RABA offers free bus rides on Saturday during Kool April Nites in Redding
Friday, April 28, 2023
The Redding Area Bus Authority announced it will provide free bus service on all fixed routes on Saturday during Kool April Nites at the Redding Civic Auditorium.
In addition to free bus rides, a shuttle will depart from Gate 1 to the Redding Civic Auditorium every 15 to 20 minutes between 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, the company said.
RABA service operates ten routes from 9:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Redding, Shasta Lake and Anderson, many of which connect to the Redding downtown passenger terminal at 1530 Yuba St, in Redding.
RABA also announced delays on Routes 4, 6, 11 and 14 starting at 4:20 p.m. Friday due to increased traffic congestion during KAN events. The Crosstown Express between the Canby Transit Station and downtown will be suspended from 2:50 p.m. to 6:50 p.m.
For more information go to RABARide.com or call 530-241-2877.
― Jessica Skropanic
Public invited, asked to contribute to Highway 273 infrastructure plan
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
The Shasta Regional Transportation Agency and the California Department of Transportation will host four open houses to share their joint plan for infrastructure improvements on Highway 273 in Shasta County.
The agencies are also asking for suggestions and feedback regarding what is and isn’t working well for residents.
Open houses are drop-in; no appointment or reservation is required. Times and places are:
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3 at the corner of Tehama and Market Streets in downtown Redding
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3 at the Shasta College Health Sciences and University Center at 1400 Market St., in Redding; in rooms 8218, 8220, 8222.
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 4, both in the Anderson City Hall Community Center at 1887 Howard St. in Anderson.
Residents can also share their feedback online at ghd.mysocialpinpoint.com/envision273.
― Jessica Skropanic
Redding's burn days end Sunday
Monday, April 24, 2023
Redding Fire Department officials announced legal burning days will end in April.
People have less than a week to complete burning before 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 30, according to a Redding Fire Department announcement.
No mitigation burn permits will be issued in Redding, the announcement said.
People who burn this week are reminded they need appropriate clearance, and they should always keep water on hand and mind burn piles, the announcement said. Before you burn, check the day's status with the county at shastacounty.gov/air-quality/page/burn-day-information and remember burn barrels are illegal year-round.
For more information, or for alternative disposal methods, call 530-225-6201.
― Jessica Skropanic
Pacific Gas & Electric hosts meeting for Shasta, Tehama customers
Monday, April 24, 2023
Pacific Gas and Electric Company invites customers in Shasta, Tehama and Lassen counties to a virtual town hall meeting from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 27.
The purpose of the meeting is for PG&E to share the latest updates on wildfire prevention work and local safety resources, and to connect customers with PG&E staff, including Regional Vice President Joe Wilson. The utility company's representatives will provide a brief presentation, during which people can ask questions.
Join the meeting through PG&E’s website at pge.com/webinars or go to bit.ly/3YRelB7. To dial in, call 888-790-1836; the identification number is 7108900. Multi-language closed captioning and American Sign Language interpretation are available, as are dial-in numbers for those who aren’t able to join online.
For the full webinar events schedule and more information about the meeting, go to pge.com/webinars. For safety information go to safetyactioncenter.pge.com.
― Jessica Skropanic
Cal Fire hosts burn permit renewals through an online app: Redding News Roundup
Monday, April 17, 2023
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection launched an online app for people to apply for burn permits.
The platform includes applications for residential permits, burning outdoors at a single or two-family dwelling or using burn piles less than four feet by four feet wide.
All current residential burn permits expire on April 30 each year. People can apply for a new permit ― in effect from May, 2023 through April, 2024 ― starting on May 1.
Other permits available through the app include broadcast (controlled) burning for fuels reduction purposes; and general burn permits for agricultural burning, burn piles, small parcels or strips, small plots of grass or weeds, burning on vacant land and other situations. The latter is also used for projects that could ignite fires: Outdoor welding, grinding, metal work, hot work.
For more information or to apply online, go to the CalFire website burn permit web page at burnpermit.fire.ca.gov.
― Jessica Skropanic
50 Redding homeowners can get a free shade tree for their front yard
Saturday, April 15, 2023
A Shasta County preservation group is offering 50 free shade trees to Redding property owners.
The Shasta Environmental Alliance received a grant from the Bower Charitable Foundation to plant the trees in 50 people's front yards in 2023. Species available include native varieties.
Those interested can fill out a form at bit.ly/3KCvZCI. Homeowners chosen must commit to watering the tree the next three years. They're asked to help volunteers prepare their yard and help plant the tree.
Trees can help shade homes, lower air conditioning costs, provide wildlife habitat, and reduce carbon in the air, according to an SEA announcement.
To volunteer to help plant trees, or for more information, email david@ecoshasta.org.
― Jessica Skropanic
Fire at Redding, Interstate 5 business causes $2.3 million in damages
Friday, April 14, 2023
Firefighters battled a two-alarm fire at a north Redding business early Friday morning that caused more than $2 million in damages, according to the Redding Fire Department.
The fire broke out at 2:59 a.m. at a commercial structure at the Western Truck Center at 1800 Twin View Boulevard, next to Interstate 5, the fire department reported.
When the crew of Engine #6 arrived, firefighters found “heavy fire showing” in and around the building, according to the report.
The crew requested more resources to fight the fire, according to the fire department. Eight engines, a ladder truck, breathing support services and command staff responded.
Crews "gained control" of the fire after battling it for about 45 minutes, Redding Fire Inspector Guido Concello said in a press release about the fire. In all, 32 firefighters helped extinguish the fire.
No one was injured, but there was "major damage" the to the building, the attached warehouse and the contents, Concello said in the report. Estimated costs to repair and replace what the fire destroyed were $1 million for the building and $1.3 million for its contents. There were no sprinklers on site.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, the fire department said.
― Jessica Skropanic
Man arrested in connection with apartment fire near Enterprise High School in Redding
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
A Redding man was arrested in connection with a fire that burned at an apartment building next to a Redding high school on Wednesday morning, fire officials said.
Joseph Edward Day was arrested after speaking with fire investigators, the Redding Fire Department said in a news release sent a few hours after firefighters extinguished the small blaze.
Day, 43, was booked into Shasta County Jail on charges of causing a fire at an inhabited structure, according to the jail’s website. He is being held on $25,000 bail.
The Redding Fire Department arrived soon after the fire started at 8:05 a.m. in a second-floor apartment at 1100 Echo Road, according to Fire Prevention Specialist Camber Dietrich of the Redding Fire Department.
The building is located next to the Enterprise High School's swimming pool and tennis courts, a block off Churn Creek Road. The school was on break when the fire broke out.
"The first arriving engine found heavy fire coming from (the) apartment," the Redding Fire Department reported. "An aggressive attack helped contain the fire to that apartment building."
Firefighters put out the flames in 15 minutes, according to Dietrich. Crews stayed on site until 11 a.m. to mop up.
No one was injured in the fire, Dietrich reported.
The fire damaged the apartment and its attached balcony, Dietrich said in his report. The cost to repair the damaged building is estimated around $80,000. The estimated worth of the apartment's contents were another $30,000.
The apartment had a working smoke alarm, but no sprinkler system, according to Dietrich.
― Michele Chandler and Jessica Skropanic
SCOE hosts employment fair for those seeking jobs at Northern California schools
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
The Shasta County Office of Education and the California Center on Teaching Careers will host an employment fair for people seeking jobs in education fields.
The North State Educational Employment Fair is from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 29 at SCOE's Professional Development Center at 2985 Innsbruck Drive in Redding.
The fair is for people looking for positions as teachers, accountants, custodians, classroom aides, administrators, bus drivers, counselors and other occupations at Northern California schools.
Admission to the event in person or online is free.
For more information call 800-336-6549.
― Jessica Skropanic
Redding mission hosts 2nd homelessness forum Friday
Monday, April 10, 2023
The Good News Rescue Mission will host a second 2023 forum to discuss homelessness in Redding.
The forum, called Redding Restart: Addressing Homelessness, is from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Friday, April 14 at the City Council Chambers in Redding City Hall, 777 Cypress Ave.
Topics discussed address ways to get people off the streets so they can live new and productive lives, according to the mission.
Good News Rescue Mission Executive Director Jonathan Anderson will host the event. Panelists include Redding Community Development Manager Nicole Smith, Faithworks Executive Director Crystal Johnson and Shasta County Community Development Coordinator Robin Bostain.
To register go to reddingrestart.com
More than 400 people attended the first forum in March.
― Jessica Skropanic
RABA hires new transit manager
Monday, April 10, 2023
This month, Redding will have a new manager in charge of the Redding Area Bus Authority's transit operations and services.
Starting in late April, John Andoh will take over RABA's day-to-day operations, the city announced Monday. His job will be to support the board of directors, facilitate and implement the city's short-range transit plan under development, pursue grant funding and help develop RABA policies. He'll also be responsible for improving equal access to transportation programs and services, and for promoting sustainable transportation: Walking, biking and mass transit use.
Andoh has more than 20 years of experience in transit, the announcement said. He previously served as mass transit administrator and general manager of the Hawai’i County mass transit agency Hele-On. He was responsible for directing the island-wide public transit system’s operations and partnering with bike sharing, transportation network, mobility management and vanpooling organizations.
― Jessica Skropanic
Expect traffic delays on Highway 44 at Palo Cedro: Redding news roundup
Thursday, April 6, 2023
Motorists driving on Highway 44 in Palo Cedro can expect traffic delays at Cow Creek Bridge through summer while crews repair a bridge deck.
One lane will be closed and traffic controls in place on and around the bridge, according to the California Department of Transportation. The eastbound ramp to Highway 44 from Deschutes Road will also be closed.
Motorists can expect one-way traffic controls from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Thursday and Friday, Caltrans District 2 reported. Then, starting Monday, traffic on the bridge will be one-way and the ramp closed at all times.
Delays will last up to 15-minutes, the agency said, and motorists should expect detours.
Work should wrap up by early August, Caltrans reported. Until then, motorists are asked to slow down and watch for people and machinery in the area, and allow extra time to get to their destinations.
For more information on the project go to dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-2 or call 530-225-3426.
― Jessica Skropanic
Local water restrictions rolled back in Redding
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
Redding is no longer under the Stage 2 water use restrictions that the City Council implemented in May 2022. Effective immediately, Redding is calling instead for voluntary water conservation methods and has moved to its Stage 1 drought restriction plan, officials said this week.
Stage 1 asks community members to voluntarily conserve water by eliminating water waste, preventing water runoff to nearby non-irrigated areas and not watering within 48 hours of measurable rainfall.
The city's move comes after California Governor Gavin Newsom declared that Water Shortage Conditions are no longer required statewide, due to above-average rainfall and snow that replenished the Shasta Reservoir to 84% capacity. The buildup prompted Gov. Gavin Newsom to roll back some of the state's drought emergency rules in late March.
Redding also cited a 100% water allocation from state water regulators, up from leaner allocations during prior drought years. Redding's Water Utility said it is still required to continue reporting its monthly water use to the State Water Board.Citing a 100% water allocation from state water regulators — up from 75% prior on the heels of more rain and snow — Shasta Lake recently announced it was no longer in any stage of its water shortage contingency plan.
— Michele Chandler
Whiskeytown reopens Crystal Creek Falls Trail, Crystal Creek Road to pedestrians
Monday, April 3, 2023
Whiskeytown National Recreation Area has reopened Crystal Creek Falls Trail and Crystal Creek Road to pedestrian traffic.
"We're excited to allow hikers, walkers, and runners back into these popular areas of the park," Park Superintendent Josh Hoines said.
However, Crystal Creek Road remains temporarily closed to vehicular traffic above the Crystal Creek Falls Trailhead while officials await a National Park Service engineer's assessment of Crystal Creek Road's structural stability and safety.
Visitors can now access the 1.6-mile section of Crystal Creek Road leading to Whiskeytown Falls Trailhead. The hike to Whiskeytown Falls from Crystal Creek Falls Trailhead is 3.3 miles one way, or 6.6 miles total. Parking is available at Crystal Creek Falls Trailhead.
Significant cleanup made reopening possible for Crystal Creek Falls and Whiskeytown Falls.
The partial reopening is the result of extensive cleanup and stabilization efforts that began during the atmospheric rivers in early January. Although heavy snowfall and rainfall complicated the cleanup process, park staff cleared over 210 downed trees from the roadway and removed 5,000 tons of sediment.
For more information, contact Supervisory Interpretive Park Ranger Scott Einberger, at 530-242-3450 or Scott_Einberger@nps.gov.
— Michele Chandler
Redding ends 2022/2023 burn season effective May 1
Monday, April 3, 2023
All refuse burning in the city of Redding will end on April 30, the last day of the 2022/2023 burn season, city officials said Monday.
Starting Monday, May 1, all trimmed vegetation must go into designated green barrels, or be disposed of in some other method, according to the Redding Fire Department.
— Michele Chandler
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: RABA offers free bus rides during Kool April Nites in Redding
