Why more spiders are crawling around Redding. Flights to Denver still in play? Ask the R-S

Ask the Record Searchlight is a newsroom-wide initiative to connect with you, our readers. If you wondered about something happening in town or had questions on a North State issue, tell us about it. We'll do our best to answer.

Here are answers to the latest R-S reader questions, which have been edited for clarity, length and accuracy.

Scroll to the bottom of this story to find out how you can ask the Record Searchlight.

Redding to Denver flights: the latest

Q: I saw a story last fall that indicated Redding airport would be adding direct service to Denver in summer 2022. Is that still in the works?

Hi, this is David Benda.

A: The short answer is, yes, the Denver flight is still very much in play. And you are not the only one who’s eager to see Redding get direct flights to the Mile High City.

“That is the million-dollar question right now,” Economic Development Corp. of Shasta County President Todd Jones said. “So, basically, where we are at is that we have the grant, $760,000 from the Department of Transportation, we have support from United (Airlines). However, as most people can see the, the airline industry is under tremendous pressure right now and United has not been able to confirm when that flight is going to launch. We are optimistic, but we don’t have any idea right now when that flight could start.”

The biggest obstacle is the pilot shortage that is affecting United and other airlines, Jones said.

USA TODAY has reported that the headaches that have accompanied this summer’s travel season can be blamed in large part by a shortage of pilots.

Jones is part of the city of Redding’s airline recruitment team that has been working for years to bring more flights to the airport.

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“We will be meeting again in October with United to have this conversation,” Jones said. “We believe, based on our data of people flying east, we could support that flight today.

“I am optimistic that we may have an update then,” he added about the October meeting.

It’s been a year since the city got the DOT grant, which would help defray United’s startup costs for the Denver flight. Jones said the city has five years to spend the money.

Jones said the city is talking to other airlines about other destinations.

“I don’t think a lot of people know, including the City Council, the level of conversations we have,” Jones said.

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Denver is a destination Redding officials have pursued for more than 20 years. About 10 years ago, the city tried to leverage a $500,000 federal air service development grant to land United Airlines service to Denver. The effort failed.

Currently, Redding Regional Airport offers direct flights to Burbank, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.

Approximately 45,000 passengers flew in and out of Redding in the first quarter of 2022, up from about 7,500 passengers for the same three months a year ago, according to the Shasta EDC Economic Dashboard.

For the record, flights to Burbank, Seattle and Las Vegas had not started in the first quarter of 2021, and flights to Los Angeles had not yet resumed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Spiders hanging out by the river. What's up?

Q: Why are there suddenly so many spiders along the Sacramento River Trail? What species are they and why are they there?

Hello. This is Jessica Skropanic.

A: Now is a great time to be a spider living next to North State waters. That's because there's plenty of food flying into webs.

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August through September is peak spider season, said Sharon Clay, animal programs curator at Turtle Bay Exploration Park. Insect populations are at their highest so there's plenty for spiders to eat.

For the past two to four years, spider populations were unusually low, Clay said. This year's population is normal: There are a "healthy" number of spiders.

Most are Western Spotted Orb Weavers, a shy species not venomous enough to harm most humans, according to entomology fan sites InsectIdentification.org and SpiderIdentifications.com.

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A lot of spiders choose to weave their webs next to the Sacramento River Trail because "that is where the most mosquitos and insects are for the spiders to eat," Clay said.

Spiders are a vital part of the ecosystem, she said. "They play an enormous role (in) controlling the insect population." That helps reduce the spread of diseases by mosquitos, including West Nile virus. "So the more spiders we have, the less diseases we have spreading around. This is why we don’t knock down the webs around Turtle Bay that are not blocking trails. We let the spiders do their job."

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Redding's VFW Post finds a new home. Here's where it is.

Q: I have heard a rumor that the Veterans Hall (VFW Post 1934) on Oregon Street is having to move after many years in that location because the building's owner is doubling the rent. Is this rumor true?

Hi, this is David Benda.

A: When we answered this question in April, VFW Post 1934 was still searching for a new home.

Well, the search is over.

Wes Tucker, the post commander, said they plan to move to 163 Locust St. in Cypress Square. The building most recently was Marshall’s Florist, which has since moved to Hartnell Avenue.

“We are working on getting it renovated and ready to move in,” Tucker said.

The VFW had a fundraiser barbecue Monday to help pay for the needed renovation of the former flower shop.

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“It’s expensive to convert a flower shop into a bar,” Tucker said.

Tucker estimated that the barbecue brought in about $8,000.

In addition, the VFW has had some people donate materials and labor to go toward framing and “we have somebody doing the plumbing for a pretty good discount,” he added.

Tucker would like to move by September, but he said much will depend on money and the pace of construction.

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The VFW has to move because the rent at its location on Oregon Street is increasing and Tucker said they cannot afford the increase. The post has been there since 1994.

Tucker has said their Oregon Street landlord has worked with them and "bent over backwards to help us out." He noted they are willing to let them stay put until the new location is move-in ready.

Anyone interested in helping the VFW with the move can call the post at 530-241-9168.

How Ask the Record Searchlight works

This feature is brought to you as part of our newsroom-wide Ask the Record Searchlight initiative. Post questions in the comments section of this story, or:

• Email questions to RRSEdit@redding.com using Ask the Record Searchlight in the subject line.

• On Twitter, use the hashtag #AsktheRecordSearchlight or tag the newspaper at @BreakingNews_RS.

• Post a message on the Record Searchlight Facebook page.

• Contact one of the journalists directly. Visit the staff directory.

David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly "Buzz on the Street" column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-338-8323. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Why more spiders are crawling around Redding: Ask the R-S answers