My dear friend Twyla is my co-worker at the Child Advocacy Center. In fact, she is our MDIT Coordinator. Her job consists of organizing reports, coordinating and providing support to the Child Advocacy Center/Multi-Disciplinary Team for Lassen County, as well as working with community organizations to develop resources and appropriate referral services for victims and non-offending family members. To name a few of her responsibilities.

One of her most important functions and I know her favorite, Twyla is a trained forensic interviewer. Meaning she has completed specialized training to conduct child interviews. As you can imagine, it takes the right person to have her position. However, helping crime victims is nothing new to her as prior to her role with the CAC, Twyla worked at the District Attorney’s Office as a victim advocate.

Twyla has always been a champion for those who often can not champion for themselves. This is where her directness has suited her well. And I want to mention it’s never in a rude or mean way, more in a very genuine, matter of fact way.

Throughout my time at the D.A.’s office Twyla has been a constant source of laughter for me. She is incredibly funny and one of the most non-judgmental people I have ever met. But perhaps my favorite quality of T’s is that she does not take herself too seriously, but knows when it is time to get to work. Often the cases I am working on directly coincide with CAC cases and she has been a great resource for me.

Oh, and did I mention the best part, she keeps her desk full of snacks, just for me. That alone should have garnered her a feature months ago.

When Twyla is not working, she is with her family. You do not have to know Twyla for a long period of time until you can ascertain how important family is to her. Twyla is the momma to a very spirited eleven-year-old girl, whom she adores.

And when she is not busy doing a million other things around her house, this past Christmas, Twyla found the time to help me with Holiday with A Hero. Spending much of her personal time, helping organize and contact kiddos.

She has been a blessing to me, and I know to so many others. She is a strong presence wherever she is, and has never failed to make me smile. Even on the rough days or the after cases that just break your heart. And for that – I can’t thank her enough. She is one of the reasons I love where we live.

Managers of the BLM Applegate, Arcata, Eagle Lake and Redding field offices will update the council on key activities in their areas.

Members of the public can join the meeting at this Zoom link.

The council will hear public comments at 11:30a.m.

The Resource Advisory Council works closely with the BLM’s northern California offices, providing advice on the BLM’s land and resource management mission. Members represent diverse interests including livestock grazing, recreation, off highway vehicle use, wild horse and burro management, environmental interests, Tribal interests, state agencies with natural resources interests, local government and the public at large.

The Northern California Resource Advisory Council meeting agenda can be reviewed online. More information is available from BLM Public Affairs Officer Jeff Fontana at 530-260-0189, or via email at jfontana@blm.gov.

The new Empire CAT Rental store on Riverside Drive

They have a huge yard of equipment on Riverside Drive, just past Plumas Bank, with stuff like bulldozers, telehandlers, skid steers and generators for a temporary project, to replace an unavailable machine in your fleet, or perhaps you need to meet a sudden increase in project volume.

Those are just a few examples of how Cashman’s rentals can help keep your jobs moving forward.

The Empire CAT Rental Store features a large inventory of high-quality rental equipment and, as the exclusive Cat dealer for the Eastern Sierras and Nevada, they offer numerous Cat models for rent at competitive short and long-term rates.

“Cat earthmoving machines and other products provide the latest technologies and unsurpassed performance and productivity, enabling you to complete more work in less time and lower your operating expenses,” explains Cashman spokesperson Zeenath Haniff.

“Our vast equipment rental fleet also includes products from other leading manufacturers, ensuring we can fill every customer request. Examples include Allmand portable job site lighting, Sullair air compressors, and Genie aerial lifts.”

If you have rental questions the knowledgeable folks at the Susanville store can guide you through the selection process, enabling you to make an informed business decision.

Why rent from Cashman? They have expertly maintained equipment you can trust to get the job done, with fast service to ensure you get the rental to your site quickly. They have flexible agreements that meet your time frame and budget.

They offer responsive service throughout the rental period, including on-site emergency repairs, free, no-obligation quotes and access to Rental Equipment Protection programs that cover damage.

If you already own Caterpillar equipment Empire CAT Rental can get you genuine Cat parts at the Susanville store, everything you need to keep your Cat equipment on the job and performing well. Choose from an assortment of new, used, and remanufactured products – from batteries and hoses to fluids and filters.

The nice folks at Empire CAT will provide expert assistance in locating the right parts for your machine’s model and year. Technical/service guides are also available to help with product selection and installation. Plus, they claim to have a stellar track record of filling 98% of parts orders within 24 hours, which prevents lengthy downtime.

Check them out today, the new Empire CAT Rental Store is located at 3030 Riverside Drive and you can call them at 1.530.255.2922. You can also visit them online by clicking here.

PG&E photo of Lake Almanor with Mount Lassen in the background

PG&E plans its operations to balance recreation, the environment, electric power generation and other needs. With above-average precipitation and well-above-average snowpack for the northern Sierra Nevada and southern Cascade mountain ranges, Lake Almanor is expected to be about 4 to 5 feet above normal this summer.

Total precipitation for the season to date in the Lake Almanor basin is at 123% of average, and the spring runoff is forecast to be 180% percent of average, PG&E reported.

This year, based on current data, historical modeling and planned operations, PG&E projects Lake Almanor levels will reach approximately 4,492 feet elevation by July 4th, and approximately 4,487 to feet by Labor Day.

Bucks Lake is projected to top-off about two feet higher than normal, likely spilling in late spring to early summer. With limited releases over the summer due to Lower Bucks Dam spillway work, and with Grizzly Powerhouse not yet restored to service, the lake level is expected to remain fairly flat over the summer, likely holding around 5,155 feet through July 4, and gradually drawing down by 2-to-3 feet to 5,153 to 5,152 feet elevation by Labor Day.

PG&E expects Butt Valley Reservoir to be within its normal operating range this summer.

PG&E encourages the public to take appropriate safety precautions when recreating in and near water:

• Obey all warning signs and restrictive buoys while swimming or boating.
• Use the “buddy system.” Never fish, swim, boat or raft alone.
• Don’t dive or jump into unfamiliar water. Shallow water or submerged trees or rocks could cause serious injury.
• Swimming in open water is more difficult than in a swimming pool – people tire more quickly and can get into trouble.
• Wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
• Actively supervise children in and around open bodies of water, giving them your undivided attention. Do not assume that someone is watching them. Appoint a designated “water watcher,” taking turns with other adults.

For more water safety tips, visit www.pge.com/watersafety

Uptown Susanville in the early 1920’s from an Eastman’s Studio photograph

Polish Colony Head is Held

May 24, 1929

Another echo of the plan of Stanislaus Przbysz, priest of a Polish church, to establish a colony, north of Reno, was heard yesterday when Przbysz was held at San Francisco by postal authorities on a minor charge, pending a further inquiry into his financial operations.

Under his plan several hundred Polish settlers were to have been brought from Eastern states to settle upon a large area of Lassen county lands north of Susanville. The California real estate board interfered upon the ground that the lands are unsuited for farming purposes.

The postal authorities started an investigation when complaints were made that the value of the lands had been misrepresented.

Przbysz’s ignorance of land values and farming conditions are asserted by some to have misled him in his undertaking.