Author: ldjudk1ns

Oliver Brooks Hill died at Westhaven Senior Care in Orland on Saturday, October 5, 2024, a month short of his 102nd birthday. He was born in Willows to Harry K. Hill and Dorothy Bellville Hill on November 23, 1922, joining his older sisters, Edith (Edie) and Marie (Mimi).

His younger brother, Robert (Bob), was born 10 years later.

His father had a coal and oil business and added beekeeping to his business to fill the summer months when coal and oil were in less demand. Oliver grew up helping his father keep bees and became an excellent beekeeper, later serving a term as the California Beekeepers Association President.

He had a great love of music and saved up to buy a clarinet when he was12 years old. L.A. MacArthur recognized his skill on the clarinet and promoted him to the high school band while he was still in grammar school.

He had a strong interest and aptitude for mechanical things and built a tractor when he was in high school.

From an early age, he worked for Lester Lederer, a farmer in the hills west of Willows. That experience led to Oliver’s later design of self-leveling harvesters for hillsides in the Idaho Palous area, with design patents when he later worked for Case Tractor in Stockton.

Later in life, he was a member of the Vintage Iron Club.

He was accepted at University of California, Berkeley, when he left high school, but he returned home to work in the family bee business and because World War II was imminent. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in January of 1943 and saw active duty in Germany before being sent to Japan for the final invasion.

The atomic bomb fell on Hiroshima while he and other troops were on a ship headed to Japan, and he arrived there as part of the Japan occupation troops. His interests were reflected in the unusual items he brought home, like an Ohm meter with Japanese characters.

He was honorably discharged from the Army in February, 1946. He reentered UC, Berkeley, to earn a degree in agricultural engineering and played clarinet in the band while he was there.

A lover of music, he married Heather Hinshaw, initially attracted to her beautiful soprano voice in the church choir. They had two sons together, Rodney (Cynthia) and Stanley (Sandra), but later divorced.

He returned to Willows full-time to manage the family business, and he met Nora McKenzie through a beekeeper friend. She had three children, Katherine, Laurel (Kevin), and Wayne (deceased).

They added two children to the family: Norman (deceased) and Adrian (Diane).

Oliver and Nora ran the family bee business, but his first love was engineering. His children recall growing up with an electric forklift that Oliver built in 1958.

He built other innovative equipment, including being a co-inventor of the boom hive loader. The hive loader was a huge asset to beekeepers at a time when all loading and unloading were done by hand.

He was a skilled welder and did much of the specialty welding for a local welding business.

After retiring from beekeeping, he served on the Willows Library Board, the Colusa Historical Society, and Senior Nutrition committee. In retirement, he restored antique farm machinery and a Model TT truck that originally belonged to his father.

He was a lifelong member of the Willows Methodist Church and particularly loved singing in the choir.

He married Louella Kennedy in 2003, when their respective spouses passed away. He and Louella shared a mutual love of music and family events.

He loved being part of the large Kennedy family and enjoyed Louella’s adult children, Deborah (David), Yvonne (Larry), Sherrill (Dan), Laurie (Jack), Erle (Andrea), Dan (Lisa), Mike (Teri), and Sam, and their young children. Oliver leaves many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and nieces from his families.

He is survived by his younger brother, Robert.

The family would like to thank Westhaven Senior Care for Oliver’s exceptional care, and Enloe Hospice for their kind assistance at the end.

A Celebration of Life has been set for 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 19, at the Willows Methodist Church.

Glenn County Observer

Every year, National 4-H Week sees millions of young people, parents, volunteers, and alumni come together to celebrate the many positive youth development opportunities offered by 4-H.

The National 4-H Council created a campaign to rally support for Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program and identify solutions to eliminate the opportunity gap that affects 55 million kids across America. The them of this year’s National 4-H Week, October 6-12, is “Beyond Ready.”

4-H provides empowering experiences that create confidence and foster a sense of belonging for kids everywhere. 4-H also provides youth a place to feel valued, heard, and connected.

Through various project opportunities, such as quilting, arts and crafts, swine, dairy, archery, and baking, to name a few, a space is created for learning, connecting, and belonging. Our dedicated volunteers provide impactful experiences to encourage youth growth and assist in finding their spark.

Glenn County 4-H observed National 4-H Week this year by highlighting some of the inspirational 4-H youth in our community who are working tirelessly to support each other and their communities.

With support from the 4-H Community Education Specialist, Christine Kampmann, and UCCE Office Manager, Lea Eddy, 4-H youth members Reese and Paisley Martin presented the National 4-H Week Proclamation at the Glenn County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, September 24. In Glenn County, more than 500 4-H youth and 100 volunteers from the community are involved in the 4-H program.

4-H, the nation’s largest youth development and empowerment organization, cultivates confident kids who tackle the issues that matter most in their communities. In the United States, 4-H programs empower six million young people through the 110 land-grant universities and Cooperative Extension in more than 3,000 local offices serving every county and parish in the country.

Outside the United States, independent, country-led 4-H organizations empower one million young people in more than 50 countries.

National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of the Cooperative Extension System and 4-H National Headquarters, located at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

To learn more about Glenn County 4-H, visit: http://ceglenn.ucanr.edu/Glenn_County_4-H_Program_286/. Find Glenn County 4-H on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/GlennCounty4H/, and on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/ucce_glenn_county_4h/.

If you have any questions, please contact the Glenn County UC Cooperative Extension Office at (530) 865-1107, or email glenncounty4h@ucanr.edu.

Charles “Chuck” Brownlee Dunlap, Jr. died on Wednesday, September 4, 2024. He was born in Colusa to Charles “Pete” Dunlap, Sr., and Margaret Dunlap on October 4, 1938.

He lived in Sites and attended school at Sites Elementary through the eighth grade. From there, he attended Maxwell High School, graduating in 1957.

In October of 1961, he married Lucille Snyder. Together, they started their family, with Cash being born on July 7, 1962, and Julie born on March 29, 1964.

He spent many years working for his parents on their large ranch in Sites, working cattle and driving truck. He spent some time working for Joe Mello hauling cattle, and driving truck for Sharp Farms as well.

He even hauled rice and wheat to Firebaugh, Calif. Later on, he went to work for the County of Colusa on their road maintenance division, driving the road grader for over 30 years.

You could often find him on Bear Valley Road or Sand Creek Road. Those were his favorite roads because they had the most travel by people he knew.

He married Nancy Stotts Turley in 1989 and stayed married and faithful until her death from cancer in 2003.

A few years later, he met Ardy Raasch Rosano and they were married in November of 2005. They were married until her death from cancer in 2014.

His passions were flying airplanes, enjoying all aspects of railroad trains, golfing, and traveling. He loved to pilot airplanes for his family and friends.

He had an amazing model train set in his garage in Maxwell that he loved to show off and he enjoyed his many trips to Hawaii, which was his favorite place to travel to.

He is survived by his sisters Betsy (Phil) Sites, and Martha (Dave) Shanahan; son Cash Dunlap; daughter Julie Dunlap Farnham; grandchildren Blake (Kassi) Dunlap, Travis Dunlap, Jacob (Kayla) Dunlap, Ty Dunlap, Tiffany (Alan) Simonis, Austin (Cora) Farnham; great-grandchildren Riley and Duke Dunlap, Davis Dunlap, Connor and Cody Simonis, and Olivia and Morgan Farnham; nephews Will Sites, Justin Sites, Kyle Sites, Ed Shanahan, and Brent Shanahan and their families; and niece Jennifer Shanahan Ogata and her family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Margaret Dunlap; and his late wives.

His loved ones agree, he will be deeply missed and will be remembered for his love for his family, welcoming smile, and his personality that was unmatched.

A celebration of life is planned from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, October 11 at Granzella’s in Williams.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation in remembrance of Chuck to the Maxwell Fire District or your local fire station.

Robert “Bob” Shuey Holzapfel died on Wednesday, September 11, 2024. He was born to Jerold and Edith Holzapfel on November 6, 1945.

He grew up in Willows. After graduating from Willows High School, he attended Willamette University, where he participated in the ROTC program.

He joined the United States Air Force after graduating from college and was stationed at Beale Air Force Base. He met his future bride, Judith Perschbacher, during his enlistment, and the couple was married on August 23, 1969.

After his discharge, he attended law school in Sacramento, where he received his Juris Doctorate. The Holzapfels returned to Willows, where Bob Holzapfel set up a private law practice.

He was elected as Glenn County District Attorney and served for five terms.

He was a member of Willows Elks, Comanche Riders Association, and the Glenn County Senior Center Board of Directors.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Judith; son Roy Holzapfel; daughter Martha Holzapfel Wais and her husband, Eric; grandchildren Paige Holzapfel McCallister and husband Nicholas, Brady Holzapfel, and Ryan Holzapfel; great-granddaughter Lainey McCallister; brother Herb Holzapfel and wife, Virginia; and nieces and nephews.

His family agrees, Bob Holzapfel was greatly loved and will be truly missed.

Funeral services are planned for 10 a.m. on Friday, October 11, at the Willows First Lutheran Church, followed by a graveside service and a reception at the Willows Elks Lodge, 150 South Shasta Street.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity in Bob Holzapfel’s honor or the First Lutheran Church Memorial Fund.

Glenn County Observer

A Hamilton City man was arrested Monday morning for allegedly kidnapping a teenager.

The incident was reported at about 1:30 a.m. on Monday, September 23, when the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office was told of a missing 14-year-old child from Hamilton City.

Deputies contacted the parents, who said the child had possibly gone fishing with a man they did not know much about.

A search was conducted utilizing deputies and assistance from the Butte County Sheriff’s Office and the Butte County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue.

According to police scanner broadcasts, about dawn, calls for boats and aircraft went out.

The child and the man were found on the Sacramento River, south of Big Chico Creek.

According to the Glenn County Sheriff’s log, the child was reunited with “their” [sic] parents and the 64-year-old man, Eleazar Gamboa Martinez, of 150 Shasta Avenue, Hamilton City, was taken into custody and booked into the Glenn County Jail.

Law enforcement officers cleared the scene at 5:10 p.m.

Martinez was charged with alleged kidnapping (a felony), child stealing (a felony), and possession of a controlled substance (a misdemeanor).

His bail was set at $140,000.

Longtime Bayliss resident Mildred Marna Chittenden Newman Tucker died Sunday, September 8, 2024, after battling Parkinson’s disease in her final years. She was born in Colusa to Rolland G. Chittenden and Cordelia A. (Reed) Chittenden on December 11, 1927.

She lived in and around the Glenn County area most of her life. She had the good fortune of being the big sister to 10 brothers.

She was a career homemaker, learning and spending her time upholstering furniture, sewing winter coats and improving the farm and life of her family.

She had three children with her first husband, Herschel F. Newman: Ronald L. Newman, Marsha (Newman) Allen and Carol (Newman) Burrows. She was preceded in death by her husband, Herschel.

After Herschel’s death in 1965, she married Jamie D. Tucker. They spent their time improving the farm and eventually building a two-story house on the farm.

She most enjoyed planting and tending her huge flower beds and garden. After Jamie Tucker’s retirement, they took to the road to find genealogy information from various states from Kansas to Virginia.

One of her favorite projects was volunteering and supporting the Bayliss Library. She and Virginia Chappell served as librarians while the community sought to keep the library open.

When the library celebrated its 100th anniversary, it was an extremely happy day.

She is survived by daughter Carol; son-in-law Jeff Burrows; granddaughters Haylie Burrows and Christine Burrows; and brothers Cecil Chittenden, Douglas Chittenden and Thomas Chittenden.

Mildred was preceded in death by Herschel, Ron, Marsha, Ben Allen (son-in-law), and Jamie; and brothers Richard, Gerald, Robert, John, Delbert, Donald and Phillip.

At her request, no service will be held. Arrangements are being handled by F.D. Sweet and Son in Willows.

Burial is to take place in the Willows Cemetery.

Surrounded by her loving family, Evelyn Fay Peters died peacefully on Saturday, August 17, 2024. She was born in Capay to Leroy and Opal Woolsey on November 8, 1929.

Affectionately known by most as “Gram” or “Grammy”, she cherished her family and loved them unconditionally, a love that was deeply reciprocated.

She enjoyed spending time on the Mendocino coast, at deer camp, or simply being with her loved ones. She also had a passion for reading, playing Yahtzee, board games, Sudoku, crosswords, and listening to country music. She was also an avid crocheter, and movie enthusiast.

Her warmth and love will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

She is survived by her children, Marie Emery (David Sr.), Marilyn Cardenas, and Gerald Peters (Beth Everhart); grandchildren John Miranda (Cori), David Emery Jr., Donald Emery (Teresa), Ernest Peters II (Joe Quilici), Doug Emery, Jeannine Robinson (Donald), Eric Peters (Jennifer), and Jason Cardenas (Jessica); 19 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ernest Gerald Peters; her parents; her sisters Gloria Woolsey, Lillian Flournoy, and Maxine Peters; and her brother, LeRoy Woolsey.

She will be laid to rest in a private ceremony attended by immediate family at the Willows Veterans Cemetery.

By Larry Judkins

Glenn County Observer

For the second time this month, a man has been shot in Orland.

At about 7:16 p.m. on Thursday, September 19, Orland police officers responded to a residence at 926 Benson Drive in western Orland near Interstate 5 for a report of a domestic violence incident with a shooting.

A few minutes after arriving at the residence, officers detained Mason Nordmiller, 18, without incident.

Officers contacted the other residents of the house and found a 50-year-old man who was the victim of an apparent gunshot wound. He was alert, conscious, and up and walking around.

According to scanner broadcasts, the unnamed reporting party for the incident had, out of fear, locked himself or herself in a bedroom with a firearm.

Fire and medical personnel had been called to the scene but were asked to stand by until the scene was cleared. A few minutes later, they were told they could enter.

A short time later, the gunshot victim was transported by ground ambulance to “a local hospital” (most likely Enloe, as an ambulance was heard traveling east on Walker Street at about this time) for further evaluation and treatment.

According to the press release issued by Sgt. Johnson of the Orland Police Department, the victim’s current condition is not known.

Following an investigation, officers arrested Nordmiller and booked him into the Glenn County Jail.

According to the jail’s media release, Mason Lee Nordmiller was charged with alleged assault with a deadly weapon (a firearm), and a special allegation consisting of use of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Both charges are felonies. Nordmiller’s bail was set at $45,000.

According to the Orland Police Department, this investigation is on-going. Anyone with information or relevant details is encouraged to contact Orland Police Officer Andrade at 530-865-1616 and reference OPD Case #240564.

Justin Robert Faver of Orland died in Beaufort, South Carolina, on Friday, September 13, 2024. He was born in Chico to Mikel and Donalea Faver on January 2, 2004.

He was a graduate of Orland High School, Class of 2022. He was a member of the OHS wrestling team.

An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed spending time in nature, especially hunting with his father. He also embraced thrilling adventures like whitewater kayaking and rafting.

Despite his quiet demeanor, he was known for his warm smile and contagious laugh. He had a unique gift for making friends and making others feel comfortable.

He cherished time with his brothers, playing video games, goofing around, and enjoying moments of laughter and fun, though he often preferred to remain out of the spotlight. He was a man with a quick mind and a big heart.

He was actively serving in the United States Marine Corps at the time of his death.

He is survived by his loving wife, Shana Faver; his beloved stepson, Elijah; his mother, Donalea Faver; his father, Mikel Faver; and his brothers, Cody, Tyson, and Steve Faver.

His memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him. His kindness, sense of adventure, and the joy he brought to others will never be forgotten, his loved ones agree.

Services are planned for 10 a.m., on Saturday, September 28, at 123 Modoc Street, Orland. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to GoFundMe to support his wife and son.

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

Gen Emanda Mae Stull died at 11:30 p.m. on Friday, September 13, 2024.

She was born in Los Angeles to Albert Stull and Ann Nelson Stull on November 12, 1936.

She was a member of the First Southern Baptist Church.

She is survived by her husband of almost 65 years, Thomas Whitlow; children Donna Whitlow from Willows, Sharon Ramirez of Grass Valley, Gordon Whitlow of Tacoma, Wash.; grandchildren Isaiah Rossi, Logan Starlord, Jesse Rossi, Roam and Erin Ramirez, and Joseph Whitlow; and numerous great-grandchildren.

A private event for family and friends is being considered for a later date.