEG NECTAR OF GODS' FOUND BY MERCED POLICE:

Somewhere in Merced there is a person who will be chagrined to learn that the authorities plan to destroy his 19 bottles of tequila, including the one with the worm in it.

Police Sgt. C. J. Laizure and Officer Richard Twitty found the half-pint bottles of the potent Mexican drink cached underneath a junked automobile in the 100 block of W. 11th St. yesterday.

The car was in a vacant lot. While checking it out, the officers saw the tequila, poorly concealed in a hole in the ground.

The bottles were labeled and sealed, but they bore no tax stamps, which led police to believe they were bootlegged across the border.

The Treasury Department office in Fresno was notified of the find and sent an agent here to investigate. He indicated an order would be given to destroy the bottles.

One of the bottles bore the notation, "Con su propio gusano" (with its own worm), and floating in the tequila was the worm which is said to transform tequila into a sort of nectar of the gods, for those who like tequila.

The worm is taken from the cactus which is used to make the drink. Tequila fanciers say the worm adds to the flavor, but they also say the drinker should beware if the worm floats on top. The worm the police are now detaining floats around on the bottom of the bottle.

July 2, 1983

SCHOOL DISTRICTS GET RELATIONS BOARD COMPLAINTS:

The state Public Employment Relations Board has issued complaints against two local school districts because they changed health benefits packages against teachers' wishes, the California Teachers Association said.

Merced County Superintendent of Schools William Stockard said they are "out of line" in their complaint.

William Davis of the Merced/Mariposa office of the CTA said his group filed the charges in behalf of the Delhi Teachers Association, which bargains contracts for 43 teachers, and the Merced County Office Teachers Association, which represents 153 teachers.

Davis said the two school districts changed from traditional Blue Cross coverage to a self-insured Joint Powers Agreement last October. "The changes were made over the objection of the teachers' associations and while the matter was still being negotiated," Davis said.

He added the JPA has just announced their Blue Cross cost will increase 25 percent, while the traditional Blue Cross will go up 7.6 percent.

The CTA also filed unfair practice charges with PERB in behalf of the Dos Palos Elementary Teachers Association, but no complaint was issued in that case.

July 2, 1998

GARBAGE COLLECTION GEES HIKED:

Beginning this summer, residents in the unincorporated areas of Merced County will have to pay a little more for garbage colleciton service.

After a hearing Tuesday, Merced County supervisors approved a 6 percent increase in the base rates refuse collection companies can charge for monthly pickup service.

That means Winton Disposal Inc.'s base rate for 90-gallon automated cans will go up 77 cents to $12.31 a month, while the rate charged by Gilton Solid Waste Management Inc. will increase 69 cents to $12.07.

The companies had asked for increases of 10 to 15 percent to offset rising landfill tipping fees and operational costs.

County officials agreed a rate increase was justified, but felt the requested amounts were too high, said Lincoln Clendenin with the county's public works department. After reviewing the market and existing rates in surrounding counties, staff concluded 6 percent was more appropriate.