90 years ago

Leland Hunsinger wrote home from Camp Lewis, explaining the path every young man should take for his future. His letter was published in the local newspaper.

Pride, responsibility and excitement, he wrote, were some of the traits basic training had instilled in him.

65 years ago

High winds sparked blizzard conditions that blanketed the entire county. The storm snapped communication lines, stopped traffic and prevented nearly 100 residents from returning home after work.

High water followed the wind, snow and rain, adding to the destruction of highways and bridges. Honey Lake flooded, causing the 82-mile trip from Reno to Susanville to take up to 48 hours to complete.

40 years ago

The Outstanding Americans Foundation announced Lassen High School students Debbie Murrillo and Bart Simmons were selected as Outstanding Teenagers of America. Murrillo help a 4.0 GPA and served as a leader in many campus life activities. Simmons was president of several school organizations and acted as American goodwill ambassador to Germany.

25 years ago

State health officials declared Lassen a rabies county because two rabid bats were discovered in backyard residences in Susanville and Janesville.

It was the fifth time in seven years rabies was prevalent in the county.

15 years ago

“It was a mess,” said Ron Walker of Susanville, who was first on the scene of last week’s tour bus accident in western Lassen County that made national news.

On Monday, Jan. 12 a tour bus traveling from Eugene, Ore. To Reno, Nev. overturned on Highway 44, eight miles west of the Bogard rest area.

The bus driver lost control in the slush-covered roadway, hitting a snow berm and overturning.

Walker, an off-duty correctional officer at California Correctional Center, was driving home from a work detail in Redding. He noticed the bus on its side, just minutes after the accident.

Using his training as an ex-fireman and paramedic, he immediately went into action to calm down the passengers.

Of the 23 passengers, only five were injured.

11 years ago

A third residential fire in four days stunned Susanville residents.

The fire destroyed a fifth-wheel owned by Albert Spangler at the Wagon Wheel Mobile Home Park on Russell Avenue. Fire Chief Steve Rose said Spangler was blown out the door of the fifth wheel in the propane explosion that started the fire.

It followed a blaze at Rudy and Dora Valentine’s house on Cottage Street. Just a block away, Evan Chappuis’ historic home at 700 Mill Street suffered major damage in an early evening fire.

Five years ago

The neutral fact-finding chairperson who will meet with representatives from the Susanville School District and the Susanville Teacher’s Association next month to resolve a dispute between the district and the teacher’s union has asked both sides to keep quiet, according to a statement read by Dr. Gary McIntire, the school district’s superintendent.

One year ago

Convicted serial killer Loren Herzog is dead due to an apparent suicide, according to Lassen County authorities.

According to a press release from the Lassen County Sheriff-Coroner, local authorities received notification from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) at approximately 11:45 p.m. Monday, Jan. 16. Officials reported they found Herzog deceased at his trailer on property at High Desert State Prison.