Volume XVI Issue 142

Tuesday, February 20th, 2024

Sheriff John McGarva and wife Mandy – photo provided

John McGarva Named Lassen County’s New Sheriff-Coroner

By Jeremy Couso

On February 13th, the Lassen County Board of Supervisors appointed a new Sheriff-Coroner for the county, announcing that long-time local law enforcement officer John McGarva would serve out the four years remaining on the term of Sheriff Dean Growdon, who retired in December. Prior to the appointment McGarva was a Captain and Custody Division Commander for the LCSO.

The Supervisors chose McGarva from several top-quality candidates within the agency.

He began his law enforcement career at the age of sixteen, when he joined the LCSO’s Explorer Program, and was hired full-time as a Correctional Deputy in 2001.

While working as a line officer, and as a transportation officer, he put himself through the Butte-Glenn Law Enforcement Academy in 2004.

Hired as a Deputy Sheriff in 2005, McGarva worked patrol, including assignments in Westwood and Headquarters.

He became a Detective in 2010 and worked assignments in everything from Welfare Fraud to Homicide.

McGarva was selected as the Officer of the Year in 2011 while assigned to Investigations and promoted to Sergeant in 2013, working assignments in Patrol, Investigations, Custody and Administration.

In 2019 he was promoted to Lieutenant and assigned to the Custody Division where he received a promotion to Captain in 2020 and worked as the Custody Division Commander.

Here in Lassen County our Sheriff is responsible for a wide range of public safety services; law enforcement throughout the county, operating the county’s jail on Cady Lane and managing the area’s 911 dispatch center are all part of the Sheriff’s purview.

The Sheriff’s office also provides search and rescue, boat safety and services for the courts.

“It is very daunting to become the Sheriff,” McGarva says.

“The responsibility of the office itself is immense. However, I do feel up to the challenge. All of my previous experience has prepared me for the office.”

McGarva is enthusiastic about meeting with the community and learning what we want from our new Sheriff.

“I am looking forward to working with my community partners to make Lassen County safe.”

He has his work cut out for himself as he navigates the next four years.

“The state has already declared a budget shortfall equaling billions,” explains McGarva. “This will, of course, trickle down to each county. This will mean some hard financial decisions in the future.”

He added that recruiting and retention is always a concern in law enforcement, and something he will focus on in the coming years.

Long-term plans? McGarva confirms for us that he will be running for the Sheriff-Coroner position when this term expires in 2028.

McGarva said that his wife Mandy and their two girls are excited about his new position.

“I am really lucky to have such a great support team at home,” he says.

McGarva and wife Mandy at a LCSO staff recognition ceremony in 2020

Welding instructors will be offering live demonstrations and tours of their state-of-the-art facilities and will be available to discuss the broad scope of career opportunities available utilizing the skills gained from the welding instruction at LCC. Local employers will be present to highlight current job opportunities.

District Five Supervisor Jason Ingram will be in attendance, showing his support for our welding program and all the opportunity it provides for our local youth and adults.

“Sierra Pacific Industries has long recognized the value of Lassen Community Colleges educational programs and how they provide pathways for students to employment in local industries like ours,” says Rita Bunzell, Workforce Development Coordinator for SPI.

“These programs produce a skilled workforce for the businesses of our rural counties which serves the economic vitality for our North Far North Region.”

Lassen Community College educates hundreds of people a year and career education programs provide real-life training from expert instructors and industry professionals. They partner with local employers to ensure your training leads directly to high-paying jobs upon completion.

“With more than 16 Career Education programs at LCC there is a career pathway for anyone who is interested in starting a new career or advancing in an existing career,” says, CTE Dean Michell Williams.

“Our instructors work closely with employers to provide real-life training to ensure students are job ready on day one.”

Last year, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, in partnership with the California Department of Education, laid out the State’s future vision for career education, both in the short-term (the next five years) and long-term (ten years), through the Career Technical Education State Plan.

The plan outlines creative strategies to advance California community colleges’ Vision for Success goals and outcomes with equity and access established as core tenants of the framework design.

Moreover, the Governor signed an Executive Order to develop a “Master Plan for Career Education” to identify opportunities for alignment and coordination of public and private sectors to ensure more career and skill-building opportunities for students and workers, strengthen career pathways, and prioritize hands-on learning and real-life skills.

Come see how Lassen Community College can put you on the track to a better future and don’t forget to join us, Wednesday, February 28th, between 4:00pm and 6:00pm in the Welding Lab located at the back of campus.

These reports and documents are also available at the City’s website.

You can order your Appreciation Hearts online by clicking here Lassen County Probation – Appreciation Hearts Fundraiser 2024. Cash payments are also accepted at 2950 Riverside Drive in Susanville. Delivery is only available in Lassen County.

Lassen Fire Safe Council February General Meeting will be on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at 5:30p.m., at the Susan River Fire Hall, 705-145 Hwy 395, Johnstonville. Light refreshments will be served.

Lassen County 4-H Presentation Day is Sunday, February 25th at Jensen Hall, Lassen County Fair Grounds. Registration is at 1:00p.m. Entry deadline is February 15th. Presentation Day 2024 will be hosted by Milford 4-H and South County 4-H again this year. Please adhere to the registration deadline. Primary member presentations will be limited to 10 minutes. Junior/Senior presentations will be limited to 15 minutes.

Standish 4H will be holding their annual Indian Taco Feed fundraiser on Saturday, March 2nd, at the Standish 4H hall. You can pick up dinner at the hall between 3:00 and 8:00p.m. For a single dinner the 4H’ers are asking for a donation of $7 and a family of two adults and three kids can eat for just $30. Along with the Indian Taco you can grab a Bowl of Beans for $3 or fry bread for $2. Homemade desserts, gift baskets and a home décor sale will all be part of the fun. Proceeds from the dinner benefit Standish 4-H members and their activities throughout the year. The Standish 4H Hall is located at 718-880 Hwy 395 East, just past the Wayside Gas Station and Market. For more information call or text 1.530.310.1993 or 1.530.310.3178.

Susanville Best of Broadway presents the 2024 Concert Series ‘The Broadway Renaissance.’ Shows start March 6th.

Honey Lake Ducks Unlimited 2024 Banquet Saturday, March 9th at Lassen County Fairgrounds, Jensen Hall. For tickets go to www.norcaldu.org, or call Cody at 1.559.579.7792

Susanville Elks Lodge Spring Fling Dance, Saturday, March 9, 2024, from 6:00 to 9:00p.m., at the Susanville Elks Lodge, 400 Main Street. Tickets are $30 per family and can be purchased at the Lassen County Chamber Office and Margie’s Book Nook. Come on up with your family for a fun time.

Lassen Community College Gunsmithing Program. Registration for the full-time Gunsmithing Program, Fall 2024 will open March 25th, 2024. Any questions can be directed to LCCGunsmithing@lassencollege.edu or at 530.251.8809.

Benson’s Humble Homestead presents Breakfast on the Farm, Saturday, April 6th from 9:00 to 4:00p.m., at 712-960 Sunnyside Road, Janesville. The Waffle Bar is coming. Vendors, Waffle Bar, animals and so much more.

Save the Date. Soroptimist International of Susanville will be holding their Annual Margarita Fest on Saturday, May 3, 2024 at the Lassen County Fairgrounds, Jensen Hall.

The Children’s Fair will be held on Saturday, May 4th, from 10:00 until 3:00p.m., at the Lassen County Fairgrounds. There will be live entertainment throughout the day, including dancers from local dance studios and costumed characters. Static displays of emergency vehicles and other fun things for kids to see will be around each corner at the fairgrounds. Dandy the Smokeless Dragon will be there, and Lassen Youth Football and Star Elite Cheer, Lassen Youth Soccer and the Lassen Aquatics will also be participating in the event. Admission is free. Would your group or organization like to have a booth at the Lassen County Children’s Fair? The last day to register is April 24th and you can click here Lassen County Children’s Fair Booth Registration (jotform.com) to fill out a booth application form. For more information you can call the Lassen County Office of Education at 1.530.251.8711.

The 35th Lassen Jr. Fishing Derby has been set for Saturday, May 18th. Coveted prizes donated by community businesses and locals are handed out to the biggest catch of the day in each age group, along with sportsmanship awards.

All new for 2024. The Bizz Running Company is introducing the Bizz Johnson Express Half Marathon Relay. Bring your best running friend and run this fast half marathon course. Leg 1 starts with the Express Half Marathon and completes the first 7 miles. After going underneath Highway 36 and back up the other side, you’ll hand off to Leg 2 who will cruise the last 6.1 miles to the Finish Line at Hobo Camp. You can register for all Bizz Johnson Marathon Events on October 12-13, 2024, at https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/Susanville/BizzJohnson

Each scholarship will be for $2,000, with $1,000 sent upon receipt of class enrollment. After successful completion of the first year (with a 2.75 GPA or better) and receipt of class enrollment for the second year, another $1,000 will be sent.

The scholarships will be awarded to students who give detailed information, and no incomplete application will be considered. A typed, well-organized application is necessary, no handwritten application will be accepted.

Interested seniors can click here to download the scholarship information.

The application, including all documents, must be received by 5:00p.m. on Monday, April 15th, 2024.

Mail to: Lassen Lodge #149, F&AM

Attn: Jim Chapman, Scholarship Chairman

84 N Lassen St

Susanville, CA 96130

For more information contact: Jim Chapman at 530.251.6828 or email lassenadd@gmail.com

Looking south at the intersection of Main and Lassen streets. -Eastman Studio Postcard

Plumbers Organize in Susanville

February 20, 1932

A number of plumbers of Susanville met at the city hall Wednesday and organized the Susanville Master Plumbers Association.

The purpose of the organization is announced as co-operation with the building inspector in enforcing ordinances regarding the installation of plumbing.

Frank Knapp was elected president and Victor Bertoli secretary. Ralph Wiet, Edward Woodward and Charles Cain assisted in forming the association.

Resolutions were adopted to be presented to the city council, recommending changes in the present ordinance. Most of these had to do with Plumbing specifications.