Remember When

120 years ago   

An examination of the swarms of locutsts which descended on the Honey Lake Valley last week 120 years ago were found to be members of a 17-year species which is not particularly destructive to crops.

70 years ago  

An inquest was found to be necessary into the questionable and sudden death of a 48-year-old newcomer to Susanville after his body was discovered behind a Main Street establishment.   

The death was said to be alcohol-related and witnesses said the man had been on the premises for several hours consuming large quantities of liquor.   

Witnesses also said the man drank eagerly, talked freely and acted rationally, arousing suspicion after consuming what was as an “abnormal amount of hard liquor.”

45 years ago
    California Governor Edmund “Pat” G. Brown announced the appointment of California State Senator Stanley Arnold, of Susanville, as judge of the Lassen County Superior Court. Arnold will take over from Ben vs. Curler, who recently retired.

30 years ago
    Long-term educational advantages was the keynote term in use at a Lassen Community College governing board meeting where a proposal for the possible merger of Lassen and Feather River colleges was discussed. The proposal annexing Feather River to Lassen was one of a number of alternatives suggested by a feasibility study.

25 years ago   

The Susanville City Council voted 4-0 to support the expansion of the California Correctional Center.   

The council said adopting the resolution would have a desirable economic impact for the city by providing greater employment opportunities and creating more service-type jobs.   

The city also took the stand that by expanding the center, money would have been saved by taxpayers throughout the state.

20 years ago   

The Sierra Army Depot called a temporary halt to its bomb destruction program after a number of small “bomblets” were found to have “escaped” from the demolition zone. The depot had been destroying cluster bombs and each one carries 444 antipersonnel bomblets.   

The bomblets are baseball-sized steel balls designed to disperse and explode as individual units once the main bomb has been deployed.   

The army expected about 200 of the bomblets would be discovered on BLM land nearly a mile from the demolition pits.
    
10 years ago   

The Dyer Mountain Committee was ecstatic last week when it delivered 3,099 signatures asking for a November initiative vote on a four seasons resort to Lassen County Clerk Theresa Nagel’s office.   

But the project’s detractors said the battle is far from over and the board of supervisors said they want a report from staff on what the initiative could do the county’s general plan.

Five years ago   

Plans to ratify former Susanville City Administrator Newell Sorensen’s retirement agreement stalled when Councilmember Doug Sayers questioned how much the agreement was going to cost the city. According to assistant to the city administrator Luann Rainey, the agreement was misplaced and recently rediscovered. It was placed on the Tuesday, June 29 agenda for ratification.   

However, Rainey and City Attorney Kathleen Lazard were not at the Jan. 14 closed session meeting where the agreement was discussed. There is also no copy of closed session minutes of that meeting.

A year ago   

Six suspects who were arrested after a marijuana investigation turned gun fight will be prosecuted in federal court by the United States Attorney’s Office Eastern District of California in Sacramento.    

The incident, which occurred on federal land in the Dixie Valley area on Tuesday, June 16, left one suspect dead and injured Lassen County Sheriff Sergeant Dave Martin and deputy Dave Woginrich.

120 years ago   

Locusts are numerous in some parts of the Honey Lake Valley, but no damage has been reported. The Natives were gathering around them and “Lo” will feast high now.

70 years ago   

Troy Emerson, a well-known and respected rancher of the Honey Lake Valley District, was appointed supervisor to complete the unexpired term of James Leavitt. Emerson succeeded interim supervisor, county engineer T.W. Oglive, to take charge of Road District No. 2.

45 years ago   

Eugene Shirley was elected president of the Lassen Union High School District Board of Trustees. The board also approved a resolution that allowed the LUHSD to be the same as the Lassen Junior College Board of Trustees so each district could be run concurrently in order to transact business for each district.

30 years ago   

An overall high rating had been passed on to the Lassen-Plumas Mental Health Program after the State Department of Mental Health Program complete a review.   

Accessibility in the two-county area received a considerable higher rating than in a review completed three years earlier. The review committee was particularly impressed with the services of the departments’ crisis line and the investigations of cases before they go to court.

10 years ago   

The basic charge for water in Susanville more than doubled. The City Council approved a new water rate structure on Wednesday, June 21, which increased the monthly base charge from $5.60 to $12.85 effective July 1.   

Preparing for the loss of 911 ambulance service on Aug. 1 — the Lassen County Board of Supervisors and Susanville City Council may set up an exclusive operating area for one emergency medical transport company.   

The county Emergency Medical Care Committee last week recommended the boards request exclusive operating area proposals.   

The committee is made up of representatives from the board, the council, fire departments, medical care providers and the public.

A year ago   

Dave Martin, a Lassen County Sheriff’s sergeant, was sent to the hospital with a gunshot wound and deputy Dave Woginrich was also injured after a marijuana investigation turned into a gun battle that left one suspect dead and six others arrested in Northern Lassen County.    

Martin was transported to Mercy Medical Center in Redding. According to Lassen County Sheriff Steve Warren, the sergeant’s injuries are serious, but are non-life threatening. Woginrich received first aid on- scene and was not transported to the hospital. Warren said he is doing well.

120 years ago   

Many of the trout streams in the mountains of Lassen County reportedly were still too high for good fishing.   

D.D. Norvel, the sheep man, was in town Monday, and he reported continued cold weather in the mountains.   

There was a well-contested running race at the track between horses owned by Laine, Hart and Wilson. Laine’s animal won the race and the money.

120 years ago   

The two bridges over Susan Slough near Nat Homes’ place are in the course of construction and should be in shape for travel this week. Solider Bridge is still not established.