Then, suddenly, it will be time for all of us to hide for the winter! Only to re-emerge when event season begins in the Spring.

Wanna see something cool? This is the kind of historical Susanville picture that makes me smile. It shows a crowd of people outside watching a tightrope walker crossing high above, between the roofs of buildings on opposite sides of Main Street.

Although the photo is uncaptioned and undated, the Smith Hotel, the tall white building on the south side of Main Street in the background, burned in 1882, so this photo must necessarily predate that. But only by a few years I think.

The Pioneer Saloon was already here at the time, in the building with the little triangular feature on the roofline. That building still exists today two blocks down Main Street where it was moved in the 1920’s

And check it out! Someone is hanging on for dear life on the back of the tightrope walker! Gadzooks! Was it a local kid who got to participate? Did the tightrope walker have an assistant?

The details are lost to time, and all that remains is this kind of well-preserved image of the occasion.

I bet they talked about the tightrope walker for a long time around Susanville after this.

Return of the Railroad Velocipede

Speaking of neat events. Handcar races are returning to Lassen Land and Trails Trust’s Rails to Trails Festival on October 8th! These popular races are unique because we have the only handcar race I know of (not that I am incredibly well versed on the topic) where there are two side-by-side tracks for racing.

Normally at railroad festival handcar races they only have one track and compete against the clock. But we have two, so it’s more fun!

You need five people to make a handcar race team and the cost is $50 to register. You race between 11:00 and 3:00 next Saturday during the festival. Click here to download an entry form.

What’s in a Name?

A few people have messaged me asking where the title of this column came from. “Lucky Land of Lassen” was the marketing slogan the Chamber of Commerce used for about fifty years, and it shows up in lots of vintage brochures and tourism publications.

From time-to-time newspapers in Red Bluff, Redding and Sacramento would include Susanville news under the banner “Dispatches from the Lucky Land of Lassen.” And now you know!

That's a Lot of Flowers

Happy Anniversary to Milwood Florist and the Glass family who celebrated the business’ 100th anniversary with a party Wednesday evening. It is truly a wonder to see a business survive, even flourish, over the course of a century and Breanna does a wonderful job carrying on that tradition for the family.

My Failings as a Ticket Seller Exposed

I am terrible at selling fundraiser raffle tickets, even though it is one of those ‘necessary skills’ to participate in the modern world. Oh, for just a tiny bit of Gary Felt’s talent for selling tickets! But alas, I am really bad at it.

So, on that note, my Lassen Crime Stoppers board is holding a fundraising raffle, would you like to buy a ticket or five? We use the money we raise from the raffle to pay the rewards for tips people give us that lead to an arrest or conviction. We have given out thousands of dollars in rewards over the last five years and have really made a difference here in town.

Tickets are five dollars each or you can get five tickets for $20, and you can win patio furniture, a cord of wood or a gen 3 Glock 19 9mm pistol. If you want to buy tickets just stop by Lassen Federal Credit Union on Riverside Drive and pick some up.

And tell them I sent you, so that I don’t feel so bad when we go to the next meeting and I haven’t sold any and everybody else has.

Have a great weekend everybody. We’ll see you next week!

PG&E representatives can walk customers through the process of getting temporary and permanent power, as well as ask questions about tree removals.

The company urges customers to apply for electric service when obtaining building permits from the county building departments when rebuilding or needing temporary power at a property. Applying for electric service is not part of the county’s application process nor is it automatic.

For eligible customers impacted by a wildfire, there are no fees for PG&E to connect and disconnect temporary electric lines until a permanent electric meter is installed.

Customers impacted by wildfires who are going to rebuild or have questions are urged to contact PG&E early and apply for temporary power by visiting www.pge.com/cco or email rebuild@pge.com.

The Lassen County Fair is hosting a logo contest for the 2023 Lassen County Fair theme. The theme is Cotton Candy, Clowns and Merry Go Rounds! Those who are interested in participating please see Kelli in the front office.

Seniors – Use the link on the yearbooks Instagram bio to upload your senior pictures for the yearbook or contact the yearbook staff to help.

For all girls, 9th through 12th grade, of all skill levels, who are interested in playing soccer, Lassen High Girls Soccer will be holding Open Field on Open Field: 3:30 to 5:00 at Riverside Park. September 29th, October 4th, 6th, 10th, 11th, 13th, 17th, 18th, 20th, 24th, 25th, 27th.

Uptown Susanville in the 1940’s from the Lassen Historical Society

City Discusses Health Problem

September 30, 1942

Problems of health and sanitation connected with conditions at the Susanville municipal dumping grounds were discussed at a meeting of city, county and sanitary district leaders at city hall Wednesday night.

Uncontrolled dumping of garbage and rubbish at the grounds is reported to have created a serious health menace, which is growing steadily worse as the population of the Susanville area increases.

Outstanding corrective suggestions included legislation requiring the collection of garbage from every house in the Susanville and Milwood sanitary districts. Proposed legislation is aimed at providing for collection and disposal by one agency to eliminate the uncontrolled garbage dumping by those who do not avail themselves of commercial facilities.

Imposition of a small tax on each householder in lieu of the present monthly collection of money was suggested, and it seemed to be favored by those in attendance at the meeting. It was declared that under this plan a regulated system of garbage collection will be brought about at a lower cost than at present and that conditions of the site can be improved and regulated.