The mighty bruins were often pitted against bulls in a fight to the death, and in one instance a great California Grizzly was seized and transported to Monterey, Mexico, where he was pitted against an African lion. The lion was immediately dispatched by the Grizzly. The list of cruelty is long and gruesome, and the result was always eventual death for the Grizzly.

As later emigrants came to California from the east, the Grizzly bear was a formidable foe, fighting for survival against the influx of humans into its surrounds. But the Gold Rush Era, with its mass of humanity finally brought an end to the mighty Grizzly.

Long revered by California’s Native People as a great, fearsome, and powerful force, the bear was no match for the newcomers with their guns. The repeating rifle had a huge effect in the war against this spectacular animal.

The area around Susanville had its fair share of Grizzly scares. In the winter of 1860-61, the town was terrorized by sightings. Just across the river, south of town, a Grizzly was seen prowling around a house.

A boy who lived there heard a noise and opened a window to look outside. As he did this, an enormous Grizzly reared up on his hind legs and faced the boy. The young man threw down the window, ran upstairs, and locked himself into a room where he spent the night. The story was undoubtedly embellished a bit as it was repeated around town, but it caused quite a ‘stir’.

Not too long after the Grizzly affair south of town, Sam King was staying in LaDue Vary’s cabin. Vary had a mining claim on Weatherlow Street, just a little north of Paiute Creek. In the night, King heard something walking around outside the cabin. He loaded his old musket with buckshot, opened the door a tiny bit, and fired at whatever was outside. He then slammed the door shut and waited until morning.

As daylight arrived, Sam ventured out to see what damage he had caused, and not far away found a huge Grizzly, estimated to be about eight hundred pounds.

The bears continued to be pursued, and bear hunts were often held to eradicate the threat. In Lassen County and throughout the state, the Grizzly was considered by most to be one of the greatest threats to citizens and the growth of the area.

In 1889, as the Grizzly population was waning, William Randolph Hurst hired Alex Kelly to ‘find him a bear’. Kelly found his prey in Ventura County, and the bear, eventually named Monarch, was secured in a cage until he was euthanized, 22 years later. Monarch was the model for the bear on the California State flag.

It is estimated that by the beginning of the Gold Rush, there were 10,000 Grizzly Bears in California, but by 1924, the last documented sighting of a wild Grizzly put an end to the massive animal. The Grizzly was extinct.

There have been recent efforts to repopulate the California Grizzly through genetic engineering and cloning to recreate the species, but for now, your best chance to see a live Grizzly might be to attend a sporting event at Lassen High School.

There will be a freshman class meeting on Wednesday at 8:45a.m., in Mrs. Ammon’s room for all who can make it.

Need an entertaining date idea for Valentine’s Day? The Culinary Club is hosting a sushi class on February 14th, at 6:00p.m., in the Student Center. Learn how to make sushi and enjoy your creations. Couples are $12 and singles are $8. Find someone in Culinary Club or see Mrs. Reger in room 116 for tickets.

Do you want to run for an office next year? Class and ASB Officer applications are at the ASB counter in the library.

Sargent Stafford from the Marines will be conducting a pull-up challenge and table display during lunch time. Today, February 10th from noon until 1:00p.m.

Softball tryouts will start February 14th at Lassen College from 3:30 to 5:00p.m. You must have a clearance slip from Carol to tryout.

Track and Field season is almost here. If you can run, jump or throw this is the team for you. Track will begin the last week of February. For more information see Mr. Geoia, Mr. T, or Mrs. Runyan.

Please stop by the counseling office or go on Naviance to see the scholarships that the high school has received. New scholarships include Lassen Association of Realtors, Susanville Basque Club, American AgCredit, and Lassen County Cattlemen.

All proceeds and extra donations will go to a Spring Clothes Drive for needy Lassen County families.

Tickets are available at Margie’s Book Nook, County Cleaners or Supreme Graphics.

For tickets or ticket information contact Jon France at 530-310-3417 or e-mail at dramajon1@gmail.com.

On Whaleback Mountain, near Eagle Lake, eight acres are being burned with ignitions over the next day or two. Smoke production could last another three to seven days, depending on conditions.

Smoke could be visible from County Road A1, the Eagle Lake Basin and the Community of Spalding.

On the Plum Project near Coyote Reservoir crews have about seventy-five acres left to burn and are hoping to have the operation completed this week.

Smoke will be visible from Hwy 44 and Hwy 89.

All you have to do to win this awesome Valentine’s Day gift package is enter by following this link over to SusanvilleStuff and filling out our entry form..

You can enter once per day per household and all entries must be received before tonight, February 10th, at midnight. We’ll announce the name of our winner Friday morning, February 11th, just in time for Valentine’s Day.

The new machinery ordered by the Lassen Lumber and Box company for its box factory has all been delivered and the work of putting it in place is being done. This is part of the general plan for doubling the capacity of the plant for the coming season’s run.

Between 75 and 100 men in the factory have been laid off temporarily while the new machinery is being installed. The rest of the force is employed in overhauling and repair work and in adjusting the new machinery.

The logging camp of the company opened last Saturday.