JULY
► The Colusa County Board of Supervisors approved a preliminary budget that allowed the public agencies to function until a final budget was approved in September. The $117.4 million spending plan, effective July 1, was a $4.3 million increase to last year’s budget, officials said. The $11.6 million gap between expenditures and the $105.8 million the county anticipates in revenue was bridged largely by special revenues and carryover fund balances, mostly in various social services programs. The county approved a general fund budget of $35.7 million. Colusa County funds approximately 413 full time positions. Officials did not anticipate dipping into reserves.
► Colusa County eliminated a paper budget document to utilize the “OpenGov” budgeting software that creates an online budget book. In addition to various countrywide overview documents, each department was given its own homepage, which contains completed budget information. The county also added an interactive chart that can be drilled into for specific data elements. The 2021-22 recommended budget in its entirety became accessible to the public from the county’s home page, located at countyofcolusa.org.
► Legislation authored by North State Republican Sen. Jim Nielsen went into effect July 1 that allowed Colusa and Glenn counties to keep their revenue from the California Highway User Tax Account without having to keep a licensed civil engineer on staff. Nielsen’s Senate Bill 79, which passed the senate and assembly with bipartisan support, resulted in much-needed financial relief to Colusa and Glenn counties by allowing the Boards of Supervisors of both counties to abolish the road commissioner office and transfer authority to their public works directors, officials said.
► Colusa celebrated America’s birthday in a manner that would please Founding Father John Adams, who said Independence Day should be celebrated with pomp, parade, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of the continent to the other. Hundreds of people showed up for Colusa’s first Watermelon Festival on July 4, and even more turned out for the annual fireworks display at dusk. The Fourth of July celebration was the second music-themed festival hosted by the City of Colusa. The celebration did not go off entirely without a hitch; embers from the fireworks sparked two large fires in brush left very dry by extended drought. Firefighters went to work on the blaze around 10 PM, with fire crews still working on flare-ups and hot spots days after the 30-acre burn site was extinguished.
► California’s preeminent high school sports source, CalHi Sports, released its list of top-rated baseball teams for the 2021 season and selected the Colusa RedHawks as the best Division V squad in the state. Concluding the season 27-1 and 12-0 in the Sacramento Valley League, Colusa outscored its opponents 287-43, which was indicative of both its potent lineup and exceptional pitching.
► Danny Wayne Light, known as one of the “Traveling Burglars,” was brought back to Colusa County from Arizona and sentenced to 60 days in jail on July 6 for failing to comply with the terms of his parole. Light, 49, who was sentenced in June 2020 to three years in state prison for auto theft, failed to report to probation after being released from prison. White, along with his alleged female partner in crime, Julia Wheatley, were wanted in four states in connection to numerous crimes. Wheatley, who is charged with burglary, grand theft, auto theft, and conspiracy to commit a crime, and other crimes in Colusa County, continues to have a warrant out for her arrest. The pair were dubbed “Traveling Burglars” by an Oregon detective, who said they used rental cars during their crime spree to travel about largely undetected. Light was captured in 2019 near Maxwell after he crashed a rental car in a high speed chase with the California Highway Patrol.
► California Gov. Gavin Newsom on July 8 asked residents to voluntarily reduce household water usage to help with worsening drought conditions. The State estimated that if residents reduced their water levels by 15 percent it would save as much as 850,000 acre-feet of water over the next year for future use or enough to supply more than 1.7 million households with water for a year. Newsom discussed the drought emergency at the Lopez Reservoir in San Luis Obispo County, where he signed a proclamation adding nine more counties to the declaration of drought emergency, and called on everyone to conserve water as they did during the 2012-2016 drought.
► The children’s fair was the first of several planned community outreach events, hosted by the Colusa County Office of Education. Children’s Services Director Joe Moye, who took over the position from Dolores Gomez in April, organized the event to raise awareness of CCOE children’s programs and to recruit teachers and staff.
► Local artists Sierra Reading and Ross Roadruck spent the month of July painting the main branch of the Colusa County Free Library in colors that would tickle Mary Winters pink. The “Colors of Colusa County” were selected from photographs submitted to the library from community members and developed into a mural project to honor Winters, who died Aug. 1, 2020.
► Pilots from about a 300-mile radius from Colusa County flew into the local airport for a quick breakfast and some socializing before they wheeled up ahead of the heat. About 35 planes, along with some Harley Davidson Trike motorcycles and vintage automobiles, were the center of attention at the 25th annual Old Time Fly-in on July 17, hosted by the Colusa County Aviation Association. The temperatures reached 114, well above the record high of 109 for the third Saturday in July, but the early morning event was an opportunity for area pilots and the public to get a look at a variety of aircraft, from warbirds to experimental.
► Colusa officials continued to grapple with social media and transparency, despite a workshop with their city attorney just a few months earlier. While the council passed a social media policy in April, Colusa Councilman Daniel Vaca, during his July 20 report, asked for the policy to be revisited. The request was made after a social media firestorm erupted over the city’s lack of transparency regarding city-sponsored events, including the controversial Country in Colusa music festival, which had been organized by city staff, with no council or public input to approve expenditures, and was reported to have cost in excess of $125,000.
► After the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of what would have been the 10th anniversary of the Colusa County Veterans Picnic in 2020, more than 250 people from Colusa, Glenn, Yuba, and Sutter counties, including local veterans and their families, attended the barbecue lunch and raffle in Veterans Memorial Park in Colusa on July 31, just like old times.
► The City of Colusa promised its inaugural Taco Festival on July 31 would be hot, hot, hot – and they weren’t just talking about the weather. The festival on Main Street featured music, entertainment, food vendors of all kinds, a beer garden, Sangria bar, hot sauce tasting, and more.
AUGUST
► A prominent Colusa County farmer, his wife, and two friends were killed Aug. 1 when the helicopter they were in crashed near Colusa. The Colusa County Sheriff’s Office said the helicopter went down in a tomato field in the area of Highway 45 and Reservation Road around 1:15 PM. William “Bill” Bernard Vann, 67, and his wife Suzanne “Susie” Marie Vann, 60, of Williams, were declared dead at the scene, as were Bobbie Lee Keaton, 62, also of Williams, and Charles “Chuck” Thomas Wilson, 71, of Rocklin. On the same day, a 76-year-old Washington man, driving the wrong way on Interstate 5 near Arbuckle, struck another vehicle, injuring both occupants, seriously injuring himself, and killing his 74-year-old wife, who was riding in the front passenger seat.
► The Colusa County Board of Supervisors took a stand Aug. 3 to support parental choice on whether their children should wear masks at school to slow transmission of the SARS-CoV2 virus. The board voted unanimously to adopt a Healthy Children resolution supporting the World Health Organization’s opinion that children age 5 and under should not be required to wear a mask at any time. The resolution, which will be sent to Colusa County school districts and state health officials, also addressed concern that imposing a mask requirement upon children ages 6-11 should be based on several factors, including the impact that mask wearing has on a child’s psychological development. Colusa County’s official position was that the decision for children to wear masks in school should be left to the parents.
► After three months of postponing a discussion to bring the Colusa Fire Department staffing to what Chief Logan Conley said might be a manageable level, the City Council voted 3-1-0 on Aug. 3 in favor of hiring a per diem firefighter to aid with daily shift duties, 24-hour shift relief, and to help respond to emergency calls. Conley said his firefighters had been working too many hours, which could lead to harm to firefighters or negligence on his part. He gave the department’s response to the massive wildfire caused by fireworks on July 4 as an example of his staff working nearly around the clock.
► The Colusa City Council on Aug. 3 approved a proposed budget for 2021-2022 that anticipated the city would once again have more expenses this year than revenue. The council approved the $15.5 million spending plan, following a budget workshop held earlier in the day. The $4.5 general fund portion of the budget exceeded anticipated revenue by about $251,000. Salaries and benefits account for $2.8 million of the budget for approximately 60 employees. Services and supplies account for about $1.5 million.
► The Williams Community Center Association has a building most small communities would envy, but with very few members and a disinterested public, the organization that oversees the former home of a Veterans of Foreign Wars post said they could be facing the same fate as the former occupants. Members of the WCC Association launched a membership drive in August after its aging board of directors said without more community support, the organization and the center would be in danger of closing.
► The first detailed 2020 Census data released on Aug. 12 showed Colusa County saw just a small increase in population from 21,419 in 2010 to 21,898 a decade later, but it would result in all five Supervisorial districts being redrawn before the end-of-the year deadline because the growth occurred largely in Arbuckle and Williams. Colusa County is 60.4 percent Latino, up from 58.1 in 2010. The new district boundaries were formally adopted on Dec. 14.
► Colusa County Public Health Officer Gregory Burt announced on Aug. 13 that facial coverings would be required for all indoor public settings, following an increase in local COVID-19 cases over the previous week and a jump in cases statewide. The order went into effect on Aug. 17, but officials at the highest level of local government said they would not enforce any such mandate.
► The seemingly endless amount of government spending by Colusa employees on goods and services purchased out of the area, redirecting staff from regular job duties, paying thousands of dollars in employee overtime, wining and dining exclusive individuals, and plying donors with “perks and bonuses” in the name of economic development and tourism raised more than a few eyebrows at the Aug. 17 City Council meeting. Colusa Mayor Josh Hill opened the discussion for developing policies and procedures for city sponsored events at the request of Councilman Greg Ponciano, after preliminary tallies showed city staff spent more than $100,000 in approximately 30 days on special events without discussion at the council level or approval of non-budgeted expenditures. City officials said they had concerns that city employees misused and misappropriated taxpayer funds, sold alcohol without legitimate permits, allowed food vendors to operate without county public health permits, and violated other established protocols for the conduction of the public’s business.
► The new civic group, called “Commitment Colusa,” organized its first casual coffee meeting with city officials on Aug. 19 at Market Street Grill. The meetings, later moved to the Rocco’s Bar & Grill patio, were geared for citizens to ask questions of elected officials and allowed more substantive conversations with their constituents than what can be accomplished at regular City Council meetings.
► The 2021 California Duck Calling Championship was held in Colusa on Aug-21-22. Daniel Ault, of Princeton, secured his spot to the World Duck Calling Competition in Stuttgart, Ark. by winning the state championship title, and former California State Duck Call Champion Stuart Mattos, of Gustine, secured his spot, after winning the 2021 Butte Sink title.
► The Colusa County Board of Supervisors appointed Dr. Julian Delgado to replace Dr. Gregory Burt as the Colusa County Public Health Officer, effective Aug. 25. Burt held the position since 2014.
► For the first time in nearly two years, a football game was played in Colusa’s RedHawk Stadium and the hometown team made the most of the opportunity on Aug. 27 by downing Mt. Shasta 26-8 to notch its first win of the season – and the first for new head coach Mikey Badaluco. Hot and smoky conditions didn’t deter the RedHawks, who opened the game with a great defense.
► On Aug. 31, the Colusa County Board of Supervisors awarded $650,000 in financing for Karen’s House to open the shelter for abused women and children. A shelter in Colusa County had been the nonprofit’s mission since 2018, following the death of Karen Garcia at the hand of the father of the couple’s 2-year-old daughter. The funding for the shelter came from Colusa County’s Housing Revolving Loan Fund and Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund. The loan will provide the organization about $572,000 for the structure, leaving about $78,000 for modifications and certifications.
SEPTEMBER
► With California Gov. Gavin Newsom boasting a $75.7 billion general fund surplus across two fiscal years, a local leader began urging cities, counties, and Chambers of Commerces to begin demanding more return to local governments on the taxes they produce. Former Williams Mayor John Troughton took up the cause in early September. Troughton said cities must demand that the state fix the inequities in the structure of tax revenue sharing by pressuring lobbying groups like the League of California Cities and Rural County Representatives of California to help take on that fight.
► Colusa High School students gathered in the quad on Sept. 11 to remember the 2,996 people killed on Sept. 11, 2001 – the day four hijacked airliners were used as weapons of destruction in a terrorist attack on America. Because none of the students were alive 20 years ago, the events of 9/11 mark a historical event rather than conjure any actual memory, much as the bombing on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 is to most people living in the world today.
► Colusa County Public Health announced on Sept. 14 that a Colusa County resident died of COVID-19, although the virus was secondary to health problems. The 79-year-old female with respiratory disease was the county’s 19th COVID-19 related death. Colusa County’s first death occurred July 20, 2020, and was a 89-year-old resident in a nursing home.
► If individuals in an disadvantaged inland community want to see the ocean, there might be a state grant for that. The Williams City Council on Sept. 15 authorized staff to pursue an Outdoor Equity grant to fund opportunities for disadvantaged youth, English learners, children in foster care, senior citizens, disabled, and other qualifying individuals to have access to broader outdoor recreation. The grant, if awarded, would cover activities both within and outside the community, but officials were most interested in providing recreation opportunities locally.
► A vehicle pursuit that began in Yolo County ended near Freshwater Road in Williams on Sept. 27 with the driver’s apparent suicide. Law enforcement pursued the Dodge Caravan after the driver failed to stop at a stop sign. Williams CHP joined the pursuit as the vehicle entered and continued northbound on Interstate 5 in Colusa County, before the 59-year-old driver pulled to the side of the road and killed himself with a box cutter before officers could take him into custody.
► After a fire destroyed Colusa County’s Safe Haven Wellness Center in 2019, followed by a pandemic in 2020, the popular behavioral health drop-in program got back on track at a new location. The Colusa County Board of Supervisors authorized a lease on Sept. 28 with Craig Schaap for the Schaap Medical Building, located at 124 E. Webster St. The program had been shuttered for about two years.
► For the first time in many years, Colusa County residents living in long term residential care have the opportunity to live closer to home. The Colusa County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 28 approved the purchase of the former Mrs. Love’s Guest House in Williams to be used as a residential treatment facility for individuals that are unable to fully care for their individual needs. Colusa County agreed to purchase the former nursing home in Williams for $700,000 with funds available from the state in the Behavioral Health budget, with an additional $200,000 for minor repairs and modernization to make the facility operational. Officials had been looking for a local facility for several months to house individuals living with severe mental health issues, who need residential care and oversight.
OCTOBER
► The third annual Williams Antique Bottle and Collectibles Show held Oct 1-2 at the Old Gym of the Sacramento Valley Museum, was a smashing success. Show organizers said the event showcased bottles and other treasures that have survived for more than 150 years.
► The Arbuckle Pumpkin Festival was a big hit with visitors Oct. 2. The annual event, which included vendors and a pumpkin patch, attracted kids and adults from Colusa County and beyond. The event, which served as an official kick off to Halloween and the holidays, was hosted by the Arbuckle Revitalization Committee as a fundraiser for their beautification projects.
► Colusa County Health and Human Services on Oct. 5 launched an updated COVID-19 (Coronavirus) public dashboard to highlight week-over-week local data, including total cases and active cases, hospitalizations, deaths, case rate, and vaccination progress. Officials said that the dashboard is user-friendly and updated weekly each Monday, using locally curated data that oftentimes is more accurate and current than data posted by other entities. The County’s COVID-19 dashboard can be accessed on the county’s website.
► The Board of Supervisors on Oct. 5 formally affirmed that citizens of Colusa County have certain inalienable rights as citizens of the United States, while still being under the regulatory oversight of the state and federal government. Concerned that regulatory overreach manifested itself into nearly every facet of people’s daily lives, the board established the Colusa County Citizen’s Bill of Rights as a way to reaffirm the board’s “steadfast commitment” that they will conduct the public’s business in a manner that conforms to the proper role established by the people, nor would they adopt any ordinance, rule, or regulation that would unreasonably abridge Colusa County citizens of their fundamental rights. Board Chairman Gary Evans and Supervisor Kent Boes drafted the resolution.
► After shutting down for two straight years because of the pandemic, Cal Expo announced the return of the California State Fair and Food Festival this coming summer. The annual state exposition will run July 15-31, 2022, at Cal Expo in Sacramento, and will celebrate the best California has to offer in agriculture and technology. New to the State Fair this year will be the first-ever, state-sanctioned cannabis competition and awards. The cannabis “flower” competition was opened to all licensed California cannabis cultivators.
► After completing the city’s pavement improvement plan, Colusa officials confirmed that about 60 percent of the city’s 35.4 centerline miles of roads were in poor or failed condition. City Engineer Dave Swartz presented the City Council with a completed analysis of pavement conditions at their Oct. 5 meeting, in which he confirmed what city officials said they pretty much knew already about the condition of city streets. Swartz said the purpose of the Pavement Management Plan was for the city to keep track of inventory, store work history, and furnish budget estimates, so they optimize funding to improve the city’s streets, curbs, and gutters.
► The Colusa Planning Commission at their Oct. 13 meeting said they expect an update to the city’s cannabis ordinance to take several more months. The new ordinance, as proposed by city staff, calls for marijuana dispensaries to be allowed to operate in the city. The new ordinance would also align local regulations to match those of the state, as well as include the ban on cannabis cultivation in the downtown to align with the agreement the city made with Colusa County in exchange for annexation of Colusa Industrial Properties into city limits.
► School superintendents across Colusa County started telling students that good behavior was more rewarding than bad behavior, especially after dealing with the fallout of TikTok challenges. Officials said the social media challenge to “smack a staff member” was even more reckless than the previous month’s challenge encouraging students to vandalize school restrooms, and could result in criminal charges if students participate. A monthly challenge list began circulating on social media in September, asking students to first take or cause damage to school property, and then post the video of the vandalism to TikTok with the hashtag #DeviousLicks. The challenge went viral on multiple social media sites, resulting in millions of dollars in public property damages across the U.S. and a public backlash against the trend.
► As of Oct. 24, people who live in the 530 area code, including residents of Colusa County, were no longer able to make local calls simply by entering seven-digit numbers. Dialers were required to use 11 digits (1 + area code + telephone number) to make phone calls, due to a change in federal rules aimed at providing easier access to crisis resources nationwide. The change also affected eight other California area codes, including the 209, 562, 626, 650, 707, 925, 949, and 951. Sacramento’s 916 and 279 area codes will not notice a change because they have been dialing the extra digits for more than three years.
► After two years and 80 court appearances after John Williams III walked into the Umpqua Bank in Arbuckle with a handgun and robbed the teller of about $2,300, the 43-year-old Woodland man was convicted and sentenced to 16 years in state prison. Williams’ cousin, Michael Gene Jone, Jr., took a plea deal for his part in the robbery, in 2020, and was sentenced to nine years in prison.
► Walnut Ranch residents on Oct. 19 got the news they had been waiting on that could finally end an ordeal that lasted more than a decade to have the services they deserve as a City of Colusa subdivision. The former Del Oro water customers, who were long plagued with severe water quality issues, will get a new water and sewer system, thanks to the State of California and the Colusa City Council. The city announced that it received a $2.9 million grant for the sewer project and a combination $1.8 million grant/loan for the water project, officials said. The sewer grant will pay for 100 percent of the cost for the infrastructure to connect all customers who want to abandon their septic tanks with city services. The water grant will provide 90 percent of the project to provide new water mains and meters.
► The Williams City Council on Oct. 20 approved a contract with Bennett Engineering Services to complete a design concept for the E Street Improvement project. The design will build on the 2014 Downtown Revitalization and Mobility Plan, which included a review of what was needed then to bring the main corridor through the downtown, west of Interstate 5, into the 21st century. The plan is for the eventual improvements of E Street – all the way to Nicholaus Drive, city officials said.
► The annual Puptoberfest fundraiser for the Friends of the Colusa County Animal Shelter (FOCCAS) on Oct. 30 was a huge success. About a dozen dogs competed for prizes at the expanded event, which this year included vendors, yard games, kids crafts, food, and raffles. Puptoberst is held the Saturday before Halloween each year to educate the public about the Colusa County Animal Shelter and raise money to vaccinate, transport, and provide medical attention to the animals. The event raised about $4,000.
► After a two year hiatus, the Arbuckle Car Show and Train Depot Birthday Barbecue returned on Oct. 31 to an enthusiastic crowd of onlookers. Nearly 300 automobiles, representing each decade from the past century, were on display along Hall Street and the LaVanche Hursch Community Park area. More than 1,500 people turned out for the show, which had been canceled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
NOVEMBER
► The City Council on Nov. 2 overruled the Airport Land Use Commission’s determination that a 180-unit housing project currently under construction at Colusa Industrial Properties was inconsistent with the Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan. The unanimous decision occurred following a public hearing that continued through three tense public meetings since Sept. 7. After talking to numerous people and doing considerable investigation, the council said they felt comfortable allowing the project to move forward after the developer assured Colusa officials that those who purchased the first 12 homes in the new subdivision at Colusa Industrial Properties had signed the required easements – as will all future homebuyers – indicating they understand the hazards and risks of living near an airport.
► After a massive amount of money from local donors flowed to mostly businesses outside Colusa County for four summer festivals, the Colusa City Council implemented tighter controls on events planned in the future. The council voted 5-0 on Nov. 2 to approve a new event and tourism policy that will put oversight into the hands of the public’s representatives and away from overzealous staff. The decision to develop a policy for city-sponsored events came after City Manager Jesse Cain and Tourism Director Kristy Levings, who resigned from her post a few weeks later, spent in excess of $129,000 on unbudgeted expenses related to large events, such as the costly and exclusive Country in Colusa festival, without public discussion or authorization from the City Council.
► Officials from the California Department of Transportation and members of the State Legislature on Nov. 4 dedicated new freeway signs on Interstate 5 in Arbuckle to honor fallen Davis Police Officer Natalie Corona. Corona was 22 years old when she was shot and killed on Jan. 10, 2019, while she was investigating a traffic incident. The ceremony was well attended by Corona’s family, local officials, and a large contingency of law enforcement personnel.
► The Colusa County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 9 unanimously adopted a resolution expressing opposition to any policy, law, or executive order that creates a COVID-19 mandate. Supervisor Kent Boes, who co-sponsored the resolution with Chairman Gary Evans, said the County’s opposition to vaccine mandates stems from recent state and federal actions to mandate citizens get a vaccine or face the loss of their livelihoods.
► The Colusa County 4-H “Make it and Take it” Craft Expo on Nov. 6 had youth and adults of all ages making Christmas ornaments and other projects. Local clubs, parents, and volunteers hosted about a dozen different craft projects, with all the supplies provided to the public at cost, ranging from $1 to $10. The event was hosted by the Colusa County 4-H Council, a group of 4-H members and adults, who are passionate about the program and provide ideas and opinions about the way the local 4-H program is run. Many members of local 4-H clubs manned booths to teach a craft before doing a few crafts themselves.
► The annual Veteran’s Day observance ceremony in Colusa was held on Nov. 11. The Colusa Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2441 and the Maxwell American Legion Post No. 218 brought the community together to honor men and women who served in the U.S. armed forces, and to read the names of Colusa County’s veterans, whose names are etched into bricks on the memorial wall. There were 39 names added in 2021, bringing the total to 1,005.
► About a dozen people walked through the chill and fog in Colusa on Nov. 13 to send a message that suicide is preventable and no one is alone. The walk was in memory of Lyndsay Lee Gray, the 27-year-old sister of Williams resident Julia Ornbaun, who took her own life on June 19, 2020. Ornbaun organized the walk, which is intended to be an annual event, to raise awareness and help fund the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. The Colusa event was held in conjunction with Sacramento’s Out of the Darkness virtual walk.
► The inaugural Holiday with Friends Vendor and Craft Fair was held in front of the Colusa City Fire Station on Nov. 13, where 30 vendors collectively helped raise funds for local firefighters. Small business was the name of the game for the event, and featured local handmade crafts, soaps, candles, ornaments, and baked goods. The event raised over $1,600 for the Colusa Firefighters Association.
► The Stonyford Museum celebrated its 10th anniversary in conjunction with the opening of a temporary expanded military display, with numerous artifacts and photographs on loan from local families. The celebration on Nov. 14 was held to honor Stonyford area veterans – past and present – and included a short program and lunch at the Stonyford Community Hall, which included a honor guard and a three-volley gun salute by members of Maxwell American Legion Post No. 218 and Colusa Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2441.
► The Colusa County Board of Supervisors, in a ceremony on Nov. 19, renamed two sections of Old Highway 99W the Fallen Hero Memorial Highway in honor of U.S. Army Pfc. Justin Casillas, 19, of Dunnigan, and PFC Rueben “Boy” Lopez, 27, of Williams, the two Colusa County servicemen killed while fighting in the Afghanistan War.
► The Hold My Beer Flying Club hosted a Harvest Party Fly-in on Saturday, Nov. 20, in honor of the late Harry Krug. About a dozen or so airplanes converged on the Colusa County Airport for a quick lunch and opportunity to show off their aircraft. Krug retired as Colusa County Agricultural Commissioner and Airport Manager after three decades in county government. He was a founding member of the Colusa County Aviation Association and was instrumental in establishing the Colusa Old Tyme Fly-in (July) 25 years ago.
► The 2021 Colusa Holiday Craft Faire roared back from a pandemic year Nov. 20-21 for thousands of people in search of the perfect Christmas gift. The Colusa County Fairgrounds’ main exhibit buildings were brimming with crafts, ornaments, art, and treats. After COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the holiday favorite in 2020, the Craft Faire came back bigger and better and loaded with entertainment.
► Colusa Casino and Resort celebrated the official grand opening of the Wintun Mini Mart and fuel station on Nov. 29. Tribal officials said gas and grocery prices will remain competitive for everyone to enjoy, and they are looking forward to serving the entire community. Entry to the Mini Mart is temporarily through the Casino’s north parking lot, while the new Highway 45 access is under construction.
DECEMBER
► The Virginia Yerxa Community Read announced on Dec. 1 the selection of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” as the book-in-common for 2022. The Virginia Yerxa Community Read was founded in 2010 to honor Virginia Yerxa, whose long-standing mission was to promote literacy to Colusa’s youth. Book discussion and events for the spring are in the planning stages, leading up to the annual Virginia Read Day, scheduled for Saturday, April 30, 2022.
► It was just like old times in Colusa on Dec. 3. About 1,000 people flocked to Market Street for Christmas Tyme in Colusa, organized by the Colusa Lions Club, the Colusa Rotary Club, the Colusa County Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Colusa. After being cancelled last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and cut short in 2019 because of rain, having the event on a beautiful fall evening meant a lot to everyone.
► Tuxedos and shimmering dresses were in full effect on Dec. 4, with the presentation of “A Starry Night,” hosted by the Colusa County Arts Council. The formal affair was brought together by the Colusa County Arts Council Black Tie Committee: Brendan Farrell, Melissa and Antonio Ortiz, Sarah Keeley, Betsy and Nic Webber, Vicki Pulsifer, Jessica Andreotti, and Sadie Ash.
► Colusa County Public Health reported Dec. 6 that two more deaths could be attributed to COVID-19, bringing the total number of Colusa County residents that have died from the virus to 24. Colusa County had 3,316 confirmed cases of COVID-19 since its first case in March 2020, when the novel SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus) first emerged in the region. The total number of cases was up 34 from the 3,282 reported on Nov. 29. At a press conference on Dec. 1, Gov. Gavin Newsom continued to urge Californians to get vaccinated and get a booster shot, but cautioned people not to panic over the new variant Omicron that was present in the state.
► Eight decades after the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Empire of Japan that killed 2,403 Americans, the bravery of those who were catapulted into immediate battle were not forgotten in Colusa County. Members of Colusa Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2441 and Maxwell American Legion Post No. 218 gathered at Veterans Memorial Park, in Colusa, on a cold and foggy Dec. 7, to remember the day that launched the U.S. into World War II.
► After the Nov. 30 departure of Colusa’s Director of Economic Development, Tourism, and Communications, city officials agreed to scale back the position and try again. The City Council on Dec. 7 approved a new grant writer position and plans to seek someone who will identify grants, submit applications, and administer the funding until the projects are completed. The position is similar to that which had public support 16 months ago, before the job description blossomed into a first-of-its-kind, multi-function department head, whose duties centered largely on event planning and promotions. City officials said they hope to secure a grant writer, who would have more simplified responsibilities as a member of the city’s mid-management union, yet be tasked with working with all department heads to secure funding for their departments.
► Colusa City Councilman Tom Reishe will serve out 2022 and his 20th year on the dais as mayor of the city. The City Council handed the gavel back to Reische on a unanimous vote on Dec. 7, their last meeting in 2021, knowing he is not planning to seek reelection in the November election. Councilman Daniel Vaca, who was elected to the council in 2020, was selected to serve as Colusa’s vice-mayor (Pro Tempore) in 2022.
► The Williams City Council on Dec. 8 selected Pace Engineering to provide professional services for the city’s planned sewer collection upgrade project. Williams officials said the $5.5 million project to repair the aging sewer infrastructure in the west side of town had been in the works for a number of years. The city plans to repair 42 pipeline mechanical deficiencies, replace 15 manholes, replace approximately 12,245 lineal feet of clay pipe, replace about 3,125 lineal feet of pipeline currently at capacity, and improve the PD lift (pump) station, North Street lift station, and Peto Street lift station.
► The Colusa County Board of Supervisors remain in the hunt for a possible solution to the ambulance shortage that won’t entail the formation of a special tax assessment district. The board on Dec. 11 said they still have a lot of work ahead to choose a course of action to meet their statutory requirement to provide ambulance services, but they must also establish a revenue source. Colusa County officials said they may consider a sales tax initiative before the voters on the June 7 primary ballot. Currently, Enloe Medical Center is subsidizing ambulance services, even after they cut back from one full-time and one part-time ambulance to just one 24-hour ambulance, at a loss of about $500,000 a year, officials said.
► The Festival of Lights Parade, sponsored by the Williams Community Church, drew hundreds of people to the downtown on Dec. 11 to enjoy entertainment, food, vendors, family fun games, and a tree lighting ceremony. The annual event also included a light parade, led by a Williams Fire Department engine that delivered Santa Claus to the festivities. Morning Star was judged the best float.
► The Colusa County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 14 authorizing an application for $20 million in state funds to build an apartment complex in Colusa that will provide housing for low-income individuals and families – and people with special needs, including chronic mental health issues that contribute to homelessness. The funds, if awarded, would come from the Department of Housing and Community Development that have been made available by the state through the “No Place Like Home Program,” said Gus Bacerra, executive director of the Regional Housing Authority, who is overseeing the project. The RHA already has secured the land, located in the 1700 block of State Route 20, between the Assembly of God Church and shopping center. Once all the funding is secured, groundbreaking could happen in the spring or summer of 2023.
► The fifth annual Maxwell Country Christmas and annual Lighted Tractor Parade went off without a hitch on Dec. 17. Hosted by the Maxwell Parks and Recreation District, parade enthusiasts, small business shoppers, and patrons alike were not disappointed. De Pue Warehouse was crowned the victor of the 2021 parade.
► The Wreaths Across America ceremony in Colusa on Dec. 18 joined family members of veterans with former and active-duty service members to remember all those who served in the armed forces, by placing wreaths on their graves. The annual program was in coordination of wreath-laying ceremonies at more than 2,700 participating locations across the United States, at sea, and abroad.
► The Bureau of Reclamation announced on Dec. 21 that the 111-year-old East Park Reservoir was being refilled, with a little help from the rain, after a summer drawdown of water to inspect and repair the dam gate. The reservoir and surrounding parklands closed last August to allow for the dam inspections when the reservoir level was at its lowest since 1977, due to drought conditions. Restocking of fish will occur March through June 2022. Within two years all stocked fish species are anticipated to be reproducing and growing well to support improved conditions for recreational fishing. The reservoir and surrounding parklands are anticipated to be reopened by the County of Colusa in April. ■