Dick Bendix in Susanville’s Veteran’s Day parade

General Bendix Takes the Spotlight at Saturday’s Swing Band Performance

By Jeremy Couso

96-year old, retired three-star Army General, and all-around fantastic drummer Dick Bendix will be featured at this year’s Susanville Swing Band performance Saturday afternoon at the Veterans’ Memorial Hall on Main Street.

Bendix has played drums for the Swing Band since its first performance in October of 2006.

“At 96, Bendix appears to be the oldest living drummer performing with a big band or jazz band in the entire world,” says Ben Wade, the symphony’s Artistic Director and Conductor.

“The concert will feature all of Dick’s favorite music from the big band era.”

Songs on Saturday’s program include big band takes on Girl from Ipanema, Take the A Train, It Had to be You and I Left My Heart in San Francisco.

General Bendix at the Timpani

Wade talked a little about what inspired this performance.

“Dick asked me if I would play a concert in his honor whenever he passed away. I thought we could do one better and honor him while he is still alive and include him as an integral part of our band.”

And Bendix is a darn good drummer. Not ‘good for his age’ or used-to-be good. Bendix is the real deal and more than capable of leading the Susanville Swing Band, and the audience, down memory lane.

Typically Wade, in his role as Artistic Director, will select music for the concert and tell the musicians what they are going to play, with insight from the players themselves on their favorite songs. This time however, he allowed Bendix to pick the entire concert, from start to finish.

The Susanville Swing Band concert will follow the Veterans Day Parade and lunch at the hall, and to honor veterans the concert will be free to those who have served our country.

Tickets for the 2:30p.m. show are $30 each and on sale at Margies Book Nook and the Lassen County Chamber of Commerce office. For more information head on over to the Susanville Symphony’s website.

According to LMUD Public Relations Manager Theresa Phillips, LMUD and NV Energy partnered on the amended transmission agreement to add transmission service that will include power delivered to LMUD from the Fish Lake Geothermal project located in Dyer Nevada and operated by Open Mountain Energy.

The Fish Lake project will deliver three megawatts of eligible renewable energy to LMUD customers and will help LMUD achieve their renewable energy goals.

“This resource will supply LMUD customers with renewable, baseload energy over the 15-year contract term,” said LMUD’s Interim General Manager, Nick Dominguez.

“This project demonstrates our commitment to stable and sustainable service and is in line with one of LMUD’s key strategic goals of maintaining long-term power supply arrangements with reasonable costs.”

The transmission agreement is also part of LMUD’s long-range planning that includes the construction of the Skedaddle Substation.

“The substation,” explains Phillips, “which is expected to come online in the last quarter of 2025, will allow LMUD to connect to NV Energy’s balancing authority enabling the district to receive power over the NV Energy system increasing reliability and stabilizing power costs.”

Participants will line up at the armory on Russell Avenue and up Fair Drive, starting at 10:15 and will proceed up Main Street beginning at 11:00a.m.

The parade, led by the Thomas Tucker American Legion Post 204 honor guard, will conclude at the Veterans Hall with a ceremony immediately following.

Lunch will be served downstairs following the ceremony.

As a Disaster Program Manager serving Lassen, Shasta, Modoc, and Siskiyou counties, it is my job to help with these efforts.

With a rich history dating back to its founding in 1881, the Red Cross has consistently provided assistance to communities in times of crisis. I’d like to explain the multifaceted role of the Red Cross in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, as well as how students can gain valuable experience within the organization to prepare for public service careers.

Disaster Preparedness: Preparedness is the cornerstone of effective disaster management, and the Red Cross is a pioneer in this area. We conduct extensive training and education programs designed to empower individuals and communities to be ready for emergencies. Their initiatives include:

CPR and First Aid Training: The Red Cross offers comprehensive training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid, equipping individuals with life-saving skills that can be invaluable during disasters.

Disaster Preparedness Courses: Through programs like “Prepare with Pedro” for children and “Prepare Out Loud” for adults, we educate the public about disaster preparedness, emphasizing the importance of emergency kits, evacuation plans, and communication strategies.

Community Disaster Education: The Red Cross collaborates with local communities to provide disaster education workshops, ensuring residents are informed about potential risks and know how to mitigate them.

Blood Services: Blood donations are vital during emergencies. The Red Cross maintains a robust blood donation program, which helps ensure a stable blood supply, especially during disasters. Visit redcrossbloodd.org for information.

Shelter Preparation: The organization sets up and manages emergency shelters, which serve as crucial hubs for disaster response. They pre-position supplies and train volunteers to staff these shelters during emergencies.

Disaster Response: When disaster strikes, Red Cross volunteers spring into action. Their immediate response efforts are comprehensive and multifaceted, demonstrating their commitment to alleviating human suffering. Key elements of their disaster response include:

Emergency Sheltering: The Red Cross operates shelters to provide refuge for those displaced by disasters, offering not only a safe place to stay but also food, medical assistance, and emotional support.

Mass Care and Feeding: The organization mobilizes volunteers and resources to provide meals and basic necessities to disaster-affected communities. This is often done through mobile feeding units and fixed feeding sites.

Disaster Health Services: Trained volunteers, including nurses and mental health professionals, offer medical and emotional support to survivors, addressing immediate and long-term health needs.

Disaster Assessment: We assess the impact of disasters, helping coordinate a more effective response by identifying the most pressing needs of affected communities.

Emergency Communications: The organization plays a critical role in reconnecting families separated by disasters through the Restoring Family Links program, utilizing a global network to facilitate communication.

Disaster Recovery: The Red Cross recognizes that disaster recovery is a complex, long-term process. Their involvement extends beyond the initial response phase, and they engage in various activities to aid in the recovery of affected communities, such as:

Financial Assistance: Through their financial assistance programs, the American Red Cross provides immediate relief to disaster survivors, enabling them to cover essential needs like food, clothing, and temporary housing.

Recovery Planning: The organization works with communities to develop recovery plans, emphasizing resilience and sustainability, and assists in rebuilding homes and infrastructure.

Mental Health Support: Long after the disaster, the Red Cross continues to offer mental health services, recognizing that the emotional scars of a disaster can persist for years.

Community Partnerships: Collaborating with local government agencies, nonprofits, and other organizations, the Red Cross helps foster a unified and effective approach to long-term recovery.

Student Engagement and Public Service Careers: For students interested in public service careers, gaining experience with the Red Cross can be invaluable. The organization offers numerous opportunities for students to get involved and develop essential skills:

Volunteer Roles: Students can become disaster response volunteers, working in various capacities such as shelter management, disaster assessment, or health services. These experiences offer practical, hands-on training in crisis management.

Internships: The Red Cross often provides internship programs in fields like emergency management, public health, communications, and social work. These internships offer exposure to the organization’s operations and provide valuable real-world experience.

Youth Programs: Younger students can participate in youth-oriented programs like the Red Cross Youth Clubs, where they learn leadership, disaster preparedness, and community engagement.

Leadership Development: The Red Cross nurtures leadership skills through its programs, allowing students to take on progressively responsible roles, preparing them for careers in public service and emergency management.

Networking Opportunities: Engaging with the Red Cross allows students to build a professional network within the disaster management and public service sectors, opening doors to future career opportunities.

The Red Cross is an indispensable organization in the realm of disaster management, with a well-rounded approach that encompasses preparedness, response, and recovery.

Students aspiring to public service careers can find numerous pathways to gain experience within the organization, building skills and knowledge that will prepare them for impactful roles in emergency management, public health, and humanitarian assistance.

By understanding and engaging with the Red Cross, these future leaders can contribute significantly to the resilience and well-being of their communities in times of crisis.

If you are interested in volunteering or working with the Red Cross, please visit redcross.org/volunteer and redcross.org/careers or call 1-800-733-2767.

Westwood in 1949 from an Eastman Studios postcard

Lassen Justice Arraigned on Four Counts

False Accounts, Embezzlement Charges Listed

November 10, 1947

T. G. Thompson, Westwood justice of the peace, pleaded innocent to four counts of embezzlement and another for keeping false accounts of public moneys at his arraignment in the superior court Wednesday before Judge A. K. Wylie of Modoc county.

Date of the trial will be set Tuesday at 10 a.m., pending arrival of Judge B. V. Curler of the Lassen County superior court, who is holding court in Los Angeles.

Thompson is still at liberty on $2000 cash bail. He was indicted by a Lassen County grand jury Sept. 22 on charges of embezzling $1115 and appropriating it for his own use from May 25, 1946 to June 28, 1947. He is alleged to have taken $65 on or about May 25, 1946; $350 on March 10, 1+947; $200 on May 27, 1947 and $500 on June 28, 1947.

In addition to the four counts of embezzlements, Thompson’s indictment charges keeping false accounts relating to the receipts, transfer and keeping of public moneys.

Thompson, who is 67 years old, was first elected to the office of justice of the peace of Westwood township in 1931 and served until 1935. J. M. Lamson was then elected and later died while in office. Thomson again took office, finishing out Mr. Lamson’s term, and was re-elected last fall to serve until 1950.

Hardin Barry is attorney for Thompson and District Attorney A. J. Anderson is handling the prosecution.