Only a frantic effort by county bulldozers saved the parking lot at Carmel River State Beach and possibly even Scenic Road from being eaten by the raging Carmel River last weekend. Chris Counts reports.

Highway 1 through Big Sur is still closed to cars, but at least pedestrians are being allowed to cross the construction zone near Rocky Point twice a day. What a difference a little footpath makes! Chris also has that one.

The cat that was missing after a house fire last weekend turned up singed but alive. Her owner says it was her fearlessness that allowed her to escape the flames even as three other cats died. Mary Brownfield has the remarkable story.

A city councilman says he's worked out a better smart meter opt out deal with PG&E than what the utility announced last week. Mary has the details.

If you're a Doris Day fan, of course you know her birthday is coming up. But you may be surprised to learn how old she actually is. Chris has that one, too.

The county planning commission rejected a proposed cell phone tower in Carmel Valley because it was going to be a faux deciduous tree, whereas the commission would prefer a faux native one. Two Carmel Highlands residents have been arrested on suspicion of being heroin pushers. A renowned local chef has a great story to tell about the time he was kissed by Elizabeth Taylor. And my editorial takes a look at the myriad ways, in fiction and in fact, that humans are foolish.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions, comments or concerns. To get this week's complete Pine Cone, please click here. If you have an opinion about one of our stories and would like to submit a letter to the editor, please click here. And if you want to know why I called a local politician's web posting "insipid," don't forget to visit my hot Internet links.

Paul Miller, Publisher
paul@carmelpinecone.com

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