Read Past Town Chatters

Chester Jr./Sr. High Bulletins/ Newsletters

Community Meeting Times

Plumas News Weekly Updates

Plumas County Health COVID Updates

Sierra Small Business Development Center Free Trainings & Workshops

St. Andrew's Academy Choir Camp
07/19/2021- 07/25/2021

Professional Artisans Cooperative Art & Craft Marketplace
07/24/2021 - 7/25/21

2021 Lake Almanor Poker Paddle Water Run - Canceled
07/24/2021

Popsapalooza 2021
07/24/2021

Lake Almanor's Farmers Market
07/29/2021

Annual Fishing Assoc. BBQ & Fundraiser
07/31/2021

Almanor Art Show
07/31/2021

Chester Library Book Sale
07/31/2021- 08/01/2021

Almanor Art Show
08/01/2021

Lake Almanor's Farmers Market
08/05/2021

Turner Excavating, Inc Presents Sips & Stones
08/06/2021

Honey Run Covered Bridge Association 1st Annual Golf Tournament
08/07/2021

Lake Almanor's Farmers Market
08/12/2021

Professional Artisans Cooperative Art & Craft Marketplace
08/14/2021 - 8/15/2021

Lake Almanor's Farmers Market
08/19/2021

Plumas County Fair
08/19/2021- 08/22/2021

Plumas-Sierra The Last Best Little County Fair
08/19/2021- 08/22/2021

Plumas Sierra County Fair
08/19/2021- 08/22/2021

Professional Artisans Cooperative Art & Craft Marketplace
08/21/2021 - 8/22/2021

Lake Almanor's Farmers Market
08/26/2021

Bayou by the Lake - Crawdad Boil
08/28/2021

See the full calendar or submit your own event HERE.

The winner last week was Kathleen Copeland with the correct question “Who is Arthur Keddie?” to answer, “A prominent Plumas County surveyor and a mountain peak east of Lake Almanor bears his name” winning a $15 gift certificate from this week’s sponsor Forever Home & Outdoor who will be Trivia sponsor this week as well.



 

Answer this week: Established at Johnston’s stage stop in 1894

Please send your question to Trivia@lakealmanorarea.com.

Looking for sponsors for Town Trivia! Get your company name and logo in Town Chatter for four consecutive weeks. Contact katherine@sansoneplus.com.  

Please note: only emails received after release of Town Chatter Wednesday am will be considered.  Send your question to Trivia@lakealmanorarea.com on or after each Wednesday of publication. We are always looking for sponsors for Town Trivia. If interested, please contact katherine@sansoneplus.com.

Employment and Career Opportunities

The Greater Lake Almanor Basin offers a variety of seasonal, part and full-time positions for those seeking employment. Please check out the link below and discover how fun and rewarding a career or job in this beautiful area can be. 
www.lakealmanorarea.com/employment

This week's featured job:

Cravings
Accepting applications for host/hostess, line cook and server. Please stop by during business hours to inquire, call (530) 258-2229 or email chestercravings@gmail.com.
278 Main Street Chester, CA 96020
Thursday-Monday 7am-2pm

Almanor Girl
Catherine Altenburg

Five Star Bank
Jon Gregory
jcgregory48@gmail.com

Forever Home & Outdoor
Josh & Christa Herman
foreverhomechester@gmail.com

Pizza Factory of Chester
Michael and Laura Kincaid
CHESTER@PIZZAFACTORY.COM

Watkins Pet Supply
Michelle Watkins
michelle@watkinspetsupply.com

Books! Friends of Chester Library is happily accepting donations of gently used books for their upcoming book sale this year held on Saturday, July 31st, and Sunday August 1st in the Chester Library parking lot.

The Town Chatter is made possible through the funding of our Community Partners:

Collins Pine
Coldwell Banker Kehr/O'Brien Real Estate
Rouland Insurance
Seneca Healthcare District.

Chamber Board Meetings are at 8:30 am on the 2nd TUESDAY of each month in the Chamber office at 278 Main Street. All are welcome. Zoom is available.

Lake Almanor Farmers Market Thursday 7/22 Canceled
Please be advised that due to fire concern and current conditions we are canceling this week's Lake Almanor Farmers Market (Thurs 7/22). Please stay safe and we hope see you next week! For more information about the Farmers Market, please contact Market Manager, Jennie Mathews at 530-616-8104, fm@lakealmanorarea.com

2021 Lake Almanor Poker Paddle Canceled
With regrets, the Almanor Recreation and Park District announced the cancellation of this Saturday's Poker Paddle due to the Dixie Fire and its impacts on the west shore of the lake.

Survey on COVID-19 and Wildfire Impacts to Small and Medium Sized Businesses
How has your business been impacted by COVID and wildfire? Take this survey to share your experience and help the Lake Almanor Area Chamber provide better business support resources.

Text Alerts from Cal Fire Incidents
Sign up for text alerts from Cal Fire incidents in our area here. 

CodeRed Emergency Alert System
Please click here to register for CodeRed alerts.

Current Evacuation Map
Please click here for the most current evacuation map

DIXIE FIRE INFORMATION
Information line: (530) 538-7826
Media line: (530) 588-0845
Incident website: Click here

Update as of 7/20/2021 from Cal Fire
The Dixie Fire burned actively throughout the day moving to the East and North. Firefighters continued to aggressively fight the fire while increasing and strengthening control lines. The fire is burning in a remote area with limited access and steep terrain. Isolated thunderstorms are possible this evening, but most likely will remain east of the fire. Drier southwest flow will move into the area Tuesday pushing all thunderstorm concerns well east of the fire. The fire will be active overnight. Firefighters will provide structure defense in communities at risk and construct direct line to secure fire perimeter. Additional firefighting resources continue to arrive in order to help battle the fire.

For more information on the Dixie Fire go to the following links:

CAL FIRE https://www.fire.ca.gov/incidents

USFS Information https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7690/ 

For Evacuation Orders, Warnings and Road Closures go to:

Per the Butte County Sheriff's Office

• Butte County Website: www.buttecounty.net
• Sheriff Website: www.buttecounty.net/sheriffcoroner
• Sheriff Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bcsonews
• Sheriff Twitter: @ButteSheriff
• Sheriff’s Call Center: (530) 552-3010
• Evacuation Map: https://tinyurl.com/4nm69873

Per the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office

• Lassen County Web site: http://www.co.lassen.ca.us
• Sheriff Website: https://tinyurl.com/sy9frpx6
• Sheriff Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LassenSheriff

Per the Plumas County Sheriff's Office

• Plumas County Website: https://www.plumascounty.us
• Sheriff Website: https://plumascounty.us/587/Sheriff-Coroner
• Sheriff Dixie Fire Information: https://tinyurl.com/2t3kuv69
• Sheriff Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/plumascountysheriff
• Evacuation Information:
• P Zone 1- Evacuation Order for High Lakes area, Storrie, Tobin, and Rock Creek. Evacuation Order for Belden, Rich Bar, Virgilia, Seneca, and Twain communities along the SR70 corridor. Evacuation Order to begin at SR70 at Pulga Rd along the north edge of the SR70 corridor to Rich Bar Rd, from SR70 at Rich Bar Rd., to the north along the Pacific Coast Trail to the Plumas Co./Butte Co. line, from the Plumas Co./Butte Co. line west along the county line to the intersection of SR70 and Pulga Rd.
• P Zone 2- Evacuation Order for Meadow Valley and Bucks Lake communities. Evacuation to include the south edge of the SR70 corridor from Belden east to Twain, south from Twain to Snake Lake Rd. at Bucks Lake Rd., to include the communities of Spanish Ranch and Meadow Valley, from south on Bucks Lake Rd. at Snake Lake Rd. to the intersection of Bucks Lake Rd. and Big Creek (south), from the intersection of Bucks Lake Rd. and Big Creek Rd. (south) along Bucks Lake Rd. to the Plumas/Butte Co. line, from Bucks Lake Rd. at the Plumas/Butte Co line to the north, along the Plumas/Butte Co. line, where it intersects with SR70 at Pulga Rd.
• NATIONAL FOREST: Plumas National Forest within the Dixie Fire Area per Forest Order No. 05-11-00-21-14

Road Closures:

Plumas County

• Camp Creek Road
• SR 70 at the North junction with SR 89 Greenville Wye
• Oroville-Quincy Highway at Plains Rd (Four Trees)
• Bucks Lake Rd at River Dance

Butte County:

• SR 70 is closed from 14.3 miles East of the junction of SR 191 (Jarbo Gap at CAL FIRE Station 36

For updated road closures please go to Caltrans information at Division of Traffic Operations - Road Information - California Highway Information

Evacuation Shelter Information:

Plumas County

• An Evacuation Center is being opened at the Springs of Hope Church in Quincy at 59 Bell Lane. If there is no attendance the shelter may close, at which time you can call 283-6300 if you need shelter because of being evacuated.

Animal Evacuations Centers:

Plumas County

• Assistance for animals (including large animals/ livestock), call (530) 283-3673 or (530) 283-6300.

Butte County:

• Butte County animal sheltering at 2279 Del Oro and Mono Ste E, Oroville, CA Animal Shelter intake hours are 8am-8pm. (530) 895-0000

National Forest Closures

The Lassen National Forest (LNF) implemented Forest Order 06-21-04 as of July 16 (Dixie Fire Closure Order) to protect public health and safety through September 16. For additional information, visit the LNF Website: www.fs.usda.gov/lassen 

The Lake Almanor Area Chamber is so excited to announce one of our newest members Forever Home & Outdoor.

Forever Home & Outdoor is a home decor store owned and run by Josh & Christa Herman that features outdoor polywood patio furniture, adirondack chairs, custom signs, home decor, and custom framing.The store also features local artists' photography, towels, wooden bears, candles and more.

Lake Almanor residents anxiously awaited the opening of this beautiful store after watching the owners remodel over the fall and winter months. Since the opening in May of this year, business has been overwhelmingly successful and the Herman's are busy with orders from all over the lake, as well as, Northern California and even out of state. 

"We have to pinch ourselves," said Christa Herman, graphic designer." It doesn't feel real. It's as if we are living in a postcard. Lake Almanor is the most picturesque place we've ever lived." 

Previously from New Castle, CA, the Herman's owned a 3-acre ranch and became part owners of Stencil Stop, one of the largest manufacturers and wholesale distributors of stencils located in Sacramento. This company sparked their interest in working with a laser machine to create different and unique items. 

After hearing about a craft fair located on the Peninsula, Josh, Christa and their two children came up to their lakefront property in Lake Almanor and set up a booth at the fair. Within the first 30 minutes of opening, their booth had a line for custom orders. At that moment, they knew there was something special about their product and started making plans to move their family to Lake Almanor and open a storefront for Forever Home & Outdoor. 

"We see Lake Almanor as a place that continues to grow and provide abundant opportunities," said Josh, vintage car collector. "We cannot wait to see what is in store for this area and are thrilled to be part of this community." 

Located at 168 Main Street in Chester CA, Forever Home & Outdoor is currently open Wednesday to Saturday 9am-4pm. Please stop by to welcome the Herman Family and see all that their business has to offer. 

For more information, please visit their Facebook page and website: www.foreverhomechester.com.

1st, 2nd and 3rd place 4th of July Parade winners were announced at last week's Lake Almanor Farmers Market at Chester Park.

The 2021 winners will ride in the front of the 2022 parade displaying their 1st, 2nd, or 3rd place banner. Congratulations to our winners!

1st Place: McNeil Family and Friends Bigfoot Beach Patrol - Mercedes Unimog
2nd Place: Billson Construction Co. - Let Freedom Ring
3rd Place: Harman Ranch Float - Freedom & Liberty

7/18/201
While we are finally getting a reprieve from triple digit heat up here in the mountains, we are now dealing with smoke and air quality concerns from the Dixie Fire. As smoke settles over the Lake Almanor basin the Plumas County Sheriff’s Department has issued a Mandatory Evacuation order from the Plumas/Butte County line east to Rich Bar. Including both sides of Hwy 70 in the areas of Rock Creek, Storrie, Tobin, Belden, Caribou and Rich Bar. There is a thirty percent chance of thunderstorms this afternoon through Monday morning, we are hoping for rain without the lightning.

Fish continue to migrate to deeper water and springs. Trollers are targeting fish in 40-50 foot of water 35-45’ deep on the wire. We are also seeing more boats on anchor around the A-Frame, Big Springs, Rocky Point and Dorado. Slow trolling crawlers and gulps @ 1mph, remain your best shot while trolling, crickets, meal worms and crawlers on anchor will also catch fish.

Although the Hex Hatch is winding down we continue to see Hex casing scattered throughout the lakes. There are a few fly fishermen targeting the Hex Hatch along the West Shore. We are beginning to see more pond smelt as all species of fish are targeting the tasty smelt, they are quickly approaching the 2 inch mark. Hamilton Branch remains your best shot at a quality fish from shore.

There are traffic delays on Highway 36 over the Fredoyner Summit and there are closures along 70/89 as a result of the Dixie Fire.

I would like to remind all AFA supporters that we are quickly selling out of dinner tickets for our upcoming “Paul Garido” Family Picnic. If you would like to attend please get your tickets on the AFA Website @ Almanorfishingassociation.org or email us at almanorfishing@sbcglobal.net. This is our major fundraiser and your support is appreciated, if you can’t attend the picnic you can go on our website and purchase raffle tickets for $10 a ticket. The grand prize for the raffle is a lifetime fishing license ($900 value), a Weber pellet grill, a Yeti Cooler, a fuel card and a custom spiral wrapped 8’ Duncan McIntyre trolling rod with a Diawa 100 line counter reel (you don’t need to be present to win our raffle prizes).