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Volume XVII Issue 110
Friday, January 10th, 2025
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SPD Officer Michael Mai with LFS Executive Director Angela Reed.
SPD Officer Michael Mai Named LFS Officer of the Year
Susanville Police Officer Michael Mai was named Lassen Family Services’ Officer of the Year Wednesday in a brief ceremony, held at the Susanville Police Department.
“Officer Mai is a hardworking-compassionate officer, who is an advocate for victims of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault,” said Susanville Public Safety Chief Michael Bengoa-Bollinger.
“Everyone has the human right to live in safety and free from violence and abuse, Officer Mai tries to ensure this right in our community.”
Mai’s plaque reads: In Recognition of Outstanding Excellence – Officer Michael Mia – Law Enforcement Officer of the Year 2024. With great appreciation for your dedication and commitment. Thank you for going above and beyond serving the citizens of Susanville.
LFS’ annual Officer of the Year Award is part of their celebration of National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, which this year is January 9th.
“Every year, we have the honor of highlighting a police officer whose actions have exemplified compassion and dedication to the care of victims of violence. This selection process is never easy for us, as Lassen County is home to a remarkable number of officers, each demonstrating an unwavering commitment that truly deserves recognition,” said LFS Executive Director Angela Reed at Wednesday’s presentation.
“We are sincerely grateful for their dedication and service. However, this year, we are delighted to turn the spotlight on one individual whose exceptional care has left a profound impact on the lives of many. Officer Mai has been an exemplary force of support and empathy, advocating for the welfare and dignity of every victim he encounters.”
Reed said that Mai’s unwavering commitment ensures that those most vulnerable receive the compassionate support and justice they deserve.
“His consistent efforts and kind approach are an inspiration to his peers and the community alike. We are proud to acknowledge Officer Mai as a beacon of hope and compassion both now and in the future!”
LEO’s of every rank and file have chosen a profession that puts their life on the line every day for their communities. They’ve answered a call to public service that is demanding and often unappreciated.
From local, state, and federal, their duties command dedication. The jobs are often thankless and take them away from their families for long hours. Rarely do they know what their days have in store for them.
Often law enforcement is the only paid emergency resource a community has. More often they work in coordination with other local, state, and federal organizations to make communities safer.
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Photofeature: Robert Burns Dons Robes as Lassen Superior Court Judge
The Honorable Mark R. Nareau, Lassen Superior Court’s Presiding Judge, officially installed Robert M. Burns as our county’s newest Superior Court Judge at an Investiture ceremony held January 3rd, in Lassen County’s Hall of Justice.
In front of a crowd of family, friends, local dignitaries, court staff and visiting judges, Burns assumed the role in what Judge Nareau called an historic moment.
“I feel a tremendous sense of responsibility to the community that welcomed me so warmly 30 years ago and that has been so generous to my family and I,” an emotional Burns said after the ceremony.
“I am so honored by the trust and confidence that has been placed in me.”
Burns was appointed Lassen County Deputy District Attorney in 1993 and assigned as a prison prosecutor in 1995. He was elected Lassen County District Attorney in 1998 and re-elected three times.
Burns next served as Lassen County Counsel until 2020 when he resigned to open a private law practice. He was elected Superior Court Judge in March of last year.
Judge Burns and his wife Debbie live in Standish.
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Lassen High Drumline Fundraising for Disney Imagination Campus Trip
Lassen High School’s Drumline is gearing up for a once-in-a-lifetime performance opportunity – performing at Disneyland on March 18th! Accepted into the prestigious Disney Imagination Campus program, the Drumline will march down one of the most iconic parade routes in the world.
“Disney Imagination campus offers opportunities to a few select groups per year to perform either in the parade down main street, or on their main stage during the day,” explains Drumline Director Ben Wade.
“It was an extensive interview process including multiple videos submitted, more videos requested and submitted of us playing, marching, moving with cadences as well as uniform plans, color size of group and other possible options. These people do not miss a beat.”
What began in 2019 as a small pep band with only three members – Andrew Deurksen, Chase Roby, and Grace Rommsberg – has blossomed into a thriving program under Wade’s guidance.
Over the past five years, the LHS Drumline has grown from a modest seven students into a dynamic group with nearly 50 performers, including both JV and Varsity classes.
“When we first submitted our video it was of the Varsity drumline which consists of 21 members. When Disney interviewed me on the phone they asked about JV, which has 28 members, and wanted to know exactly what they would be doing while Varsity performed.”
When Disney learned the two groups perform together, Wade had to resubmit with double the number of performers.
The Drumline was chosen to play on March 18th, during the day, and now they need to raise $8,000 to pay for transportation, hotel rooms and better uniforms.
“The students have letters of support that they have tailored towards businesses. They are going around town asking for sponsorship (tax deductible, made out to the LHS music booster club).”
The Drumline will be fundraising during the month of February.
In late February they will also hold a drumline concert, for $10 a ticket, where they will perform material that they will play in Disneyland.
As honorary Disney Cast Members, the students will not only perform on the world-renowned Disney parade route but will also learn the discipline and expectations of professional performers and celebrate their achievements by enjoying the magic of the Disney parks.
If you’d like to support these talented students, please reach out to Coach Ben Wade at ben.wade@lassenhigh.org.
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Cal-FIRE and City Fire Department
to Begin Mill Area Burn Project Monday
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, in cooperation with the City of Susanville’s Fire Department, will be conducting prescribed pile burning operations in the area of Riverside Drive and the Susan River beginning Monday morning.
Pile burning operations are scheduled for week of January 13th, and are expected to continue until the pile burning project is completed.
“Fire Suppression resources will be actively working in that area, and smoke will be visible, however, there is no need to report this fire,” explains Cal-FIRE LMU Captain Robbie Whitchurch.
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“This area is frequently plagued with nuisance fires during peak fire season causing dangerous conditions to the city’s residents. The purpose of the project is to reduce the fuels available for fire starts prior to the onset of prolonged extreme heat and severe conditions that the area experiences during the summer months, the result will lessen the impacts from future unwanted fires to the nearby homes and infrastructure.” | |
CHP’s New Year’s Crackdown
Nets 481 DUI Arrests
The CHP wrapped up its New Year’s Maximum Enforcement Period with 481 DUI arrests during the 30-hour campaign, averaging one arrest every four minutes.
The enforcement effort ran from 6:01p.m. on Tuesday, December 31st, through 11:59p.m. on Wednesday, January 1st.
CHP officers also issued nearly 10,000 citations for speeding, seatbelt violations, and other traffic infractions.
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Despite these efforts the agency reports that 11 people tragically lost their lives in crashes within CHP jurisdiction during the holiday period.
The MEP underscores the CHP’s commitment to keeping California’s roads safe and serves as a reminder of the dangers of impaired and reckless driving.
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Cal-FIRE Secures Funding to Enhance Sustainable Forest Management
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has received $5 million to support the California Forest Improvement Program. This funding comes as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Inflation Reduction Act funding to strengthen financial incentives for private forest landowners to manage their forests sustainably and to permanently conserve private forests in partnership with states.
Cal-FIRE’s CFIP will deliver technical assistance and direct cost share payments to support the implementation of forest resilience and climate mitigation practices across 2,458 acres of private nonindustrial forest land with this additional funding.
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“Forests provide innumerable benefits to people and communities, and private forestlands make up more than half of all forests in the U.S.,” said United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.
“Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, we are helping to provide the resources private forest landowners need to keep working forests working so that future generations of Americans will be able to enjoy all the benefits they provide.”
Of the total U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Inflation Reduction Act funding, nearly $210 million was awarded as competitive grants to state agencies, for-profit entities and a broad array of non-profit organizations. This funding was made possible thanks to investments from the Biden-Harris Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act.
The funded proposals add financial incentives and opportunities to landowners to adopt sustainable forest management practices. Forest management, like thinning trees or removing invasive species, helps to reduce the susceptibility to forests pests and disease and lowers the risks of catastrophic wildfires.
For details on these funded proposals, visit the Forest Service Forest Landowner Support Funded Projects webpage.
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Smith Auto in the 1940’s from the Eastman Collection at UC Davis | |
Fleeing Robber Believed Wounded in Early Monday Garage Stick Up
January 10, 1931
Night watchman is slugged while searching for sneak thief with flashlight; fires four shots in attempt to halt flight of bandit.
Makes Escape in Car
$33 in small change taken; another service station is broken into; presumably by same man; inside job rumor is spiked by garage head.
Attacked and slugged by a robber early Monday morning at the Smith Auto company’s garage, Cyril C. Houghton, 30, employed by that firm as a night watchman, saved his life by firing four shots at the fleeing burglar in a bold and partly successful stick-up and rifling of the company’s cash register.
The robber, who gained entrance to the firm’s workshop through a small pane of glass in the rear of the building, stealthily picked his way to the front part of the building and emptied the cash register. Houghton, alone in the building and partly asleep in the basement at the time the man gained his entrance, was awakened by the rattling glass and the bell on the register and came upstairs to investigate the noise.
Picking his way with a flashlight through a number of cars in the rear of the shop from whence the first noises came, he was startled by a demand to stick up his hands. As he did so, a small, slight and with defective eyes darted out from behind the and autos slugged him. Dazed by the blow, he fell to the floor.
The man ran and broke another of the small panes of glass and began to climb through to freedom. As he was doing so, Houghton came out of his daze, drew his revolver from his hip pocket and fired four shots.
One of the slugs went through the door which the robber was climbing. A second struck a bracket in the fender of a nearby car and a third pierced the top of the fender and lodged in the door. Houghton believes the fourth shot struck the man in the leg. “I tried to disable him to prevent his escape,” Houghton said, adding that he didn’t want to kill the man.
Houghton was none the worse for his harrowing experience. The robber jumped into a waiting car and made good his escape. Neighbors, aroused by the firing of the shots, pursued the tracks of the car but were unable to catch up with it. It is believed two men were implicated in the hold-up and they are believed to have headed in the direction of Reno following their escape.
Investigation disclosed that $33 in dimes, nickels, pennies, quarters and half dollars had been taken from the register. Further investigation disclosed that a service station operated by C. M. Anderson just across the street from the Smith garage had also been broken into. This job is believed to have been attempted by the same pair. Several other auto firms are believed to have been, marked for hold-ups by the bandits.
Llwewllyn Mathews, Forman of the Smith company, Thursday spiked rumors to the effect that the robbery had been an inside job.
Mathews himself phoned Reno and Red Bluff authorities and notified them of the robbery and the fleeing car but believed that he did so too late. The men had time to reach either place before the call reached authorities.
Sheriff Leavitt and George Dobyns were called shortly after the hold-up and shooting but were unable to render assistance.
The car used by the robbers is believed to have been a stolen one and was said to be of the sedan type, although Houghton disagrees and says it was a roadster.
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