Principal Morgan Nugent greeted the audience, and the festivities began with FFA Taylore Somerville leading the flag salute. Nugent also thanked the Rotary for providing the many flags surrounding the celebration. 

He then congratulated the graduates, thanked the parents and the teachers, staff, and Board of Trustees of LHS as well. Nugent praised all of the parties involved in keeping the campus open and safe during the pandemic. 

At that time, Music Teacher Ben Wade led the choir in the presentation of the National Anthem accompanied on the keyboard.  

ASB President Josiah (Jojo) Villareal recalled his years dedicated to student activities and the LHS campus with memories of leading the student section at athletic events, planning fun assemblies, and included the many challenges this class overcame in the past four years. He emphatically stated, “We made it” as his classmates cheered. 

Zak Schall, Class President, also remembered the good times at LHS such as Homecoming, academic success with various FFA and FBLA competitions, and the recent Senior Trip to Six Flags. Schall joined his classmates in taking “silly cap and gown photos” with one of the entire class “for his mom,” a nod to their amazing class advisor, Kerrissa. 

This year’s We are Lassen student, Lupita Orozco spoke of how the program’s character traits have helped shaped her class. Including “Authentic” which helped them to “be themselves” and accept each other no matter “what their flaws are” and “Excellence” because your accomplishments “can impact those around us.” 

Valedictorian Desiree Bailey praised her classmates for persevering through school closures from the pandemic to wildfires to power outages to lockdowns saying, “We worked hard to get to this day. We should be proud of ourselves.” She reflected that Lassen High taught her that “we are not alone in our struggles” and encouraged others to not be ashamed, “but embrace” them. 

Alliyah Yerington, also Valedictorian, encouraged her classmates to use their “setbacks” to help them “persevere through the difficult times.” Yerington says that she has learned that “we have the chance to determine your own future” and can make every year “greater than the last.” She asked the class to remember that graduation is not the “end goal” but a “small part” in the journey of life. 

The choir and drumline proved a moment of reflection with their rendition of “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus. 

Terra Avila, former SRO, was chosen as the keynote speaker. She started by greeting her “little nuggets” and saying she was excited to give some “unsolicited advice” by “hoping they fail.” Avila quickly added that “you will never succeed at anything if you don’t fail first.” Her message was supported with a personal story of failing on the shooting range while training to be a police officer. In her words, “the more you fail, the more you learn,” and says that by “failing forward” you can acquire what you need to be successful. 

At this time, counselor Micah Freeman and assistant principal Jamie Huber took turns reading the names of the 169 graduates while they were awarded their diplomas by principal Nugent. Cheers, air horns, and confetti filled the air as each graduate crossed the stage. 

Principal Nugent presented the class and they were accepted for graduation by board president Jarred Ellena. Zak and Jojo returned to the stage to lead the turning of the tassels and the celebration really began! Lassen High’s ASB let off the confetti canon and caps were thrown into the air. Nugent congratulated the graduates and reminded them they “will always be a Grizzly.” 

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More than 170 members of Lassen High School’s Class of 2022 graduated Friday night, June 10th, in the school’s 117th annual commencement ceremony.

Watch Lassen High School’s class of 2022 graduate in a ceremony originally broadcast live on SusanvilleStuff Friday night. Our broadcast of the commencement ceremony is made possible by the nice folks at Lassen Municipal Utility District and Lassen High School.

The organizers of the market are planning to bring even more vendors and excitement to this year’s market so be sure to add the farmer’s market to your Saturday and see what they have to offer. For more information or to become a vendor, contact farmersmarket@larpcooperative.com.

Get your tickets for this year’s Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s Lassen Chapter Banquet Dinner, to be held Saturday, June 18th at 5:00p.m., located at the Susanville Vets Hall. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Darrel and Theresa Housel at 530.927.9806.

Mark your calendar for the 2nd Annual NorCal Scramble at Diamond Mountain Golf Club scheduled for June 17th, 18th, and 19th. Teams are $1120 or $280 for an individual. Cash prizes and team payout ceremony. For more information, contact Doran Wheeler at 530.257.9100.

Lassen County Chamber of Commerce has scheduled its second phase of the Hometown Pride Community Clean-up Event for Saturday, June 18th at the Chamber office. They are looking for volunteers as this stretch will reach from Weatherlow to Alexander. Volunteer forms can be found on their website, www.lassencountychamber.org or in the office at 1516 Main Street. For more information, please call 530.257.4323.

Mark your calendars for the 13th Annual SIR Pow Wow, June 24th thru June 26th at Lassen Community College. Dry camping will be available. Special guests include Headwoman Violet Olney, Headman Caley Ouray Pratt/Can’t see, and Host Drum Sharp Shooters Singers. To be a vendor or for more information, contact Aaron Brazzanovich at 530.310.3381 or Amelia Luna at 530.249.7192.

Lassen County Chamber of Commerce is partnering with Diamond Mountain Casino and Hotel for the Annual Main Cruise Event. Join us Friday, June 24th from 5:00 – 8:00p.m., at DMCAH for a Meet & Greet, viewing classic cars, and enjoying live entertainment, food, and drinks. Saturday, June 25th from 11:00 – 4:00p.m., at Memorial Park will feature our Main Cruise Main Event with cars, cars, cars!, vendors, food, drinks, live music by Forgery and the Main Cruise to follow. We are still accepting vendor applications and car entries, forms can be found on our website, www.lassencountychamber.org or in the office at 1516 Main Street. For more information, please call 530.257.4323.

Lassen County Fair brings to you the 12th Annual Susanville Bluegrass Festival from June 24th thru June 16th. The festival will offer an array of musicians, workshops, a quilt room, vendors of all sorts and camping! Visit www.lassencountyfair.org/bluegrass to purchase tickets or for more information, contact 530.251.8900.

Plumas Arts presents the 51st Anniversary Almanor Art Show! Saturday, June 25th from 10:00 – 5:00p.m., and Sunday, June 26th from 10:00 – 4:00p.m., on the Collins Pine Lawn in Chester. For more information, contact Jennifer at 530.283.3402.

Paws for Effect and Grace for the Voiceless are hosting a Mother and Daughter Kitten Tea Party at Paws for Effect in Uptown Susanville on Sunday, June 26th at 2:00p.m. Prices are $40 for a mother-daughter combo and $25 for a single ticket. For more information, please contact Hannah at 530.257.4499.

Nature Camp Registration is Open! This camp is brought to you by Lassen Land and Trails Trust, providing an opportunity for kids to explore nature and wonder outside their own backyard. There will be two sessions: Session 1 July 25-29, for kids 8-10 years old and Session 2 August 1-5 for kids 10-12 years old. This is first come first served so register now! Learn more at http://lassenlandandtrailstrust.org/nature-camp, or pick up a brochure on the kiosk in front of the Depot.

The Westwood Area Chamber of Commerce is getting ready for its big, annual Paul Bunyan Mountain and Blues Festival. Friday night 8:00 – 11:00p.m. at the Westwood Visitors Center enjoy live music by Forgery, then on Saturday, July 2nd, check out everything the festival has to offer, like a logging show, parade, fun run, antiques, crafts, kid’s area, Blue Ox Bingo and more! For more information, contact 530.256.2456.and much, much more! The activities begin at 8:00a.m. in the Community Center with breakfast and a fun run. The Festival Gates at the Westwood Park open at 11:00a.m. immediately following the parade.

The High Desert Charity Golf Tournament is scheduled for Saturday, July 2nd at Diamond Mountain Golf Course. This will be a 4-person scramble, 18 holes, tee prizes and much more! Check in starts at 7:30a.m. with a shotgun start at 9:00a.m.; the team fee is $400 or $100 per player. Proceeds will be used for donations to local Lassen County charities as well as HDSP staff-centered events. For more information, contact Jolene at 530.251.5100 ext. 5526 or Jolene.speers@cdcr.ca.gov

Don’t forget to email director@lassencountychamber.org with any upcoming event or swing by the Chamber Office at 1516 Main Street with any event posters.

A survey of the district which was the scene of one of the most disastrous fires known here for many years, indicated today that the loss would reach at least $100,000 and part of this is covered by insurance.

The fire plunged Susanville into darkness last night and it was stated today that it may be a week before sub-station and pole lines are repaired sufficiently to provide this city with light and power.

The blaze, which started in the rear of the Borghi grocery store on the Richmond road opposite the Southern Pacific depot at noon, spread rapidly and destroyed the Red River Lumber Company’s lumber yards, apartments and office, coal and lime that was stored, the restaurant of Morgan & Malone, the home of Mr. and Mrs. Straup and many small buildings. The sub-station of the Lassen Electric company was destroyed and many of the company’s poles.

The Hansen Ice Company’s properties were threatened for a time, and it was only the Southern Pacific firefighting engine that ran along the track and turned steam full force on the buildings and coal that saved that plant.

Along with the help of fire fighting forces, the Lassen Lumber & Box Company sent their fire apparatus to the scene, while the Southern Pacific engine fought along the tracks.

The buildings were located out of the fighting had to be done with garden hose and chemicals. The heat from the coal and burning lumber was so intense it was impossible to save that part of the district. Windows of buildings across the street were cracked and people in the neighborhood moved their furniture and household goods from their homes, because the fire seemed so threatening.

Hundreds of people lined the hills and watched the devastation. The coal and lumber and lime will burn for days.

Theodore Walker, resident manager of the Red River Limber Company of Westwood, after having been informed by telephone of the fire, drove from Westwood to Susanville, a distance of twenty miles in nineteen minutes, but by the time he arrived their property was burned.

A few months ago P.A. Quigley of Lovelock, NV, contracted to buy the Red River lumber yards here. About two weeks ago he died very suddenly with a heart attack. Mrs. Quigley has just returned from having buried her husband at Fresno and was attempting to take up the broken threads of life and carry on the business, but was powerless to do anything but stand and see the property burn.

Many beautiful trees were burned. Some of them were forty years old and the beauty of that section of Susanville is ruined. As the strangers step from the Southern Pacific train charred and black ruins will greet their view.