When I started at the Susanville Police Department Chief Cochran was Sergeant Cochran. And I quickly considered him my friend. In fact, he is probably one of the most-liked officers we have ever had in our department.

He is very friendly, authentic, and trust me, handles stress very well. During those lucky times that he was my direct supervisor I was able to not only learn from him but identify multiple traits within him that make him such a good boss. Easy to talk to, very respectful, knowledgeable and my personal favorite, forgiving.

When I would inevitably make a mistake, I was never scared to tell him. Granted I knew he wouldn’t throw me a party for doing something wrong, but I also knew I would never be berated or belittled for making a mistake. He was much a, “We’ll fix it” sort of guy.

Through graveyard shifts, pregnancies, a million pizza lunches, and countless corrected reports, Cochran became my friend. (Despite the fact it took me two years to realize “Cochran” wasn’t spelled with an “E.”)

During really rough times, on duty as well as off, he was always just a great friend, and I will forever be thankful for that.

And, I would like it duly noted, that it is not just me with this opinion. If you stop by the police station his office is usually filled with officers, sergeants or just community members who are picking his brain, asking for advice or just stopping by to say hi.

His warm personality makes him a most desirable stop within the office.

I would be remiss however, If I didn’t mention the million other reasons I’ve grown to love him.

One, in particular, is the importance he places on his family. He has two beautiful girls who I have had the pleasure of watching grow into young women over the past nine years.

Cochran is most definitely a very proud “girl dad.” Consistently spending his days off at cheer competitions or traveling to see his beauties, Cochran is a very good role model about the importance of family.

And watching him make it a priority helps set a good example to other officers beginning their families.

Chief Cochran loves this community and has worked for department for a very, long time. He has raised his family within that department and is a staple for the PD as well as the community.

So, as I conclude, luckily for me, and unfortunately for him, I will still very much be around the police department. But I do want to make sure he knows, for what it’s worth, that I am so proud of him, and happy for him.

I remember when he told me he was applying for the Captain position and then our Chief position. And I am very privileged that, as he has seen my career grow over the past years, I have gotten to see his as well. Chief Cochran is an amazing police officer, boss and friend, and one of the reasons I will always love the place we live.

“In past years we have used these grant funds to improve off-highway riding and driving opportunities for our communities and visitors,” said BLM Eagle Lake Field Manager Emily Ryan. “We always look forward to seeing suggestions from those who enjoy off-highway vehicle sports on public lands. This year we anticipate seeking funds to support law enforcement and on-the-ground management for the Fort Sage and Rice Canyon Off- Highway Vehicle areas, or other areas suggested during the public comment period.”

The California State Parks Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division is funding the planning efforts through an off-highway vehicle planning grant. The state program supports off-highway vehicle recreation in California by distributing more than $35 million annually collected from gas tax, entrance fees and off-highway vehicle sticker registrations.

The program supports off-highway vehicle recreation in California by providing financial assistance to cities, counties, districts, federal agencies, state agencies, educational institutions, and federally recognized Native American Tribes and non-profit entities.

The public is invited to provide feedback to the BLM that will help identify new trails and redesign routes for better connectivity, find safer solutions for shared trails, provide greater public access, and offer a more enjoyable experience. Anyone interested can review and comment on the preliminary applications from March 8th to May 7th by visiting the grants section at the California State Parks website.

Public comments or suggestions can be submitted by mail to the BLM Eagle Lake Field Office, 2550 Riverside Dr., Susanville, CA 96130, attention Marisa Williams, or by email to mbwillia@blm.gov.

Additionally, stakeholders can contact Williams at the above address to request a meeting to discuss off-highway vehicle improvement needs on BLM-managed lands.

The BLM manages off-highway vehicle areas to provide outstanding, sustainable opportunities for recreation on trails designed to minimize impacts on natural resources. The agency works closely with stakeholders and communities in this effort.

“The tax measure will be accompanied by an advisory measure that will provide advice to the Susanville City Council regarding how to spend the tax revenue if the ballot measure passes.”

“Seventy-six percent of the city’s general fund is currently spent on police and fire services, which are essential to our community’s safety and economic prosperity, therefore if additional revenues cannot be identified the city will be facing some tough decisions regarding the need to reduce police and fire services and personnel.”

A local sales tax measure, according to city officials, is the quickest way to solve the city’s revenue problems.

City Administration would love to hear your thoughts. To take the survey click here and follow the link.

An undated photo, likely from the early fifties, of the print staff at the Lassen Advocate.

The Lassen Advocate at Susanville changed hands yesterday. The new owner and publisher is Richard L. Myers, who came to Susanville from Bonners Ferry, Ida. He took over the property from William and Laura Norton, who have been publishers of the Advocate for the last six and a half years.

The Susanville paper came into national attention several years ago when a Broadway writer for one of the big New York papers resigned his job in order to go take over the Lassen Advocate. He announced at that time he was tired of big city hustle and bustle and that he wanted to go to a smaller community where he could just lie back in a hammock and take things easy while the paper ran itself. It took him only a short time in Susanville to learn that isn’t the way a newspaper is operated, and the New Yorker headed back to the city a wiser man.

The new owner is a more experienced newspaper publisher, and is already established in Susanville. He has been co-publisher of the Bonners Ferry Herald for the last seven years. Before that he served three years with the Navy during the last war.

Mr. and Mrs. Norton are interested in the operation of papers at Herlong, Westwood and Chester and expected to remain in the west. They went to Susanville in July 1946, when they purchased the Advocate from Mr. and Mrs. Larry Towe.

The Nortons will retain their interest with Gene Travaglio in The Westwood Sugar Pine, the Herlong Challenge and the Chester Progressive.