Chuck Frank videos the code enforcement officers and Nevada County Sheriff's deputies at his gate during an inspection Tuesday by Nevada County Code Compliance staff. County staff have a warrant to bring contractors on Frank's property on Wildwood West Drive to take measuremens of a cabin near Deer Creek.

Before he published his science fiction novel, “Congo,” in 1980, the late author Michael Crichton had writer’s block. “He had started “Congo,” but it wasn’t going anywhere,” said Lee Perry, co-president of Samadhi Tank Co., the world’s first floatation tank developers, then located in Beverly Hills.

Broadcast equipment giant Grass Valley, a Belden Brand, on Wednesday celebrated completion of a $3 million renovation that will keep the world-renowned company in Nevada County as the central and major player in an ongoing “Video Valley” technology cluster development. “I think it’s very nice to have Grass Valley back in Grass Valley,” said Grass Valley Mayor Jason Fouyer in an ebullient ribbon-cutting ceremony before about 150 workers, contractors, city and county officials and residents.

If high standards in every aspect of life are the culture of the U.S. Air Force, then Lt. Karyn Christen has found her dream job. “One thing great about the military, it’s the high standards,” said Christen, of Grass Valley, appointed in April as Commander of the 13th Reconnaissance Squadron at Beale Air Force Base near Marysville.

Aside from a whiff of unexplainable magic in the air, jury selection at a trial in Nevada County about 10 years ago was going very smoothly. The defense lawyer’s then-paralegal, Tiffany “Marin” Graves of Grass Valley, had an uncanny sense of the hearts and minds of prospective jurors. She said she seemed to be able to “feel” each person’s emotions — and, based on that, offer a “yea” or “nay” about each one.

One day in early May 2005, Susan Wallace ran into then-Nevada City Police Chief Lou Trovato at SPD Market. “I was telling him how great it was to live in a town where you didn’t have to lock your doors,” recalled Wallace, then 60 and newly retired from a high-profile career in law enforcement in Sacramento County and legal counsel in the state Legislature.

Amount paid in 2014 to Nevada County from 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement: $866,885. Total paid to Nevada County 1999-2014 from Tobacco Master Settlement: $15.25 million. Total 25-year payout to California for 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement: $25 billion through 2025. Nevada County youth (grades 9 through 12) smoking rate: 2011-12, 10 percent.

California Department of Fish & Wildlife, regional office, Rancho Cordova: 916-358-2900. Nevada County Department of Agriculture, Grass Valley office, 530-273-2648. When last seen alive, llama couple Jasper and Pokey were grazing peacefully in their usual pasture at the Slauson family’s South Nevada County home.

Nevada County holistic physician Harvey Bigelsen pleaded no contest Friday to using the titles “Dr.” or “M.D.” in his business letterhead, cards or ads as part of a deal negotiated with Nevada County District Attorney’s office, canceling a trial previously set for Feb. 17. “I’m glad it’s over,” said Bigelsen, 74, whose former Biological Health Institute in Nevada City was raided March 20, 2014, by investigators from the California State Medical Board.

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In the Nevada County pilot subculture, there is nothing better when you’re hungry than hopping in your single-engine, home-built RV plane and flying eight minutes south to chow down at Wings Grill at Auburn Municipal Airport. “Wings is a pretty good restaurant,” said Lee Brant of Grass Valley. “And it’s right on the runway, so you can eat and see the taxiway, see the planes coming and going.”.

Jerry Farrell woke up at Matt Kahn’s retreat last fall in Portland with a sinking feeling. The night before, Kahn, a Pacific Northwest-based empath and healer who is garnering international attention for his YouTube videos, had announced that he just signed a book and DVD deal with Colorado-based holistic publishing company Sounds True.

If there were an inside track to getting to know and love your own body, Nevada City intimacy coach Anna-Thea would be the station-mistress. “I”m all about getting connected to your body, and everything else will fall in place,” said Anna-Thea, who is speaking this week in Nevada County. “Your relationship with food, sex, intimacy — everything.

The 31-year-old son of one of Nevada County’s most prominent business families is drawing support from all sectors in recovering from stab wounds to his neck, arm and torso he suffered Christmas Eve in Los Angeles. “I’m very thankful that the physical healing is going so quickly,” said Linda DeMartini, mother of John DeMartini.

Two months after news broke of a child porn investigation involving then-county Supervisor Terry Lamphier, Nevada County District Attorney Cliff Newell has filed a three-count misdemeanor complaint in Superior Court. Lamphier won a seat on the Grass Valley City Council in November and is set to be sworn in Jan. 5.

When Nevada County staff member Grant Eisen saw the “Go for Broke” license plate frame on a car parked at the county’s Rood Center 19 years ago, he had to leave a note on the windshield. A history buff, Eisen knew that “Go for Broke” was the motto of the original 442nd U.S. Army regiment of Japanese-American soldiers who fought in World War II.