Month: October 2024

Glenn County Observer

As reported yesterday, two vehicles collided in the 200 block of East Walker Street in Orland, sending three people to area hospitals.

According to the Orland Police Department log, at about 10 a.m. on Wednesday, emergency responders were dispatched to a report of a traffic collision with injuries.

Ricardo Reyna, 76, of Corning, was driving a brown 2001 Chevy Tahoe east on East Walker Street when he collided with a blue 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander driven west on East Walker Street by Claudia Galvez, 39, of Colusa.

Reyna, Galvez, and Galvez’s passenger, Esmereda Cervantes, 34, also of Colusa, were all transported to the hospital via ambulance.

Daniel Richard Duckworth of Orland died in Chico on Sunday, October 13, 2024. He was born in Vancouver, British Colombia, to Edgar and May Duckworth on March 30, 1952.

He attended Los Banos High School for his education.

He and his wife, Sandy, were married for 49 years and raised their adoring children together.

He worked at Johns Manville for 37 years as a batch and binder and was amazing at it. A family man who liked to tinker, he was a very accomplished mechanic, carpenter and builder of wacky creations.

He is survived by his wife, Sandra Duckworth of Orland; and sons Darryl Adams of Orland, Donald Adams of Magalia, Michael Patterson of Phoenix, Arizona, Paul Adams of Willows, and Daniel Duckworth II of Chico.

A Celebration of Life is set for 9 a.m. on Saturday, November 2, at the Sweet-Olsen Family Mortuary Chapel. Following this, a reception with the family is planned for anyone who would like to attend at 4308 County Road H, Orland.

Arrangements are under the direction of Sweet-Olsen Family Mortuary, Orland.

With her family by her side, Stacy Marie Gonter Imhoff died on Monday, July 8, 2024. She was born in Willows to Ronald and Diane Gonter on September 9, 1972.

She attended local schools through the sixth grade before moving to Red Bluff, where she graduated from Red Bluff High School in 1991.

Following high school, she began her career in the medical field as a CNA. She worked in Home Health Care, for Willows Post Acute, and for Glenn Medical Center.

She loved transporting her patients to Reno.

In 2001, she married Lee Imhoff and together they had two children: daughter Rylee; and son Hayden.

She is survived by her children, Rylee and Hayden; stepbrother Daniel (Lindsay) Varner; stepsister Jennifer (Robb) Perue; mother Diane; stepfather David Varner; and aunt Joyce Selb.

She was preceded in death by her father, Ronald; grandparents Bill and Betty Gonter, Gene and Marie Miller, and Tony and Eleanor Bem; and uncle Larry Miller.

A Celebration of Life is planned for her at 11 a.m. on Friday, November 1, at the Willows Cemetery. Following the service, all are invited to the Elk’s Lodge for a catered luncheon.

If you wish to bring your favorite dessert, you are welcome to drop it off at the hall prior to the service.

By Larry Judkins

Glenn County Observer

A vehicle accident on East Walker Street in Orland late Wednesday morning sent three people to area hospitals.

The collision occurred at about 10 a.m. and involved two vehicles: a Chevy Tahoe and a blue Mitsubishi.

A third vehicle, a white SUV, narrowly avoided being hit.

The accident happened in the middle of East Walker Street, halfway across the street from Hibdon Motor’s parking lot.

East Walker Street was closed to all traffic between Woodward Avenue and Papst Avenue.

Orland firefighters had to use the so-called “Jaws of Life” to extricate the two victims from the Mitsubishi.

The driver of the Tahoe was able to exit the vehicle without such assistance, but he took a seat in the Hibdon parking lot and did not get up under his own power while The Observer was at the scene.

Orland Fire Chief Justin Chaney told another responder that the driver would not seek transportation by ambulance to a hospital; however, he later changed his mind.

The man’s Tahoe had disabled plates.

Three ambulances arrived at the scene: one Westside Ambulance, one Enloe, and one St. Elizabeth.

Orland Police Sgt. Kyle Cessna told The Observer that alcohol and/or other drugs were not a factor in the collision.

Both vehicles were removed by Bambauer Towing.

Watch The Observer for an update later.

Sandy Lee Gallegos died in Willows, where she lived most of her life, on Friday, October 11, 2024. She was born in Gallup, New Mexico, on July 10, 1961.

She worked for many years as the generous and friendly red-haired waitress at the Black Bear Diner.

With her fiery red hair, bright green eyes, quick wit, and vibrant spirit, she brought a unique energy to every room. She was friendly with everyone and could talk to anyone.

She will be remembered by those who knew her for her ability to connect with people. Her loved ones bid her “Goodbye, Sandy. You were loved and you will be remembered by all of us.”

She is survived by her loving children, Destiney Ann Gallegos, Daniel Simon Gallegos, Amber Jean Howard, and Ellie Valene Howard; sister Velma Jean Barber; brothers David Eugene Goldsberry and William Duayne Nichols; 16 cherished grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Velma Pearl Nichols and Howard Nichols; and her precious grandbaby, Nolan Curtis.

In remembrance, a Celebration of Life will be held in her honor at 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 2, at the Holiday Inn Express in Willows.

James (Jimmy) Joseph Jacobs died on Sunday, October 13, 2024. He was born in Sacramento to Elizabeth (Betty) Ainger and Philip Jacobs on July 11, 1970.

Jimmy and his wife, Donna, started their lives together after meeting in Paradise in 1988. They were married by 1990 on a whim and a dare, one that perfectly panned out, resulting in four beautiful children and 34 years of marriage.

They moved to Glenn County in 1994. They were forever happy, as they would affectionately say.

He is survived by his mother and father; sisters Stephanie Jacobs-Reck of Elk Grove, Rebecca Jacobs of Orland, and Mary Jacobs of Idaho; wife Donna Jacobs; children Dustin Jacobs, Brent Jacobs, Ashely Jacobs, Sophia Jacobs; and five grandchildren, all of Willows.

For anyone wishing to attend his services, they will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 26, at the First United Methodist Church, 544 North Shasta Street, Willows, with a Celebration of Life to follow at the same location.

Those unable to attend can watch it live on the church’s Facebook page.

Here is a list of the bookings into the Glenn County Jail, with information provided by jail personnel, the Glenn County Sheriff’s log, and the Orland police log. Remember: Everyone accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Wednesday, October 16:

No one was booked into the Glenn County Jail on this date.

Thursday, October 17:

8:11 p.m., Armando Garcia, 30, of Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging violation of a court order to prevent domestic violence (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at $5,000. He was taken into custody at 600 North Humboldt Avenue, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.

According to the Glenn County Sheriff’s log, at about 4:49 p.m. on October 17, Stephanie Kristen Monahan called the sheriff’s office to report a restraining order violation at 600 North Humboldt Avenue, apt. #257, in Willows. Monahan told the GCSO that the restrained party, Armando Garcia, of 262 Bryant Street, Orland, was knocking on her door but has since left the area. Deputies conducted an extensive area search for Garcia’s vehicle but were unable to find it.

Glenn County Sheriff’s dispatchers said the restraining order is a no-contact order but had not been served. Deputy Mallon contacted Monahan, who told the deputy the restraining order had been served and that she would check with the courts in the morning. Deputy Mallon told Monahan if Garcia returned to call the GCSO.

At about 7:31 p.m., at 600 North Humboldt Avenue, Deputy Tuma served Garcia with a domestic violence restraining order. Later, Garcia was reported by at the apartment complex, in violation of the restraining order. Deputy Tuma contacted Garcia, and he was placed under arrest.

Friday, October 18:

10:40 a.m., Joseph Gene Oreilly, 43, of Roseburg, Ore., was booked into the Glenn County Jail on a court-ordered surrender for charges alleging second-degree burglary (a felony). Bail was set at $15,000. He was taken into custody at the jail by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.

7:50 p.m., Augustine Gomez-Perez, 21, of Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, driving while under the influence of alcohol, and possession of a controlled substance (all misdemeanors). Bail was set at $10,000. He was taken into custody at Sixth and South Streets by an Orland police officer.

According to the Orland Police Department’s log, at about 7:19 p.m. on October 18, Orland police officers responded to a report of a person who was possibly driving while under the influence, who was stopped with a flat tire. Following an investigation, Agustin Perez, 21, of Orland, was arrested and booked for allegedly driving while under the influence of alcohol.

9:30 p.m., Jose Francisco Gonzalez, 26, of Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, driving while under the influence of alcohol, and driving without a license (all misdemeanors). Bail was set at $10,000. He was taken into custody at Sixth and Tehama Streets by a California Highway Patrol officer.

9:57 p.m., Juan Daniel Guijarro, 23, of Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, driving while under the influence of alcohol, and driving without a license (all misdemeanors). Bail was set at $10,000. He was taken into custody on Sixth Street at Tehama Street by a California Highway Patrol officer.

Saturday, October 19:

8:08 a.m., Dennis Jay London, 50, of Chico, was booked into the Glenn County Jail without bail on a Santa Cruz Superior Court warrant alleging driving with a license suspended for driving while under the influence (a misdemeanor). He was taken into custody at the jail, 141 South Lassen Street, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.

3:35 p.m., Bradley James Michaud, 53, of Willows, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging trespassing, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia (all misdemeanors). Bail was set at $0. He was taken into custody at 204 North Merrill Avenue, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.

3:35 p.m., Jennifer May Shockley, 33, of Willows, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging trespassing, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia (all misdemeanors). Bail was set at $0. She was taken into custody at 204 North Merrill Avenue, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.

According to the Glenn County Sheriff’s log, at about 3:03 p.m. on October 19, a deputy on patrol saw a man enter a vacant residence. The deputy had prior knowledge the property had been having problems with people unlawfully entering the property. Deputies contacted Bradley James Michaud and Jennifer May Shockley inside the residence. Both were detained and a deputy contacted Dan Chrestensen, who requested both be charged with trespassing. Michaud and Shockley were arrested for alleged trespassing and drug-related charges.

Sunday, October 20:

No one was booked into the Glenn County Jail on this date.

Monday, October 21:

1:01 a.m., Heather Nanette Gutierrez, 41, of Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging public intoxication (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at $0. She was taken into custody at the Motel 6, 452 North Humboldt Avenue, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.

According to the Glenn County Sheriff’s log, at about 12:55 a.m. on October 21, Motel 6 employee Trina Massey contacted the sheriff’s office and reported a woman who appeared to be intoxicated and was causing a disturbance. Upon arrival, deputies observed a woman in the parking lot, stumbling around. Deputies contacted Heather Gutierrez, who was identified by her California ID card.

Deputies observed that Gutierrez was unable to stand by herself, and had heavy, slurred speech. She also told deputies that she was in Red Bluff. Deputies determined that Gutierrez was too intoxicated to care for herself and placed her under arrest. She was transported to the Glenn County Jail, where she was turned over to jail staff for booking. She was later released when sober.

8:08 p.m., Cuong Bach Ngo, 58, of Willows, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging touching a person intimately against that person’s will for the purpose of sexual arousal (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at $0. He was taken into custody at the La Taqueria Mexican Restaurant, 236 North Humboldt Avenue, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.

According to the Glenn County Sheriff’s log, at about 7:03 p.m. on October 21, Deputy Tuma was dispatched to a report of a sexual assault at 236 North Humboldt Avenue, Willows. After an on-scene investigation, Cuong Ngo of Corning was placed under arrest for alleged sexual battery.

During the week of October 6-12, Glenn County 4-H celebrated National 4-H Week with window displays at local businesses. The theme this year was “Beyond Ready.”

Glenn County 4-H thanks the evaluators for taking time out of their busy schedules to evaluate our National 4-H Week Window Displays. The official evaluators were Deanna Rogers, Lee Minto, and Erin Johnson.

Glenn County 4-H also thanks each business that allowed 4-H to use their facility.

The following are the results from the window display evaluations: first place, Willows 4-H Club ($100 club award); second place, Schaffert 4-H Club ($75 club award); and third place, Stoney Creek 4-H Club ($50 club award).

Displays that received gold ribbons were: Willows 4-H Club (displayed at 505 North Humboldt Avenue, Willows); Schaffert 4-H Club (Fourth Street Ice Cream, 712 Fourth Street, Orland); Stoney Creek 4-H Club (DeSerj for Hair, 716 Fourth Street, Orland); Lake 4-H Club (Glenn County Farm Bureau Office, 931 Fifth Street, Orland); Capay 4-H Club (Country Pumpkins, 7152 Highway 32, Orland); and Clover 4-H Club (Carl’s Feed, 811 Tehama Street, Willows).

Plaza 4-H Club’s display, located at Three Little Birds, 708 Fourth Street, Orland, received a Blue Ribbon.

Here is a list of the bookings into the Glenn County Jail, with information provided by jail personnel, the Glenn County Sheriff’s log, and the Orland police log. Remember: Everyone accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Friday, October 11:

10:05 a.m., Kenneth Charles King, 62, of Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on a warrant alleging driving while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol (a misdemeanor), driving while under the influence of alcohol (a misdemeanor), driving with a license suspended for driving while under the influence (a misdemeanor), driving with a blood alcohol content of 0.01 percent or higher while on probation for driving while under the influence, (an infraction). Bail was set at $16,000. He was taken into custody at 92 Sixth Street by an Orland police officer.

According to the Orland police logs for this incident, Orland police officers were dispatched to the Liberty Bell Apartments, 92 Sixth Street, to check the welfare of a man who appeared to be intoxicated. Officers contacted Kenneth King, 62, of Orland. He was arrested and booked for a misdemeanor Butte County warrant.

12:10 p.m., Alex Bluecloud Piceno, 29, of Santa Rosa, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on a warrant alleging willful cruelty to a child with possible injury or death (a felony, two counts), driving with a license suspended or revoked for driving while under the influence (a misdemeanor), failure to install an ignition interlock device (a misdemeanor), and a special allegation of great bodily injury (a felony, two counts). Bail was set at $115,000. He was taken into custody at the Sonoma County Jail by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.

5:59 p.m., Javier Elias Perez, 58, of Northridge, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on a court remand with a charge alleging violation of a court order to prevent domestic violence (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at $10,000. He was taken into custody at the Glenn County Superior Court by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.

Saturday, October 12:

10 p.m., Rene Giovanni Macias, 24, of Fairfield, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging evading a peace officer with wanton disregard for safety (a felony), resisting a public service officer (a misdemeanor), and driving without a license (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at $35,000. He was taken into custody on Highway 32 at Canal Street, Hamilton City, by a California Highway Patrol Officer.

Sunday, October 13:

2:28 a.m., Maria Celeste Castillo-Puente, 19, of Hamilton City, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging driving while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, and driving while under the influence of alcohol (both misdemeanors). Bail was set at $10,000. She was taken into custody on Swift Street at First Street by an Orland police officer.

According to the Orland police log, at 2:13 a.m., Orland police officers initiated a traffic enforcement stop on a white 2016 Chrysler 200 on Tehama Street at A Street. Following an investigation, Maria Castillo-Puente, 19, of Hamilton City, was arrested and booked for allegedly driving while under the influence with a blood alcohol content above 0.08 percent, and allegedly driving with a suspended license.

6:25 a.m., Joseph Scott Fahey, 41, of Willows, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging failure by a transient to update his status as a sex offender within 30 days (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at $5,000. He was taken into custody at the Willows Post Office, 315 West Sycamore Street, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.

According to the Glenn County Sheriff’s log, at 5:55 a.m., Danielle Hopkins called the sheriff’s office and reported a man sleeping outside the Willows Post Office at 315 West Sycamore Street. Deputies responded and contacted transient Joseph Fahey, who was allegedly found to be out of compliance with his sex registration. Sgt. Grant Lemmon and the Glenn County SAFE team responded to the scene. Sgt. Lemmon ultimately arrested Fahey for the alleged registration violation. Fahey was transported and booked into the Glenn County Jail.

6:23 p.m., Brian Joseph Morrill, 21, of Marysville, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on driving while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, and driving while under the influence of alcohol (both misdemeanors). Bail was set at $10,000. He was taken into custody on the southbound side of Interstate 5, south of County Road 39, by a California Highway Patrol officer.

Monday, October 14:

9:58 a.m., Jesus Medina Esparza, 43, of Willows, was booked into the Glenn County Jail without bail for alleged violation of post-release community supervision (a felony). He was taken into custody at the Glenn County Probation Department, Willows, by a probation officer.

Tuesday, October 15:

10:35 a.m., Karla Pahua Ortega, 22, of Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging felony violation of probation. Bail was set at $140,000. She was taken into custody at the Glenn County Probation Department, Willows, by a probation officer.

2:30 p.m., Ruben Luna Perez, 30, of Willows, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on a court remand with a charge alleging misdemeanor violation of probation. Bail was set at $10,000. He was taken into custody at the Glenn County Superior Court, 526 West Sycamore Street, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.

5:20 p.m., Keith Charles Harris, 33, of Chico, was booked into the Glenn County Jail without bail for alleged violation of post-release community supervision (a felony). He was taken into custody at the Glenn County Probation Department, Willows, by a probation officer.

11:22 p.m., Hillary Jane Gongora, 40, of Red Bluff, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging possession of a controlled substance (a misdemeanor), and a warrant alleging failure to appear on a misdemeanor charge. Total bail was set at $25,000. She was taken into custody at Sixth and South Streets by an Orland police officer.

According to the Orland police log, at 11:11 p.m., Orland police officers initiated a traffic enforcement stop on a 2005 Nissan sedan on Sixth Street at South Street. Following an investigation, Hillary Gongora, 40, of Red Bluff, was arrested and booked on a charge alleging possession of a controlled substance, and a misdemeanor Tehama County warrant.

With her family by her side, Virginia Vereschagin Talbot Homer died peacefully in Chico on Friday, October 11, 2024. She was born on April 30, 1932, to Alex and Anna Vereschagin on her Russian immigrant grandfather’s original family farm in Orland, a farm where she would reside for the remainder of her life.

She attended Orland schools, excelling in music, leadership, and academics while honing her social skills with “The Girls,” friendships that would endure a lifetime.

After high school, she attended Mills College in Oakland for one year. She then transferred to the College of the Pacific in Stockton, where she fell in love with her “sweetheart,” Quentin “Doc” Talbot, to whom she was married for 35 years until his death in 1991.

She spent her entire life after college dedicated to education, starting as a young teacher in Rio Linda, then at Sierra View School in Chico, before starting a 30-year career as “Mrs. Talbot” at Mill Street School in Orland. An advocate for reading and writing for children at an early age, she touched the lives of thousands of children attending Orland public schools, often using her talents and love for music as a tool in the classroom.

Following her retirement in 1994, she drew upon her classroom experience to become an author and lecturer on education. Her first book, Teaching Reading, Writing, and Spelling, would be followed up by five additional children’s books providing unique learning experiences in lively and colorful text.

Additionally, she enjoyed playing her grand piano daily, as well as bridge with a host of her friends. She even bowled and played a competitive round of golf in her later years.

She was also an avid traveler, both with “Doc” and her second husband, Lloyd Homer (another College of the Pacific graduate: married 1996-97), and with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was proud to have travelled to all 50 of the United States and to six of the seven continents. (Sorry, Antarctica. She hated the cold!)

She has been honored as an Orland High School Alumna of the Year; as a Glenn County Teacher of the Year; and as a Masonic Lodge Teacher of the Year. She was also selected for the Northern California Reading Teacher Award and was a candidate for California Teacher of the Year.

Virginia is survived by her two children, Terri Talbot Speicher (Richard Speicher) and Todd Alex Talbot (Denise Simpson Talbot); brother Alex Vereschagin Jr.; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Quentin J. Talbot and Lloyd Homer; and grandson, Kyle Alex Talbot.

A celebration of life is planned for 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 19, at the Federated Church in Orland. Virginia would always say, “I had a wonderful life!”

Her loved ones thank her family and friends for making it such a joy for her.

In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial donation to Just for Children, P.O. Box 573, Orland, CA, 95963, or to a favorite charity.

Arrangements are under the direction of Sweet-Olsen Family Mortuary, Orland.