110 years ago   

The following product was being advertised: “Ladies, if you desire a transparent, clear and fresh complexion, use Dr. Bourbon’s French Arsenic Complexion Wafer’s, the only reliable beautifier of the complexion, skin and form known.”   

The Grand Jury wasin session Tuesday in their inquiry into the condition of the Lassen County Jail, it was discovered it does not comply with the requirements of the law and is, so to speak, not a legal jail.

The opposition to good roads made by stingy taxpayers seems to have about broken down, and the report to the federal government shows conclusively that in every part of the county the long, smooth ribbon of concrete has been enlarging its network within the nation.

60 years ago   

The Lassen County Planning Commission went on record yesterday as approving the proposed new Herlong access road, subject to three provisions decided on after testimony given by interested parties at the hearing yesterday.   

Chief concern about the proposed road was voiced by cattlemen in the area who fear that underpasses beneath the road for stock would funnel them onto the Western Pacific Railroad track.

35 years ago   

Two more inmates have escaped from the California Conservation Center by cutting through three security fences.   

The latest escape occurred about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13. The escapees were observed by the tower officer as they exited the third fence.   

No shots were fired by pursuit teams who were dispatched immediately to the area of the fence.   

However, the escapees managed to avoid detection in the nearby sagebrush and were still at large as of yesterday afternoon.

25 years ago   

Members of the Lassen College Governing Board will consider a plan to allow the public to bring garbage to the school’s biomass power plant.   

College President Dr. Warren Sorenson will present the plan which outlines specifically how vehicles will be allowed to enter the plant’s receiving bays. The program also calls for a public education program which will in part make use of a bulk-mailed informational flyer.

10 years ago   

New ammunition for the Northern California spotted owl has Quincy Library Group forest health project on hold and the Lassen National Forest in a quandary.   

QLG Forester Frank Stewart told the Lassen County Supervisors Nov. 16, that hands-off spotted owl protection areas stuffed into the final plan by the Forest Service actually threaten the critter and its habitat.

A year ago   

Natural gas rates for the city of Susanville are about to go up after the Susanville City Council voted 4-1 in favor of raising the current rates from $2.44 to $2.60 per therm.   

At the Wednesday, Nov. 19 meeting, Dan Bergmann with Interstate Gas Services, Inc. gave an in-depth report on the city’s natural gas system. Bergmann explained the rate increase was necessary for several reasons. Those reasons included covering the costs of increased natural gas prices during the 2008-2009 fiscal year, assuring compliance with the existing bond covenant and to help ensure the city has a chance at a better credit rating during its refinancing of the its natural gas debt, which is currently more than $24 million.   

Bergmann said by raising the rates a little bit now, it would help keep the city from being forced to raise the rates a lot in the future.   

Breaking it down even further, Bergmann said the median residential customer uses about 400 therms per year. The yearly cost to that customer under the old rates would have been $1,030. Under the new rate increase, the cost would go up $1,075, a $45 increase.