87 years ago   

For the first time, women had the opportunity to serve on a trial jury. Throughout the country, critics were discouraged with the experiment, since many of them claimed exemptions in the past.   

They said most of the women do not have the knowledge, thus lacking the credibility needed to make an informed decision. Only a few Lassen County women have had the chance to serve on a jury.

For his sixth term, Peter Grieg, Big Valley, was chosen as chairman of the Board of Supervisors.   

The District 4 supervisor claimed the chair when W.J. Tunison of District 1 relinquished the position after the board decided to rotate chairmen to give all districts their fair representation.

37 years ago   

The site of Indian Heights Mission of Parkdale Avenue was rezoned and the city asked members to refurbish the structure to meet city code requirements. Susanville merchants donated money to help finance the renovations, including repairs to the roof, exterior and plumbing.   

The mission was once a gambling house and casino on the outskirts of Susanville.

27 years ago   

Renovations costing $75,000 began at Lassen Community Hospital. Under construction were a building entrance, new administrative offices, admitting area, pharmacy, birthing room and waiting room.

22 years ago   

The manner in which the city coordinated the removal of nearly one foot of snow drew sharp criticism from residents at a City Council meeting. An Uptown merchant told the council that snowplow berms blocked drainage and restricted parking for customers of the businesses in the Uptown area.

10 years ago   

Two years ago the Susanville Rancheria acquired the medical clinic at the Sierra Army Depot in Herlong, assuring all residents it would provide them with healthcare.   

But without the benefits of federal funds, the specter of a $260,000 operating loss and an alleged dwindling client base, the SIR tribal council has voted to close the Sierra Health Clinic Feb. 28.

Five years ago   

While most of America continues to be concerned about Mad Cow disease, wholesalers and retailers in Lassen County say there is no reason to be concerned over the quality of beef.   

“You could get sicker after getting a flu shot than by eating beef from Susanville Supermarket,” store manager Todd Eid said.   

However, according to a published report from Reuters, Safeway Inc., Fred Meyer and Albertson’s Inc., have asked customers to return certain cases of beef patties and other products that originated at Vern’s Moses Lake Meats, a small slaughterhouse in Washington State.

A year ago   

A Dec. 18 special session of the California Legislature to discuss how to fix the state’s current $40 billion shortfall resulted in the approval of an $18 billion package penned by Democratic lawmakers.    

The bill is made up of $7.3 billion in spending cuts,  $9.3 billion in new general fund revenue, and $1.5 billion in special funds transferred to the state’s general fund.    

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vowed to veto the budget deal, saying the plan will cut spending too little, raise taxes and fees too much and shortchange economic stimulus programs.    

The plan promises to raise $5.7 billion in general fund revenue with a temporary half-cent-per-dollar increase in the sales tax, a severance tax on oil production in the state and a new surcharge on the state income tax.    

Democratic lawmakers criticized the governor for promising to veto the package which they say will solve nearly half of the projected $40 billion budget deficit over the next 18 months.    

The bill passed using a loophole in the two-thirds majority needed to pass a raise in taxes, which the governor said he approved.