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Volume XVII Issue 245
Friday, July 18th, 2025
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Everybody Loves a Parade! Fair Parade Happens Tomorrow at 10:00
The annual Lassen County Fair Parade, a tradition over one-hundred years strong, kicks off this Saturday morning at 10:00 sharp, starting at the top of Main Street and traveling down the length of Susanville before ending up at the Fairgrounds.
The parade, held each year on the Saturday of fair week, is a beloved tradition showcasing local businesses, organizations, energetic students, and even the fair’s exciting performers.
So grab your lawn chairs, sunscreen, and enthusiasm, and get ready to cheer on the participants as they weave their way down Main Street!
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Bob and Jonnee Hershberger Set to Lead Tomorrow’s Parade as Grand Marshals
On Saturday, as the Lassen County Fair parade rolls down Main Street, Lassen County will honor Bob and Jonnee Hershberger as this year’s parade Grand Marshals.
Their story in Lassen County began in 1966, when Bob, fresh from completing his military service in 1961 and armed with degrees from Chico High, Chico State, and a UC Davis Master’s in agricultural education, along with his teaching certificate, decided to put down roots with Jonnee, his wife since 1960.
Their two sons, Welton and Jon, would soon come to know the rhythms of farm life and community service their parents embodied.
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Before he became a fixture in local education, Bob was a journeyman plumber, contributing to the construction of the Antelope Dam project and even lending his skills to the first Safeway Market in Susanville. But it was in the classroom and on the farm that Bob truly left his mark. For nine years, he was the heart of the Lassen High School’s agriculture, FFA, and welding programs, molding young minds and hands. His dedication continued at Lassen Community College for 23 years, where he led the Mechanized Agriculture department, teaching a wide array of courses and even traveling to local ranches to provide college credits to working young adults in agriculture.
Bob’s commitment extended far beyond the school walls. For 11 years, he served on the Shaffer school board, shaping the future of local education. He operated a small orchard, not just for personal gain, but as a living classroom, teaching high school students the art of pruning and harvesting. Students recall camping trips, apple cider made from their own presses, and cutting wood for fundraisers – all under Bob’s patient guidance. He was a constant presence, taking young adults to Parli Pro, Cow Palace, and livestock judging competitions, always preparing them for the Lassen County Fair.
To this day, many in the community credit Bob for teaching them invaluable life lessons.
The Hershberger family also cultivated a thriving farm from 1973 to 2005, providing high-quality alfalfa to Lassen County and surrounding areas. Their entrepreneurial spirit didn’t stop there. They raised 500 beehives, supplying local residents with honey, aiding in pollination, and even shipping bees to Canada. This led to their well-loved Honey Shack on their Standish ranch, which later blossomed into the cherished gift store, Hershberger and Willinghams, a twelve-year partnership with Joyce Willingham that provided memorable gift and décor options to the community.
In 2000, Bob and Jonnee finally retired, settling into the home Jonnee designed and Bob and his family built on a part of the ranch they had farmed for over two decades. Though officially retired, the notion of “relaxing” doesn’t quite fit Bob Hershberger. At 84, you can still find him welding, splitting wood, or engaged in some form of labor; a rocking chair simply isn’t in his nature.
This Saturday, the Hershberger legacy will continue through a new generation as he helps his great-granddaughters with their mini moo projects.
You’ll spot him at the Lassen County Fair, looking over all the projects, a testament to a life dedicated to community, education, and the enduring spirit of Lassen County.
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Kathryn Wemple Honored Today as 2025 Old-Timer of the Year
The Lassen County Fair has announced that long-time Honey Lake Valley resident Kathryn Wemple will be honored today as the fair’s 2025 Old Timer of the Year.
Kathryn Wemple was nominated by her neice, Dena Nelson, who wrote a little about her aunt.
“She was born and raised in Lassen County. She grew up on a ranch north of Litchfield and went on to marry a cattle rancher. She raised 3 ranch kids.”
“Unfortunately,” says Nelson, “her middle child passed from cancer. Both boys still continue to work the Wemple Ranch to this day alongside Auntie Kay.”
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“Kathryn is a very hard-working, caring, tough lady. For many, many years, she would make breakfast for her crews, pack lunches, and then get a horse back and ride all day long, moving cattle. Then come home, prepare dinner, do chores, and do it all over again the next day. She also prepared large lunches for branding crews and haying crews. She is the type of lady who jumped in a tractor to help the hay crew, or was always horseback with you all day long. She never took a day off. The only way she wasn’t a long side of you was if she had bookwork to tend to.”
“Kathryn loves Lassen County and her little community of Milford. She is always helping a neighbor in need. Whether they needed a ride to Reno, for doctor’s appointments, shopping, catch a flight or in need of a home-cooked meal, etc., she was always willing and ready to help.
“Kathryn has also employed several neighborhood kids, and adults over the years. Whether they needed money for 4-H, or FFA projects. A car, etc. Or just wanted to learn the way of ranch life, she would help them reach their goals.
“She was very involved in her kids, grandkids, and nieces and nephews when they were junior rodeoing, high school rodeo, college rodeo; and then pro rodeo. The kids and adults always had a place to sleep. A hot meal and a shower. You would always find her watching them practice roping or riding broncs in their arena. Always a helping hand if someone got injured.
“Kathryn is and always has been a huge supporter of the Lassen County Fair. Still to this day, she purchases several animals at the livestock auction. She has been known to buy several different teams in the ranchers’ day. Kathryn has supported many of the local kids in baseball, basketball etc.
“She tries to contribute to any local business she possibly can. Hires local trucking when in need to haul cattle or hay for her ranch. Kathryn still checks the pivots on the ranch, jumps in a tractor when short a man. Packs her own wood. Shoots at pesky geese eating seeds from crops. She is a very hard-working, loving, and dedicated lady.”
Wemple will be honored, along with the Parade Grand Marshals, at a special luncheon today at 11:00a.m. in the grandstand at the fairgrounds.
The Old Timer of the Year award is judged for kindness and service to our community. The nominee must be at least 60 years old and have lived in Lassen County for at least 10 years.
The award honors a senior who has demonstrated outstanding volunteerism, leadership, helping, teaching, mentoring, or advocating for others in Lassen County. It is based on dedication, overarching commitment, and demonstrated impact on those served.
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Congratulations to Our Parmalee and Rodney Atkins Ticket Winners!
The 2025 Lassen County Fair kicks off this week, promising five days of ‘Red, White and Blue – With a Mountain View’ at the fairgrounds in Susanville, and thanks to the nice folks at Lassen Municipal Utility District you can win tickets to five big grandstand shows!
Congratulations to today’s winners:
Parmalee in the Grandstand
Michelle Collins
Taletha Hufford
Rodney Atkins in the Grandstand
Monica Major
Badden Falkowski
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Each of our winners wins a pair of tickets to the grandstand performances. Ticket includes admission to the fair! We’ll be giving away more tickets tomorrow, make sure to enter now.
Friday, July 18th
Parmalee with Ariel Jean
As the most-played group/band on Country Radio in 2023, Parmalee is one of Country Music’s most successful acts with five #1 singles, multiple platinum records, and over one billion on-demand streams. Comprised of brothers Matt and Scott Thomas, Cousin Barry Knox, and life-long friend Josh McSwain, the North Carolina natives first topped the charts with “Carolina,” followed by their platinum-certified No. 1 single with Blanco Brown, “Just the Way.”
They followed with “Take My Name,” Billboard’s Most Played Country Song of 2022. They scored their third consecutive #1 single with “Girl In Mine,” Billboard’s 8th Most Played Country Song of 2023. “Gonna Love” topped the country singles chart in December 2024, becoming their fourth consecutive #1 single. The band released their new single, “Cowgirl,” from their forthcoming album, Fell In Love With A Cowgirl, on April 4.
Gates open at 5:00p.m. Ariel Jean will open for Parmalee and the headliner comes on at 8:00p.m.
Saturday, July 19th
Rodney Atkins with Township
Rodney Atkins has charted at least one radio single at Country Radio in three different decades all while being on the same record label. That sort of commitment and longevity defines the man. He is an artist with multi-generational impact whose voice has been a mainstay at Country Radio, challenging all of us to be better no matter our age – parents who are now grandparents, and adults who first heard Rodney while eating a happy meal in their booster seat.
The ACM Award-winning artist – who has one of the most recognized and powerful voices in Country Music – has over 4 billion global streams; six number one radio singles; 16.5 million RIAA-certified units over 9 singles and 3 albums; has performed on NBC’s TODAY Show, GMA’s Strahan & Sara, and FOX & Friends; and his song “Watching You” was named Number One Song of the Decade by Country Aircheck and earned the songwriter a BMI “Million-Air” Award.
Thank to everyone who entered our contests this week! See you at the Lassen County Fair!
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LMUD Presents Today at the Fair: Friday –
July 18th – Old Timer’s Day
Old Timer’s Day – Free Admission for Seniors 62 and Up
8:00 a.m.
Beef Show – Pavilion
Dairy Cattle Show to Follow
Rabbit Show – Rabbit Barn
11:00 a.m.
2025 Old Timer of the Year & Grand Marshal Celebration Luncheon – Grandstands
Tinkering Lab & Nursery Barn Opens
Exhibit Halls Open
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12:00 p.m.
Carnival Opens
All Smiles Petting Zoo – Headstart Lawn
1:00 p.m.
Water balloon Toss – Lassen Transfer Stage
2:00 p.m.
Skip Banks – Lassen Transfer Stage
4:00 p.m.
Skip Banks – Lassen Transfer Stage
5:00 p.m.
Small Animal Master Showman – Rabbit & Poultry Barn
6:00 p.m.
Doors Open – Parmalee – Grandstands
Skip Banks – Lassen Transfer Stage
8:00 p.m.
Rickety Bridge – Lassen Transfer Stage
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| | | Susanville from Inspiration Point in the early 1950’s. From an Eastman Studios Postcard. | | |
Parallel Parking Laws Protested
July 18, 1950
More than 500 people have signed petitions protesting the city’s council recent parallel parking ordinance, Paul T. Wemple of the group opposing the ordinance, announced this morning. Thirty-four businessmen and others attended a meeting this week and approved circulation of 20 petitions, which ask the city council to repeal the parallel parking ordinance or to submit to the voters of the city for election.
Attorney Donald P. Cady, who drew up the petitions, pointed out that only registered voters of the city of Susanville may sign them in order to be effective.
There are about 2,800 registered voters within the city limits according to County Clerk Maud E. Tombs.
The petition says Pursuant to Div 4 Chapter 3 Articles 1 and 2 of the Elections Code of the State of California, we, the undersigned voters of Susanville do hereby protest to the Honorable City Council of the City of Susanville against the adoption of that certain ordinance adopted by the City Council on the 10th day of July 1950 known and designated as Ordinance No 273 entitle (Part of the ordinance follows)
“And we hereby request the Honorable City Council of the City of Susanville to repeal said ordinance in its entirety or to submit the same to the voters of the City of Susanville at a regular or special election o be called for that purpose.”
Mayor Frank Burnett said he had no comment on the circulation of the petitions at the present time.
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