Orland: 2008 in review

Reviewing stories important to Orland residents, it became clear that Orland was plagued with  fires, fires and more fires;  City Council had its hands full; and Orland schools got a new start with administrators and construction.

Here is a sampling of stories that impacted the community in 2008. 

JANUARY

The big story of the month was a major ice storm on Jan. 4. It left Orland with downed trees, power lines and fences as well as damaged roofs and a crushed pickup truck. Orchards south of town also suffered damage from wind-blown trees. Power was out for several days.

Motorcycle riders rode 100 miles to raise $5,000 at the annual Motor-Icicle Run.  The Willow’s Wal-Mart also donated $1,000. The fundraiser benefited the Northern California Burn Foundation.

Ray and Debi Hobbs announced their intention to restore Orland’s historical Hicks Building. Also known as the Booth Hotel, the 22,000 square-foot structure was built in 1908. The city designated it a historic building. Interior work has begun but an estimated completion date is not known.

FEBRUARY

Measure K passed in a special election, allotting $21.9 million for remodeling Orland schools and to provide new facilities. Some improvements are done and several modular units are in place at Orland High, North Valley High and Mill Street schools. Plans include building new structures at OHS and C.K. Price Middle School and other improvements at all Orland unified schools.

Glenn County Superior Court Judge Angus Saint-Evens announced his intention not to seek re-election after serving the Glenn County court system for 20 years.  He joined the Superior Court in 1998. Judge Peter B. Twede took over for Saint-Evans in November.

Gene Russell’s latest book hit the stands in February. The pictorial history of the town contains vintage photographs from Orland’s earliest years to the early

1960s. Proceeds benefit the Orland Historical and Cultural Society. Rachel Elliott, 18, died from injuries suffered

in an automobile accident Feb. 21 in Riverside County. She graduated from Orland High School in 2007 and was attending a community college in southern California.

MARCH

The Orland Center for the Arts and Gallery opened in Stony Creek Square. A project of the Orland Arts Commission, monthly  shows in the 1,300 square-foot space feature artists from Glenn and Butte counties.

The City of Orland approved an application to annex Creek Side Estates.

In an apparent murder-suicide on March 17, Clifford J. Dupree, 49, shot his father-in-law, Coy Smith, 66, with a high-powered rifle, then shot himself.

As gas prices rose, we asked, “Are you getting what you pay for?” The answer, according to the Glenn County Department of Agriculture, was “yes.” The question arose because of concern that gas pumps were not accurate. Officials said the 200 pumps at 25 gas stations in the county  are checked regularly and are accurate.

On March 17, Orland city council approved a $760,000 contract with Shufelberger Construction of Redding to build the new recreation center at Lely Park. The latest estimate is that the doors will open in March. Also approved was upgrading Roosevelt Park and renovating the swimming pool.

Also on March 17, city council approved an application for a $1.5 million California Community Development Block Grant. The grant was approved in July.

A group of racing enthusiasts were awarded the bid to operate Orland Speedway. They included owner-manager Anthony Boscacci, Jacob Spath of  Nor-Cal Performance Sprint Car and Speed Shop in Chico and Dan Ochs of Los Molinos.  Because their plans fell through, the Speedway remains closed and a new call for bids issued.

APRIL

The third annual Best of the West Business Expo, sponsored by the Orland Chamber of Commerce, attracted about 1,500 people to the Glenn County Fairgrounds. The theme was Orland’s agricultural heritage.

Kayla Taut, a 17-year-old Orland High School senior, raised $500 at a two-day garage sale for her senior project. She donated the money to the Mountain Valley Unit of the American Cancer Society. Her father died of lung cancer in 2006.

Glenn County Supervisors approved a 5 percent commission to real estate agents who bring tenants into the industrial park around the Orland Airport. At the end of the year, no new businesses were in the park.

With the anticipated retirement of Joe Ricer on June 30, the City of Orland started advertising to fill his position as city manager. Paul H. Poczobut Jr. got the nod and started working for the city in October.

Fairview Elementary School received a  grant from Pacific Gas and Electric to become a “solar school.” The utility installed a solar panel on one of the buildings to help meet the school’s electricity needs.

A suspected gang-related shooting left Alcadio Guillen, 18, of Sacramento dead at the scene on April 2. The shooting occurred in front of Moe’s Market on Sixth Avenue in Orland.

On April 21, the Press-Register reported for the first time that questions about the legal residence of Jim Nielsen – a candidate for the District 2 state assembly seat.  Charlie Schaupp charged that while his opponent listed his residence in  Gerber – inside District 2 – Nielsen actually lived in Woodland. The issue remained active throughout the campaign. Nielsen won the seat in the Nov. 4 election.

MAY

Retired Orland police Officer Nicolas “Nick” Mondragon Jr. died surrounded by family at home on May 5, following a long battle with cancer. He was 48 years old. Sgt. J.C. Tolle described Mondragon as a mentor for all police officers whose patience and dedication were exemplary. Nearly 800 people attended a benefit dinner for Mondragon in December 2007, where about $20,000 was raised to help him and his family.

Historian Gene Russell was named grand marshal of the 92nd annual Glenn County Fair parade.

On May 5, Orland City Council passed a plan to combine the Orland Building and Planning departments effective July 1. The reason given was to streamline services.

The Farm Sanctuary in Orland rescued 12 goats from a Santa Cruz County slaughterhouse. It was the second time in 2008 the animal shelter provided refuge to allegedly neglected or abused livestock from the Watsonville area. The animals were rescued by Santa Cruz County Animal Control Services.

Rachelle Hudson was crowned Miss Glenn County. Elizabeth Sampson was first runner-up and Laurel Somerville was second runner-up.

Orland increased development impact fees by 4 percent. The adjustment reflected changes in the consumer price index, according to city officials. The project-specific fees are charged before a construction permit is issued to cover the cost of services and infrastructure.

As the school year drew to a close, Orland Unified School District told 12 instructional aides  that because of state budget cuts they would not have jobs in the fall. They were placed on a 39-month rehire list.

Also on the school front, OUSD Superintendent Chris von Kleist’s contract was renewed for five years.

Earl Loren Severs, 49, of Chico, was arrested by the Orland Police Department for making a bomb threat on a Glenn Ride bus on Walker Street.

JUNE

The June primary election brought some clear-cut results. Elected with more than 50 percent of the vote were Peter Twede, Glenn County Superior Court Judge; John Viegas, Supervisor, District 1; Steven Soeth, Supervisor, District 3.

Arturo Barrera, supervisor at the Glenn County Office of Education, received notice of intent to circulate recall petitions that would oust him. He said his opponents’ allegations  were unfounded and he would fight to keep his position, which he did.

Orland City Council  approved a tentative subdivision map for Creekside Estates off Stony Creek Drive. Thirty-four residential lots on 11 acres were scheduled to be annexed into the city limits.

A 70-acre wildfire  northeast of Orland resulted in  over 300 homes being evacuated and about 100 homes threatened. The blaze started on June 1 near Stony Creek and jumped from field to field, fueled by a strong north wind. No structure damage occurred.

Three days later, however, the fire destroyed four structures – including one home – and 54  vehicles, most in an automobile scrap yard. Highway 32 was closed for more than seven hours while emergency crews battled the flames.

Valedictorian Jacquelyn Richardson told her 130 fellow graduates at Orland High School that she is “band geek” and proud of it. The 2008 graduating class salutatorians were KacKenzie Keyawa and Cody Johns.

JULY

The Orland Chamber of Commerce moved to 401 Walker Street in town.

A fire burned about six acres at Wackerman Dairy on Newville Road west of Orland on July 7.

Marlene Corriea, Carolyn Denton, Olga Peterson and Doyle Shippelhoute were named persons of the year by the Orland Historical and Cultural Society.

Measure K construction work began in Orland as six modular units were placed at Mill Street School.

Orland declared the Hicks Building  – also known as the Booth Hotel – a historical site on July 21. It was the first designation of a historical site in the town.

Smoke from regional wildfires continued to be in the news throughout the month.

Hamilton City Union Elementary School teachers submitted their vote of no-confidence in the school district’s superintendent, Hector Gonzalez to board of trustees. Unlawful teacher evaluations, inaccurate and incomplete budget information and low moral were the primary reasons. He resigned from the post Aug. 6.

AUGUST

Orland qualified for a $1.5 million California Community Block Grant to improve infrastructure for a new apartment structure, provide down-payment assistance to first-time buyers and help low-income owners rehabilitate their houses.

Orland City Council responded Grand Jury allegations of violating the Brown Act, which addresses issues of official government meetings. Complaints included not having meetings at the announced times, holding meetings outside the purview of the public without proper authority, and the appointment of new a new planning commission.

The city council told the Grand Jury that the council intended to perform planning functions until a new commission is appointed. To date, no planning commission has been formed.

Hamilton Perk, a drive-through coffee shop, opened in Hamilton City.

Gustavo Tafolla, 29, of Orland, was sentenced to life in prison for the 2007 murder of Mend Sanchez, 28, of Red Bluff.

Orland police were granted a 3-percent increase in base-officer pay effective July 1 and another 2 percent in on effective Thursday.

Most Orland schools started the 2008-2009 year with new administrators. Jeff Scheele took over as principal at Orland High School; Tim Ryan, C.K. Price Middle School; Brian Sappenfield, Fairview Elementary School; and at Mill Street Elementary School, Annette Thole.

A home invasion on Jacquelyn Drive left Cathy Cote handcuffed, blindfolded and gagged. The male suspect was not found.

Orland farmer Martin Poldervaart lost 1,300 tons of hay and 38 calves and a heifer in storage-shed fire that resulted in an estimated $400,000 in damage.

Orland’s new gazebo in Library Park was dedicated on Aug. 23 at the annual ice-cream social. It was built by Chris Lapp Construction of Orland.

Twenty-year-old Aaron Keith Argueta of Orland died in a car crash at the intersection of County Road E and County Road 14. Eduardo Raygoza, 20, was arrested for felony driving under the influence.

Barbara “Bobbie” Peterich died Aug. 21 after a long battle with cancer. Nearly 400 people attended the funeral of this beloved Orland business owner.

SEPTEMBER

The City Council announced that budget cuts would be necessary as Orland faces a predicted $250,000 to $300,000 budget shortfall. Discussion continue about where the cuts will occur.

Ground-breaking ceremonies ushered the way for the new Orland recreation center at Lely Aquatic Park.  The building is expected to be completed in March.

Splendor in the Valley raised more than $50,000 to help refurbish patient rooms and buy equipment for the Glenn Medical Center. The fifth annual fundraiser was at Big W Ranch in Orland.

Orland Free Library was awarded a technology grant from the California Council for the Humanities for a student digital photography project. The grant provided equipment and other resources for 15 students, ages 13 to 18, to record their impressions of the community. A showing of their work is on display in the library until mid-January.

Firefighters from Orland, Hamilton City and Capay responded to a warehouse fire at North Valley Nut Co. on Sept. 22. Several piles of inshell almonds continued to burn for about four days.

OCTOBER

The J Levee project in Hamilton City gained community support and began its campaign to gain landowner’s permission to become the non-federal sponsor of the reclamation.

Orland Ace Hardware, a city landmark and center of activity, was destroyed by fire on Oct. 13. No one was injured, but the fire threatened the Fire Hall situated next door and caused an evacuation of the surrounding area. A temporary store opened less than a month later on Highway 32. Plans are in the works to rebuild the store on the old Fifth Street site.

After months of searching, Orland announced that it hired a new city manager. Paul H. Poczobut Jr. started work on Nov. 3.

An Oct. 22 story reported that efforts to recall Glenn County Office of Education Superintendent Arutro Barrera failed.

NOVEMBER

The big story in November was the elections. Leigh McDaniel won the District 5 Glenn County supervisor’s seat; Judith Holzapfel and Larry Donnelley of Orland and Gail Zimmerman of Hamilton City got the nod for seats on Glenn County School Board. Winning seats the City Council were newcomers Wade Elliott and James Paschall, plus incumbent Bruce Roundy, who was elected mayor by the rest of the council.

Measure M passed in Hamilton City, allowing the formation of a unified school district that will include the elementary and high schools. Along with the measure’s passage, a new unified school board was elected: Ann Lohse, Juan Gabriel and Bill Boone, named president by the new board members, will serve four-year terms; Thomas Loera and Tim Anderson will serve two years.

Peter B. Twede took his seat on the Glenn County Superior Court early, after Judge Angus Saint-Evans retired.

Orland native, Chief Master Sgt. David Nordel, an Air Force medical specialist, was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious achievement as a supervisor while serving in the 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group in Iraq.

A Hamilton City couple found themselves in the middle of a crime scene on Nov. 16 when Zulema Medina, in an effort to avoid police,  ran into their house and locked herself the bathroom. She was arrested and taken to Glenn County Jail.

On Nov. 26, Jesse Allen Janto, 26, of Orland ran through  dense woods and swam across the Sacramento River in Butte County to evade police who arrived at his home in Capay to arrest him on an alleged probation violation. He was found in a Chico motel and arrested on Dec. 8.

DECEMBER

Orland City Council  entered into a heated debated on Dec. 1 about whether to provide funding for the Chamber of Commerce. A decision was tabled until after Jan. 1.

Orland’s centennial celebration got started Dec. 13 with a tea and luncheon at the fairgrounds and all-day party in Library Park and the surrounding area. The event included music in the park, tours of the Alma Schmidt House Museum and a Western re-enactment behind the Fire Hall. The celebration ended with an extra long parade of lights winding through Orland streets.

More decisions about budget cuts got postponed after City Council heard complaints regarding a proposal to eliminate one-and-a-half positions at the library.

Jerry Kraemer became chief of the Orland Volunteer Fire Department, after serving for over 17 years. He said he will focus on training and “limiting demands on the volunteers.”

Closing on a high note, Orland schools  look good with the completion of Orland High School’s track and football field and resurfaced tennis courts as well as  modular units being installed at OHS, North Valley High and Mill Street Elementary schools. More projects are scheduled for the new year.