For many, a second chance at life is a desire, but for 13-year Colusa resident Mike Bell, it’s a reality.

Bell, formally from Modesto, CA, moved to Colusa with his wife Amy. A father to five children, Bell has always been a down-to-earth type of guy.

“I enjoy joking around with people and making them laugh,” said Bell

Bell spent many years volunteering his time and knowledge to help Colusa County’s youth.

“I coached T-ball for about two years and youth football for the Colusa Cowboys for about five years. One year, I even coached cheerleading, as no one stepped up to help,” said Bell.

Bell is  also known for his role as Santa as a Stagehand member and a fun-loving clown at the Colusa Fire Station; but what happened in December of 2014 was something Bell deems “unforgettable”.

Bell a former employee of the Maxwell Transfer Station, vividly remembers the day that changed his life.

“I was having some breathing issues on December 23, 2014. I was taken to Colusa Hospital where they determined I needed to see a cardiologist for a prior heart attack I was unaware of,” said Bell.

Bell was transported to Enloe in Chico where he prepared to undergo a five-way heart bypass.

“During my surgery I had a watershed stroke, which is one stroke that affected 13 spots on my brain, essentially 13 mini strokes,” said Bell.

The next two months, Bell remained at Enloe for recovery and rehabilitation.

“It was a very scary and emotional time for our family,” said Bell’s wife Amy.

In February of 2015, Bell came home recovered from his heart conditions but still continued his rehabilitation process.

Fully recovered now, Bell holds a job at Dollar General in Colusa.

“I am very grateful to have been given a second chance at life. I am living it the best I can and in a more relaxed way,” said Bell.

He enjoys traveling to see new places and watching his son Jake compete in sports at Maxwell High School. Bell’s favorite Colusa event is the fair.

“I enjoy the fair a lot. Getting out to see people, watch the livestock, and hang-out makes it the fair a fun place to go,” said Bell. ■

Pictured (L-to-R) Arbuckle FFA Advisor Cindy Rohde and the Arbuckle FFA Small Engines team Bryce Alonso, Ernie Cross, and Ricky Lemus took third place at the California State FFA Competition in Fresno, Saturday. Additionally, Lemus placed as the second high individual during the competition.

Colusa County Grown committee members (L-to-R) Amy Gibbons, Theresa Bright, Ben Felt stand proudly in front of the Colusa County Grown marketing logo.

Colusa County Grown began in 2012 as a grassroots initiative to promote local specialty farm products while building stronger farm-to-fork connections with our county. Hosted by the Colusa County Resource Conservation District, the project was made possible from a Farmers Market Promotion Grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Today the group is seeking to sustain the project through a membership program.

Colusa County Grown is a local and producer-led organization that focuses on promoting Colusa County agriculture by offering a variety of benefits to its members and the community.

“We provide producer and consumer education, enhanced marketability for the producer, and promote a stronger farm-to-fork connection,” said Jackie Wasche, CCRCD Natural Resource Coordinator.

According to Wasche, the members of Colusa County Grown are offered a cohesive and recognizable brand for locally grown products, farm advertisements, special Colusa County Grown logo use, other business materials. They also offered workshops on marketing and stakeholder meetings, and have created a social media presence that promotes local businesses and nutrition education. They recently also put on a model farm tour to gain input and excite the community about agritourism.

“We have developed a robust consumer education campaign that highlights the benefits of purchasing local healthy food, the environmental stewardship provided by farmers, and where to find local food in the county,” said Wasche.

Local pecan producer and Colusa County Grown president Theresa Bright has been using the Colusa County Grown logo since it began, and has seen an increase in loyalty from her customers.

“I am proud of my home county, and want people to know what wonderful things grow here,” said Bright.

There are several local producers who have become members and continue to use the logo to promote and market their products with success.

As the growing season begins, the Colusa County Grown committee has begun its annual membership drive. If you support locally grown food or farmers, or if you’re a producer, business, organization, or just a regular supporter of Colusa County agriculture, you can show your support by becoming a member.

With three membership tiers available, the supporter membership starts at just $50.

“The three different tiers of membership offer different benefits, but most importantly, they all support local growers and a stronger farm-to-fork connection with the community,” said Wasche.

To obtain a membership application, download one at colusacountygrown.org or visit the Colusa County Resource Conservation District office at 100 Sunrise Blvd. in Colusa. For more information or questions, call (530) 458-2931 x117. ■

The local Youth Empowerment Services group raised over $300 at its recent fundraiser held Saturday.

The annual Flea Market boasted 15 vendors selling gently used goods and items.

“We had a great turnout,” said Toni Rivera, group organizer. “We want to thank everyone for coming out and supporting the cause.”

For the last seven years, the Eleanor Azevedo Memorial Fund – Youth Empowerment Services (YES) has helped hundreds Colusa County Youth become more active through youth sports and enrichment activities. The Flea Market is one of the groups major fundraiser.

“We do a few other events throughout the year to help raise funds for the kids,” said Rivera.

Earlier this year the group almost had to start saying “no” to applicants, but some kind individuals came forward.

“We received several donations which helped replenish the account,” said Azevedo. “We were down to our last few dollars.”

In August, the group is planning a Family Fun 50s day.

“It will be a family friendly fun day filled with 50s music, games, prizes, and old fashioned hamburgers, hot dogs, and milkshakes,” said Rivera.

Rivera commented that more information would be released as soon as details have been finalized.

If you would like to donate or contribute to the Eleanor send your checks payable to Community Foundation of Colusa County – YES Program, to 100 Sunrise Blvd., Suite A3, Colusa, CA 95932.

“For every $100 raised, we can help two kids,” said Rivera. “Youth football is coming up and we usually get a few requests.”■

Will take patient approach on commercial cannabis

On April 18, County Counsel Marcos Kropf presented the Colusa County Board of Supervisors with a draft ordinance that would bring the county code in accordance with Proposition 64, or the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, specifically as it pertains to the personal cultivation of recreational cannabis.

Kropf first updated the Board in January on the effects that Prop 64 would have on the county’s marijuana cultivation ordinance, which was originally enacted by the Board in 2015 and provided for a complete ban on all marijuana-related activity in unincorporated areas of the county. Kropf said that the county took the position that the zoning code inherently prohibited retail sales and dispensaries in the county.

“This particular ordinance, what it does is bring our marijuana cultivation ban up to speed, or in accordance with Prop 64, and the changes that Proposition 64 made in the law, in basically decriminalizing personal use and cultivation of marijuana,” Kropf said.

The ordinance was put together by “an informal group” consisting of County Planning Director Greg Plucker, CAO Wendy Tyler, District Attorney Matthew Beauchamp, a representative from the Colusa County Sheriff’s Office, and Kropf’s office, he said.

“The changes to our cultivation ordinance basically allow cultivation within a permitted, enclosed, secure accessory structure, meeting county requirements. The cultivation is limited to six plants in one residence or one location, and marijuana produced at that location in excess of 28.5 grams will be kept in the designated accessory structure,” Kropf explained.

As a part of the permitting process for the detached growing structures, certain odor control requirements would need to be met – such as ventilation systems with carbon filters. In addition to the structure itself, the ordinance that Kropf presented would have required that fencing be built around it. Chairman Gary Evans noted that the fencing might be superfluous, given the requirements of the structure itself, and said that he could see it creating eyesores around the county. Evans also had questions pertaining to violations of the county’s new ordinance, penalties, and the appeal process for alleged violators.

“With regard to the penalties, I’ll give you my input on that,” Kropf said. “What we’re seeking is voluntary compliance. Our goal is not to go out and start hammering people with $500-a-day (fines). Our goal is to provide notice to abate, give them an opportunity to abate, and hopefully get some voluntary compliance. If they feel they are acting within the confines of the ordinance, they can appeal that decision. Really, the penalties from our standpoint wouldn’t become effective unless we were getting really no kind of compliance at all.”

Kropf said that the county may still look to recover their enforcement costs, including staff time and hiring an hearing officer, even if compliance is met.

Supervisor Kent Boes asked whether the county was within its rights to require that personal cultivation occur within an accessory structure, and Kropf said that he believed the requirement amounted to “reasonable regulation” allowed under Prop 64.

“So if they don’t have one, they’re going to have to build one?” Boes continued. “If that process is cost-prohibitive for them, could they come back on us and say that’s not reasonable? Is there any way that’s going to come back on us is what I’m asking.”

Kropf said that he believed the ordinance was legally defensible, though any ordinance could be up for challenge.

“Quite frankly, people are very passionate about this, for and against, and so these types of ordinances generally will generate litigation,” Kropf said.

Supervisor Denise Carter said that she would be interested in taking a “supervisors’ field trip” to understand more about marijuana cultivation, specifically to understand more about how much square footage is needed to grow six plants. CAO Wendy Tyler said that such a field trip could potentially be arranged with a medical marijuana grower who is operating within the current laws and regulations.

The board, absent Supervisor Kim Vann, ultimately voted to set a public hearing for May 2 for the second reading of the proposed ordinance in a 4-0-1 decision.

County considering commercial cannabis after recent inquiries

County CAO Wendy Tyler said that when county staff began reworking its cultivation ordinance to bring it up to speed with Prop 64, it “had not been approached by anyone with the desire to conduct commercial cannabis cultivation or manufacturing-type operations, for medical or non-medical purposes.”

Tyler said that since then, the county had received some inquiries as to whether it would consider allowing commercial cannabis operations in the county, and that staff was seeking direction on how it should proceed.

“(Staff are seeking information) as to whether you as a board even want us to go down the path to even start determining what types of activities you would want to consider for cannabis operations in unincorporated areas of the county. There are, I think, 16 different types of licenses that we would need to take a look at here… There’s a lot to this, I think it’s a heavy lift,” Tyler said. “I mean no disrespect to our municipal counterparts here in Colusa County, but I personally don’t think this is something you can fast track. I don’t think we want to look at this from a proposer’s viewpoint. I think you need to look at this broad scale, and what is in the best interest of the county as a whole, and not look at this on a, ‘Gee, this is who approached us and how do we fit our program.’ And no offense to the proposers, but I don’t think they should be driving this process either.”

After a short discussion, with comments from Ed Hulbert and consultant Randy Dunn, the board requested an item be placed on a future agenda (at a time when the full board is present) to consider whether to appoint an ad-hoc committee to delve deeper into the issue of commercial cannabis. ■

Located under the Pavilion in A.B. Davison Park on the corner of 10th and Parkhill Streets in Colusa, an emporium of good things, the Colusa County May Surprise offers an opportunity for Mothers Day gift shopping while helping local non-profit organizations. From 9 AM to 3 PM, on Saturday, May 6, the Colusa County Garden Club will be offering a variety of plants for sale including unique containers filled with assorted plants to add beauty to your home patio, yard, or even indoors.

Buy for yourself or buy for Mom as the proceeds from the sale will be used by the Garden Club of Colusa County to continue their ongoing projects to help beautify Colusa County.

Some of their projects include maintaining the planters at several County libraries and post offices. The group is also responsible for planting and maintaining the 5th Street stairway to the Sacramento River levee, maintaining the Courthouse rose garden, and updating Triangle Park in downtown Arbuckle.

Wine Tasting

Come enjoy a variety of local wines and cheeses during the Friends of the Colusa County Library’s annual Wine and Cheese Tasting held during May Surprise.

Starting at Noon and continuing to 3 PM, the tasting will feature delicious cheeses from Rumiano Cheese Company in Willows, northern California olive oils, and specialty breads to complement the tasting. To top it off, members of the Friends of the Library provide amazing homemade desserts and savories. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $20 per person, and advance tickets are available at the Bookworm Bookstore and the Colusa Library.

The tasting is held under canopies in the garden area next to the Scout Cabin/Senior Center in Will S. Green Park, 901 Parkhill Street, Colusa.

For 12 years, the community has enthusiastically supported this fundraiser. All proceeds go directly back to the library system for leasing and purchasing books and magazines and to provide funding for the popular summer reading program in all the branch libraries.

There will be something for everyone at the annual May Surprise. At 9 AM the Garden Club of Colusa County will have a plant sale in the Pavilion. At 10 AM the Colusa County Arts Council will open their doors to an Artisan Faire inside the Scout Cabin/Senior Center. Lunch will be available from 11 AM to 2 PM prepared by the Pacific Flyway Quilters. And the Friends of the Library Wine Tasting runs 12 PM to 3 PM. These events will culminate with a presentation by the City of Colusa Heritage Commission at 2 PM.■

Ray Tretheway, executive director of the Sacramento Tree Foundation, far left, assists with the planting of a young crepe myrtle in Davison Park on Saturday, as one of the Virginia Read events honoring the book, “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.”

When it comes to planting trees, Ray Tretheway knows how to get things done.

Tretheway has seen the Sacramento Tree Foundation grow from a largely unfunded organization 35 years ago to a $4 million-a-year powerhouse organization dedicated to preserving a healthy urban forest for the greater Sacramento region.

“It’s not about trees,” said Tretheway, Executive Director of the Sacramento Tree Foundation. “It’s about stewardship.”

Prior to presenting at one of Saturday’s Virginia Read activities, hosted by the Colusa County Garden Club, Tretheway rode his bike around Colusa, taking note of the wonderful canopy of trees along the city’s streets and throughout its parks.

Tretheway said neighborhoods with abundant tree canopy have a tremendous impact on air quality, climate change, water quality, the economy, and the overall health of a community.

“There is a remarkable benefit of trees,” he said.

About 30 people gathered at the pavilion in Davison Park to hear Tretheway’s presentation, which was part of this year’s Virginia Read book selection, “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.”

In Betty Smith’s 1943 novel, a Tree of Heaven was a metaphor for the resiliency of a child and her family.

In addition to Tretheway’s presentation, the Colusa Tree Commission planted five young crepe myrtle trees in the park, near the swimming pool.

“The Garden Club purchased five trees because the city does not have the money for trees,” said Cynthia White.

The Colusa County Master Gardeners was also at the event to help the public choose the right trees to plant and provide information on watering and care.

Tretheway said it is important for tree commissions to advocate and educate the public and all elected representatives about the importance of trees, and to form lasting partnerships with public and private entities for funding.

Thretheway said that while Colusa has a nearly a full canopy with little room for new trees, it is important for the local commission to develop a management plan to replace the many trees that will reach the end of their life expectancy of 100 to 120 years over the next two decades.

Tretheway said there is currently about $2 million is state grants available for tree inventory and tree management plans, and that the state is favoring small, low-income communities. ■

Click to view slideshow.

Depth journaling is a process in which you find that inner voice, and let it speak.

Guided by Barclay Braden, PhD, a group of about 20 learned a new technique to discover a hidden voice and a method of self therapy through the use of journaling.

Braden moved to Colusa when she was 10 years old.

“My dad sold International harvester equipment and that’s how we got here,” said Braden.

“Virgina Yerxa and my mother became almost instant friends,” said Braden. “We rented in the home she once lived in during her early marriage.”

While growing up in Colusa, Braden was always interested in having what she calls an inner life.

“Its one of those things we don’t have language for, so I really didn’t get it,” said Braden. “I was looking for something but didn’t know the name of it and at the same time I was also looking for a different conceptualization of what life is like.”

As Braden made her way through her adult life, she was always looking for a way to develop her self.

“I did, in the process, figure out that I wanted to be a psychologist,” said Braden. “One of the things I learned (in school) was about development. I think this is one of those things that people don’t have a concept of. There was child development and adolescent development, but there wasn’t any kind of adult development.”

The lack of formally addressing adult development sparked an interest in Braden with the help of the book “Passages” written by Gail Sheehy.

“One night while heading back home, I stopped off at the corner newsstand and bought a copy of the New York Magazine, and on the cover it said ‘The predictable crises of adult life,’” said Braden. It was an article by Sheehy. “She wrote a series of articles on adult development and that is when I really started thinking about adult development.”

Braden added that one of Sheehy’s ideas was to have a dream for your future.

“It spoke to me because having come of age where I didn’t have a dream, or the encouragement to have a dream, it was like How do you get anywhere if you don’t have this thing that you are aspiring to?”

Braden’s “Ah ha!” moment came when she was practicing as a psychologist.

“Instead of looking at people and their problems and the pathology. I really had a more growth and educational model in my mind,” said Braden. “Which was to look at what people were dealing with in their lives and to try to find a way for them to learn new ways to change stuff so that they can feel happier.”

What is Depth Journaling.

Coined by her husband, it is a tribute to the term “depth psychology.”

“While practicing as a psychologist in Massachusetts, I encountered a method of written self-inquiry never before imagined,” said Braden. “I discovered it was possible to utilize my non-dominant hand in an astounding way.”

According to Braden, she was able to activate a more extensive network of neurocircuitry while writing with her non-dominant hand.

“I soon found that I could receive answers to life question posed through my regular, right hand,” said Braden. “Changing hands to record written response allowed me to step beyond my everyday, walk-around awareness.”

As Braden began to discover this inner voice, she aptly named it Faith.

“The first time I did this I wrote, ‘Well, who are you, who am I writing to?’ and the answer I got was, ‘I am the voice of faith,’” said Braden. “So after that, like a child, I would start my journal entry with ‘Dear Faith’ and my answers come as ‘Dear Child.’”

Over the next 25 minutes, Braden led the class on their own journey through depth journaling and later lead a discussion.

Diane Vafis shared during the discussion that she was obstructed in her thought due to the act of writing with her left hand.

“My thought was blocked by the physical difficulty of writing with my left hand,” said Vafis. “Previously I was really writing along and I was getting stopped in my thinking by the writing with my left hand. I couldn’t get it out fast enough.”

Braden’s husband, Richard Blair, said that he experienced the same when trying to write with his non dominant hand, but did get some answers.

“The internal state for me is sort of like hypnosis,” said Blair.

Peggy Townsen commented that she did have a few questions and did receive some answers but she felt it was her methodology.

Like many in the room, the method of writing with their non dominant hand was difficult. Pam DaGrossa said that she didn’t get any answer because she became entirely focused on trying write with her left hand.

“I wrote trying to write with my left hand,” said DaGrossa. “I even tried switching to a different color to see if that helped, and even tried writing in a different language to see if that helped.”

Braden commented that the method of writing with your non-dominant hand might be the reason the inner voice is discovered.

“That may be one of the things that is valuable about it, because it forces you into another place. It pushes out the other thought processes,” said Braden.

DaGrossa said that it was a great exercise. ■

Supervisors Kent Boes and John Loudon have been appointed to a newly established ad hoc committee that will explore whether to allow commercial cannabis cultivation in the County of Colusa after the board voted 4-0-1 to create the committee yesterday.

At their April 18 regular meeting, the board requested that the item be placed on a future agenda for consideration. The idea for forming an ad hoc committee arose from the county receiving a formal proposal from a cannabis-related business, which wanted to operate in an unincorporated area of the county. In addition to the formal proposal, the board was approached by Randy Dunn of Dunn 360 Consulting, who said that there were a number of agricultural interests who had expressed interest in manufacturing commercial cannabis, but were not yet ready to come forward formally.

During yesterday’s meeting, Supervisor Kim Vann said that she had been in contact with other interested parties and expected “another formal proposal or two” to come before the county soon. It was Vann’s suggestion that Boes and Loudon serve on the ad hoc committee “because most of this is going to happen in (their) districts.”

“The focus is going to fall on the cities first. We want to pay attention to what’s going on there,” Vann said.

Supervisor Gary Evans suggested that the ad hoc committee work quickly in researching various elements of commercial cannabis operations and the desired parameters for considering such activity in the county.

“I would suggest that we be very deliberate in this, and bring back a packet to this body in one of our September meetings,” Evans said.

Vann added that in addition to the ad hoc committee meetings, she would like to see a few community advisory meetings as well.

Board adopts amendments to comply with prop 64, personal cultivation

In addition to forming an ad hoc committee to tackle the issue of commercial cannabis in unincorporated areas of the county, the board adopted regulations on personal cultivation of cannabis to bring itself into compliance with Proposition 64. The amendments to the county’s cultivation ordinance will allow for cultivation of six plants in a detached, permitted structure with nuisance control mechanisms in place.

“The only way you can cultivate in unincorporated areas of the county is under the express provisions of this ordinance,” County Counsel Marcos Kropf said. He added that since the board’s last meeting and the introduction of the amendments to the county’s cultivation ordinance, there were a couple of modifications pursuant to the board’s comments, including the requirement that a fence be built around the detached structure. He also said that there was language added to clarify that permitting would still be required for structures less than 120 sq. ft., including permits for proper electrical and water hookups.

Kropf also clarified that any sale of cannabis is still prohibited, as is the operation of any storefront, and that the ordinance would have to be revisited if the county decided to allow commercial cannabis operations in unincorporated parts of the county.

“It sets the bar, but it’s not a perpetual ban. If the board wants to make changes, they can. It shouldn’t be an issue,” Kropf said.

The amendments to the county’s cultivation ordinance were approved unanimously, absent Supervisor Denise Carter.■

Proposed Cannabis Manufacturing Approval Process

“Council wanted to redo their action in case there were any procedural deficiencies…”

At their April 18 meeting, the Colusa City Council “redid” a closed session vote to award a $13,600 settlement with former Interim City Manager Randy Dunn in exchange for Dunn dropping all claims against the city.
The action was redone, and the closed session notice included more detail “in case there were any procedural deficiencies with the way it was accomplished…” at their April 4 meeting. This time around, the agenda noted that the council would “discuss whether to enter a settlement agreement with a former employee of the City concerning the employee’s previous employment with the City.” It also said that the facts and circumstances were known to a potential plaintiff.
On the agenda for the April 4 meeting, there was no mention of a potential settlement and the closed session item on the agenda only indicated there was potential exposure to litigation for the city. During their April 4 meeting, the city announced after closed session that it had entered into a settlement with Dunn in the amount of $13,600 in a 4-1 vote, with Councilmember Dave Womble voting no. On April 18, the council voted 3-1-1 to approve the same settlement, with Dave Markss absent and Womble again voting no. ■

On Sunday, April 24, 2017, Colusa FFA seniors Alec Bailey and Amanda Thomas went through the California State FFA interview process for proficiency awards and scholarships at the 89th Conference, held for the last time in Fresno, California. Before the interviews, both submitted applications in February and were selected as regional winners and then in March were chosen to be one of three State Finalists. Alec competed in and won the State FFA Beef Production Entrepreneurship Award and Amanda competed in Grain Production, Swine Placement and won the State FFA Swine Production Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award. Amanda also interviewed for and won the Dean McNeilly Memorial Scholarship. The two will now be competing at the National FFA level representing California this July in Indianapolis, Indiana. If selected as one of the four national finalist they will go through the interview process again at the National FFA Convention in October.■

Meet Henry, the kissing pig.

A selected group of Colusa County Fair supporters are hoping the community will keep them from having to kiss a pig.

Six teams have signed on to raise money for the Colusa County Fair Foundation, even if they have to lock lips with an even-toed ungulate to do it.

The money raised will help the Fair Foundation with their next scheduled projects, which include improvements to Festival Hall and the expansion of the Fur and Feathers exhibit area at the Colusa County Fairgrounds.

Teams include Tina Beckley and Paul Santinelli; The Young Rotarians; Ken English; Tom Charter and Dave Lohman; Joe Kalfsbeek, Don Traynham, and Matt LaGrande; and Jerry and Sherry Maltby.

The team that raises the most money by June 7 won’t have to kiss a pig, according to Patty Hickel, a member of the Colusa County Fair Foundation, but everyone else that is participating in the challenge will: lipstick optional.

“It’s good incentive for all the teams to get out and try to raise the most money,” Hickel said.

The Kiss the Pig contest is a fundraiser that will culminate with a barbecue in the livestock area on June 7, the Wednesday before opening day of the Colusa County Fair.

The live pig selected for kissing will come from Ottenwalter Showpigs of Colusa.

The contest replaces the Red & White Bash, said Foundation President Ben Carter at the group’s annual meeting on April 26.

Teams have already started taking donations, and $10 tickets will be available at the Fair Office. Anyone purchasing a ticket or making a donation of a larger amount can designate what team gets the credit.

“I really don’t want to kiss a pig, so I guess I had better get out there and raise the most money,” said Sherry Maltby, who is a member of the Fair Foundation.

All proceeds from the fundraiser will go toward designated projects at the fairgrounds. The Foundation plans to replace the Festival Hall heating and air conditioning system and will pay for the concrete work for a second Fur and Feather’s building.

Previous projects include the first Fur and Feathers building, construction of the Etchepare Memorial Garden, insulating the Main Exhibit Hall, and new sewer lines at the grandstands,

Carter said the projects selected aren’t always the most glamorous, but they are vital to preserving the Fair’s heritage and viability.

The Colusa County Fair Foundation was formed in 2014 after the State of California discontinued financial assistance to all county fairs, Carter said. The organization raises money through an annual golf tournament, fundraisers and raffles, and through membership.

The organization has about 95 members, and each member of the Fair Foundation board has been tasked to bring in at least two news members by the end of the year.

“We need to build our base and grow our membership,” Carter said. “It’s an important source of funds.”

During the meeting, members of the Fair Foundation re-elected Hickel and Shiela Etchepare to the board.

Board members serve staggered terms, and are also tasked with educating the community concerning the value of the county fair and its facilities, Carter said.

To learn more about the Fair Foundation or to become a member, visit www.colusacountyfairfoundation.com. ■

The City of Colusa’s Planning Commission voted to endorse an amendment to the city’s zoning and municipal code, and development agreements with a pair of cannabis manufacturers last week, moving the items forward to the City Council.

The first item considered by the Planning Commission was the package of amendments to various Zoning Ordinance Articles to establish the regulatory framework for cannabis manufacturing in the city. The ordinance endorsed by the Planning Commission, if eventually passed by the City Council, would create an approval process for any prospective cannabis manufacturers. The process would run directly through the city council and consist of two separate permits: a Cannabis Manufacturing Special Use Permit and a Cannabis Manufacturing Facilities Regulatory Permit. Combined with development agreements with each company, the three documents will shape how and where manufacturers can operate within city limits.

The commission voted 3-2 to pass a resolution endorsing the ordinance changes for the approval of the city council. The changes to the city’s zoning code include defining cannabis manufacturing as “the cultivation, processing, extraction, manufacturing, testing, distribution, and transportation of cannabis and cannabis products” and identifying the appropriate zoning districts where cannabis manufacturing can take place.

Commissioners Rich Selover and George Parker voted against advising the council to approve it. Referencing comments made during the public hearing, Selover noted that he would like to see a definitive limit placed on the number of cannabis businesses in the city. He also said that he thought the ordinance was too “open-ended” in where it would allow cannabis manufacturers to operate. Selover ultimately said he would like to delay taking action and consider making changes to the resolution, as did Parker.

“I do believe it’s a little bit too soon… I suggest we continue this and bring it back after we’ve had a chance to really fine-tune the language,” Parker said.

The balance of the commission felt that the ordinance could be modified moving forward, and ultimately decided to approve the amendments to the city’s zoning and municipal codes.

During the public hearings for the development agreements with Green Leaf and CTI, the public expressed concerns with the length of the development agreements between the city and the two companies. Specific to the development agreement with Green Leaf, numerous members of the public expressed concern with the downtown location of the business. Among them were Colusa County Supervisor Denise Carter, Colusa resident Elizabeth Yerxa, and Marilyn Acree, a former councilwoman. Both proclamations were approved with the stipulation that the planning commission’s approval was contingent on the City Council passing the changes to the zoning and municipal code. In addition, the commission asked that language be added to ensure that the business owners would implement, at a minimum, fencing and landscaping improvements that are consistent with the character of the city’s community character and design policies of the general plan. The development agreements will now move to the City Council for consideration. ■

Proposed Cannabis Manufacturing Approval Process

Boots and Bibles is a religious youth program that brings adventures with horses while embedding religious faith. Developed by retired teacher and a member of the Arbuckle Community Church, Lori Henderson combines her love for God and horses to help young teenage girls in the area.

“Boots and Bibles has been a dream of mine for years,” said Henderson who started the program in 2014. “I have so much gratitude for the people in the past who helped my children become successful adults, whether it was sports, academics, extra-curricular agriculture-related organizations, or spiritual development, my husband and I recognize that so many adults in our community were a part of our children’s development. What a great community we all live in.”

Originally developed for high school students, Henderson quickly learned the students were too busy with other extra-curricular activities and began offering the program to sixth-grade girls. “The sixth graders are searching for something to do,” said Henderson. “Horses are such a draw for teenagers; they’re just happy around them.”

Currently, the program has 14 girls and they meet every Wednesday from 2:30 PM to 6:00 PM.

A typical day consists of several stations that include riding lessons, horsemanship, individual quiet devotional time, and a whole group Bible study that teaches the Gospel of Mark.

“We also have connection lessons where I connect a principle of horses with the principal of God. For example, just like our horse must trust respect and obey us, so Jesus wants our trust respect and obedience,” said Henderson.

In addition to the weekly meetings, the group meets up for trail rides, a movie on the grass night, Easter break day camp, and arena work. They even host a spring performance for parents where the students have the opportunity to showcase the skills that they learned throughout the year. Guest speakers are invited and are often in high demand to come and share stories of inspiration. Another component to the program is the spirit of gratitude, giving and serving others.

The group provides a “Christmas” for a local needy family, Christmas boxes for the homeless, and donates to the organization “A Women’s Friend.”

The giving doesn’t stop there, Henderson says, “We are always on the lookout for a need in our community, whether that’s donations for a funeral, gas money to visit a loved one, a warm jacket or a pair of shoes.”

Owning your own horse isn’t a program requirement and word-of-mouth brings in a new group of girls each year. Due to the size of the group and the multifaceted structure, Henderson relies on volunteers to help assist with the program.

Becky Burgess helps the group by bringing extra horses and leading stations. “She is my right-hand person and I couldn’t do it without her,” said Henderson.

High School students who have graduated from the program also come back to help and act as program leaders. Audrey Perdue, Samantha Gonzales, Ryan Burgess, Bethany Bento, Hannah Doherty, and Kory Bain are all current leaders.
Audrey Perdue, alumni to the group and current leader, said, “I originally joined the group for my love for horses, but I continue to be involved because it’s fun, everyone is nice, and it gives me something to look forward to during the day.”
Deb Perdue has two daughters involved in the group: Audrey, an alumna, and Lauren, a sixth grader who is a current student in the group.
“I love the program connects horses and God as a parable relationship,” said Perdue. “I have seen my daughters gain confidence and independence. We don’t do sports, so this gets us out and I love the quiet time; in a culture that so digitally powered, I am thankful for the times my daughters get to sit and meditate.”
Henderson’s mission for Boots and Bibles is to use a girl’s passion for horses to develop an everlasting relationship with Christ and provide a positive relationship with horses. She is passionate about this group and optimistic of its future; she is currently creating a lesson plan to share so that when she retires from the group she can pass on its teachings to future leaders.
“The most gratifying part of this program is when the girls truly understand what Jesus has done for them,“ said Henderson. ■

by Jamie Olhiser for the Pioneer Review

Located under the Pavilion in A.B. Davison Park on the corner of 10th and Parkhill Streets in Colusa, the Colusa County May Surprise, an emporium of good things, offers an opportunity for Mothers Day gift shopping while helping local non-profit organizations.

Plant Sale
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, the Colusa County Garden Club will be offering a variety of plants for sale including unique containers filled with assorted plants to add beauty to your home patio, yard, or even indoors.
Buy for yourself or buy for Mom as the proceeds from the sale will be used by the Garden Club of Colusa County to continue their ongoing projects to help beautify Colusa County.

Wine Tasting
12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Come enjoy a variety of local wines and cheeses during the Friends of the Colusa County Library’s annual Wine and Cheese Tasting. The tasting features delicious cheeses from Rumiano Cheese Company in Willows, northern California olive oils, and specialty breads to complement the tasting. To top it off, members of the Friends of the Library provide amazing homemade desserts and savories. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $20 per person, and advance tickets are available at the Bookworm Bookstore and the Colusa Library.

Artisan Faire
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Colusa County Arts Council will host an Artisan Faire in the Scout Cabin. It will feature jewelry, soaps, ceramics, sewn items, paintings, and so forth.
“Since this is the weekend before Mother’s Day, it would be a great opportunity to pick up a special gift for mom,” said Susan Woods, Director of the Arts Council.

Heritage Commission
2 p.m. the Colusa Heritage Commission will make a special presentation in the Scout Cabin gardens. ■

Click to view slideshow.

A postal worker crashed into a power pole on Hunter Road in Colusa while on the job on April 24, suffering lacerations to his left leg, arm, and cheek and forcing PG&E to cut off power to the neighborhood until about 8:30 p.m. while they made repairs.

According to a collision report from the California Highway Patrol, the Chico Communications Center received a report of a traffic collision involving a vehicle versus a power pole at around 11:50 a.m. The vehicle, described as a 1988 Chevrolet mail track, was traveling eastbound on Hunter Road, west of Wilson Road outside the City of Colusa. The driver of the vehicle, Jesse Cole Martynski, 31, of Yuba City, allowed the mail truck to travel across the westbound lane of Hunter Road and into the north shoulder of the roadway, the report said. The mail truck continued in that direction and collided with a power pole on the north side of Hunter Road. It came to a rest on its wheels on the north shoulder, facing in an easterly direction, east of the power pole.

Martynski was allowed to seek his own medical care for what the California Highway Patrol report described as minor injuries. Martynski was taken to a nearby hospital by Colusa Postmaster Kelli Love. California Highway Patrol Officer Shane Roach said that the report taken by the investigating officer noted that Martynski had not been drinking.

Love, who was out of the local office yesterday, declined to comment, stating that she was not allowed to speak with media. She said that media inquiries could only be made through an official in Sacramento, and that she would not be able to provide the contact information for that official until she was back in town today. ■

Click to view slideshow.

The Virginia Yerxa Community Read project, centered on the book “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,” culminated with a panel discussion on Saturday and Irish entertainment at a local pub.

This year’s book in common, Betty Smith’s 1943 novel, painted a vivid portrait of life in the tenements of Brooklyn during the early 20th century, where Irish immigrates struggled to rise above poverty.

This year, readers were asked to consider how books, reading, and the local library (things that were all central in the world of the book’s main character) have changed in the past century.

The question led to a riveting discussion at Colusa County Library in Colusa on Saturday, with Library Director Staci Zwald Costello, Colusa Unified Superintendent Dwayne Newman, and Colusa Unified Technology Director Jeremy Miller sharing their views on the ever-changing role of books and libraries.

“In 1912, to be well educated you had to read,” Newman said. “And if you were well educated then you were respected. Now to be respected, you just have to get on a reality TV Show.”Although partly in jest, Newman’s comment underscores a shift in today’s society in which respect for the educated has been usurped by respect for the popular culture.

Yet, the number of patron visits at the Colusa County libraries and the number of books being read, particularly by youth, continue to increase, Costello said.

The seven library branches had about 37,000 visits last year, up from 36,000 the previous year, and children’s books checked out increased to 12,000, up from 10,000 the year before. “What that shows you is people are using the libraries,” Costello said.

The panel also agreed that libraries, as well as reading habits, change as technology changes.

Costello said the Colusa County Library has access to far more titles that can be read on phones, tablets, and computers than bound books located on the Library’s shelves.

“I just think people love to read,” she said.

About 30 people attended the discussion at the library on Saturday.

“I think Betty Smith would be blown away that we created such a wonderful conversation around a book she wrote about life 100 years ago,” said Elizabeth Yerxa, co-founder of the Virginia Yerxa Community Read project.

Each year, Virginia Read draws the community together around a common literary work. Past titles have included classics like “Huckleberry Finn,” “Moby Dick,” “To Kill a Mockingbird,” and “The Grapes of Wrath.”

Following Saturday’s discussion at the library, members of the community gathered at The Tap Room in Colusa to enjoy the Irish music of “The Pub Scouts,” the last activity of this year’s Community Read project.

The 2018 Virginia Read selection will be announced by the end of the year, organizers said. ■

A Humbolt woman was arrested on suspicion of multiple charges on Monday after she allegedly struck a Colusa Police Officer in the hand with a shovel.

According to Sgt. Eldon Tamez, the Colusa Police Department began receiving reports of a woman parked in the middle of the intersection of 10th and Main Streets in Colusa, who was standing on top of a car and holding a shovel.

Colusa Police Officer David Jackson responded to the location and made contact with Lisa Christine Murphy, 42, at around 8 a.m.

“Our officer responded to the calls and observed her waving around the shovel like a baton, and asking about some parade,” Tamez said. “The officer asked her to step down and put the shovel down. When he approached her, she got back into the car with the shovel and attempted to drive away.”

Tamez said that Jackson – thinking that Murphy might be under the influence – attempted to prevent her from doing so. At that point, Murphy allegedly struck Jackson in the hand with the shovel.

“He was uninjured, but she did hit him,” Tamez said.

Tamez added that Jackson deployed his TASER during the incident, after which Murphy “ended up complying.”

In a subsequent search of the car, officers were unable to find any indication that Murphy had been using illegal drugs or alcohol, Tamez said, but noted that they did find medications prescribed to her.

Murphy was booked into Colusa County Jail on charges of assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, obstructing or resisting an executive officer – both felonies – in addition to misdemeanor charges of battery and obstructing or resisting a public officer. Murphy’s bail was set at $100,000. ■

Last Wednesday, Colusa County Sheriff’s Sgt. Jose Ruiz was patrolling the town of Arbuckle when he observed a small grass fire burning on Sixth St., just north of Hall St.

Ruiz drove to the nearby Arbuckle Fire Department and notified Chief Casey Cox, who informed him that over the course of the last three summers, his department had responded to more than 30 suspicious grass fires in the same three-block radius of Arbuckle.

“We have had a lot of fires set within a few city blocks,” Cox said. “We have worked very hard to connect the dots.”

Cox said the fires extended north and south of Hall Street at Interstate 5.

“They were happening on both sides of the freeway, but mainly on the east side, in the downtown area,” he said.

The fires have been occurring in the central part of town, often behind fenced areas or behind walls, which Cox said put the department on alert.

“We would go and put the fires out, and then immediately start driving in a circle around the location,” Cox said. “We started seeing this guy who was always connected to the location, and always seemed to be around when we were putting out these grass fires. We did our due diligence, we kept notes, and we timed it out.”

Last Wednesday, Cox gave a description of the man he and his firefighters had observed over the past three summers to Ruiz, and the two of them began searching for him.

“Upon arrival, Chief Cox advised me of several other fires in the area where they observed an older Hispanic male wearing a hat with sunglasses. He advised me he also had a bad eye, which was very distinct,” Ruiz said. “They extinguished the fire, and we canvassed the area.”

It ended up being Cox who spotted the subject as he came out of a nearby restaurant. Ruiz arrived a short time later to make contact with Fermin Rodriguez Cadena, 62, of Arbuckle. After Ruiz conducted an investigation, Cadena allegedly confessed to starting last Wednesday’s fire, in addition to starting a fire about a year ago.

“Chief Cox located the subject in the general area… I spoke with him, and he admitted to starting that fire, and one other fire approximately a year prior, in the area of Fifth St. and Hall St,” Ruiz said. “A lighter and napkins were also discovered on his person… He advised me that he started the fire because it looked cleaner without the dry grass.”

Cadena was arrested on suspicion of arson, and booked into Colusa County Jail. His bail was set at $50,000. He was arraigned in the Colusa County Superior Court on a single felony charge of arson, and appointed a public defender, on May 11. He is set to appear today to enter a plea.

“We caught the guy, he was arrested on a felony. I’m proud that Sgt. Ruiz took the initiative and got the guy to admit to setting those two fires. If it wasn’t for the Sheriff’s Office, this wouldn’t have happened.” Cox said. ““The fire authority has a no-blink attitude on this kind of thing, because we recently came out of a drought and we’re now going into a huge fire threat with all of the tall fuels. We’re not going to tolerate it. We’re going to investigate every fire aggressively.”

It’s 2:15 p.m. at Maxwell High School on a Monday in late May when a voice comes over the PA system.

“Attention all students: Please report to your rodeo committees. Attendance will be taken today.”

In moments, the library is buzzing with activity as students bustle to their respective committees in the classrooms that surround it. With the Maxwell High School Rodeo just five days away, it’s crunch time, and the Maxwell High School entire student body will spend the next 40 minutes putting the finishing touches on organizing the 87th rendition of one of Colusa County’s longest running events.

In each of the rooms, the students are separated into more than a dozen committees, which are tasked with organizing some aspect of the rodeo.

“It’s kind of chaotic,” Kyle Miller, a community advisor for the rodeo said as he checked in with each of the committees on Monday.

While the late-stage rush may be frenzied, if all goes well, the result will be a seamless end product – the result of a symbiotic partnership between the students and staff at Maxwell High and the community as a whole.

The student committees have been meeting since January, with increasing frequency as the rodeo approaches. From refreshments and food to the 5K Bull Run, from the preparation of the rodeo grounds and the car show, every element of the rodeo is organized by a group of students, headed by a student chair – usually a senior – and an adult advisor, who is either a teacher or – like Miller – a community volunteer.

The rodeo actually integrated into Maxwell High School’s curriculum – it’s a longstanding tradition and an undertaking that has benefits outside of traditional academic learning, according to first-year Maxwell superintendent and principal Zach Thurman said.

“Every student has to join a different committee to get the rodeo ready… It’s an excellent thing for students to get the experience of community service, and it does pull the community together,” Thurman said. “It’s a very positive experience for students, and for staff… Even though it’s not an academic concept, community service is huge. We as a society have gotten away from that, and for our students to take part in, and take pride in their community, I think that’s very important.”

Thurman added that putting on the rodeo also gives students experience balancing budgets and the knowledge of what it takes to organize an event. It also teaches them to work with their peers and adults, both inside and outside the walls of Maxwell High.

“It’s very rare that a school district works this into their curriculum. This is the only one that I’m aware of… It’s because you’re helping to prepare kids for life in the real world. For them having the ability to organize things that are bigger than something just for the school: that’s real life experience… Many of these kids deal directly with the public. It’s good people skills they learn,” said Randy Wilson, who is the community advisor for the car show and has been helping organize the Maxwell Rodeo since 1998. “The art of responsibility and commitment is what a student gets out of doing this.”

Wilson said that the structure of the committees enables the gradual development of leadership skills: they start as a freshman doing “the most menial jobs on the committee” and take on more responsibility as they move through high school. By the time they are seniors, they are likely to have the experience and the know-how to chair a committee.

“Student chairs answer to the adult advisor, and has power over the other kids in the committee,” Wilson said. “He or she is the boss of the other students. The chair knows how to delegate things to the other kids.”

Wilson estimated that most students spend at least a few hours a month preparing for the rodeo, starting in January.

“Right now, it’s more,” Wilson said. “For the student committee chairs and the advisors, it’s weekly work (from the onset)… It takes commitment,” Wilson said. “Every cycle of kids that comes through is different. Some kids are already sitting in their seats when the committee meetings start, and others you have to rein in. The fact that the rodeo has gone on for all these years through all these cycles points to the fact that we have something good going. It’s a quasi-community/school event, unlike any other community. The community still holds onto its foundation of the things that they’ve always enjoyed to do – the rodeo is still here because of that. The foundation and the roots of the town are still in place.”

Serving in an ancillary capacity to the various school committees are members of the community apart from the school, who meet frequently at Maxwell Rodeo Community Meetings throughout the year.

“The community meetings, their specific role is to give overview and overall course direction to everybody else underneath, and also pick the rodeo’s grand marshal… Many of the community members were student committee members when they were young,” Wilson said, pointing to Miller as a former Maxwell High School student who had come back to help with rodeo as an adult.

“I don’t want the rodeo to die,” Miller explained. “It’s really the only thing that Maxwell has besides sports. At least three generations of my family have been involved with it, and it’s something I would like to see continue if I ever have kids.”■