George Radanovich

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Brad Aborn upon his retirement as the Mariposa County Supervisor for District 1.

Mr. Aborn has served on the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors since January 2007. During his time on the Board, Mr. Aborn worked tirelessly to serve Mariposa County. He was involved in a number of County projects, including: the Yosemite West Community Plan, the SilverTip Resort project amended site plan application, the new Human Services facility, acquisition of new fire engines and water tenders, funding for 3 new fire stations, obtaining a Fixed Base Operator to oversee the Mariposa/Yosemite Airport, construction of the Red Cloud Library, improvements for Midpines Park, Airport improvement projects, the Seventh Day Adventist Camp project, fuel load reduction projects, road maintenance projects, Agri-nature and Agri-tourism policy, Williamson Act/historical parcels, and the AB 885 statewide issue regarding well and septic system inspections. Mr. Aborn also served as the Board's chair in 2009.

Besides his work on the Board, Mr. Aborn has served the County in a number of other ways. He was the chair of the Local Transportation Commission and the vice president and then president of the Mariposa County Public Financing Corporation.

Mr. Aborn is a dedicated patriot and family man. Before joining the Board, he served in the military for 24 years, first on active duty and then in the reserves. Brad, his wife Irene and their three children now spend their time on the Flying A Ranch, where they breed and raise champion Arabian horses.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Brad Aborn for his dedicated service to the people of Mariposa County. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Mr. Aborn many years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Mary Williams upon her retirement as the Mariposa County Community Services Director.

Mrs. Williams began her career with Mariposa County on September 1, 1988 as Extra-Help Senior Services Information and Referral Specialist. She was hired full-time on September 1, 1989, as Assistant Veterans' Services Officer. Over the years, Mrs. Williams was reclassified a number of times, first as a Veteran/Senior Services Assistant in 1990, then as Community Services Deputy Director on October 1, 1993. On August 3, 1998, Mrs. Williams was appointed Community Services Director.

Mrs. Williams worked tirelessly for the citizens of Mariposa County. Among the many projects she was involved in, Mrs. Williams provided senior services, senior nutrition, transit, outreach and support for seniors, education seminars and special events of help and interest to seniors; arranged for the first restaurant meal program for seniors; was responsible for overseeing the scheduling and implementing of activities and programs for seniors such as the annual Senior Exposition, the Senior Prom and Thanksgiving dinner; organized a wide variety of fundraisers; and overseeing the Veterans' Services which provides assistance to Veterans, their dependents, survivors and the general public in obtaining benefits from Federal, State, and local

agencies administering programs for Veterans, to name only a few.

Besides her commitments to Mariposa County Community Services, Mrs. Williams also served as a member of a number of groups, including the Future Farmers of America/Western Days and the Farm Bureau, was appointed a member of the Fair Board by the Governor and has worked actively with the Junior Livestock Auction Committee since its formation. Mrs. Williams recently celebrated 50 years of marriage to her husband Kenny and they both look forward to spending more time with their family upon her retirement.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mary Williams for her dedicated service to the people of Mariposa County. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Mrs. Williams many years of continued success.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to commend and congratulate Don Simms upon his retirement as the Assistant District Supervisor for the Wildlife Services Central District.

Mr. Simms began his career with the USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services as an Animal Damage Control Trapper in 1971 in Mariposa County. He eventually left Mariposa County and worked in a number of places in the state and country, including Santa Clara County, Modoc County, San Diego County at the San Diego Wild Animal Park on the wild cheetah project, Alameda County, San Mateo County, and finally on Kodiak Island, Alaska, on a raccoon rabies project. In 1983, Mr. Simms came back to Mariposa County to become the Assistant District Supervisor for the Wildlife Services Central District.

Mr. Simms has been a dedicated employee of the Wildlife Services program and of Mariposa County. His trapping skills are legendary and he has developed a number of control devices and techniques that have been used in the County and throughout other western states. Mr. Simms has also made presentations on his techniques to Wildlife Services employees in other western states. Mr. Simms has dealt with a wide variety of animals in his time with Wildlife Services, including rattlesnakes, feral pigs, bears, mountain lions and even a Bengal tiger.

In addition to his service to the county, Mr. Simms is a dedicated family man. Don and his wife Judy look forward to having more time to enjoy with their children and grandchildren.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Don Simms for his dedicated service to the people of Mariposa County. I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing Mr. Simms many years of continued success.