These Whiskeytown trails, campgrounds burned in Carr Fire are opening: Redding news roundup
Read the Redding news roundup for short updates from around the North State. The March 2022 issues includes information about Whiskeytown park re-opening some trails, Dollar General opening a new location and Pit 3 Dam/Bridge over Lake Britton closing in spring and summer.
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area announced Wednesday it will reopen 17 miles of trails and campgrounds on Friday.
Sites reopening include:
Boulder Creek Trail to Boulder Creek Falls from the top of Mill Creek Road.
Boulder Creek Trail to Boulder Creek Falls from South Shore Drive
Brandy Creek Trail from Brandy Creek Beach to Brandy Creek Falls Trailhead
Papoose Pass Trail connecting Sheep Camp with Boulder Creek Trail
Sheep Camp Primitive Campground
Brandy Creek Primitive Campground
Brandy Creek Road and Mill Creek Road
Motorists should drive slowly and honk when approaching blind curves, the park said.
The park spent almost four years restoring the trails and recreation areas after the Carr Fire destroyed them in July 2018.
The park's Visitor Center camera will also be up and running again this week, Park Superintendent Josh Hoines said. The old camera went dark after a security update "killed it."
For more information go to the park's website at nps.gov/whis.
— Jessica Skropanic
Dollar General opens in Bella Vista
Monday, March 28
Dollar General has opened its fifth store in greater Redding.
The company announced its store near the corner of Highway 299 East and Dry Creek Road in Bella Vista has opened. The store, at 12096 Dry Creek Road, is just west of Dry Creek Station restaurant.
To mark the occasion, Dollar General will donate 100 new books to Bella Vista Elementary School through its partnership with the Kellogg Company. Also, nonprofit organizations and libraries within a 15-mile radius of the store can apply for Dollar General Literacy Foundation grants.
The new store employs six to 10 people, the company said.
The store's operating hours can be found through the Dollar General app.
Dollar General’s other stores in the area are on Meadow View Drive, Lake Boulevard and South Bonnyview Road, all in Redding, and on Deschutes Road in Palo Cedro.
— David Benda
Britton Lake Dam bridge to close for spring, summer
Monday, March 28
The Pit 3 Dam/Bridge over Lake Britton near Burney will close to all traffic for most of spring and summer while crews make infrastructure improvements.
The bridge, which extends along Clark Creek Road, will close to all vehicles 24 hours a day, seven days a week from April 18 until Sept. 2, according to Pacific Gas & Electric. Motorists can access the north side of the bridge and Pit River Road via the northern loop along Clark Creek Road — also known as Forest Service Road 37N06 — from Highway 89, north of Lake Britton.
Contractors and night security will escort Pacific Crest Trail hikers across the bridge, the utility company said.
Crews will post detour and closure signs at both ends of Clark Creek Road.
PG&E plans maintenance work on the bridge’s roadway and deck during the closure.
— Jessica Skropanic
Shasta County Fire Department, Cal Fire, conduct training at Shasta College
Saturday, March 26
The Shasta County Fire Department and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) are conducting a live structure fire training exercise Saturday and Sunday at the Shasta College training grounds in Redding.
The training involves about 15 volunteer firefighters who have been attending the Shasta County Volunteer Firefighter Training Academy since January, along with Cal Fire personnel.
Smoke will be visible from the building between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. both days, with the final exercise concluding at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Cal Fire said.
— Michele Chandler
Shasta County Board of Education looking for student members
Saturday, March 26
The Shasta County Board of Education is accepting applications for the position of Student Board Member for the 2022/23 school year. Applicants must be students who will be a junior or senior next year.
Interested students should request an application by emailing superintendentoffice@shastacoe.org or calling (530) 225-0227. The deadline for applications to be delivered or postmarked is Monday, March 28.
Student board members are active participants, with the authority to make motions and cast preferential votes. The position also allows the Shasta County Board of Education to keep in touch with students in Shasta County.
Student board members will gain perspectives on the educational systems, rules, regulations and practices of the Shasta County Board of Education, Shasta County Office of Education, local school districts and the California Department of Education.
Since 2006, students from Anderson, Anderson New Technology Charter, Central Valley, Enterprise, Foothill, Central Valley, Shasta, University Preparatory Charter and West Valley high schools have served as Student Board Members.
For more information contact: Carmen Bahr at 530-225-0227 or cbahr@shastacoe.org.
— Michele Chandler
Shasta County Superior Court impacted by system upgrade
Friday, March 25
Shasta County Superior Court is changing its case management system, and the transition will disrupt business at the clerk's office for several days next week.
The clerk’s offices in Room 112 (Collections Division), 219 (Civil Division) and 319 (Criminal Division) will close at 3 p.m. on Wednesday. Drop boxes will be available, a release from the court said.
“The purpose of this early closure is to enable the court to conclude all business on our case management system by 5 p.m., at which time the system will be permanently shut down,” said a notice on the Superior Court’s website.
The court will then be closed for a court holiday on Thursday. On Friday, operations will take place on an extremely limited basis as the court transitions to its new system, the court’s notice said.
The Superior Court said its new system will be fully in place starting Monday, April 4.
— Michele Chandler
911 emergency dispatchers needed
Saturday March 19, 2022
ShasCom 911 announced it's hiring people to answer and respond to 911 calls.
Entry level dispatching jobs include answering incoming emergency calls, transferring calls to emergency service providers and instructing callers where to go for help for different problems. Dispatchers also record information in the agency’s computer.
Those hired as public safety dispatchers receive ongoing training in emergency response practices.
Pay starts at $19.56 per hour for entry level jobs.
For detailed job descriptions go to shascom911.com/positions.
— Jessica Skropanic
Holistic arts faire returns to Redding
Saturday March 19, 2022
The Redding Holistic Healing, Psychic and Arts Faire returns to the Win-River Resort and Casino event center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 2 at 2100 Rancheria Road in Redding.
The fair includes artists and vendors selling handmade crafts, astrological and psychic readings and other services and goods.
Admission is $5 at the door.
For more information call 530-355-0860.
— Jessica Skropanic
Family musical opens Friday
Saturday March 19, 2022
"Matilda, the Musical" opens at the Cascade Theatre in Redding at 7 p.m. on Friday.
The play is based on Roald Dahl’s children’s book about an extraordinary girl with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind who dares to stand up to bullies.
Tickets cost $14 to $30. Performances continue until April 3.
To buy tickets or for more information call 530-243-8877 or go to the Cascade Theatre box office at 1733 Market St. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays.
— Jessica Skropanic
Multi-faith event celebrates various religious traditions
Saturday March 19, 2022
The Center for Spiritual Living hosts a multi-cultural event that celebrates the music and faiths of the people in Shasta County from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on April 1 at the center, 1905 Hartnell Ave. in Redding.
“Inviting the Sacred” includes the faith practices of First Nations/Native American rituals, flute and dance, sacred hula, an Islamic call to prayer, and Christian, Jewish, Buddhist and New Thought traditions.
Admission is free. Donations are accepted.
Masks are required. Physical distancing is honored.
For more information call 530 221-4849 or 530 243-8862, or go to cslredding.org.
— Jessica Skropanic
North State musician serenades at Karma’s
Saturday March 19, 2022
Shasta County singer-songwriter Jonathan Foster plays live music from 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on April 1 at Karma's House of Spirits, 329 Lake Blvd. in Redding.
Foster performs his roots blend of Americana, country rock, acoustic blues and alternative folk music.
Admission is free for customers.
For more information about Foster's music go to jfmusic.net.
— Jessica Skropanic
Paving could slow traffic near Cypress Avenue
Thursday, March 17
The City of Redding will close parts of Maraglia Street, south of Cypress Avenue, next week while crews pave the road.
Motorists should expect street closures, lane closures and detours between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through March 25, the City said.
The city will post flaggers at Maraglia Street intersections with Hilltop Drive, June Street and Larkspur Lane.
The intersection at Maraglia Street at Blue View Street will be closed and will have detour signs directing traffic around paving operations.
The intersection at Maraglia Street at Churn Creek Road will have one lane open to traffic, with intermittent intersection closures.
The purpose of the paving project is to improve bike and pedestrian access on Churn Creek Road between Hartnell Avenue and East Cypress Avenue, and on Maraglia Street between Hilltop Drive and Churn Creek Road. Crews will fill in sidewalk gaps, fix storm drains, installing ADA-compliant curb ramps, enhance crossings, install safety lighting and make other improvements.
— Jessica Skropanic
Donation drive for farmworkers happens March 27
Friday, March 11
The second Cesar Chavez Day Drive-Thru Donation Drop-Off for Farm Workers will take place in Redding on Sunday, March 27. The event is being held at 373 Park Marina Circle from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Sponsors of the event include SEIU 2015, Redding Rancheria, Shasta County Citizens Advocating Respect and others.
More than $3,000 was raised during last year’s event, which distributed truckloads of food, clothing, PPE and other items to farmworkers and their families.
Needed items include:
Beanies, ball caps, bandanas, hoodies, gloves, socks, hygiene products
Water containers, lunch bags, masks
Soccer balls, games, children’s books in Spanish
Rice, beans, sticky rice, flour, sugar, masa, canned tuna, fruit, cactus, tomato paste
All drive-thru donors will be entered into a free raffle. Organizers said they are seeking one to three prizes for the winners.
Donations are tax deductible (tax ID number 68-03400). Checks should be made payable to Shasta County Citizens Advocating Respect-SCCAR and include César Chávez in the memo line.
For more information, call SEIU 2015 at 530-900-2335.
— Michele Chandler
Redding Rodeo tickets on sale
Friday, March 11
Tickets are available to purchase for the 74th annual Redding Rodeo that takes place May 18-21.
Ticket prices start at $20 and can be purchased at reddingrodeo.com. For more information on tickets, send an email to tickets@reddingrodeo.com.
The four nights of rodeo include the Extreme Bulls and Barrels performance on May 18. Featured May 19-21 will be bronc riding, steer wrestling, bareback, tie-down roping, team roping, barrel racing, bull riding and special entertainment, according to the Redding Rodeo Association.
Rodeo Week will begin with a steak feed and dance on May 14. The free YOLO Jackpot Barrel race take place May 17.
Redding Rodeo is a PRCA-sanctioned event and one of the 50 rodeos across the U.S. that is a qualifier for the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas at the end of the year, according to the rodeo association.
— Mike Chapman
Doggie dash takes off next week
Friday, March 11
Haven Humane Society hosts its sixth annual Doggie Dash on March 19.
This family-friendly walk/run has five- and ten-kilometer routs along the Sacramento River Trail in Redding. Both begin at the Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay, 840 Sundial Bridge Drive in Redding. The run is certified, so runners can count it toward their qualifying time.
Registration is from 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. Start time is 9:15 a.m. Leashed friendly dogs are welcome.
Cost to walk or run is $25 for the 5K, $40 for the 10K. Children ages 9 and younger can participate for free.
Proceeds benefit Haven Humane Society's work with stray animals and pet adoptions.
For more information call 530-241-5262 or go to bit.ly/3MsiV2X.
— Jessica Skropanic
'Steel Magnolias' opens at Riverfront Playhouse
Friday, March 11
Riverfront Playhouse performs “Steel Magnolias,” opening at 7 p.m. on Friday at the theater, 1950 California St. in Redding.
First presented 30 years ago, this comedic drama tells the story of playwright Robert Harling’s sister’s death. The play features strong female characters and their lives over a three-year period.
Performances continue every weekend through March 26.
Tickets cost $25, $20 for matinees.
To purchase tickets or for more information go to bit.ly/3IQrmmy or call 530-221-1028. Tickets are also on sale at the door before showtimes.
— Jessica Skropanic
Symphony plays two youth concerts this week
Friday, March 11
North State Symphony plays two family-friendly concerts on Sunday at the Cascade Theatre in Redding: One for kids, one for youths.
The program, designed to engage people of all ages, includes Prokofiev’s “Peter and the Wolf,” the symphonic fairy tale in which orchestral instruments represent different characters. Also on the program is Haydn’s whimsical “Toy Symphony” and Young Artist Audition winners play a variety of colorful works by Mozart.
The young children’s concert begins at 9:15 a.m. The youth concert begins at 11 a.m.
Admission is $5 at the door.
For more information call 530-243-8877 or go to the Cascade Theatre box office at 1733 Market St. Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays.
— Jessica Skropanic
Shasta College performs dark comedy with pop culture twist
Friday, March 11
Shasta College’s theatre program performs Anne Washburn’s "Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play" — an imaginative dark comedy that takes place a century from now.
After an apocalyptic event that collapses the electrical grid, a group of survivors share a campfire and begin to piece together the plot of the Simpsons episode "Cape Feare" from memory. Seven years later, this and other snippets of pop culture become the live theatrical entertainment of an emerging society trying to hold on to its past.
Performances are through March 13 at the Shasta College Theater on the main campus, 11555 Old Oregon Trail in Redding.
Tickets are $13 for general admission, $10 for seniors and $5 for students with valid identification. For more information or to buy tickets in advance, go to bit.ly/3vgsegf.
— Jessica Skropanic
Virtual PAS concert features four Redding musicians
Friday, March 11
The Performing Arts Society of Redding plans a livestreamed concert with the Quartetto Giocoso from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Friday March 11 online at bit.ly/3Mozgpv.
This springtime chamber concert includes string quartet works by Ravel, Mozart and Haydn.
Quartetto Giocoso includes four Redding music teachers: Janetta DeMott, Katherine Conway, LiYuan Ho and Anthoni Polcari.
Admission is free. PAS accepts donations at bit.ly/pasdonate.
For more information call 530-691-1920 or email pasreddinginfo@gmail.com.
— Jessica Skropanic
Turtle Bay hosts Egypt's 'boy king' exhibit
Friday, March 11
This spring, Turtle Bay Exploration Park hosts an exhibit of reproductions of artifacts from King Tutankhamun's tomb.
“Tutankhamun: ‘Wonderful Things’ Treasures from the Pharaoh’s Tomb” includes reproduced Egyptian treasures buried with the famous boy king and information about his 18th Dynasty life and burial.
Admission is included in the cost of park admission, and is free to museum members.
For more information go to turtlebay.org or call 530-243-8850.
— Jessica Skropanic
Jessica Skropanic is a features reporter for the Record Searchlight/USA Today Network. She covers science, arts, social issues and entertainment stories. Follow her on Twitter @RS_JSkropanic and on Facebook. Join Jessica in the Get Out! Nor Cal recreation Facebook group. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today. Thank you.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Whiskeytown trails, campgrounds burned in fire are opening
