Levee Breaks Near Big Lake Flooding Nearly
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SERVING EASTERN SHASTA, NORTHERN LASSEN, WESTERN MODOC & EASTERN SISKIYOU COUNTIES 70 Cents Per Copy Vol. 45 No. 21 Burney, California Telephone (530) 335-4533 FAX (530) 335-5335 Internet: im-news.com E-mail: [email protected] AUGUST 6, 2003 What’s Happening Here In Days Ahead Levee breaks near Big Lake Pool fee increase? There is a public hearing slated fl ooding nearly 3,000 acres at 5 o’clock tonight in the Burney Water District offi ce on BY MEG FOX the directors’ proposal to place McArthur rancher Don Martin was a measure on the November getting ready for bed late Sunday when he got a telephone call. BBIGIG LLAKEAKE ballot that would increase the “Grab your four-wheeler, your life RRATAT FFARMARM monthly swimming pool fee jacket, a radio, and fl ashlight. We’ve BBOATOAT RRAMPAMP from $2 a month to $3. The got to move the cows out of the $36 annual fee is to support swamp or they’ll drown,” his neigh- the swimming pool only and bor George McArthur told him. would not help fund a parks A levee on the 7,000-acre and recreation district. Persons McArthur Swamp owned by Pacifi c wishing to address the board Gas and Electric Company broke prior to their decision will be around midnight Monday and by asked to fi ll out a speaker’s Tuesday morning an estimated request form prior to the hear- 2,500 acres was under water. Martin, McArthur, and George’s ing. Directors for the Burney cousin Craig McArthur are among FFLOODEDLOODED AAREAREA Water District are President the 11 local ranchers who lease Jackie Young, John Meeker, acreage from PG&E for grazing Rowdy Yates, Randy Stevens several thousand head of cattle. and Aileen Hovis. “They were out there until about 2:30 a.m. and where the cattle were LLEVEEEVEE BBREAKREAK moved from is now under water,” Grad policy on tap said Martin’s wife, Lani. The school board meets at 7 The Martin’s ranch is situated at p.m. tonight at Soldier Moun- the junction of the Tule River and tain Continuation High School Fall River outside of McArthur. in McArthur. The trustees for “The river is fl owing by our house the Fall River Joint Unifi ed in the opposite direction and I’m School District will have a watching it go down, down, down. fi rst reading of the proposed Our boats are sitting in mud,” Lani changes to graduation policy said. “The water level is down so much and they will discuss revising it’s going to impact tourism. It’s the amount they allocated to going to hurt everyone on the river,” resurface the playground at George McArthur said. Fall River Elementary. Also on PG&E had already been keeping the agenda are requests for an an eye on the swamp for the past additional position in Special few weeks when Craig McArthur Education and increasing the called on Sunday evening to report student load in the Indepen- a leak in a levee. dent Study Program. Upon investigating, PG&E crews noticed another leak and the impending disaster at an entirely dif- Free day at park ferent location. A 75-foot stretch of levee had Entrance to Lassen Volcanic A levee break that began late Sunday night has fl ooded nearly 3,000 acres of the 7,000-acre National Park is free on Sat- dropped about three feet and was at water level. While no water had McArthur Swamp, an area used for cattle grazing. Muskrats digging into the levee weakened it urday for the annual Day In with added pressure from higher water levels, ranchers said. The Park celebration. This crested yet, it would. year’s event will be at the The ranchers began moving their cattle to higher ground at midnight. Loomis Museum near the north Martin said that muskrats could entrance from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. have weakened the levees, but that State’s budget crisis taking Music, geology fault talk, junior this summer’s problem was caused rangers, junior fi refi ghters, by an increase in the growth of artists in action, displays and aquatic vegetation. book signings are among the “The moss is prolifi c because of toll on Crystal Lake Hatchery events planned. A barbecue the warm winter we had and the BY MEG FOX counties in the Department of Fish the largest hatcheries in the state will be offered at a cost of $10 river was raised because the moss Crystal Lake Hatchery in Cassel and Game’s Region I. and plants about 90 waters in for adults and $5 for children growing on the bottom held the has been caught in California’s “There just isn’t enough staff to Northern California. ages 6-12. water back,” she explained. “Fall budget crisis. go around. It’s extremely diffi cult to The hatchery also raises Chinook River was up about two to three Due to statewide staffi ng reduc- continue business as usual in terms salmon for the State Inland Fishery feet.” tions, the hatchery on Baum Lake of the numbers of fi sh we plant,” Program and produces trout to help Final swim lessons Martin said the cattle were has reduced the number of days Stacey said. maintain the Eagle Lake fi shery. The last session for swimming moved to temporary high ground, that personnel can get out to plant Crystal Lake Hatchery has fi ve Crystal Lake Hatchery was mod- lessons in Burney is scheduled but will have to come home. rainbow trout in Hat Creek and in on staff after losing two seasonal ernized in 1976 and today has 66 for Aug. 11-22. Register at the “We’re all going to have to fi nd other Northstate fi shing waters. aides and two permanent positions. concrete rearing ponds that annu- pool on Bailey Avenue. Life- range,” she said, adding that they Fish will be planted once instead “We are really spread thin,” said ally raise 1.5 million fi sh weighing would also have to use their hay guard training classes are set of twice a week during fi shing Region I Senior Hatchery Supervi- approximately 500,000 pounds. crop to feed them. to begin Sept. 5. Telephone season, said Gary Stacey, Fisher- sor Pat Overton. “Another reduction in operating 335-2277 for more information. –Please See Page 4 ies Program Manager for the eight Crystal Lake Hatchery is one of –Please See Page 3 WEATHER Burney woman’s Filing deadline Friday; FORECAST Today, mostly sunny. Highs 73 condition serious local seats still open to 80. Tonight, mostly clear with lows in the upper 40s. Thurs- after 4-vehicle The election deadline is Friday ment said incumbent Rich Hall had day, mostly sunny with highs at 5 p.m. for the incumbents who taken out papers, but not yet fi led. in the mid 70s to lower 80s. Hatchet Mt. crash hold offi ces on several local boards Resident Tammy Ewin, elected - and for those who want to run incumbent Bob Byrd and appointed Friday, dry with lows 45 to 55 Kristi Spearin, 19, of Burney was against them. incumbent Teresa Robbins have and highs 75 to 85. Saturday listed in serious condition Tuesday If incumbents fi le and are unop- fi led for the two open seats in the through Monday, dry with at Mercy Medical Center in Redding posed, they retain their seats. If an Mountain Union School District. highs in the 80s and lows in following a four-vehicle crash one incumbent does not fi le, the fi ling Incumbent Judi Beck has fi led the 50s. A current forecast is week ago. deadline is extended to Aug. 13. for re-election to her Trustee Area updated about 4 a.m. and 4 Edward Elberg, 90, of Redding As of 2 p.m. Monday, incumbents D seat on the Shasta College board p.m. daily on The News web was traveling west on Highway 299 Jackie Young and Randy Stevens of trustees. site at im-news.com. near the Hatchet Mountain vista have fi led for re-election to four- As of Monday, no one had fi led point July 30 at 9:30 a.m., the Cali- year terms in the Burney Water Dis- for the two four-year trustee terms TEMPERATURES fornia Highway Patrol reported. trict and they will retain their seats if in the Fall River Joint Unifi ed School Hi Low Rain The left side of his vehicle no one fi les by Friday. District. The elected incumbents are July 30 100 NA scraped the left side of an east- Two Burney residents, Larry Dr. Bob Hatcher and Nancy Sisk. July 31 90 64 trace bound Dodge Dart driven by Donald KRISTI SPEARIN Armstrong and Roger Valinoti, and No one had fi led for the two four- August 1 83 62 .02 Seago, 66, of Bieber. incumbent Ann Walker, have fi led year terms open in the Fall River August 2 65 63 1.10 Seago lost control of his vehicle, hauling cattle, collided with the pas- for election to the Burney Fire Pro- Mills Community Services District or August 3 81 59 trace traveled into the vista point, then senger side of Spearin’s car and the tection District where two four-year for the two four-year openings at the terms are open. Indian Springs School in Big Bend. August 4 83 52 back into the eastbound lane and pickup and trailer overturned. into the path of Spearin who was In the McArthur Fire Protection Declaration of Candidacy papers Courtesy of Darryl Jones in Burney Spearin sustained major injuries driving a Chevrolet Cavalier.