header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
September 18
1962 - Articles of incorporation filed for Golden State Memorial Hospital on Lyons Avenue [story]
Golden State Hospital


Now and Then in the SCV | Commentary by Darryl Manzer
| Monday, Oct 13, 2014

darrylmanzerI love Mondays. I love to get up in the morning and watch the folks commuting on the 14 toward Los Angeles and listen to the Metro trains heading south along Soledad Canyon.

I will be here for the election on Nov. 4. I really can’t wait for that to happen so maybe some of the pages on the Internet and Facebook will fold up and go away. If you don’t vote, you’ll not have real rights to gripe.

This election will see the end of the Howard “Buck” McKeon era in the 25th Congressional District. He has had a long run and actually did some good things for us. The cross-valley connector got some bucks by Buck’s efforts. He also helped the folks up in the Antelope Valley by making sure some Pentagon contracts were maintained. As they say in the Navy, rest your oars and go ashore, Buck. Thanks for the work you did for and with us all those years. Bravo Zulu – Well Done.

I figured out how to stop some of those not-so-nice telemarketers. Let them ramble, and when they ask how much you want to buy, just ask them if they take food stamps. Funny, I don’t get another call from them after that. Now if I could do the same for the political robo-calls…

Talking last night with my family members who live in Kentucky, they said it was a lot cooler there. I looked it up and sure enough, it was 68 degrees with 100 percent relative humidity. So instead of it being “hot and steamy” it is “cold and clammy.” We’re basking in the dry humidity levels. And wind, too. Cool nights and warm days. Love California.

Governor Mine: There's still some gold in them-thar hills. Click to find out more.

Governor Mine in 2013: There’s still some gold in them-thar hills. Click to find out more.

Talking to some folks in Acton the other day, they said the richest and most productive gold mine in California is right in Acton. It isn’t active right now; the Governor mine produced nearly $1 billion of gold in the years it was working. That was at the old fixed price of gold. I wonder if anyone wants to try and open it again. Rumor says there is plenty of gold left in that hill.

I find it amusing that one of the proposed routes of the high-speed rail system could take it right through the middle of that mine. Maybe that is how they plan to subsidize the operation of that train. If it is like any other high-speed railway in the world, it will need a lot of extra money to pay for the operation. A gold mine is a good thought. Better than using the taxpayers, because we’re tired of being the “gold mine” for that particular project.

Does anyone know why that mine stopped operations? I’ve heard all kinds of stories. What is the one you’ve heard?

Did you know only American-owned companies can mine for gold in the U.S.? I guess that China won’t be coming anytime soon. That’s the law. Somehow I think they’ll end up getting a lot of the gold anyway.

I was looking at some of the “new math” methods for the new Common Core educational system. I don’t know if I should laugh or cry. Back in the day, we just did arithmetic. Not sure what is going on now. I do know all these educational experiments have resulted in a couple of generations of kids who can’t read, write or solve simple math problems. But the experiment shall continue. Our schools have embraced the Common Core crude. It is just another reason California was once No. 1 in educational opportunities and status in the country. We have slipped all the way to No. 47.

Teachers are teaching to the tests, since they get paid to make sure the children pass the low requirements of Common Core. The men and women who built the rockets to the Moon didn’t have Common Core. They had hard work and long hours of study. China is talking of going to the Moon. At the present rate, they will get there before the U.S. has its own rocket to place men in orbit.

Can you even imagine that? We don’t have a way to get folks into orbit on our own. We have to pay the Russians to take us there. When did we take that giant step backwards?

I saw that the Newhall School District spent the better part of the summer having teachers learn how to teach using the Common Core methods. I think most of the teachers who attended those sessions would have preferred to be on a beach, soaking up some rays and drinking a little wine. Wine might take away the bitter taste of Common Core.

Will Common Core be another failed educational experiment? I just want to know when we’re going to stop using our kids as lab rats? I would list all of the other failed programs, but I’ve not got enough space in the next five days listing maybe five a day.

I’m tired of paying for these experiments. Aren’t you?

 

Darryl Manzer grew up in the Pico Canyon oil town of Mentryville in the 1960s and attended Hart High School. After a career in the U.S. Navy he returned to live in the Santa Clarita Valley. He can be reached at dmanzer@scvhistory.com. His older commentaries are archived at DManzer.com; his newer commentaries can be accessed [here]. Watch his walking tour of Mentryville [here].

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

2 Comments

  1. Fred says:

    Hello, my name is Fred & I live in Acton,Ca.. Regarding the Governor Mine here, well, I think I know a few things about it since I did some discovery work there for areal estate developer who wanted to get into the mining bus.. The mine is located on Crown Valley Rd.& is made up of volcanic rock with a lot of quartz in it. It is situated on 2 plots of land which are 80 & 20 acres each. The developer bought the land which was was restored into working mine in the mid 80’s. The new owner had several employees & different supervisors from time to time. One of the supervisors was Roy Madson who was a very experienced miner. One day, he & two employees ventured underground to explore some old workings of the mine. Levels are 100ft.downward from each other & are horizontal. All three went in till Roy found an18in. by 18in. hole leading to the level below. He brought a rope ladder with him & lowered it down to a ledge above the level & crawled down, only to find the the air was bad there & yelled to his men above of it. He made it almost to hand’s reach when he fell back down to the ledge. The men chose to go for help rather than go down to save there boss. On a a phone call to the Sheriffs dept., they were told not to go in there. A team of (MSHA)Ine safety & health administration folks were dispatched from Rialto, Ca.& ordered a large air compressor to be brought in to pump air to Roy as well as Rescue teams frem China Lake & Death Valley.
    A fellow miner, a friend, came up to my mine only 1 mountain away, to visit. We both saw helicopters hovering over the mine & proceeded to go over there & see what was going on. when we got there, we told a sheriff that we were going in to get Roy out after hearing about the accident. He would not let us go in, even tho we both knew the mine pretty well & my friend was a former supervisor there. I asked by what authority did he have to keep us out & from rescuing Roy. his reply was “38 special”. We both walked away & watched from the dirt road while this botched rescue job proceeded. In the meantime China Lake showed up & was scared off by what they desided to be too unsafe to go into. The other rescue team from Death Valley finally arrived with better equipment & found their way to the spot where Roy was to be40ft. below theme. They saw him & called his name, but got no response. They did not even go down with breathing gear for themselves or for Roy. Instead, they left.& poor Roy is still there dead. The Feds sealed the mine entrance with huge steel door & locked it with big padlock & placed a warning sign to stay out.
    Roy is still in there there was never a memorial anywhere for him. That is the reason for no mine reopening.
    A correction on production on the mine as you stated is, Governor Mine was the largest producing gold mine in Los Angeles county,Ca.. Red Rover Mine just 1 mountain south of there was the second largest.
    Governor Mine got its name from a former governor Gage in California. Hope this helps you. Fred K.

  2. Cathy says:

    I heard Red Rover mine was bought by the Chinese or Chinese investors with USA investors. They planned on opening it up again. I take the info with a grain of salt. A real estate person could probably find out.

Leave a Comment


Opinion Section Policy
All opinions and ideas are welcome. Factually inaccurate, libelous, defamatory, profane or hateful statements are not. Your words must be your own. All commentary is subject to editing for legibility. There is no length limit, but the shorter, the better the odds of people reading it. "Local" SCV-related topics are preferred. Send commentary to: LETTERS (at) SCVNEWS.COM. Author's full name, community name, phone number and e-mail address are required. Phone numbers and e-mail addresses are not published except at author's request. Acknowledgment of submission does not guarantee publication.
Read More From...
RECENT COMMENTARY
Friday, Sep 13, 2024
As a father of three, I understand firsthand the importance of guiding our children through open communication and keeping them engaged in extracurricular activities and sports to foster their growth.
Thursday, Sep 12, 2024
You may have noticed that things look a little different around our city. Maybe you noticed the motion sensor lights at our parks, or the solar panels being installed in city parking lots.
Wednesday, Sep 11, 2024
California State  Sen. Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita) is urging residents to prepare an emergency evacuation plan as the Line Fire, Bridge Fire and several other wildfires continue to pose a serious threat to High Desert and foothill communities.
Wednesday, Sep 11, 2024
As we approach the November 2024 elections, the importance of informed voting cannot be overstated. The choices we make at the ballot box will shape the future of our city, state and nation. Yet, in an era where soundbites often substitute for substantive discussion, how can voters truly grasp the complexities of the issues at hand?
Friday, Sep 6, 2024
As scorching triple-digit temperatures engulf Los Angeles County throughout the weekend and excessive heat warnings have been issued for many communities in Los Angeles County’s Fifth District, I urge residents to do their part to lessen the threat of wildfires.
Thursday, Sep 5, 2024
After being part of the Parks and Recreation Commission in the early 90s and spending nearly 30 years on the City Council, my life has been dedicated to creating a community where residents and businesses feel welcomed and safe here in Santa Clarita.

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
The biology department at California State University, Northridge has stayed committed to promoting STEM research carried out by K-12 students and teachers in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
CSUN Student Research Journal Celebrates 28 Years of Inspiring Scientific Imagination
Did you know the SCVEDC has an interactive, online tool that provides themed virtual tours of the amazing features the community has to offer? 
Take a Virtual Tour of the Santa Clarita Valley
California Institute of the Arts alum and visionary filmmaker Tim Burton (Film/Video 1979) was honored with the 2,788th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
CalArts Alum Tim Burton Receives Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
1962 - Articles of incorporation filed for Golden State Memorial Hospital on Lyons Avenue [story]
Golden State Hospital
The Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center welcomes back Jim Curry for an evening concert celebrating the music of John Denver on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 5 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom at Bella Vida.
Oct. 5: SCV Senior Center Welcomes Jim Curry ‘Take Me Home’
As part of the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency's ongoing commitment to ensuring local groundwater quality and reliability, the SCV Water recently began construction on a new treatment facility to remove perchlorate and volatile organic compounds at Well 205 in Valencia.
SCV Water Begins New Water Treatment Project in Valencia
Get ready to set sail at the Pirates SENSES Block Party, presented by the city of Santa Clarita, Thursday, Sept 19 from 7-10 p.m. on main street in Old Town Newhall.
Sept. 19: SENSES Pirate Block Party
No. 21 College of the Canyons football team knocked off No. 5 Fullerton College 29-13 on Saturday night behind a stifling defensive effort and five field goals from Luis Rodriguez.
No. 21 Canyons Knocks Off No. 5 Fullerton 29-13
Six of the seven Foothill League Varsity football teams begin league play Friday night, Sept. 20.
Foothill League Football Begins for SCV Teams
The California Institute of the Arts will present the "NAACP Santa Clarita Masquerade Ball", Friday, Oct. 4, 7-11 p.m. at 24700 McBean Parkway, Valencia, CA 91355.
Oct. 4: NAACP Santa Clarita Masquerade Ball at Cal Arts
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is investigating two human cases of a rare parasitic infection, Baylisascaris procyonis, also known as raccoon roundworm.
Public Health Investigating Disease Spread from Animals to Humans
1879 - First official Newhall School building erected near Walnut & Ninth streets [story]
First Newhall School
The city of Santa Clarita is hosting Make A Difference Day on Saturday, Oct. 26 and is looking for enthusiastic residents to volunteer for various projects that benefit local nonprofits, as well as the city.
Oct. 26: Volunteers Needed for Make a Difference Day
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital and PathPoint announced the graduation of Aiden Land and Andrew Mendence from the Project SEARCH internship program.
Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, PathPoint Celebrate Grad Interns
The William S. Hart Union High School District has announced upcoming community information meetings about Learning Post Academy Independent Study School, Thursday, Sept. 18 and Friday, Sept. 19.
Sept. 18-19: Learning Post Academy Online Information Meetings
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting Wednesday, Sept. 18, 5 p.m. in open session to interview and appoint a new trustee for Area 5.
Sept. 18: COC Board to Interview, Appoint Area 5 Trustee
The city of Santa Clarita wants to remind residents that volunteer registration is open for the 29th Annual River Rally Cleanup and Environmental Expo scheduled for next Saturday, Sept. 21, from 8 to 11 a.m. at the William S. Hart Pony Baseball and Softball Complex, 23780 Auto Center Drive, Santa Clarita, CA 91355.
Sept. 20: Last Chance to Register for the River Rally
The California Highway Patrol is dedicating Sept. 15-21 to promoting child passenger safety across California, focusing on the protection of the state’s youngest road users.
CHP Emphasizes Child Safety for National Child Passenger Safety Week
The regular meeting of the Saugus Union School District Governing Board will take place Tuesday, Sept. 17 beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 17: SUSD Regular Board Meeting
West Ranch High School’s Studio A Jazz Band will be the opening act for the Huntertones, a Brooklyn-based sextet, who are coming to the Santa Clarita Valley for a one-night performance.
Sept 30: West Ranch Jazz Band to Open for Huntertones
An exclusive Ransomeware webinar "Ransomeware, Don't Be the Next Victim!" will be hosted Wednesday, Sept. 25, 11 a.m.- noon by Shield IT Networks, in partnership with Lucas Insurance Services. It will be free for VIA members.
Sept. 25: Free Ransomeware Webinar for VIA Members
As part of the Third Annual Business for Artists Conference on Saturday, Oct. 19, Judith Modrak will lead the Imaginary Fossils Sculpture Making Workshop.
Oct.19: Business for Artists Fossils Sculpture Making Workshop
The city of Santa Clarita’s Film Office has released the list of six productions currently filming in the Santa Clarita Valley for the week of Monday, Sept. 16 to Friday, Sept. 20.
Six Productions Filming in Santa Clarita
1872 - Mitchell adobe home in Soledad Canyon area first used as schoolhouse; genesis of 1879 Sulphur Springs School District [story]
Mitchell adobe
SCVNews.com