The Susanville Airport in 1941 – Lassen Historical Society photo

Fortunately, the two seemed to miss each other more than they were irritated with each other, and they renewed their companionship.

A ‘spur-of-the-moment’ decision caused Mahoney and the ex-Mahoney a bit of excitement, drama, and peril. On December 15, 1949, the couple chose to elope. They quickly called a friend, Dr. John Skelly, to be their witness and accompany them to Reno. They then hired a Cessna twin-engine plane from Hennessey Aviation Services at the Oakland Airport.

Thomas Crosby piloted the plane, and he brought along John Macnamee to act as co-pilot. It was a miserable night in Oakland as the little plane left the airport at 12:15 in the morning.

As miserable as the Oakland weather had seemed, the Cessna began to suffer even more as it climbed to clear the peaks near Donner Summit.

The wings began to acquire a cover of ice and as Crosby tried to contact Reno, the radio sputtered and failed. All that the pilots could determine was that Reno was fogged in and without radio contact, a landing was impossible. The last radio transmission from the small plane was at 1:47 A.M.

They veered from their flight path, and with their destination unknown, searched for a better place to land. In Reno, with the aircraft failing to arrive, a search began. The highway patrol and the sheriff’s department were called out to help in the hunt. But the Cessna was nowhere in sight.

Inside the plane, Crosby attempted to assure the passengers that they would be fine, but all five of the plane’s occupants were concerned. The white-out conditions made visibility difficult until Crosby turned north to look for a landing place.

They soon reached Susanville, and the few lights glowing in the dark told them that there was a town below. Crosby buzzed low over the buildings, hoping that someone could help. His fuel was just about depleted, and things were getting a bit tense. He turned the plane and buzzed the small city again, and then again, straining to see the airfield.

Paul Langslet in a photo from

the Lassen High annual

This is the 19th annual performance of what has become a Susanville holiday tradition, featuring some of our hometown’s best musicians playing your seasonal favorites – Sleigh Ride, movements of the Nutcracker, White Christmas – enough musical cheer to warm the grinchiest of hearts.

Conductor and Artistic Director Ben Wade encourages families to attend the festive concert, promising a performance filled with a little something for people of all ages.

“You might know some of the music we play at our other concerts, but you will know, and hum, or sing along, to all of the holiday favorites.”

“Who doesn’t wait for the horse whinny at the end of Sleigh Ride? Who doesn’t want to sing shoulder to shoulder with your friends or family at the end of the concert carol sing-a -long.”

Performances will be held at the Susanville Methodist Church on South Lassen Street and tickets are $30 each. You can buy them at Margie’s Book Nook or Axia Home Loans. For more information call the Symphony Hotline at 530.310.8111.

Wade says, “Don’t be a scrooge, splurge on yourself and your loved ones this holiday season!”

Would you like to win a pair of tickets? Of course you would!

You can enter one more time until midnight tonight, December 15th, to win a pair of tickets to the performance. We will announce the name of our ticket winners tomorrow, December 16th. We have three pair of tickets to give away to this weekend’s shows.

Click here to head over to SusanvilleStuff for details and contest entry.

Once you enter the parking lot, be sure to tune in your radio station to the posted channel and enjoy inspiring music as you make your way through the Live Nativity experience.

According to the church this event will feature scenes leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ. Experience Mary and Joseph traveling to the City of David to pay their taxes, the shepherds in the field keeping watch over their flocks by night and the glorious birth of Jesus Christ into the world.

Organizers expect children and adults to love the authentic experience of live sheep, donkeys, goats and even camels.

“You can look forward to that tender family moment in the humble setting of Christ’s birth where a newborn baby will make their acting debut as Baby Jesus, the central figure of the event and season.” says The Live Nativity Director Christina Andersen.

“This live nativity presentation is our gift to the community during a time of so much change and uncertainty in the world. We hope this small event will bring the spirit of hope, peace and joy to all.”

The church suggests that drive-thru attendees bring blankets, warm pajamas and hot cocoa as they enjoy the event from the comfort of their vehicles.

For more information visit www.TheLiveNativity.org or send an email to contact@thelivenativity.org.

Fairgrounds Getting Ready for This Weekend’s Big Annual Holiday Craft Fair

It has become a mainstay of the local holiday season and a mecca for shoppers looking for that unique Christmas gift or stocking stuffer. The Lassen County Fair’s annual Holiday Craft Fair is a huge two-day event featuring everything from hand-crafted wooden toys to homemade maple syrup. It is the perfect place to shop for that hard-to-buy-for person on your Christmas shopping list. Featuring pictures with Santa. It is the perfect place to shop for that hard-to-buy-for person on your Christmas shopping list.

Crafters fill up several buildings at the fairgrounds; Jensen Hall and the Industrial building are stuffed with great gift ideas.

The show opens on December 16th from 4:00p.m. to 8:00p.m., and on Saturday, December 17th, doors will be open from 9:00a.m. to 2:00p.m.

If you are a crafter who has something unique to offer at this year’s Holiday Craft Festival there are still some booth availabilities. You can click here and complete the fair’s vendor application online.

For more information, you can call the Lassen County Fair office at 251-8900 or you can click here to visit the fair online.

Fruit Growers mill in Westwood, 1946 from an Eastman Studio postcard.

Lumber Company Deal Completed

December 15, 1944

On December 1 the Fruit Growers Supply Company of Los Angeles became owners of the town and plant facilities of the Red Rock Lumber company, located at Westwood, adding materially to its timber reserve.

“This is one step in a program for replenishing depleted timber reserves in order to provide continued assurance of a supply of boxes at reasonable costs when needed by members.” Said P.E. Simpson, general manager of Fruit Growers Supply Company.

“The increased production of citrus fruit in recent years, combined with heavier than normal drain on supply company timber reserves during the war years, has resulted in the necessity of the acquisitions.”