BY CHRISTOPHER ROSACKER

Staff Writer

To folks outside Nevada County,Sunday’s Nevada City Classicmay be the best known of the

local activities this Father’s Day week-end. But the Nevada City AdultSoapbox Derby is booming amonglocals in only its second year.

Last year’s maiden voyage of thesoapbox derby attracted an estimated4,500 attendees and raised nearly$5,000 to benefit Nevada City’s PioneerPark, funding the installation of a newbocce ball court.

“It was just absolutely amazinghow giddy everyone was and how muchpassion everyone had for the event,”said Mark Swasey of Swasey’s PublicWholesale, whose racer came in fifthplace last year.

Event organizer Rich Bodine esti-mates that this year’s derby will likelytriple the first year’s total funds raised,thanks to sponsors such as Grass

Valley-based AJA Video’s $10,000 con-tribution and New York-basedMarkertek, a broadcast and pro-audiosupplier that contracts with local pro-ducers, such as AJA and EnsembleDesigns.

Whatever the final fund total willbe, its allocation has not yet been deter-mined, Bodine said.

Nevada City’s Parks andRecreation Department will have a tentat the race where attendees can submittheir ideas for park projects.

“There are many options forupgrades and improvements to our park

— playground, pool area, walking trailand better drainage for the ball fields, toname a few,” said Nevada City MayorDavid McKay in a submitted statementto The Union.

Some project ideas Bodine men-tioned included a sand volleyball court,upgraded barbecue and picnic areas anda path for walkers, joggers and bicycleriders around the park.

While the race certainly is aboutcaring for the park, there is no shortageof enthusiasm for the derby itself,Bodine said.

More than 40 entries will race tobeat last year’s winning Telestreamteam.

Telestream’s returning racer hasbeen designated No. One, with a targetaround the number, Bodine said.

Swasey’s team said they madesome improvements to their two-man,bobsled-like entry and are gunning forfirst place this year.

Local riders gearup for NC Classic

SPORTS | B161

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LIVES LIVED

Burt Duer, 74

Obituaries on Page A9

■ 37th Annual Father’s DayBluegrass Festival

Sponsored by the CaliforniaBluegrass Association, the old-est continuously runningbluegrass festival continuestoday through Sunday at theNevada County Fairgrounds,11228 McCourtney Road inGrass Valley.

For schedules and information,visit fathersdayfestival.com

■ ManUp! with wellnessguru Chris Powell

The Center for the Arts teams upwith Sierra Nevada MemorialHospital to present an inspira-tional and instructivepresentation by celebrity healthand wellness guru Chris Powellwith a fun and participatory out-door exposition.

Includes clinics and demonstra-tions on many fun and healthyactivities.

Today from 5 to 9 p.m. at theparking lot at the Grass ValleyVeteran’s Hall, 255 S. AuburnSt., Grass Valley. For information,visit thecenterforthearts.org.

■ ‘Summer of Love’ returnsto Off Broadstreet

This popular play features amiddle-aged woman who wasonly 12 when a chance meetingwith Janis Joplin at the MontereyPop Festival changes her life for-ever.

Performance at 8:15 p.m., OffBroadstreet Cabaret DessertTheatre, 305 Commercial Street,Nevada City.

For information, call (530) 265-8686.

BY TRINA KLEIST AND LIZ KELLAR

Staff Writers

Two Grass Valley men are facing robberycharges after leading deputies on a chase formore than five hours and causing a neighbor-hood lockdown Thursday in southern NevadaCounty.

And residents of Darkhorse and Lake ofthe Pines developments can take some of thecredit for their apprehension.

As a result of neighbors’ tips to lawenforcement, Corey Locicero, 31, and JordanRose, 19, were arrested on suspicion of robbery,county Sheriff Keith Royal said.

Locicero’s alleged escapade kept his lawyercooling his heels in a Nevada County Superiorcourtroom, where he had been scheduled toappear at 9 a.m.

Shortly after 6 a.m., the sheriff ’s dispatchoffice received a call reporting a burglary inprogress on the 17000 block of River RanchRoad, Royal said.

A man saw something suspicious at avacant house next door, went over to investigateand allegedly was accosted by Locicero andRose, Royal said.

The two suspects allegedly forced the

BY LIZ KELLAR

Staff Writer

Sufficient evidence was found tohold an Alta Sierra man to answer onthree counts of annoying or molesting achild younger than 18, after a prelimi-nary hearing Thursday.

However, there was insufficientevidence in one count involving a fourthalleged victim.

The allegations center aroundinappropriate behavior allegedly exhib-ited by John Orozco toward severalteenage girls, who were school friends

of his daughter’s.The girls testified in Nevada

County Superior Court Thursday thatfrom the time they were 14 or 15Orozco would ask for hugs, hold theirhands and ask them to be his girlfriend.

The most serious incident involveda 17-year-old girl identified as A.C.,who testified that last fall, Orozcopushed her against a wall and kissed heron the lips and later asked her if hecould give her a hickey.

He later apologized and asked hernot to tell anyone, she testified.

The girl said she did tell her friend

about the incident, but she “acted like itwas a complete fairy tale.”

She said she did not report it to lawenforcement initially because she feltbad for her friend.

A.C. denied knowing at the timethat Orozco had admitted to her moth-er that he was a registered sex offender.

His conviction allegedly dates backto when he was 24 and having a sexualrelationship with a 14-year-old girl.

According to the Megan’s Lawwebsite, he was convicted of rape byforce or fear.

BY TRINA KLEIST

Staff Writer

Temperatures above 100degrees, already dry fields andforests and winds from the northwill have firefighters on alert thisweekend.

It’s the classic recipe for firein the foothills.

Foothill temperatures areforecast to range from the 90s to103 degrees, with mercury up to108 expected in the CentralValley, the National WeatherService reported.

“Get all your chores doneout in the yard with mechanicalequipment prior to 10 a.m.,”warned Battalion Chief DavidRay of Nevada CountyConsolidated Fire ProtectionDistrict.

Sparks from mowers strik-ing rocks have been known tostart wildland fires.

Northerly winds are forecastto be stronger on the valley floor

Photo for The Union by John Hart

Built like a plane, an entry for the second annual Nevada City Adult Soapbox Derby was on display at the Nevada City ForeignCar and Motorcycle Show on June 9. This year’s derby will take place Saturday on Nimrod Street in Nevada City.

KNOW & GO

WHAT: Second Annual Nevada CityAdult Soapbox Derby

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday

WHERE: Nimrod Street, along NevadaCity’s Pioneer Park

COST: Free

DERBY DAY

More than 40 soapbox entries will vie for top spot

See DERBY A10

Hot, windy weekendsparks fire danger

Read more on the Web at

See WEATHER A10

Photo for The Union by John Hart

A Nevada County Sheriff’s detective and a Lake ofthe Pines security guard handcuff Jordan Rose,19, of Grass Valley, suspected of being involved ina robbery on River Ranch Road.

Two injail afterchaseSouth countyneighborhoodlocked downduring search

See CHASE A10

Man held to answer on molest charges

See CHARGES A10

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PARKING LOT