The Union Democrat, Sonora, CA News, Sports, & Weather

The Summerville Bears Cinderella run of 2014, which ended with a Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI championship, is now officially a thing of the past. On Tuesday night, the Bears looked to start 2015 the same way they ended 2014 — win a win in front of a pumped and excited crowd. They started strong and had a valiant second half effort, but could not overcome a 6-0 deficit and lost 7-4 to the Modesto Panthers at Thorsted Field.

Tyler Bergthold scored scored both Sonora goals Tuesday to lead the Wildcats over the Riverbank Bruins 2-0 at Dunlavy Field. Bergthold’s first goal, the game winner, came on a great individual effort in the first half. While defending a Riverbank defender near midfield, Bergthold cut off a passing lane by jabbing his foot out just far enough to intercept an attempted pass. The senior then got into a one-on-one with the Bruin goalie and chipped it past for the lead.

The Columbia College Claim Jumpers men’s basketball team will hold an open practice Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon at Columbia College’s Oak Pavilion. The practice is free to the public and spectators can get their first glimpse of the 2015-16 Jumpers and head coach Rob Hoyt.

Lee Dennis says it could cost as much as $10,000 to remove all of the fallen pine trees from her half-acre property off Leisure Drive near Twain Harte.

A woman who lives in a neighborhood where three homes were destroyed by fire said Tuesday she believes a barbecue on her deck was knocked over and sparked the fast-moving blaze while people slept.

A Sonora man convicted of attempted first-degree murder and second-degree robbery in 1989 was found suitable for parole Wednesday.

A 39-year-old California man has been reported missing in Yosemite National Park and authorities are seeking help from the public to locate him.

Jury deliberation is expected to begin today in the case of Cheryl Lucero, a Twain Harte woman accused of killing well-known Sonora Police Department volunteer Rick Roberts in February 2014.

Tuolumne County Sheriff’s deputies and detectives arrested two men after investigating several burglaries in the Lake Don Pedro and Lake Tulloch areas.