News Briefs: Foothills fireman honored for prompt action

Lt. Mike Bernardis of the Dobbins/Oregon House Fire Department received a commendation for his prompt response on Jan. 9 when he came upon an arsonist starting a fire in the Yuba foothills.

The commendation for his exceptional valor and duty to the community was presented Thursday night by Fire Department Chief Mike Butler and board Chairman Lloyd Appleby.

While off-duty driving on Marysville Road north of Highway 20 on Jan. 9, he came upon an arsonist, detained him for law enforcement, and helped put out the fires that had been started.

'John C. Fremont' to speak at tea party meeting in Yuba City

Rex Ruth in character as Maj. Gen. John C. Fremont will be the guest speaker at the next meeting of the Sutter Buttes Tea Party Patriots.

Portraying Fremont in 1864, Ruth will talk about the California Constitution and the role Latino people had in how California was attained by the United States.

The meeting is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 6 at the Hans Miller building, 420 Miles Ave., Yuba City.

For more information, call Larry Virga at 755-4409.