The newspaper told its readers to beware of the salesmen touting Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup. The alleged con artists claimed the magical potion has been soothing excruciating toothaches and sore throats for more than 50 years.

The paper stated that it had proof that the medicine was a fake and the salesmen were just trying to make easy money.

65 years ago

City and county officials urged local law enforcement agents to arrest the increasing number of vagrants loitering the streets of Susanville.

The action was prompted by reports from local farmers claiming they offered the vagrants work but were turned down. According to employment officials, these same men were later found mooching from passersby.

40 years ago

The California Pacific Utilities Company erected five new 70-foot electric lights around the Lassen County Fairgrounds arena. The 28 arc lights mounted on the poles still illuminate the arena today.

25 years ago

As part of its efforts to offset an estimated $11 billion budget shortfall, the state legislature is considering a proposal that poses a direct threat to the future funding of county fairs.

If adopted, as part of the 1992-93 fiscal year budget, according to the Western Fairs Association, there will be no fair funding in 1993.

The loss to the Lassen County Fair would amount to $120,000, “the cornerstone and bedrock of our fair budget,” said Supervisor Jim Chapman.

11 years ago

A wildland fire at the entrance to the Bizz Johnson trail last week provided more evidence that anything can start a fire this year.

The 1/3 acre blaze broke out just after 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 14.

According to Captain Pinky Shores of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, investigators theorized that flames erupted after something blew across a hot piece of metal and blew into the brush on the north hillside right at the entrance.

The small fire was under control within minutes.

Five years ago

In a fire, flood or earthquake, emergency personnel can communicate at the scene with Lassen County’s new Interoperability Communications van.

Office of Emergency Services Chief Chip Jackson said last week the van should be ready to go by the end of the month.

One year ago

A California black bear a home owner estimated weighed at least 200 pounds met his demise after he was captured raiding a chicken coop at a residence just off Gold Run Road a few miles outside of Susanville.

The homeowner asked to not be identified, and the state trapper also declined to comment for this story.

Larry Hawkins, a regional public affairs officer for the Untied States Department of Agriculture in Sacramento, said the state trapper caught the bear in a culvert trap after a private homeowner reported the bear was killing chickens.