Volume XVII Issue 114

Thursday, January 16th, 2025

Shaffer Superintendent Joshua Blackburn and Chief Business Officer Dianna Parady

Shaffer School Gets New Mascot – and a New Gym Floor

Shaffer School proudly revealed its brand-new gym floor Wednesday, along with an even bigger announcement: the unveiling of their new mascot name, the Shaffer Warriors. This moment marks a significant step in the school’s journey to modernize its facilities and align with evolving cultural values.

This change comes in response to Assembly Bill 3074, recently passed legislation that requires all K-12 schools in California to discontinue the use of derogatory terms referencing Native people as school or athletic team names by July 2026.

Among the prohibited names are terms such as Apaches, Braves, Chiefs, Indians, Savages and others. Although Shaffer School had already signed an agreement to install a new gym floor, the school administration decided to use this opportunity to proactively embrace the mandate and implement their new mascot name ahead of schedule.

The decision to adopt the Shaffer Warriors name reflects a thoughtful and collaborative process. Shaffer School expresses immense gratitude to the Susanville Indian Rancheria for their invaluable partnership and guidance in selecting a name that honors the school’s history and values while respecting Native culture.

This collaboration underscores the importance of community involvement and shared respect in shaping the future of educational institutions.

The new gym floor, unveiled during today’s ceremony, represents the pinnacle of quality and craftsmanship. Designed and installed by KYA, a company renowned for its expertise in indoor and outdoor facility modernization, the gym floor features durable materials and intricate, hand-painted floor lines and logos.

Superintendent Joshua Blackburn described the new floor as, “the highest quality gym floor you can get,” emphasizing its dual role as both a cafeteria and gymnasium for the school.

“This space is at the heart of our school community,” Blackburn added. “It’s where students gather, learn, and compete, and it’s important that it reflects the pride and spirit of the Shaffer Warriors.”

Shaffer School invites students, parents, and community members to celebrate these exciting changes at the upcoming Shaffer Warriors basketball game on Tuesday, January 28th. Attendees will have the opportunity to see the new gym floor in action and join in commemorating the school’s new chapter.

Looking for Raffle Items

The NCCA is seeking raffle items, as this is their primary source of profit to aid cancer patients. Please let a NCCA member know if you’d like to make a tax-deductible raffle donation.

For more information about NCCA, click here to visit the group’s website.

The report shows that shortly before 8:00a.m., a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado was traveling on a green light through the intersection, at a slow rate of speed, after having been stopped for a red traffic signal. That vehicle held two Susanville residents – Levy and Melinda Chaffin.

Behind that vehicle was a 2016 Jeep Wrangler driven by 33-year-old Susanville resident Michael Warren. According to the CHP’s report he was also traveling on a green light, at a slow rate of speed, after having been stopped for a red traffic signal light.

A 2024 Freightliner big-rig was directly behind Warren’s Jeep and was completely stopped for the previous red traffic light that had phased to green.

A 2019 Chevrolet Equinox, driven by a 47-year-old Susanville resident whose name is being withheld, was stopped behind the big-rig for the previous red light that had phased to green. There was also a ten-year old passenger in the Equinox.

At this point Dougherty and his 1998 van were traveling eastbound on SR-36, approaching US Highway 395, at what the CHP characterized as, “a high rate of speed for the conditions,” as he approached the stopped and slower traffic ahead.

“The driver of Vehicle One (the Club Wagon van) was unable to slow, stop, or take evasive action before the front of the vehicle impacted the right rear of vehicle 2,” explains CHP Public Information Officer Travis Music.

“As a result of this impact, [the Equinox] was pushed forward, and the front and right side of the vehicle impacted the left rear of Vehicle 3.”

After the impact with the Equinox, Dougherty’s van veered to the right, missing the tractor/trailer combination. After passing the truck he veered back to the left, and the front of the van impacted the rear of Warren’s Jeep.

As a result of this impact, the Jeep was pushed foward, and the front impacted the rear of the Chaffin’s Silverado.

As a result of this crash, the driver of the Equinox sustained fatal injuries at the scene and her ten-year-old passenger sustained major injuries and was life-flighted to Renown Medical Center in Reno.

The drivers of the Jeep and the Silverado had suspected minor injuries and were not transported.

Dougherty, the driver of the van, sustained a suspected minor injury and was transported to Banner Lassen Medical Center. According to the CHP he was ultimately placed under arrest for Driving Under the Influence, as drug influence was suspected.

Dougherty was booked into the Lassen County Jail for the following charges: 187(a) PC- ‘Watson’ DUI Murder, 191.5(a) PC- Gross Vehicular Manslaughter While Under the Influence of Drugs, 23153(f) VC- DUI (Drugs) Causing Death, and 23152(c) VC- Driving While Addicted to a Drug.

Officer Music said, “The Susanville Area CHP sends its heart-felt condolences to all those affected by this incident. The Susanville Area CHP would like to thank personnel from the Lassen County Sheriff’s Department, Susanville Police Department, Lassen County District Attorney’s Office, California Department of Transportation, Cal-FIRE, Susanville Fire Department, Susan River Fire Department, High Desert State Prison, SEMSA, the staff at Banner Lassen and Renown Medical Centers, and Lassen County Animal Control for their efforts and assistance at this extensive incident.”

Where is the planning area?

As shown in the following map, the Regional Area Plan Update area is situated along the southern edge of Lassen County, immediately outside the city of Susanville, serving as a vital connection point between rural communities and the broader regional infrastructure. Regional access is available through several major highways, including California State Routes 44, 36, 139, and U.S. Highway 395.

These routes provide critical transportation corridors for local and regional traffic, linking the area to surrounding counties and the rest of California. The Plan encompasses a diverse range of communities, primarily Johnstonville, Richmond/Gold Run, the Susanville Vicinity, and Lake Forest Vicinity.

Why is the County Updating the Plans?

The Susanville Vicinity Area Plan was last updated in 1984, the Johnstonville Area Plan was last updated in 1987, and the Richmond/Gold Run Area Plan was last updated in 1993. These Area Plans no longer reflect the shifts within the community or the changing circumstances that influence the County’s future direction.

Updating these plans is essential to address new development trends, community needs, environmental considerations, and economic conditions that have emerged over the past decades.

Upcoming Meetings

January 28, 2025 from 5:30 to 8:00 pm at the Old Clubhouse, 470-835 Wingfield Rd, Susanville, CA 96130

January 29, 2025 from 5:30 to 8:00 pm at Johnstonville Elementary School, 704-795 Bangham Lane, Susanville

January 30, 2025 from 5:30-8:pm at Jensen Hall, Lassen County Fairgrounds

Regional Area Plan will be developed in response to public and agency input and the guidance of Lassen County’s elected officials.

If you would like more information, please contact the County’s project outreach coordinator: Steve Peterson, Kimley-Horn, steve.peterson@kimley-horn.com, 1.916.306.5209. Click here for more information.

To qualify, a high school sophomore, junior or senior’s primary residence in Plumas, Lassen, Sierra or Washoe counties must be supplied with either electric power through Plumas Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative or Internet service through Plumas-Sierra Telecommunications.

An application is available by clicking here and following the link to www.psrec.coop.

Complete the application and submit a typed or legibly written essay.

The topic for this year’s essay is: “Washington Youth Tour” Students have an opportunity to visit with their congressman or woman. As a member of an electric co-op, write an essay about the concerns and questions you would discuss with your representative. Explain why these are important issues to you.

The essay should be no less than 500 words and no more than 1,000 words.

Essays will be judged on creativity and content (with consideration given to spelling and grammar) by the editorial staff of thre Ruralite magazine in Oregon.

Applications must be returned to Plumas-Sierra REC tomorrow, January 17th. To learn more about the Washington Youth Tour, please visit www.youthtour.coop.

Overlooking the Lassen Townsite in the early 1930’s – Eastman Studios postcard detail

Streets Being Opened in Lassen Townsite

January 16, 1927

Tuesday the county tractor and scraper started work in Lassen Townsite, on the hill between the Fruit Growers and Richmond Road. They are cutting new streets through this district, which has heretofore been one large field, with numerous crooked trails called roads cutting across lots.

This section of Susanville’s suburbs has had street signs indicating where the streets should be, since just before the American Legion convention held here last August, and now the streets are being graded thru the “prairie land.”

This will undoubtedly make that section grow fast as it is an excellent location, close to both mills and to town.

North Railroad Avenue, which runs parallel with the railroad on the hill to the north of the tracks was connected up when a street was cut down the hill back of the depot.

The ground was frozen and hard to handle but the road workers left it in passable condition and will finish it up when the ground gets thawed out in the spring.

Barry Ellis Edwards – December 23, 2024

Francis Deem Law – December 30, 2024

Johnny B Garate – December 13, 2024

Linda Louise (Givens) Guajardo – November 13, 2024

Tina Louise Rich – December 9, 2024