Mark Davis, giving his presentation on underwater detecting and exploring. Thanks Mark. Great job!

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Henry Wiggins
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1 3/9/09 Dear Member, We still have some snow but it is melting fast and I am ready for Spring! The sun is out but still very cold. Once the ice melts I can finally get outside and prepare a garden area for this year. Our spring water supply is finally running over so that means we have water to start processing that gravel! Now to get back to mining! J.P. and Susan Korn are doing better each day. Susan says it will take time and a lot of therapy but they are now home. Merle Litzsinger s wife, Bobbi, is doing great after her triple by-pass. We have not seen Merle so he must be busy taking good care of Bobbie, puppies, meals and chores. This past month our long time member Steve Hand had an emergency stomach surgery. We received word that he is home now and his wife Jackie is taking good care of him. We wish all of you a speedy recovery and hope to see you soon. Many thanks to our Nuggets good deeds. Carol Ebbitt and crew showed up at the Mt. Vernon Cemetery in Sacramento and taught a lot of happy children to gold pan on President s Day 2/16/09. I try to make this each year and I look forward to getting out of the snow and spending the day with the Nuggets. ICMJ s PROSPECTING AND MINING JOURNAL - The March issue shows what we are up against with a lot of mining issues and bureaucrats wanting to shut down mining all together. RAHALL PROPOSES BILL TO END ALL MINING IN THE U.S. By Scott Harn, Publisher,ICMJ, excerpts from his article; Nick Rahall, chairman of the House Resources Committee, re-introduced mining reform legislation in the House of Representatives on January 27, The Congressman has obviously been away from real work for far too long. H.R. 699, the Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2009, should be labeled H.R. 666 because it appears to have been written by the Devil himself. If it passes as written, it will completely destroy an entire industry. This article is two pages long full of rules and regulations with some actually impossible to believe that this could be happening in our Mining Industry, in the United States! Scott states in his article that the legislators who have sponsored this bill should be labeled as un-american, voted out of office, and sent packing for attempting to decimate one of the few industries that has managed to stay afloat and provide an honest paycheck during these tough economic times. Please take a minute to contact your Representative and Senator to let them know your stance on H.R Better yet, why not start a recall effort if one of the bill s sponsors is in your area, or stop by their local officce for a bigger impact? Contact information for each of the legislators mentioned above is avaliable on their website, ROSEVILLE ROCK ROLLERS ANNUAL GEM & MINERAL SHOW, MARCH This is always a fun event and one that I really enjoy. We have many members that are also Goldhounds and help out where they are needed. Most of the show is held inside so no matter the weather it is comfortable and great food! See you there! NEXT OUTING - The high country has snow and the pits have a lot of water. The Gleeson Pit will dry out in 4-6 weeks if we have nice sunny weather. Don will send out s when the weather improves. The last outing, 3/7/09, at the Red Shack area brought 42 members out! Wow, everyone must have Cabin Fever. The North Fork is still running high but the South Fork of the Middle South Fork of the American River is good for panning. Several articles show that the South Fork was one of the richest portions of the gold region. Its dry diggings proved very profitable to almost all the miners that worked them years ago. Every river has its dry diggings as it means washing in the ravines neighboring upon rivers, and which have small streams that are sufficient to afford water for washing gold. The dry diggings on the river bank of the South Fork, known as Kelsey s diggings and Old Dry Diggings, were very rich.

2 Goldhound Meeting February 13, 2009 (Pictures by Bill Percy) Mark Davis, giving his presentation on underwater detecting and exploring. Thanks Mark. Great job!

3 Goldhound Meeting February 13, 2009 (Pictures by Bill Percy) Pictures of some of the raffle winners! Self potriet by Bill! He won a prize and had to take his own picture!

4 Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor ice. By: Carol Ebbitt Roving Reporter The wettest, windiest day of the winter did not deter the hale and hearty group of Goldhound Nuggets from their duty of instructing local youths in the art of gold panning. Several of the Nuggets traveled down into the valley from their homes covered in snow. From the moment we arrived at the Mount Vernon Memorial Park to the time when the trucks were reloaded for their return trip home, the wind and rain were ever present. It was a very successful day when all was considered. A total of 83 student panners were taught in a four hour time period by their Nugget teachers. Some of the student panners were Rookie Rock Rollers, from the Roseville Rock Roller Club, looking to be certified in the art of gold panning so that they would satisfy one of the items needed for their mineral badge. Those hearty Nuggets braving the elements were Barbara and Joe Cardoza, Barbara and Charlie Brown, Stan and Jan Makiney, Ray Dodds, Don Evans, Henrietta Markley, Brian Bartholomew and Carol Ebbitt. This is the third year our group has participated in this event. While it was a true test for us, the sponsor for the event has always been very accommodating to us as they provided tents and lunch for the group. We have already been invited to go back next year as again we seem to be a big draw for the event held each year on the Presidents Day Holiday The Washington s, Martha & George were there to greet visitors. The Drum and Bugle group as well as the black powder group also demonstrated their Civil War specialties. There were story tellers and Indian dancers. The Nuggets look forward again to next year but hope the weather is more cooperative. Carol Ebitt getting some pans ready for teaching. Henritta Markley sitting.

5 Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet, nor ice. By: Carol Ebbitt Roving Reporter Barbara Cardoza teaching. Barbara Brown. Carol Ebbitt. Brian Bartholomew, Carol, and Don Charlie Brown. Don Evans Some entertainment! Henritta Markley Ray Dodds Stan Makiney and Charlie Brown. Ray Dodds.. again! Brian Bartholomew.

7 Goldhound Outing Red Shack area. Saturday March 7, 2009 South Fork of the American, below Chile Bar. By Don Robinson Now this was quite an outing. Especially when 42 of us show up for a trip that was rated a seven to eight level. This means there were a lot of desperate people! Including me. This is some BLM territory that was opened a few years ago for recreation, including mining. The Goldhounds were involved in this with Stan and Jan Makiney representing us at least five years ago, and most likely longer than that. The area is between Coloma and Placerville and the parking area for the closed off road is on Highway 49, The actual parking area is on the left side and can t be seen. We took up a lot of parking terittory! across from an old fruit stand called the Red Shack. The parking area is small and we quickly filled it, and beyond. We met at a school parking area just outside Cool for simplicity and so many cars and trucks kept coming in that I sent groups off in waves, trying to prevent us having a long caravan! By the time the last of us got there the area had vehicles parked all over the place. The trip down was relatively easy, since it was an old road so it wasn t bushy or hard to navigate. It was steep and coming back up many hounds realized just how steep it was! The day was perfect and everyone was finding gold, but it was spotty as anticipated. There was some very nice flakes found though, and one detectorist came up with a one-half pennyweight smooth piece. The gold on the river was actually a little rougher, because the Mother Lode fault system was cut by this Middle Fork just above the Chile bar crossing, about three miles upstream from us. Everyone got out safely and this was a really good winter time outing. It actually felt like mid-spring! Until the next time! Don

This was some of the crowd that was going down. A good number had already left. Mike Bower, in the front, was so anxious to get down there he as dancing a jig!! Well, maybe not, but it looks like it!

Those attending were: Many Paz, Anthony Ramos, Jim Valentino, Rance Cannon, David Kitchen, Carol Ebbitt, John McClure, Kevin Cole, Wes Hawkins, Laurie Wetzel, Ed Ebbitt, Ken Hillard, Clif Smith,

Jason Schell, Mike Ronkovich, Dave Mraz, Gary Morin, Harvey and Diane Lister, Greg Mast, Mike Wendling, Ron Earl, Tony McNamara, Ron Malinowski, Ray Dodds, Al Woltman, Bill Wescott and Don Robinson.

8 This was some of the crowd that was going down. A good number had already left. Mike Bower, in the front, was so anxious to get down there he as dancing a jig!! Well, maybe not, but it looks like it! He was going to stoop down for the picture and got him before he got there! Those attending were: Many Paz, Anthony Ramos, Jim Valentino, Rance Cannon, David Kitchen, Carol Ebbitt, John McClure, Kevin Cole, Wes Hawkins, Laurie Wetzel, Ed Ebbitt, Ken Hillard, Clif Smith, Harley Lukenbill, Ted Spelis, Mike Bowers, Jerry Culver, Mike Brady, Mark Brady, Mike Parshall, Colleen and Jeff Pedroza, Dale Hamann, Pat Brechtel, Dawn Forcier, Janet Peterson, Brian Di Muzio, Jason Schell, Mike Ronkovich, Dave Mraz, Gary Morin, Harvey and Diane Lister, Greg Mast, Mike Wendling, Ron Earl, Tony McNamara, Ron Malinowski, Ray Dodds, Al Woltman, Bill Wescott and Don Robinson. There may have been a few whose names I didn t get to sign in because they had already gone down and I missed them down there too! Also, a good number of people went different directions so there are a lot whose pictures I didn t get to take. Some went on an old water ditch upstream and some stayed up on a high bench detecting. A good time was had by all!! Time to get this show on the road! Lots os panners and detectorists. the areas just wasn t condusive to sluice boxes. There were some rapids upstream but the setups just weren t close to workable gravels.

9 Goldhound Outing Red Shack area. An overall view of where most of the Hounds worked. Tony McNamara in the foreground, Harley Lukenbill on the left and Ron Earl on the right. Manny Paz s gold recovered during the trip.

10 Ron Malinowski checking it out. Mike Wendling working hard a tit. Dale Hamann showing Al Woltman his nice flake he just panned out.. This is the flake dale was showing! Dawn Forcier and Pat Drechtel. dawn is showing the old miners pick she found. Jimmy Valentino taking a break from a lot of digging!!

of the Hounds who have been getting nicer

I m older than they are so I can get away

11 So what is this? Resting time for the old codgers? Ron Malinowski, Ray Dodds and Dave Mraz are evidenyly ploting on holding up some of the Hounds who have been getting nicer gold! I can call them old codgers because I m older than they are so I can get away with it! Gold picked up with a dector. Bill Westcott getting ready to start crevicing. New member Janet Peterson was very happy with her gold for the day. She did well.

12 ACTION ALERT! NEWS FROM THE SHASTA MINER S FEBRUARY 2009 AFTER YEARS OF LITIGATION AGAINST THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR NOT UPDATING ITS ENVI- RONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT (EIR) ON SUCTION DREDGING, THE KARUKS HAVE NOW FORMALLY REQUEST- ED THAT THE STATE WATER BOARD NOT ALLOCATE THE FUNDS (WITH HAVE BEEN APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATURE) TO DO THE WORK; THEY SAY, BECAUSE IT WILL TAKE TOO LONG TO COMPLETE. AT THE SAME TIME, THE KARUKS AND THEIR ALLIES HAVE SUBMITTED A PETITION FOR EMER- GENCY RULE-MAKING TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH & GAME TO IMPOSE INCREASED SUC- TION DREDGE RESTRICTIONS AND SOME CLOSURES UPON OUR INDUSTRY. THE RESTRICTIONS BASICALLY WOULD IMPOSE ASSEMBLY BILL 1032, WHICH IS THE ANTI-SUCTION DREDGING LITIGATION THAT GOV. SCHWARZENEGGER VETOED TWO YEARS AGO. WE DEVOTED NEARLY ALL OF LAST YEAR (SUCCESSFULLY) LOBBYING THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ALLOCATE FUNDING TO UPDATE THE DREDGING EIR (ALLOWING THE EIR PORCESS TO DECIDE HOW OUR REGULATIONS SHOULD BE). THE KARUKS AND THEIR ALLIES HAVE FOUGHT US EVERY STEP OF THE WAY. CLEARLY, THE STRATEGY OF OUR ADVERSARIES HAS BEEN AS FOLLOWS: 1)GET THE COURT TO ORDER CALIF. TO UPDATE THE EIR WHICH SUPPORTS SUCTION DREDGING REGULATIONS. THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED TWO YEARS AGO. 2)PERSUADE THE COURT OR THE CALIF. LEGISLATURE, OR SOME STATE AGENCY TO FURTHER-RE- STRICT SUCTION DREDGING ACTIVITY UNTIL THE EIR IS UPDATED. WE HAVE OVERCOME EVERY ATTEMPT SO FAR, BECAUSE THE KARUKS HAVE YET TO PROVIDE ANY EVIDENCE THAT A SINGLE FISH HAS EVER BEEN HARMED BY SUCTION DREDGING ACTIVITY UNDER OUR EXISTING REGULATIONS. 3)PREVENT FUNDING TO COMPLETE AN UPDATE OF THE EIR SO THAT THE STATE OF CALIF. WILL NOT BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE COURT S ORDER, AND PROVIDE OUR ADVERSARIES WITH A CONTINUING ARGUMENT TO HAVE FURTHER RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED UPON SUCTION DREDGE MINERS IN CALIF. OUR ADVERSARIES HAVE NOW TURNED THEIR PROPAGANDA MACHINE INTO HIGH GEAR. A FEW OF THIER RECENT ARTICLES HAVE APPEARED IN; PLACER LAND TRUST, THE TIMES-STANDARD, AND IT IS ONLY THE BEGINNING.. LAST WEEK, OUR COMMITTEE MANAGED TO OVERCOME THE KARUK ATTEMPT TO KILL STATE FUNDING FOR AN UPDATED EIR TO SUPPORT SUCTION DREDGING REGULATIONS IN CALIF. FOR INFO. GO TO THEIR WEBSITE AT Pick up the latest California Mining and Prospecting Journal at Pioneer Mining in Auburn. They have update articles and monthly updates of ongroing issues regarding our industry. We cannot stress enough the importance of sending letters and support to the groups that are fighting this. If this gets passed it will be impossible and expensive to continue our fight to keep our rivers and lands open. Write and call your Congressmen to let them know your support of our mining rights. Annie MEMBERSHIP APP.-MOTHER LODE GOLDHOUNDS, BOX 149, FORESTHILL, CA wwwgoldhounds.com - goldworld@hughes.net VM leave message. $40.00 Individual or $45.00 Family (one year) please send check to above addresss. ( ) New membership or ( ) Renewal----Are you interested in the Exploration Team? ( ) yes or ( ) no NAME ADDRESS PHONE CITY STATE ZIP CODE I APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE MOTHER LODE GOLDHOUNDS. I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT WHATEVER REC- REATIONAL EVENT I, OR MY FAMILY, ATTEND, THAT I AM RESPONSIBILE AND AT NO TIME WILL HAVE LEGAL OR FINANCIAL CLAIM AGAINST, NOR WILL HOLD RESPONSIBLE, ANY MEMBER OR CLUB OFFICIAL OF THE MOTHER LODE GOLDHOUNDS FOR ANY DAMAGES OR INJURIES BY MY PARTICIPATION. SIGNATURE DATE DON S EXPLORATION TEAM - GOLDWORLD@HUGHES.NET OR CALL VM You will receive an and it is your option to go or not. A rating of 1-10 will be added, 10 being very difficult. The team may not find gold, but looking for new areas to prospect. You should be in good shape as you never know where Don may take you. - Webmaster; Bill Percy, wwwgoldhounds.com. Meeting: Newsletters, memberships, Annie Robinson-Kathy Percy, Red Hat Ladies & Roving Reporter, Carol Ebbitt, Retired Club Paparazzi, Joe Cardoza.Retired Club Nurse - Barbara Cardoza, Refreshments & Avon Lady, Lee Buhler, Refreshment Mgr. Ken Woolly. Director and Sergeant-at-Arms, Bill Bowman & Merle Litzinger. Pres.Don Robinson, V.P.& Cook, Annie.

13 2009 GOLDHOUNDS MEETING SCHEDULE & OUTINGS - PUBLIC INVITED WE ARE IN THE SEASON FOR UNSETTLED WEATHER. CHECK YOUR S AND UPDATES. YOU MAY CHECK WITH PIONEER MINING,, AUBURN, AS THEY RECEIVE INFO ON OUTINGS. March 13 Goldhound meeting, 100 East St. Auburn Veterans Memorial Hall, 7-9 pm April 10 Goldhound meeting, 100 East St. Auburn Veterans Memorial Hall, 7-9 pm May 8 Goldhound meeting, 100 East St. Auburn Veterans Memorial Hall, 7-9 pm June 12 Goldhound meeting, 100 East St., Auburn Veterans Memorial Hall, 7-9 pm June Annual Prospecting Trip for Nevada or Grant s Highland in Foresthill, watch for s to update. SPECIAL EVENTS (FOR 2009) Feb. 16 Goldhounds annual Nugget gold panning for kids on Monday, 2/16, at the Mt. Vernon Cemetery on Greenback Lane, Sac. This is always a fun day for us and once again we are expecting lots of kids as this is Presidents Day and a lot of the school children show up with teachers. Call if you are interested in helping (916) Carol Ebbitt, Leader, Nuggets. Feb G..P.A.A. Gold & Treasure Show, Fresno Fairgrounds, wwwgoldprospectors.org, or Mar Mother Lode Mineral Society s Show, info motherlodemineralsociety,com, Mar Salinas Valley Rock & Gem Club. Website: salinasrockandgem.com or (831) Mar Annual Roseville Rock Rollers Gem & Mineral Show. Placer County Fairgrounds, wwwrockrollers.com. Mark your calendars Goldhounds so we can help out! Mar Calaveras Gem & Mineral Society, call , Website: Calaverasgemandmineral.org April G.P.A.A. Buffalo Bill s Hotel & Casino, Primm, NV, Star of the Desert Arena. SEPT. 5-6 FORESTHILL HERITAGE CELEBRATION AND CALIFORNIA STATE GOLDPANNING CHAMPIONSHIPS. GOLDHOUNDS ANNUAL FUND RAISER. more info will follow. OTHER CLUBS AND ASSOCIATIONS Roseville Rock Rollers Gem & Mineral Society meets 2nd Tues. monthly, Roseville Fairgrounds, Garden Room, 800 All America City Blvd., www rockrollers. com or Box 212, Roseville, or call Florence, (916) hotmail.com. or Gold Prospector Association of America, meets quarterly, for info, Jim Hutchings, (Claims) call for date of next meeting, FOR INFO OR Sac.Valley Detecting Buffs meet 1st Thurs. monthly, Sac.County Old SMUD Bldg. corner Elkhorn & Don Julio in No. Highlands, or call www sacramentovalleydetectingbuffs.com. United Prospectors meets every other month at outings, www. unitedprospectors.com. Info Club has claims and newsletters every 2 months. meets at outings. Shasta Miners, meets 3rd Friday, Happy Valley Center, Anderson, info , claims, mthlynewsletr. Public Lands for the People, 7194 Conejo Dr., San Bernardino, CA 92404, (909) , PLP continues to work on your behalf to keep public lands open. Donations are tax deductible. New 49 ers Prosp.Club. Box 47, Happy Camp, CA 96039, new49ers@goldgold.com, WWWGOLDGOLD.COM For info call Club has Claims. ICMJ S Prospecting & Mining Journal, Box 2260 Aptos, CA or wwwicmj.com Comstock Gold Prospectors, Box Reno, NV 89515, Club has Claims contact Reno Mining Supply. RoadRunner Prospectors Club, Box 56804, Phoenix, AZ 85079, wwwaccessarizona.com American Lands Access Association website: - CO-OP website: California Federation of Mineralogical Societies website: American Federation of Mineralogical Societies website: Gold Pan California, Gold Adventures, 1021 Detroit Avenue #D, Concord, CA 94518, (925) 825-GOLD (925) FAX Gold Prospecting Supply Store MEETINGS ARE HELD the 2nd Friday of each month at the Veterans Hall in Auburn, 7:00om-9:00pm, 100 East St. Take Hwy 80 to Auburn, then Hwy 49 east, at the first stop light, turn right, go one block, turn right again, Veterans Hall sits on the left, parking in the back. Public invited. IN CASE OF EMERGENCY THE AUBURN VETERANS MEMORIAL HALL IS Memo: If any club has events we will be glad to post your information. l us by the 10th of each month. For Sale Items are listed free to members.

com Fax (530) 885-0583 Frank, finding nuggets on the North Fork.

95631 A CALIFORNIA NON-PROFIT MINERALS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION PUBLIC WELCOME!

14 MOTHER LODE GOLDHOUNDS NEWSLETTER P.O. BOX 149 FORESTHILL, CA (530) March TO: Fax (530) Frank, finding nuggets on the North Fork. NEWSLETTER ISSUED MONTHLY - Issue #260 March 2009 Mailing address: MOTHER LODE GOLDHOUNDS P.O. Box 149, Foresthill, Ca A CALIFORNIA NON-PROFIT MINERALS EDUCATION ASSOCIATION PUBLIC WELCOME! Newsletter/Membership Cost $45.00 Family Per year $40.00 Per year for Individuals Publisher and Editor: Goldhounds (530) (vm) goldworld@hughes.net NEWSLETTER DEADLINE FOR ARTICLES OR ITEMS FOR SALE, 10th OF EACH MONTH

LaPorte Outing on Slate Creek below American House August 21, 22,23

LaPorte Outing on Slate Creek below American House August 21, 22,23 9/9/09 Dear Members, What a wild, hectic and fun weekend at the California State Gold Panning Championships. We are running late with the newsletter so it will be shorter but next month s we will catch