Palomar Mountain News

California Legislature

Marie Waldron Assemblymember, 75^th District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:      Tom Stinson March 30, 2015    (760) 480-7570

Mendenhall Highway bill moves forward

The bill being sponsored by Assemblywoman Marie Waldron to name a portion of Highway 76 the Joel Mendenhall Memorial Highway will be heard on April 6, 2015 in the Assembly Transportation Committee.

Mendenhall died on September 2, 2013 in an accident on his family’s ranch.

Last year ACR 165, The Joel Mendenhall Memorial Highway, was amended in the Senate at the last minute. It passed the Senate and was returned to the Assembly for concurrence with those amendments on the last day of 2014 legislative session.

Unfortunately, the Assembly had already adjourned for the year and the bill could not come up for a final vote.

Assemblywoman Waldron reintroduced the bill language, which became ACR 4 in December in anticipation of the 2015 legislative session.   It is expected ACR 4 will pass quickly out of the Assembly Transportation Committee and then referred to the Assembly Floor for a vote.  The bill will then move to the Senate and is expected to become final after moving through the legislative process.

Here is partial language of the bill:

Whereas, Joel Mendenhall was a real cowboy and cattle rancher, who embraced the values of the old west, but also understood the demands and markets of today’s world; and

Whereas, Joel Mendenhall was part owner of Homegrown Cattle Company, Homegrown Meats, My Country Club hunting ranch, and La Jolla butcher shop in La Jolla; and

Whereas, Joel Mendenhall was a man who was quiet, but friendly, dependable, resourceful, devoted to his family, and always ready to help someone who needed it; and

Whereas, Joel Mendenhall’s family history dates back to the first homesteaders of the Palomar Mountain area in the mid-1800s; and

Whereas, Joel Mendenhall’s work ethic was based on doing what was needed to get the job done, never punching a clock, often working well into the night in all kinds of weather, and demonstrating self-sufficiency and a willingness to be there for others who needed help; and

Whereas, Joel Mendenhall always knew where the bass were biting, the eagles were nesting, the turkeys were roosting, the big bucks were in rut, or where a mountain lion might be prowling; and

Whereas, Joel Mendenhall was comfortable on a good horse, skilled at roping and wielding a branding iron, and enjoyed competition between himself and his dad for big buck bragging rights; and

Whereas, Joel Mendenhall was always the first to help a young lady bag her first deer, an old hunter drag out a downed buck, or offer amazingly detailed instructions on where to set up for opening day of turkey season; and

Whereas, Joel Mendenhall died in a tragic ranching accident on September 2, 2013, at 30 years of age; and

Whereas, Joel Mendenhall is survived by his wife, Jenna, his three young daughters, and his parents, Frank and Janice Mendenhall, and will be missed by his family, and many friends, outdoorsmen, ranchers, business partners, and the community of which he was a treasured part; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the assembly of the state of California, the senate thereof concurring, that the legislature hereby designates the portion of state Highway Route 76 from the intersection of Rey River Ranch Road at post mile 44.0 post mile 43.25 to the western eastern intersection of State Highway Route 76 and county road S6, also called Palomar Mountain Road, at post mile 38.25, in the county of San Diego, as the Joel Mendenhall Memorial Highway.

*

To support passage of this resolution please send your letter of support to:

Assemblymember Jim Frazier

Chair, Assembly Transportation Committee

1020 N Street, Room 112

Sacramento, CA 95831

Assemblywoman Marie Waldron

California State Capitol

Room 4130

Sacramento, CA 95814

Attention: Andrea Gutierrez

Assemblymember Marie Waldron, R-Escondido, represents the 75^th Assembly District in the California Legislature, which includes the communities of Palomar Mountain, Bonsall, Escondido, Fallbrook, Hidden Meadows, Rainbow, San Marcos, Temecula, Valley Center, Pauma Valley, and Vista.

###

Sent by,

Tom Stinson

District Communications Director

Office of Assemblymember Marie Waldron

Phone: 760-480-7570