Surrounded by his family, Arnold “Arnie” Leroy Daniels died at his home in Willows on Sunday, May 8, 2022. He was born in Oakland on Dec. 30, 1964, and was raised in Hayward by his mother, Doris L. Daniels, and his father, Ralph A. Daniels, alongside his older brother, Dennis Ross.
He lived in Hayward for the majority of his life, and attended Hayward High School. Throughout middle school and high school, he participated in football, wrestling, and played hockey for the Southland Hockey Club, winning various awards.
You could catch him participating in a number of daredevil activities, such as snow skiing in South Lake Tahoe, cliff diving around Deer Creek Falls, waterskiing with family, and motorcycling with his friends in Carnegie and Hollister. He traveled with his parents often in his younger years and they would bring Arnie up to Orland for the summers to spend time with the Clarks.
During high school he was enrolled in the ROC woodshop program, gaining experience to become a journey level carpenter in his early adulthood and enjoyed working on construction of houses. Some of his other hobbies he enjoyed was working on his model cars, camping and fishing with his family at Elam Creek Campgrounds near Chester, barbecuing, watching A’s or Raiders games, and playing with his grandkids.
He was also a devoted Christian, growing up at Highland Baptist Church in Hayward, and most recently attending Orland Evangelical Free Church in Orland.
He met the love of his life, Chrysan Carlson, on Sept. 21, 1991, and raised four children, Christopher, Brooke, Nathaniel, and Destiny. Arnie and Chrysan spent almost 30 years together before officially marrying on Aug. 24, 2019, in Orland.
Arnie had a magnetic energy and could make friends with anyone. He is loved and will be missed by many.
He is survived by his wife, four children, and a number of grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother.
Graveside services are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Friday, June 3, at the Oddfellows Cemetery, 3900 County Road P, Orland, followed by a reception at the Orland Evangelical Free Church, 614 A Street.
All photos taken by Larry Judkins on Saturday, May 22, 2022.
Captain Cal of Cal Fire greets the public near the entrance to the fair.A hang-gliding ride seemed to be a popular ride at the fair.A close-up of some of the hang-gliders.Butler Amusement’s Ferris Wheel.The Magic Bean entertains kids and adults alike.Of course, animals are the biggest part of most fairs. Above, a couple of 4Hers keep their goats close at hand.An illusionist replicates Uri Geller’s spoon-bending trick.
The cul-de-sac on County Road 5 at Interstate 5 where a number of rock-throwing incidents (and other types of incidents) occurred. Glenn County Observer photo by Larry Judkins.
By Larry Judkins
Glenn County Observer
You probably didn’t know it at the time, but from May of 2021 to January of 2022, there were 15 incidents of someone throwing fist-sized rocks at moving vehicles in northern Glenn County.
And these are just the cases that were reported to law enforcement agencies.
So far as is known, nobody was injured. However, several vehicles were damaged.
Looking north on Highway 99 from County Road 9, where two rock-throwing incidents happened. Glenn County Observer photo by Larry Judkins.
All the incidents happened between County Road 25 in the south and County Road 3 in the north. Two of the incidents occurred on Highway 99, while the other 13 happened on Interstate 5.
Of the ones on I-5, only three involved vehicles traveling north. Five occurred in the area of County Road 5.
Eleven of the incidents happened on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays, all between the hours of 6:50 p.m. and 3:21 a.m. Most occurred around 10 p.m., give or take an hour.
Three separate incidents were reported on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, and two incidents were reported on Sunday, Oct. 10. So far as is known, there was only one incident on each of the other dates on which rocks were thrown at vehicles.
Here are summaries of the 15 known incidents:
Thursday, May 6, 2021, at 7:47 p.m.: The thrower was on the Stony Creek Bridge over Interstate 5. Two vehicles traveling south on I-5 at Stony Creek were hit.
Sunday, July 25, 2021, at 6:50 p.m.: The thrower was on County Road 5, west of I-5, where it ends at the freeway. Two vehicles traveling south on I-5 were hit.
Friday, Aug. 20, 2021, at 3:21 a.m.: The thrower was on County Road HH, west of I-5. A vehicle traveling south on I-5, south of County Road 16, was hit.
Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, at 10:38 p.m.: The thrower was again on County Road HH, west of I-5. A vehicle traveling south on I-5, south of County Road 16, was hit.
Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, at 2:10 a.m.: The thrower was north of Highway 32 (Newville Road), west of I-5. A vehicle traveling south on I-5, north of Highway 32, was hit.
Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, at 10:45 p.m.: The thrower was on County Road HH, west of I-5. A vehicle traveling south on I-5, south of County Road 16, was hit.
Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, at 11:45 p.m.: the thrower was in a vehicle on Highway 99, north of County Road 9; A vehicle traveling north on Highway 99, north of Road 9, was hit.
Monday, Sept. 13, 2021, at 1:25 a.m.: The thrower was on County Road 5, west of I-5. A vehicle traveling south on I-5 was hit.
Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, at 8:57 p.m.: The thrower was in a vehicle on Highway 99, north of County Road 9. A vehicle traveling north on Highway 99, north of Road 9, was hit.
Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021, at 10:10 p.m.: The thrower was north of Highway 32, east of I-5. A vehicle traveling north on I-5, north of Highway 32, was hit.
Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, at 10:13 p.m.: The thrower was on the County Road 20 overpass of I-5. A vehicle traveling north on I-5 was hit.
Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021, at 10:10 p.m.: The thrower was on County Road 5, west of I-5. A vehicle traveling south on I-5 was hit.
10:31 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, at 10:31 p.m.: The thrower was on County Road 5, west of I-5. A vehicle traveling south on I-5 was hit.
Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021, at 9:35 p.m.: The thrower was on County Road 5, west of I-5. A vehicle traveling south on I-5 was hit.
Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022, at 9:45 p.m.: The thrower was on Interstate 5 at County Road 25. A vehicle traveling north on I-5 was hit.
The incidents on July 25, 2021, happened during daylight hours. There were two separate victims.
The first victim’s vehicle was struck by a large rock thrown from Road 5, west of I-5. The victim described the suspects as two juveniles, and an associated vehicle as a grey sedan.
The second victim described the suspects as two white male juveniles both wearing white cut-off shirts, hiding behind the billboard on Road 5.
Looking south on Interstate 5 from the cul-de-sac on County Road 5, where at least five rock-throwing cases occurred. Glenn County Observer photo by Larry Judkins.
On Sept. 18, motion activated cameras were installed in the cul-de-sac of County Road 5, on the west side of I-5, which is in a relatively remote and rarely traveled area of Glenn County. The cameras were set to monitor traffic as it moves in and out of the cul-de-sac.
Several vehicles were captured on the cameras. Specifically, on Sept. 26, at 9:35 p.m., and on Sept. 28 at 9:32 p.m., a light-colored sedan was seen.
This vehicle had a California license plate of 6WRR955. The plate returned to a 2012 Toyota Camry.
While the cameras were not in place, two more incidents occurred on I-5, one in the area of Road 5 and one in the area of Road 20. The cameras were reinstalled on Oct. 18.
At 9:46 p.m. on Oct. 31, the cameras obtained photos of a vehicle with a partially illegible license plate of 6???955. The taillights in the photos were consistent with the previously mentioned Toyota Camry with the plate of 6WRR955.
No other vehicles were photographed entering or leaving the cul-de-sac between the arrival of the suspect vehicle at 9:46 p.m. and the rock-throwing incident at 10:25 p.m. At 10:26 p.m., one minute after the rock-throwing incident, the cameras took a photo of a vehicle leaving the area.
On Nov. 8, Judge Alicia Ekland signed a Vehicle Tracker Search Warrant authored by California Highway Patrol Officer Cushman. The next day, the tracking device was placed on the Toyota Camry so that the vehicle’s whereabouts and movements could be monitored.
The device was removed on Dec. 9. There were no reported rock throwing incidents while the tracking device was in operation.
At about 9 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022, while on County Road 5 between County Road HH and the cul-de-sac just west of Interstate 5, CHP Officer Nick DeFrancesco contacted Mericin Alexis Madera, 18, and a 15-year-old boy. They were in the back seat of the aforementioned Toyota Camry and were almost completely nude, having apparently been engaging in sexual activity.
Glenn County Sheriff’s Deputy Clinton Turner responded to the area to assist Officer DeFrancesco.
Madera was arrested by Officer DeFrancesco. Her iPhone 12 Pro Max was seized as evidence.
Madera, a sales representative who lives in Corning, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging annoying or molesting a child under the age of 18. This crime is known as a “wobbler,” meaning it can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony, but at this point it was charged as only a felony.
Her bail was set at $5,000.
When charges were filed by the Glenn County District Attorney’s Office on March 2, they included not only the one alleging annoying or molesting a child under the age of 18, but also unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor who is less than three years younger than the alleged perpetrator. This, too, is a misdemeanor.
Madera’s defense attorney is Wendy Rudith Casas-Raviotta, whose law office is in Woodland. The lead prosecutor in the case is Assistant District Attorney Ruby Neumann.
Early this year, CHP officers determined that a “forensic data analysis” of Madera’s iPhone would likely provide evidence regarding the alleged sex crimes involving Madera, as well as the rock throwing incidents. Further investigation of the iPhone, which at the time was being held by the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office, was awaiting approval of a warrant.
On Tuesday, Jan. 18, Mericin Alexis Madera is reported to have called the Willows CHP office and demanded to have her iPhone returned to her. At 9:49 a.m., a CHP officer who was involved in the case contacted Madera by phone and told her the iPhone had been taken as evidence and would not be returned to her anytime soon.
The officer requested to meet with Madera in person. She was told she would not be arrested and the CHP was not planning on searching her person or property at this time.
She consented to meet at her home in Corning.
At about 5:40 p.m., CHP officers met with Madera at her home. Madera met with the officers on her front porch.
She was accompanied by her mother, but her mother spoke Spanish only and the officers were unable to communicate with her. Madera was again informed that she was not under arrest and that a search of her person or property was not going to happen during the interview.
Madera provided the following statement, in essence: She reported she is in a romantic relationship with the 15-year-old boy and all their parents are aware of their relationship.
She allegedly admitted they have been sexually active together. She said that on more than one occasion, she has taken the boy to the location on County Road 5 to have private time with him.
Madera was told that the Toyota Camry she drives has been seen in the same area, at the same times as several incidents of rocks being thrown at and hitting moving vehicles. Madera denied throwing any rocks at vehicles, stating, “I did not throw rocks.”
The officers asked if she could help them figure out who was throwing the rocks. She then invoked her rights by saying, “You can ask my lawyer in court.”
At that point, the interview was stopped.
The interview was recorded on a digital voice recorder, but the device subsequently failed, and the recording was erased prior to downloading it onto a data disc.
According to the CHP, the rocks that were thrown were about the size of a “fist” or a “baseball”. Officers believe the rock-throwing was malicious, willful, and intended to cause great bodily harm or death.
According to Section 23110 (b) of the California Vehicle Code, “Any person who with intent to do great bodily injury maliciously and willfully throws or projects any rock, brick, bottle, metal or other missile, or projects any other substance capable of doing serious bodily harm at such vehicle or occupant thereof is guilty of a felony and upon conviction shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison.”
CHP officers believe that a thorough search of Madera’s iPhone could provide evidence not only regarding the rock throwing, but also the sexual relationship between Madera and the 15-year-old boy. Hence the application for a warrant to search the iPhone.
A pretrial conference is scheduled before Judge Donald Cole Byrd at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 5.
Glenn County Fair Parade Grand Marshal Dottie Howard.
All Glenn County Observer photos by Larry Judkins
Sheriff Rich Warren stops along the parade route to let some kids pet his horse.Justin Gibbs, a candidate for Glenn County Sheriff, waves to the people along the parade route early Friday evening.
With the release of its media logs on Monday, the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office added to the information about the Saturday, May 14, Stony Creek fire near Hamilton City.
The fire broke out off Highway 32, between Sixth Avenue and County Road VV, just before noon. It was well off the south side of Highway 32, in the Stony Creek bed, south of the North State Hulling Cooperative.
The incident was initially toned out as an Orland Fire Department call, but when its exact location was determined, it was found to be in the Hamilton City Fire Department’s jurisdiction. In addition to the responses of the Orland and Hamilton City Fire Departments, mutual aid was requested and received from the Capay, Glenn-Codora, Bayliss, Willows, Ord Bend, and Artois Fire Departments.
A CalFire helicopter also arrived at the scene to help with extinguishing the fire.
At about 12:15 p.m., Glenn County Sheriff’s deputies arrived on-scene and were informed by fire personnel that a vehicle started the fire. Deputies learned a woman was calling 911 to report the fire on County Road VV near County Road 16.
Deputies met with Abbi Gail Mendoza of Chico, who said she was driving through Stony Creek and her 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer got stuck on a hill and started smoking. Mendoza got out of the vehicle and observed her vehicle catch on fire.
Deputies assisted Mendoza with contacting North State Hulling and making arrangements to get her vehicle out once the fire was contained. Firefighters were at the scene the entire afternoon and well into the evening.
In the early evening, fire units slowly began to be released. However, there were units from various departments still at the scene at 10:30 p.m.
Dennis Allan Northrop died on Wednesday, May 11, 2022. He was born in Nevada City to Lucile and Lyman Northrop on Oct. 16, 1938, in Nevada City.
At age five, his family moved to Willows, where he was raised through high school. After graduation, he entered the Marine Corps and served for 10 years.
He completed several tours in the Da Nang Provence in Vietnam during the Vietnam war. He was honorably discharged as a corporal and also very proud of his Marine Corps career.
After the Marine Corps, he worked on the Alaskan Pipeline as a pipe fitter. Later, he worked as a maintenance supervisor for the Alameda School District and several historical buildings in the downtown Sacramento area.
Upon retirement, he moved back to his boyhood home in Willows with his wife of 38 years, Virginia (Barrett). Time was spent mostly watching his favorite Yankees baseball and Notre Dame football.
Jack Reacher novels by Lee Childs also occupied his time.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia, and her children: Virginia Garavito of Glendora, Vere Butler of Chatsworth, Valerie Edmond of Woodland Hills, Vint Butler of Wake Forrest, N. Caro., and Vido Butler of Laguna Beach; and his children from a previous marriage: Janet Alexander of Mississippi, and Harold Swanson of Oregon.
He was predeceased by his brother, Paul Northrop; sisters-in-law Gloria Feeney, and Elizabeth (Betty) Wilkins; and son Vaun Butler.
Graveside services are planned for 11 a.m. on Friday, May 20, at the Willows Cemetery.
Anita Louise Kline, 73
Anita Louise Kline died peacefully on Friday, April 29, 2022, after a short battle with cancer, during which she fought valiantly. She was born to George and Nancy Bakke (Schofield) in Sacramento on March 9, 1949.
She grew up and attended school in Willows, where she graduated in 1967, and went on to work for her father and then Bank of America for several years. In 1978, she began her career with Johns Manville, where she held several positions and eventually became a purchasing agent.
After 31 years of service, she retired in 2009. She was a valued and respected employee and friend to many people during her career and life.
She most loved being a wife, a mom and a grandma. She could always be found crocheting, sewing and embroidering wonderful gifts for her family and friends.
The ocean was her happy place where she and her husband Phil enjoyed their summers. She also enjoyed traveling cross country to visit their children and grandchildren.
She is survived by her loving husband of 25 years, Philip Kline of Willows; daughters Tricia (Jason) Smith of Siloam Springs, Ark., Lori (Josh) Beaver of Orland, and Melinda (Bill) Burke of Dawsonville, Ga.; sons Philip “Steve” (Jenifer) Kline of Willows, and Brad (Takiko) Kline of Easley, S. Caro.; 13 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; mother Nancy Bakke of Chico; brothers David (Debra) Bakke of Chico, and George “Bruce” (Mary) Bakke, of Bremerton, Wash.; sister Carol (Bryant) Higgs, of Corning; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Her memory and her love will be carried and cherished by all of us.
A private celebration of her life with family and friends is planned at a later date.
Orland Police Sgt. Sean Johnson holds the syringe found in the restroom at Lely Park, not far from the children’s play area. Glenn County Observer photo by Larry Judkins.
By Larry Judkins
Glenn County Observer
In a park filled with little kids on a warm Sunday afternoon, the Orland Police Department received a call regarding a syringe that was found on the floor of the public restroom.
The call from a citizen at Lely Park was received at about 4 p.m.
After calling for law enforcement assistance, the man guarded the entrance to the men’s restroom to make sure no children went in and touched the syringe.
Orland Police Sgt. Sean Johnson arrived at the scene and took possession of the syringe.
Sgt. Johnson then took the syringe to his patrol vehicle and placed the paraphernalia in a container intended for such objects.
Something the irresponsible person who left the syringe in a public restroom obviously did not do.
Flames can be seen along Stony Creek, south of the North State Hulling Cooperative along Highway 32, early in the afternoon on Saturday, May 14. Glenn County Observer photo by Larry Judkins.
By Larry Judkins
Glenn County Observer
Firefighters from all over Glenn County responded to a report of an “unknown type of fire” Saturday afternoon in the area of Highway 32 and Sixth Avenue, where a large column of smoke could be seen.
In fact, the column of black smoke could easily be seen from the 200 block of East Walker Street in Orland, and the call went out first to the Orland Volunteer Fire Department at about noon on May 14. Had the fire actually been at Highway 32 and Sixth Avenue, as originally reported, it would have been in Orland’s jurisdiction, but it was actually farther east than that, in the jurisdiction of the Hamilton City Fire Department.
The fire was off Highway 32, between Sixth Avenue and County Road VV. It was well off the south side of Highway 32, in the Stony Creek bed, south of the North State Hulling Cooperative.
The fire was apparently on both sides of Stony Creek, so firefighters set up commands on both the north and south sides of the creek. Incoming firefighters heading for the north side of the fire were instructed to enter the main gate of North State Hulling and head south to the creek, while incoming firefighters going to the south side of the fire were told to take County Road 18 west from Highway 45, then make their way north to the creek.
A Cal Fire helicopter takes part in the battle to extinguish the Stony Creek fire west of Hamilton City. Glenn County Observer photo by Larry Judkins.
In addition to the Orland and Hamilton City Fire Departments, mutual aid was requested from the Capay, Glenn-Codora, Bayliss, Willows, Ord Bend, and Artois Fire Departments. A Cal Fire helicopter also arrived at the scene to help with extinguishing the fire.
At about 12:15 p.m., a woman contacted the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office to report that her vehicle may have started the fire. The sheriff’s dispatcher told a deputy at the scene about this, and the deputy confirmed that there was indeed a burned-out vehicle there.
At about 2 p.m., with high temperatures reaching 90 degrees, Orland volunteers called for drinking water to be brought to them. Chief Justin Chaney asked that someone other than Orland volunteers deliver the drinks, as nearly all Orland firefighters were at the Stony Creek incident and the chief did not want to leave the city short-handed.
At 10:30 p.m., fire units from various departments were still being released from the scene.
Charley Birimisa died west of Willows on Saturday, April 23, 2022, the result of an accident while racing his Mustang at Thunderhill Raceway. Charles Louis Birimisa was born in Mt. Shasta to Louis Birimisa and Ruth Brown on June 12, 1947.
He lived in the Mt. Shasta area his entire life. During his high school years, Charley was a star football player who received multiple scholarship offers from various universities, as well as becoming an accomplished ski racer, being selected to compete at the Junior National Level.
He opted to serve his country by joining the Marines as a Lance Corporal in Communications during the Vietnam War. On Dec. 2, 1966, he married the love of his life, Faioa Lynnette “Lynne” Schwarzenberg.
Following military service, they returned to Mt. Shasta, where they raised their three children. He worked as a large equipment operator in the timber industry as well as a master technician for the House of Ski.
They became owners of the House of Ski & Board, where Charley was known as an extraordinary ski technician and boot fitter, serving people from communities throughout Northern California.
He was a unique human being with many natural skills and talents. Time was spent designing, building, and repairing nearly anything, especially cars; many hours working on their house and gardens; downhill skiing and hiking; exploring the many National Parks of the U.S.; and traveling to visit family members.
He will be dearly missed by many.
Charley is survived by wife, Lynne; son, John (Jen) Birimisa; daughters, Stephanie Bethel and Gretchyn Zuiderweg; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren; and his beloved dog, Pete.
A funeral mass and celebration of life are to be announced at a later time. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Siskiyou Humane Society, or a charity of your choosing.
A GoFundMe account has been created to help Lennie Wood and his wife pay medical bills after he was severely injured by a horse during a show at the Glenn County Fairgrounds on May 7.
On Saturday, May 7, Lennie Wood, 69, of Chico, was injured when a horse “flipped over backwards and crushed him.” Forty-five minutes later, the FlightCare helicopter was flying him to Enloe Medical Center in Chico.
Later, on Facebook, Shannon Hamilton-Taylor explained that the incident happened at a Gymkhana horse show, where Wood was reportedly assisting. Heather Smith said the show took place in the horse arena.
Heather Smith is organizing the fundraiser. The plea for funds reads:
“Lenny was critically injured during a freak horse accident on Saturday, May 7th, while attending a local gymkhana.
“Lenny was life-flighted to Enloe for his injuries. He sustained a broken femur, multiple breaks to his pelvis and broke 20 out of 24 ribs.
“He is currently at Enloe in the ICU in stable condition.
“If you know Lenny, or have known Lenny for any length of time, you know how many battles, including cancer, he has already fought and conquered with his wife, Jean, and daughter, Courtney, by his side.
“Lenny and his family have a long road to recovery ahead. I created this gofundme to try and help raise money to cover some of his medical expenses. Every little bit helps.”
The name, Lenny, may have been a deliberate misspelling. As the above plea states, he had previously suffered some serious medical problems almost exactly a year ago.
A GoFundMe account was set up for him on that occasion, also. The spelling of his name that time was “Lennie,” so it may be that the name was spelled differently this time in order to help prevent contributions from going to the wrong account.
At the time of this writing, $4,360 of the $10,000 goal has been raised.
The Glenn County Observer 