Here are some newspaper stories published this week in years past.
25 Years Ago
Parade of teachers addresses board; responses shut down
Union refers to district’s ‘hard-to-prove poverty;’ officials accuse union of distorting financial facts.
By Elaine Gray, Staff Writer
Tension between teachers and Chico Unified School District has increased after what one board member described as “an attack” at Wednesday’s board of education meeting. …
Wednesday more than 200 teachers again jammed the regular school board meeting, wearing buttons reading, “I do not want to strike but I will,” and hoisting protest signs.
The union is demanding an 8.08 percent pay hike; the district has offered zero percent. And after months without movement in negotiations, frustration is mounting on both sides. …
The latest school board meeting, the most confrontational yet, was repeatedly interrupted by teachers who gave standing ovations for an hour-long succession of speakers.
When board members tried to respond Tuesday night, they were shouted down.
“They wanted a monologue, not a dialogue,” school board president Donna Aro said Thursday. “They sounded more like Halloween revelers than teachers.” …
Outspoken union crisis chairman Mike Higginson’s red “Hotline” newsletters to teachers feature a ticking time bomb with an ever-shortening fuse.
The Hotline and other union communications also feature, according to district officials, a lot of misinformation. …
Tamara Drean, a representative of the state-wide teachers union, the California Teachers Association (CTA), also addressed the board Wednesday, for the first time since negotiations between the district and its teachers stalled.
She responded to a previous comment by the board president encouraging CTA to audit CUSD’s budget, and in that way perhaps the local union that there is no money being hidden from teachers.
“I understand you’re going to invite me or CTA to audit your books,” Drean said. “I respectfully decline the invitation, and that’s not because I wouldn’t love to know what’s in your books, it’s because I already pretty much know what’s in your books.”
The union’s combative attitude is particularly galling when budget cuts are being made to give the teachers some kind of pay raise this year, Aro said. …
Higginson added, “The fact that the board is not comfortable when they are confronted by 500 teachers who want them to answer the hard question: ‘why do you think so little of us?’ is not the association’s fault.”
But district officials say union communications sometimes exacerbate misunderstanding among teachers. A common misperception, they said, is that CUSD can choose whether to spend facilities funds on employees, ,,,
“This seems to continue to be a point of confusion,” said Deputy Superintendent Paul Carras. “Even the community thinks we have deep pockets because of the school bond. …
“The bottom line is, we don’t have the money to give our teachers an 8.08 percent raise. It’s not there,” said Carras. “Are we looking for money for them? Yes, and we’ve said that all along.”
— Enterprise-Record, Feb. 5, 1999
50 Years Ago
Butte Pathologist Testifies Death in Rockpiles — Exposure
By Len Steinberg, Enterprise-Record Staff Writer
OROVILLE — Dr. Cosmo Avato, Oroville pathologist, testified today that Daniel Allen “Danny” Gibson of Oroville died of exposure complicated by early pneumonia, chronic alcoholism and malnutrition.
Avato, who performed the autopsy, was the first witness this morning in a continuing Butte County Grand Jury public hearing on the death of Gibson, 68, found dying in the rock piles south of Oroville the day after he had gone to the Medical Center Hospital here seeking attention.
The 19-member jury continued to sift testimony in the second full day of hearings.
Two men were found in the rock piles Nov. 14 — Gibson and Neil McNulty, 57. Gibson was barely alive and died before he got to the hospital. McNulty was dead at the scene.
Investigation revealed the two men had been living unsheltered in the rain after their shack had burned about three weeks before.
Investigation also showed that Gibson had sought treatment at Medical center the day before he died but that a doctor had determined he should not be admitted because he was not acutely ill. …
Another witness this morning was Mary Zumwalt of Oroville, who said she was in the emergency room at the hospital the day Gibson was brought in.
She said she heard Dr. Eugene Abts “or perhaps the nurse,” ask Gibson if he had any insurance. She also testified she heard Abts ask if Gibson had any money or means of support.
Mrs. Zumwalt said Gibson wanted to stay the night but Abts said, “we don’t have any beds.” At that, Mrs. Zumwalt said, Gibson got irritated, his voice rose and he asked, “What’s this I’m laying on?”
Abts testified that he did not recall asking the man about insurance or money and that he felt Gibson was not ill enough to be admitted to the hospital.
Mrs. Zumwalt’s testimony was similar to that of Craig Shaw, licensed vocational nurse, who testified yesterday that he overheard Abts say Gibson couldn’t be admitted because Medicare wouldn’t pay for it.
Eight witnesses testified yesterday following the mid-morning recess. …
Much of yesterday’s testimony came from Abts, who made the final decision not to admit Gibson; Hutton, the emergency room physician …
Abts said he noted Gibson’s pulse and observed his respiratory rate, but did not examine him further. He said he apparently overlooked a notation that Gibson had been to the hospital Nov. 8 and that several tests had been performed by Dr. Dart.
Abts said he had never asked Hibson if he had any money or a Medicare card, that Gibson had not asked to be kept at the hospital and that Gibson had not told him he had no place to stay.
Abts noted that the man had been “exposed to the elements,” that his temperature was subnormal and that he needed to be in a place where he was warm.
“But I did not think this man needed acute hospitalization at this time,” Abts insisted.
Abts ordered that Gibson receive a shot of 10 milligrams of valium and that he be released. …
Hutton said had he known Gibson had no place to stay, he would have referred him to a social welfare agency.
“Traditionally, Butte County Hospital would have taken care of patients like this,” Hutton said.
He said he had “informal” discussion with other doctors because he felt that the closure of the county facility, the treatment of patients like Gibson would become an increasing problem. …
— Enterprise-Record, Feb. 5, 1974
75 Years Ago
Thousands ‘Snowbound’ at Donner
Deep Snow Halting all Auto Travel
SAN FRANCISCO — (AP) — Snow plows broke though and kept U. S. Highway 40 over Donner Pass clear today. But thousands of skiers were still stranded and a new storm was on its way.
The plows broke through about 10:30 o’clock last night, removing snow piled up by a blizzard. Chains were mandatory. Highway maintenance crews were too busy to clear parking spaces for skiers.
The weather cleared for about an hour this morning, and then it began snowing again. The forecast was for clearing weather tonight and tomorrow, but for another storm tomorrow night. …
The storm last night blocked the route to Nevada on Highway 40 for the first time in many years.
Winds at Donner Summit reached hurricane velocity of 75 miles per hour, whipping the snow before them.
State Patrol Captain George Perkin estimated at least two to three thousand skiers were stranded in the area.
Owners of mountain lodges and hotels said tourists and skiers were sleeping “on couches, floors, any place they can find.”
A distance of about 30 miles of Highway 40 from Baxter’s Camp to Donner Grade, was closed for about five hours. …
More than a foot of snow fell in a six-hour period at the summit, which is above the 7200-foot level. The snow pack was already 87 inches deep. Temperature was 15 degrees and visibility was described as “zero-zero.” …
Other portions of Northern California were also drenched by the storm, a heavy rain falling in the San Francisco Bay area.
— Enterprise-Record, Feb. 5, 1949
100 Years Ago
Tehamans Enter Egg Laying Contest Held in Red Bluff
Red Bluff, Feb. 2 — Entries are beginning to come in for the farm center egg laying contest in Tehama county. Each contestant is to keep a record of each day’s egg production, together with the average number of hens in the flock. …
The average egg production of each center is to be figured at the end of every month. Points will be given for each center having the highest percent of laying, running consecutively one, two, three, points are also to be given to the flocks having the highest percentage of egg production this month.
The contest is divided into two classes, one for flocks of more than two hundreds birds, and the other for flocks of less than two hundred.
The contest is to be held under auspices of the poultry department of the Tehama county farm bureau, with H. P. Bryant of Bend is chairman.
— Enterprise-Record, Feb. 3, 1924
125 Years Ago
Electric Light Works Burned
Red Bluff’s New Plan Entirely Destroyed. $10,000 Loss, $2,000 Insurance
Red Bluff, Jan. 27 — Again the fiery fiend has visited Red Bluff, and the loss suffered thereby isa heavy one.
At 9 o’clock this morning fire was discovered in the plant of the Tehama Electric Light Company, and before the fire could be subdued the entire building was destroyed, and the machinery damaged to such an extent that it is useless.
The burned property was owned by James Cross of San Francisco, and had just recently been completed.
The work of wiring the town was only finished a few days ago, and many private residences, together with nearly all the business houses were using the light from this plant, the installation of which had reduced rates on light by nearly one-half.
From this plant the entire city was lighted, a five-year contract having recently been entered into.
The company will at once begin the erection of another plant, and the work will be pushed to a rapid completion.
During the fire there was much excitement in the vicinity of the works, as it was feared the boilers would burst, but fortunately no such accident occurred.
The loss will amount to $10,000, with $2,000 insurance.
— Chico Enterprise Weekly, Feb. 3, 1899
150 Years Ago
Catholic Church, Oroville
We are informed that the money is on hand for the erection of a Catholic Church in Oroville, the intention being to erect a brick structure in place of the old wooden one, which has become somewhat dilapidated, and it was not deemed advisable to attempt repairs. Contractors have been asked for proposals to construct the building, but none have responded. What is the matter with the contractors? They have a beautiful lot across Bird street from the school house, and the new building ought to be erected thereon at once. Builders are throwing off on themselves in not putting in bids and going ahead with the work.
— Weekly Butte Record, Feb. 7, 1874
