Volume XV Issue 8 | Wednesday, August 10th, 2022
Why We Love This Place Wednesdays: Susanville Summer Camps
By Terra Avilla

I now know why my mother was so happy at the end of summer break. Not the relief from the heat… Not the beauty of fall, or crisp evenings and definitely not because she couldn’t wait for that first sip of a pumpkin spice latte.

It was because me and her other beloved daughters went back to school.

Now, as parent to my own little angels, I fully appreciate and understand the excitement of sending them back to school, where they can bless their teachers with their presence for eight hours.
However, over the summer, I would like to highlight some true “MVPS” in our community, and those MVPS, would be every single person and/or organization that held summer camps for our community kiddos.

Without them keeping my daughters’ minds and bodies active, we all probably would have gone insane.

For what is routinely called a “small town” we sure do offer an exemplary number of activities for our kids to do. For example, this summer alone my girls participated in a baseball camp, basketball camp, tumbling camp, swim camp (swim lessons) and princess camp.

We were unfortunately gone for field hockey camp and missed out on the Del Oro Camp offered by Salvation army, but what I’m trying to say here is, our summers in Lassen County are popping when it comes to things for our kiddos to do.

And honestly the price, when broken down at an hourly rate, is incredibly reasonable.

My kid is watched in a safe environment, with friends, learning a skill, and burning energy so they will nap for me in the afternoon? YES PLEASE.

One thing for sure is, I know I am not alone. There were nearly double the normal kids in attendance for baseball camp this year. It was quite a sight to see all the little sluggers lined up at memorial ball park for the national anthem.

The following week when I dropped Peach off at the high school for the basketball camp, I also noticed how many children were present.

Her acrobatics camp at J and J Dance, was very well attended, as was the Princess Camp that Pearl took there. (And by the way, any camp that can teach Peach how to do a cartwheel, after years of me trying to show her – was money well spent).

Swim lessons were another big hit, and while I understand it’s not advertised as a camp, it’s a two-week commitment, where they learn a skill, get tuckered out and get to see their peers. So, in my book it counts.

And let me tell you, that was another Avilla success story. Both my girls gained a super amount of confidence in the water in such a short period of time.

Yes, the camps are a nice alternative to having your children drive you nuts for days on end over the summer, however, they are symbolic of something greater. A community that cares about our kids, goes through the effort to have camps for them, and nourish them.

Peach learned how to dribble a basketball. Pearl learned somersault, and back float.

Numerous kids learned how to play field hockey. Other kids got to go to their first overnight camp thanks to Salvation Army.

It is a piece of this puzzle, that is just one more reason that I love where we live.
The improvised explosive device found alongside Highway 395 – LCSO photo
Sheriff’s Update: Improvised Explosive Device Found in Johnstonville
A Cal-Trans road crew working near Johnstonville along Highway 395 came across a suspected explosive device Tuesday morning, prompting a response from the Washoe County Bomb Squad who used a robot to dismantle the homemade bomb.

At around 9:30a.m., according to details released by the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office, the road crew was working along the highway near Johnstonville Quality Foods when they found a suspicious package in a ditch.

“Lassen County Sheriff’s Office deputies and sergeants responded,” details LCSO Lieutenant David Woginrich. “Upon inspection of the package, the decision was made to evacuate nearby businesses and close a small portion of Highway 395 East.”
California Highway Patrol officers arrived on scene and initiated the highway closure. The Washoe County Consolidated Bomb Squad was contacted and requested to respond.

At around noon, Washoe County Consolidated Bomb Squad personnel arrived and began utilizing robots to examine the package. After close inspection, the package was determined to be a homemade explosive device.

“Inside a wrapped t-shirt and masking tape was an aluminum can containing a cylindrical explosive device with a fuse. Electrical wiring, broken glass, glass gemstones, and crushed seashells were filled around the aluminum can.”

The package was made safe by bomb technicians and collected for disposal.

“The Lassen County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the public and business owners for their understanding related to the evacuations and highway closure. Further, the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office appreciates the time and resources efforted by the California Highway Patrol, Susan River Fire Department, Cal Trans, and the Washoe County Consolidated Bomb Squad. Last, but surely not least, great work by our Lassen County Sheriff’s deputies and sergeants for responding quickly and ensuring the safety of the public and nearby businesses.”
CASA Showing ‘Inside Out’ for
Movie Night Fundraiser August 27th
Join the Court Appointed Special Advocates program at Lassen Family Services for a special fundraising showing of the Pixar film Inside Out at Lassen Community College.

Movie Night will be held Saturday, August 27th at 8:00p.m., and admission and concessions will be by donation only.

Don’t forget to bring your pillows, blankets, and bug spray to this great, family, end-of-summer event.
If you have any questions, please contact CASA at 530-257-4599
Lassen Public Health Holding
Back-to-School Immunization Fair
The Lassen County Public Health Department will be holding a Back-to-School Immunization Fair on Wednesday, August 24th.

The Health Fair event, which is open to everyone, will feature popcorn, face painting, balloon animals and fun games.

Immunizations will only be available for uninsured and Medi-Cal participants, while supplies last, at a low cost. $13 for one, or $26 for two or more children.
HPV and Covid immunizations are also available.

Stop by the Immunization Fair between 1:00 and 4:30p.m. at Lassen County Public Health, 1445 Paul Bunyan Road in Susanville.

Appointments are recommended. You can call 1.530.251.8183 to set one up or get more information.
Fire Safe Council Announces
New Management Team
The Lassen Fire Safe Council has announced that a new leadership team poised to expand the mission of the nonprofit agency, with a renewed emphasis on local communities.

“The LFSC board is taking a two-pronged approach to our mission, trying to meet the needs of multiple stakeholders,” said Ruth Morentz, LFSC Board Chair.

“We are committed to doing more projects and engaging with the local community to help the individual landowner and small organizations. In support of this process, LFSC is committed to resuming monthly our general meetings where the public can engage with the organization and our partner agencies and learn more about our grants and community projects,” Moretz said. “We also will continue with large-scale projects, such as those on national forest lands.”
The new team arrives after the departure of Tom Esgate, the longtime LFSC Managing Director who guided the agency for nearly 20 years through expansive growth and made LFSC a leading example of proactive wildfire preparation.

In late August, Greenville native Cade Mohler will begin as the new Managing Director of LFSC. Mohler, a Registered Professional Forester, has 15 years of experience in the public and private forestry sector, including on LFSC projects, and early career experience working in the Lassen National Forest. Mohler earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry in 2009 from Humboldt State University (now Cal Poly Humboldt).

He comes to the council from Sierra Pacific Industries, where he held positions since 2013 as a District or Senior District Forester in Northeastern California.
New LFSC Managing Director Cade Mohler. photo provided
For the last two years, Mohler helped guide reforestation efforts required after local area fires such as the Hogg, Claremont, Bear and Dixie fires. In August 2021, Mohler’s Greenville residence and community were consumed in the Dixie Fire, an experience that changed his career direction.

“I decided I would shift my focus from private forestry in order to help rural communities prepare for and recover from wildfires,” Mohler said.

“The council’s board and I are of like mind on a strategy that continues the successful relationship with industry partners on larger fuels-reduction projects while also building an organization that can take on community-based wildfire protection. The LFSC team will be available to leaders and landowners throughout the responsibility area who would like to collaborate,” Mohler added.

Mohler will be joined by new Projects Coordinator Kyle Herron, who will bring his skills and training as an ISA certified arborist, master gardener and utility forester to the agency.

Herron has held positions across Central and Northern California where he focused on tree and forest health and reforestation and most recently worked for Sierra Pacific Industries, where he was a Reforestation Specialist. Herron holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Management and Protection from Humboldt State University.

Chastity Arnett, the new Projects Support Specialist, will take over select administrative functions including landowner signups, grants administration, community outreach and accounting duties. Arnett spent the bulk of her career performing administrative support with the Pershing County (Nevada) Road Department and Courts and most recently tracked environmental health and safety reports in the state’s mining industry.

“We recognize the huge loss of institutional knowledge and talent that is Tom Esgate,” Morentz said. “We are now trying to build for the future.”

Since its founding in 2002, the LFSC has strategically protected Northern California communities through fuel reduction and forest restoration projects on more than 90,000 acres of private, federally managed and tribal land. Community-led initiatives have resulted in projects that reduced wildfire threats to forests and communities, improved forest health, protected watersheds and educated homeowners about hardening their homes.

Ongoing and future projects will help support California’s immediate and long-term environmental and economic goals.
Judge Accused of Drunkenness Fines Town Marshal $500 and Sends Him to Jail
August 10, 1907

The Town Marshal in custody of the Sheriff for contempt of court, and the County Judge under arrest for assault and battery, on a charge preferred by a prominent citizen, and also smarting under the odium of a charge of over-indulgence in liquor, is a condition prevailing in Susanville.

The trouble broke loose with a street altercation between Judge F. A. Kelly of the superior court and Humboldt Ward, a minor, who clerks in a store owned by the sheriff. City Marshal Arthur E. Long separated the combatants by seizing hold of the person of the judge and throwing him to the sidewalk in the scuffle. This was more than the dignity of the judge would stand for, and he Issued an order for the arrest of the city official.

Following is Judge Kelly’s complaint and decree in the case:

“That said Arthur E. Long did on the 11th day of August 1907, at and in the city of Susanville, state and county of California, willfully, maliciously and contemptuously seize F. A. Kelley, the judge of said court, and jerk and throw said judge down upon the plank sidewalk in front of the Emerson hotel in a vicious, violent, inhuman and cruel manner, dragged him violently upon said plank sidewalk, lacerating his right ear, bruising the left side of his head and spraining his left wrist.

“And then and immediately thereafter, in a loud and angry tone of voice, when said judge remonstrated, did threaten to confine him in the county jail and contemptuously said to said judge that he was not now in court and could redress his wrongs as he see fit.

“That each, every and all of said acts was made, said and done In an intentionally contemptuous manner and way and was intended to and did bring said court and judge into public disrespect, ridicule and contempt, and thereby tend to prevent and interfere with the future trial of causes In said court.

“Wherefore, it is ordered, adjudged and decreed that said Arthur E. Long is guilty of contempt of said court and judge and that judgment of the law and sentence of the court is that he be confined in the county jail for the period of five days and that he also be fined the sum of $5OO, and that in default of the payment of said fine he be imprisoned in said county Jail for a period of 250 days in the proportion of one day’s imprisonment for every two dollars of said fine.’’

The marshal has appealed to the district court In Sacramento for a writ of habeas corpus, and in addition to denying any exhibition of contempt for the Lassen court, states his side of the case quite fully, and adds: … “That he believed, and still believes, that a drunken judge, on a Sunday afternoon, on the public streets of an incorporated town, should be dealt with by the marshal of said town in exactly the same manner as any other drunk and disorderly person.”

Ward went before a justice of the peace and swore to a warrant charging Judge Kelly with assault and battery, for striking him, and the judge was accordingly placed under arrest.
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