January
From an increase in the minimum wage to the elimination of Jaywalking as a pedestrian violation, a host of new laws took effect in California on New Year’s Day 2023. Minimum wage earners saw an increase in their hourly rate to $15.50 per hour. It was the last annual installment implemented under SB 3, passed in 2016, that gradually raised wages from $10. The new year also rang in greater criminal protections. SB 1228 prohibited law enforcement agencies from using the DNA collected from a sexual assault victim from being used in the investigation of an unrelated crime, and SB 836 prohibited disclosure of a person’s immigration status in open court in a criminal case by any party unless approved by a judge. SB 1008 provided free phone calls to people detained in California prisons and jails.
Eight new and returning elected officials took their oaths of office on Jan. 2 in the upstairs courtroom of the historic Colusa County Courthouse. A ninth was sworn in earlier by a county clerk in a private ceremony. Before a large gathering of family, friends, and county employees, the Hon. Jeffrey A. Thompson swore in new District Attorney Brendan Farrell as the top law enforcement officer in Colusa County. District 5 Supervisor Janice Bell and Clerk- Recorder Cristy Edwards were also sworn into their first terms in office, after successfully winning contested races in the Nov. 8 election. Auditor Controller Robert Zunino was sworn into his first elected term of office, after winning the June primary in an uncontested race.
The Colusa County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 2 unanimously selected District 3 Supervisor Kent Boes to take the helm of the county in 2023. Boes, who represents the Williams area, served as chairman in 2020 and was vice chairman under Merced Corona in 2022. Boes will seek his third term in office in 2024. District 4 Supervisor Gary Evans was selected to serve as vice chairman. Evans has served multiple stints as chairman and vice chairman since first elected in 2002. He will retire at the end of the current term in December 2024.
The Colusa County Board of Supervisors, in its first meeting of the New Year, approved an $5.5 million short term loan from the Road Department and $4.4 million from District Funds to cover operational expenses to cover operational expenses after learning the county will have $2 million less revenue annually, despite increasing salaries, pension liabilities, and the cost of providing services to the public.
The Colusa City Council in January referred setting a possible cap on cannabis businesses within city limits back to the Planning Commission. Much like a ball, the discussion to limit cannabis – particularly retail establishments – bounced between the advisory group and the governing body since 2021, when the City Council on a 3-1 vote reversed a previously held position that marijuana “dispensaries” were nuisances and were inconsistent with the city’s goal to provide and maintain a family-oriented and safe community. Many citizens, including former Mayor John Rogers, called for city officials to limit and better regulate all cannabis businesses after the city embraced an industry now marred by lofty expectations and unkept promises. By the end of 2023, with two new members on the City Council, the previous decision to allow dispensaries in the downtown commercial districts was reversed. The council also limited the number that could operate to just one.
After three years of extreme drought, rain fell in California the second week in January, enough for run-off from mountain creeks and streams to flow over a few Colusa County roads and swell the Sacramento River up the banks of its massive levee. According to the National Weather Service, most of California saw precipitation amounts that occur about every five years. The rain was a welcomed sight as was the return of a more “normal” winter, officials said.
A Woodland man was sentenced in Colusa County Superior Court on Jan. 18 to two years in state prison for his window-breaking spree at two Colusa elementary schools, a historical landmark owned by the Colusa Unified School District, and a state office building. Tab Edward Lenhardt Jr., 37, admitted in a plea deal to vandalizing Burchfield Primary School, Egling Middle School, and the Colusa Unified School District’s office, which is in the former Colusa Union High School, constructed in 1926 and listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
The Sites Project Authority in announced findings from a new analysis that projected Sites Reservoir could have diverted and captured 120,000 acre-feet of water in just two weeks if the reservoir had been operational from Jan. 3 through Jan. 15. Based on forecasted flows, the analysis shows that the reservoir would have continued to capture water over the next few weeks as flows continued to run high.
Due to lengthy delays, the Colusa County Sheriff’s Office unveiled the new $36.6 million price tag for the new sheriff’s office and jail, up from its original estimate of $17 million in 2017. Despite the increase in cost, the county still plans to build a separate, stand-alone facility on county-owned land east of the existing substandard jail to provide 96 detention beds in podular-style housing units, safety and respiratory isolation cells, a medical and dental exam area, and space for educational services and mental health treatment.
County officials said they looked at areas in which they could have saved some money, but determined changing the scope of the project would require the county to basically start the approval process over. Additionally, the new facility as designed is still desired and construction is anticipated in 2024.
The 44th District Agricultural Association selected Terry Bressler on Jan. 25 to lead the organization in 2023.
Bressler, the most senior member on the Fair Board, replaced Mike Doherty, who served in the leadership position since 2021. Bressler is known for getting things done, whether he is working the Colusa County Fair Livestock Auction or overseeing the Colusa County Farm Show. He was born, raised, and lives in Colusa, and has served on the fair board since 1999.
The Williams Police Department in January was recognized for a third consecutive year for excellence in policy management and training by Lexipol, the nation’s leading provider of policy, training, and wellness support for first responders and public servants. It was the second consecutive time that the department achieved Gold level status, the highest level of recognition currently offered by Lexipol.
FEBRUARY
first of its kinds on the west coast.
On Feb. 1, the Colusa Fire Department graduated three new recruits and a former seasoned volunteer to the ranks of firefighters. Martin Contreras, Salvador Lara, and Diego Avila were sworn in by Fire Chief Logan Conley, along with William “Billy” Wolf, who returned to the fire department as a volunteer after a lengthy absence.
Colusa Girl Scouts on Feb. 1 donated backpacks with toiletries to Karen’s House, a local nonprofit that was organized in memory of Karen Garcia, who was murdered in 2018, after trying to escape a troubled relationship.
The seventh and eighth graders selected the activity to learn about what is acceptable and what is not acceptable in relationships.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency in February delivered preliminary flood maps for unincorporated Colusa County and the cities of Colusa and Williams. The maps identify revised flood hazards along the Sacramento River, Stone Corral Creek near Maxwell, Salt Creek at Williams, and two reaches of Elk Creek. Approximately 2,700 parcels were newly designated as being in a special flood zone hazard; 1,900 in the county; 700 in the city of Colusa; and the balance in and around the city of Williams. The FEMA changes will affect future building standards or insurance requirements, officials said.
FFA members from high schools all over California have converged on Pierce High School on Feb. 4 for one of the largest agriculture field day competitions in the state. The 2023 Arbuckle Field Day celebrated the 25th anniversary of the event, which grew from three agriculture-related contests and a handful of students in 1998 to about 20 contests with more than 1,000 competitors in 2023.
The Colusa Farm Show, Feb. 7-9, brought the usual flood of visitors through the gates of the Colusa County Fairgrounds to learn about the latest in farm equipment and agriculture-related services. Farmers who attended the show said the recent wet weather bode well for agriculture, but they were pleased the rain held off for them to enjoy the show.
Gloom was not the kind of warm and fuzzy feeling the Colusa County Board of Supervisors wanted in a mid-year budget review on Valentine’s Day, but no one was shocked that the year was to be a tough row to hoe. In addition to the permanent annual $1.7 million reduction to the general fund the county was struggling with the rising cost of doing business and losses from an agricultural economy that was not as robust as typical. At midyear, the county’s $137.5 million budget increased $1.14 million to $138.6 million; Revenue increased $579,200, and restricted reserves decreased $564,648.
The five men arrested by the Colusa County SOAR Team in connection to the massive illegal marijuana operation at the old rice mill on E. Main Street in Colusa in April 2022 each pleaded no contest to a single misdemeanor cultivation charge in Colusa County Superior Court on Monday. Bo Sen Tan, 46, Hong Pin Zhen, 53, Guo Ming Zhang, 57, Xin Shi Yu, 46, and Gouhui Chou, 44, were each sentenced to 30 days in jail and one year probation on Feb. 13 after accepting a plea deal with the Colusa County DA’s Office that dismissed the felony charge of conspiracy to commit a crime. All five men were reportedly connected to a larger criminal organization working mostly in San Joaquin, Alemeda, and Madera counties, allegedly run by a Stockton man by the name of Gaoyuao Huang, according to court documents. Following their arrest, the Sheriff’s office located and eradicated 4,832 mature marijuana plants in the building.
The city councils of Colusa and Williams, in February, approved new four-year contracts with the County of Colusa to continue to receive police dispatch services. The cities agreed to pay the county $123,681.60 per calendar year (as of Jan 1) for 24-hour per day dispatch services, with a 5% increase scheduled per year through 2026. The Colusa County Sheriff’s Dispatch Center operates around the clock, seven days per week, and routes both emergency (911) and non-emergency calls from the public for police services to the appropriate agency or service authority, officials said.
About 60 people attended the annual Winter Meeting of the Colusi County Historical Society on Feb. 18 in the Trinity Methodist Church Friendship Hall, in Colusa, to view the work Mike and Julie Garofalo have done to identify the names and locations of Colusa’s late 19th and turn-of-the-20th century downtown businesses. Mike Garofalo started the social media page “Colusa County Historic Photos” in 2015, specifically to share old photographs taken between the 1880s and 1950s of city scenes, railroads, steamships, churches, and structures, among other subjects.
A Colusa man who has spent nearly 20 years in prison for a gang-related shooting that resulted in the death of a 14- year-old boy won’t be getting out of jail early because of California’s new resentencing laws. Armando Gutierrez Leon was 16 years old when he and Pedro Hernandez Hererra, 18, admitted to firing .32-caliber pistols at the group of teenagers they believed were rival gang members, killing Miguel Muniz Algeria (known as Miguel Muniz) on Aug. 23, 2012. Colusa County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey A Thompson on Feb. 22 dismissed Leon’s petition for resentencing after agreeing with District Attorney Brenden Farrell that he was not eligible under section 1172.6 because he was not convicted of felony murder. Leon will be eligible for parole in November 2026.
The Colusa County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 28 gave the go ahead to Colusa County Behavioral Health to pursue plans to develop a westside campus in Williams to provide mental health and other services. A plan to provide services on the westside of the county has been a longtime goal of District 3 Supervisor Kent Boes, who represents the Williams area. Colusa County Behavioral Health Director Tony Hobson said county department heads
have realized there is a need to provide people in the western portion of the county better access to services.
MARCH
Colusa’s Premier Mushrooms (Farmers’ Fresh) and Colusa County Chamber of Commerce hosted the annual Grant Breakfast on March 1 at Market Street Grill to award the 2022 community grants to local nonprofit organizations.
Colusa County Library Literacy Program, Maxwell Park and Recreation District Auxiliary, Williams Jr/Sr High School Art Club, Pacific Flyway Quilters, Studio ABC, Eleanor Azevedo Youth Empowerment Services (YES), Arbuckle Volunteer Firefighters Association, Colusa Dreams & Wishes, and The Stagehands each received awards of $200-$250 for the 2022 grant cycle.
Dozens of walkers and runners in Sunday’s Almond Fun Run in Arbuckle crossed the finish line on March 4 to mark another successful fundraiser for Pierce education. The Arbuckle Fun Run for Education Committee hosted the annual 1-mile and 5-K event this year to support the Pierce band program.
Members of Colusa County 4-H clubs were recognized on March 4 for their photography, arts and crafts, scrapbooks, decorated cakes, home furnishings, LEGO projects, woodworking, and other projects. The annual “Anything but Animals” Still Exhibits Day brought out the best in creativity. The event had about 90 entries, an increase from the past few years during the pandemic.
John Troughton Jr. was selected March 6 to serve as Chairman of the Colusa County Planning Commission through 2023. Troughton served on the Colusa County Planning Commission since Feb 1, 2021, and served as vice-chair in 2022. He is the current Treasurer for the City of Williams, having previously served as Mayor. The Planning Commission selected Elizabeth Yerxa to serve as vice-chair for 2023. Yerxa has served on the Planning Commission since Feb 1, 2022. Yerxa serves on the City of Colusa Parks, Recreation and Tree Commission.
The Williams City Council on March 15 authorized the city administrator to close the sale of the long-vacant bowling alley for use as a community food distribution warehouse.
The city will purchase the building, located at 470 7th St., from Alex Hussein for $400,000, using Community Development Block Grant program income funds.
City Administrator Frank Kennedy proposed multiple projects, including a park or purchase of facilities for city offices, to California Housing and Community Development. The food distribution center was the only project that qualified.
The Lake County man, who was given a second chance after firing five shots at an occupied Mercedes as it sped through the Orv’s Gas Station parking lot in December 2019 in a “drug deal gone wrong,” was sentenced to two
years in Colusa County jail on March 13 after violating the terms of his probation by allegedly cultivating and trafficking large quantities of illegal marijuana. Brandon Bowyer, 26, Bowyer was arrested again following a Lake
County Sheriff’s Office raid on his home and property that turned up nine pounds of processed marijuana and more than 300 marijuana plants.
Block was hosted by the Friends Around the Block Quilt Shop.
The Friends Around the Block Quilt Store hosted the annual Quilts Around the Block on March 18, which was the biggest so far and included a car show, vendor fair, and pancake breakfast at the Colusa Fire Department. The event
that celebrates National Quilt Day and National Quilt Month is something the Friends Around the Block plan to expand even further to drive even more people who love quilting and fabric art to the store each year and
downtown.
The Sites Project Authority in March announced updated findings from an analysis that projected Sites Reservoir could have diverted and captured enough water from recent storms to supply hundreds of thousands of households if it were in operation today.
The Colusa City Council on March 23 agreed to borrow $1.7 million from the city’s Utilities Department to complete the purchase of the former Pirelli Cable Company building and property, located on Will S. Green Road.
The loan will allow the city to move forward with plans that have been in the works since 2020 to convert the facility into a hub for the manufacturing of various products, including those made from agricultural byproducts.
After a lengthy hiatus for the COVID-19 pandemic, the Williams Community Center Youth Art Show roared back in 2023 with about 125 entries from students from around Colusa County. The Art Show was held March 25, in
Williams, and dedicated to Joan Marie Holybee, who died in 2022. Students from Egling Middle School, Our Lady of Lourdes, Lloyd Johnson Jr. High, Princeton Jr/Sr High School, Williams Jr/Sr High School, and Williams
Community School entered pen and pencil drawings, paintings, art history projects, and sculpture for the show, which had been held annually since 2017 until the pandemic. Kandy Ruiz, of Arbuckle, won best of show.
The Colusa County Board of Supervisors said it will take more than a three-hour group workshop to come up with a plan to overcome a shrinking budget and face recruitment challenges in a millennial age.
The board met with Human Resources Director Dar Rhodes and department heads at a roundtable workshop inside the Colusa Industrial Properties Conference Room on March 27 to discuss a potential service model shift that will allow the county to save money, keep good workers, and attract a younger workforce to government service.
With this season’s statewide snowpack at 227% of average as of March 27, California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways, the Department of Water Resources, and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection are urging the public to take extra precautions and to be aware of cold-water dangers this spring to avoid a tragedy. The series of winter storms is causing rising river and stream flow levels not seen in years, state officials
said Tuesday. The eventual spring warm-up will bring fast flows and cold temperatures when all that snow starts to melt. All Californians are being encouraged to wait until summer to recreate in the water, when conditions are safer.
APRIL
The Colusa Unified School District’s top seniors from the Class of 2023 were recognized April 4 for their academic achievement at the annual Super Seven Dinner, hosted by the Rotary Club of Colusa and Colusa Unified School District. The high achievers were Alisson Torres, Lexy Avera, Rodolfo Rodriguez Mendoza, Nisi Patel, Chucky Lozano Rodriguez, Sofia Benitez, and Kegen Wells. The Super Seven Dinner was started by the Colusa Woman’s Club in 1974 and included the top seven from the junior class. Previous hosting organizations also included Soroptimist International of Colusa County, the Torchbearer Gamma Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, and the Colusa Lion’s Club.
The Colusa County Board of Supervisors on April 11 appointed seven people to the Colusa County Citizens Advisory Committee to make all recommendations as to how revenue from the half-cent sales tax increase will be spent to provide ground ambulance services within Colusa County. Measure A, which was approved by voters on Nov. 8 and went into effect April 1, is expected to generate about $2 million in new revenue from the purchase of taxable goods and services countywide. The seven-member committee is composed of five members appointed by each Supervisor and two members who represent EMS/First Responders, approved by the entire board. The committee includes Matt Alonso, Don Litchfield, Andi Armstrong, Allen Beck, Jeff Winters, who will serve (four- year) terms concurrent with their appointee supervisor. The First Responder/EMS members selected to serve two- year terms are Bo Salazar, a fire engineer with the Colusa Fire Department, and Ty Urrutia, a volunteer with the Maxwell Fire Protection District. The committee will study problems of general or special interest to the board regarding ground ambulance services, make reports, and recommend the expenditure of funds.
Colusa County officials warned all debit and EBT card holders that SKIMMING devices were located at several locations, which allowed criminals to steal directly from people’s bank accounts. Skimming occurs when devices
illegally installed on ATMs, point-of-sale (POS) terminals, or fuel pumps capture data or record cardholders’ PIN numbers. Criminals then use the data to create fake debit or credit cards to steal from their victims’ accounts.
Officials also discovered a skimming device at Colusa SAV Mor that was used to steal about $40,000 from 49 card holders.
The Colusa County Board of Supervisors on April 11 agreed to mortgage two of the county’s newest administrative properties to repay the road and bridge fund the $10 million they borrowed in January to meet its capital needs,
including the county's obligation to the Sites Reservoir Project. The board borrowed against the Colusa County Courthouse annex building on Oak Street and the Behavioral Health Center on East Carson Street for a period of 30 years. In exchange for the $10 million, the county will lease the property from Public Property Financing Corporation of California, a nonprofit corporation that holds the note.
The Stonyford man who started the vegetation fire in Stonyford in June of 2022 that destroyed several was sentenced April 17 to two years in state prison for his previous no contest plea to one felony charge after he violated
his probation. Karl Kristofors, 68, requested to serve time rather than be ordered by the Colusa County Probation Department to modify his behavior and follow their rules, which included abstaining from and testing for alcohol,
marijuana, and controlled substances, officials said.
The annual Family Fair was held April 15 at the Colusa County Fairgrounds, and families were happy to see its return to its original location. Colusa County Local Childcare Planning Council and Colusa County Office of Education Children’s Services host the event each April to celebrate Month of the Young Child and Child Abuse Prevention Month. Colusa County families attended the Family Fair in droves. Kids received goodies like children’s books, bookmarks, pencils, activity books and crayons, treats, and bubbles, while parents received information about literacy, employment opportunities, and health.
In a stunning reversal, the Williams City Council voted 4-1 against a new ordinance that would allow retail cannabis stores to operate within city limits. After first approving the first reading of the ordinance by a 3-2 margin in March, council decided at their April 19 meeting to say no to the controversial industry. Those four members opposed to open retail of marijuana feared that allowing a pot store in town would be selling out to outside pressure and
marketing strategies that influence young people to take up a product that may be legal but is engineered to be highly addictive.
The Colusa County Board of Supervisors on April 25 proclaimed the fourth Friday in April as Children’s Memorial Flag Day throughout the county to memorialize children who have died of violence. The flag is red with a
centerpiece depicting blue, paper-doll-like figures of children holding hands, with a white chalk outline of a missing child in the center to symbolize the children lost to violence.
MAY
The Colusa County Board of Supervisors on May 4 proclaimed May 2023 as Mental Health Matters Month. County officials said mental health challenges are one of the most common health conditions in California, affecting one out
of six adults and impacting both the person experiencing the condition and those who care or love them.
After an unusual morning downpour on May 6, the clouds parted and the sun peeked out for the annual May Surprise, a multi-organization event at Will S. Green Park. The annual wine and cheese tasting event, hosted by the
Friends of the Colusa County Library is the largest fundraiser of the year for the organization that helps to financially support the Colusa County Free Library system. It was the 19th wine tasting event for the Friends of the
Library. This year, the Colusa Parks, Recreation, and Tree Commission participated at May Surprise by planting the last of 30 spring trees purchased by the Rotary Club of Colusa at the Scout Cabin. The Garden Club of Colusa and the Colusa County Arts Council also participated. The biggest surprise of the day was the recognition of the Colusa Heritage Preservation Commission, in appreciation of their work to update and publish Jane Carter’s 1988 book, “If the Walls Could Talk,” about Colusa’s architectural heritage.
The Board of State and Community Corrections in May awarded the City of Colusa nearly $1.7 million to help mitigate the negative impacts on health and safety resulting in the city embracing the cannabis industry. The city will
receive $1,688,033 over five years for the city to help regulate indoor and outdoor cannabis, and projects that promote public health and safety. To do that, the City Council will use the money to fund 80 percent of a police officer position with benefits, a code enforcement officer, and a code enforcement vehicle, with the state reimbursing their portion quarterly.
The small foothill community celebrated its biggest weekend of the year, when the Stony Creek Horsemen wrangled in their 80th Stonyford Rodeo, May 5-7. With on and off rain showers, the rodeo got underway with the crowning
and grand entry of 2023 Stonyford Rodeo Queen, Jillian (Edwards) Swensen, followed by a weekend of professional bull and saddle bronc riding, among other events.
Colusa County rice fields were humming with activity in May, a far cry from 2022 when fields went fallow. For a county that depends on its agriculture economy, 2022 was the worst in history for multiple crops after frost, reduced
water deliveries, drought, and a progressive heat wave decimated almond, rice, and walnut production, Colusa County top three crops, which accounts for most of the county’s $900 million gross production value from local farms.
The Colusa City Council on May 16 approved a full spending plan for the city’s $1.4 million allocation of one-time funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law on March 11, 2021. The city has received all its funding from ARPA with the caveat that the funds be spent entirely by Dec. 31, 2026. About $1 million was slated for workplace safety, technology, and equipment upgrades, which include $175,000 for the telephones and computer server at City Hall, and $150,000 on new accounting software for the Finance Department.
The Fire Department was awarded about $300,000 for equipment upgrades and replacements, like a new vehicle extraction tool, an AED defibrillator, and digital radios. In addition to $120,000 for new police vehicles and $45,035
for police radios, previously approved, the Police Department was allocated $156,000 for a master server upgrade, mobile radio replacement, and an additional patrol vehicle.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, on May 23, appointed Jolyn Campbell, of Princeton, to the 44th District Agricultural Association. The newest member of the nine-member Colusa County Fair Board took her seat for her first regular meeting on May 24. Campbell replaced E. Dan O’Connell, who resigned in early 2022.
The World No Tobacco Day event in Colusa on May 27 served as a reminder that good health begins with good habits. The Colusa County Department of Public Health held a resource fair in Veterans Memorial Park, where
multiple agencies and local businesses participated. World Tobacco Day is celebrated to inform the public on the dangers of using tobacco.
Memorial Day may have been the unofficial kick off to summer but, for many, May 29 was a day to remember veterans who died in service to their country and to honor their sacrifice. In five Colusa County cemeteries and the
veteran’s memorial in Arbuckle, community members gathered with patriotic spirit to preserve the ideals and freedoms of the American people. The ceremonies were held to honor those killed in action, but, in part, to
recognize veterans who found their final resting places long after their service.
JUNE
Graduating seniors from Colusa County high schools were awarded their diplomas and recognized for their academic achievements on June 2, before being sent on their way to find a new path in the journey of life. Speeches,
inspiration, and music filled the ceremonies at Colusa, Maxwell, Pierce, Princeton, and Williams high schools before members of the Class of 2023 crossed stages, accepted an official document acknowledging they completed the 12th grade, shook the hands of school officials, posed for photographs, waved to family and friends on the sidelines, turned their tassels from one side to the other, and finally tossed their caps into the air.
Williams Pioneer Day on June 3 was more than just a parade and daylong festival that ended in fireworks. The annual event, which has been around since the 1970s, was a time for hometown pride and celebration. The event
drew hundreds of people to the downtown. Military veterans, members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2441, and Girl Scouts led the parade, which was organized by Ben Padillia, Williams Recreation Department Director, after the City of Williams was handed the torch by the Citizens for a Better Williams. The parade featured a bevy of emergency vehicles, decorated floats, vehicles, and walking groups. The late City Councilman Sajit Singh was honored posthumously as the 2023 Pioneer Day Grand Marshal. Singh, 49, died unexpectedly on Sept. 12, 2022, just a few days shy of his 50th birthday.
More than five years after two women were found bludgeoned to death on an Arbuckle farm, Martin Christian Ehrke on June 5 officially entered a dual plea of not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity. The case continues to progress through Colusa County Superior Court.
The Colusa County Board of Supervisors on June 6 approved the installation of new interactive art and literary displays at each of the seven branches in the Colusa County Free Library system. Colusa artist Mark Vargo has been commissioned to install interactive sculptures at the Colusa, Maxwell, Princeton, Williams, Arbuckle, Grimes, and Stonyford libraries. The sculptures will be touchable and relatable to children and people of all ages, said Colusa
County Library Director Stacey Costello.
The Colusa City Council on June 6 recognized the Colusa Police Department’s lengthy service to the citizens of Colusa. Colusa Chief of Police Josh Fitch accepted a certificate of appreciation from Colusa Mayor Greg Ponciano
on June 6, for his department’s effort to protect life and property, and keep the peace of their beautiful city. The Colusa Police Department was formed in 1922 and has had 10 police chiefs. Fitch has served the community for 18
years as a law enforcement officer for the CPD and has been at the helm of the department since 2015.
of the Colusa County Fair. From left are Letzy Ambriz, 2023 Miss Colusa County Allison Traynham, First runner up
Shelby Dunlap, Sophia Deniz, and Miss Congeniality Teresita Salazar.
The Colusa County Fair Foundation gave three Heritage Awards on June 10 to people whose legacy will follow them for generations. The presentation of the prestigious awards preceded the Jr. Livestock Auction Sale of Champions. Fair Foundation President Dan Bailey presented the 2023 Heritage Awards to Jim Buchanan, the late Raechel Reading and daughter Pam Niehues, and the David and Sherry Perry family for their efforts to preserve the traditions of the Colusa County Fair. The Colusa County Fair Foundation dedicated the 2023 livestock auction to the late Bob Vierra, and announced the proceeds from the Parent Showmanship, held June 7, as a pre-fair event, will go to build the Bob Vierra Memorial Sale Announcer Stand at the fairgrounds.
Gia Rudiger, 12, of Maxwell, was crowned Colusa County Mini Miss at a pre-fair event at the Colusa County Fairgrounds on June 7. The following night, Allison Traynham, 17, was crowned Miss Colusa County before hundreds of people who packed the grandstands opening night of the 2023 Colusa County Fair on June 8.
On June 17, the annual Colusa Founders Celebration was dedicated to the Colusa Fire Department, which celebrated its 150 th year in 2023. Founders Day included a vendor fair in Veterans Memorial Park, kids activities at the Colusa County Courthouse Gazebo Park, which included performances by Fiddlin’ Brothers and Joe Moye, and special activities at the Arts Council gallery and Colusa Branch Library. At the Colusa Fire Station, a free hamburger and
hot dog lunch was held, along with a station tour of historic exhibits and a kids mini muster.
The Williams City Council on June 21 approved a preliminary operating budget to fund police and fire protection, city administration, and other public services for two years. Williams is expected to spend about $11.7 million this fiscal year, of which $6 million is in general fund expenditures for 2023/24 and $6.2 million general fund for 2024/25. The city has budgeted $2.7 million for police protection this year, up from $2.5 in 2022.The cost for police services will increase to $2.9 million by 2025, according to the preliminary budget.
Eight families were celebrated on June 24 for moving up in the world of homeownership or for putting down new roots in Arbuckle. NeighborWorks Sacramento hosted a block party in a Smoky Hollow area subdivision to
celebrate the completion of the second phase of Self-Help homebuilding. The Self-Help program is a growing trend that allows families to contribute labor hours or “sweat equity” that is used as a down payment on their new home.
Riley Thuemler was radiant as she reigned over the Portuguese Festa in Princeton on June 25. The 15-year-old said she was thrilled to carry on a tradition that dates to the 13 th century when Portugal’s Queen Isabella’s generosity to the poor during Europe’s great famine was well known. The Princeton Holy Ghost and St. Anthony Festival, a celebration of faith, thanksgiving, and tradition, began about four days before the festa, as local Portuguese families began preparations for two meals of roast beef, sopas (French bread in a cabbage broth), and potato salad, which were served family style on large picnic tables to hundreds of people.
A San Francisco woman with a habit of entering people’s homes to eat food and take a nap was sentenced to 90 days in the Colusa County Jail. Brooke Nicole Eliason, 34, pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge on June 26 of
aggravated trespass in a plea deal with the District Attorney’s Office that dismissed a felony burglary charge.