The Soroptomists International of Burney-Fall River held an awards ceremony on Wednesday May 8 at the Burney Veterans Hall.
The Ruby Award for $100 for community service was given to Anna Denny from Anna’s Country Kitchen.
Jill Daugherty with Ruby Award Winner Anna Denny
Citizenship Awards were given to three students from Fall River Mills and three students from Burney high school. Each student was given $500.
Soroptmists Ralene Metcalf, Jill Daugherty, and Ctizenship Award Winners Kaitlyn Lakey. Joanna Jasperse, Kristen Maier, Alexus Bellino, Cassandra Taylor, and Deborah Ford
The Like it, Dream It Award was provided to Cheyenne Alcarez. Cheyenne is the main supporter of her family and continuing their education. Altogether, Cheyenne received an award of $1000, half in the fall and half in the spring.
Jill Daugherty with Live It Dream It Award Winner Cheyenne Allcaraz
Press release from Staff Care, and AMN Healthcare company:
DALLAS, TX – Serving an area larger than five states and a community 45 miles from the nearest traffic light, Dr. Daniel Dahle is the medical version of a hero in a Clint Eastwood western, keeping the local citizens safe not with six shooters but with over three decades of medical expertise and an unflinching commitment to personalized care.
Dr. Dahle checking a heart
For his exceptional record of compassion and service, Dr. Dahle has been named 2019 Country Doctor of the Year.
Presented by Staff Care, an AMN Healthcare company, the Country Doctor of the Year Award recognizes the spirit, skill, and dedication of America’s rural medical practitioners. The leading temporary physician staffing firm in the United States, Staff Care has presented the national award since 1992 to exemplary physicians practicing in communities of 30,000 or less.
“Dr. Dahle is more than an outstanding primary care physician,” said Jeff Decker, President of Staff Care, “he is one of the pillars on which his community stands. The people, the health system, and the economy of his region simply could not do without him.”
Raised on a potato farm near the California/Oregon border, Daniel Dahle served as a medical corpsman in Vietnam before earning a Ph.D. in radiation biology and a medical degree at the University of Rochester in New York. In 1985, he elected to return to his home region and began practicing in Bieber, California, a frontier town of 300 people located in an isolated section of northeastern California, where he has continued to practice for 33 years.
The sole primary care physician in Bieber, Dr. Dahle is on staff at Big Valley Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) that sees all patients, regardless of ability to pay. He draws patients from a service area that extends over 7,500 square miles, larger than Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, Hawaii and New Jersey, and to a large extent has been personally responsible for maintaining health services in the region.
Dr. Dahle visiting a patient
In addition to seeing patients at the health center, Dr. Dahle drives 25 miles one way almost every day to see inpatients at Mayers Memorial Hospital in the town of Fall River Mills, where he also covers the emergency department and cares for long-term patients at the hospital’s nursing home. Over half the hospital’s inpatients are admitted by Dr. Dahle, and his presence in the community has been vital to the hospital’s continued viability.
“As a rural hospital goes, so goes the community,” Decker said. “Few people want to stay in or move to a place where there are no healthcare facilities. By supporting the local hospital, Dr. Dahle has done more than keep patients alive – he has kept the community alive.”
Dr. Dahle has delivered over 1,000 babies in his career, often under trying circumstances. Many of the residents in the local valleys, including much of the student body at Bieber’s high school where Dr. Dahle coached track for 25 years, were delivered by Dr. Dahle. His skills as a diagnostician are legendary, as one particularly telling incident illustrates. When a long-term patient and co-worker presented with pain and mental confusion, Dr. Dahle correctly diagnosed herpes encephalitis, despite encountering this rare condition only one previous time in approximately 350,000 patient encounters. The condition is commonly fatal, but by rushing the patient to a tertiary care center hours away and insisting on proper treatment, Dr. Dahle is credited with saving her life.
Not all of the duties that fall to a frontier doctor are strictly clinical. In one instance, Dr. Dahle was present when a knife wielding assailant attacked the local sheriff. Dr. Dahle was able to subdue the man with a forearm shiver. Most of his activities, however, are much more benign. One patient describes how Dr. Dahle was able to provide her dying husband with a last wish, personally escorting him on a scuba diving trip to Hawaii, while another relates how Dr. Dahle revived her newborn when the infant was not breathing. Virtually all of the town’s residents (including Clint Eastwood himself, who has a ranch in the area) have been positively impacted by him in one way or another.
Now aged 70 and contemplating retirement, Dr. Dahle has made educating future care givers part of his mission. Each year he provides training to medical residents from the University of California, Davis as well as students from the physician assistant program at the University of Iowa. He is well known for sharing his “zebras” with students, medical slang for patients whose maladies are masked or otherwise difficult to diagnose. Dr. Dahle is hoping to pass the torch on to a husband and wife duo who will soon be completing their medical training and who Dr. Dahle has been recruiting since the couple was in medical school. Though he has seen rural practice evolve during his tenure, Dr. Dahle believes the essence remains the same.
“Much has changed in 30 years,” said Dr. Dahle, “but patients still respond to someone who really knows them and to someone who really cares.”
As the 2019 Country Doctor of the Year, Dr. Dahle will be able to enjoy two weeks of time off, as Staff Care will provide a temporary physician to fill in for him at no charge, a service valued at approximately $10,000. He also will receive the award’s signature plaque featuring a country doctor making his rounds on a horse and buggy, an engraved stethoscope, and a monogrammed lab coat. Additional information about the Country Doctor of the Year Award can be found at www.countrydoctoraward.com.
About Staff Care and AMN Healthcare
Staff Care is the nation’s leading temporary physician staffing firm and is a company of AMN Healthcare (NYSE: AMN) the largest healthcare workforce solutions company in the United States . For more information, visit www.staffcare.com or www.amnhealthcare.com.
I just want to keep everyone up to speed on the fast approaching climax of five years of preparation by Friends of the Intermountain Library (FOIL) for expansion of information services for the Intermountain Area in a new library building in Burney. A meeting is being scheduled for FOIL to present their action plan. This meeting will probably take place within the next month and the date will be announced to the public as soon as it is scheduled.
This time the status of the Burney branch of the Intermountain Library and whether the $400,000 grant set aside for a new library will be released may be decided. At their last hearing on this issue, the Board of Supervisors voted to make it an action item.
If FOIL’s plan is approved the new library building will be almost twice as large. It will have private rooms for tutoring, study, counseling and consultations. There will be a meeting room for community meetings. Rotary has approved $25,000 for a children’s section. There will be more computers with excellent broadband access. The library will be in a central location on Main Street with ample parking and improved air conditioning and heat. There will be improved services for all citizens of all ages in the Intermountain community and visitors to the area, including some services for veterans and people searching for employment. People will have access to the extensive databases and resources that a modern public library offers.
Below are the images from the power point presentation on background history of the library and the FOIL action plan for the purchase and development of a new library building in Burney with improved services for the Intermountain area. Kim Niemer, Community Services Director for the City of Redding presented the plan at a meeting at the Burney Lions Club on January 22.
Burney Branch Library Timeline 1
Burney Branch Library Timeline 2
Burney Branch Library Timeline 3
Burney Branch Library Timeline 4
Burney Branch Library Timeline 5
Burney Branch Library Timeline 6
Burney Branch Library Timeline 7
Burney Branch Library Timeline 8
Ms. Neimer concluded her presentation by saying, “This is sort of our Hail Mary. If we don’t do this project at this time on this building, we know we lose the Rotary money because that money is going away quickly, there’s not really any other building on Main Street that is suitable, and I think that the patience and focus at Shasta County on this project goes away too. So now is the time if this is going to happen. I think we have before you a plan that is very viable and feasible. Now is the people part.”
There are five Supervisors on the Shasta County Board of Supervisors. In order for the project to be approved, three Board Members of the Board will need to vote in favor of the plan.
People can contact all of he individual members of the Board. The members of the Board of Supervisors and their Email addresses are as follows:
Joe Chimenti, District 1 (Redding) jchimenti@co.shasta.ca.us Leonard Moty, District 2 (Centerville, French Gulch, Happy Valley, Igo/Ono, Keswick, Platina, Shasta, South Redding, Verde Vale) lmoty@co.shasta.ca.us Mary Rickert, District 3 (Bella Vista, Big Bend, Burney, Cassel, Fall River Mills, Hat Creek, McArthur, Montgomery Creek, Oak Run, Old Station, Palo Cedro, Pittville, Round Mountain, Whitmore) mrickert@co.shasta.ca.us Steve Morgan, District 4 (Castella, Crag View, Lakehead, Shasta Lake, Mountain Gate) swmorgan@co.shasta.ca.us Les Baugh, District 5 (Anderson, Cottonwood, Millville, Manton, Shingletown, Viola) lbaugh@co.shasta.ca.us
In addition to Emailing the individual Supervisors, you can also send an Email to the whole Board at shastacountybos@co.shasta.ca.us.
For more information please contact Pat Pell, FOIL President, 335-7236 or ppell389@gmail.com.
On Thursday evening, January 17, the Burney Lions Club recognized six students for their achievements as Student of the Month.
Lion George Whitfield, Owen Von Schalsha, Deborah Ford, Noah Bishop, Ciera McClung, Morghan Herring, and BHS Principal Ray Guerrero
Owen Von Schalsha was named 8th grade Student of the Month for November. Deborah Ford was named 12th grade Student of the Month for November.
Ciera McClung was named 8th grade Student of the Month for December. Sierra Outcalt was named 12th grade Student of the Month for December. Sierra was unable to attend the ceremony but was recognized in her absence.
Morghan Herring was named 8th grade student of the Month for January, and Noah Bishop was named 12th grade Student of the Month for January.
The students were introduced by BHS Principal Ray Guerrero. Mr. Guerrero commended each student for maintaining a high grade point average and for their outstanding participation in school clubs, sports, and community activities.
Each student introduced parents and family members who came to watch them receive their award and the parents gave brief comments praising their children and thanking the Lions.
Lion George Whitfield presented each student with a check from the Burney Lions Club. 8th Grade Students of the Month each received $50. 12th Grade Students of the Month each received $100.
Local folk musician Alex Colvin has been drawn to music since he was a young boy growing up in Montana in the 1960’s. I met Alex six years ago, in my small town of Fall River Mills, CA when he was performing at our local pub. From there, I was fortunate enough to be able to watch him perform several times, often late at night, after all the other patrons went home. He would pick up his guitar and start strumming before settling in for a variety show of folk music, blues, tin-pan alley, and my personal favorite, cowboy poetry. He is an unassuming, kindly looking gentleman with an easy smile. With just a guitar, harmonica, and a folksy-blues style of vocals, Alex’s music emanates a comfortable sincerity with every note. He is mostly self-taught but well-educated on his musical roots and a natural storyteller. John Alexander Colvin, 68, of Burney, CA is man with passion, soul, and depth. We sat down to talk about his musical background, influences, and philosophy.
Alex grew up listening to his mom’s favorite music which included her favorite jazz albums. “Louis Armstrong and the Hot Five as well as other jazz musicians from the hot jazz era have always been a favorite. That style of music (carried on through Louis Prima and Brian Seltzer) has a recurring timelessness. I also like the old tin-pan alley songwriters who, by the way, were also an influence on Paul McCartney and the Beatles. My mom and aunt’s also used to sing a lot of the songs from the thirties and forties kind of like the Andrews Sisters. It was a lot of fun and laid a foundation for me that music was fun.” (Colvin)
As a child, Alex discovered a love for singing through his mother’s example and through participating in church and school choirs. He particularly loved singing old hymns and began to study piano. The piano lessons gave him a brief introduction to reading sheet music and music theory. The piano lessons did not stick, but when he was 15 years old, Alex picked up a guitar so he could accompany himself singing. After briefly studying music theory at the University of Montana in the 1970’s, Alex became a lay missionary. “In my early 20’s I was writing a lot of songs and wanted to play to influence the world, convey a message of love and peace and make enough money to survive. When I was 23, I became a missionary and for years played primarily to accompany worship or uplift although I continued to write songs for self-expression.” (Colvin)
When asked about his musical favorites and inspirations, Alex can list such a wide range of artists that it is easy to understand why his musical talent has so much depth. Like, I suspect, most young people with a guitar, Alex challenged himself to learn and play as many songs as he could. He told me at one point, he knew over 300 cover songs. His goal was to learn songs he liked, try to make them his own, and play them from the heart.
The concept of playing from the heart has been a cornerstone of Alex’s musical philosophy all along. Almost 20 years ago, he experienced a type of rebirth as a musician and found that he still had a passion for performing. “About the age of 50, I began playing music publicly again as a singer-songwriter. I went through a new period of songwriting and interacting with other artists, poets, and songwriters. I hoped to make a living doing it and hoped that my songs would become known. I also wanted to help encourage and foster other musicians so I participated in and hosted open mics. Then I spent a period of time when I concentrated more on art and painting than music. Subsequently, I have focused on just gaining wisdom and using my talents to uplift, unify and edify people.” (Colvin)
Alex at Hat Creek Beer and Wine Fest 2017
Today, Alex can be found living a peaceful life in a rural mountain community where he routinely plays at the local senior center. He performs at small, local festivals, fundraisers, and hosts a monthly sing-along at a local mental health facility. Through his music, he embodies his philosophy of always trying to lift people up. However, he is not without wit or humor as can be found in his repertoire of music. His original songs include titles like; Traveling in the Mainstream of Love, Don’t Think About It, No Reason for this Conversation, Pink Underwear, and Sitting by the Lake, and he lists Get Together by Jesse Colin Young; Just Like A Woman by Dylan; Be My Baby by the Rondelles, Me and Bobby McGee by Kris Kristofferson as some of his favorite oldies to play. The rest of his selected playlist was broken down for me by genre. In jazz: St. James Infirmary by Cab Calloway; Blues: Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out by Eric Clapton, Stormy Monday by Allman Brothers; Western: Don’t Fence Me In and Back in the Saddle Again by Gene Autry; Rock: Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits; and Gospel: Just a Closer Walk With Thee, Sweet Sweet Spirit, and It is No Secret.
When he performs, Alex’s musical influence and eclectic tastes are apparent. He mainly plays guitar and will sometimes accompany himself on harmonica. In the past, he has played mandolin and a little slide guitar but not so much anymore. “Sometimes,” he says, “I like to play bongos for fun.” Alex’s performances can be described as simple in that he doesn’t have a big set up and requires very little introduction. A singer-songwriter Yamaha Stagepass 300 system for guitar and microphone is all he needs to fill a room with his music. I asked Alex about how he approaches his performances because, as I have seen firsthand, he moves so seamlessly from one song to the next that it feels like a conversation with a friend. The stories in between and the transitions feel organic and always fit the mood and event. On the subject of planning he said, “I usually have a prepared set list that I have worked on but I always go with the flow. I like to combine conversation, story-telling, and even philosophical speculation with the musical performance.” (Colvin)
The influences in Alex’s musical journey have blended together to give him what I would consider to be a unique style all his own. “The first songs I remember hearing on the radio were Travelling Man by Ricky Nelson and I’ve Told Every Little Star by Linda Scott. I also liked Hey Hey Paula by Paul and Paula. And then of course I was a baby boomer of the sixties so I was strongly influenced by surfer music, the Beatles and British Invasion, early Bee Gees, Donovan, Barry McGuire and folk music. Folk music lead me into Woody Guthrie and also into blues artists like John Lee Hooker, Leadbelly, and Mississippi John Hurt. Other primary influences were Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Jesse Colin Young, Neil Young, and Quicksilver Messenger Service. Early county influences were Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Buck Owens, and Kris Kristofferson. All of these musicians and singers have inspired me and shaped my own music.”(Colvin) Alex said he would label his style of music as American Folk, New Orleans Jazz, and Blues, so it’s a combination of music derived from European and African American sources (Titon, 2009).
Alex is passionate about spreading his message of love, peace, and hope in his community. He may lack formal musical education but has more than made up for that with his desire to fulfill himself and the lives of others with a positive message. He said that nowadays he loves to simply play with and for friends in homes and small get-togethers. He is a talented artist with no discernible hubris who believes in using gifts to serve. Our interview ended with me asking him about what impact he hopes his music has on the community. I will close with his answer because I honestly cannot sum up what this man and musician is about better than he does.
It was truly a pleasure to spend time with him for this project. ” I think that there has always been a meaningful aspect to my music that people have related to, combined with an element of humor and fun. Some of my songs are a bit goofy but there is always a message that has the potential to change people’s lives: to help them introspect, discover themselves, come closer to God, and live better lives. I hope that some of my songs live on and help to create a better world.”
References:
Colvin, Alex. Personal interview. 8 Dec. 2018.
Titon, J.T. Worlds of Music: An Introduction to the Music of the World’s Peoples. Schirmer/Thomson Learning, 2009.
On Saturday evening December 22, Christian singer/songwriter and recording artist Laura Williams gave a wonderful concert at the Life Hope Center on Main Street in Burney. The program was titled “Christmas in Burney: God With Us.”
Laura Williams Sings All That I Need
Laura began by introducing John 3:16,”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” as the central theme of Christmas.
Then she combined message, testimony, and song to make for a meaningful and delightful evening of inspirational entertainment. In her clear soulful voice, she sang a variety of Christian songs and carols. She led everyone present in singing “Silent Night.” She shared an original song “All That I Need.” She also sang a version of Leonard Cohen’s beautiful song “Hallelujah!” with new lyrics she had written herself to reflect her personal testimony of faith.
The audience responded to her music with resounding applause and a chorus of “Amen!”, “Hallelujah!” and “Praise the Lord!”
After her performance, host Pastor Jerrod Boling shared a 10 minute homily exploring the meaning of the words “Merry Christmas” and “Emmanuel.” We experience the joy of Christmas when we realize and experience that Jesus made it possible for God to live with us in a deeply personal relationship. He encouraged us to read our Bibles daily and affirmed his belief that Jesus is returning soon.
Boling is an Iraq War veteran. He shared about his experience of Christmas during the war, how much he cherished the opportunities that he had to talk with his wife on the phone, and how she wrote to him every day. This is the kind of longing and intimacy that we should have for God in our lives.
After his brief talk, Ms. Williams sang a final song. Then Boling invited everyone to stay for refreshments and closed the program in prayer.
Most of the people stayed to enjoy conversation over a meal of veggies, humus, healthy baked goods, cookies, and kale chips (amazingly delicious).
The Life Hope Center will be offering a number of Bible studies including the Book of Revelation. In addition they will offer several classes including a cooking class by RN Health Educator Coral Parrish.
About a hundred people gathered at the Burney Lions Club on Tuesday December 11 to celebrate the Club’s annual Special Needs Christmas Party. Forty-three special-needs residents from the Intermountain area were invited to meet Santa and receive presents. Family members and caretakers also attended.
Santa greeting guests at the Christmas party
Every one enjoyed a delicious lunch of baked ham, scalloped potatoes, squash, and cranberry sauce prepared by Lion cooks and served by members of the Lions Auxiliary.
After lunch, Barbara Lane called each special guest forward to meet and greet Santa. Santa gave each person a candy cane and a present that had been purchased specifically for them.
A big smile from Justin
The Burney Lions have been holding this Christmas season event for over 25 years. Jim Lane and his wife Barbara organized the event and spent more than a month selecting and buying presents.
Jim and Barbara Lane with Santa
To raise money for the gifts, the Burney Lions and Burney Lions Auxiliary collected plastic and aluminum cans throughout the year. Funds were also supplemented by cash donations from the community. The project is conducted in coordination with Far Northern Regional Center and Shascade Community Services.
Jim and Barbara Lane said, “This is our pride and joy and we love it.”
Kate Lions gives Santa a hug
Lions Auxiliary President Kathy Lehman said, “A Merry Christmas to all!”
Burney Water District Customers can now pay their bills by credit or debit card. Customers can make payments online at https://www.burneywater.org/pay-my-bill, by phone, or in person.
Customers now have several options available. The following more detailed information is from the BWD website:
Electronic Billing and Payments
Enroll in Electronic Billing and Payments to receive your bill and make one-time payments. Customers using electronic billing have an option for paperless billing and instead receive an email advising them that their bills are available to be viewed and paid online. If you sign up for this service, you are not required to pay online and may use one of the other payment options below. If you do not want to enroll in paperless billing you still have the option to make payments online. All electronic payments require a $2.00 processing fee.
Other Payment Options
*All debit and credit payments including online bill pay requires a $2.00 processing fee.
Option 1: You will be able to sign up for direct payment in the near future. The District will debit your checking account for the amount of your water bill each billing cycle. The amount of your bill will be deducted from your checking account on the date of your choice.
Option 2: Mail the payment and return stub to 20222 Hudson Street, Burney, CA 96013. Allow 5 (five) buisness days for delivery.
Option 3: Bring your payment to the District Office located at 20222 Hudson Street in Burney during normal business hours to get a receipt. You may also enclose your check or money order and deposit it into the payment drop box at the District Office during non-business hours.
Option 4: Credit and Debit card payments may be made over the phone or in the office located at 20222 Hudson Street, Burney, CA 96013. MasterCard, Visa, Discover Card and American Express are accepted. You can also pay with a debit and credit card online.
SHASTA COUNTY – With rain forecasted to begin falling this week, local officials urge residents in the wild fire burn areas to be prepared for post-fire floodwaters and debris. The next few storm seasons may bring elevated risks of flooding and debris flows and this first season after recent wildfires can be even more dangerous.
Denuded hillsides, altered soil conditions and remaining debris from the wildfires may produce fast-moving runoff and sediments. These risks are generally higher on the western area of the Carr Fire where the watersheds are larger, slopes are more severe, and rainfall intensity is typically higher. Flood risk begins when rainfall reaches half an inch per hour.
Flood and debris flows may reach several miles downslope from the burn area. A debris flow is a moving mass of loose mud, water, rock and sand that travels downhill and can reach high speeds.
To help the public be ready for the possibility of flooding or debris flows, officials have prepared a “Storm Readiness” sheet that details how best to get Ready for an emergency, Set and prepared to leave if necessary and about to Go quickly if ordered. A copy of this informational sheet is attached.
Please monitor conditions and updates from local news outlets and the local National Weather Service (NWS) office. Advisories and warnings may be issued as follows:
Flood Advisory: This is issued when the forecasted rainfall may cause hazards that are nuisances but avoidable. It may, for example, cause road closures or small rock slides but won’t flood actual structures. However, if precautions are not taken, the hazards could become serious. Don’t drive into flooded areas!
Flood Warning: In areas where wildfires have happened, a watch is issued within several hours to days ahead of rains that could potentially generate flash flooding. A warning means it’s a good time to start ensuring you’re totally prepared.
Flash Flood Warning: This means take action, and a flash flood is about to happen or is occurring. If you are in the warning area, take immediate action, which may mean evacuating. Remember: Flash floods can also affect areas outside the wildfire burn zones.
Watches and advisories are shared online at https://www.weather.gov/alerts, and on the National Weather Service social media Facebook and Twitter feeds. Residents and businesses are encouraged to prepare in advance for flood conditions. Other ways to prepare include:
Review your current insurance policy and become familiar with what is covered. Ensure the limits adequately protect buildings and personal belongings
Make an emergency kit, lan evacuation routes, and keep important papers in a safe, waterproof place. Visit the Ready Shasta page to learn more about making a kit and other emergency preparedness tips.
Itemize and take pictures of possessions.
Purchase sandbags from a local hardware store.
To find an insurance agent, visit FloodSmart.gov or call 1-800-427-2419.
For more information, visit www.shastareddingrecovers.org and click the “Get Rain Ready” icon or call 2-1-1 Shasta. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter: Shasta County Sheriff’s Office.
From Shasta County Resource Management Department:
Shasta County’s Department of Resource Management has made it much easier for residents to stay informed about how to reduce waste and recycle in our community. County staff knows that remembering what’s recyclable or what to do with unwanted items such as electronics, mattresses, and paint can be difficult. That’s why they added a “waste wizard”, also called the “How Do I Get Rid Of?” tool, to their website!
The waste wizard can be found at recycle.co.shasta.ca.us. To use it, simply choose which part of the county you live in and then type in the name of the material you would like to get rid of. The waste wizard will tell you where to take the material for recycling, composting, or proper disposal. The waste wizard also provides tips on reusing and repairing certain items, as well as ideas for preventing waste from being generated in the first place.
“The residents of our county are motivated to conserve resources and protect our natural environment by recycling, composting, and diverting waste away from landfills,” said Paul Hellman, Director of Resource Management. “We are pleased to make it easier for them to do so with the introduction of a new online tool.”
Pit River Country 