Month: February 2022

By Larry Judkins

Glenn County Observer

“Haley is alive,” rejoiced her mother, Denise Mitchell, on Monday, Feb. 7.

Ruth Haley Word, then-35, of Willows, vanished without a trace in early January. Just over a month after filing a missing person report, her mother finally heard her voice again.

According to her post on Facebook, Denise Mitchell was sitting at home, wondering what happened to her daughter. “Is she alive? Is she gone? Is she hurt? Is she fighting for her life?”

Then, all of a sudden, she received a random phone call from a man named Rick, who said that he “thinks he has my daughter.” He said the only number that he could get out of her was Mitchell’s.

At first she thought it was a joke. Then she started crying and asked him to let her speak with her daughter.

The first words Mitchell heard were, “Mom?” It was Haley and Mitchell broke down even harder.

According to her mother, Haley sounded distraught, confused, and very tired. Mitchell told her it’s going to be okay, she’s going to be safe now, and she was coming to get her.

According to Mitchell, Rick was a truck driver. He told Mitchell he had just lost his daughter in a situation similar to Word’s, and he couldn’t leave her on the sidewalk so he tried to help her.

The only number he could get from Word was her mother’s. He talked to Mitchell on the phone and told her he was going to take her to his truck.

So he did. He kept Mitchell on the phone with him and her daughter fell asleep.

Mitchell said she didn’t really know what to do, but she headed to Folsom. She also kept in contact with Rick while her daughter slept.

“I got his name, I got a vehicle he was driving, and I got an address,” she wrote on her Facebook page. “I decided to call the police because I didn’t know if Haley would wake up and run.

“I didn’t know this guy and I also didn’t trust anything at this point,” Mitchell wrote. The police were there within three minutes and they made Word stay in custody at the parking lot until Mitchell got there.

The police initially said that Mitchell could take her daughter back to Glenn County, but when Mitchell arrived in Folsom, the police called back and said that Glenn County had contacted them and told Folsom police to take Word into custody and she will be transported to Glenn County on Tuesday.

Mitchell wrote, “I asked if they could just wait because we had just gotten into Folsom.” She wanted to see her daughter, but they said she was already taken into custody.

Looking at the positive side, Mitchell said, “Just knowing that she is alive is a great thing. Thank you, Jesus.

Mitchell added, “I want to thank all of these people and all of the people who love her, and for all they have done for her, all the prayers, all the people looking for her. Everyone, I can’t say the right words.

“But she is alive and I also asked the police if she was refusing to go or resisting. They said no, that she wanted to go.

“So, friends and family, thank you so much for everything.”

Mitchell ended her post as she had begun: “Haley is alive.”

Upon hearing this news, one reader commented, “Now let’s get her help.”

Another wrote, “Please try to get her into a rehab once she is released from custody. Contact Salvation Army and K-Love’s Teen Challenge. (They have rehabs for all ages.)”

On Thursday, Feb. 10, at 9:55 a.m., Word, now 36, was booked into the Glenn County Jail. She was taken into custody at the Sacramento County Jail.

She was booked into the Glenn County Jail on five misdemeanor warrants and one felony warrant. Charges on the misdemeanor warrants were for allegedly disobeying a court order. The felony warrant alleged disobeying a lawful order of the court. Total bail for the six warrants was set at $61,000.

Brenda Kay Richardson died on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022. The oldest of five children, she was born in Texas to E.M. Evans and Sylvia Knee Lingenfelter on March 14, 1944.

She married Carl D. Wolfe and they had five girls together: Vickie Verry (Victor) of Philadelphia, Tenn., Rhonda Johnson (Harvey) of Fairale, W. Va., DeLena Bowes (Clayton) of Willows, LeaAnn Wolfe (Bob See) of Pigeon Forge, Tenn., and Carla Verry (Lyle) of Durham.

She moved to Willows in 1978, where she worked as a bartender/cocktail waitress and made lifelong friends. Brenda was a faithful member of the Faith Bible Church for many years.

She found peace and love in her faith and God. She loved her church family.

She is survived by all her girls, two younger brothers, 15 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by both of her parents, a brother and a sister.

Glenn County Observer

Both the Willows Office of the California Highway Patrol and the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office have released additional information regarding the fatal accident on Interstate 5 on Friday, Feb. 4:

According to the CHP, at about 12:40 p.m. on Feb. 4, a man was driving a 1996 Chevy pickup south on I-5, south of County Road 20, in the fast lane at about 70 miles per hour, when his right rear tire blew out. He was unable to maintain control of his vehicle, which traveled into the center median and crashed into the oleander bushes.

The pickup spun and overturned. The driver, who apparently was not wearing his seat belts, was ejected from the Chevy and sustained fatal injuries.

According to CHP Officer Roach, neither alcohol nor drugs appear to have been a factor in this accident.

According to the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office, at 12:44 p.m., Deputy Goodwin responded to I-5, north of the County Road 25 overpass, for a report of a vehicle rollover with a person possible ejected. The deputy arrived on-scene, where an off-duty medical worker was performing life-saving efforts on a man.

Orland Fire Department and Westside Ambulance personnel also responded to the scene, where the man was pronounced deceased. The decedent was released to the care of Sweet-Olsen Family Mortuary of Orland.

The man was identified as Eldon Edward McGowan, 64, of Lower Lake.

By Larry Judkins

Glenn County Observer

A Willows woman suffered major injuries following a rollover accident on Highway 162 Sunday morning.

At 10:04 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 6, Stesha Thuemler, 37, of Willows, was driving her 2004 Discovery Land Rover east on Highway 162, approaching County Road 302 at about 55 miles per hour. This intersection is located northwest of Thunderhill Raceway.

According to the California Highway Patrol media release, Thuemler allowed the vehicle to travel across the double yellow lines and into the westbound lane. Thuemler corrected the Land Rover and turned it back to the right, into the eastbound lane.

The vehicle traveled off the roadway and off a descending dirt and grass embankment. The Land Rover collided with a large rock and wire fence, then rolled over more than once and crashed into a dirt and grass field.

According to the Glenn County dispatcher as heard on the police scanner, a witness reported that the vehicle came to rest on its roof. The CHP media release stated the Land Rover was about 98 feet south of the south roadway edge.

Thuemler was partially inside the vehicle when the CHP arrived. According to the Glenn County dispatcher, a witness reported the victim could be seen moving her legs.

Thuemler was flown to Enloe Medical Center in Chico for treatment of major injuries. According to CHP Officer Forslund, she was not wearing her seat belts at the time of the accident.

By Larry Judkins

Glenn County Observer

Sirens screamed through Orland and northern Glenn County Monday morning as emergency responders headed to the scene of a vehicle fire at Highway 32 and County Road O.

The call went out at about 5:24 a.m. Law enforcement officers arrived first on the scene, and the actual location of the burning vehicle was revised slightly to County Road O, just north of Highway 32.

The vehicle was then said to be a fully involved travel trailer.

A law enforcement officer reported “explosions” coming from the burning vehicle, so one lane (presumably the westbound lane) was shut down for a few minutes until the explosions stopped.

It is unknown whether the explosions were caused by rupturing tires, bursting propane tanks, or whatever.

At about 5:42 a.m., an emergency responder reported that the fire was arson.

Roughly 10 minutes later, the “travel trailer” was corrected to “motorhome,” approximately 25 feet in length.

At 6:03 a.m., the Orland Fire Department reported the blaze was “knocked down,” and the volunteers would be “mopping up” for a while longer.

At 6:11 a.m., the fire units began returning to quarters.

Presumably, arson investigators arrived at the scene sometime after this.

Early in the afternoon, The Glenn County Observer arrived at the scene, where Lewis Bambauer and Bambauer Towing employees were busy removing the thoroughly charred remains.

Here are the latest bookings from the Glenn County Jail. Remember: Everyone accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Thursday, Jan. 27:

1:37 p.m., Ryan Mark Ockerman, 44, a laborer who lives in Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging resisting or obstructing a public service officer (a misdemeanor), possession of drug paraphernalia, and felony violation of probation. Bail was set at $20,000. He was taken into custody at 216 Robbins Street, Orland, by a Glenn County probation officer.

11:27 p.m., Spencer Dale Taylor, 29, a laborer, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging using or being under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance (both misdemeanors). Bail was set at zero. She was taken into custody at Walmart, 470 North Airport Road, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.

11:40 p.m., Kaitlyn Noel O’Grady, 24, an administrative assistant who lives in Redding, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging using or being under the influence of a controlled substance (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at zero. She was taken into custody at Walmart, 470 North Airport Road, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.

Friday, Jan. 28:

12:26 a.m., James Philip Thomas, 33, a landscaper, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging giving false identification to a peace officer (a misdemeanor), and possession of methamphetamine (a felony), and warrants alleging disobeying a lawful order of the court (a felony), failure to register as a sex offender within five days of changing addresses (a misdemeanor), possession of methamphetamine (a felony), and felony violation of probation. Bail for the fresh charges was set at $10,000. Total bail for three of the warrants was set at $60,000, while one or two other warrants may have been no-bail warrants (the jail’s news release was not specific). He was taken into custody at 207 North Butte Street, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.

2:53 p.m., Andy Kao Saechao, 26, a laborer who lives in Willows, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging using or being under the influence of a controlled substance (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at zero. He was taken into custody in the 300 block of North Shasta Street, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.

Saturday, Jan. 29:

12:52 p.m., Juan Manuel Herrera, 40, a window installer who lives in Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging vandalism, and battery on a non-cohabitating former spouse (both misdemeanors). Bail was set at $5,000. He was taken into custody at 1011 Cortina Drive by an Orland police officer.

Sunday, Jan. 30:

4:23 a.m., Carole Austin Thompson, 20, a home cleaning worker who lives in Hamilton City, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging infliction of corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant (a felony). Bail was set at $25,000. She was taken into custody at First and Walsh Streets, Hamilton City, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.

6:34 a.m., Justin Wade McGlothin, 32, a welder who lives in Willows, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging felony violation of probation, driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (a misdemeanor), driving while under the influence of alcohol (a misdemeanor), driving with a license suspended for driving while under the influence (a misdemeanor), and evading a peace officer with wanton disregard for safety (a felony). Bail was set at $85,000. He was taken into custody on West Ash Street at South Shasta Street, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.

5:43 p.m., Ricardo Garcia, 29, a welder who lives in Artois, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging resisting or obstructing a public service officer (a misdemeanor), and felony robbery. Bail was set at $100,000. He was taken into custody at 3186 Highway 99, Artois, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.

Monday, Jan. 31:

6 p.m., Steven Anthony York, 27, a laborer who lives in Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on a warrant alleging failure to appear after giving a written promise (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at $12,000. He was taken into custody on County Road 203, north of Highway 32, by a California Highway Patrol officer.

Tuesday, Feb. 1:

1:56 p.m., Shawn Dale Van Giesen, 49, a care provider who lives in Willows, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on a warrant alleging disobeying a court order (a misdemeanor), and a Woodland Police Department warrant alleging misdemeanor violation of probation. Total bail was set at $31,000. He was taken into custody at the Circle K on Wood Street, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.

2:28 p.m., Lucky Bob Wyatt, 39, a laborer who lives in Willows, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on warrants alleging failure to appear after giving a written promise (a misdemeanor). Total bail was set at $24,000. He was taken into custody at 600 North Tehama Street, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.

10:18 p.m., Dave Raymond Campbell, 52, a stocker who lives in Artois, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging violation of a protective order (a misdemeanor), and felony violation of probation. Bail was set at $40,000. He was taken into custody at 6704 County Road 33, Artois, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.

11:48 p.m., Ruben Villegas Cruz, 29, a laborer who lives in Willows, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging public intoxication, and violation of probation (both misdemeanors). Bail was set at $5,000. He was taken into custody at 243 West Walnut Street, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.

Wednesday, Feb. 2:

12:05 p.m., Juan Manuel Herrera, 40, a window installer who lives in Orland, was committed to the Glenn County Jail without bail on charges alleging possession of a controlled substance, possession of controlled substance paraphernalia, and driving with a license suspended for driving while under the influence (all misdemeanors). He was taken into custody at the Glenn County Probation Department, Willows, by a probation officer.

Thursday, Feb. 3:

10:15 a.m., Andrew Jacob Burrows, 28, of Elk Creek, was booked into the Glenn County Jail without bail on charges alleging violation of post-release community supervision (a felony). He was taken into custody at County Road 305, lot #17, Elk Creek, by a Glenn County probation officer.

1:34 p.m., Brenda Lee Kerwood, 47, of Redding, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging public intoxication (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at zero. She was taken into custody on Wood Street at Ventura Street, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.

2:58 p.m., Patricia Anderson, 39, of Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on a warrant alleging using fraud to obtain aid, violation of the food stamp program, grand theft, and perjury (all felonies). Bail was set at $310,000. She was taken into custody at the Orland branch of the Glenn County Superior Court by an Orland police officer.

8:42 p.m., Carolina Lopez-Hernandez, 28, of Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging infliction of corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant (a felony), threatening to commit a crime with intent to terrorize (a felony), misdemeanor vandalism, and assault with a deadly weapon with force likely to cause great bodily injury (a felony). Bail was set at $195,000. She was taken into custody at the Orland police station, 817 Fourth Street, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.

Glenn County Observer

If you hurry, you might be able to get some spaghetti at the Orland Fire Department.

Volunteers will be serving meals until 8 p.m. tonight, Saturday.

All meals are available only by driving through the drive-thru behind the fire station. There are no meals being served inside the firehouse this year.

There is also no cake auction this year. However, raffle tickets are available.

This is the 67th annual spaghetti feed of the Orland Volunteer Fire Department.

If you are unable to support the fire department by buying a spaghetti meal, you can still make a donation to the department by sending a contribution to the Orland Fire Department, 810 Fifth Street, Orland, CA 95963.

By Larry Judkins

Glenn County Observer

A person was killed early Friday afternoon in a rollover accident on Interstate 5, north of County Road 24.

The information that follows is taken from the California Highway Patrol’s traffic incident website and police scanner chatter. The information from both of these sources is never completely reliable, as it often consists of unverified statements from unobjective witnesses.

However, according to the CHP traffic incident page, at about 12:42 p.m., a report was received of a vehicle on its roof. Another report stated a vehicle went through center divide and flipped several times.

According to the police scanner, the driver was ejected from the vehicle.

At 12:45 p.m., the CHP said another caller reported a vehicle lost control and came across the roadway.

Scanner chatter stated CPR was in progress. The person performing CPR was reportedly an off-duty emergency responder.

The person was soon pronounced dead.

At 12:53 p.m., the traffic incident page stated that the fast lane was blocked by medical personnel.

At 1 p.m., CalTrans responded with a sweeper. Both southbound lanes needed to be swept.

According to the scanner, a deputy contacted Glenn County Communications, requesting the estimated time of arrival for a particular responder whose services were needed at the accident scene. The dispatcher contacted the responder, who said he or she would be at the scene in about an hour.

The deputy then told the dispatcher in no uncertain terms that “this is not acceptable” and to recontact the responder. If there is still a problem, said the deputy, have the responder contact the deputy personally.

The dispatcher recontacted the responder. The dispatcher then told the deputy the responder would be at the accident scene in 15 minutes.

Unfortunately, this was not the only vehicle accident on I-5, south of Orland, early Friday afternoon. At about 1:29 p.m., long before the accident farther down the freeway had been completely cleared, a report was received that two semis had collided on the southbound side of I-5, south of County Road 16.

The involved vehicles were in the slow lane of southbound I-5, while debris was in the fast lane.

The CHP’s traffic incident page reported at 1:42 p.m. that one big rig rear-ended the other, and that one of the vehicles was wedged into the other. The cab of one of the semis was said to be “totaled,” and one of the vehicles was loaded with beer.

According to scanner chatter, a hazardous material was leaking from one of the semis. According to the CHP incident page, at 2:24 p.m., CalTrans was on-scene and “should be making the call for [Glenn County Environmental Health] to respond.”

At 2:31 p.m., CalTrans was reported to have contacted drivers, trying to get tow and big rig companies to respond to the scene to clean up.

Additional information may be available in the coming days. Be sure to check for updates from The Glenn County Observer.

Theresa Nadine Foltz Forrest died at her home in Willows on Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. She was born to Glenn and Lorrayne Foltz on Dec. 31, 1951.

She attended schools in the Orland school system and graduated from Orland High School in the class of 1969. She attended Trinity College in Canada before returning to finish school at Butte College.

She married Bruce Forrest of Willows in December of 1974. The couple made their home in Willows.

She was active in her church on the Worship Team, taught Sunday School, attended many Thrive Conferences, and mentored many people in their faith over the years. She was a local Realtor in the Glenn County market, active in the Orland Alumni Association and the Avenue of Lights at the Glenn County Fairgrounds during the Christmas season.

She is survived by her husband, Bruce Forrest; siblings Roxanne Gonsalves, Wayne Foltz, Cheryle Christian, and Dwight Foltz; seven nephews and one niece and their children; uncle, Richard Booth; and cousin, Frank Booth. She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Emerson and Thelma Foltz; maternal grandparents, Frank and Irene Booth; father, Glenn Foltz; and mother, Lorrayne Foltz.

She will greatly be missed by all who knew her but she leaves behind a wonderful and lasting impression on each person she knew.

A service is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 12, at the Oddfellows Cemetery, 3900 County Road P, southeast of Orland. A celebration of life at the Faith Bible Church, 403 Vine Street, Willows, is planned to follow 11:30 a.m.

Violet Ruth Foley of Willows died on Friday, Jan. 28, 2022, after a short stay at Enloe Medical Center in Chico. She was born in Colusa to Vernon and Ruth Shuman on June 16, 1941.

She married her loving husband, Jack Foley, on March 25, 1959, and graduated from Colusa High School in June of the same year. Violet and Jack spent the next 62 years of marriage loving and caring for each other and their two children.

In the early years of marriage, along with being a wife and mother, she was earning her Associate Degree in Accounting from the College of the Redwoods in Eureka. After moving back to the valley, she used her degree as an accountant for Colusa County for three years and Glenn County for 25 years, retiring in 1999.

In her free time, she also used her accounting abilities in the family business, Willow Walk Floral Shop, a business that she thoroughly enjoyed and gave her love of flowers a chance to flourish.

She loved to go fishing and camping. Many happy memories were created during those times.

Her other loves were gardening, watching wildlife, playing Bingo, and spending time with her family. She lived her life to the fullest, never complaining, and always with a positive attitude.

She was a kind, loving and caring soul, touching many lives with her teasing and fun-loving ways, which she carried with her right up to the end of her journey. She will be greatly missed by many, but never forgotten.

She leaves behind her loving husband, Jack Foley; her two children, Vernon Foley (Gaynelle) and Toni Wharton (Gary); her two grandchildren, Kasey Foley and Veronica Foley; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

All are welcome to attend her memorial service set for 2 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 10, at the Willows Cemetery.