Month: December 2024

Sheriff: school’s “vulnerability” exploited by gunman

DA: Suspect had history of mental health problems
by Yucheng Tang | Posted December 19, 2024

photo by Yucheng Tang
Elias Wolford, one of two shooting victims.

The Dec. 4 Palermo school shooting that severely injured two kindergarteners appears to fit more under “domestic terrorism” than it would under the hate crime category, says Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey.

Ramsey also indicated, in a recent telephone interview, that he believes the violence was related to the suspect’s mental health problems.

Meanwhile, in a social media post last week, a woman who identifies herself as Debbie Wolford, the grandmother of victim Elias Wolford, said Elias hadn’t had movement of his legs since being hospitalized. In another update this week, a post indicates that Elias had undergone emergency surgery that went well.

The two victims, Elias and Roman Mendez, both still hospitalized, had a short visit with each other, said the Butte County Sheriff’s Office in a Dec. 13 statement. read more

Deaths of unsheltered people continue in 2024

Safe Space opens winter sheltering
by Yucheng Tang and Leslie Layton | Posted December 16, 2024

photo by Yucheng Tang
The mural on Park Avenue commemorates Chico-area residents who are usually homeless and have died on the streets or in other public spaces.

A march to commemorate the unhoused who have passed away in a public space will begin at Children’s Park at 4:40 p.m. Dec 21 and conclude at the Our Hands sculpture where a memorial will take place. And Safe Space, the nonprofit that operates seasonal nighttime sheltering, restarted its winter program Dec. 15.

Dec. 21 — the day that has the longest night in a year — is nationwide Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day. The first Annual Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day was commemorated in 1990, according to the National Coalition for the Homeless, in order to remember those who have died while experiencing homelessness. There have been between 10 and 18 such deaths in Chico in 2024.

In Chico, Safe Space was able to open an office in a rented building on the Esplanade and shuttle about 18 unhoused people to a church for the night, said Executive Director Hilary Crosby. Crosby said the previous night had been, in a sense, heartbreaking. read more

Bidwell Mansion destroyed by morning fire

"Devastating loss" for the City of Chico, mayor says
by Yucheng Tang | Posted December 11, 2024

photo by Karen Laslo
Officials from California State Parks gaze sadly at the remains of Bidwell Mansion, which was gutted by a Dec. 11 fire.

Smoke, smoldering flames, and the smells are still there.

The windows are gone. The roof and backside of the mansion are gone. Most of the pink paint on the exterior wall is gone.

And a landmark of Chico is gone.

A fire that happened in the early morning today destroyed the iconic Bidwell Mansion. Chico’s new mayor, Kasey Reynolds, called the early morning fire a “devastating loss” for the city.

“The City of Chico Fire Marshall is working directly with State Parks and state investigators to determine the cause of the fire,” Reynolds said in a statement released by the City of Chico this morning. “As we recover from the loss of our iconic Bidwell Mansion, we’ll continue to rely on the strength of our community to move forward.” read more

Young shooting victims identified

Suspect in Palermo school shooting also named
by Yucheng Tang | Posted December 5, 2024

photo by Yucheng Tang
Sheriff Kory Honea identifies Glenn Litton (shown on screen on left) as the suspect in the Palermo school shooting.

Roman Mendez, aged 6, sustained two gunshot wounds resulting in internal injuries when a gunman entered his school yard Dec. 4 and opened fire. Elias Wolford, 5, was shot one time in the abdomen, also resulting in internal injuries.

The two kindergarten students who attended Feather River Adventist School in Palermo remained in critical condition today. In the pictures shown at a press briefing earlier today, smiling Roman wore a red sweater and Elias cupped his chin in his hands.

“They have a very long road ahead of them in terms of recovery,” said Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea. “It’s very likely that they are going to have to have a number of surgeries going forward.” read more

Conservatives win 4-person majority on City Council

Mayor to be selected Dec. 4
by Yucheng Tang | Posted December 3, 2024

photo by Karen Laslo
Councilmember Dale Bennett was re-elected.

Incumbent Dale Bennett has retained the District 3 seat, defeating challenger Monica McDaniel by only 93 votes in the closest race in the 2024 Chico City Council election.

The majority of the City Council remains conservative, but the number of progressive councilmembers has increased from one to three. A special meeting of the City Council will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 4 in the Council Chamber at 421 Main St. Newly-elected councilmembers will be sworn in and the mayor and vice mayor selected.

The Butte County Clerk’s office released the official results of the Nov. 5 General Election this morning, with County Clerk and Registrar of Voters Keaton Denlay certifying the election result.

Former Police Chief Michael O’Brien won the District 1 race against Mike Johnson with about a 10 percent margin. In District 5, Katie Hawley secured a clear victory over Melissa Lopez-Mora. Bryce Goldstein won the District 7 race, unseating incumbent Deepika Tandon. read more

Blue trailer delivers to the homeless: Hot showers, clean clothes, hope

The Oroville-based Haven of Hope on Wheels now has five trailer units
by Yucheng Tang | Posted December 2, 2024

photo by Karen Laslo
Earl Lewis, who runs on-site operations at the shower-and-laundry unit Haven of Hope on Wheels, discussed his work in a recent November interview.

“135?” someone calls out from in front of the blue trailer.

“Here,” says a man in a green jacket and blue jeans, who then takes charge of his freshly-packed laundry bag labelled “135.”

The man puts the bag in his arm and walks toward the shopping cart filled with his other belongings.

Suddenly, he lowers his head and leans toward the plastic bag, smelling his freshly washed and dried clothes as if he was smelling the fragrance of flowers. Then, he smiles, illuminated by warm sunlight.

He had taken a hot shower and received his laundered clothes at the truck-trailer “Haven of Hope on Wheels.” The Haven is a mobile hygiene unit that offers shower and laundry services to vulnerable individuals in need, most of whom are homeless. read more