I can't answer or comment on either question(s). The last I heard was when Mr. Hammond commented here on the Altamont Press, "the YW is in escrow." But that was at the end of last summer, so the deal must have fallen through. I've been out of the loop for quite some time.
Mr. Hammond is difficult to catch when he's in Yreka. He spends much time out of the state as well. I've been trying to catch him so that I can buy one of the original Yreka Railroad stock certificates to place with the rest of my YW keepsakes. But as I said, even when he's here he's on the telephone and can't spare time to receive me. :o/