Trusted community coverage
Connecting communities, empowering the public
Early in July 2023 Plumas News announced that it would go dark at the end of the month. Plumas and Lassen counties had enjoyed a century of coverage of local events and issues by Feather Publishing, which built from one community newspaper to a fleet of six. For the last three years we have turned to Plumas and Lassen News for 24/7 reporting of breaking news as well as sports, letters to the editor, public notices and more. All that was ending. The prospect of no local news was unimaginable to many of us who believe accurate information is a cornerstone of democracy. We quickly gathered a core group of local citizens and began discussing an alternative to the information void we were facing. By the last week of July we had a name, a website, a fiscal sponsor and an editorial team. The Plumas Sun is a collaboration of local residents and organizations working together to inform, educate and engage with the public across all communities of Plumas County, California.
About The Plumas Sun
The Plumas Sun provides unbiased coverage by reputable journalists of local government, including the Plumas County Board of Supervisors, county government and the City of Portola. We post information about upcoming events provided by local, state and federal organizations. Our nonprofit web-based platform is supported by donations, subscriptions and grant funding. We work in cooperation with KQNY, a nonprofit radio station based in Quincy. As our team of committed reporters expands and our funding stabilizes, we have increased our news coverage to include community events, features, vital statistics and public notices.
Publication Information
The Plumas Sun is a daily online news publication, ISSN 2997-2507
Contact Us
General Information
[email protected]
Sponsorship & Advertising
[email protected]
Legal & Public Notices
[email protected]
Our Team
Jane Braxton Little
Editor in Chief | Plumas Sun BoardJane and her husband Jon arrived in Plumas County in 1969 for a summer that has yet to end. They have raced teams of Alaskan husky sled dogs, stewarded 34 acres of forestland, and, most proudly, raised two sons in Indian Valley. As a freelance writer, Jane has been published in magazines that include the Atlantic, Audubon, National Geographic, The Nation and Scientific American.
Sierra Blanton
Plumas Sun Board, PresidentSierra Blanton is a proud Quincy native with a deep love for art, music, and community. Her passion for creativity led her to pursue a career as a singer and songwriter, performing and collaborating along the Central Coast before spending five years immersed in Nashville’s vibrant music and art scene. Now back in Plumas County, Sierra serves as the Director of Community Relations and Foundation for the Plumas Hospital District, where she combines her dedication to nonprofit work and healthcare. She is also the co-creator of Stevie James, an event styling business that allows her to channel her artistic vision into creating memorable experiences. Committed to fostering an informed and connected community, Sierra is the Board Chair of The Plumas Sun, the county’s only local news division, and serves as a Board Director for Plumas Arts, working to ensure access to the transformative power of art, culture, and journalism for all generations. Whether advocating for healthcare, the arts, or the vital role of local news in keeping communities informed, Sierra remains dedicated to strengthening and enriching the Plumas County community.
James Willson
Plumas Sun Board, Vice PresidentJames is a Plumas County native, having grown up in Quincy and Indian Valley. During the weekday, James works in healthcare administration and private consulting for Public Health departments. During the night and weekends he likes to party, even if “party” only means having a dance-off with his kids in the living room. As a former staff writer for Feather Publishing, James is passionate about non-biased information specific to Plumas County getting out to the public.
Lindsay Morton
Managing Editor | Plumas Sun Board, SecretaryLindsay Morton is a publishing professional, librarian and writer. She operates an independent communications consultancy specializing in scholarly publishing, and serves as managing editor for The Plumas Sun, where her role focuses on story selection and editing, and reporting assignments. She moved to Plumas County for the first time in 1988, and again, in 2023.
Cheryl Kolb
Plumas Sun Board, TreasurerCheryl has been a resident of Plumas County off and on since 1976. Her primary profession is bookkeeping, tax preparation and payroll and is a Notary Public and she works for the Quincy Chamber of Commerce as their Administrative Director. She is actively involved in many events in the community; from plays at the West End Theatre to performing in Star Follies. When she's not busy she likes pina coladas and getting caught in the rain. She's not really into yoga but she does have half a brain.
Brad Bodenham
Plumas Sun BoardBrad is just some guy born in Plumas County. Since 2006, he has been attempting to solve complex problems in graphic design, web development and private detecting. Dedicating large portions of his life to rules set forth by iconic 1980s rapper turned cannabis-smoking rocker named Robert Matthew Van Winkle, better known as Vanilla Ice. "If there's a problem, yo, I'll solve it..."
Nance Reed
Plumas Sun BoardNance Reed loves projects that bring people together to work for our community. She is involved with Feather River Food Coop, Rugged Roots Farm, and KQNY. She would like to have journalism classes at FRC and our high schools. Her goal is 500 people donating $5 or $10 a month so The Plumas Sun can expand with more news and events happening in Plumas County.
Tommy Miles
Reporter, Law enforcement | Plumas Sun Board, Audio Content LiaisonTommy Miles serves as General Manager at Plumas County’s community radio station, KQNY 91.9 FM, where he assists the volunteers who produce the KQNY Radio News show in collaboration with The Plumas Sun. He is also a longtime local educator, musician and certified massage therapist.
Our Reporters
Ingrid Burke
Submissions Editor | ReporterIngrid has been writing and editing professionally in Plumas County for more than 15 years. Her particular interests include education, environmental science, literacy, volunteerism, and arts and crafts.
Erin Kirwan
Reporter, Central Plumas featuresErin Kirwan is a full-time parent of three and an educator working in special education at Quincy Elementary; in her illusory free time, she writes for the Plumas Sun and creates whimsical gift items under the moniker 3 Crows Jewelry & Arcana. She believes that newspapers (whether print or digital) are essential tools for communication and connection within small rural communities, and loves having the opportunity to showcase the joy and spirit of Plumas county life.
Lindsey Shaw
Reporter, Eastern Plumas featuresLindsey Shaw covers community life in eastern Plumas County for The Plumas Sun, focusing on service journalism, public safety, small business, schools, and the outdoors. She also works with state agencies as a consultant with a strong focus on public safety, natural resources, transportation, and finance. Lindsey enjoys volunteering in her community, making wine, and frolicking on her homestead. Lindsey is passionate about citizens’ rights.
Lori Simpson
Reporter, educationLori has lived in Quincy for over fifty years and worked for Plumas County for twenty-eight years. She worked her way up from a library aide to county supervisor before retiring in 2020. A long time opinion writer, she is happy to help out reporting on vital local issues to keep citizens informed.
Vision
Our vision is to provide accurate news that will educate and inform the public. We know that engaged, better informed, more civically aware communities will help bring about a healthier, better educated, more productive, prosperous and equitable Plumas County.
Mission
The Plumas Sun is a nonprofit news outlet delivering high-quality, objective coverage of countywide news, government and local events to all the communities of Plumas County. We produce and distribute news that meets the highest standards of public service in journalism.
Goals
- To become the leading source of local news for Plumas County residents, offering timely, fact-based, and unbiased coverage on matters of public interest and concern in the region.
- To contribute to the development of a well-informed public, support the democratic process, and help drive strong civic engagement.
- To form connections within and among the communities of Plumas County through the sharing of vital knowledge and information.
