Photo Galleries

A Los Angeles county firefighter sprays water to cool a structure on Circle View Drive in Running Springs in the San Bernardino mountains on Oct. 23 during the wildfire disaster in southern California. This is one of the pictues in Bee Senior Photographer Bryan Patrick's portfolio that won the Photographer of the Year contest sponsored by the San Francisco Bay Area Press Photographers Association.

Haley Schiff, 13, watches a tanker plane drop water near her home off Bouquet Canyon Road in Saugus on Oct. 22.

A Los Angeles county firefirghter puts water on the Malibu Presbyterian Church on Malibu Canyon Drive near the University of Pepperdine on Oct. 21.

Firefighters form a 6 a.m. chow line on Oct. 25 at Snow Valley resort in the San Bernardino Mountains and prepare for another day battling wildfires.

The wife and daughter of homeowner, Robert J. Crimmins, react as they view their fire-damaged home on Hedge Avenue after it burned on June 12 as a result of a grass fire that ignited nearby.

Charlie Schlinger, left, and sister Cheryl Pinckney sift the ruins of their father's house in the Tahoe Paradise area on June 28 for keepsakes such as a Mother's Day cup, foreground, given to their mom, who died two years ago.

Al Springer retrieves mail from his curbside mailbox that was all that remained unscathed after the Angora fire blowtorched his home on Angora Creek Road in June.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and other elected officials view the burned-out View Circle neighborhood during their tour of fire-damaged areas south of Lake Tahoe on June 27.

Officer Douglas Scott Russell's widow, Lynn Russell, stands with officers as the casket is carried away in a hearse. About 2,000 officers and well-wishers attended the service at Adventure Christian Church in Roseville, where Russell was remembered as a fiercely loving man. The 22-year CHP veteran was killed when a driver led officers on a 30-mile chase.

Friends and family of murder victim, Sarah Lynn Randone, hug each other outside the Sacramento County jail on May 1. Spectators there for the arraignment of Randone's ex-husband, James Nash Galvan, wore T-shirts with Randone's photo to honor her and call attention to victims of domestic violence.

Sacramento County Sheriff's Officer Bob White, sitting, kicks down the door of a home on 76th Street in Sacramento on June 20 where a suspected gang member lives.

Oscar Garcia of Sacramento, carrying a garden hoe and American flag, waits at Southside Park for the start of the march honoring labor organizer Cesar Chavez on March 31, 2007.

A mounted riders with flags lead a parade of hundreds to Cesar Chavez Plaza to celebrate Chavez's legacy on March 31, 2007.

The tide moves in on Bowling Ball Beach along the Mendocino coast just after sunset in October.

Several burrowing owls peer from a nest at Wildhorse Golf Course. The birds, which are bothered by gasoline engines, increased on the course after electric carts replaced gas-powered transport.

Bill Griffith, center, paddles on the American River with Bob Hanna, left, and Randy Smith on Nov. 27. Griffith says he's been exercising on the river daily for years.

At midnight, Brian Hancock checks a map to find different points during a land navigation competition at Fort Hunter Liggett in Monterey County. It was one of many events in the soldier of the year competition that Hancock, a former business owner and current Army Reservist, participated in. (From the picture story: Soldier, Father, Husband)

At a park near their home, Hancock makes his way down a playground pole as his daughter Laurana, 7, waits after doing the same. When one of Laurana’s teachers found out that her father had enlisted in the military, she offered to hide him in her spare room. (From the picture story: Soldier, Father, Husband)

Brian Hancock puts his daughter, Laurana, 7, Laurana, to bed in their Davis home. (From the picture story: Soldier, Father, Husband)

John Greber watches from horseback as some of his cattle graze near his Sacramento County home and ranch. He said three generations of his family have raised cattle in the county but, with more development threatening their latest property, he's going to sell out and move the operation to Idaho.

A hot air balloon floats near Truckee on Sept. 10 as smoke from Plumas County's Moonlight fire obscures the Sierra in the distance. Winds are forecast to shift today and could blow smoke toward Susanville.

Larry Morris adjusts his goggles during a morning swimming class at Del Rio Racket Club on Jan. 13, 2007, in Sacramento.

Bella Vista's Veronica Stimson begins her celebration in midair after winning the pole vault on May 25.

Vanderbilt's Derrick Byars, right, and Washington State's Kyle Weaver scramble for a loose ball Saturday, March 17. Byars made 7 of 12 shots after the first half to help the Commodores rally for a double-overtime victory.

The Mercury's Kelly Schumacher expresses frustration after being called for a foul as the Monarchs' Rebekkah Brunson celebrates in the background during the game at Arco Arena on June 9.

The A's Nick Swisher (on the ground) tries to tackle Texas Rangers pitcher Vicente Padilla after getting hit by a pitch. Both benches emptied, and both players were ejected during the game on Sept. 16.