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Volume XVII Issue 8
Wednesday, August 21st, 2024
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Why We Love This Place
Wednesday: Back to School
By Terra Avilla
Ah, the joy of going back to school—a time when parents rejoice and students groan in unison, like a well-rehearsed choir of mixed emotions.
It’s the season when the smell of freshly sharpened pencils fills the air, and the aisles of stores transform into a battleground of glittery binders and neon highlighters.
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Kids trade their lazy summer days for the thrill of early morning alarms and the delightful challenge of deciphering their teachers’ handwriting on the whiteboard. (okay maybe just my handwriting.)
For my family it means the influx of baseball boys surrounding our house, the girls moving up a grade, and the drive out to Richmond Elementary begins again.
From when I was a student, to then a parent, and now an instructor, the excitement this time of year brings to our community is palpable. There’s something undeniably heartwarming about scrolling through social media and seeing the adorable back-to-school pictures shared by my friends of their little ones, because every year I cannot believe how much older and bigger their kiddos are getting.
It’s new beginnings and the possibly really of anything. I can’t wait to see the return of Friday night lights to our high school football field.
Back to school time is special everywhere, but there is just something about our community that makes it feel so much better. For example, the Salvation Army becomes synonymous with this time of year, transforming the hustle of shopping into a mission of compassion.
While families scramble to gather supplies, often spending a small fortune on everything from backpacks to calculators, many children face the daunting reality of starting school without these essentials, yet year after year Salvation Army steps right in to help ease that burden.
As the school year kicks off, so does the familiar wave of requests for fundraisers supporting various youth activities, from sports teams to music programs and everything in between. While it can sometimes feel like an avalanche of bake sales, raffle tickets, car washes, and sponsorship requests, this annual ritual serves as a reminder of the vibrant community we all share.
After all, these are the kids we have known their whole life, and they are growing up in front of our eyes.
August also heralds the start of fall youth soccer, as the fields at Ranch Park come alive with the sounds of laughter, snack bags, cheers, and the unmistakable thud of my daughter’s head as she tries to stop the ball with it.
This time of year, brings cooler mornings and is about to bless us with the colors only available here, in sweet northern California.
Yes, this time is incredibly busy, but rather than getting swept away by the chaos, it’s a perfect opportunity to sit back, take a deep breath, and soak in the joy of this season.
It only lasts for such a little while but year-after-year is such a wonderful reminder of why I love where we live.
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Recipients of SEMSA’s Community Life Saver Award
19 Recipients Honored with SEMSA’s First Ever Community Life Saver Award
On August 19th, Sierra Medical Services Alliance, known better as SEMSA, honored nineteen deserving recipients from three separate local agencies, the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office, CHP Air Operations and SEMSA Air 1.
According to SEMSA the award recipients distinguished themselves in the performance of outstanding service and lifesaving measures during the multi-agency search and rescue response on May 29th, at Eagle Lake, saying, “Their extensive efforts, keen judgment, and professionalism contributed to the successful treatment and positive outcome of the patient.”
The Community Life Saver Award was established to recognize extraordinary efforts by fellow first responders, their agencies and members of the community, which have a profound impact on the positive and successful outcome of a patient.
The award recognizes the coordinated response of the California Highway Patrol Air Operations H-14, Lassen County Sheriff’s Office Patrol, Lassen County Search and Rescue, Lassen County Emergency Communications Center, and SEMSA Air 1 flight crew.
Award Recipients
California Highway Patrol Air Operations – Officer Steve Weyand, Officer Daniel Gallagher and Officer Michael Chaffant.
Lassen County Sheriff’s Office – Captain Dustin Russell, Sergeant Laura Johnson, Deputy Kurtis Becker, Search and Rescue Travis Stading, Search and Rescue Mike McGarva, Deputy Jim Uptegrove, Deputy Rob Gratriex, Detective Meghan Lee, Sergeant Bryan Sullivan, Captain Mike Carney, Search and Rescue Bob McGarva, Dispatcher Angela Lewis and Dispatcher Tracy Mattern.
SEMSA Air 1 – Flight Nurse Maggie Robinson, Flight Paramedic Michael Castro and Pilot John Latham.
The honorees are being celebrated for their remarkable teamwork and dedication in rescuing a 75-year-old male boater who went missing at Eagle Lake on May 29th.
The ordeal began on the evening of May 28th, when the Lassen County Sheriff’s dispatch received a call for the missing boater. The extensive 17-hour search operation was marked by a relentless and coordinated effort among various agencies.
CHP H-14, with its aerial surveillance capabilities, located the unoccupied boat and provided crucial coordinates to the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office. This allowed the Sheriff’s team to search the shoreline effectively.
Lassen County Sheriff’s Office personnel, including both Patrol and Search and Rescue divisions, successfully located the missing boater in the water near the shoreline and were able to retrieve him.
The immediate response from LCSO officers, combined with the prompt arrival of SEMSA Air 1, was critical. First aid was administered on-site, and the patient was swiftly transported to Renown Medical Center in Reno, NV by SEMSA Air 1.
Upon arrival at Renown Medical Center, the patient went into cardiac arrest. Thanks to the swift and expert intervention of hospital staff, the patient was revived and, after a brief stay in the ICU, was discharged home, a truly remarkable and successful outcome.
All responders were also recognized by Northern California EMS, with an exemplary service award.
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Annual Rails to Trails Festival
at the Depot Set for October 12th
The annual Rails to Trails Festival, a celebration of outdoor life in Lassen County hosted by Lassen Land and Trails Trust, happens Saturday, October 12th, with a variety of events on tap for the entire family.
Events run from 10:00a.m. until 3:00p.m. at the historic Susanville Railroad Depot, 601 Richmond Road. Admission is free.
The festival features artisans, craft vendors and a farmer’s market, the last of the summer’s market season. There will also be music, caboose tours and locally produced craft beers.
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Participants can learn about Lassen County’s railroading and logging history by touring the Susanville Depot and climbing through the 60-year-old trailhead caboose. You can even take part in the one-of-a-kind handcar races, or cheer on your favorite team!
For more information click here and head on over to lassenlandandtrailstrust.org.
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Fire Safe Council Holding August
Meeting Tonight at 5:30
The Lassen Fire Safe Council will be holding its monthly General Meeting this evening at 5:30 in the Susan River Fire Hall on Highway 395 in Johnstonville.
The Fire Safe Council’s guest speaker, Bill Jacks from Terra Fuego Resource Foundation, will be discussing the Five Dot Ranch Project.
Managing Director, Cade Mohler, and his staff will update you about ongoing and future grant projects.
At 5:00p.m., before the start of the Fire Safe Council meeting, come meet with the Lassen Prescribed Burn Association and learn about the importance of prescribed fire as a part of the overall strategies to create wildfire resiliency within our forests and communities.
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Light refreshments and homemade cookies will be served! | |
Chimney Fund Holding Annual Westwood Chili Cookoff September 14th
Lassen County’s prettiest little mountain town sure knows how to throw a fun party, and the 31st Annual Chimney Fund Chili Cook-Off in Westwood looks to be no exception.
The event, this year being held in a new location at Westwood Park, will feature lots of fun stuff to do including music, a 50/50 raffle, chili tasting, kids games, face painting and a BBQ.
And every year the chili is superb! Chili tasting will be offered for $7.
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There will be a 50/50 raffle and another raffle for three cords of wood specifically to raise money for the Chimney Fund’s scholarship fund and can be pre purchased for $10 a ticket.
All the fun starts at noon on September 14th, and anyone can compete in the chili contest. Space is limited so organizers recommend you sign up early. To register, and for official rules, email chimneyfundinc@gmail.com.
Awards will be given to Judges Choice, People’s Choice, Best Salsa and Best Decorated Booth.
For more information call Ashley at 1.530.816.0173.
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Doyle California around 1915 from the California State Library | |
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Survey Completed On Susanville Road
August 21, 1919
Division Engineer Bradford of the California highway commission has just completed the preliminary survey of the proposed state road from Susanville, Lassen County; to the Nevada state line, which, under a recent agreement, is to be built jointly by the state and Lassen County.
The report discloses that the funds available for this section of road, some $360,000, are inadequate, and that if the whole road is built it must be in an inferior manner. The other alternative is to expand the bulk of the funds upon a portion of the road, constructing a standard paved highway as far as the money will permit.
The commission has detailed Engineer Bedford to go at once to Susanville and explain the matter to the board of supervisors of Lassen County to ascertain the wishes of the members of the board and of the people of the county.
Should the supervisors of Lassen County give their approval, the highway commission will proceed at once to grade and pave with concrete a section of road at least twenty miles in length. Under this plan, the improvement would start at the town of Susanville and proceed in the direction of the Nevada state line.
The highway commission is unable to state when or from what funds the road would be eventually completed.
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If you are a fan of our daily history stories you should join the Lassen Historical Society! It's a fun way to be a part of our county's rich history. When you sign up you'll receive regular Historical Society newsletters with interesting stories and information. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in area history.
Through your membership you help preserve local history. You can download a membership application by clicking here.
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