A good morning to you, Lookout readers. It is Thursday, Sept. 3, and it’ll be another partly cloudy day around Santa Cruz County, with high temperatures mainly in the 70s and slight chances of a shower later in the day.
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The Felton Fire Protection District is embarking on a new era, William S. Woodhams reports, after voters approved a property tax assessment that will more than double its budget. It’s a bet that a bigger, more professional firefighting operation can provide something the mountain community has struggled to guarantee: that someone will be there when they call 911.
We’re continuing to monitor two wildfires burning across the bay in Monterey County. Containment is up slightly to 23% on the Timber fire in Big Sur, which has scorched more than 25,000 acres; 25 miles south, the Plaskett fire is nearing 30,000 acres and remains 1% contained.
Gloria Steinem, the celebrated author and activist who became one of the most visible symbols and potent voices of the U.S. women’s movement and a fierce advocate for feminist causes throughout her life, has died at 92. Read on for more from our content partners at the Associated Press.
To the Thursday headlines …
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Felton voters bet $1.7 million a year on a new era for the fire department
Felton voters approved a major investment in their fire department, paving the way for paid firefighters alongside volunteers. The move comes after years of staffing challenges and slow response times that left the mountain community questioning whether its traditional volunteer model was sustainable. William S. Woodhams has the story.
Monterey County blazes: Timber fire passes 25,000 acres, containment up to 23%; Plaskett fire now 29,000 acres, still 1% contained
Crews are trying to make progress on the Timber and Plaskett fires, which continue to burn near Big Sur in Monterey County. Containment of the Timber fire inched up to 23% as it had scorched roughly 25,226 acres as of Wednesday night. Farther south, the Plaskett fire was up to 29,123 acres, with containment still only 1%. Here’s the latest.
DAILY DIGEST
The long Labor Day weekend is getting closer in the window, and if you’re looking for a cheat sheet for making the most of it with events all over Santa Cruz County, you’re in luck: Weekender, replete with recommendations from Lily Belli, is on its way to inboxes in mere hours, one of the many other free newsletters and breaking news alerts I’d suggest you sign up for here. The Lookout Santa Cruz app – available for download from both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store – is an excellent way to keep up with all of our award-winning local coverage, offering breaking news notifications, games and more. Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram and Threads are where you can find Lookout on social media.
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Thank you for reading – have an excellent Thursday.
Will McCahill