USDA replacing food lost during storm flooding, power outages for some North State homes

Thursday, March 30, 2023: The USDA's Food and Nutrition Service will issue automatic mass replacements of SNAP benefits for some people who suffered food losses because of winter storms.

Qualifying households lost food due to power outages and flooding during severe winter storms that hit their neighborhoods between Feb. 23 and 28. The waiver request applies to 120 zip codes in 28 California counties including Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity and Butte.

The Food and Nutrition Service will authorize replacement of up to 50% of regular benefits for households that were issued benefits from Feb. 1 to Feb. 10.

Rather than require SNAP households to report food losses individually, the state is approving automatic mass replacements for some residents, the USDA reported.

For more information and to find it if a household qualifies for aid, go to the California Department of Social Services website at cdss.ca.gov/food-nutrition/calfresh or call 211.

Jessica Skropanic

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County offers household hazardous, electronic waste drop-off

Friday, March 24, 2023

The Shasta County Department of Resource Management will host a free drive-through for people to drop off household hazardous and electronic waste from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday at West Valley High School, 3805 Happy Valley Road in Cottonwood.

New this year at the drop off, the department will accept nicotine vape pens and e-cigarettes.

People living in Shasta County can also bring for disposal latex paint, oil-based paint and paint products; motor oil, oil filters, antifreeze, solvents, cleaners, pesticides, fertilizers, batteries, pool chemicals, sharps, fluorescent light tubes and bulbs, propane and fire extinguisher cylinders, aerosol cans and other items labeled caution, danger, toxic, flammable and "keep out of reach of children." The department will also accept electronic waste, including computers, televisions, phones, radios and printers.

People transporting items should:

  • Pack household hazardous waste items in a disposable box to avoid spilling while driving. Secure lids and make sure containers aren't leaking. Place the boxes in your vehicle’s empty trunk, away from passengers.

  • Keep compatible chemicals together and incompatible chemicals separate. For information go to bit.ly/3LZyIIH.

  • Stay in your vehicle during the drive through. Staff will remove the waste from your vehicle.

  • State regulations limit the amount of household hazardous waste you can transport no more than five gallons or 50 pounds per vehicle.

The following items aren't accepted at the drop-off: Trash, yard waste, tires, pharmaceuticals, appliances like microwaves and toaster, explosives, ammunition, bulky items such as furniture, radioactive materials including smoke detectors, biological or business waste.

For more information, or to find out where to dispose of items that aren't accepted at the drop-off, email recycle@co.shasta.ca.us or call 530-225-5789.

Jessica Skropanic

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Live emergency exercises at Redding Regional Airport

Friday, March 24, 2023

The Redding Regional Airport announced that it will be conducting its Full-Scale Emergency Exercise, known as the Triennial Exercise, from Tuesday through Thursday.

Live emergency exercises simulate real aircraft and fire emergencies in a safe and controlled environment to help ensure the airport and its community partners are fully prepared in the event of an actual emergency.

The Triennial Exercise is required by the Federal Aviation Administration every three years for commercial service airports. Emergency responders, mutual aid partners and other agencies closely aligned with airport operations will participate.

On Tuesday, March 28 and Thursday, March 30, the Redding Fire Department and other regional fire agencies will be conducting training on a mobile aircraft mockup prop that will produce some light to moderate smoke in the area.

While residents will see additional activity at the airport during the training, officials said flight service, streets, and parking will not be affected.

— Michele Chandler

Some BLM trails close during debris pile burns

Thursday, March 9, 2023

The Bureau of Land Management announced the Cloverdale Trail near Igo and other BLM-managed trails will close for short periods throughout the winter and early spring.

The reason for closures is crews are burning piles of brush in the area, Redding BLM Field Manager Jennifer Mata said. The short-term closures are in place to keep people safe at burn times.

The Cloverdale Trail is a 1.73-mile loop trail near Redding that's considered an easy hike over mostly flat terrain.

For more information on closures and other BLM announcements go to blm.gov/office/redding-field-office.

Jessica Skropanic

Job fair for Shasta County positions comes to Mt. Shasta Mall

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Shasta County will host a career fair from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 4 at the Mount Shasta Mall in Redding.

Shasta County will host a career fair on Saturday, March 4 at the Mount Shasta Mall in Redding to inform and recruit people for county jobs.
Shasta County will host a career fair on Saturday, March 4 at the Mount Shasta Mall in Redding to inform and recruit people for county jobs.

Attendees can meet with representatives from more than 20 county departments to learn about the career opportunities available and how these departments function. Personnel staff will be on site to answer questions about the application and recruitment process.

Admission to the fair is free and open to all ages.

For more information call 530-225-5515.

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: USDA to replace food lost during California's winter storm, flooding