2013 Top Story Archive Stories

To the thousands of Portuguese people living in the Sacramento Valley, Sunday's festa in Orland was a celebration of thanksgiving, faith and keeping alive the traditions that have survived for more than 700 years. The 70th annual event was also all about the queens. The Orland Holy Ghost Club's annual celebration, held at the Gle

Green balls, red balls, yellow balls all flew fast Wednesday as children attempted to get out of their way. The gymnasium floor of the Orland Recreation Center had become a dodge ball court during a sports camp for sixth- to eighth-grade children. "It's just sports all day," coach Christina Shannon said. "We start with flag tag t

The 100-plus degree heat did not dampen the enthusiasm of Hamilton High School's 2013 graduation ceremony Friday evening. The 82 graduates proudly wore their caps and gowns onto the football field and were joined by six graduates of Hamilton Unified's Ella Barkley High School. There were four valedictorians in the class, each wit

For 70 years, those of Portuguese descent have celebrated a Festa in Orland welcoming friends and family from around the state to this Father's Day tradition. Sunday the event continues with plenty of food, dancing and fun at the Glenn County Fairgrounds starting at noon. The Whitsett-Cook Building will be filled with cooks prepa

After 13 years of sitting in class, lugging books and taking tests, the Orland High School Class of 2013 is ready to go out into the world. After the last of 128 diplomas was handed out just after sunset on Thursday, the field gates were opened to family and friends, who rushed onto the football field with flowers and gifts. More

By Sunday morning, 27 teams and 330 participants from Glenn County and the surrounding area raised $66,483 for the American Cancer Society. They ran, walked and jogged around the quarter-mile Willows High School track for 24 straight hours, all the while showing their enthusiasm for raising money for cancer research, cancer prevention an

When Bay Area Tea Party member Heather Gass starts talking about Agenda 21, people automatically start lambasting her for being some kind of right-wing "tin-foil hat" conspiracy theorist. But the many residents of Glenn and Tehama counties who showed up at the Carnegie Center in Orland to hear her speak on Thursday agree that one only ne

Cloudy skies and the threat of rain did not stop people from honoring Orland's war dead on Memorial Day. They gathered Monday at the International Odd Fellows Cemetery under the gazebo area to listen to speakers and say prayers for those who died in battle overseas or in accidents while training to serve. Bob Pasero served as the

Diners at the Orland and Willows senior nutrition centers are angry about federal budget cuts forcing the lunch program to close on Fridays at least through June. "The government can cut from a lot of different areas instead of cutting the seniors," Robert Gunness said on Thursday. "All that money it spends on other nations, yet it canno

By Rick Longley Tri-County Newspapers Bidding was quick and the 4-H and FFA projects of local youth sold within minutes at Saturday's Junior Livestock Auction. The event got underway at noon in the Brawley Ring with the first lot, a market swine, consigned by Branden Murry of Willows FFA, selling his hog for 4.25 a pound.

A Hamilton City teen will again represent the county after winning the coveted Miss Glenn County title during the opening night of the fair. Jazmin Villa dazzled a panel of judges Thursday to earn the crown. The 18-year-old beauty gave a tearful speech about Alzheimer's disease, and the grandparents who lost their precious memori

Cowboys may be a dying breed, but the ghosts of Orland's western past would feel right at home on Fourth Street. The Orland Arts Commission unveiled its "Sagebrush and Silence" bronze sculpture on Saturday as a tribute to the city's western heritage and the early pioneers who shaped the town. The sculpture, which depicts a cowboy

It was a solemn but powerful ceremony Wednesday as law enforcement and firefighters remembered fallen heroes. Willows police officers, Glenn County Sheriff's personnel, California Highway Patrol officers and Willows Fire and US Forest Service firefighters came together for the sixth annual Glenn County Peace Officer and Firefighter Memor

An informal survey of Glenn Ride customers on Monday indicated some are quite pleased with the service while others felt improvements are needed. Willows resident Vanessa Carter rides the bus to work from Willows to Orland five days a week. She works at the Rusty Wagon store on Walker Street and accompanies a co-worker/client on

Fire season is here and Orland residents are advised to cut down grass, weeds and other threats around their homes. "It has been brought up in our monthly meetings about high grass creating a fire hazard," said Public Safety Commissioner Gary Campbell on Thursday. This has been of greater concern since the 2008 fire along Stony C

With summer almost here, Willows fire officials say it's time for residents to do their part to keep fire dangers at bay. Public Works officials have spent the past few weeks pruning trees, picking up tree limbs downed by the winds and ridding themselves of pesky problems — like weeds — on city property. Fire official

Cameras are everywhere these days, Glenn County sheriff's deputies will soon have them on their uniforms to record their encounters with the public. The department recently took delivery of 45 Wolfcam 3rd Eye — 1080p body cameras purchased with a Homeland Security grant. Undersheriff Richard Warren said 25 will go to patrol

Local government officials may soon join a national movement to fight obesity and make their communities healthier for everyone. A joint meeting of the Glenn County supervisors and the city councils from Willows and Orland, resulted in the local policy-makers jumping up and down for First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" campaign.

When Nancy Mulligan battled colon cancer six years ago, her border collie, Micki, was her constant companion. "There were days when I didn't want to leave the house," Mulligan said Saturday, at the first Glenn County Bark for Life canine relay. "Micki kept me active and she kept me focused. She was a great help." Because the Amer

City officials believe Orland still needs a community center. However, they are not inclined to spend millions of dollars to build one. A report from an advisory committee studying the issue agreed the city's original plan to build a 48,000-square-foot facility on 5 acres is no longer needed. City Manager Pete Carr update

The Orland City Council Chambers filled with blue Monday night as law enforcement members honored their own. Chief J.C. Tolle named the Officer of the Year and the Lifesaver Award winners along with introducing three new officers. Officer Charles Barnes received the Nicolas Mondragon Officer of the Year plaque for his overall per

A tall hooded figure in black wandered the halls of Hamilton High School on Thursday — spreading fear as he claimed unsuspecting students as his followers. The Grim Reaper took teens as part of the "living dead," their names and photos lined up on tombstones on campus. The students were participants in the school's "Every 1

The shelves are filling at Orland's new Grocery Outlet store in anticipation of its opening next week. Owner Curtis Hallam said the 15,000-square-foot store will open April 18 and follow with a grand opening on April 20. "We hope to benefit the community and be good community neighbors," he said. About 28 employees have b

What to do with the Purity Market building continues to be debated in Orland. The City Council made no decision Tuesday night, but has several options it is considering, including making it the new City Hall. It could also rent the building to a new tenant. One thing council members said they do not want to do is tear it down.

Glenn County supervisors are joining the Glenn County Rangeland Association in standing up for private property rights. The board will be bringing back a resolution April 16 informing state and federal authorities Glenn County wishes to be included in any discussions about conservation plans, development of wilderness areas and other iss