Butte County Public Health Department and Butte County Office of Emergency Management will be conducting an Animal Disaster Shelter Drill on October 18 in Oroville.  The purpose of the drill is to exercise emergency response plans, policies and procedures as they pertain to animal sheltering.  The drill will also allow county planners the opportunity to test the functionality and capabilities of a new shelter site on Del Oro Avenue for the first time.

Vice Mayor Dave Garner reminded fellow Council members and City staff Monday night to attend the special dedication Saturday, October 22, 2011 to pay tribute to Arthur DeWitt Miner, the officer who was stabbed on Hazel Street in 1934.

Gridley-Biggs Police Chief Gary Keeler will begin the ceremony with the invocation being given by retired Police Chief, current GBPD Chaplain Jack Storne followed by Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey at the special ceremony to unveil a plaque in Miner's honor along with A.D. Soares, who was also injured while transporting a citizen to jail.

On October 24, 1934, Miner died due to peritonitis and pneumonia in the right lung after being stabbed on October 20, 1934.

Miner's daughter and granddaughter who live in Marysville and Soares two sons Brud and Dan all plan on attending the City's unveiling ceremony set for Saturday, at the site of the stabbing at Virginia and Hazel Streets where the memorial sign will be placed. A reception will be held following the ceremony at the Gridley Museum.

He is one of the nicest people around, always jovial, never a mean thing to say about anyone, and next month, believe it or not, Mel McLaughlin, better known as "Mr. Biggs," will be the recipient of some no-doubt good natured ribbing.

After all, who could come up with anything to roast this gentleman about? Will the people of Biggs make fun of him for his great attitude, infectious smile, or the fact that he is always quick to compliment people?

Saturday, October 22, 2011, will mark the second annual Tickled Pink Breast Cancer Walk in Gridley, planned by sisters Tamie Rodke, Michele Dewsnup, Sam Kilian and Jayne Barrow in the name of Breast Cancer and Digital Mammography in Gridley.

The sisters are visiting local businesses and service organizations to get the word out and ask for donations for the raffle.

They are at it again. The four Ethington sisters as many know them by have taken on a new face, that being of advocates for Breast Cancer Awareness. Stirred by sister Sam's own battle with breast cancer, the sisters are once again putting on the Tickled Pink Breast Cancer Walk, in memory of their mother Verda Jensen who died of Breast Cancer in June of 2009.

A benefit dinner for the Kelly Crow Schwartz medical fund will be held Saturday, November 20 at the Gridley Moose Lodge from 5 to 10 p.m. There will also be a raffle and any donations would be greatly appreciated. A trust fund has been set up at Gold Country Bank in Live Oak, in care of Maurice Schwartz if you would like to donate directly for help with Kelly's medical needs.

    The California Department of Fish and Game has announced that the California pheasant, dove and fall turkey seasons will open on Nov. 13.
    The Department of Fish and Game said that, based on a cost-benefit analysis, the only days open for pheasant hunting in DFG Type A Wildlife Areas will be Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays.
    Over the past several years, the DFG had opened its Wildlife Areas to pheasant hunting on days other than the traditional Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays. In evaluating these opportunities, the DFG has concluded it is not cost-effective to maintain the nontraditional shoot days for the 2010 season in Type A and Type B Wildlife Areas.
    The state agency makes every effort to provide hunter opportunities. This decision is the result of several factors that include budget constraints, cost of department staffing, declining pheasant harvest on public areas, increased length of the pheasant season in recent years, and decline in demand for the opportunities on nontraditional shoot days. As a result, the DFG has determined it will be more cost-effective to direct these resources to habitat management and improving future opportunities.
    Hunter opportunities in Type C Wildlife Areas will remain open as normal, but the Type A and Type B Wildlife Areas will be limited to only Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays for the 2010 pheasant season.
Reports and publications on pheasant can be found at www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/hunting/uplandgame. A list of Wildlife Areas can be found on the DFG website at www.dfg.ca.gov /lands, or in the current Waterfowl and Upland Game Hunting Regulations booklet.
    For more information on specific hunting opportunities, hunters should contact their regional Department of Fish and Game office.
 

The Gridley Business Improvement District Essay Contests subject is "What the Holiday Season Means to Me." This contest is open to students in grades four to eight in the Gridley and Manzanita School District. Each entry will be judged on originality and expression of Theme. Only one entry per student. Entries cannot be returned, as they become the property of The Gridley Business Improvement District upon receipt, and can be reproduced for marketing purposes. By entering, participants agree to be bound by these rules and the decisions of the judges.

First place prize=recipients will light the Tree at the Biggs-Gridley Tree Lighting December 1, 2010, and will ride with Santa in the lighted Christmas Parade December 2.

Second through fifth place prize-winners receive Honorable Mention Certificates and will be invited to a Reception during a City Council meeting.

Please submit entries by November 25, 2010 to The Gridley Business Improvement District Office at 850 Hazel Street. For any questions, call 846-3687.

The long awaited time has come and gone, the move into our new office at 650 Kentucky Street. It feels as if we have come full circle as the newspaper office was located in the 500 block of Virginia Street for many years next to Old Roma Liquor Store and then moved to 630 Washington Street in 1975. After having been located on Washington Street for 35 years, it seems right to be located in the center of town again across from the police department and city hall.

"To read this story in its entirety, call 846-3661 to subscribe to The Gridley Herald."

An otherwise close-knit family has become even closer since the loss of their mother last June to breast cancer. The Biggs-Gridley Memorial Hospital Foundation's fund raisers for Digital Mammography has inspired them to hold a "Tickled Pink Breast Cancer Walk," Saturday, October 23, 2010, starting and ending at the hospital.
    Sisters Tamie Rodke, Michele Dewsnup, Sam Kilian and Jayne Barrow, daughters of Norman and Verda Jensen have already raised over $4,000 and they haven't even held the walk yet. Of course their bubbly personalities and big smiles don't hurt, but it's their personal story that pulls the heart strings.
    Sam was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 and had her last treatment in 2006 after enduring chemotherapy and radiation treatments and losing all her hair. She said she thought she was considered low risk, until her mother, Verda, was diagnosed in 2007. Jensen had surgery in October of 2007 and died a year-and-a-half later, in June 2009.
    The sisters all believe strongly in digital mammography. They are all considered high risk, as their cousin Betty Barrow also had breast cancer, along with their cousin Rhonda Thomas. With regular mammograms each of the sisters have been called back in for more films because of the history in their family, but when they have had a digital mammogram they have not been called back because the results can be seen better.
    With their doctors retiring a few years back, two of the sisters had gone four years without a mammogram in the past before Sam was diagnosed.
    "Sometimes tragedy has to to hit before women go in," Jayne stated.
    The term "Tickled Pink" was explained as in, "I'm tickled pink, I'm cancer free."
    "Any woman is excited, or "Tickled Pink," when they are waiting for results and get the call that everything is fine," Michele said.
    With the $25 each registration for the October walk, a t-shirt is being furnished with $250 cash donations and higher sponsors names on the back.
    A light breakfast of muffins and fruit will be included and for just $5, a balloon launch will be done. Balloons purchased in memory of a loved one who has battled any kind of cancer will be set off together prior to the walk. Prizes for the best pink hat and the largest group registered will be given out. Final registration will be from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and there are many different raffle prizes that have been generously donated by local merchants and other supporters. Just a few of the prizes include two Dooney and Bourke purses, his and hers Disney watches, massages, a photography package and a Dell pink Inspiron mini laptop. Tickets for the larger raffle items will be sold at Gridley High School home football games in advance of the walk to give everyone a chance. The raffle prizes will be drawn after the walk. Need not be present to win for the larger ticket items. Manzanita 4-H members have offered their assistance for the walk.
    The two mile walk will begin at the hospital at 9:45 a.m. and end at 10:30 a.m. Registration can be done online at www.tickledpinkbreastcancerwalk.com. Registration forms are available at Children's Hope Foster Family Agency, Gridley Medical Center, The Ice Burgie,  Biggs-Gridley Memorial Hospital. ACE Hardware and The Wishing Corner.
    The sisters emphasized that this is not just a walk, but a way to feel that a loved one has been honored and say the name they are walking for, paying tribute to. Businesses are encouraged to get a team together of employees to help support a very worthy cause.
    "Come participate, even if you can't walk," Tamie said.
    Checks can be made out to BGMH Foundation and registrations can be sent to 179 Little Avenue, Gridley, CA 95948.

This year's Butte County Fair will have almost constant live music in Goldies as the popular hangout will once again be the place to visit, dance and enjoy the sounds of many different types of music. 

Friday and Saturday nights Goldies will be transformed into a "Cantina" with disco balls, fog machines and smoke machines, turning it into a dance club on those nights with music starting at 3 p.m. and going non-stop until 11:30 p.m.

With Brian Bassett of "Legend" gathering the talent, it is sure to be bouncing with great music starting the Wednesday shows at 4 and 6 p.m., with music by "Kimmy and the Diamondbacks." At 7:30 p.m., "Karaoke Idol" will begin and at 8:30 and 10 p.m., the country music of "Amanda Gray" and "Whiskey Savage" will be enjoyed by many.  This is all in the first day.

When driving by the Butte County Fair it looks as if the ghrounds are ready for the fair to begin immediately and while walking through the grounds, you get the same feeling.  The grass is luscious green, the sprinklers are going, the buildings have been painted and there is a noticeable good mood in the fair office.

"To see the story in its entirety, call 846-3661 to subscribe to The Gridley Herald."
 

A very special evening is being plannd for September 9, 2010, a Pink Polynesian Luau at the home of Mark and Mary Lavy of Biggs.

The purpose of the occasion is to raise money for the Pink Passion for Digital Mammography drive for Biggs-Gridley Memorial Hospital.  Wonderful entertainment is being planned including Polynesian dancers.

"To see the story in its entirety, call 846-3661 to subscribe to The Gridley Herald."

 Tuesday, August 3 will be a night of much more activity at the Farmers Market on Highway 99.
    Already joined by Max's Miracle Ranch with their train for the young and old to enjoy, this night will have the added attraction of National Night Out events.
    The City of Gridley and Gridley-Biggs Police Department, along with the Gridley Recreation Department are planning a fun night.
    There will be a bicycle rodeo where over 50 free helmets will be given out to children participating in the rodeo and Eddie Eagle will be on hand to discuss gun safety.
    Children who already have helmets are asked to bring them along to wear in case supplies run short.
    Three bicycles will be given away for children ages five and up who participate in the bike rodeo. Sign up at 5:30 p.m.  The bike rodeo will start at 6 p.m. The drawing for the bicycles will be at 7:15 p.m.
    The Gridley-Biggs Police Department will once again be handing out free gun locks to promote gun safety.
    The Gridley Recreation Department will be helping young children with chalk drawings and making candy necklaces.
    Max's Miracle Ranch will be giving away a $300 party package.
    The fun will begin at 5 p.m., so be sure to visit all of the many different vendors, whether it is for jewelry, pistachios, fresh flowers, fresh baked bread, novelty items or fruits and vegetables.

Thunder Volleyball Camp is returning to Gridley High School and athletes are required to sign up by June 11. The camp is open to girls from 7th to 12th grade. It's hosted at GHS, but girls from surrounding schools are welcome to participate if they wish.

A family's home in Live Oak needs to be saved from creditors and friends of Drew, Shaina and Kiley Short are planning a Tri Tip fundraising dinner to help save their family home before September.

The Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency (SBFCA) will host a series of Open House meetings to share information about its proposed benefit assessment for 44 miles of levee repairs along the west bank of the Feather River.

A Mystery Theatre Dinner is being planned by the Biggs-Gridley Memorial Hospital Foundation for the "Pink Passion for Digital Mammography campaign."