Lorie spent much of her career engaging and mobilizing the entertainment industry in support of the missions of both the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America/Make-A-Wish International and the USO. She also worked directly with wish families, leading the Make-A-Wish program for the Northeastern and Northern Nevada region. In 2019, she served as the director of the Nevada County Animal Shelter under Sammie’s Friends who operated the full operation, which was also her first big introduction to Nevada County.

That same year, Lorie completed the Nevada County Citizens Academy, an experience that sparked her interest in local government and ultimately led her back in 2023 to support the county’s animal shelter contract and Homeland Security–related grants. She now serves as the Administrative Services Officer, overseeing the Animal Shelter Program, the Community Spay and Neuter Program, and supporting discussions around a prospective new animal shelter.

Outside of work, Lorie enjoys hiking, paddle boarding, exploring the outdoors with her dogs (including occasionally carrying one in a backpack), and spending time with her husband, two sons, and close friends throughout Nevada County.

Deborah was born in Jamaica and grew up both in Toronto, Canada and Kingston Jamaica.  She went to undergrad at Columbia University, medical school at Boston University and residency at University of Miami.  She then moved to Northern California in 2003.  Her first job was as assistant clinical professor at UC Davis.  Her love for travel and adventure resulted in work in Tanzania and Jamaica.

She eventually moved to Oakland CA in 2008 where she became Chief of GYN at the safety net Hospital in Oakland.  While mothering young twins, her own childhood traumas started surfacing.  As she started the work on healing these traumas, she now had the resources to integrate these tools into her own practice of medicine to help other women do deep healing work.  Along with her Western Medical training, she has further training in nutrition, lifestyle medicine, herbal medicine, psychedelics and death and dying.  

Separating from the father of her children and seeking a peaceful life, she moved to GV in 2020 with her twins.  She has been practicing medicine now for 25 years and has developed her own unique style focusing on deeper healing and how trauma affects health.  She still practices acute care OB/GYN and delivers babies.  In her free time, she enjoys cooking, hiking, yoga and evenings out with her partner.  She is active in the community supporting both kids programs and women’s health. 

Chief Estes began his fire service journey in 1991 as a Firefighter I at a busy station in southeast San Diego County. His early passion for fire aviation led to a four-year assignment on a CAL FIRE helicopter crew in Tuolumne County, shaping his expertise in rotor-winged operations. Over the years, he served as a Military Helicopter Manager and Liaison Officer with the California National Guard. 

Promoting through the ranks, Estes became a Fire Apparatus Engineer in 1998, Captain in 2000, and Battalion Chief in 2005, overseeing training and emergency medical services. In 2005, he joined Incident Command Team 10 as a Type I Operations Section Chief, managing over 30 complex emergency deployments. By 2013, he was selected as a Type I Incident Commander, leading Incident Management Team 6 through 14 major incidents across California. 

As Unit Chief, Estes has led over 450 personnel across 1.7 million acres, managing a $100 million budget and deploying resources from fire stations, air attack bases, and fire crew camps. As Placer County Fire Chief, he has transformed the department into a top-tier organization, serving 70,000 residents across 1,000 square miles. His leadership has enhanced advanced life support, technical rescue, hazardous materials response, and tactical medic services in partnership with the Placer County Sheriff’s Office. 

Beyond operations, Estes played a key role in rebranding CAL FIRE in 2006, designing the department’s patch, logo, and fleet identity. He has chaired the statewide uniform and standards committee for over 15 years and earned three Directors Superior Accomplishment Awards. His contributions extend nationally and internationally, including mentoring new incident commanders, aiding Maui’s 2023 wildfire recovery, and speaking at a major fire symposium in Germany. 

Brian is a also a huge Dodgers fan, an accomplished artist and can shred on the drums.  

Chief Estes’ dedication to public safety and professional excellence leaves a lasting legacy. The community thanks him for his service and wishes him well in retirement. 

Public service became a part of Jason’s life early on. At age 12, His father, a business owner and volunteer firefighter, often brought him to trainings and incidents.

Jason went on to earn a B.B.A. in Business Management from Harding University in Arkansas, an A.S. in Fire Technology from Modesto Junior College, and an A.S. in Paramedicine from American River College. His fire service career began with the Sylvan Hills Fire Department, a suburb of Little Rock, AR, where he served on rescue units, ladder trucks, engines, and medic squads, as well as a member of the Arkansas US&R Task Force.

After returning to California, Jason primarily served in Calaveras County, where he played a key role in consolidating two agencies into one. He holds California State certifications as both a Fire Officer and Chief Officer. In 2015, he was honored with the California State Firefighters’ Association President’s Hall of Fame Award for coordinating a four-year statewide live fire training program.

Jason and his wife, Leah, have been married for 21 years and have two sons, Carson (16) and Luke (14), who both attend Bear River. He enjoys traveling with his family, fishing with his boys, and attending local events. In his spare time, he is also restoring his first truck, a 1959 Chevy.

Anna was born and raised in Nevada County and was homeschooled through high school. During her high school years, she joined Campus Life (the local Youth for Christ chapter) where she developed a love of outdoor adventures, and came to understand the positive impact caring adults can have on the lives of youth. It was her experience in Campus Life that inspired her to choose the field of social work as a profession.  

Anna graduated from Point Loma Nazarene University with her bachelor’s degree in social work in 2007 and obtained her master’s degree in social work from California State University, Sacramento in 2011. She worked within the foster care system for 14 years as a social worker, supervisor, and program manager, before deciding to pursue licensure in 2020. Over the past few years, Anna has held several different roles providing child and family therapy, crisis intervention services for the community, and trauma therapy and training to local first responders. 

In her free time, Anna enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, reading, learning, working out, riding dirt bikes, backpacking, camping, paddle boarding, and, occasionally, pranking co-workers.  

Jake has a bachelors degree in Criminal and Social Justice, a bachelors degree in Psychology, and a masters degree in Public Administration. He enjoys the numerous outdoor activities Nevada County offers, including kayaking, hiking, and mountain biking. Jake remains an active member of the community being involved in PTA, youth and teen sports, and his local church community.

Stefanie never envisioned one day she’d be helping animals, nor working in law enforcement. As a teenager, she had her eyes set on Hollywood—the stars—the glam—the fame—and she did it. After attending college at San Francisco State University and film school in Los Angeles, she landed a few lucky commercial breaks, including one commercial with Nike. Her success opened the door to bigger and better opportunities, the largest of which was a four-year gig with soap opera, Days of Our Lives, as a recurring character. 

For seven years, Stefanie owned and operated Stinky Mulligan’s, a popular pub in its heyday, especially with locals in law enforcement, including NCSO. Through occasional engagement with off-duty personnel, it was suggested she would make the perfect deputy, should she ever have the interest.

As an animal lover, the idea of working with animals daily appealed to her, so Stefanie applied to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office as an Animal Control Officer. After going through the required background investigation and standard hiring steps, she was hired and began her career as an animal control officer (ACO). 

Stefanie formed NCSO’s HEART, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that created a team of fully trained and certified animal rescue volunteers that could physically respond and evacuate animals of all sizes in the midst of fire, blizzards, and other hazardous conditions. 

Of all the jobs (and fame) Stefanie has had throughout her career, saving the lives of animals has topped them all. 

In 2008 Mike switched things up and took a Crew Captain position with CalFire running inmate fire crews, first in Fort Bragg, then here at Washington Ridge Camp, retiring in 2017.

Mike became the Volunteer Fire Chief for his hometown of Washington in 2004, and continues to serve in that role.

He and his wife of 36 years, Kim, have two sons, Colin 20 who is following his father’s footsteps as a USFS Firefighter, and Branden 18 who is building a career in the music industry.

.He was very active in Scouts and became an Eagle Scout. In 1966 he ditched his high school graduation ceremony preferring to take a job "washing pots and pans" at Glacier National Park, deepening his love of nature. He then spent two years at Colorado College in Colorado Springs. 
 Kent graduated  from the University of Maryland in 1970 in political science and economics. And went to law school at the University of New Mexico.  Prior to graduating in 1973, he spent a summer in Germany working for the Judge Advocate General.
 
 He was a self-employed attorney in San Diego from 1974 to 1987. He discovered Nevada County, his true mountain home and moved here in 1987. He married his wife Mollie in 1990 which actually tied for first place as the “truly the best decision" along with having moved to Nevada County. 

Kents volunteerism in Nevada County included time with SYRCL, Sierra Club, RQC, political campaigns, Five Rhythms dance, and the poetry community. He also became a mentor at Big Brothers Big Sisters.. He volunteer tutored in elementary schools for 10 years, and currently volunteers with Bright Futures for Youth..

His enjoys hiking, skiing, discovering western parks and the national forests
 
 Kent said, “I deeply feel that community involvement is the answer to having a true Civilization. Being connected and helping others keeps us tethered to ourselves, our souls. So many Americans are depressed, immobilized and feel alienated or alternatively are out chasing the American Dream without true connection to their inner lives or others. I feel that the more folks live in harmony with themselves then the more generous, philanthropic, kind and safe we all are. Then, and only then, can we claim to be a genuine civilization and Make America Great Again.
 
 

Lori Burkart Frank speaks with the Nevada County Sheriff’s office, Undersheriff, Alicia Burget.

She was appointed Undersheriff in 2019 and during her 23+ year career she has held positions in patrol, Court Security/Bailiff, Search and Rescue Coordinator, detective in Major Crimes Unit, investigator in Narcotics Unit and as Jails Commander, overseeing all operations at the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility and much more.

Amigo Bob, who started California’s first natural foods distribution company,  first organic farm supply company, and first organic crop consulting agency, also hosted a monthly show, Organic Matters, on KVMR.

He was one of the founders of the Committee for Sustainable Agriculture, which sponsors the EcoFarm Conference. The event, held every January in Pacific Grove, is still one of the most influential events in the world of sustainable agriculture.